WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Paul Tonko announced today that his guest for tomorrow’s State of the Union address is Capital Region native Jennifer Smith. Jennifer is an engineer who works at GE Power and Water in Schenectady as well as the Regional Coordinator for the Future City Competition, a national project-based learning experience where students in 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grades imagine, design and build cities of the future.

“I am pleased that Jennifer has accepted the offer to join me as my guest for tomorrow’s State of the Union address,” said Congressman Tonko. “While Congress and Washington lurch from one crisis to the next, Jennifer reminds us of what the future of this country holds. As an engineer, a wife, mother and volunteer in the local Future City Program, Jennifer is exactly the type of role-model that will ensure America remains a magnet for jobs and manufacturing. Women like Jennifer are an important part of a thriving middle class, which is the foundation for long-term economic growth.  Hers is the type of insight and experience that should keep everyone in Congress grounded and focused on what truly matters.”

Jennifer was born in Schenectady and graduated from Duanesburg High School. She then received her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Upon returning to the Capital Region, she worked for Plug Power in Latham to develop, design and configure fuel cells for nine years. In 2004, she won the “Young Engineer of the Year Award” from the Capital District based New York State Society of Professional Engineers. After working for Plug Power, she briefly worked at H2H Associates in Troy before joining GE Power and Water in Schenectady two and a half years ago.

Volunteering her time, Jennifer helped found the Future City Competition in Albany. As one of thirty-seven regions participating in National Engineers Week, the local Future City Competition is now celebrating a dozen years in the Capital Region. The competition enables students to work as a team with an educator and engineer mentor to plan cities using deluxe software and present their ideas before judges. The regional winners then travel to National Finals in Washington, DC in February.

Congressman Tonko’s past State of the Union guests have included Rotterdam Junction Fire Chief Shawn Taylor and RPI President Shirley Ann Jackson.

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