(949) 244.9268 info@congrata.com

Our Team

CONGRATA

Management Team

Luisa Kregel

Luisa Kregel

MSc, Founder – President – CEO

With over 15 years of experience in technology transfer to various economic sectors: aerospace, scientific research, and marine technology. She maintains an active interest in topics of green manufacturing, renewable resources, sustainable production, health, ethics, science, and technologies. She co-founded the Mexico Graduate Research and Education Program (MGREP) at the University of California Irvine. Luisa earned her MSc in Management Information Systems from the University of Arizona; Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from UMSH; International Project Management from UC Berkeley.

 

James M. Schmidt

James M. Schmidt

CPA, MBA – Controller

Jim brings over 20 years of accounting and management experience. During his career as an auditor of high-tech companies in Silicon Valley with Ernst & Young CPAs.

He has assisted start-up ventures with their financial strategy. Earned his MBA and BA degree in Economics from UC Berkeley. Jim also studied Public Policy and Governmental Process at George Washington University. Holds an active California

CPA license.

 

SCIENTIFIC BOARD

 James Earthman

James Earthman

PhD., Professor – University of California Irvine

Dr. Earthman is the research – industry liaison of CONGRATA. His research activities include studies of a broad range of deformation and damage mechanisms in both model and advanced materials. His work also involves the development and use of computer-based techniques for determining the damping characteristics of biomaterials and mechanical biocompatibility, the corrosion behavior of metals exposed to living cells, and the nondestructive characterization of surface defects in situ. He is an inventor on five

patents, two international patents and three pending patents.

Juan Ignacio Rodriguez

Juan Ignacio Rodriguez

PhD.

Graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering. At MIT, he was part of a research project led by Dr. James Paduano at the Gas Turbine Lab and participated in an internship at Kennedy Space Center. He obtained his M.S. and Ph.D. at the University of California, Los Angeles with Professors Ann Karagozian and Owen Smith, studying the effects of acoustic excitation on droplet combustion and coaxial jets, until 2009. A postdoctoral appointment at École Centrale Paris on numerical modelling of trans critical coaxial jets. After a period at the Air Force Research Lab in Edwards, California, joined the Engineering Faculty of CETYS University from 2015 until 2019 as an instructor of mechanical and aerospace engineering. He currently serves as consultant for the Mexico Graduate Research and Education Program at the University of California, Irvine.

 

 

Luciana Astiz

Luciana Astiz

PhD, Program Director, Education & Human Resources at National Science Foundation

Earned her doctoral degree from CALIT and her BS degree from UNAM in geophysics.Her research expertise is in international seismology, including earthquake sources, tectonics, hazard assessment, and instrumentation. At the UC San Diego, Array Network Facility she was managing the monitoring of data quality, including instrumental calibrations, measurement of data performance, data retrieval, and assessment of data quality of broadband seismic data recordings. Integrate results of earthquake locations throughout the continental U.S., evaluate magnitude thresholds and tectonic anthropomorphic origin of seismic signals.

 

Celestino Fernandez

Celestino Fernandez

PhD., Distinguished Outreach Professor – University of Arizona

 Dr. Fernandez brings extensive leadership experience in education, institutional administration, cultural ethnicity, and diversity research. Received numerous recognitions during his executive positions at the University of Arizona, and as administrator and founder of 5 low income area high schools. Sits on the boards of the Commission on Higher Education, Educational Testing Service, Federation of State Humanities Councils, and La Frontera Arizona. Honored by the American Association for Higher Education for his Distinguished Leadership in Higher Education as well as by the Governor of Arizona for his commitment to quality and excellence. Also named a University Distinguished Outreach Professor in recognition of his exceptional service to the community, state, and nation.