Meals feature conversations with STEM professionals. It's a wonderful opportunity for networking and mentoring!
SSIP Guest Speakers
Siniva Areta
Siniva Areta ('19, Mechanical Engineering is an accomplished engineer at Sedron Technologies who is dedicated to finding innovative and sustainable solutions to domestic and global waste challenges. She serves as the lead Mechanical Engineering Manager for Sedron's Dairy Project division, currently an upcoming dairy facility which will overtake the Fair Oaks facility as the largest producer of organic ammonium nitrate fertilizer in the world.
She graduated Summa Cum Laude and was awarded Gonzaga University's School of Engineering and Applied Science Outstanding Senior Award. Outside of her professional life, Siniva enjoys traveling, watching and playing sports, and participating in church and community events. She resides in Spokane, WA with her husband (a fellow Zag) and they will be welcoming their first child this fall.
Sarah Burruss
Sarah Burress has worked for McKinstry, a major mechanical and plumbing engineering and construction company, since 2018. She started in the construction industry as a project engineer--a team member on jobsites who manages paperwork, supply chain, and schedule sequencing. She transitioned to the preconstruction side as a project manager, overseeing budget, design, and coordination with other trades. Buildings she has worked on in Spokane include the Amazon warehouse on Geiger, the Catalyst Building, and the GU/UW Health Sciences building.
Burress attended the University of Florida for her undergraduate degree on an ROTC scholarship. She received flight training in Pensacola and flew helicopters for the US Navy. Over 9 years, she did two aircraft carrier deployments and spent her shore tour as an operational test pilot for the MH-60S armed helicopter and served as Operational Test Director for the Fire Scout UAV. Sarah left the Navy in 2009 and lived in Oregon and Alaska as a stay at home mom. In 2015, she moved to Spokane, WA and began the MBA program at Gonzaga in 2016.
Glorilyn Maw
Glorilyn Maw graduated from Gonzaga University’s civil engineering program. She grew up in Hawai’i and was encouraged by her father to apply her love for math and sciences to a career in civil engineering.
Surrounded by water growing up, it is only natural that she works on surface water management projects that make sure rivers and creeks stay healthy. After working for 15 years on projects throughout the state of Washington, she had an opportunity to start a consulting engineering business with her good friend and fellow Gonzaga Alum, Rocio Peralta. She and Rocio believe in sharing their knowledge with others while solving problems along the way. Engineering allows her to continue to learn new things with each project. She is married to a Gonzaga Alum and has three children.
Kseinya Reyes
Kseinya Reyes is a Principal Software Developer at STCU, a not-for-profit, member-owned financial institution founded in Spokane.
She graduated from Whitworth University in 2014 with degrees in Computer Science and Mathematics, and joined STCU shortly after. For the past 12 years, she's built software she's passionate about. That passion eventually led her back to the classroom, where she earned her Master's degree in Computer Science from Eastern Washington University in 2023.
In 2025, Reyes stepped into leadership as team lead in STCU's Software Development department, where she's been recognized for inspiring her team and creating opportunities for their success. Outside her day-to-day work, she's a familiar face at local universities, where she mentors new professionals and speaks to students about careers in tech. Next year, she'll continue building her leadership skills as a member of Leadership Spokane's Class of 2027.