From Holly Elbert, April 2014:

I graduated from ISU in 2002 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.  My first job was with Pulley and Associates, which was later absorbed into the Durrant Group.  I left Durrant in 2007 and joined Brooks Borg Skiles and have been here for the past 7 years.  I am a licensed mechanical engineer.   My favorite projects are renovations of older buildings, particularly Proudfoot Bird projects, the predecessor firm to Brooks Borg Skiles.  These include Roosevelt High School (my alma mater), UNI Sabin Hall, ISU MacKay Hall and Trinity United Methodist Church.  My first project was Hanawalt Elementary School, which was also one of my favorites.  My larger projects include Polk County Jail, Des Moines Airport Boiler Replacement, and Iowa Correctional Institution for Women at Mitchellville. The weirdest job I ever worked on was the Snow Monkey Holding Facility at the Blank Park Zoo.

I am an ASHRAE scholarship winner received during my tenure as a student at ISU.  I was awarded the scholarship in 2001. Dan Zaug asked me to join the Board Of Governors, which I did in 2004. After that I served as student activities chair before moving through the chairs.  I have now served on the ASHRAE board for 10 straight years.

During my ASHRAE presidency I was set on winning the silver gavel at CRC, which I did.  CRC that year was in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Because of the loving support of my chapter we also won the Horn Blower Award. I believe this was the first time ever that both of these awards were given to the same chapter at CRC. (Editor’s note: This actually did happen previously, in 2002, during Susan Oltrogge’s term as president.)

The highlight of meetings during my presidency was a visit by Dan Holohan of the renowned Heating Help.Com.  Dan entertained us with his antics on the topic “Heating ‘Round the World”.  Bill Coad, past ASHRAE president, also visited and spoke to the chapter.

I am married with a dog and three cats.  In my free time I enjoy riding my tandem bike with my wife, making pit stops at various bars along the trails.  I also enjoy home improvement projects and rival Susan Oltrogge, past president, for number of power tools owned by a woman.