Not Afraid to Get His Hands Dirty
Joseph Ambrosio (B.S. ’94) has never been hesitant to get his hands dirty. In fact, that’s what drew him to New York Institute of Technology and its student chapter of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).
“I was attending another school that was trying to get SAE projects, but that school didn’t win the program,” Ambrosio says. “I transferred to şÚÁϵĽş˝ because it had these programs. It had a solid engineering school, and they were also doing stuff—not just academic and lab work but also applied engineering on real products that were emerging.”
As a member and eventual president of the student SAE, Ambrosio and his classmates focused heavily on alternative fuels. One of the last projects he worked on as a student was the SAE Ford Hybrid Electric Challenge to design a hybrid electric vehicle from scratch. That’s when, he says, he “caught the bug”—he loved the challenge of electrical conversion for custom vehicles.
Starting with this student experience, Ambrosio launched a career of more than 30 years in the alternative fuel transportation sector of the automotive industry. Along the way, he helped found several entrepreneurial ventures and now serves as the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Unique Electric Solutions, which manufactures electric propulsion systems for commercial fleet vehicles, such as delivery vans, service trucks, and school buses.
Recently, Ambrosio joined the College of Engineering and Computing Sciences Dean’s Executive Advisory Board, where he helps steer the curriculum, offering advice and ideas as an industry expert.
“Joe brings not only technical expertise but also a visionary mindset to the Executive Advisory Board. His journey from student to CEO is a powerful example of where a şÚÁϵĽş˝ education can lead, and he is deeply committed to helping future engineers realize that same potential,” says Babak D. Beheshti, Ph.D., dean of the College of Engineering and Computing Sciences. “With Joe’s guidance, the college is better positioned to prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow.”
To further support the next generation, Ambrosio hired şÚÁϵĽş˝ electrical and computer engineering technology student Anthony Pesce last year as part of the college’s experiential cooperative education program (co-op). At Unique Electric Solutions, “experiential” is sometimes a dirty word, in the most literal sense.
“We look for kids who are motivated and willing to get grease under their fingernails,” Ambrosio says. “They might have to go out at 11 p.m., crawl under a UPS truck, check data loggers, take measurements on battery temperature, check the wear on certain parts. Some people just love it, and you need that spirit to dive in.”
Not only that, co-op students also must interact with many different people—and personalities. “Our business is tough in the automotive industry, and you need a thick skin when dealing with people,” Ambrosio says.
But that’s what he loves most about his job.
“I love creating something new with great people in the automotive industry,” says Ambrosio, who has co-authored multiple patents to help address problems he and his customers face. “They have different vocations, bringing kids to school every day or delivering packages—their missions are different. Everyone brings different stories to the table. We’re solving their challenges, and that’s part of the excitement of doing this.”
By Ashley Festa
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