When Lou Gritzo reflects on his path from a tinkering kid who rebuilt motorcycles to becoming Chief Science Officer at FM, one theme emerges clearly: engineering is about people, problem-solving and preparation for an increasingly complex world. His story also reflects the industry role in engineering education, where leaders from business and research help ensure students are prepared for the workforce.
That same theme is what drew Gritzo — an accomplished researcher and industry leader — into ABET’s orbit. After years of serving on university industry advisory boards, he saw firsthand how critical ABET’s engineering accreditation criteria were to programs and their students. “It was always all hands-on deck when accreditation was coming up,” he recalls. “You could see how important it was, not just to faculty, but to the future of the students. That’s when I realized I wanted to contribute from the ABET side.”
Today, Gritzo serves on ABET’s Industry Advisory Council (IAC), where he brings the perspective of industry to ABET’s quality assurance processes. For him, it’s about bridging industry and academia to ensure that academic programs remain both rigorous and relevant to workforce needs.
Bridging Two Worlds
As someone who once considered a career in academia, Gritzo has always been attuned to the unique strengths and challenges of both worlds. His experience underscores why industry voices are vital in shaping education. “Companies like ours depend on graduates who can hit the ground running,” he says. “ABET provides the quality assurance that ensures programs are preparing students with the right foundation.” The industry’s role in engineering education helps make that foundation directly applicable to workplace expectations.
That foundation isn’t just technical. Gritzo emphasizes the importance of hands-on skills, safety awareness and interdisciplinary collaboration — areas where industry input can sharpen academic programs and preparing students for the future workforce. “We’re seeing a gap in physical, hands-on engineering experience as baby boomers retire,” he says. Through involvement with university advisory boards and ABET program evaluations, industry can help close that gap by encouraging more workforce-driven academic programs that keep education aligned with real-world needs.
Why Industry Participation Matters
Gritzo is quick to acknowledge that finding time for professional service can be challenging in today’s fast-paced environment. But he believes the payoff is significant for individuals and companies.
“Engaging in accreditation-related activities gives professionals a broader perspective that makes them better at their jobs,” he explains. “It’s also part of our duty as professionals to pass along knowledge to the next generation. And you learn from peers across industries, which is incredibly valuable to bring back to your company.”
At FM, he has championed service as part of professional growth, encouraging colleagues to see involvement in organizations like ABET as the industry role in engineering education — an extension of their purpose-driven work.
Preparing Students for the Future Workplace
The world graduates are entering is marked by rapid change — climate risks, new energy systems, digital transformation and shifting social dynamics. For Gritzo, that makes ABET’s role more critical than ever.
“ABET ensures students get the core education they need to succeed in this fast-changing, complex environment,” he says. “It’s about setting them up not just for their first job, but for a lifetime of learning and contribution.”
A Call to Industry
For Gritzo, being part of ABET’s IAC is more than professional service — it’s a way to shape the future of engineering and ensure the next generation of problem-solvers is ready for the challenges ahead, ensuring graduates are job-ready.
His message to fellow industry leaders is simple: get involved. “Academia can’t do this alone. Industry has a responsibility to help guide programs, share expertise, and make sure students are prepared for the workforce they’ll inherit. That’s what makes ABET so important — and why industry voices matter in the process.”