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ST. LOUIS, Feb. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Missouri Society of Professional Engineers has named Ameren Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Thomas R. Voss, a professional engineer with 40 years experience, its Engineer of the Year - the organization's highest honor.  

Before being named Ameren president and CEO, Voss had served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of the corporation since 2004. In 2006, he was elected to the additional position of president and CEO of AmerenUE, Missouri's largest electric utility and third largest distributor of natural gas.  At that time, he assumed the additional responsibilities of nuclear operations and of AmerenEnergy, the power marketing and risk management agent for AmerenUE.

Before that appointment, Voss was responsible for all of the company's non-nuclear generation, fuels and services and related trading and marketing operations, and prior to that assignment, he had been responsible for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of all gas and electric delivery systems and also for all customer care activities for Ameren's operating utility companies.

Voss began his career with Union Electric (now AmerenUE) in 1969 as a student engineer after graduating as an electrical engineer from the University of Missouri-Rolla.  He is active in a range of civic and arts organizations and has been a champion of customer and workplace safety and diversity at Ameren.

Also being recognized at tonight's reception:

• Edward Austin, P.E., who is being honored as Outstanding Professional Engineer-Construction.  Ed Austin is president of Aspen Engineering Sales and Services.  Over the past 15 years has developed Aspen into a company that specializes in the design and supply of MSE (Mechanically Stabilized Earth) retaining walls and geo-structures. Aspen is a leading supplier of storm water quality products.   Austin earned his engineering degree from the Missouri University of Science and Technology and is a licensed engineer in 13 states, including Missouri.  
• Paul Friemel, P.E., named Outstanding Professional Engineer – Industry, is senior sales electrical engineer for Cooper-Bussmann.  He started at Bussmann in 1966 after earning a degree in electrical engineering at the University of Missouri-Columbia.  Friemel has been very active in a range of engineering societies and organizations, has presented seminars on electrical overcurrent protection for almost 40 years, and has been an instructor for classes offered by the St. Louis chapter of IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). In 2004, IEEE presented Friemel its Outstanding Educator Award.  
• Mel Millenbruck, P.E., was named Outstanding Professional Engineer-Private Practice; he is vice president, of URS Corporation.  He is responsible for the operation, financial performance and overall management of URS' St. Louis office and its branch office in Springfield, Mo., with a combined staff of 120.  He has 38 years experience in design and project management of major transportation projects, ranging from freeway and expressway improvement plans to airport runway projects and rail crossing studies.
• Gary Moore, P.E., was named Outstanding Professional Engineer-Education.  The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District Program Manager of Program Planning has in-depth expertise in all areas of watershed management.  He is now managing and leading program planning for the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer Districts combined sewer and sanitary sewer overflow programs.  Moore has nine years experience teaching hydraulics and hydrology at the graduate level at Missouri University of Science and Technology and five years experience teaching undergraduate level hydraulic engineering at Washington University in St. Louis.

Founded in 1937, the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers is the only organization in Missouri that represents all disciplines of engineering professionals. The society's primary objective is to enhance the image and well-being of its members through the advocacy of strong licensure laws and the ethical and competent practice of engineering to protect the public health, safety and welfare.  MSPE is divided geographically into nine chapters and by specialty into five practice areas:  construction, education, government, industry and private practice.  For more information about professional engineers, visit www.mspe.org.

SOURCE Ameren Corporation