UNLV IEEE Students touring CO2 Monitoring's Manufacturing Facility in Las Vegas

President Ronald Longley had the opportunity to engage with IEEE students in November 2024 through his “Engineering Excellence” keynote series, followed by a personal invitation to tour CO2 Monitoring’s manufacturing facility. This experience provided students with a firsthand look at the company’s the history and evolution of CO2 Monitoring, cutting-edge innovations in CO2 detection technology, and how they could potentially contribute to groundbreaking advancements in the gas industry.

Ronald shared insights into the industries the company serves, including restaurants, bars, cannabis growhouses, stadiums, and more, highlighting the real-world impact of CO2 safety solutions and the exciting career opportunities available in this field.

UNLV November Tour Recap

The facility tour was an eye-opening experience, allowing students to witness the full cycle of CO2 Monitoring’s technology from concept to manufacturing. They gained valuable insights behind developing the Aerosphere® CO2 gas detection safety systems and tank measurement tools, while also observing the precision and expertise involved in device manufacturing firsthand.

With guidance from the company’s head engineer, Paxton, students explored the intricate technical components of the monitoring system. Meanwhile, Valentina, the inventory and manufacturing manager, demonstrated the detailed production processes that ensure product reliability and compliance. This immersive experience bridged the gap between classroom theory and real-world engineering applications, reinforcing the critical role of CO2 data logging and monitoring across various industries.

A First Step Into the Professional World

As a result of this initiative, CO2 Monitoring, LLC onboarded three promising interns: Katie Whalon, an electrical engineering senior and President of the UNLV IEEE organization; Giovanni "Gio" DiLisio, an electrical engineering senior; and Shana Mastoon, a computer engineering senior. These students have since been actively contributing to the company’s ongoing projects, applying their technical knowledge while gaining practical industry experience.

The overarching goal of these events was to help students recognize the importance of CO2 monitoring and its intersection with multiple disciplines, including engineering, entrepreneurship, and regulatory compliance. 

As they progress in their internships, Katie Whalon, Giovanni DiLisio, and Shana Mastoon are reflecting on their journey at CO2 Monitoring, gaining invaluable hands-on experience and developing a deeper appreciation for the engineering innovations that drive safety and efficiency in the industry.

Katie Whalon, Electrical Engineering Senior and President of the UNLV IEEE Organization

Tell us about yourself. 

My name is Katie Whalon, and I am an Electrical Engineering student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. I previously built a career in hospitality, specializing in group and event services. However, my desire for a more technical career path led me to return to school, a decision I am truly grateful for. Throughout my studies, I have enjoyed exploring the technologies that shape our world and the engineering principles behind their design and assembly. I am excited to continue expanding my knowledge and skills as I progress in my career.

What projects are you currently working on? Any learning experience you want to highlight?

Under the engineering team's supervision, the interns are collaboratively working on translating one of the CO2 Monitoring units into a different programming language. As an intern, this opportunity is particularly exciting because it allows us to apply techniques learned in school to real-world projects, such as enabling button navigation through on-screen menus and adjusting the color of the device's LEDs to indicate warning levels. I am happy to be involved in the early stages of this project and contributing to its development.  

What is an unexpected lesson you've learned from working directly on technology updates and developing new innovations?

During my internship at CO2 Monitoring, I have gained a deeper appreciation for the importance of collaboration and continuous skill development within a team, especially when advancing new innovations and implementing technology updates. Shana, a fellow intern, and I have previously worked together as project partners in an academic setting, where we typically used our individual strengths to complete our collective tasks. However, this internship has challenged us to step outside our comfort zones while still providing mutual guidance and support. This experience has reinforced the value of having a well-balanced and supportive team, particularly when managing projects under tight deadlines.  

How did your experience at CO2 Monitoring change the way you approach problem-solving in engineering?

Working on projects at CO2 Monitoring has reinforced the importance of collaboration in effective problem-solving. When interns encounter challenges after exhausting all available solutions (to our knowledge), we seek guidance from engineers or collaborate with each other to develop alternative approaches. This process either refines our current direction or leads to the creation of entirely new solutions. Additionally, observing experienced engineers has been invaluable in enhancing my problem-solving skills, as they possess a broader range of strategies and expertise.

What advice would you give to other students interested in working in this field?

Embrace the unknown and the challenges that come with being in engineering. The fields of engineering are vast and can often feel overwhelming, but by welcoming new information and experiences, you will continuously grow as an engineer and become a more valuable team member. 

Giovanni DiLisio, Electrical Engineering Senior

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Giovanni DiLisio and I am a current Electrical Engineering student here at UNLV. I was born and raised in Las Vegas and went to Desert Oasis High School. I was a part of the Furniture and Cabinet Making program at school for four years, where I developed an intense love for building, fixing, and designing things. Because of this, I contemplated going to a trade school or to be a skilled apprentice, but I ultimately decided to attend University and study electrical engineering for which I am very grateful and proud of. I always strive to have a well rounded education in many disciplines and practices.

What projects are you currently working on? Any learning experience you want to highlight?

At CO2 Monitoring, the projects which I have worked on have been alongside the other Interns and the engineering team. In particular one project that has been the most rewarding for me was to make a new PCB design. Engineering gave me the specifications and its purpose and I was able to design a PCB and have the product prototypes made. Personally, it was a very awesome moment to be able to test and assemble the circuit boards I helped create. It is very empowering as you can physically see the impact you are making.

How has working with CO2 sensor technology at CO2 Monitoring broadened your understanding of engineering in safety and compliance?

After interacting with the Aerosphere products, I realized how extremely robust and versatile that the CO2 safety equipment needs to be to maintain constant reliability and perform its critical life saving duties because CO2 accidents are silent and unexpected. It brings a new level to safety compliance as I was familiar with OSHA standards and machinery safety.

What was the most surprising or eye-opening real-world application of CO2 monitoring technology you learned about? 

Before working at CO2 monitoring I was unaware of the technology, so to me the biggest surprise is that the technology is everywhere, and I have just overlooked it. For example I have noticed CO2 Monitoring products for the first time in places I have been countless times. I feel that it is very eye opening because it is a technology that is often unnoticed. So it is even more impactful because it saves lives and prevents accidents not only in my local community but beyond. 

What advice would you give to other students interested in working in this field? 

My advice is to never stop learning and to not limit yourself. My personal mantra is that every expert learns something for the first time, so why can't you also?

Shana Mastoon, Computer Engineering Senior

Tell us about yourself.

Hi, I’m Shana! I’m a returning student pursuing a bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering. After spending several years working in the financial field, I discovered my passion for technology and engineering after attending a NASA tour. This inspired me to go back to school, transfer to UNLV, and now I’m in my final semester. It’s been an exciting journey, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue gaining hands-on experience through this internship.

What projects are you currently working on? Any learning experience you want to highlight?

I’m currently working on coding functionality for one of the CO2 monitoring products, which involves developing menu displays, controlling LED indicators, and implementing data transmission to output the sensor's readings. This project has given me valuable practical experience with microcontroller programming, understanding hardware-software interaction, and learning the importance of clean, well-tested code.

What was the most challenging technical concept or skill you encountered so far, and how did you work through it?

Transitioning from a classroom setting to real-world engineering problems has been one of the biggest challenges. In school, problems are accompanied with a background lecture and textbook, and are generally structured with clear solutions. However, in real-world projects, you encounter open-ended problems with no predefined answers. I’ve learned to be resourceful, collaborate with peers and mentors and ask lots of questions!

How did your hands-on experience with soldering and translating from Assembly to C+ deepen your understanding of the practical application of engineering principles in real-world scenarios?

This hands-on experience showed me the importance of precision and attention to detail in both hardware assembly and software development. One of the most valuable lessons has been learning how to troubleshoot and debug issues when my code isn’t functioning as expected. Writing and testing my code on physical hardware has strengthened my problem-solving skills and taught me how critical testing, validation, and iterative improvements are in real-world engineering.

What advice would you give to other students interested in working in this field?

Don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone. Working with new hardware components or a coding language that you aren’t proficient in can be intimidating, but hands-on experience is where you gain the most knowledge and confidence. It’s ok to not know everything, as long as you come with a “ready to learn” attitude and a willingness to ask questions. Overcoming these challenges will lead to better problem-solving skills and ultimately to being a better engineer.

CO2 Monitoring extends its heartfelt thanks to the UNLV Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering, as well as Katie Whalon, Giovanni DiLisio, and Shana Mastoon for their contributions and commitment to innovation. Their hands-on experience and dedication to advancing safety and efficiency in the industry have been invaluable.

For more information on how CO2 Monitoring can support your projects or to explore potential opportunities, please reach out to J.R. Esguerra at  jresguerra@aerospheremonitoring.com.