Barbara has her degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Buffalo (SUNYAB).  She worked more than 27 years at Praxair (formerly Linde-Union Carbide) ultimately working as a Global Leader for Excellence in Operations and Advanced Control Systems.  In 2006, she retired to Lake County, along with her husband astronomer Edward Giannelli.  It was Edward’s involvement as a Taylor docent that introduced Barbara to our Lake County Gem. Barbara’s love of science and children led her to accept the position of Taylor Observatory Coordinator in 2008. While coordinator, at Taylor she secured funding for upgrades to the Norton Planetarium, for solar energy installation and for purchase of new technologies for the classroom.  Barbara initiated the “Future Astronomers” and “FIRST” Robotics STEM programs at Taylor.  Community donations and grants were used to purchase telescopes for winning students and 20 robot kits and laptops for robotics camps. Barbara received the Stars of Lake County Women of the Year Award in 2014.