7 October 2009

Technology, contacts keep all the YAPPERs coming back

By Ellen Fussell Policastro

Shannon Kitchen, from Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT), came to ISA EXPO 2009 to see in person all the instrumentation she learns about in the classroom.

“I walked around with my instructor and saw hands-on what each new thing does,” Kitchen said. “It was really cool because this morning we were looking at AC/DC motor controls. I learned about UPS systems. I walked out here and saw a UPS system and got to see it in person the same day I learned about it.”

Chatting with her colleagues at YAPFEST, Kitchen took advantage of this annual event for students and young professionals from age 18 to 30. YAPFEST celebrates the automation profession by hosting an annual reception for students and professionals who want to learn more about the benefits of a career in automation.

Coming to EXPO also gives students a chance to learn more about the technology in the industry. Last week, as part of an ISA meeting at the Southeast Texas section, Kitchen saw a presentation by Budweiser on controls in beer production. “They know exactly how many yeast are alive and dead using capacitance,” she said.

Speaking of learning about new technology at EXPO, Cliffton Pinson of LIT was most interested in a micro-generator that uses vibration of a motor to generate electricity for a transmitter. “I didn’t know you could do it with such a small vibration,” he said. “I love ISA; there are good networking opportunities that open up your view of what’s out there.”

A first-timer at YAPFEST, Brian Tyllick said he believes he came to the right place to network. “I was laid off Friday,” he said. Tyllick said he came to find out what ISA was all about; he is also hoping to find a job. An electrical engineer from KTI in Houston, Tyllick said the electrical engineering field was limitless “because everything is controlled by electrical engineering. Even in building construction. I’d like to stay in the petrochemical industry, but I’m not tied to it. I wouldn’t mind designing memory chips,” he said.

Michael Turner is trying to make connections to get into the industry—mostly into offshore, working for Chevron. “Right now, I’m driving trucks,” he said. In school at Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT), Turner is graduating this May and hopes to take advantage of the networking opportunities he is finding here at EXPO.

Mark Lawson from Ranken Technical College in St. Louis, Mo., actually found some potential job opportunities this week as part of his participation with ISA. He got involved with his local section for school and started coming to board meetings. “I was contacting local companies so we could advertise their job openings for our section,” he said. “Our ISA section paid for me to come here for contacts. Last night, I made a contact for a systems integrator. They had openings and wanted to interview me.”

A graduate of LIT, Tamara Freasier is now working in the industry as a commissioning admin for Chicago Bridge and Iron. “Were building a liquid natural gas (LNG) [plant] in Sabine Pass, Texas,” she said. Freasier came to EXPO to build on the knowledge she already has. “I want to get exposed to instruments and what they do. I found out there are line-of-sight receivers and transmitters that include laser, and ABB does DCS. I’m familiar with Yokogawa and Foxboro, but I didn’t know about ABB.”