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2012 Honorees

2012 ISA Fellows

Elevation to the distinguished grade of ISA Fellow is granted to ISA Senior Members in recognition of outstanding achievements in scientific or engineering fields as recognized by ISA peers.

Terrence L. Blevins
Bluebonnet Section
Emerson Process Management, Austin, Texas, USA
For contributions to the development of process control theory, hardware, and software.

About: Blevins has been actively involved in the application and design of process control systems throughout his career. For more than 15 years, he worked as a systems engineer and group manager in the design and startup of advanced control solutions for the pulp and paper industry. Blevins was the team lead for the development of DeltaV advanced control products.  He is the Fieldbus Foundation team lead for function block specification, chairman of ISA104 and the technical advisor for IEC 65E USTAG. Presently, Blevins is a principal technologist in the future architecture team of DeltaV Product Engineering at Emerson Process Management where he has pioneered control using wireless devices. Blevins has authored/co-authored over 70 papers and 45 patents on process control, and several books including the ISA bestseller books, “Advanced Control Unleashed” and “Control Loop Foundation – Batch and Continuous Processes.” He is a member of Control Magazine’s Process Automation Hall of Fame. Blevins holds a MSEE from Purdue University.

Gerald F. Gilman, P.E.
Cincinnati Section
JFG Technology Transfer LLC, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
For developing standards and training for boiler control and advances in burner management systems engineering.

About: Gilman is a renowned expert on boiler control and burner management systems. He now enjoys the good life as a retired associate of Procter & Gamble where he continues to provide consulting services.

Jin Jiang, Ph.D., P.Eng.
Toronto Section
The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
For contributions and leadership in education and training in control and instrumentation theories for application in energy systems.

About: Jiang, who is well known for his engineering contributions in the area of control and instrumentation, firmly believes that teaching and training of future scientists and engineers is a part of the obligation of any practicing engineer, and an integral part of an engineering professor. Over the last 20 years, he has won several teaching awards from student bodies (such as IEEE and Undergraduate Student Association), at Faculty of Engineering level, as well as at the university level. Jiang holds a Doctoral degree from University of New Brunswick, Canada. He is currently a Senior Industrial Research Chair Professor in the area of control, instrumentation and electrical systems for nuclear power plants.

Daniel J. Lee
Power Industry Division
ABB Inc. Power Generation, Wickliffe, Ohio, USA
For advancing state of the art applications in plant wide automation of industrial and large fossil fired power plants.

About: Lee is the author of Human Engineering: Human-Machine Interface, Standard Handbook of Power Plant Engineering, 2nd edition, Section 5.6, McGraw Hill, 1998 and several papers forISA POWID/EPRI C&A Conferences. Lee holds a B.E.E from Cleveland State University. Lee is currently a Senior Consulting Engineer for North America, Power Generation division of ABB Inc.

Mark J. Nixon
Bluebonnet Section
Emerson Process Management, Austin, Texas, USA
For contributions to the development of process control and wireless technologies.

About: Nixon has held several positions in both research and development at Emerson Process Management in Austin, TX. As Manager of Future Architecture and Applied Research at Emerson Process Management in Austin TX, Nixon’s current research includes control, data analytics, wireless, low power, virtualization, operator interfaces, and advanced graphics. Nixon has co-authored two books: “WirelessHART Real-Time Mesh Network for Industrial Automation” and “Control Loop Foundation for Batch and Continuous Processes”. He has also made contributions to the Industrial Instruments and Controls Handbook and Essentials of Modern Measurements and Final Elements in the Process Industry. Nixon holds more than 75patents. He Is a member of Control Magazine’s Process Automation Hall of Fame. Nixon holds a BSEE from University of Waterloo.

Nicholas P. Sands, P.E.
Wilmington Section
DuPont, Newark, Delaware, USA
For development of global alarm monitoring applications, interlock bypassing, and alarm suppression safety standards.

About: Sands, a leading expert in process control technology in the areas of Process Automation, Safety, and Alarm Management, has authored numerous papers on the subjects and has been the recipient of several awards for his contributions to the field of alarm management and process automation. Sands hold a BS ChE from Virginia Tech. Sands is currently a Manufacturing Technology Fellow in the Protection Technologies business at E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company in Wilmington, Delaware.

Belle R. Upadhyaya, Ph.D., P.E.
Oak Ridge Section
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
For research and development on nuclear power plant sensing and control systems leading to enhanced, fault tolerant, power reactor operation methods.

About: Upadhyaya has been the principal investigator of several research projects including power plant performance monitoring and advanced controls, signal validation, automated diagnosis of valve systems, nondestructive testing and fault diagnosis, aging studies of sensors and equipment, life prediction, fault detection and isolation of sensors and field devices, autonomous control of space reactor systems, and small and medium reactors. A prolific contributor to the field of critical sensor diagnostics and other areas of instrumentation and control, Upadhyaya has published over 320 articles in scientific journals and conference proceedings, chapters in handbooks, and is the author or co-author of over 130 research reports. Upadhyaya is an elected Fellow of the American Nuclear Society (ANS), an elected Fellow of the International Society of Automation (ISA), and a life senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). He is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT), Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (INMM), American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), and Society for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals (SMRP). He is a registered professional engineer in the State of Tennessee. Upadhyaya is currently a professor of Nuclear Engineering at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He received his Ph.D. degree in Engineering Sciences (Systems Science) from the University of California at San Diego.

Jeffery Williams
Power Industry Division
Emerson Process Management, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
For development of embedded advanced control applications for large utility fossil fired boilers to optimize the combustion process while minimizing combustion emissions.

About: Williams is currently the Business Development and Marketing Manager for SmartProcesstm Solutions for Emerson Process Management’s Power & Water Solutions. He is involved with the successful applications of the SmartProcess products targeted to help the power industry meet the difficult challenges of efficient operation and reduced emissions footprints. Williams also works to develop new applications for this key element of the Emerson power plant application solution portfolio. He has been active in the Power industry for over 29 years. Williams holds two patents and is the author of numerous papers on emission equipment optimization. Williams holds an electronics engineering degree from the Ohio Institute of Technology and certificates from the Center for Executive Education at the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz Graduate School of Business.

Excellence in Leadership

Recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to the industry and/or profession to advance automation.

Paul J. Galeski, P.E., CAP
MAVERICK Technologies LLC, Columbia, Illinois, USA
For creating a paradigm shift in systems integration, establishing and leading two cutting-edge firms to global prominence in less than 10 years, and for advancing automation through technical and strategic business solutions.

Excellence in Analytical Technical Innovation

Endowed by the ISA Analysis Division
Recognizes an individual who has played a critical role in the conception, design, and/or implementation of an innovative product, process, and/or service in the analytical technology field.

Phil C. Harris
HariTec, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
For developments in ultra violet spectroscopy that have advanced both process and emissions monitoring capabilities.

About: Harris is Director and co-owner of Whiteshell Technology/HariTec and President of HariTec, a division of Whiteshell Technology. Harris’ responsibilities include development of analytical instrumentation for industrial process applications and the marketing of new process instrumentation solutions for the hydrocarbon processing and chemical industries. Harris holds a Bachelors in Physics and Master’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Manitoba

Excellence in Individual Technical Innovation

Endowed by UOP
Recognizes individuals who have played a critical role in the conception, design, and/or implementation of an innovative product, process and/or service. May be presented to multiple (up to four) honorees.

Shankar B. Baliga, Ph.D. 
General Monitors, Lake Forest, California, USA
For contribution to the development of an intelligent optical flame detection technique which reduces false alarm, using Artificial Neural Network processing.

Robert L. Farmer
Siemens Industry Inc., Bartlesville, Oklahoma, USA
For development of a unique & reliable communication method for Process Analyzers.

Excellence in Corporate Technical Innovation

Recognizes the company whose contributions and innovations have enhanced social value.

Kenexis Consulting Corporation, Columbus, Ohio, USA
For contribution to solve technical and economic challenges --- the development of Effigy™  Fire & Gas Systems performance modeling software.

Excellence in Technical Presentation

Recognizes the author(s) of the most outstanding paper, article, presentation, or document published and/or presented on behalf of ISA that introduces a new technology or explains an existing automation process.

Mitchell Johnson
Carolina Golden Section
JMS Southeast, Inc., Statesville, North Carolina, USA

Allan G. Gilson
Kansas City Section 
Black & Veatch, Inc., Olathe, Kansas, USA
 

For the paper “The New ASME Thermowell Standard and Optimal Thermowell Design,” presented at ISA Automation Week 2011 in Mobile, Alabama.

Excellence in Education

Recognizes an individual who has developed and/or enhanced established educational programs to advance the automation profession in educational institutions.

Gangbing Song, Ph.D. 
University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
For advancing the automation profession through education.

Excellence in Enduring Service

Recognizes dedicated volunteer service to the Society at the grassroots level. May be presented to multiple (up to five) honorees.

Carlos Liboni
Sertaozinho Section 
TECHIND, Sertaozinho, Brazil

About: Liboni has been a member of ISA since 1998. Liboni, who is credited with literally creating the local District and leveraging ISA in South America, has demonstrated dedication and commitment to ISA by his continuing active involvement and serving multiple terms as Strategic Planning Chairman, South American Region District Vice President, and District Nominator Secretary. Liboni is President of TECHIND in Sertaozinho, Brazil. 

Harriet A. Radvansky
Cleveland Section 
Franklyn W. Kirk Co., Inc., Berea, Ohio, USA
 

About: Radvansky has been a member of ISA for over 30 years. She has served in numerous leadership positions during her tenure and has demonstrated dedication and commitment to ISA by her continuing active involvement. Radvansky currently serves on the Cleveland Section Governing Board in addition to several other officer positions. Radvansky is V.P. of Franklyn W. Kirk Co., Inc., of Berea, Ohio.

Arunachalam Ramanathan
Maharashtra Section 
Reliance Ports and Terminals Ltd. (RPMG Div.)., Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

About: Ramanathan has been an active member of ISA since 1973 and presently he is senior life member. He was instrumental in establishing ISA in India. In fact he was among the first five members in the entire country. Ramanathan has served in numerous leadership positions during his tenure and has demonstrated commitment to ISA by continuous active involvement at all levels. Over the years, he has been active in the local chapters at Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai and is credited for re-establishing a new and revitalized ISA District as District Vice President. His district consists of 17 countries across Asia pacific including Australia, Japan and China. He has represented the Maharashtra Section as a Society Delegate, held the offices of Treasurer, Secretary and eventually District Vice President. He has also served on the ISA Executive Board for over three years. Professionally, Ramanathan is the Senior Executive Vice President - Projects at Reliance Ports And Terminals Ltd. Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Francis X. White
Boston Section 
Hitech Controls Inc., Spencer, Massachusetts, USA
 

Douglas Zimmerman
Houston Section 
McJunkin Red Man Corp., Houston, Texas, USA

For dedicated and enduring service to the Society.

Excellence in Society Service

Recognizes distinguished and dedicated volunteer service to the Society.

Declan Lordan
Ireland Section 
Douglas Control & Automation, Cork, Ireland
For distinguished leadership and dedicated service to the Society.

Division Excellence

Recognizes an ISA Division for development and/or execution of programs and/or services to advance the mission of the Society.

Analysis Division
For the deployment of innovative ideas and technologies in the operation of the Analysis Division Symposium and significantly exceeding financial expectations.

Section Excellence

Recognizes an ISA Section for development and/or execution of programs and/or services to advance the mission of the Society.

ISA Instituto Tecnologico de Minatitlan Student Section (Mexico)
For creating an Expo that drew students, companies, and professionals to the Institute to strengthen the knowledge of automation through direct contact with professionals.

Special Recognition –

Exceptional Student Mentor

Robert Glenn Allen, posthumous presentation
Southern Polytechnic State University, Marietta, Georgia, USA
For dedication and devotion in mentoring of students.

(Member’s Choice candidates are nominated by the Members and honorees are selected by vote of the members.)

Division Leader of the Year

Recognizes a Division leader whose activities in the previous year, in an innovative way, have provided exceptional value to a Division, or enhanced an existing conference and/or symposia, or contributed to the development of a new conference and/or symposia.

William A. Stange
Aerospace Industries, and Test Measurements Divisions 
U.S. Air Force, AFRL/RQTI, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio, USA 

About: Stange was instrumental in creating five new Standards sub-committees in the area of Aerospace Turbine Engine Testing Technology. This initiative matches one of the outstanding capabilities of the ISA organization, the development of Standards, with the needs of the Aerospace Industries Division membership. These standards will aid ASD membership in performing their assignments, in acquiring new business, and in establishing new areas of competency. Mr. Stange is an ISA Fellow, and an internationally recognized Leader in the development of Turbine Engine Test Cell Instrumentation at the Aerospace Systems Directorate of the United Sates Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio.

Section Leader of the Year

Recognizes a Section leader whose activities in the previous year, in an innovate way, provided exceptional value to a local Section.

Nilangshu Dey
Qatar Section 
Qatar Petroleum, Mesaieed, Qatar

Standards Leader of the Year

Recognizes a standards committee member whose activities in the previous year have contributed to the development and advancement of industry standards.

Bridget Fitzpatrick
ISA18 and ISA101 Standards Committees 
Wood Group Mustang, Katy, Texas, USA

About: Fitzpatrick has been active in standards development since the early 1990s, working on alarm management beginning with the ASM Consortium, through publication of ISA18 and currently with ISA101. Fitzpatrick is clause co-editor on two clauses of ISA101. Her continuing involvement in the development of these standards (two as voting member) furthers the science of Abnormal Condition Management and Human Factors as they relate to process industry safety advances the goals of ISA. Fitzpatrick is Practice Lead for HMI, Abnormal Condition Management and Human Factors Engineering at Wood Group Mustang, Katy, Texas.

Student Mentor of the Year

Recognizes a member whose activities in the previous year have promoted and encouraged student involvement in automation programs.

Mary Cannon
Houston Section 
Tyco Flow Control, Sugar Land, Texas, USA

About: Mary Cannon has worked over 20 years for Tyco Valves and Controls as the Business Development Manager for their Instrumentation Product Line. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Tulane University New Orleans, Louisiana. Tyco has supported her “active role” in the International Society of Automation.

Cannon has served as District 7 DVP, Nominator, Student Section Liaison, Chair of the Automation Week Career Day Event, PDD active member, Director of Sales and Marketing Division in the past, International Student Games Events over the years, Honors and Awards Committee and Chair of Council of Student Affairs. Cannon was the first female President of ISA Houston Section 1990-91, and she is a Senior Member of ISA. In 2003 Cannon received the Distinguished Society Service Award from International Society of Automation. In 2006 she received the Don W. Thompson Award for tireless exemplary work with students and as a role model for young engineers. In 2012 she was voted Mentor of the Year by students in District 7 who appreciate her mentorship and continued interest in student careers and their overall well-being.

Most recently, Cannon has had involvement with Society of Women Engineer, ISA P/L subsections, Gulf Coast Measurement Society and IEEE, The Humane Society and Fort Bend Women’s Shelters.

Volunteer Leader of the Year

Recognizes a member who in the previous year has demonstrated exceptional leadership of a task force, committee, or board at any level within the Society (Section, Division, District, Department, Executive) resulting in a specific positive outcome.

Antonio Alves
Montreal Section 
CMC Co., Dollard De Ormeaux, Quebec, Canada