Celebrating Excellence Member's Choice Award Voting

Initiative

Under the leadership of Don Labbe, POWID's dedicated Executive Committee volunteers undertook the operation of the division, especially the initiative of the annual POWID symposium. They worked with ISA and industry representatives to develop outstanding technical programs and promote the POWID Symposium.

Importance

The ISA POWID symposia are the heart of the Division; technical information and innovation, and networking with the top practitioners of automation within the power industry. 

The POWID symposium provides the forum for power industry problem evaluations, state of the art technical discussions, and successful automation solutions.

Results

Symposium success can be measured by the quality of technical content, attendee satisfaction and vendor participation, financial performance, PDH's and overall esprit de corps. And the POWID symposium excels in all these ways. Attendees have enjoyed exchanges with industry experts. The membership benefits from the published presentations and technical papers (now 22% of the ISA database) shared on the POWID web site. POWID contributes to ISA by helping worldwide members and other professionals solve difficult technical problems.� The Hallmark of innovation for the Power automation industry� is the product of the POWID Executive Committee and its dedicated volunteers.

Initiative

Graham was the WWAC symposium chair in 2012. He completely reengineered and reinvigorated the event. It had been struggling in terms of revenue and attendance for years. Graham developed an extremely detailed business plan, budget and marketing plan for the event and organized a very effective program committee.

Importance

We all understand how critical revenue is to ISA these days. Profitable symposia are critical in this respect. But arguably just as important are the new working relationships build through this event. Graham successfully developed invaluable partnerships with the Water Environment Federation and Florida Section of American Water Works Association.

Results

The symposium made $8k profit on $40k revenue, reversing a 5-year decline. Attendance included 171 attendees, 30 speakers, 15 exhibitors and 8 media partners. The previous 3 years had a combined 130 attendees and zero media partners. In addition to these bottom line results, Graham has created a platform to drive future success. The partnerships with WEF and FSAWWA will provide many future opportunities. The planning documents are a tremendous asset to all Divisions. Finally, the symposium website that Graham managed has generated 28,000 pageviews in the past year and ranks #6 in Google for wastewater treatment plant.�

Initiative

Recruited and organized complete Board of Directors for Chemical and Petroleum Division (ChemPID). Guided Newsletter Editor Rhonda Pelton to publish a newsletter every quarter.

Importance

ChemPID had been a dead division and Prabhu enabled 5 people on the board to generate life and activity to ChemPID Members.

Results

ChemPID now: Publishes a Newsletter every quarter, is hosting live and recorded training webinars, participated in the Analyzer Division and Instrumentation Division Symposia, and is working with the Process Measurement and Control Division to host a joint symposium in 2014.

Initiative

Rob is always looking at new ways to bring in new members, boat cruise at membership meeting.

Importance

This boat cruise in the hopes, will bring in new members, because it is something new to the section.

Results

So far,it looks like the cruise will be a sell out, hoping to bring in new members.

Initiative

Responding to CSE Certification as requested by Engineering Managers from Bechtel, Mustang, Foster Wheeler, S&B Engineering, KBR, Worley Parsons & Jacobs, Houston ISA sponsored preparatory education with study groups & formal CSE Prep exam with Mr. Wilbanks. Also, Houston educated on ISA Standards at meetings, including Ethics training.

Importance

With over 1300 members and over 50% from engineering firms, Houston Section officers met with engineering companies one-on-one across Houston. The most important feedback was the need to provide preparatory education for their engineers, and study groups scheduled after work would be most effective.

Results

Over 60+ engineers attended our General Meeting with speaker Randy Marek presenting "Taking the CSE Exam." Thirty five (35) engineers participated in the ISA Houston Section's CSE study group, which met for 16 weeks, covering a topic each Wed night. Nineteen (19) engineers took the ISAHS co-sponsored CSE Review Course at Bechtel on a Thursday-Saturday. Of the eighteen (18) engineers who took the CSE Exam, sixteen (16) passed the exam.

Initiative

Recognition of 5 years of service as Section Vice President and longstanding instrumental member of the Paducah Section, ISA.

Importance

The Paducah Section, ISA would not be as strong as it is without his leadership and help over the past 28 years. Long past due for recognition.

Results

Has provided fresh ideas and effective leadership for the past 5 years as Section Vice President and continuous leadership and diligent service throughout his 28 years with the section. Has been instrumental in the success of the annual vendor show by providing personal resources and countless hours to the section. Has performed countless hours over the last 3 years or so mailing out the monthly newsletters. Enthusiastically supports the section's endeavors with the local schools and industry professionals to promote technology and learning. Supports other organizations like Math Counts. Attended 90% or more of the section meetings for many years.

Initiative

As the Birmingham Section Treasurer, Jim has put in place a record keeping system and auditing process for the finances of the section over the past four years.  The budget is established and each category is monitored for proper use. The annual report is checked by an outside audit firm.

Importance

The Birmingham Section needed a method to ensure the proper allocation of funds and a way to plan the yearly program.  Section officers often did not know what was included in the annual budget and some activities were not funded to the proper level.

Results

The leadership of the Birmingham Section can now see exactly how the expenses stand with relation to income. This has been underway for the past four years as Jim served as the section treasurer and the results have been outstanding. Our books are up to date and we know where our resources are going which allows us to see our progress and section service to our members. The tax preparation has been simplified and our legal concerns have been eliminated. Jim has worked hard on this improvement to our section operations.

Initiative

Don is always willing to help any student with his knowledge regarding the functions of ISA, and giving advice in the job hunting market.

Importance

This helps in bringing in new members.

Results

Two past students have joined the executive this past year, therefore paving the way for a younger participation.

Initiative

Quyen has been active in assisting in presentation on ISA and it's benefits to features to over 20 schools per year over past 2 years/ helped and worked YAPFEST both years/Worked and helped with NASA recruitment event/ Currently gives presentations on his own.

Attends regular section meetings and BOD mtg.

Importance

Students want to hear from STUDENTS and in particular Eng students from UofH a well respected school and it should be noted Quyen not only volunteers for ISA but holds down jobs and is now involved in Ecobots Competitions with me at the elementary level.

Leads the SEFH this year/focused/driven.

Results

Student involvement increased.

We have more members at UofH than in History of Houston Section.

I have had personal compliments on his work from instructors and from his peers.

Initiative

Mr. Timothy (Tim) Floen,the Industrial Instrumentation and Control instructor@ NWICC(Northwest Ia. Community College),planned and organized the ISA District 6 Student Competition,held on March 30,2012,in Sheldon,Iowa.Thirteen teams from District 6 competed. In addition to coordinating the District 6 competition,Tim Floen assembled four(4) NWICC(IIC-Industrial Instrumentation & Control) teams for this competition.

Importance

The importance of this activity,demonstrates the complete and continuous support for ISA,the Omaha Section,and for the students and their education,within District 6 and NWICC. Tim Floen has pursued teaching Industrial Instrumentation and Control since 2001 at NWICC.This support includes 100% student participation as members of the NWICC Student Section.

Results

Tim Floen lead NWICC @ District 6 Student Competitions,11 times and placed 1st-9 times,2nd once,and 3rd once.NWICC has competed four times at the International Student Competition,placing 7th,4th,3rd(Bronze),and in 2007 won the Silver Medal(2nd).In addition to his Student Section responsibilities,Tim has been an integral part in promoting instrumentation careers. Tim is the official program instructor for IIC and is responsible for recruiting all 1st year students.It has been estimated that Tim Floen has been directly involved in placing 100-125 IIC students in industry.It is noteworthy,that a respectable percentage of graduating NWICC students secure employment prior to graduation and remain ISA members.

Initiative

Graham Nasby is deeply involved with ISA Divisions, Standards, Symposia, and Sections. As WWID Director-elect, he revamped quarterly newsletter. He turned around the ISA water/wastewater symposium (which had lost money for 5+ years). He formed ISA18 WG7 to develop alarming guidance for packaged systems.  He coordinated speakers/tours with Hamilton Section.

Importance

Graham actively encouraged collaboration and excellence across the society.  Seeing a need for leadership in the water/wastewater sector, he built up the WWID and formed partnerships with WEF and AWWA. He actively promoted ISA standards, training, divisions, and symposia to Sections. He recruited numerous Section and Division volunteer leaders.

Results

Graham built his involvement in ISA on technical excellence. In 2012, he wrote 12 technical papers, 15 association news articles, and published quarterly ISA Hamilton and WWID newsletters. As symposium chair, he recruited 20-person committee to turnaround ISA water/wastewater symposium. Result: 171 attendees in 2012 (vs. just 31 in 2011) and a surplus for the first time in 5 years. Contributing member of ISA18, resulting in 3 technical reports published in 2012 (3 more coming in 2013). Now co-chairing ISA18 WG7 on alarming for packaged systems.  President-elect for ISA Hamilton: organized tours/speakers; instrumental in forming new McMaster university student section.

Initiative

Upasana Manimegalai-Sridhar, OSU Student Section President, was the creative and motivating force, yet open to other's directions, for many ideas that came to fruition.  She politely and successfully kept all officers on task. She planned meetings, events, agendas, and scripts. Her term saw our first significant industrial funding and participation.

Importance

Section activities developed broad campus awareness about automation, and specific understanding among members. Over 100 individuals participated in this year's events. The Section grew from 60 to about 100 members. Upasana led about 10 officers and volunteers who played strong contributing roles to make the events happen.

Results

• Newsletter: 20 pages, 9 articles from industry
• Automation Day: 3 speakers, Traffic Signal Automation contest, poster contest, 75 participants
• Evening speakers:
  • Dr. Maurice Wilkins, Yokogawa, 30 participants.
  • Dr. Guoliang Fan, OSU, 30 participants.
• Field trips:
  • OSU Green Seeker, 15 participants.
  • OG&E Smart Grid Control Room (Oklahoma City), 15 participants.
  • Plains All American Pipelines Control Room (Cushing), 15 participants. 
• Events:
  • Networking dinner and poster contest, GE Oil and Gas, 40 participants.
  • OSU Research Week Automation Block, 6 presentations.
• Sponsorships: OSUSGA $450, Yokogawa $2000, GE $1000, ExxonMobil $3000, GeorgiaPacific $500, OSUAFAP $1000, Texas Instruments 10 TI Watches & 100 Code Composer Licenses.

Initiative

During a recent period of transition of leadership in our section, Mr. Blair often filled in for other board members while working to deliver top notch programs.

Importance

The ISA St. Louis section was in serious trouble. Our previous president had all but quit on us, and members were beginning to show fatigue. Mr. Blair's efforts re-energized the section, and helped to bring new leaders on to the board.

Results

Over the past year Mr. Blair has:

• Organized section meetings, programs, and tours. These events included 2 ISA Fellows as speakers, tours of new facilities in the area showing the latest in automation, and multiple new locations for meetings. All of which brought new life to the St. Louis Section.
• Appeared as a guest speaker at other section programs.
• Helped to recruit new leaders for our board.
• Served as a mentor to young members looking to become more involved.

Initiative

To improve CSE PE exam pass rate among members, I organized study groups that met once a week for ten weeks.  My work consisted of preparing study materials and sample problems, distributing these to the group before each session, and helping with the review and solution of the problems.

Importance

Our study sessions, which emphasized problem solving, gave candidates enough practice to get ready for the exam.  Candidates knew what to expect at the exam and knew how to effectively solve the problems in the allotted time.  The contact list that I maintained helped with group communication.

Results

90% of the study group participants who took the exam passed it. Their testimonials indicate that the format, location and frequency helped them enormously in preparing for the exam.  Study materials presented were only related to exam topics.  This helped the group stay focused. Some used these as the main reference materials during the exam.  Many participants felt the study sessions made them stick to a schedule.  Before the sessions they didn't know where to begin or what to study. Overall, this was a great success for ISA Houston section.

Initiative

I recruited Rhonda Pelton as the news letter editor to turnaround ChemPID division. She is a self-starter and a great contributor to the division leadership.

Importance

Newsletters were #1 priority for me as the division director. Rhonda was instrumental in the reinvogration of the division by publishing in 5 news letters that improved division outreach.

Results

A news letter was published every quarter. Over 6000 members in the chempid division benefited from Rhonda's work. She was very instrumental in the division turnaround and outreach.