2009 IEEE Vice President - Member and Geographic Activities
Joe Lillie received the B.S. in Electrical Engineering (1974) and the M.S. in Telecommunications (1997) from the University of Southwestern Louisiana. He has 35 years experience in telecommunications engineering and management. Joe was employed by BellSouth Telecommunications from 1973 to 2002. During these years, Joe held positions of Design Engineer, Planner, District Support Manager, Engineering Manager and Planning Manager. When Joe retired in 2002 he was on the Louisiana BellSouth State Staff providing engineering and construction support. In 2003 Joe joined NorthStar Communications Group where he served as the Director of Corporate Quality. In September 2005 Joe returned to BellSouth (now AT&T) working on Hurricane Katrina restoration. During his professional career Joe has attended numerous training sessions on telephony, management, leadership contract administration, and quality management. Joe has been married to Debbie for 36 years. They have two children, both Electrical Engineering graduates of ULL, two grandsons and two granddaughters.
IEEE Activities – (S’72-M’73-SM’87)
OFFICES: IEEE Board of Directors 2000-01, 2005-06, 2008; IEEE Executive Committee, 2005-06, 2008; IEEE Vice President Member and Geographic Activities 2008; IEEE Treasurer 2005-06; Member and Geographic Activities Board 2008 Chair; Regional Activities Board 2000-01, 2003-04, RAB Director 2000-01, RAB Treasurer 2003-04; IEEE-USA Board of Directors, 1998-02; IEEE-USA Vice President, Professional Activities, 1998-99; IEEE-USA Secretary/Treasurer, 2002.
COMMITTEES/BOARDS: Finance Committee, 2002-08; Investment Committee, 2005-06; Insurance Committee, 2005-07; Compensation Committee, 2005-06; Employee Benefits Committee, 2005-06; RAB Operating Committee 2003-04, RAB Finance Committee 2003-04; National Engineers Week Committee Chair 2003-04; IEEE-USA Operating Committee, 2001-02, 1998-99; Presidential Blue Ribbon Committee on Board and Governance, 2000-01; Infrastructure Oversight Committee, 2000-01, 2007-08; Initiative Review Ad Hoc Committee, 2001; Individual Benefits and Services Committee, 2000-07; PACE, Council Chair, 1998-99; USAB PACE, Council Vice-Chair, 1996-97; PACE, Regional Activities Committee, 1992-97; PACE Regional Activities Committee, Chair, 1996-97; PACE Regional Activities Committee, Vice-Chair, 1993-95; IEEE-USA Professional Activities Conference Committee, Chair, 1998; PACE Conference Committee, 1994-98; Vice-Chair, 1996; PACE Divisional Activities Committee, 1996-97.
REGIONS: Region 5: Director, 2000-01; Past Director, 2002-03; Executive Committee, 1988-05; East Area Chair, 1988-91; PACE, Chair, 1992-95; Quality Coordinator, 1996-99; E-Mail, Coordinator, 1990-96; Audit Committee, 1987.
SECTIONS: Lafayette: Executive Committee, 1975-81, 1985-96; Chair, 1979; Vice Chair, 1978; Treasurer, 1976-77; Membership Chair, 1995-97.
AWARDS: Third Millennium Medal, 2000; Region 5 Outstanding Member, 1996; USAB Regional Professional Activities Award, 1996; IEEE-USA Citation of Honor 2003.
POSITION STATEMENT
It has been an honor to serve as the Vice President, Member and Geographic Activities (MGA) and Chair of the MGA Board for 2008. I thank you for your consideration of allowing me to continue in this position for a second year.
Having served for several years at the board level in the IEEE I fully understand the qualifications, commitments and time required of this position. I look forward to working with other volunteers as we continue the implementation of MGA and continue to grow the IEEE to ensure that we remain the greatest professional technical society in the world. I understand that IEEE is a very diverse group of individuals with diverse views. As with other IEEE leadership positions I will continue to listen to all views and work hard to solve the issues facing the IEEE.
My priorities of this position are as follows:
Member Engagement – Over the past several years we have lost the focus on the member. As we continue to grow the institute is it important that we restore this focus and fully engage all members of the IEEE. This engagement includes not only all current touch points between the member and the IEEE but also the opportunities that we create for member engagement by analysis of member information and recommending engagement opportunities for the members. This same approach can and will be used to move non-members into the member ranks.
Leadership Training and Development – Discussions within the MGA Strategic Direction and Environmental Assessment Committee have identified that a major key to the future success of IEEE is leadership development. Recent visits that I have made to Regions and Sections have indicated the same. As a result of there activities we have proposed the creation of the IEEE Center for Leadership Excellence. This center will develop and deploy leadership training to the IEEE leadership starting with the Director-Elects and the GOLD Committee then extending to all Regional and Section leaders. Once training modules are developed and deployed these modules can be provided to all members as a member benefit.
Region and Section Enhancements – It is critical to the success of the MGA that we expand the MGA concepts and processes to the Regions and Sections. The current VTools Project must be completed. In addition, Region and Section enhancements will require new and revised processes and I will work with the Directors and Director-Elects to ensure that all views are obtained and utilized. The key linkage to the member is via the Geographical Unit and if we expect to increase member engagement we must enhance the processes and linkages that create this engagement.
Many additional changes are required to complete the MGA transition. I think that I have the experience, knowledge, skills and commitment to continue to lead the team in this transition.
I thank you for your support and I look forward to working with each of you in the future.
