2008 IEEE Annual Election - Region 4

JAMES N. RIESS
(Nominated by Region 4)

Senior Electrical Engineer
Van Sickle, Allen & Associates
Plymouth, Minnesota, USA

James N. Riess is a graduate of California State Polytechnic College, Pomona, California. He earned the B.S.E.E. in 1970.  He has been working as an electrical engineer for 38 years. After graduation, he and his new wife Judy, entered the Peace Corps serving for three years in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, in the Rural Electrification Program.  He has worked for several Architectural/Engineering and Mechanical/Electrical Engineering firms on industrial, commercial, and institutional projects.  Examples of such projects include a major oil pipeline, petrochemical plants, coal fired power generation plants, ethanol plants, office buildings, airport facilities, retail stores, primary and secondary schools, a convention center, and public safety facilities.  Significant overseas experience include rural electrification projects in Brazil and the Philippines and a water pipeline project between the Jordan River and Amman, Jordan.  Mr. Riess is a registered professional engineer in several states. 

IEEE Activities – (S’69-M’70-SM’04) COMMITTEES/BOARDS: Member and Geographic Activities Board (MGA), MGA Students Committee, Past Chair, 2008; Regional Activities Board (RAB), Vice Chair, 2006-07; RAB Student Activities Committee, Chair, 2006-07; Member, 2000-04; RAB Membership Development Committee, Member, 2006-07; RAB Finance Committee, Member, 2006-07; RAB Operating Committee, Member, 2006-07; Potentials Editorial Board, Member, 2006-07; IEEE Tellers Committee, Member, 2007; IEEE-USA Awards & Recognition Committee, Member, 1997-98.  REGION: Region 4, Professional Activities Committees for Engineers (PACE), Chair, 2005-06; Student Activities Committee, Chair, 2000-04; Awards & Recognition Committee, Chair, 1997-99. SECTION:  Twin Cities Section, Section Chair, 1995; Vice Chair, 1994; Treasurer, 1993; Awards & Recognition Committee, Chair,  1999-2003; Member, 1995; Membership Development Committee, Member, 1995; PACE, Chair, 1996-97; Member, 1995, 1997-99; Student Activities Committee, Chair, 2000-04; Member, 1995; Newsletter Editor, 1991-92. CHAPTER: Twin Cities Power Engineering Chapter, Treasurer, 2008. CONFERENCE: Sections Congress ’99, Region 4 Representative, 1998-99. 

IEEE Accomplishments – In 1998 and 1999, I had the opportunity to serve as Region 4 Representative - Sections Congress ’99. Sections Congress ‘99 was held in Minneapolis, Minnesota with the Twin Cities Section as host. I was also a member of the organizing committee for this event.

In 1999, as Twin Cities Section Awards and Recognition Chair, I created new awards requiring a nomination process. These awards included Outstanding Engineer Award, Outstanding Member Award, Outstanding Student Award, and Outstanding Corporate Engineer Award. 

In 2000, I was the recipient of the prestigious 2000 IEEE Millennium Medal. 

In 2000-2004, as Region 4 Student Activities Chair, I revitalized the Region 4 Student Activities Program. I created the Region 4 Student Newsletter for 60 Branches. I restarted Region 4 Student Leadership Training for Student Branch Officers. I restarted the Region 4 Student Paper Contest. I initiated the Region 4 Web Site Contest. I developed the Region 4 Student Conference. 

In 2006-2007, as IEEE RAB Vice Chair – Student Activities and RAB Student Activities Committee (SAC) Chair, I coordinated the implementation of two new contests for students that included the IEEE Darrel Chong Student Activity Award and the IEEE Xtreme 24-hour Programming Contest. 

Statement – I am honored to be nominated for Delegate-Elect/Director-Elect for Region 4. I am confident I can serve and meet the needs of the members of Region 4 based on my industry experience as department manager as well as my IEEE experience in the Section, Region and Regional Activities Board. 

Following are my goals for the Region: 

• Establish ways to gain new members and retain existing ones. 
• Encourage more young engineers from Industry to join the IEEE and become active volunteers. 
• Support and provide assistance to strengthen the Sections, Chapters and Student Branches. 
• Encourage establishment of solid relationships between Sections/Chapters and Student Branches. 
• Establish programs to maintain a larger percentage of student members after graduation and keep them actively involved in IEEE. 
• Create new avenues of communication. 
• Increase the recognition of those who have contributed to IEEE by revitalizing and expanding the Region Awards and Recognition program. 
• Develop prudent ways to improve financial responsibility. 

• Encourage the creation of a historical archive documenting and recognizing past regional activities. 

Associate Professor
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
http://engineering.unl.edu/academicunits/ElectricalEngineering/faculty-staff/vakilzadian.shtml 

Hamid Vakilzadian has been an electrical engineer for over 30 years, working in the power industry for 5 years before continuing his education in computer engineering.  He has an earned doctorate in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Arizona.  Currently he is an associate professor in the Electrical Engineering Department at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln teaching courses in digital systems and conducting research in modeling and simulation of discrete and continuous systems.  In over 23 years of being a member and an active volunteer of IEEE, Dr. Vakilzadian has served the Nebraska Computer Society Chapter, Nebraska Section, Region 4, and the IEEE Education Society in various senior leadership capacities and as a reviewer and organizer of conferences and workshops/tutorials.  Dr Vakilzadian has been a visiting professor at the University of Hamburg, providing tutorials and workshops on various modeling and simulation concepts related to the digital systems.

IEEE Activities – (S’82-M’84-S’85-M’86-SM’91) COMMITTEE/BOARD: IEEE-USA PACE Committee, Member, 2007-08. REGION: Region 4, West Area Chair, 2003-06; Professional Activities Committees for Engineers (PACE), Chair, 2007-08;  Awards Committee, Member, 2003-06;Award Committee, Member, 2003-06. SECTION: Nebraska Section, Chair, 2003; Vice Chair, 2002; Secretary/Treasurer, 2001; Nominations and Appointments Committee, Chair, 2004; Reviewer and judge of Student Senior Designs Projects; 2003-05. CHAPTER: Nebraska Computer Society Chapter, Vice Chair, 1999; Chair, 2000.  SOCIETY: Education Society, Reviewer, 1999-2001. CONFERENCE: Region 4, International Conference on Electro Information Technology (EIT), General Chair and Organizer, 2005; EIT Best Paper Award Reviewer/Judge, 2003-05; International Conference on Simulation in Engineering Education, Organizer and General Chair, 1992-98;  Leadership Skills Workshop, Organizer, 2004-05; Project Management for Engineers Workshop, Organizer, 2004; Power Quality: Dealing with Harmonic Distortion on the Distribution System Workshop, Co-Organizer, 2005; IEEE-USA Annual Meeting, Speaker, 2007-08.  AWARDS: IEEE-USA Regional Professional Leadership Award, 2004; Nebraska Section Award for Leadership, Management, and Contribution to the Section, 2004; Region 4 Conference Committee Awards, 2003-04; Nebraska Section Certificate of Appreciation, 2004; SCS Conference Award, 2000; Western Simulation Multiconference Award for organizing International Conference on Simulation in Engineering Education, 1992. 

IEEE Accomplishments – Being a member of Region 4 for over two decades, I have held leadership roles in student activities, helped with technical and professional contents of the conferences, coordinated the Region’s West Area Section activities, contributed to growth of sections and their participation in Region meetings/activities. Since 2007, as PACE Chair I have supported programs for benefits of preuniversity (K-12), university, and professional members with the number of PACE projects within the Region growing steadily.

I had the privilege of organizing and serving as the general chair of the EIT conference and its related professional workshops in 2005 for the benefit of our members in academia and industry.  The purpose was to further the knowledge of our members and provide them with the opportunities to expand their career and professional goals.  The networking, publicity, and financial return that resulted from the local fundraising and the conference proceedings provided not only a mechanism for Region 4 to provide our members with more professional activities, but also provided an avenue for new membership development while generating considerable surplus for Region, IEEE Nebraska Section, and the University of Nebraska Student Branch. 

Statement – Together we can make it happen! 

I will work diligently with our Region 4 volunteers towards enhancing programs that serve the membership and our profession.  These will include industry relationships, membership/volunteer awareness, recognition, and professional, technical, and educational activities for members and students. 

My goals for Region 4 are to: 

• Grow member programs and employment and career services
• Foster closer relationship between IEEE and industry
• Increase awareness and recognition of IEEE members in industry
• Enhance local IEEE sections’ involvement in university and pre-university activities 

I am honored to have been recognized for my leadership roles and teamwork by IEEE-USA, the Nebraska Section, and other technical and professional organizations.  These awards not only are the results of good volunteer leadership but also motivate and empower future volunteers while providing service to Region 4 and IEEE-USA.  I believe that by working together we can make great things happen!