2007 IEEE Annual Election

GARY L. BLANK
(Nominated by IEEE-USA)

President
Engineering Update Institute
Plato Center, Illinois, USA
http://drblank.com/mal.htm

Gary Blank received a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1959 from Illinois Institute of Technology, a Master of Science Degree in 1960 from the University of Idaho, and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in 1963 from the University of Wisconsin. All degrees are in Electrical Engineering. He was a Principal Staff Engineer at Honeywell, Litton Guidance and Control Systems, and Teledyne Systems.  He was a full-time Professor of Electrical Engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology, Northern Illinois University, Marquette University; and part-time at U.C.L.A. and the University of Florida.  He has been a successful self-employed consultant in industry for 35 years to over 30 client companies including Lucent, Hamilton-Sundstrand, GMAC Electronics Division, Rockwell-Collins, Northrop-Grumman, Hughes, Unisys, and the U.S. Navy, in the areas of Controls, Brushless Motors, Power Electronics, DSP, and Navigation and Guidance.  He has published many technical papers. He is a Life Senior Member of the IEEE.

IEEE Activities – (S’56-M’63-M’71-SM’89-LS’04) COMMITTEES/BOARDS:   Individual Benefits and Services Committee, Member-at-Large, 2001-02; Educational Activities Board, Engineering Skills Assessment Program, 1992-93; IEEE-USA Board, Member, 2003-04; RAB Student Activities Committee, Member, 1989-94;  IEEE-USA: IEEE-USA Member Activities, Vice President, 2003-04; Member, 2007;  IEEE-USA Operating Committee, 2003-04;  Alliance of IEEE Consultants Networks, Member, 1996-97; National Chair 1998-2001; Member 2002-07; Pre-College Education Committee Member, 2003-04;  Awards and Recognition Committee: Member, 2004; Vice President, 2003; Communications Committee: Member Activities Vice President, 2004-05; Vice President, 2003-04; Employment and Career Services Committee: Vice President, 2003; Ex-Officio, 2004; Individual Benefits and Services Committee: IEEE-USA Liaison, 2005-07; Member, 2001-02.  REGION: Region 4 Student Activities, Chair, 1986-91; Region 4 Major Conferences, Chair, 1987-91; Region 4 Representative and Member of the Midcon Board of Directors, 1987-91;  Midcon Conference and Convention, Chair, 1991;  Region 4 Student Paper Contest, Chair, 1984-86.  SECTION:   Rock River Valley Section: Awards and Recognition Committee Chair, 1985-87; Student Activities Chair, 1988-89.  STUDENT BRANCH: Faculty Counselor, NIU IEEE Student Branch, 1982-86; S-PAC Presenter, 1991-2007. AFFINITY GROUPS: Alliance of IEEE Consultants Networks: Ex-Officio Member, 2004; Vice President, 2003; Chair, 1999-2002; Member, 2002; Founder/Chair, Chicago/Rockford IEEE Consultants Network, 1996-2003; Founder, Consultants Networks in Several Sections.

IEEE Accomplishments – I have been invited by many Sections (within and outside of the USA) to do training seminars on “How To Start or Expand a Successful Consulting Practice” and “How To Start a Consultants’ Network” and “Consulting – An Exciting Way To Practice Engineering”.  As a result of these seminars I have been involved in the creation and start-up of more than a dozen IEEE Consultants’ Networks.  I have helped many members make the transition to consulting, part-time or full-time.  I have helped many professors to find consulting clients.  I have helped many consultants to find assignments and clients.  

In addition to writing a chapter on “How To Start A Consultants’ Network”, I was asked to write the introduction to the publication “The Best of IEEE-USA Today’s Engineer – On Consulting”, published in 2005.

Statement – Member-at-Large (MAL) is a very important position on the IEEE-USA Board of Directors.  The MAL represents the entire IEEE-USA membership including those who are in industry and are employed, unemployed, retired, self-employed, entrepreneurs, and those who are in academia.  My understanding and awareness of the current situations and challenges facing all of our members, and my extensive experience in industry as an employee, as a self-employed full-time consultant in industry, as an educator, and in a variety of IEEE activities, uniquely qualify me to represent our membership as their Member-at-Large. As the voice of the members I will communicate their desires to the members of the Board. Working in harmony with the other leaders, I will initiate actions and activities to continue to improve the value and benefits of our IEEE membership.

JEAN M. EASON
(Nominated by IEEE-USA)

Consultant
Fort Worth, Texas, USA

I received my BS in EE from the University of Texas in 1978, an MS in EE from Southern Methodist University in 1984 and an MBA from Texas Christian University in 1989. My early career focused on the aerospace industry and I spent fifteen years working in avionics systems design and developing advanced cockpit displays for military and commercial, fixed and rotary wing aircraft. I am self-employed, working with clients on specialized applications for small businesses and in technical communication and documentation.

My time in aerospace gave me particular insight into the issues affecting engineering professionals. My work in the area of employment assistance for engineers in North Texas was recognized by the State of Texas in the report, Defense Transition: Economic Promise for Texas from the Governor’s Task Force on Economic Transition (1993). This led directly to my involvement with IEEE-USA and its employment and career services.

IEEE Activities – (S’75-M’78-S’81-M’82-SM’89)   OFFICE: Board of Directors, 2002-03.  COMMITTEES/BOARDS: Nominations and Appointments Committee, Member, 2005-07; Career Services Committee, Member, 2006-07; Infrastructure Oversight Committee, Member, 2002-03; IEEE-USA/USAB: Board of Directors, Vice-President - Professional Activities, 2005-06; Vice-President - Member Activities, 1998-99; Operating Committee, Member, 2005-06, 1998-99; Employment and Career Services Committee, Member, 2005-07, 1993-97; Chair, 2003-04, 1994-95; Communications Committee, Member, 1995-97; Perspectives: Editor-in-Chief, 1996-97; Chair, 2000-01; Annual Meeting Committee, Member, 2005-07; Member Services Council, Vice Chair, 1997; Nominations Committee, Member, 1996; Regional Activities Board: Board of Directors, 2002-03; Strategic Planning Committee, Member, 2002-04; GOLD Committee, Member, 2002; Section/Chapter Support Committee, Member, 2000; Publication Services & Products Board: Board of Directors, 2003-06, 1998-2001; Conference Publications Committee, Member, 2001; Electronic Career Services (ad-hoc), Member, 2000-02; Electronic Products and Services Committee, Member, 2000-02; PSPB/TAB Products and Services Committee, Member, 2003-06; Educational Activities Board: Career Roadmap Workshop, Program Co-Chair, 1995-96; Skills Assessment Workshop Planning Committee, Member, 1995-96; Technical Activities Board: Board of Directors, 2007.  REGION: Region 5: Executive Committee, 1989-2006; Employment Assistance Coordinator, 2003-06; Director, 2002-03; Training Committee, Member, 2000-01; Communications Coordinator, 1997-99; Educational Activities, Chair, 1996; Strategic Planning, Chair, 1993-95; South Area, Chair, 1990-92; Publicity Committee, Chair, 1989.  SECTION: Fort Worth Section: Executive Committee, 1986-2007; Chair, 2005, 1987-88; Vice Chair, 1986-87; Secretary-Treasurer, 1985-86; Newsletter Editor, 1992-2002, 1988-89, 1983-84; Educational Activities, Chair, 1995-96; Professional Activities Chair, 1987-95.  SOCIETIES: Nanotechnology Council, Vice President-Finance, 2007; Secretary, 2004-06; Aerospace & Electronic Systems Society, Board of Governors, 1989-90.  CONFERENCES: IEEE-NANO 2008, Finance Chair, 2007; IEEE-USA Annual Leadership Workshop, 2006-07; IEEE-USA Professional Development Conference, Local Committee, Chair, 1999; Region 5 Conference, 1998; Digital Avionics Systems Conference (DASC), 1984-93.  AWARDS: USAB, Chairman’s Special Citation to the Employment Assistance Committee, 1997; Employment Assistance Committee Citation for Engineer’s Guide , 1997; RAB Leadership Award, 1994; Region 5, Outstanding Individual Service, 1994; Fort Worth Section, Professionalism Award, 1994; IEEE Fort Worth Section, Outstanding Achievement Award, 1993; USAB, Regional Professional Leadership, 1992.

IEEE Accomplishments – I have been an active volunteer for more than twenty years, addressing member needs at every level from the local section to the Board of Directors. My focus has always been on developing successful programs and adding value to membership. Among my accomplishments:

Careers and Employment:

• Chaired IEEE-USA Employment Assistance Committee and led the development of Job Listing System
• Initiated unemployed member surveys to map trends in unemployment and research successful job search techniques  
• Editor of Engineers Guide to Lifelong Employability
• Initiated effort that led to an Institute-wide Career Services Committee
• Initiated North Texas Future City Competition, giving middle school students a fun way to learn about engineering and engineering principles. It is now one of the largest regional competitions in the country.

• Chaired the IEEE-USA Communications Committee and led efforts to increase member awareness of IEEE-USA activities through restructured print and electronic publications, recognized with awards of excellence from IABC (International Association of Business Communicators) and Communications Concepts.
• Initiated Region 5 electronic newsletter and website
  

• Initiated Section technical conference - Metrocon - now in 20th successful year
• Initiated Region 5 TechCon annual technical conference.