2009 IEEE Annual Election - IEEE-USA President-Elect Candidates

JAMES M. HOWARD
(Nominated by IEEE-USA)

Manager, Electric System Compliance
Lakeland Electric
Lakeland, Florida USA
www.time2meet.com/Jim-Howard/

James M. Howard received the B.S.E.E. degree from the University of South Florida in 1985.   He is currently Manager of Electric System Compliance with Lakeland Electric, a municipal electric company in Lakeland, Florida, where he has worked for over six (6) years.  Currently he is responsible for assuring that Lakeland Electric adheres to, and meets compliance with all North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved Reliability Standards.  He joined Lakeland Electric after spending almost 24 years with Tampa Electric Company where he started as a Cooperative Education Student in 1979 and, through the next 23 plus years, held positions in Energy Delivery: Distribution Engineering, South Hillsborough Operations Center, and as Supervisor of Reliability for Transmission and Distribution.  Mr. Howard is a member of the Power Engineering, Aerospace Electronic Systems, and the Industry Applications Societies.

IEEE Activities – (S’81-M’85-SM’91) OFFICES: IEEE Board of Directors, 2002-03.  Region 3 Director, 2002-03. COMMITTEES/BOARDS: IEEE-USA Board of Directors: Secretary/Treasurer, 2007-08; Member-at-Large, 2005-06.  Region 3 Director, 2002-03.  Region 3 Coordinator, 2006-09.  IEEE Audit Committee: Chair, 2003; Member, 2002-04.  IEEE Nominations and Appointments Committee (N&A), 2004-05.  RAB N&A Committee, 2004-05.  IEEE Membership Development, Chair, 1998-99.  Regional Activities Board, Membership Activities, Vice Chair, 1998-99.  REGION: Region 3:  Director, 2002-03; SPAC Chair, 2005-09; Strategic Planning Committee, 2005-09; Sections Congress Coordinator, 2008; Area 4 (Florida Council) Representative, 1993-94; Membership Development, Chair, 1996-97; Conference Committee, Chair, 1998-99.  COUNCIL: Florida Council:  Chair, 1993-94; Vice Chair, 1992; Junior Past Chair, 1995; Membership Development, Chair, 1994-99.  SECTION: Florida West Coast Section:  Chair, 1991-93; Vice Chair, 1990-91; Membership Development, Chair, 1994-98; Student Branch Mentor, 1997-2006. CHAPTER: Florida West Coast PE/IA Chapter: Chair, 1990-91; Vice Chair, 1989; Secretary/Treasurer, 1988. SOCIETIES: Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society (AESS), Vice-President Member Affairs, 2005-09.  Power Engineering Society (PES):  Membership & Chapters, Vice President, 1997-98; Chapters Council, Chair, 1996; Membership Development, Chair, 1995; Membership Statistics Sub-Committee, Chair, 1994; Meetings Department, Secretary, 1994-98; Chapters Congress, Speaker, 1995; Distribution Design Committee, 1997-99.  CONFERENCES: PES General Meeting, Chair, 2007.  IAS Annual Meeting, Vice-Chair, 2006.  Sections Congress (SC): SC’05, Steering Committee, Chair, 2003-05; SC'96, Speaker, 1996.  Industrial & Commercial Power Systems (I&CPS): Vice-Chair, 2004, 2000; Publications, Chair, 1993.  Region 3 SoutheastCon, Chair, 1996.  Power Engineering Society Winter Meeting, General Chair, 1998.  Southcon: Director, 2004, 1995-99; Treasurer, 1998. AWARDS: Florida West Coast Section Engineer of the Year Award, 2006.  Florida Council Outstanding Engineer Award, 2006.  Region 3 Director’s Award – Sections Congress, 2005.  Florida West Coast Section PES Chapter Outstanding Engineer, 2000.  Power Engineering Society Chapters Council Award, 1998.  Region 3 Outstanding Service Award, 1996.  Florida Council Outstanding Service Award, 1995. 

IEEE Accomplishments – A few of my key accomplishments within IEEE include:

• Serving on the IEEE-USA Board 7 years (2 years as a Director, 2 years as Member-at-Large, and 3 years as Secretary/Treasurer)
• Chairing Sections Congress 2005
• Chairing the IEEE Audit Committee
• Serving as Vice-President of Membership and Chapters for IEEE Power Engineering Society
• Serving as Vice-President of Member Services for AESS
• Chairing the IEEE Membership Development Committee helping increase Senior Membership and begin the Senior Member Plaque program
• Serving as Vice-Chair Member Activities for the Regional Activities Board (RAB)
• Receiving numerous Awards from various levels of the IEEE (see above awards listing)
• Chaired the Florida West Coast Section (FWCS), the FWCS Power Engineering Chapter, and the Florida Council

Statement – With my experience on the IEEE Board of Directors, as well as the many years of experience I have had on the IEEE-USA Board, as a Director, as a Member-at-Large, and as your Secretary/Treasurer, I have the knowledge and experience to guide our organization forward in the challenging years ahead.  My many years of financial experience as IEEE Audit Committee Chair, member of IEEE Finance Committee, and as your Treasurer has allowed me the opportunity to gain an overall understanding of where IEEE-USA fits into the overall IEEE financial structure.   My many and varied leadership roles in the IEEE has given me the background to lead the IEEE-USA through the challenging years ahead and to guide our work in the areas that IEEE-USA excels in. Representing you will be an honor and a privilege for me and I will do my utmost to lead the IEEE-USA in directions that represent the needs and desires of the members, and to do my part in leading the IEEE in those directions as well.  I look forward to the duties, challenges, opportunities, and responsibilities of leading the IEEE-USA in the years to come.

RONALD G. JENSEN
(Nominated by IEEE-USA)

Chief Engineering Manager (Retired)
IBM Corporation
Rochester, Minnesota, USA
www.JensenIEEE.org

Ron Jensen received the BSEE from Iowa State University and MSEE from Syracuse University and completed Ph.D. courses from the University of Minnesota.  He held IBM positions in semiconductor process, chip development, and semiconductor applications, followed by system design, systems architecture and project management.  He was lead through various management positions.  He led in the development of IBM families of computers and servers.  He recently retired as Chief Engineering Manager with a team of people across 3 geographies covering IBM server hardware and software.  Jensen is a member of Eta Kappa Nu and PMI, and a certified PMP. He is a member of the Computer Society, Technology Management Council and WIE. He is presently consulting with and coaching organizations.

Ron's professional interests are in system architecture, embedded systems, technical education, technical management, strategic planning and the use of the web, collaboration tools and social networking to build a professional environment.

IEEE Activities – (S’72-M’75-SM’99) OFFICE: Board of Directors, 2005-06. COMMITTEES/BOARDS: IEEE Strategic Planning Committee (SPC): Past Chair, 2009; Chair, 2007-08.  IEEE Spectrum Editorial Advisory Board, 2007-09. IEEE New Initiatives Committee, 2007-09.  IEEE IT Transition AdHoc Committee, Chair, 2009.  IEEE Presentations Online AdHoc Committee, Chair, 2009.  IEEE Travel Cost Displacement AdHoc Committee, 2009.  IEEE-USA: Board of Directors, 2005-06; Operations Committee, 2006.  IEEE Audit Committee: Chair, 2006; Member, 2007-09, 2005.  IEEE Information Strategy Committee: Member, 2005-08; Liaison to Finance Committee, 2008-09.  IEEE Finance Committee, 2007.  Member and Geographic Activities Board (MGAB): vTools Project, Project Leader, 2009; MGA Finance Committee, 2009; MGA Operations Committee, 2008-09; MGA IT Coordination and Oversight Committee, 2008-09. Regional Activities Board (RAB): Finance Committee: Chair, 2007; Member, 2007-08; RAB Operating Committee, 2007; vTools Project, Project Leader, 2006-08; RAB Simplification Project, Project Leader, 2006-07; RAB Strategic Planning Committee, 2004-05.  IEEE Conferences Committee, 2003-05.  REGION:  Region 4: Regional Advisor, 2009; Past Director, 2007-08; Treasurer, 2007, 2000-02; Nominations & Appointments Committee, Chair, 2007-08; Regional Policy & Procedures Review Committee, 2007-08; Region Director, 2005-06; Region Director-Elect, 2003-04; Vice Chair, 2003-04; Regional Long Range & Strategic Planning, Chair, 1998-2004; Area Chair – West, 1997-2000; Pre-College Education Activities Committee, Chair, 1999-2001.  SECTION:  Southern Minnesota Section: Chair, 1996-99; Vice Chair, 1995-96; Membership Development Committee, Chair, 2006-08, 1999-2003. CHAPTER: Computer Society Southern Minnesota Chapter, Chair, 2004-07. CONFERENCES:  Sections Congress: Member, 2008, 2005, 2002, 1999, 1996; Speaker, 2008, 2005, 2002.  REPRESENTATIVE: IEEE Conferences Committee, RAB Representative, 2003-04. AWARDS:  IEEE Third Millennium Medal, 2000.  RAB Achievement Award, 2000. 

IEEE Accomplishments – Ron Jensen began as a chapter and section chair and feels a responsibility to the success of his section and region as well as IEEE and that must come through innovation and improvements in the engagement and support of our membership.

• Developing an initiative to support society membership in sections that do not have a chapter of their society with internet support using speakers that are remote.
• Leading the vTools project which provides new tools for volunteers and benefit members.
• Encouraged use of internet to support members that are remote or unable to attend local meetings.
• Developed a Regional strategic plan with goals and objectives to improve the operation of the region to support members.
• Led SPC to transform the Committee and support the IEEE Board of Directors. SPC is very active providing great leadership to IEEE. This has given insight into the opportunities that are open to members and IEEE including new opportunities for IEEE-USA.
• Served on RAB as board member and treasurer during the transformation of RAB into MGA with a greater focus on members and the relationship/engagement of members and volunteers.
• Utilizing New Initiatives Committee and ITSC membership to encourage new projects. 

Statement – Each of us have “our” reasons to join or renew our IEEE membership, we see something in IEEE and IEEE-USA that reflects our interests and engages us. Those interests change throughout the lifecycle of membership (grade school to retirement). IEEE-USA has helped members build careers with professional activities and the career web site.

• We must take charge of our career by investing to stay technically and professionally current. You and I must build a professional network whether face to face at local meetings, MemberNet or LinkedIn.
• We can expect multiple careers – moving to a new job, taking a new assignment, moving into consulting, or creating our own business. IEEE-USA has volunteers and programs in areas that will support us as we make those moves. IEEE-USA must continue building on those strengths, utilizing knowledge and technology to get support to members quickly, inexpensively and timely.
• All of us in technology have a responsibility to lend our support to public policy; policy decisions must be informed and non partisan.

If elected, I will provide leadership, but IEEE-USA needs your engagement as a participant, a volunteer or by being informed. Please support me by becoming more involved – start by voting.