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Name
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KELLY SMITH
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Country
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United States
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Job Title
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Substation Design Engineer
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Organization
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Pacific Gas & Electric
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Industry
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Power & Energy
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Work Description
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Design for up to 230kV
electric substations including various
relay, breaker, and instrumentation.
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Personal Interests
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Rock Climbing & Kayaking
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IEEE Volunteer Position/s 2007
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Student Branch Mentor
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Past Volunteer Positions
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Power Engineering Society
(PES), GOLD Rep (2006)
Region 6, Student Rep
(2003-2004)
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How did IEEE find you?
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A friend
of mine in college told me
about the fun activities and projects
they did in IEEE. I went to a
meeting and shortly thereafter got
involved in one of their
projects. I became a member and stayed
active ever since.
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How has IEEE nurtured you as a person?
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IEEE has provided a lot of
interaction between engineers from all
levels & backgrounds. They've helped
me with direction and
keeping a level head while pursuing my
goals.
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How has IEEE prepared you for your workplace?
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Attending
the power engineering society
meetings gives me insight into some of
the latest trends happening in
the industry and greater detail about
various topics. It has helped me be more
rounded in my job, since I
have a greater understanding of topics
outside my normal area of work.
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What do you like most about
volunteering with IEEE?
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Volunteering
puts you in a place of working with and
meeting many people.
Additionally, it has built my own skills
in organization,
communication, and building team consensus.
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What wouldn't be possible for you, if
you hadn't volunteered
for IEEE?
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I might
not have received my current
job. My attendance at conferences and
power engineering society
meetings made a major addition to my
resume when I left college. It
contributed greatly to my success in
gaining an internship and
ultimately a career.
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What do you find unique about IEEE?
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IEEE has
a great depth in its members.
It is common to find engineers that have
worked in industry for 20+ years at
power engineering society
meetings. They are great resources for
my current work.
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Why did you continue volunteering?
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It's a
lot of fun, at the cost of a
little work. It generates a lot of
satisfaction seeing my efforts
pay off. Plus, I like working with the
fellow volunteers, they're great!
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Does volunteering help you to achieve
your aspirations?
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Yes, I
get a greater understanding of
the field of electrical engineering and
it helps to give me a broader
perspective of engineering. It's opening
my awareness to the job best suited to me.
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An IEEE friend who left an inspiring
impression on you.
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I have a
friend 30 years older than me that
constantly gives me advice from
what he wished he would have done if he
were my age. I quickly learned
the value of his wisdom when I started
applying it, and even more so
when I didn't apply it.
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