The U.S. National Committee (USNC) of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) congratulates the U.S. winners of its 2015 Young Professionals Workshop Competition. Recipients will attend the workshop on October 12-16, 2015, in Minsk, Belarus, in conjunction with the 79th IEC General Meeting (GM).
The USNC represents U.S. interests in IEC standards and conformance activities, and is an integrated committee of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The Young Professionals Workshop, in its sixth year, unites professionals from around the world who are at the start of their careers in the fields of electrotechnical standardization and conformance. The workshop is intended to cultivate long-term national involvement in the international arena, strengthen technology transfer, and encourage the participation of emerging professionals in shaping the future in these areas.
As in previous years, the USNC received applications reflecting well-qualified candidates, resulting in a challenging selection process. The 2015 winners were selected based on their demonstrated leadership and dedication in connection with standardization and/or conformity assessment activities, as well as their vision of the larger commercial and strategic impact of standards and conformance work, and their accomplishments in their chosen field of activity.
Joseph M. Spossey
Mr. Spossey is a technical expert at Intertek Energy in Duluth Ga. A graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology with a B.S. in mechanical engineering technology, he has been involved in wind turbine standards development for several years, holding positions as co-chairman of DWEA Standards Committee, alternate member of IECRE US National Committee for wind, and alternate voting member of the AWEA Wind Standards Committee.
Christopher R. Dorr
Mr. Dorr is a senior hardware engineer at Rockwell Automation, a position he's held since 2009. He is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University, where he received his bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering. Mr. Dorr has been designing industrial and communications products for almost 8 years and has collaborated with teams at Rockwell Automation that ensure that its products conform to IEC standards.
Lieutenant William Williams
Lt. Williams is a marine inspector and port state control officer in the USCG Sector in Jacksonville, Fl. A recent graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy with a B.S. in electrical and computer engineering, he served as the academy's IEEE Club Secretary. He was competitively selected to attend Georgia Institute of Technology where he is enrolled in the Marine Safety Center & Coast Guard Engineering Standards Division. He will obtain a M.S. in electrical power systems and controls upon graduation. Lt. William's expertise and positions within the USCG provide him practice of the standards outlined by such organizations as the IEC and IEEE as it pertains to the safety of commercial shipping.
Alongside recipients from other nations, the USNC's selectees will attend a dedicated workshop where they will learn more about the IEC, standardization strategies, and conformity assessment. They will also have the opportunity to attend technical meetings where standards are developed, observe meetings of the IEC Standardization Management Board (SMB) and the IEC Conformity Assessment Board (CAB), and benefit from extensive networking opportunities in an international setting.
"On behalf of the USNC, I am pleased and delighted to announce that these three candidates have been selected to participate in the IEC Young Professionals 2015 Workshop in Minsk, Belarus this October," said Phil Piqueira, vice president of global standards at Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. and president of the USNC. "This is a well-deserved recognition of their past, current, and future contributions to international standardization efforts. We look forward to having these outstanding recipients participate in the Young Professionals Workshop as part of the 79th IEC General Meeting this year."
About ANSI
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance U.S. global competitiveness and the American quality of life by promoting, facilitating, and safeguarding the integrity of the voluntary standardization and conformity assessment system. Its membership is made up of businesses, professional societies and trade associations, standards developers, government agencies, and consumer and labor organizations. The Institute represents the diverse interests of more than 125,000 companies and organizations and 3.5 million professionals worldwide.
About the USNC/IEC
The U.S. National Committee of the International Electrotechnical Commission (USNC/IEC) serves as the focal point for U.S. parties who are interested in the development, promulgation, and use of globally-relevant standards for the electrotechnical industry. The Committee is also engaged in the assessment of conformance to standards, undertaking work in areas such as testing, certification, and accreditation. As the U.S. representative to the IEC and many related regional standardization bodies, the USNC/IEC serves as a conduit to the global standards-setting community for technical and policy positions arising in the U.S. and brings issues from the global arena to the U.S. for review, consideration, and response. The USNC/IEC is a totally integrated committee of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).