IEEE PES Show Blog

We'd Be Lost Without Them

May 1, 2012

When you think of conferences, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Is it crowds? For me it is volunteers and the PES events have the best! The volunteers make all the difference in the world. They are there to help you get around, offer information, and a ton of other services. They help at the buses, they man booths, they walk the halls looking for attendees with that lost look on their faces, and if you ever need assistance just ask.

Tommy Manye told me to look for the bright orange shirts (yes, I will have one too). Those shirts make the volunteers standout in the crowd. They call themselves the Sunshine Superconductors. The Orlando Local Organizing Committee (LOC) has two utilities hosting the event. Tommy said Aaron Staley from the Orlando Utilities Commission and Ray Desouza from Progress Energy are the C0-Chairs of the LOC and they have brought over 250 volunteers to make things run smoothly.

The LOC has also put together some impressive technical tours, which require a lot of volunteers by the way. The lightning research center really has my attention. As a substation engineer lightning protection is a subject close to me. The solar displace sounds super cool too. Be sure to checkout the schedule and sign up for a couple.

About the Author

Gene Wolf Blog | Technical Writer

Gene Wolf has been designing and building substations and other high technology facilities for over 32 years. He received his BSEE from Wichita State University. He received his MSEE from New Mexico State University. He is a registered professional engineer in the states of California and New Mexico. He started his career as a substation engineer for Kansas Gas and Electric, retired as the Principal Engineer of Stations for Public Service Company of New Mexico recently, and founded Lone Wolf Engineering, LLC an engineering consulting company.

Gene is widely recognized as a technical leader in the electric power industry. Gene is a fellow of the IEEE. He is the former Chairman of the IEEE PES T&D Committee. He has held the position of the Chairman of the HVDC & FACTS Subcommittee and membership in many T&D working groups. Gene is also active in renewable energy. He sponsored the formation of the “Integration of Renewable Energy into the Transmission & Distribution Grids” subcommittee and the “Intelligent Grid Transmission and Distribution” subcommittee within the Transmission and Distribution committee.