This post is authored by Jim Keaveney, president of ISA 2016.

Did you know that both ISA and the Automation Federation recognize November as Automation Appreciation Month?  This initiative, driven by our advocacy goal, emphasizes the importance of automation in our world as well as the value and rewards of careers in automation. When you think about it, automation and process controls touch just about everything in our lives. 

In North America, the impact has been so positive that we often take things like reliable power, clean water, and safe food for granted.  As automation professionals, we should take pride that we make our world better by improving product quality, efficiency, and safety. It is a really big deal and all of you are working to make it happen.

To bring attention to it, we’ve been promoting four primary advocacy activities that ISA and AF members can get involved in:

• Host a workplace tour for students
• Organize an automation career fair or related event
• Sponsor, participate in or contribute to a robotics or STEM-related activity
• Be a mentor — speak at a school or to others about automation-related careers

To drive home the importance of advocacy, during each Monday in November, we’re featuring a different ISA member who is involved in one of the four activities. The first advocacy testimonial, which was distributed on Monday, 7 November, featured one of my District 2 colleagues, Tony Cacioppo, president of the Long Island Section. The second advocacy testimonial, which went out on Monday, 14 November, featured William Dugary, ISA District 2 vice president-elect and ISA Food and Pharmaceuticals Division director-elect, and of ISA’s Philadelphia Section.

Be sure to watch for the next two testimonials, which will be distributed 21 November and 28 November.

Just last week, I had the honor to attend the first two days of our Process Control and Safety Symposium in Houston. This was a world-class event with an agenda built on process safety, security, and communication standards. It was also the ideal venue to network with other process automation professionals and share best practices.

Paul Gruhn kicked off this event with a thought-provoking presentation on process safety and the responsibilities of corporate leadership.  Bonnie Dunbar, Ph.D., retired NASA astronaut, then kicked off Day Two, sharing her experiences that include five space shuttle missions. Her discussion about controls, redundancy, and safety was a perfect and inspiring fit for the symposium.  Now a Distinguished Professor at Texas A&M University, Dr. Dunbar continues to serve our profession by reaching the next generation of engineers and automation professionals.

I was so disappointed to miss Day Three and the kick-off address on cybersecurity by ISA and Automation Federation subject matter expert Steve Mustard.  However, all of us have the opportunity to hear Steve speak on industrial cybersecurity during a special free webinar ISA and the Automation Federation are co-sponsoring with the National Rural Water Association (NRWA). The webinar will take place on Wednesday, 30 November from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Eastern Time.

The time is now to get more engaged in your local community and schools. Young people will welcome your guidance and encouragement. ISA, the Automation Federation and each one of us have an opportunity and obligation to make a real difference.  Let me know how I (or ISA) can help.  Better yet, please contact me at President@isa.org and let me know what you are doing to help promote our great profession.

About the Author
Jim Keaveney is northeast regional manager and key account director at Emerson Automation Solutions. He brings a strong track record in automation technologies sales and marketing and business planning to his role as Society president. Jim has been an active ISA member for more than 30 years and has served in numerous leadership positions, including Society treasurer, finance committee chair and District 2 vice president. He has received numerous ISA honors, including the Distinguished Society, District 2 Golden Eagle and Lehigh Valley Section Dannenberg Service awards. He also received a Certificate in Instrumentation from the Philadelphia Section of ISA. Jim received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Temple University and a master’s degree in business administration from Penn State University.

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