This post is authored by Brian Curtis, president of ISA 2018.
It’s hard to believe, but we’re already past the mid-point of 2018. While ISA has made solid progress to date, our performance during the remainder of 2018 will greatly determine our overall results for the year.
High on the priority list for the second half of the year is posting strong turnout at several high-profile ISA events. But before I draw your attention to them, I want to make a few comments about member and leader engagement.
First of all, the election process for Society leaders ends Friday, 20 July. Don’t miss this opportunity to cast your vote and play a part in determining ISA’s leadership structure and direction. While it was disappointing that we didn’t have more candidates vie for elective positions, opportunities always exist throughout the year for members to assume volunteer leadership roles.
All ISA members are encouraged to step forward and express their interest in section and division leadership functions as well as standards committee involvement. ISA needs your fresh thinking and perspectives in order to stay viable and relevant. ISA members who become more engaged gain valuable leadership skills and a deeper understanding of technical issues as well as team-oriented dynamics.
Ok, so now I turn to the importance of ISA’s remaining events for 2018. Quickly approaching is the 2018 ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls (WWAC) Symposium, which will be held 7-9 August 2018 in Bethesda, Maryland. This is the 15th year of the event, which tackles the key issues and challenges in automation facing the water/wastewater industry.
Leading experts and thought leaders—including six prominent opening session speakers—will highlight the latest advances in utility management, automation and control systems, engineering best practices, instrumentation, cybersecurity, alarm management, and emerging technologies.
Attendees will benefit from a total of 34 technical presentations, informative updates from industry groups, a facility tour, a vendor showcase, and certified ISA training opportunities. A significant emphasis is placed on providing solutions to real-world challenges, what’s actually experienced in on-the-job settings.
October is shaping up to be a very busy and important month for the Society and for the automation professionals we serve. First up is the Annual Leadership Conference, which will take place 12-15 October at the Hyatt Regency Montreal. The Council of Society Delegates meeting will also convene during this time.
Immediately following—in the same hotel—ISA will conduct a new multi-dimensional automation event, ISA@Montreal Symposium 2018, 16-17 October. The event is a collaboration of four ISA industry divisions: ISA Food and Pharmaceuticals (FPID), Automatic Controls and Robotics (ACARD), Construction and Design (CONDES), and Process Measurement and Control (PMCD). Also note that two ISA full-day training courses will be held on 15 October.
ISA@Montreal Symposium 2018 features an outstanding conference program for automation professionals across many disciplines looking to modernize; improve plant productivity, safety, and reliability; protect plant operations and security; and reduce downtime.
As an added bonus, a special discount will be afforded to all Annual Leadership Conference attendees who wish to extend their stay and attend ISA@Montreal Symposium 2018 as yet another valuable professional development opportunity.
To round out the year, we’re also busy planning for our ISA PCS 2018 – Process Industry Event, which will take place 30 October to 1 November in Houston. ISA leadership and event staff have leveraged the feedback from past attendees to integrate many positive improvements and deliver greater value.
Program content has been expanded through collaboration with other technical organizations, which specialize in electrical engineering standards and providing solutions to maintenance and reliability concerns. These enhancements are sure to attract a broader range of professionals in the energy processing and process manufacturing industries.
This year’s event also will be held at a new location, the Westin Houston, Memorial City, which provides a better layout and improved flow of conference and networking activities. Visit: www.isa.org/pcs2018 for more information/details.
It’s vital that all ISA members do their part to build excitement around all of our remaining 2018 events. Our conferences and symposia are perhaps our most visible reflections of our energy, passion, and relevance in the marketplace. Let’s do our best to ensure their vitality and success.
I hope everyone continues to enjoy their summer and I look forward to meeting many of you at the events highlighted above and at the Annual leadership Conference in Montreal.
About the Author
Brian Curtis, I. Eng., LCGI, is the Operations Manager for Veolia Energy Ireland, providing services to Novartis Ringaskiddy Ltd. in Cork, Ireland. He has more than 35 years of experience in petrochemical, biotech, and bulk pharmaceutical industries, specializing in design, construction management, and commissioning of electrical, instrumentation, and automation control systems. He has managed complex engineering projects in Ireland, England, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, and Germany. A long-time ISA member, Curtis has served on the ISA Executive Board since 2013, the Geographic Assembly Board (2012 – 2015), and the Finance Committee (2013 – 2017.) He was Ireland Section President and Vice President of District 12, which includes Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Curtis has also been active on several Society task forces, including Cybersecurity, Governance, and Globalization-related committees. He received the ISA Distinguished Society Service Award in 2010. He is the Former President of Cobh & Harbor Chamber of Commerce (2013-2015) and Former Chairman of the Ireland Southern Region Chambers (2015-2016) and is an active member of the Ireland National Standards Body, ETCI.
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A version of this article also has been published at ISA Insights.
