IEEE (PI)² Austin – (PES, PELS, IES, IAS, and PSES)

Melvin Moncey Joseph – Chair pi2-chair@ieee.org

Melvin did his Masters of Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University, College Station. He is currently working as an Electrical Engineer – Grid Solutions for Black & Veatch and supports all types of Power Grid related projects for multiple clients across the country.  He is also very actively involved in standards development in the IEEE and NERC especially in the subjects of Protection and Control and System Studies. Travelling and exploring are a part of his DNA.

Robert E Hebner – Vice Chair/Programs Chair pi2-program-chair@ieee.org

Charles Goertz – Secretary/vTools Coordinator pi2-secretary@ieee.org

Nadine E Miner, PhD – Treasurer

Dr. Nadine Miner is the Sandia National Labs Campus Partnership Manager for UT Austin where she is responsible for implementing the collaboration strategy, developing research partnerships, and strengthening the student talent pipeline between Sandia and UT Austin. Dr. Miner’s 28-year Sandia career has been at the cutting edge of technology and spans many areas of expertise including neuromorphic computing, machine learning, artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, human computer interfaces, robotics, resilient energy systems, space sensor systems, human behavior modeling, modeling and simulation, systems and software engineering. Dr. Miner holds two patents, an R&D 100 award, UNM’s Distinguished Alumni Award (2021), the Women on the Move Award (2016) and has published more than 75 journal, conference and book chapters throughout her career. She holds a BS in Computer Engineering from the University of New Mexico (UNM), an MS in Electrical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology (Cal Tech) and a PhD in Engineering with specialization in Human Computer Interfaces and Virtual Reality from UNM.

Evan Rogers – Member at Large

Evan Rogers is an Electrical Engineer in Training with 7 years of experience under his belt in the power, research & technology industry. During his academic studies at Texas Tech University, he spent a year researching an alternative material, Thorium, along with the energy yield Thorium provides & the minimal environmental impact it has. Evan is currently working as an Electrical Design Engineer at Ulteig.

Martha Dodge, PE – Member at Large/Communications Chair pi2-comm-chair@ieee.org

Martha has had a diverse career path, beginning with Critical Care nursing (8 years), which inspired her to obtain an electrical engineering degree in Communications. Having interned at the PPL Corporation (formerly Pennsylvania Power & Light), she worked there for 30 years in many areas, including Nuclear, T&D planning and design, retiring as Sr Director of Engineering. She then led a novel Masters Degree program in Energy Systems Engineering at Lehigh University, a program that she helped establish. In 2016, she moved to Texas to be closer to family, and became active in the IEEE Central Texas Section (PI) 2 Chapter, and remains active today.

James Mercier, PE – Member at Large/Workshop Chair/Past Chair/aka Honeybadger jmercier@ieee.org

James is a Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) and a Licensed Master Electrician.  He retired from the Texas Department of Transportation after 21 years in Traffic and Hydraulics Engineering, and is retired from the IBEW as a Journeyman Electrician which he did for many years prior to graduating from the University of Cincinnati as a Civil Engineer.  In IEEE, he is a Chapter Past Chair, the Central Texas Section Treasurer, the Section Sr. Member Upgrade Coordinator, the IAS R-5 Technical Chapters Representative, and the PES R-5 Technical Chapters rep for Louisiana. He is a mean, crotchety old man; do not approach him without beer or coffee in your hand!

Kris Dehnel – Past Chair/Member at Large

Andrew Bluiett, PE – Past Chair/Member at Large/Training

Andrew received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the Prairie View A&M University. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Texas. As a Senior Engineer at Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) he is responsible for providing engineering oversight for consultant projects, including providing standard drawings, addressing design and scope concerns, monitoring the design and project schedule, and escorting design teams to job sites. He is active in several organizations, including IEEE and IEEE PES as Senior Member since 2001, LCRA Golf Association as Chairman  since 2013, Mims Chapel Church; Deacon/Board of Trustee/Vice Chair since 2007. His Interests Include: Golfing, Fishing, Basketball and Volunteering in the community.

Eric Meier, PE – Past Chair/Member at Large/Workshops/Awards Chair eric.meier@ieee.org

Eric received his B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts in 2017. He began working at ERCOT in the Engineer Development Program and is the Supervisor of the Network Model Administration team where he manages the development of power systems models, modeling applications, and trains the next generation of engineers. He is a Licensed P.E. in the State of Texas and serves on the Texas State University Electrical Engineering Industry Advisory Board. In his free time he can be found traveling the world, playing softball and board games, and experimenting with new recipes while cooking.

Franklin Bohac, PE – Member at Large

Mr. Franklin Bohac, P.E. graduated from Texas A&M University in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering with an emphasis in Power Studies. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Texas. Franklin worked for consulting engineering firms in Houston and Austin, Texas in the commercial and light industrial design field at various levels as an Electrical Engineer for 18 years after graduation. He also worked at LCRA with the Lake Austin Blvd. campus Engineering Design team supporting various LCRA generation facilities projects as a Senior Electrical Engineer for approximately 2 years. Franklin was previously employed with GE for approximately 10 years prior to the business being sold to ABB in July 2018. He worked primarily as a Specification/Application Engineer while employed at GE. His work experience has been with a broad range of both Commercial and Industrial type customers. He has experience in both medium and low voltage systems. This includes commercial distribution products, switchgear, and motor control. His present title is Field Application Engineer within the Electrification – Industrial Solutions (ELIS) division of ABB.

Ruth Sulzer – Past Chair/Member at Large

Ruth received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. She has been a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Texas since 2006, working in electrical construction design, but her first love is commercial lighting design.  Ruth has been participating in (PI)² since before it was a joint Chapter, has served as Chapter Chair, prior to that an extended period as Chapter Secretary, and has always been instrumental as support staff for the Chapter workshops.

Steve Pearson – Past Chair/Utility/Tours Chair

Steve is an Electrical Engineering graduate of UT San Antonio. He owns a consulting and research firm that provides international patent research, innovation support, and competitive intelligence to law firms and companies. He’s been an engineer, analyst, and a nuclear reactor operator aboard a Navy sub. My passion is accelerating innovation and product development.

Tanya Dokic – Member at Large

Tanya graduated from Texas A & M University with PhD in Electrical Power Systems. Currently, as a Data Scientist – GIS Specialist, she is helping Exelon Corporation develop cutting edge applications that use Artificial Intelligence to improve Reliability and Asset Management of Electric Transmission and Distribution. In her free time she enjoys playing board games with friends and family, and spending time with her corgi Disco.