People working for a company feel obligated to do what their manager asks them to do, since they are being paid by the company. However, it is different for a volunteer organization, such as the IEEE PES. It is challenging to convince volunteers to do the things you want them to do. First, you must effectively engage with them. Second, you must have a strong value proposition for them. This talk will show you how to build and lead a group of volunteers, based on John's 50 years of IEEE membership with many leadership positions on the local, national and international levels.

John D. McDonald, P.E., is Smart Grid Business Development Leader for GE’s Grid Solutions business. John has 46 years of experience in the electric utility transmission and distribution industry. John received his B.S.E.E. and M.S.E.E. degrees from Purdue University, and an M.B.A. degree from the University of California-Berkeley. John is a Life Fellow of IEEE (member for 49 years), and was awarded the IEEE Millennium Medal, the IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES) Excellence in Power Distribution Engineering Award, the IEEE PES Substations Committee Distinguished Service Award, the IEEE PES Meritorious Service Award, the 2015 CIGRE Distinguished Member Award and the 2015 CIGRE USNC Attwood Associate Award. John is Past President of the IEEE PES, the VP for Technical Activities for the US National Committee (USNC) of CIGRE, the Past Chair of the IEEE PES Substations Committee, and the IEEE Division VII Past Director. John was on the Board of Governors of the IEEE-SA (Standards Association) and is an IEEE Foundation Director-Elect. John received the 2009 Outstanding Electrical and Computer Engineer Award from Purdue University. John teaches a Smart Grid course at the Georgia Institute of Technology, a Smart Grid course for GE, and Smart Grid courses for various IEEE PES local chapters as an IEEE PES Distinguished Lecturer. John has published one hundred fifty papers and articles, has co-authored five books and has one US patent.

This program was designed by the IEEE Seattle EMC Chapter and the Antenna Measurement Techniques Association (AMTA) to bring the latest inspired technology to the Pacific Northwest on Antenna Design as well as Antenna, 5G, EMC, and Wireless Test and Measurement Techniques for industry applications.  Invited experts in industry, government, and academia will share practical information on various topics in an extended presentation format. This allows a thorough discussion of each topic and provides the opportunity for extended questions and answers. The “hands-on” quality of the presentations enables the registrant to learn useful information that can be used on the job – in the “real world.” 

Back by popular demand, the renowned Professor Yahya Rahmat-Samii of University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), IEEE Fellow, will provide a four-hour “mini short course” to begin the program on April 11.  He will discuss “The Art, Science and Engineering of Modern Antennas: Measurements from Marconi’s First Measurements to Today’s Amazing Advances.”

Many exhibitors will showcase their latest offerings in 5G, Antenna and EMC related products and services on Tuesday, April 11; the day concludes with a networking "Happy Hour" reception. All pre-registered attendees and exhibitors are invited to attend and informally visit with the speakers and each other! 

On Wednesday morning, April 12, an interactive half-day workshop is planned complete with lectures and LIVE demos.  

In addition to the technical program, a technical tour is planned for Wednesday afternoon, April 12, 2023, following the workshop.  Registrants of the April 11-12 event are eligible to attend a technical tour of the newly opened Dual Robotic Antenna Measurement System (DRAMS) at Boeing Seattle.  Tour attendees will see Boeing’s “Antenna Lab of the Future” that enables dramatically faster, more accurate antenna testing results.  You can learn more about the DRAMS chamber here.  Please note the tour is tentative at this point and will be held based upon sufficient interest.

See the complete technical program with daily schedule, speaker bios, presentation abstracts, venue/parking info, registration fees, and more at www.amta.org/AMTA2023Regional.

If you are interested in reserving a tabletop display, please note tabletop spaces are limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. See the Exhibitor and Sponsor Opportunities here for more information.