About IEEE Young Professionals

IEEE Young Professionals are members within the 15 years following their first undergraduate degree.

IEEE Columbia Section Selects 2016 Young Professional Leaders

On February 26, 2016, the Columbia Section invited its 112 Young Professionals to service: The Section called for two (2) Young Professional Members to travel to and participate in the IEEE Future Leaders Forum in New Orleans, Louisiana on July 28-30. This new conference was organized by IEEE just for Young Professionals and more information could be found at http://futureleaders.ieeeusa.org/. Imagine the excitement and learning opportunities of such a conference with your peers, from across the United States, with the exemplary speakers listed on the conference website! The Young Professional Members were asked to respond to r3-Columbia@ieee.org no later than March 22, 2016. The award, role and responsibilities of the two selected Young Professional Leaders include:

Attend the IEEE Future Leaders Forum – This is a new IEEE conference just for Young Professionals and more information can be found at http://futureleaders.ieeeusa.org/.
Receive the estimated $1000.00 in round-trip travel expenses to attend the IEEE Future Leaders Forum, New Orleans, Louisiana, July 28-30, 2016: Registration, all conference meals, all conference events (Natchez steamship, Mardi Gras World, Chris Washburne concert, etc.), airline ticket and shuttle travel, Tulane University Campus Housing (3 nights), and approved IEEE incidentals.
Be recognized at the Forum, along with all other IEEE Young Professionals.
Be featured as speakers in an online speaking engagement of the Section’s Young Professionals and community, in which they will share their experiences and expertise, and demonstrate their leadership skills.
Individually present an IEEE Columbia Technical Session on a topic of their choice.
Serve as the Section’s Young Professional leaders, helping to influence events and activities of interest to this affinity group and serving in this role until replaced by the 2017 Young Professionals leadership.

Congratulations to the Section’s Young Professional Leaders 2016-2017: Celia Judith J. Joseph and William K. Bledsoe

Read their information below, including when they will deliver their technical sessions.

Joint Webcast of Young Professionals Judith Joseph & William Bledsoe | Thursday, August 25, 2016 @ 6:00PM
William Bledsoe, IEEE Columbia Technical Session | Topic to be announced | Monday, September 19, 2016 @ 6:00PM
Judith Joseph, IEEE Columbia Technical Session | Topic to be announced | Monday, October 3, 2016 @ 6:00PM

Celia Judith John Joseph (celia.judith@yahoo.com)
Judith is an IEEE Young Professional who is an Electrical Engineer with proven abilities to identify requirements, plan projects, and create solutions for electrical power and control systems. Her areas of expertise are power and control systems design, requirements and project definition, test development and execution, systems strategy and implementation, troubleshooting and problem resolution (plc and fanuc robots), and R&D fabrication. She is technically sophisticated with C, C++, ladder logic, Sequential Function Charts, Function Blocks with PLC and simulation software as well as troubleshooting in a hands-on environment. She is experienced with RS232/RS485, TCP/IP and Modbus Communication protocols, and holds a number of certificates in industry applications. Judith is currently an Electrical Controls Engineer at Masonite Corporation and has worked as an Electrical Engineer III (2012-2014) at Kimberly Clark Corporation and an Electrical Engineer (2009-2012) for Hoshizaki America. She earned a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (2009, University of Kentucky). During this time, she completed an Electrical Engineering Internship with North American Stainless, Inc. (2008) and completed a university-based Internship (August 2008 – May 2009) with Dr. Paul Dolloff working on the “Switch Placement in Electrical Distribution System” project. She has earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (2007, Anna University, India). During this time, she completed tenure as a research assistant. Judith is a member of IEEE, NFPA and the Society of Women in Engineering.

“
…
Dear IEEE Columbia Section
I would like to thank you for this award and the opportunity to participate in IEEE future leaders forum. It is an honor to be a part of this conference and I will do my best to make good use of this learning opportunity and to share the experience with my peers.
I am looking forward to the technical sessions on August 25th, September 19th and October 3rd of 2016.
Being an electrical engineer, it would an exciting experience to participate in the Imagination Lab, Innovation, Prototyping, Maker and Storytelling Labs and to listen to speakers from Microsoft, Google and Steven Sasson (inventor of the digital camera)
Special thanks to our Chair Ms. Jacquelyn Cunningham for actively motivating and encouraging the young professionals of this section to better themselves in their careers
Regards,
Judith Joseph“

William Kistler Bledsoe (william.k.bledsoe@gmail.com)
William is an IEEE Young Professional who is a Power & Energy Engineer with proven abilities in leadership and management in the United States Coast Guard, leading teams of up to 10 personnel with responsibility of work assignments, performance review, and disciplinary; and managing the cabin of a MH-65C Dauphin Helicopter during high stress search and rescue and law enforcement missions. William is currently a Renewable Energy Engineer at SCE&G and is a recent university graduate. Prior to his undergraduate studies he served as an Avionics Electrical Technician 2nd Class in the United States Coast Guard (2006 – 2011) and worked as an Electrician Helper at Campbell’s Electric (2003-2005). He has earned a bachelor of science in Electrical Engineering (2015, University of South Carolina). During this time, he was also awarded the IEEE Power and Energy Society Scholarship for three consecutive years and the Boeing Scholarship for two consecutive years. He completed internships as a Power Quality Engineer (2015), a Relay Applications Engineer (2014 & 2013), and a Relay Operations Engineer (2014). He completed Aviation Technical Training (2007-2010, U.S. Coast Guard), Annual Training (2006 – 2010, Hunter Army Airfield), and an earned an AAS in Electronics Engineering Technology (2003, Piedmont Technical College).

“Dear IEEE Columbia Section,
I am humbled by and happy to acceptance the honor of representing the Columbia Section at the Future Leaders Forum. I look forward to growing and leading our community together.
Very Respectfully,
William Bledsoe “