ISA to honor industry leaders at October convention

By Plant Engineering Staff September 19, 2005

As part of an ongoing effort to spearhead technical advances that set the standard for automation, ISA will honor industry leaders for achievements in science and research at its 2005 Honors and Awards gala held in conjunction with ISA EXPO 2005 on Monday, Oct. 24 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago Downtown Hotel in Chicago.

“Innovators and leaders in the automation and control global market truly set the standard for the industry to the next level, and it’s important that we continue to recognize their achievements,” said Don Zee, president of ISA.

ISA will bestow its highest honors at the annual ceremony. ISA’s most prestigious recognition of Honorary Member will be given to Keith D. Nosbusch , chairman and CEO of Rockwell Automation for his distinguished leadership in the advancement of the arts and sciences of instrumentation, systems and automation.

Bela G. Lipták , President of Bela Lipták Associates P.C., will receive the Life Achievement Award for his history of dedication to the instrumentation, systems, and automation community as evidenced by his teachings, writings, and inventions. Lipták has published over 200 technical articles and has written 34 technical books, including four editions of the multi-volume Instrument Engineer’s Handbook. Who’s Who of American Scientists and Engineers , an ISA Fellow since 1973, and a past professor at YaleUniversity.

The following industry innovators will also receive prestigious technical awards at the Honors and Awards event:

W. Wayne Wittenberger, of Joshua Innoveers in Chicago will receive the Douglas H. Annin Award for the development of an improved automatic control system for the food industry.

Donald E. Labbe of Invensys will receive the E.G. Bailey Award for his state of the art application, design and implementation of model predictive control and non-linear based controls on coal, oil, and gas fired boilers.

Charles J. Carter, Principal Investigator and Center Director of Lee College Fieldbus Center in Baytown, TX and a member of the ISA Texas Channel Section, will receive the Donald P. Eckman Education Award for his outstanding educational and training contributions to the fields of instrumentation and process control and vision for programs in automation.

Angela E. Summers, Ph.D., President of SIS-TECH Solutions, LP and SIS-TECH Applications, LP in Houston and a member of the ISA Houston Section will receive the Albert F. Sperry Founder Award for her outstanding technical contributions and leadership in the specification, development, and implementation of safety instrumented systems for the process automation industry.

James W. Harris of UOP LLC in Chicago, who will be elevated to the distinguished grade of ISA Fellow, will receive the UOP Technology Award for contributions made to the development of improved refinery and petrochemical plant process controls applications.

Tickets for this year’s event are $65 per person, and can be purchased when registering for ISA EXPO 2005 or by contacting ISA at 919-549-8411 or emailing info@isa.org . Group tables and sponsorships are available by contacting Debbie Eby at deby@isa.org .