The IIT NECA Student Chapter was voted the Outstanding NECA Student Chapter of the Year at the National Electrical Contractors’ Association (NECA) Annual Conference held in Chicago at the end of September. Daniel R. Tomal, IIT faculty advisor and adjunct professor in the School of Applied Technology, received the award on behalf of the Chapter.
The IIT NECA student chapter competed against more than 20 universities across the United States. The criteria for the award included student chapter participation in events, public services activities, and student work in unique projects. Recent IIT chapter officers include Ivan Jose, (MA Architecture), president; Fred Herringer (INTM) vice president; and Joaquin Vera (INTM) treasurer.
The IIT Chapter also won third place in the Conference Poster competition where they presented the results of their energy audit of the McCormick Tribune Campus Center (MTCC), completed in Tomal’s Spring 2013 IPRO 338, Developing Insights that Support Energy Efficiency Improvement Strategies for Varied Built Environments. Several members of the current IPRO 338 lead by Jake Harvey, Architecture major, contributed to the poster.
Dean of the School of Applied Technology Robert Carlson commended the student members of the IIT chapter for their active participation in events and activities related to energy efficiency. Carlson told the group that they are always enthusiastic and excited about their work, and are truly one of the most vibrant groups on campus.
NECA is an international organization and the voice of the $130 billion electrical construction industry that brings power, light, and communication technology to buildings and communities across the United States. Tomal also represented IIT at the Conference as one of several nationally renowned speakers. His presentation, “Business Development Strategies” drew, in part, on his experience as longtime Faculty Advisor for the IIT NECA Student Chapter, and teaching Communications for the Workplace and Electronics in Industry for the Industrial Technology and Management Program.