TTA Meeting Speakers

           Biography

Dave Whitehead is president of Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories

(SEL), overseeing global operations in

Research & Development (R&D), Sales and Customer Service, Engineering Services, Marketing, and Corporate Affairs. He is responsible for translating executive vision into effective corporate strategies that prioritize quality, innovation, service, and growth.

He received a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering  from Washington State University and a Master of Science in electrical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He holds an honorary doctorate in electrical engineering from the University of Idaho in recognition of his contributions to the electric power  industry.

Dave joined SEL as a hardware engineer in 1994 and has held various positions, including research engineer, chief engineer of government services, vice president of R&D, chief operating officer, and chief executive officer.

He served in R&D for more  than a decade, leading design and development of products and systems that manage, monitor, and control critical infrastructure. He continues to be instrumental in the development of new innovations at SEL and has been credited with 106 worldwide patents to date.

As president of SEL, Dave leads a globally distributed workforce supporting research, manufacturing, engineering services, and technical sales worldwide and directs supply chain restructuring to strengthen resilience, diversification, and security. He leads expansion into new markets serving customers in more than 170 countries through over

20 foreign branches and wholly owned subsidiaries. Dave regularly represents SEL in international forums and has presented and testified on energy infrastructure and cybersecurity including before U.S. government bodies where  his work influences global standards and cross border adoption of critical infrastructure technologies through aligned international standards.

Dave is a senior member of IEEE, and the past chair of the IEEE Power

& Energy Society Substations C6 committee. He serves on the board of directors for SEL, Veracity Industrial Networks, and the National Association of Manufacturers. He is a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco Economic Advisory Council. 

SEL is a 100 percent employee-owned company that serves the power industry worldwide through the design, manufacture, supply, and support of products and services for power system protection, monitoring, control, automation, and metering. SEL offers unmatched local technical support;

a worldwide, ten-year product warranty; and a commitment to making electric power safer, more reliable, and more economical.

Ivan Vrabie

Principal Engineer, Electrical Insulation Systems (EIS), UL Solutions

           Presentation

Navigating UL Certification and Material Qualification: Practical Strategies for Transformer Manufacturers

Electrical insulation systems and material qualification programs form the foundation of transformer safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance. Yet many transformer manufacturers continue to face challenges when managing material substitutions, engineering changes, supplier transitions, and certification requirements within UL-recognized systems. Questions often arise regarding what constitutes a functionally equivalent material, when additional testing is required, whether to maintain an independent UL file or adopt an existing supplier file, and how to efficiently manage approvals without compromising compliance or performance.

This presentation explores the practical and technical considerations behind UL's material approval and certification framework from a transformer manufacturer's perspective. Topics include decision-making approaches for evaluating material substitutions, understanding the distinction between electrically insulating and non-electrically insulating materials, the role of thermal aging and insulation system qualification testing, and the historical engineering basis behind UL-recognized material systems. The discussion also examines the advantages and limitations of owning versus adopting a UL file, opportunities for utilizing qualified in-house laboratories, and best practices for managing engineering changes and alternate material approvals.

By providing both technical context and practical guidance, this session aims to help transformer manufacturers make informed decisions, reduce certification delays, improve change-management processes, and maintain confidence in the long-term performance and compliance of their products.

           Presentation

Ivan Vrabie is a Principal Engineer with UL Solutions and serves as the global technical expert for Electrical Insulation Systems (EIS) and associated product categories covered by UL 1446, Standard for Systems of Insulating Materials – General and other EIS associated standards. With more than 15 years of experience in electrical insulation systems, he provides technical leadership for the interpretation and application of EIS standards and Certification Category (CCN) requirements worldwide.

In his role, Ivan oversees technical decisions related to EIS certifications, drives global technical consistency, and supports the expansion of UL Solutions' EIS capabilities. He works closely with manufacturers, material suppliers, and certification teams to address complex technical challenges involving insulation system design, qualification, and compliance. He also develops and delivers internal and external training programs and represents UL Solutions as an EIS subject matter expert on industry technical committees and standards development activities.

Ivan holds a Master of Science degree in Geography and Biology from Tiraspol State University in the Republic of Moldova and an Associate of Science degree in Electrical Engineering Technology, graduating Summa Cum Laude, from Three Rivers Community College. He has also completed additional graduate-level coursework in Electrical Engineering at the University of Hartford, North Carolina State University, and Colorado Technical University.

Based in Morrisville, North Carolina, Ivan is recognized for his expertise in electrical insulation systems, material qualification, thermal aging evaluation, and standards development for electrical and electronic equipment.

Julie Berndt
President, Johnson Electric Coil

Presentation

From Shop Floor Chaos to Cultural Excellence: A 35-Year Journey in Operational Transformation and Workforce Ownership

Transforming a manufacturing plant's culture from an undisciplined, low-margin environment into a clean profitable operation where employees take true ownership is one of the toughest challenges in our industry. In this presentation, I will share practical insights and real-world applications from my 35 years at Johnson Electric Coil Co. I will detail the step-by-step processes used to implement Lean manufacturing, eliminate traditional management friction, and foster a self-directed workforce that drives efficiency and exceptional customer service. My goal is for attendees to walk away with actionable strategies for building a high-ownership culture on their own shop floors.