June 1, 2010
Each year, NETA announces the recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award at its PowerTest Electrical Maintenance and Safety Conference. Selected by NETA's President, consideration is given not only to the contributions of the award recipient over the past year, but also the noteworthy character traits that stand out in a volunteer-based organization.
The recipient of NETA's 2010 Outstanding Achievement Award is Kerry Heid, President of Magna Electric Corporation. MEC joined NETA as an Accredited Company in 2000, with Kerry taking on the duties as Accredited Representative for the company in 2001. In 2003 he was voted onto the Board of Directors, and in 2006 he stepped up to the plate taking on the role as President.
While this may seem like a relatively short period of time from joining the association to directing it, Kerry's peers all comment that he is a fast learner with an open mind, equal to any challenge passed his way. He is a creative thinker with a strong technical background who lives for finding solutions rather than focusing on the problem at hand. These traits all lend themselves to his other positions with NETA. Kerry is the Training Committee Chair, the Promotions Committee Chair, a member of the Membership Application Review Committee, a member of the Continuing Technical Development Review Committee, and a Technical Representative to CSA-Z462.
When asked what he enjoys most about his work, Kerry pauses and says, "I have often thought, "What am I going to do when I retire? I enjoy every moment " just the everyday challenges of running a business. It is a motivator when you have helped grow a company to a point where you have a lot of people that depend on you for their livelihoods " it makes you want to be sure that you are doing your job the best you can because you know they are doing the same."
Kerry and his wife, Pam, have been married for nineteen years and have two sons, Brendan and Colby. Kerry keeps balance in his life by coaching his kids at hockey, cheering them on at football, and spending weekends outdoors. Hard work and dedication to all of life's pursuits are something that Kerry knows a lot about, and he is always ready to share the journey with anyone who wants to come along. NETA is proud to have him on the team.
ABOUT NETA
The InterNational Electrical Testing Association is an Accredited Standards Developer of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). NETA defines the standards by which electrical equipment is deemed safe and reliable. NETA Accredited Companies are responsible for conducting the tests that ensure this equipment meets the electrical industry's stringent standards. NETA is a proud sponsor of the IEEE/NFPA Arc Flash Research Project. www.netaworld.org.