[IEEE-KC PES/IAS] 2026 Technical Seminar 4 of 4 - Motor Bus Transfer and DER Modernization Day (Virtual Only)
The IEEE-KC PES/IAS Joint Chapter is excited to announce its Technical Seminar Series for Spring 2026!
This year we will again have an in-person hybrid format, although we will also offer a virtual option. Please see below for location details.
Topics for this year are:
- April 7 (Tuesday) - Large Load Day
- April 14 (Tuesday) - Industrial Applications Day
- April 21 (Tuesday) - Inverter-Based Resources Day
- April 28 (Tuesday) - Motor Bus Transfer and DER Modernization Day (Virtual Only)
Registration links:
April 7th: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/533913
April 14th: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/550966
April 21st: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/550977
April 28th: https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/550982
Fee Schedule:
- In-person registration cost (IEEE members): $5 with PDH
- In-person registration cost (non-IEEE members): $10 with PDH
- Online registration cost: $5 with PDH
- Student: $0
Agenda:
Doors to the in-person event open at 5:00pm. Dinner will be served at approximately 5:00pm.
The evening's seminar will include two or three presentations and will begin promptly at 6:00pm CDT. Each presentation will include one or two breaks, as well as a short quiz and survey. Completion of the quiz will be required to receive a PDH certificate.
PES Officer & Volunteer team contact information:
- Evergy: Jason Weil (jason.weil@evergy.com); Luis Gonzalez (luis.gonzalez@evergy.com)
- Burns & McDonnell: Mahfooz Hilaly (mhilaly@burnsmcd.com); Jason Ottens (jpottens@burnsmcd.com)
- Siemens: Chris Dyer (christopher.dyer@siemens.com)
- Kiewit: Tony Locatelli (tony.locatelli@kiewit.com)
- Black & Veatch: Soham Ghosh (Soham.Ghosh@bv.com)
- Univ. of Central Missouri: Mohammad Sadi (sadi@ucmo.edu)
Parking Directions:
Events will be held in Kiewit's K3 building. Please see the illustrations below for parking directions:
Date and Time
Location
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- Starts 26 March 2026 05:00 AM UTC
- Ends 28 April 2026 04:00 PM UTC
- Admission fee ?
Speakers
Murty Yalla of Hubbell
Motor bus transfer
Biography:
Dr. Murty V.V.S. Yalla has been with Beckwith Electric since 1989 and presently holds the position of Vice President – General Manager.
Dr. Yalla earned a diploma in electrical engineering from Andhra Polytechnic in 1976; a Bachelor of Technology in electrical engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in 1981; a Master of Technology in electrical engineering from IIT, Kanpur in 1983 (all located in India); and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from University of New Brunswick, Canada in 1987.
From 1988 to 1989, Dr. Yalla taught and conducted research on digital power system protection at Memorial University in Newfoundland, Canada. After joining Beckwith Electric in 1989, Dr. Yalla held various leadership roles, including company president from 2005 through December 2020.
Dr. Yalla is the chairman (2015-2024) of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC, Geneva, Switzerland) technical committee (TC95), measuring relays and protection equipment. He leads subject matter experts from 34 countries in the development of international standards in power system protection and control.
Dr. Yalla is also the chairman of the IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES), Power System Relaying and Control (PSRC) committee from 2021 to 2022 where IEEE standards, guides and reports related to power system protection are developed.
He served as a U.S. delegate to the international council on large electric systems (CIGRE, France), working groups on protection of generators and power transformers. He was a member of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) System Protection and Control Subcommittee (SPCS). Presently he is a member of the Industry Technical Support Leadership Committee (ITSLC) of the IEEE PES, serving as a liaison between IEEE PES and NERC. He also serves on the planning committee of the Georgia Tech protective relaying conference.
Dr. Yalla was the chairman of the working group that developed IEEE Standard C37.102-2006 “Guide for AC Generator Protection.” He co-authored an IEEE PES tutorial on the “Protection of Synchronous Generators.” He was the organizer of the IEEE PES GM Tutorial on Distribution Volt VAr Control and Optimization in 2015, 2016 and 2018, as well as the IEEE PES GM Tutorial on Cybersecurity of the Electric Power Transmission and Distribution Systems in 2017, 2019 and 2020.
Dr. Yalla has published several research papers in IEEE Journals and various conferences. He holds six U.S. patents in power system protection and control. He was elevated to the IEEE Fellow grade in 2006 “for contributions in computer relays for power systems.” He also received various other awards including the IEEE Florida Council Outstanding Engineer Award in 2005 and 2018, the IEC 1906 Award in 2010, and the Indo-U.S. Chamber of Commerce Businessman of the Year Award in 2013.
In 2021, Dr. Yalla was elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) “for contributions to digital protection and control devices for the grid.” The NAE, established in 1964, is a private, independent, nonprofit institution that provides engineering leadership in service to the nation. Its mission is to advance the well-being of the nation by promoting a vibrant engineering profession and by marshalling the expertise and insights of eminent engineers to provide independent advice to the federal government on matters involving engineering and technology.
Babak Enayati of Nextamp
Interconnection of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) and Modernization
Biography:
Dr. Babak Enayati is the VP of Engineering at Nextamp. Previously, he was the Director of Engineering at New Leaf Energy and a Principal Strategic Advisor at Ampacimon, where he led engineering teams focused on solar, wind, and energy storage development, as well as dynamic line rating and grid solutions. With over 13 years of experience in the utility industry, he has held a range of engineering and leadership roles centered on grid modernization.
Dr. Enayati is an active leader within IEEE, serving as a Senior Member and Vice President of Education for the IEEE Power & Energy Society Governing Board. He also contributes to key industry standards as Vice Chair of IEEE Std 1547 and IEEE P2800, supporting the integration and interoperability of distributed and inverter-based energy resources into power systems.
Dr. Enayati is an IEEE PES Distinguished Lecturer. He earned his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Clarkson University, NY.