Power Engineering Careers: Electric Cooperatives, Utilities, and Professional Development
The IEEE Black Hills PES/IAS Joint Chapter is pleased to host a professional development seminar exploring career opportunities and professional practice in the electric power industry.
This seminar will introduce students and early-career engineers to the electric utility industry, with particular emphasis on electric cooperatives and investor-owned utilities (IOUs). The speaker will discuss how these organizations differ in their ownership structures, operations, and engineering responsibilities, providing practical insights into the role of power engineers in maintaining and developing reliable electric power systems.
Potential discussion topics include:
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Electric Cooperatives vs. Investor-Owned Utilities: Key differences in organizational structures, missions, and operations.
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The Role of Power Engineers: Engineering responsibilities, technical challenges, and day-to-day work in different utility environments.
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Career Opportunities: Employment pathways, emerging industry needs, and long-term career development in the electric power sector.
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Professional Engineer (PE) Licensure: The importance of professional licensure and its potential benefits for engineering careers.
The seminar will also provide an opportunity for attendees to interact with an industry professional, ask questions, and gain a better understanding of career pathways in power engineering.
Students, faculty, IEEE members, and engineering professionals interested in the electric power industry are encouraged to attend.
Date and Time
Location
Hosts
Registration
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- South Dakota School of Mines
- Rapid City, South Dakota
- United States 57701
- Building: EEP
- Room Number: 253
- Starts 24 October 2026 06:00 AM UTC
- Ends 13 November 2026 07:00 AM UTC
- No Admission Charge
Speakers
Sean of West River Electric Association
Biography:
Sean Bestgen, P.E. (EE 13) grew up in Sturgis, SD, and attended the South Dakota School of Mines. His professional career began at Caterpillar’s proving grounds in Tucson, AZ validating machine controls. Sean transitioned to DGR Engineering as a consulting engineer, working on power substations. Sean currently works for West River Electric in Rapid City as a system engineer, helping navigate the exciting growth of the utility. Sean is a registered Professional Engineer and member of IEEE. He and his wife Janile (EnvE 09, MSCE 14) met at SDM have four children and enjoy living in the Black Hills.