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Being both an engineer and a writer, I know firsthand that delivering quality is all about being excited about what you do and caring about the impact your work will have. Any acknowledgement or recognition comes in as a pale second (not that I would turn down accolades).
So when my friend Emily Saarela, T&D World 's senior managing editor, called me several months ago and told me that - for the second year in a row - one of my supplements, "Renewables Changing the Grid," had been selected as a finalist for the Jesse H. Heal Awards, I was energized. What are the odds of an engineer writing two back-to-back supplements and both making the Neal finals? About the same odds as having lightning hit the same spot twice, a friend told me.
The award did get me to New York City with my buddy Rick Bush, T&D World 's editorial director. Any time we can meet up is great, and New York City makes it even better. It gave us a chance to discuss ideas, talk about trends and spend some time together.
As we visited, we started talking about last year's HVDC supplement (April 2012), which got me thinking about some of the cool technologies we are highlighting in this switchgear supplement and the FACTS supplement we are planning for next year. I...