Shaun Klann, among Control Engineering Leaders Under 40 for 2010

Want to meet the next generation of manufacturing automation and controls leaders? In November 2010, Control Engineering highlights 19 young professionals from around the globe who are making their marks in everything from system design to academia. These leaders aim to inspire others to get involved in engineering and resolve local and global challenges through smarter applications of automation and control technologies. Meet Shaun Klann ...

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Shaun Klann, 31      

Technology Integration Engineer, 7  years

Teng & Associates      

Chicago, IL USA       

www.teng.com

Job function: System Integration or Consulting      

Academics: BS in Electrical Engineering, emphasis in controls and instrumentation, Arizona State University     

Achievements: I have devoted my career to engineering and specifying innovative solutions within the automation and integration industry. Contributions include the development of designs, master plans, custom Division 25 specifications, automation standards, custom user interfaces, and expert consulting services to numerous Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies along with multiple branches of the federal government. Leveraging the rapid emergence of proven technologies, I have designed and implemented automation systems which simultaneously integrate today's most advanced solutions, including DALI lighting controls, integrated daylight harvesting sunshade control, open protocol technologies, enterprise connectivity, wireless applications, facility software analytics, facility management software solutions and applications, powerline technologies, and sophisticated energy conservation control strategies and algorithms. 

I follow a common philosophy in design for each project. This approach integrates energy conservation, system reliability, system sustainability, and the owner's best interests for procuring and maintaining a solution, which results in an open business model for the long-term ownership of the system. I am also an active member of the Smart Grid Interoperability Panel and participate and present at numerous industry-related events for the integrated automation system industry.         

Non-work hobbies: Over the last year I have devoted what time I have available to assisting the Misericordia Foundation for special needs children. While not enough time, in my opinion, I give back to these individuals realizing that small efforts can make a big difference to those who live life to its fullest, despite challenges which are beyond their control. In the last year I have participated in numerous fund-raisers and volunteer activities. On a selfish front I enjoy most sports which take me outdoors, present a significant mental or technical challenge, and are accompanied by a potential bone-breaking experience.

Personally: Looking forward to the year that the Cubs win the World Series. Hope I am still alive.               

Engineering hobbies: To ensure that the clients who I work with are provided the best solutions possible, I devote countless non-work hours to educating myself on new technologies, which evolve faster than a 9-5 education allows. I routinely use my off-the-clock time for attending trade shows, writing industry publications, and participating in industry task groups. An additional example of a non-work-related engineering event occurred when I sought a low-cost weatherproof audio entertainment solution. Not being able to locate the product, I engineered and constructed a low-cost solution to this problem, which addressed weather sealing, internal cooling, and remote automation. 

Professionally: I am personally very excited about the recent activity in the automation industry to apply software analytics to data obtained through automation and control systems. For too long, owners have invested in automation systems only to obtain servers full of useful data which ultimately lay idle. The recent push to apply software analytics is a logical and long overdue step towards automating routine data comparisons and realizing the long-promised improvements to performance and energy reduction.         

Start in controls: My interest in automation perked while working a job as a weight process control technician prior to attending college. This job presented me with a glimpse of production automation in a large variety of applications from bottle production to pie baking. While in college a course in process controls further expanded my interest, exposing the engineering theory behind control logic and the mathematical functions that govern everyday automation applications. To close the deal, the merger of new technologies and sophisticated software with fundamental control theory made the system integration industry an appealing market with endless growth and stability.

Return to main article: Control Engineering Leaders Under 40, class of 2010

- Compiled by Renee R. Bassett for Control Engineering.

See www.controleng.com/awards for other winners and other recognition programs for all ages.