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Benton Vandiver III, P.E.

Benton Vandiver is Technical Director at OMICRON electronics and has over 32 years experience in Power Systems Protection.

He is a registered Professional Engineer in Texas, member of IEEE/PES/SPRC, IEEE-SA, and USNC/CIGRE.

Benton holds a US Patent for "Communication-based Testing of IED's" and has authored or co-authored over 80 technical papers and articles in the U.S. and internationally.

Dr. Alexander Apostolov

Dr. Apostolov holds a MS in Electrical Engineering, a MS in Applied Mathematics and a Ph.D. from the Technical University in Sofia, Bulgaria. He worked for fourteen years in the Protection and Control Section of Energoproject Research and Design Institute, Sofia, Bulgaria.

He is presently Principal Engineer for OMICRON and is an IEEE Fellow and member of the Power Systems Relaying Committee and Substations C0 Subcommittee. He is the past Chairman of the Relay Communications Subcommittee, serves on multiple IEEE PES Working Groups, and is Chairman of Working Group C9: Guide for Abnormal Frequency Load Shedding and Restoration. Dr. Apostolov is also an IEEE PES Distinguished Lecturer.

He is a member of CIGRE and works on CIGRE WG B5.07, B5.09, and B5.36. He was Convener of WG B5.13 Acceptable Functional Integration and is now Convener B5.27 Standard Protection Schemes.

Dr. Apostolov is also the Editor-in-Chief of PAC World magazine - the global forum of the protection, automation, and control industry.

Drew Welton

Drew is an Area Sales Manager for OMICRON electronics Corp. USA for the South East and South Central Region. Drew began his career with OMICRON in 1997, after holding a Regional Sales Manager position with Beckwith Electric Company. He also served as National Sales Director for Substation Automation with AREVA T&D.

Drew is a graduate of Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO, and an 18 year member of IEEE, PES, and has served on various committees for PSRC. In his long tenure with OMICRON, Drew has written various articles and technical papers regarding testing protective relays, and has served as an instructor at many utilities and universities.

Wayne Bishop, Jr.

Wayne is currently Marketing Manager of OMICRON electronics. Prior to working for OMICRON, Wayne was employed at Doble Engineering for more than 16 years in several senior management positions.

Wayne has published several articles in industry trade magazines and regularly speaks at Industry Conferences such as IEEE, American Public Power Association, and National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. He is also a member of the IEEE PES Long Range Planning Committee.

Wayne is a graduate of Merrimack College, Harvard University, and most recently received his Masters of Business Administration in 2007, graduating with honors from Suffolk University's Sawyer Business School.