New man at helm of Automation body!

Rick Roop is the 2015 President of the International Society of Automation (ISA).

In this position, Roop will work with Society leaders and staff to increase awareness of the value and relevance of the ISA brand and build on ISA’s proven range of capabilities and resources for automation professionals, which includes standards development, education, training, certification, certificate programs, publications, and technical symposia and conferences.

President Rick Roop

Roop brings a distinguished track record as a financial management executive, an instrument and electrical engineer, and a power plant manager as well as three decades of ISA membership and involvement to his new role as Society president.

2012, Roop has served as Vice President, Senior Portfolio Manager and owner of Donaldson Capital Management, an Evansville, Indiana-based SEC-registered investment advisory firm with $1 billion in assets under management.

“I am blessed to be serving as 2015 President of ISA, an organization in which I strongly believe and one that I have been associated with for over 30 years,” says Roop. “Through the years, I served in many capacities within ISA—from establishing local sections in the early 80s to working on the operations side, to writing standards while serving on a divisional board, to eventually becoming an ISA board member—all of which have prepared me for the upcoming presidency.

“As we move into 2015, ISA will continue to work toward achieving its strategic goals and to strengthen its global brand recognition. Adding to our momentum in the new year and beyond is our new, wholly owned-subsidiary, Automation.com.  As we have learned throughout our history, the key to success is getting the ‘big things’ right, innovating accordingly, and sharpening our organizational and operational focus. Every generation of ISA membership has the opportunity and, I believe, the responsibility to improve ISA—to move us forward in the world of automation. This is our time.”

Shortly after joining ISA in 1983, Roop became actively involved in the Society. In 1984, he established the ISA Evansville Section, serving as its president as well as show chair, and section delegate and secretary. In 1986, he started the ISA Terre Haute (Wabash Valley) Section, serving as its president and in other key leadership positions.

Over the years, he has served: as District Vice President and Chairman of the Council of District Vice Presidents; as Power Industry Division (POWID) board member; and in a wide range of Society-level leadership positions, most notably as Chairman of the Finance Committee (2009-2013) and Chairman of the Investment Committee (2003-2013).

After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering technology from Murray State University in 1980, Roop accepted a position as a senior instrumentation engineer at Southern Indiana Gas & Electric Company (now Vectren). He then joined Hoosier Energy, REC, first serving as an instrument and electrical engineer at the company from 1986 to 1995, and later serving as General Manager at the company’s Frank E. Ratts Generating Station from 1995 to 2001.

He launched his career as a financial management executive in 2001, assuming dual positions as Director of Research & Portfolio Manager at Donaldson Capital Management. He became Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager at the firm in 2006, before also becoming owner in 2012.

In addition to his bachelor’s degree, Roop earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree with an emphasis in finance from Indiana State University in 1994. Over the years, he has served as an adjunct professor to three Indiana colleges, teaching math and engineering courses. He currently serves on the Indiana State University Engineering and Technology Advisory Board and is actively involved on the Committee for the Warrick County Young Life Christian ministry for high school youth.