2023 Conference speakers will be listed here.
Bios of Conference speakers for the 2022 Convention :
2022 Speakers
Chuck Mello
Chuck Mello, President and owner of cdcmello Consulting LLC providing electrical specialty training and engineering project consulting.
40+ years of field-testing and conformity assessment experience. Managed two NRTL laboratories, SEMI evaluations, CE Marking and Field Evaluation worldwide for over 35 years.
Developed and molded business unit model for conformity assessment business working with operations management as well as internal support departments for sales, marketing, human resources, information technology and accounting.
Past certified as Senior Engineering Technician (SET) in electrical power system testing by National Institute of Engineering Technologies (NICET).
Past certified as Test Technologist Level 4 by International Electrical Testing Association (NETA)
Active Colorado Master Electrician license number 28116. Has held masters and contractor’s licenses in City of New Orleans, State or Louisiana, State of New Mexico, State of Nevada.
Military experience: 5 years active duty and 15 years reserve, commissioned officer in U.S. Navy all in engineering assignments
President of Board of Directors for Eastmont Water Company, a local homeowner owned community water district 1996 to 2005
Nationally recognized speaker and trainer on the National Electrical Code and related documents with specialty in grounding, high voltage systems and equipment, electrical safety, and field evaluations of uncertified equipment.
Principle member NEC CMP 5 1996 to 2017
Primary author of present NFPA 790 and NFPA 791 documents relating to Field Evaluations and sitting UL Principle member on the NFPA EEE Technical Committed overseeing these documents.
Primary author for updates on Soares Book on Grounding 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th editions. Contributing author for 6th through 10 editions.
International President of the International Association of Electrical Inspectors for 2011
2022 Speakers
Dave Sullivan
Dave has worked in the electrical industry for over 50 years. He has worked as an electrician, for a utility, a manufacturer, and for 36 years as an Electrical Manufacturers Representative. Dave opened his own Training and Consulting Company upon retirement. Dave is a 33 year member of the International Association of Electrical Inspectors and is past president of the Iowa Chapter. Dave is a certified instructor for over 35 electrical courses in Iowa, Nebraska, S. Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Dave annually teaches over 200 classes in the Midwest on a number of subjects and does Electrical Consulting with a number of Industrial Plants.
2021 Speakers
Mike Miller
Mike Miller 
Electrical credentials: Class A Master Electrician in Minnesota, North Dakota Master, South Dakota Electrical Contractor, South Dakota Electrical Inspector License
Educational background: SDSU Broadcast Journalism; Graduate SDIEC Apprenticeship School; Graduate US Army OCS, & Basic Officer Branch School
Experience information: Working as an electrical Contractor specializing in commercial and industrial wiring – design and installation – 39 years. Providing electrical safety inspections for manufacturing plants and sewer plants. Contractor, president of: Mike Miller, Inc. – Watertown SD. Currently: Director of Education for Electrical Association (fka Minnesota Electrical Association)
Experience as a trainer: Six years CEU provider Lake Area Technical Institute – Watertown, SD; Twelve years electrical instructor providing public & private classes – Mike Miller Instructional Services. Three years Mn Electrical Association providing public and private classes throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin..
Professional organization affiliations: NFPA; IAEI, SD Electrical Council, (Former State president); North Central Electrical League, Minnesota Electrical Association
Publications, awards, certifications: Published new 8-hour presentation every year on NEC since 2000. Written numerous electrical safety and maintenance procedure policies for private industries and municipal agencies.
Family, hobbies, interests: Enjoying time with nine grandchildren and four children; hobby – computers
Steve Arne
Steve Arne
Training Director
AETech Electrical Training Center
Rapid City, South Dakota
Steve Arne has worked as an electrician, electrical contractor, and electrical instructor for 45 years. Steve spent 10 years In the electrical field, then the next nineteen years as a teacher and department head in the Electrical Program at Western Dakota Technical Institute. Since Steve retired from Western Dakota Tech in 2003, he has provided industry-direct training specializing in continuing education Electrical Code classes and Electrician Exam Preparation classes for Journeyman and Master’s level exams. In 2012, Steve and Deb’s son Ryan returned to Rapid City SD to help Steve expand his training business at AETech Electrical Training Center to include a 640-hour full-time day-time Apprentice Electrician Training Program.
Steve earned a Technical Education Teaching Degree from Dakota State University and a Master’s Degree In Administrative Studies from the University of South Dakota. Steve served two terms as a Board Member of the SD Electrical Commission and serves on the State and Local Chapter Boards of the SD Electrical Council.
Steve worked with Mike Holt as the Technical Editorial Director and served as a technical editor and video team participant from 2002 until 2014 and uses Mike’s books in his classes. He is very thankful to have been associated with an industry leader like Mike who provides excellent training products to help students progress in the electrical industry and has a real heart to help others.
Steve grew up on a farm in eastern South Dakota, and has lived in Rapid City, South Dakota since 1970 where he and his wife Deb have both been active in their church and community, and love to spend time with their children and grandchildren. Most of all, Steve and Deb both strive to put God first in their lives, in their home and in their relationships.