Today's Automation News Headlines from Automation.com

February 5, 2012 - The International Society of Automation (ISA) is expanding its commitment to provide automation professionals readily accessible sources for educational news and information with the creation of a social media community manager position. After a search, ISA has named Juliann M. Grant, a veteran in the industrial automation field and social media consultant, to assume this position.

Grant will be responsible for building, growing and nurturing ISA’s social media communities on major social networks including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, LiveStream, YouTube and Flickr. She will be a lead contributor to ISA Interchange, the Society’s news-and-blog website, launched in 2011 as the hub for all things automation, from technology to subject-matter experts, industry leaders, ISA volunteers and staff and others from the automation community.

“We are pleased to move forward in our mission to stimulate discussions about automation topics across all technologies, and keep our fingers on the pulse of the automation world. Maintaining a solid presence on popular information-sharing platforms allows ISA to better serve all of the stakeholders of the automation community with technical and professional information,” said Patrick Gouhin, executive director and CEO of ISA. “Juliann brings experience in both social media and the automation field to the position. Applying her talents towards curating and disseminating relevant, high-quality technical information and engaging the automation community will strengthen everyone’s opportunities for success,” he added.

“I am excited to assume this role with ISA, an organization that is setting new standards in the field of automation, and now in social media. Through this role, we can help share the rich technical information that is available from its members, and highlight the good work happening across the profession of automation. By building a vibrant, engaging community for engineers and professionals in automation, ISA will reinforce its leader role in advancing the automation profession and industry as a whole,” commented Grant.

Grant, a vice president of Telesian Technology, has more than 20 years of experience developing marketing strategies for high-technology and industrial-automation companies. She is a recognized speaker and author on business-to-business (B2B) marketing strategies and tactics, including integrated marketing, online marketing and social media. She has also held marketing executive positions at The Lodestar Corporation, Kronos Inc. and Pivotpoint (acquired by MAPICS).

About ISA

Founded in 1945, the International Society of Automation is a leading, global, nonprofit organization that is setting the standard for automation by helping over 30,000 worldwide members and other professionals solve difficult technical problems, while enhancing their leadership and personal career capabilities. Based in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, ISA develops standards, certifies industry professionals, provides education and training, publishes books and technical articles, and hosts conferences and exhibitions for automation professionals. ISA is the founding sponsor of the Automation Federation.