TSDOS: Preconference Workshop

Sponsored and provided by Exo

The Specs that Got You Here, Won’t Get You There…

Exo’s Practical Guide to Steel Pole and Steel Tower Technical Specifications

  • Wesley J. Oliphant, P.E., F.SEI, F.ASCE
  • Michael D. Miller P.E., P.Eng., F.ASCE, F.SEI
  • Kenneth L. Sharpless, P.E., F.ASCE, F.SEI

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Workshop Description:

When attention to even the seemingly innocuous of details of Industry Codes, Standards, and your own Company’s Purchase Specifications are not strictly followed (either unintentionally or intentionally), very serious quality consequences can occur.

This Exo sponsored preconference workshop will use a surgeon’s scalpel to critically look inside both a typical steel pole and a typical steel tower specification to better understand how long-term Durability, Reliability and Structural Performance can be improved with a “smarter” up-to-date specification. To help you look smarter as well we are making a PDF version of “Practical Guide to Steel Pole and Steel Tower Technical Specifications” available today for download.

About the Authors:

Wesley J. Oliphant, P.E., F.SEI, F.ASCE

Principal, Chief Technical Officer Exo

Mr. Oliphant began his professional career in 1974 as a Civil Engineering Officer in the United States Air Force. He has since accumulated approximately 46 years of professional experience and expertise related to structural design, manufacturing, inspection and remediation of wood poles, tubular steel poles, prestressed concrete poles, fiberglass composite poles, as well as lattice steel towers.

In 2010, Mr. Oliphant received ASCE’s Gene Wilhoite Award presented by the Structural Engineering Institute for his significant lifetime contributions to the advancement of the “Art and Science of Transmission Line Engineering”.

Mr. Oliphant is a Fellow, and Charter Member of the Structural Engineering Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers, as well as the current Chairman of ASCE/SEI’s Committee of Electrical Transmission Structures. He is a Member of the ASCE Committee of America’s Infrastructure, working on the 2021 Energy Infrastructure Report Card and a member of IEEE where is has served on Sub-Committee 5 (Strengths and Loadings) to the National Electric Safety Code (NESC).

Michael Miller P.E., P.Eng., F.ASCE, F.SEI

Vice President of Technical Services Exo

Over the past 35 years, Mr. Miller has accumulated extensive experience in the design, fabrication and full-scale testing of latticed steel towers, tubular steel poles, telecommunication structures and substation structures. His previous positions included work in the U.S. Department of Energy-Bonneville Power Administration and subsequently with SAE Towers. Mr. Miller has been the design Engineer of Record for transmission line infrastructure projects across 25 U.S. states and 4 Canadian provinces. He has also provided expertise in the development of high voltage transmission line structures in Central America, South America and Southeast Asia.

Mr. Miller is an active member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) participates in industry committees as well as the development of many of the industry Manuals of Practice and Standards. Mr. Miller has been appointed as the chairman of the new ASCE-SEI Structural Loading Standard Committee. He has developed patents and has published many industry technical papers.

Mr. Miller has a B.S. and M.S. from Portland State University and is a registered professional Civil Engineer in multiple states and provinces across North America.

Mr. Kenneth L. Sharpless, P.E., F.SEI, F.ASCE

Vice President Utility Services

Ken graduated with an Architectural Engineering degree from the University of Texas and from Harvard Business School’s General Management Program. He is a professional engineer, licensed in the state of Texas, and has a combined 24 years of technical and leadership positions in structure manufacturing and another 10 years in consulting and utility engineering.

He is a Fellow of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and a Fellow of the Structural Engineering Institute (SEI).

Ken is actively involved in several industry codes and standards committees, including leadership and executive roles. Ken has authored and presented numerous papers and articles on the design, manufacturing and application of critical infrastructure assets. He has a track record of innovative solutions to achieve quality, economic and aesthetic results including multiple materials and U.S. patented designs.

Currently, Ken is the Vice President of Technical Services at Exo in Houston, Texas.