“NETA is proud to honor Scott Reed of MVA Services with the Alliance Partner Recognition Award for his outstanding contributions to the electrical testing industry,” began Alliance Program Committee Chair Jim Cialdea. “This award recognizes individuals who advance safety and reliability through leadership, service, and the development and application of consensus standards within the electrical power industry. Scott Reed exemplifies these qualities through his dedication to the industry and his lasting impact on electrical testing professionals nationwide.”
Cialdea added, “Scott Reed’s impact on the transformer and electrical power industry is measured not only by technical expertise, but by leadership, mentorship, and service. As the founder of MVA Diagnostics and MVA Services, Reed has built organizations that combine deep engineering knowledge with practical, field-tested experience—earning the respect of colleagues, competitors, customers, and employees alike.”
When Reed was named the recipient of the Alliance Recognition Award at the Member and Alliance Recognition Luncheon at PowerTest26, his initial reaction was surprise. “The recognition was unexpected but deeply meaningful,” he says, “particularly because it reflected feedback from customers, colleagues, and employees.” Hearing those perspectives prompted reflection on the relationships built over the course of his career.
“This industry is built on collaboration, and I’ve been fortunate to be surrounded by great people,” he shares. “I’m grateful for the recognition, especially coming from an organization like NETA, and I see it as a reflection of the people I’ve had the opportunity to work with throughout my career.”
BUILDING AN ORGANIZATION
From the earliest days of MVA Diagnostics and MVA Services, Scott Reed has been known for pairing deep technical knowledge with a genuine commitment to people, Cialdea says. That combination, colleagues agree, is what has fueled his professional success and his influence across the electrical testing and transformer industries.
Todd Felton of MVA Diagnostics recalls joining Reed in 2014, when the company was little more than an idea and an empty office. Under Reed’s leadership, the organization grew into a full-scale diagnostic laboratory serving the transformer oil fluid industry, expanding into larger facilities, deploying multiple service trucks, and achieving consistent year-over-year growth.
“Scott’s ability to move seamlessly between field work and business strategy has been central to that success,” says Felton. “It is a skill Scott developed intentionally—staying close to the work while building organizations designed to support long-term industry needs.”
COMMITMENT TO THE INDUSTRY
Reed recalls, “I first got involved with NETA in 2005 because I saw it as a way to connect with qualified electrical testing companies and to become more engaged with the industry as a whole—and NETA provided a platform to do that. Over the past twenty years, my involvement has grown to include reviewing and helping shape standards, writing articles, and working to support the organization in a meaningful way. It’s been less about participation and more about helping move things forward where I can. In addition, I serve as the IEEE Transformers Committee liaison to NETA, which allows me to help bridge insights between the transformer and testing communities.”
Those contributions have not gone unnoticed. Within industry standards organizations such as IEEE, ASTM, and NETA, Reed is widely respected for his technical expertise in transformer maintenance, diagnostics, and life assessment. Currently serving as Vice Chair of the IEEE Transformers Committee and moving toward a leadership role, he brings what colleagues describe as a rare boots-on-the-ground perspective. Tom Prevost of IEEE, who has worked with Reed for more than two decades, credits that field experience as a defining strength. “Scott’s knowledge,” he notes, “is rooted not just in theory, but in years of firsthand work and countless volunteer hours dedicated to improving industry practices.”
PERSONAL IMPACT
Reed’s impact is also personal. Tiffany Wiley of Fortune Electric describes him as a trusted mentor from the very beginning of her career. She credits his ability to take complex principles and translate them into real-world understanding—along with his openness to professional and personal conversations—as reasons so many engineers turn to him for guidance. That approachability is echoed by Stephanie Mabry of AVO Diagnostics, who has collaborated with Reed for more than a decade through the IEEE Transformers Committee. Having known him as a customer, colleague, and competitor, she emphasizes his integrity and commitment to passing knowledge down to the next generation.
“Personally, NETA has been invaluable,” Reed says. “I’ve built lifelong professional relationships that have turned into real friendships over the years. PowerTest is an event I look forward to every year because it’s a chance to reconnect with so many people I’ve come to know well. I’ve also had the opportunity to contribute as a speaker and currently participate on the Transformers Panel, which has been very rewarding.
PARTNERSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND VALUE
Reed’s collaborative mindset extends to how he approaches business partnerships. As a Corporate Alliance Partner, MVA has focused on building trust by providing recommendations grounded in sound technical data.
“From a business standpoint, NETA has been a strong platform for MVA,” he continues. “Being a corporate sponsor helped position us as a trusted partner for oil testing and oil processing services. We view NETA as a key partner in helping us deliver our services to the industry, and that collaboration has been mutually beneficial.”
Inside his own organizations, Reed’s leadership style reflects his understanding of field service realities. Nate Gover of MVA Services notes that Reed has done the work himself and understands the demands placed on technicians who spend long stretches on the road. That empathy, combined with fairness and transparency, has helped foster loyalty and trust. Dan Haren, Vice President of Services at MVA Services, adds that Reed has been instrumental in shaping a company culture centered on teamwork, education, and respect. “Our customers regularly invite Reed to their facilities to teach classes on oil diagnostics and transformer commissioning, which reinforces his role as a technical expert and an educator,” Haren notes.
From the customer perspective, Reed’s value lies in expertise as well as results. Deanna Woods of Pennsylvania Transformer points to significant cost savings achieved by using MVA Diagnostics’ dissolved gas analysis services. “Beyond the technical benefits, our shared involvement in the IEEE Transformers Committee has strengthened a professional relationship that has grown into friendship,” she recalls.
LOOKING AHEAD
Looking ahead, Reed remains focused on expanding MVA’s capabilities in oil testing and field services to better support an industry facing aging assets, extended manufacturing backlogs, and ongoing supplychain constraints. “Preparation means investing in laboratory capacity, improving data delivery, and staying closely connected to customers’ realtime challenges,” he says.
“When you take that approach, relationships naturally evolve into long-term partnerships,” Reed explains. “Those partnerships create a strategic advantage because they’re built on credibility and reliability, not transactions. It also opens the door for collaboration across companies, where we can align our services with the needs of NETA members and help them better serve their clients.
Over time, that trust-based model has allowed us to become a go-to partner for our services, strengthening our position and the value we bring to the industry.”
“We plan to continue expanding our relationships within the NETA community by consistently demonstrating the value MVA brings to member companies. That starts with delivering high-quality, reliable services and supporting our partners in a way that helps them succeed,” Reed shares.
“Beyond that, we’re focused on growing our capabilities in oil testing and field services so we can provide more comprehensive solutions to the industry. As the demand for maintaining aging transformer fleets continues to increase, we see an opportunity to play a larger role in helping NETA members extend asset life and improve reliability.”
CONCLUSION
While the current environment presents obstacles, Reed sees opportunity for organizations willing to focus on longterm partnerships and continued investment. For young professionals entering the industry, Reed’s advice is simple but deliberate: Get involved, seek mentors, and commit to contributing—not just participating. “This is a career you might spend 40 years in,” he says. “It’s not just a job. Giving back through standards work, mentoring, and knowledge sharing doesn’t just advance an individual career; it strengthens the industry as a whole.”