NETA offers many volunteering opportunities for interested parties to get involved with the association and share their feedback and expertise. This new Volunteer Spotlight series will feature volunteers across all NETA committees, showcasing their contributions, motivations, and interests. Our first Volunteer Spotlight appropriately features the Volunteer Engagement Committee.
The committee works collaboratively with NETA leadership and all other NETA committees to identify engagement gaps, support recruitment efforts, and enhance communication across the organization. Through these efforts, VEC helps foster participation and sustain long-term engagement in support of NETA’s mission. It is one of the youngest NETA committees, established in 2022.
VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE
The Volunteer Engagement Committee (VEC) plays a central role in strengthening member involvement across NETA by ensuring that committees are properly staffed, actively engaged, and positioned for long-term success. At its core, the VEC connects volunteers with meaningful opportunities, aligning individual expertise with organizational needs to support the Association’s continued growth. Through proactive outreach and recruitment, the committee seeks to identify subject matter experts and emerging leaders and create accessible pathways for members to engage in committee work.
In addition to recruitment, the VEC emphasizes accountability, participation, and succession planning across all committees. This includes establishing clear participation expectations, monitoring engagement levels, and helping develop future leadership by identifying individuals who demonstrate consistent commitment to NETA’s mission and vision. The committee also supports volunteer recognition and feedback initiatives by highlighting contributions in articles like this new Volunteer Spotlight and continuously improving the volunteer experience.
The VEC is also exploring the idea of organizing a Volunteers Recognition Reception (similar to the Technicians Reception) before PowerTest27 starts, and making it a regular part of PowerTest conferences moving forward. Collectively, these efforts ensure that NETA maintains a strong, engaged volunteer base capable of driving innovation, supporting its members, and advancing the electrical testing industry.
VEC COMMITTEE CHAIR NENO PASIC
Nenad “Neno” Pasic is Chief Information Officer (CIO) and NETA Accredited Representative (NAR) at Tony Demaria Electric, Inc. (TDE), where he has contributed to company operations and industry initiatives for almost 25 years. He serves as Chair of the NETA Volunteer Engagement Committee and is an active member of the NETA Training and Promotions and Marketing Committees.
In his role as VEC Chair, Neno works along with committee members, Kristen Schmidt, Nishat Maredia, and Adis Talović, and NETA office staff Sam Perricone, Amy Williams, and Bryant Philips to strengthen volunteer participation by aligning members with opportunities to engage, improving communication between committees, and supporting initiatives that drive long-term involvement.
Neno’s motivation for serving is rooted in giving back to the industry that has enriched his personal life way beyond his expectations. Through his work, he has traveled across most of the United States and to nearly 70 countries. While much of his international travel was personal, these experiences would not have been possible without the countless opportunities the industry has provided, further reinforcing his commitment to giving back.
Through his broader work in workforce development and industry partnerships, including collaboration with Long Beach City College (LBCC) and continued work on their High Voltage Test Technician (HVTT) program, currently the only NETA-approved higher education curriculum, Neno continues to support VEC’s mission to build a stronger, more connected, and engaged volunteer community within the electrical testing industry, while contributing to the industry’s most critical challenge—the shortage of qualified technicians—by helping bridge the gap between education and the workforce.
VEC COMMITTEE MEMBERS
In addition to Volunteer Committee Chair Neno Pasic, this Volunteer Spotlight recognizes all three committee members: Vice Chair Kristen Schmidt, member Nishat Maredia, and member Adis Talović, who also serves on the Membership Application Review Committee and the Training Committee.
Here, they share their experiences as NETA Volunteers.
NW: What motivates you to dedicate your time, expertise, and energy to NETA as an organization?
Schmidt: NETA’s greatest asset is the people who volunteer their time, energy, vision, and passion. I was fortunate to spend 11 years of my early professional life working with NETA’s volunteers in a staff capacity. During that time, I learned so much of what still serves me today. I have always sought to stay connected with this incredible group of people through the years, because they truly make a difference in the lives of others.
Maredia: Globally, we are experiencing incredible growth within the power sector with respect to modernization efforts, new infrastructure, and the need for resilient energy systems to support a wide range of applications. This growth places huge responsibility on testing firms to deliver unbiased testing, providing end-users with confidence and insight into their systems. NETA, as an organization, aligns the tester with its core values of Servant Leadership, Integrity, Safety, Quality, Reliability, and Continuous Improvement.
As NETA responds to rapid technological advances and the associated challenges, it provides a crucial forum for industry professionals to exchange ideas, knowledge, and strategies to navigate the future of the power industry. Volunteering with an organization that plays such an impactful role continues to be a key driving factor for me.
Talović: When I first began attending NETA conferences and committee meetings, I immediately noticed the depth of knowledge and expertise in the room. Just as important, I saw NETA leadership’s genuine willingness to share that knowledge with its members and help strengthen the industry. I have always been passionate about empowering others through knowledge sharing, mentoring, and professional development, and that same energy was clearly present throughout the organization. Because of that, when the first opportunity came to get involved, it felt like a natural next step. I wanted to participate, continue learning, contribute where I could, and share my own experience with others.
NW: What is something unique about your personal industry experience that has been an asset to you as a volunteer for NETA?
Schmidt: I so appreciate knowing the organization’s history since its inception in 1972 and having the opportunity to work alongside some of the earliest members while I was on NETA’s staff. This perspective reinforces the importance of connecting the future, present, and past to ensure the organization continues to grow and support its mission and vision.
Maredia: By taking on multiple roles during my career, from testing and technical training to business ownership and development, my time across these disciplines has shaped my perspective holistically, and I hope to commit more time to different committees in the near future.
Talović: One unique part of my experience is that I have worked in many different areas of the electrical testing industry. I have seen the industry from the technician’s side, the customer’s side, and from the perspectives of NETA and testing company leadership. That has helped me as a volunteer because I understand how NETA standards and programs affect people in the real world. I know what technicians deal with in the field, what customers expect from a qualified testing company, and how important it is for the industry to maintain high standards.
NW: How does volunteering with NETA touch on other parts of your life?
Schmidt: Volunteering with NETA keeps me in touch with what is shaping my future in the electrical power systems industry, and allows me to integrate that knowledge into my role with USC Power Services, a NETA Accredited Company that I love working for. I am also able to stay connected with people who have become great friends over the past 20 years. To me, that is invaluable; NETA folks are unique in the world of professional associations, and you won’t find a better group out there.
Maredia: Volunteering with NETA contributes to many facets because it blends naturally with my professional growth and my personal values. I am connected to the latest developments within NETA, where conversations, committee work, and shared problemsolving all strengthen how I approach my daytoday responsibilities.
Talović: Professionally, volunteering with NETA helps me stay connected to the industry’s direction. It keeps me involved with standards, training, certification, and industry challenges beyond just my own company or local market. Personally, it gives me a sense of giving back and makes it meaningful. I came into this industry by learning from others, making mistakes, asking questions, and working hard to improve. Volunteering gives me a chance to help others on the same path. It also connects me with something I value strongly: mentoring people and helping them grow in their careers.
NW: Please share something about your volunteer experience that would encourage others to get more involved.
Schmidt: To quote The Lorax by Dr. Seuss, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” You don’t have to be the smartest person in the room or have all the answers to be a great volunteer. You can simply show up, care about making the industry a better place to work and live, and share what you know. What you gain in return is an awesome network, new knowledge and expertise, and the opportunity to give something back.
Maredia: I’ve had the privilege of working with incredible individuals within the Volunteer Engagement Committee. Being part of a team with a strong collaborative spirit, welcoming atmosphere, positive leadership, and a strategic vision has been a fantastic experience. By volunteering, you gain by getting to know the organization, building relationships, and being inspired by the other volunteers’ dedication.
Talović: I would tell others that volunteering with NETA is not just about attending meetings. It is about having a voice in the future of the electrical testing industry. When you volunteer, you work with people who care about the same things you do. You also realize that your field experience matters. The lessons we learn on job sites can help improve standards, training, and programs for the entire industry.
NW: Why is volunteer involvement important to NETA’s success and mission?
Schmidt: NETA’s history is steeped in long hours spent in proverbial smoke-filled rooms, built by men and women who saw a need to standardize an emerging industry. They knew that while they might be competitors in the market, they were stronger together. Today, our volunteers strive to educate the world about why third-party, independent testing firms and the true certification of test technicians are vital to the health, life, and safety of each person working on or around the electrical equipment tested and maintained by our NETA Accredited Companies. Without the time and knowledge shared so selflessly by NETA’s volunteers, the organization would struggle to support this mission and its vision to be the worldwide expert in electrical power systems and equipment assessment.
Maredia: Volunteer involvement is essential to NETA’s success because the organization is built on the collective expertise of the industry. NETA’s mission—to advance electrical power system safety, reliability, and technical excellence through accredited companies, certified technicians, and ANSI/NETA standards—can only be achieved when professionals actively contribute their knowledge and realworld experience. Volunteers ensure that the standards, exams, and best practices NETA develops stay relevant, practical, and grounded in what’s actually happening in the field.
Beyond that, volunteers create the collaborative environment that makes NETA so strong. They bring diverse perspectives, challenge assumptions, and help the organization stay forwardthinking as the power sector evolves. Without volunteers, NETA wouldn’t have the depth of insight or the industry connection needed to maintain its leadership role. Their involvement is what keeps the mission alive, credible, and impactful.
Talović: Volunteer involvement is important because NETA is built on industry experience. The strength of the organization comes from people who are actively working in the field, managing testing programs, training technicians, reviewing standards, and solving real problems every day. Without volunteers, it would be difficult to keep standards practical, training relevant, and programs connected to what is actually happening in the industry. Volunteers bring the field experience, technical knowledge, and leadership needed to keep NETA strong.
Who will be recognized in the next Volunteer Spotlight? Watch for it in the Winter issue of NETA World.