Ed Koepke has accomplished a great deal over the course of his 36-year career. With a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Missouri – Columbia, Koepke has trained engineers, distributors, OEMs, consultants, architectural firms, power plants and municipalities on the National Electric Code and has shared his expertise with major industrial OEMs all around the world. In addition to being a former member of the UL Standards Committee for Drives and Harmonization of Drives with IEC standards, he has also served as a principal member of the NFPA 70 (NEC) committee on writing new electrical regulations for the last nine years.
His dedication to education and continuous improvement extends to providing mentorship and guidance to younger industry professionals. According to colleague Patrick Hogg, Koepke “is leading the next generation to understand the industry, applications and relationships needed to thrive. He is always there for the team when guidance is needed, while staying open to change.” Koepke himself has benefited from education spanning from electrician training to pump-related courses, but when asked which kind of training helped him the most, he said, “Meeting people and listening to their experiences on what worked and didn’t work. I learn best by understanding what others have gone through.”
In addition to being a fan of practical applications, he is also a strong believer in the value of making mistakes: “Learn from your mistakes. Make many mistakes. If you don’t make mistakes, then you will never learn what worked and what didn’t.”
Outside of work, Koepke enjoys traveling with his wife, spending time with his family and advocating for animal rescue.
What are the biggest challenges that the industry is facing?
Loss of knowledge due to aging out and turnover.
What has been the best part about your job?
Every day is different. Motors may be similar; however, the projects that my team work on and the interaction with others makes the day move by quickly.