PARSIPPANY, N.J. – The Hydraulic Institute (HI) 2022 Annual Conference, held March 22-24, 2022, concluded with the presentation of awards for the following distinguished categories:
Member of the Year: Rodney Mrkvicka, vice president, engineering, Smith & Loveless has been selected as the 2021 HI Member of the Year.
Mrkvicka’s 35-year long career, he has become an accomplished professional that has demonstrated abilities to excel in the engineering and manufacturing professions. Throughout his career, Mrkvicka has created more than a dozen U.S. Patents, holds half a dozen professional licenses and certifications and is involved in over five professional associations including HI. Mrkvicka has been involved in the Hydraulic Institute for 15 years within the following committees:
- 20.3 Rotodynamic Pump Efficiency Prediction
- Understanding Pump Hydraulic Testing Acceptance White Paper
- Pump Systems Optimization Guidebook
- Drivers Application Guidebook
- Water Treatment Plant Pump Application Guidebook
- Wastewater Treatment Plant Pump Application Guidebook
- Life Cycle Cost Guidebook
- Systems Section
Standards Partner of the Year – HI recognized Paul Boyadjis, director of rotating machinery analysis, Mechanical Solutions as the 2021 Standards Partner of the Year.
Boyadjis’ career spans over 30 years, and has been active in HI for over a decade. In that time, he has become a vital member of the technical community. His specialty includes complex 3D solids modeling of pump casings for stress and vibration analysis using advanced finite element techniques. In addition to his participation in HI, Boyadjis contributes as an Associate Editor to Tribology and Lubrication Technology Magazine, has been credited by his employer for conducting detailed 3D finite element analysis of failed casings and impellers and troubleshooting water and wastewater systems. Currently, Boyadjis is Vice-Chair of the ANSI/HI 9.6.4 Rotodynamic Pumps for Vibration Measurement and Allowable Values and is a contributing member on the following HI Technical committees:
- ANSI/HI 9.6.2 Rotodynamic Pumps for Assessment of Applied Nozzle Loads
- ANSI/HI 9.6.5 Guideline for Condition Monitoring
- ANSI/HI 9.6.6 Rotodynamic Pumps for Pump Piping
- ANSI/HI 11.6 Rotodynamic Submersible Pump Test
- ANSI/HI 14.5.2 Foundation Design
Pump Systems Matter Leadership Award – HI recognized Zeljko Terzic, global offering manager, Armstrong Fluid Technology as the 2021 Pump Systems Matter Leadership Award.
Pump Systems Matter, HI’s educational branch, provides training and certifications to professionals in the pump industry. Zeljko Terzic has been instrumental in PSM’s success by aiding in the development of fluid flow and energy optimization solution content. Terzic specializes in HVAC pumping solutions and collaborated with a team to create a comprehensive course on Pump System Optimization for Commercial Building Applications.
In addition to his contributions to Pump Systems Matter, he participates in the following HI committees:
- ANSI/HI 9.1-9.5 General Guidelines for Pumps
- IoT Solutions for Pumping Systems Guidebook
- Energy Rating Oversight Committee
Young Engineer of the Year – HI recognized James Dawley, rotating equipment engineer, ITT-Industrial Process as the 2021 Young Engineer of the Year.
Dawley started his career as a project engineer working with customers to engineer pumping system solutions throughout the world in the Oil & Gas, Petrochemical, Chemical and Industrial Process industries. His colleagues see him to be ‘a key future leader in the industry’. Dawley joined HI in 2018 and has gained multiple leadership roles since then. He led the development of the friction loss calculator within the Engineering Data Library. Dawley serves as the Vice-chair for ANSI/HI 5.1-5.6 Sealless Rotodynamic Pumps and Chair for HI 30.1 General Purpose OH1 Rotodynamic Pump Specification, both of which were published in 2021.