SPECIALIZED PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE
- Designated Technical Expert in Photovoltaic Panels and Solar Collectors, Standards Council of Canada
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering – Over 450 Fire, Property and Vehicle Loss Investigations
- Structural and Vehicle Fire Investigations – Fire Origin and Cause Investigations
- Electric and Electronic Assemblies, Appliances and Installations – Root Cause Failure Analysis
- Building, Property and Construction Electrical Failures
- Building / Electrical Code Compliance Assessment
- Equipment Certifications and Homologation – Regulatory Agencies
- Design and Field Support – Telecommunications Equipment
- Project Management
- Transformer Vault Explosion and Fire Investigations (3 MVA, 2 MVA, 27.6 KV / 600 V)
- Building Substation and Transformer Failure Investigations (2.5 MVA, 27.6 KV / 600 V)
- 600 V/5000 A Distribution Duct Systems Failure Investigations
- 600 V/5000 A Electrical Panel Failure Investigations
- City Water Treatment Pump Stations Electrical Failure Investigations
- Industrial Battery Charger Failure Investigations (6 KVA / 600 V)
- Designated Technical Expert in Electrical Installations - Standards Council of Canada
ACADEMIC BACKGROUND
Business Management Certificate, Humber College of Arts and Technology, Toronto 1992
Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering, University of Costa Rica, 1985; emphasis in power electronics and power systems
Additional Courses
- Master Transformer Specialist (MTS), SD Myers Inc., Tallmadge, Ohio, 2012
- Transformer Specialist 1 (TS1), SD Myers Inc., Tallmadge, Ohio, 2011
- Certified Fire and Explosive Investigator, (NAFI), Denver, Colorado, 2008
- Investigation of Electrical & Appliance Related Fires, International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI), Mesa, Arizona, 2006
- Legal Issues for professional Engineers, Phoenix, Arizona, 2006
- Design for Manufacturing, Statistical Process Control and Six Sigma, Motorola University, Boston, Massachusetts, 1988
- Qualification as Electrician, Humber College, Toronto, 1990
- Data Transmission, Switching and LANS, North Eastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, 1990
EMPLOYMENT BACKGROUND
Giffin Koerth Inc.
Senior Forensic Electrical Engineer and Fire Investigator
December 2007 – Present, Toronto, ON
Investigation and reporting on forensic engineering matters including:
- Electrical distribution failures and fires
- Electrical transformers failures and fires
- Photovoltaic installations failures and fired investigations
- Photovoltaic installations commissioning experience
- Project management failures
- Industrial production and operations
- Utility operations and maintenance practices
- Small motor and appliance failures
EFI (Engineering and Fire Investigations) Global
Senior Forensic Electrical Engineer
2005 – 2007, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Investigation and reporting on over 150 forensic engineering cases in residential, commercial and vehicle fire losses in Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Colorado and Southern California
Provided expert witness testimony in fire loss cases in the Maricopa County district court in Arizona
Creation Technologies Inc.
Engineering Project Manager
2001 – 2005, Toronto, ON
Responsible for accounts with a $20 Million/year revenue
Managed new electronic board assembly project launches with full DFM (design for manufacturing) studies on SMT (surface mount technology) and TH (though hole) technologies electronic assemblies with direct supervision of several engineers
Completed failure analysis and reports for client product problems in the field
Motorola Inc.
Electrical Hardware Design and Sustaining Engineer for Internet and Networking Division
1987 – 2001, Toronto, ON
Engineering hardware design authority for Motorola Vanguard networking product line for five years
Created engineering documentation to support local and remote manufacturing
Performed electrical and thermal stress testing analysis for product design verification and product certification with regulatory agencies in North America and Europe
Provided engineering support to Motorola marketing and worldwide customer service organizations
GTE Sylvania
Electrical Project Engineer for Lighting Division
1985 – 1987, San Jose, Costa Rica
Project engineer responsible for the quality of fluorescent lamp starters, fluorescent lamps and light bulbs
Performed engineering studies on glass to metal seals and new materials for certification into production
Designed and developed electronic production test equipment
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES / ASSOCIATIONS
- Professional Engineers of Ontario, Canada, Licensed Professional Engineer
- Arizona State Board of Technical Registrations, USA, Registered Professional Engineer
- Professional Engineers of Costa Rica, Licensed Professional Engineer
- International Association of Arson Investigators, Forensic Engineer Member
- National Association of Fire Investigators, Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator
PUBLICATIONS / SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Speaking Engagements
- “Electrical Failures and Fires”, The International Association of Electrical Inspectors ( IAEI), Ontario Chapter, 2012
- “Electrical Failures and Fires”, The International Association of Arson Investigators ( IAAI), Ontario Chapter, 2011
- Training Course, Motorola Field Engineers, Boston, MA
- Training Course, in Spanish, Costa Rican Telephone Company, RACSA (Radiografia Costarricese SA), San Jose, Costa Rica
Court and ADR Appearances
- Provided deposition in Maricopa County Court, State of Arizona, USA
Languages
- Fluent in Spanish
