FORREST AUTOMATION & TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS, LLC



Ronald A. Forrest, President
Cell: (614) 582-8479, ronf@forrestautomation-ts.com
 
WORK EXPERIENCE:
Experienced HVAC controls engineering with 32+ years of progressive responsibilities at The Ohio State University Utilities Department.   Proven track record of engineering, start-up, troubleshooting and maintenance of DCS/SCADA, DDC and HVAC systems.  Utility system experience includes 15,000 Ton chilled water plants & 820k pound  per hour high pressure steam plants.  Extensive experience interfacing with Utilities clients and employee management.

 Major accomplishments:

  • Replacement of north heating water loop from central plant to nine district plants in buildings. Supervised the engineering in the design of a fully functional heating station. Worked with contractors verifying systems installed and programmed correctly. Extensively modified for simplicity and better functionality, programming structure is baseline followed today in all heating stations installed. They are 200 psig superheated steam heating stations.
  • Programming, startup, and design of all building cooling systems that are connected to central plant, including Student Activities Services, Thompson Library, and modifications to the system and programming at Physical Sciences. Extensive experience commissioning chilled water systems.
  • Diagnose system problems and design solutions at Hagerty Hall.  Heating system was unable to maintain the design heating water set point. After careful review of the piping and the controls, I determined that the discovered the piping was incorrect and subsequently resolved. The change was made and the system no longer has a problem reaching design supply temperature.
  • Produced an RFQ to purchase and install an energy/billing software. System was online and producing billing statements in three months.
  • Webmaster, IS Manager, network manager and technical support for the Division.
  • Created bid package for a new campus alarm and card access system for 156 buildings, supervised installation, and managed system for 7 years.
  • Assisted supervisor with the conversion of Kottman Hall to DDC controls on chiller system and all seven air handlers. Responsible for programming, and supervision of 3 technicians who did the installation.. HVAC modifications resulted in $38k cost avoidance on electrical usage. Project success resulted in an additional $500k from the energy budget to improve additional facilities. 
  • Designed and commissioned of in-house installation of 16 DDC systems; authored programs.
  • Interfaced DEC PDP-11/24 to JC80 Modcomp computer system to allow remote access with a portable printer and data logging to disk rather than paper which could be reviewed and searched for specific information.
  • Supervised student help for gathering building occupancy and operational data to be used for basis of energy studies on buildings.

 

                                                               AWARDS AND ACTIVITIES:

  • Senior Member of The International Society of Automation.
  • Member of ISA’s SP99 committee, Standard for securing your Manufacturing and Control System (2001 – present).
  • Business and Administration Distinguished Staff Award for outstanding staff (1995).
  • The Ohio State University, Business and Administration 1987 Vice President's Award for Exemplary Performance.