Juan Carlos Montero Quirós

Hispanic Heritage Month is observed annually from September 15th through October 15th, celebrating the contributions of Hispanic and Latino culture. IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES) would like to spotlight Juan Carlos Montero Quirós, an IEEE PES Senior Member, IEEE PES R9 Regional Communications Coordinator, IEEE SA Industry Connections Committee Member, and the Electrical Operational Planning Coordinator, Department of Computer Science & Engineering (DOCSE) at Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad. As a passionate and involved leader in the world of engineering, Juan has dedicated over 15 years of volunteer service to IEEE PES and truly believes in what the society strives to be: the leading provider of scientific and engineering information on electric power and energy for the betterment of society, and the preferred professional development source for our members.

Juan’s interest in engineering began during his teenage years while attending a technical high school in Costa Rica. Many of the subjects covered involved electrical circuits, motors, and various electrical devices. Juan found it fun; being able to create electrical movements, lighting, and sounds was truly fascinating. This motivated him to continue his education, secure his certification as an electrician, obtain his Bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering with a concentration in Power Systems at the University of Costa Rica, and continue his studies in power and energy.

Juan shared a core family memory of the holidays or other special occasions when gifts are given; when asked about what he wanted, he would ask for things like flashlights, blue-light devices, anything that provides power and light. Juan expressed, “In that moment, I was reminded how huge of a fan I am of light.”

A constant source of support came from Juan’s family in his decision to pursue a lifelong career in electrical engineering. Additionally, one high school teacher, Mr. Angelo Leone, played an important role in Juan’s educational journey. Originally from Italy, he was an important role model for Juan. Mr. Angelo Leone consistently encouraged a unique, analytical approach to solving engineering problems. It was also through him that Juan came to learn about IEEE. Through various research projects in high school, Juan found himself referencing IEEE magazines as recommended by Angelo Leone, though initially he did not focus on the organization itself.

During his second year in college, a classmate encouraged Juan to join the IEEE Costa Rica Section. This kick-started his society involvement, getting more engaged later on as a student member. Early on, Juan had constant exposure to various IEEE educational and societal magazines, which, at the time, some topics were too advanced for him to comprehend; however, by pure coincidence, Juan found himself reading IEEE PES magazines and related very much to the information at hand. This aligned well with his career path in power and energy.

Juan shared, “That’s what got me through university. I felt like I belonged to a technical community of people that I would like to call power systems lovers, because it’s where I found my friends, colleagues, and like-minded people.” Juan also expressed that he loves that he gets to share a bond of mutual enthusiasm for energy infrastructure, such as wind turbines and transformers.

Juan’s involvement within IEEE and PES only grew from there. He enjoyed networking, meeting various people from other countries, and wanted to find ways to stay current and involved. Juan eventually found himself as Chapter Chair and had the opportunity to meet with the Vice President of Membership at the time, Henry Louie, who provided Juan with the opportunity to serve as the social media administrator for one of the society’s social accounts after expressing interest in creating more exposure for the society. With that, Juan’s organizational and societal engagement grew, holding a number of positions over the years both at the local and international level, including various PES Governing Board positions, Vice President of Membership and Image and Treasurer. Wanting to get back in touch with his roots and expand his exposure to various topics within the field of engineering, Juan became more engaged with IEEE PES Region 9 and is currently the region’s Regional Communications Coordinator and is part of the IEEE SA Industry Connections Committee.

Outside of PES, Juan is the Electrical Operational Planning Coordinator, Power System Operation and Control Division (DOCSE) at the Electrical Institute of Costa Rica (ICE). He is involved in conducting electrical studies to maintain grid reliability, performing interconnection studies, ensuring generation meets grid codes, and managing energy exchange to other Central American countries. He’s dedicated his time to the company after obtaining his bachelor’s, and has worked his way up to being involved in high-level supervision of various networks.

He shared, “I love getting involved in real-life operations. I’ve been fortunate to be able to develop myself within my career and connect and share valuable information and experiences with other engineers in the field.”

When asked what IEEE PES means to him, Juan shared a unique perspective that truly showcases the society’s value. Reminiscing back to the time of COVID, Juan connected with various volunteers from around the world, wanting to learn more about how they were impacted by the pandemic; a major concern was the future of the electrical power system. This resulted in a collaborative effort in creating a white paper detailing members’ experiences of life during COVID and the various impacts on grid modernization. This allowed Juan to bring firsthand information on various methods of protection, strategy, and global grid management back to Costa Rica. Juan appreciates the level of support that is consistently shown within PES. Connecting with peers from all over the world truly shows the level of dedication in sharing knowledge.

With that, Juan expressed, “IEEE PES means to me a community of people that shares my passion for power systems.”

Looking ahead, Juan wishes to support the implementation of technologies like wind energy, photovoltaic energy, and battery storage in his IEEE region. He also wishes to continue his commitment to mentorship for other volunteers, especially those in Region 9. Juan truly believes that for one to succeed, one must pursue opportunities rather than letting the door close on oneself, emphasizing, “Don’t assume that no is an answer”.

He shared, “In the future, I hope to continue to share energy best practices among PES members and volunteers worldwide.”

Juan’s passion for service truly goes a long way. He is committed to the future of his community and is incredibly appreciative of the society’s role in creating a better future for all.