Nov

17-18

Procurement Management – Virtual (Nov 17-18)

Successful procurement management relies on a well-developed infrastructure, appropriate tactical resources, and thorough analysis. This process is multi-faceted and involves solid relationships within the utility, as well as maintaining relationships with vendors to mitigate risk. This forum offers an opportunity for procurement managers and specialists to come together with their industry partners and suppliers for round table discussions and expert presentations. Topics include KPIs, supplier relationship management, sustainability, and best practices in purchasing and contracting.

General Details

  • Program Location
  • Virtual Event
  • No travel required. All agenda times are in Pacific time.Instructions to access the virtual event will be provided to the attendee before the program.
  • Who Should Attend
    • Procurement managers
    • Buyers
    • Sourcing managers
    • Purchasing Managers
    • Contract administrators/agents
    • Materials managers
    • Inventory and salvage managers
    • Suppliers and service companies
    • Supply chain analysts
  • Registration Options
  • Member: $199 USD

    Registration includes virtual access to all agenda items and digital program materials.

  • General Cancellation Policy
  • To best serve WEI members and program participants during the COVID-19 pandemic, WEI will be waiving its standard cancellation policy for this virtual program. Registrants can receive a full refund should they need to cancel their registration up to the day before the program begins.
  • Participation Policy
  • Western Energy Institute programs and events are open to energy companies (including gas production and electric generation, gas and electric transmission and gas and electric distribution utilities). Select programs and events are open to energy industry product and service suppliers. Programs and events are closed to all media representatives and to the general public. Recording is not permitted for any portion of the event.
  • For more information contact Christopher Lee, Senior Program Manager at (971) 303-2111.

Agenda

All session times are listed in Pacific time.

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

8:30 AM - 8:45 AM

Virtual Help Desk + Technology Check

The room will open early with optional time for participants to get familiar with the virtual platform, test their audio and webcam, or ask questions about the agenda before we begin.

8:45 AM - 9:45 AM

Welcome + Introductions

9:45 AM - 10:00 AM

Break

10:00 AM - 10:45 AM

COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learned

10:45 AM - 11:00 AM

Break

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

NERC CIP 13 Audit in Review
Speaker(s): Shane Sutton, Supply Chain Manager, NorthWestern Energy

NorthWestern Utilities will share lessons learned from its NERC CIP audit. They will include how they prepared and what they learned from the process. There will be time to ask questions and for discussion following the presentation.

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Break

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Industry Topic Roundtable Discussion

This roundtable will focus topics related to Vendor Relations such as:
•What challenges are your Tier 1 Suppliers facing?
•How are you managing smaller vendors?

Thursday, November 18, 2021

8:30 AM - 8:45 AM

Virtual Help Desk + Technology Check

The room will open early with optional time for participants to get familiar with the virtual platform, test their audio and webcam, or ask questions about the agenda before we begin.

8:45 AM - 9:45 AM

Benchmarking Spending Thresholds
Facilitator(s): Erin Henning, Director of Supply Chain Services, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, Mike MacBeath, Director, Supply Chain, EPCOR Distribution and Transmission Inc.

A benchmark survey will be conducted as part of the registration. This is a chance to share and discuss survey results as well as other factors related to spending thresholds.

9:45 AM - 10:00 AM

Break

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Procurement Analytics
Speaker(s): Smbat Shmavonyan, Category Analytics Team Lead, Southern California Gas Company, Lily Otieno, Director, Supply Chain, Southern California Gas Company

A case study showing how one utility uses analytics tools for their organization.

11:00 AM - 11:15 AM

Break

11:15 AM - 11:45 AM

Looking Forward + Closing Roundtable

•This is a chance to address any parking lot items, topics that need more conversation or any questions that haven’t been answered.
•What trends or challenges do you see for the next 6-12 months?

11:45 AM - 12:00 PM

Wrap Up + Future Planning

Meet The Speakers

Smbat Shmavonyan

Southern California Gas Company

Category Analytics Team Lead

Lily Otieno

Southern California Gas Company

Director, Supply Chain
Learn More

Lily Otieno serves as the Director for Supply Chain and Diverse Business Enterprises for SoCalGas. In this role, she is responsible for supply chain strategy, contracting and procurement of services, material management, and supplier diversity. In this capacity, she has oversight of over $2.1B in contract spend for SoCalGas, manages over 70 material distribution locations, and continues to spearhead transformational projects while advancing the company’s mission.

In her previous role as Technology Intelligence and Policy Solutions Manager at SoCalGas she oversaw Contract Management, Policy & Compliance, Transaction Enablement, Business Intelligence, and Sustainability & Investment Recovery teams for the Supply Chain Organization. The team supported 12 applications with over 17K users enterprise wide.

Lily was formerly the CEO of her own consulting firm, Infinity Business Solutions (IBS). As a premier consultant, Lily helped organizations reach their diverse business goals via diverse business training and business development. Lily has a passion for working with clients to develop strategies to be successful in the marketplace while ensuring they comply with federal and other public sector mandates.

Lily’s brand as a leader, mentor, and innovator has resulted in several awards and recognition. Those awards include:
• 2019- Phenomenal Women Awards by the YWCA-Los Angeles
• 2015 Business Leader “Star” by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council
Lily is also a recipient of the prestigious Proclamation (National Mentoring Month) signed by President Barack Obama as well as several proclamations from the Senate and Congress for her work in the diverse business arena.

Lily holds a Master of Science in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Policy and Planning from California State University at Fullerton and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Management. She enjoys spending time with her family, cooking food network dishes and watching her favorite chef – Rachel Ray. She is also highly involved with organizations such as Boys & Girls Club of Buena Park, Asian Business Association of Orange County, and Women Business Enterprise Council- West. Lily is currently an executive board member for GLAAACC, Brotherhood Crusade, and is on faculty for the 10KSB Program for Long Beach City College, Los Angeles City College, and Babson College.

Shane Sutton

NorthWestern Energy

Supply Chain Manager

Erin Henning

Los Angeles Department of Water & Power

Director of Supply Chain Services

Mike MacBeath

EPCOR Distribution and Transmission Inc.

Director, Supply Chain