Aug

01-03

Business Acumen for Emerging Leaders: Opportunity (Aug 01-03)

An intensive training for high potential managers and supervisors through exposure to broad perspectives of the utility business, its interrelationships and successful leadership strategies. This program is designed by a utility-driven Curriculum Development Team, and directed by facilitators, and executive and alumni mentors. Program sessions are hosted by member utilities and topics are presented by executives, subject matter experts and formal instructors. The first four sessions focus on leadership development, industry perspectives, customer connections, communications and strategic planning. The program includes a capstone project which is delivered to industry leaders at the WEI Annual Meeting. Participants build a broad peer network that continues well into their future careers.

General Details

  • Program Location
  • Bonneville Power Administration
  • Portland, Oregon
  • Who Should Attend
  • Participants are nominated by WEI members and selected through a formal application review process. Applicants make a commitment to attend and actively participate at each session, and should plan time for additional work between sessions. It is expected that students commit to completing “homework” assignments during evenings and off-hours with additional assignments required outside of the normal work day. Each group is assigned one executive and one alumni mentor who will support the group’s development throughout the program and guide them to a successful final project.

  • General Cancellation Policy
  • Due to contractual obligations and the critical role of group compositions for the success of the program, cancellations received after January 6, 2023, will not be eligible for a refund, and the organization will be responsible for the full 2022 registration fee. Substitutions from your organization for the program are always welcome prior to the first day of fundamentals training, which is January 24, 2023.
  • 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 Jessica Grant, Program Manager at (971) 930-2032.

Agenda

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

10:00 AM - 10:15 AM

Welcome to Session Four

10:15 AM - 11:00 AM

Capstone Dress Rehearsal: Winning the Talent War: Upskilling Employees in an Evo

11:00 AM - 11:15 AM

Networking Break

11:15 AM - 12:00 PM

Capstone Dress Rehearsal: Change is Constant: Lessons for Organizational Change

12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

Hosted Networking Lunch

12:45 PM - 1:30 PM

Capstone Dress Rehearsal: Hydrogen: Hope or Hype?

1:30 PM - 1:45 PM

Networking Break

1:45 PM - 2:30 PM

Capstone Dress Rehearsal: Physical Security: Checking Your Blind Spots for Emerg

2:30 PM - 2:45 PM

Networking Break

2:45 PM - 3:30 PM

Capstone Dress Rehearsal: Viral Edutainment: Striking Balance Between Customer E

3:30 PM - 3:45 PM

Networking Break

3:45 PM - 4:30 PM

Capstone Dress Rehearsal: Emerging Uses of Artificial Intelligence in the Utilit

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

Hosted Breakfast

8:30 AM - 9:30 AM

Welcome to BPA
Speaker(s): John Hairston, Administrator and CEO, Bonneville Power Administration

9:30 AM - 9:45 AM

Networking Break

9:45 AM - 10:45 AM

Capstone Collaboration

10:45 AM - 11:00 AM

Networking Break

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Executive Speaker
Speaker(s): Nita Zimmerman, Chief Business Transformation Officer, Bonneville Power Administration

12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

Hosted Networking Lunch

12:45 PM - 1:45 PM

Homework Discusssion

1:45 PM - 2:00 PM

Networking Break

2:00 PM - 2:45 PM

Alumni Panel + Capstone Prep Discussion

2:45 PM - 3:00 PM

Networking Break

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Executive Panel: Strategic Leadership
Panelist(s): Shana Kuhn, Acting Director of Civil Rights and EEO, Bonneville Power Administration, Ben Felton, EVP and COO, Portland General Electric

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

Reception

Thursday, August 3, 2023

8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

Hosted Breakfast

8:30 AM - 9:30 AM

Executive Speakers
Speaker(s): Alisa Yannello, Chief Culture Officer, Bonneville Power Administration, Lizá Rosa, Director, Human Resources Service Center, Bonneville Power Administration

9:30 AM - 9:45 AM

Networking Break

9:45 AM - 11:15 AM

Shark Tank: Intro + Work Time

11:15 AM - 12:00 PM

Shark Tank: Presentations

12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

Networking Lunch

12:45 PM - 1:00 PM

Shark Tank: Winner

1:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Professional Road Map + Next Steps

1:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Debrief + Close

Hotel + Travel

  • Reservation Instructions
  • Please contact the hotel directly at (971) 222-1234 to reserve your room. Identify yourself as being with Western Energy Institute (WEI) to receive a special rate of $234 USD/night. This rate is guaranteed until July 17, 2023 or until the WEI room block is full.

Meet The Speakers

Nicole Richardson

San Diego Gas & Electric Company

Manager - Constr & Operations

John Hairston

Bonneville Power Administration

Administrator and CEO

Nita Zimmerman

Bonneville Power Administration

Chief Business Transformation Officer

Alisa Yannello

Bonneville Power Administration

Chief Culture Officer

Lizá Rosa

Bonneville Power Administration

Director, Human Resources Service Center

Shana Kuhn

Bonneville Power Administration

Acting Director of Civil Rights and EEO

Ben Felton

Portland General Electric

EVP and COO