Women in Energy Symposium – Virtual (Nov 04-06)

Laura Vickers is the Director of Culture, Diversity and People Services at Avista Corp. in Spokane, Washington. Her areas of emphasis includes developing and implementing strategies that enhance the Company culture, increase employee experience and advance diversity, equity and inclusion including workforce diversity. Laura has been with Avista for twenty years in various roles in Human Resources, Energy Delivery, Accounting, and Finance, most recently as Director of Financial Planning and Analysis.

Laura holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Accounting from Gonzaga University. Laura has also completed various coursework in leadership including the Energy Executive Course at the University of Idaho and the Leadership Development Program from the Center for Creative Leadership.

As a refugee from Vietnam and a proud Board member of the Spokane YWCA, Laura is passionate about helping young women build confidence to be strong advocates for themselves while promoting racial and social justice.

Laura serves on the Boards of the Spokane YWCA as Board Treasurer and the Avista Corp Credit Union recently completed her three-year term as Board President. In her spare time, Laura enjoys fishing and spending weekends at the lake. She stays active with her four children, ages 9 to 20 years old.

Tamara Bradley has been employed at Avista Utilities since 2011, and currently holds dual roles as the Advance Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Program Manager, as well as the Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) Manager. In her AMI role, Tamara is overseeing the deployment and implementation of 420,000 smart meters across Avista’s Washington Territory. The program is the largest capital project in the Company’s history. In her EAM role, Tamara leads a team of business analysts who support Maximo and Designer production software systems that integrate with various departments throughout the organization enabling them to schedule work, design jobs, meet gas compliance, and store Avista’s assets. Tamara received her Master’s in Leadership in 2019, and recently completed Women in Leadership Certificate program through Gonzaga University. Tamara enjoys white water rafting, camping, and all things sports related. She says if she didn’t work at Avista, she would give being a stand-up comedian a go.

At 16-years old Brandon Towle knew at the core of his being he was supposed to be a leader of leaders. But, he was largely for himself. He knew it, and so did everyone else around him, which greatly limited his ability to function to his fullest.

Instead of working to realize what it was truly like to be on the other side of him, his approach was to work harder and gain enough professional credibility to earn a seat at the table. Buried by the “hustle” fallacy, the bottom fell out. This desire for personal achievement negatively impacted some of his key relationships. As painful as this part of his journey was it really helped to clarify his personal purpose.

His military experience in the U.S. Coast Guard and vast professional experience working within marine operations and the energy sector exposed Brandon to various types of leaders, leadership styles and cultures. It also provided necessary experience and grittiness from within organizations to accompany his book knowledge Organizational Development.

Brandon has global experience in talent optimization and transformational leadership across many sectors and various cultures. He is currently the Owner and Chief Performance Officer of Yielded Consulting Services “Yielded”.

Brandon has never been clearer on his personal purpose. He is healthy, secure and for OTHERS.

Personal Purpose Statement – “Help leaders clarify and begin living in their unique Purpose, proactively combat the need to prove their worth, challenge them to love and engage with their families and lead teams/organizations where people holistically thrive.“

Previous clients include: Chick-fil-A, Forcepoint (a Raytheon company), Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District (24th largest school district in US), Cyfair Federal Credit Union, Baker Hughes, Jordan Foster Construction, BP, Gulf Coast Long Term Care, BHP Billiton, Woodforest National Bank, and the Cyfair Volunteer Fire Department.

As Executive Vice-President, Technical Centre reporting to Francois Poirier,
Ms. Kass has responsibility for all central technical functions including
engineering, construction management systems and processes, safety, quality
and compliance, security, supply chain, emergency management and resource
capability management.

Prior to joining TC Energy, Ms. Kass has served as President and Chief Executive
Officer of Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises Inc. (B&W). She has also held progressively
senior positions with B&W and in the energy sector for over 25 years.

Ms. Kass is a results-oriented leader with extensive experience that includes
engineering, finance, operations, project management, business development
and regulatory affairs. Having led significant acquisition integrations, divestitures
and enterprise initiatives, Leslie brings a wealth of knowledge that spans North
American and international markets.

Ms. Kass holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Duke University
Fuqua School of Business in Durham, North Carolina and a Bachelor of Science
degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Robin Furrer was named BPA’s chief administrative officer in October 2019. She is responsible for BPA’s Human Resources Service Center; Information Technology; Safety; Security and Continuity of Operations; Supply Chain Services; Workplace Services; and the Diversity and Inclusion Office.

Previously, Furrer served as the vice president of Transmission Field Services for 14 years. In that role she was responsible for managing field operations, maintenance and construction of BPA’s high-voltage transmission system, and providing safe, reliable and cost-effective service to more than 500 customers. Transmission Field Services is BPA’s largest, most geographically diverse organization, with more than 900 employees spread across the agency’s 300,000 square-mile service area. BPA’s transmission system includes 15,000 circuit miles of transmission lines and more than 240 substations.

With over 30 years of experience in the electric utility industry, Furrer’s career has included all facets of transmission, from safety, security and reliability, to project siting, project management, design and engineering. She served on the Board of Directors for the Western Energy Institute in 2010 and served multiple terms on the Board of Directors for the North American Transmission Forum, influencing reliability and education across North America.

Furrer holds a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from Portland State University and completed the University of Idaho’s Energy Executive Course.

A Northwest native, Furrer lives in Washington with her husband, daughter and beloved Bernese mountain dogs.

Kori Wormsbecker is the Journeyman Gas Serviceman Local Rep in Ritzville, Washington for Avista Utilities. She has been with Avista for almost 10 years and has been a Gas Serviceman Journeyman for 7 years. Kori enjoys camping and hiking with her wife and 2 Great Danes and is involved with the local chamber of commerce in Ritzville

Jennifer Walker is a director with Southern California Gas Company. She has been in the energy industry for over 20 years all at SoCalGas. Jennifer is an avid dirt bike rider and enjoys adventures in the deserts and mountains as often as she can. She is also passionate dog foster parent who has helped to re-home over 500 dogs in the last 20 years.

Deepa Poduval is a Vice President, leading the Global Strategic Advisory Practice within Black & Veatch Management Consulting. In this role, she provides executive management for transaction advisory, regulatory, financial advisory and energy market planning services. Deepa additionally leads Black & Veatch’s strategic solutions related to Decarbonization. Deepa brings substantial finance, utility and energy industry knowledge and has advised various clients on strategic responses to key issues impacting their business including executable pathways to achieve net zero objectives incorporating project viability, risk and future growth. She holds a Masters in Engineering Management from Dartmouth College and a Master of Science in Economics and B.E., Mechanical Engineering from B.I.T.S., Pilani in India.

Tiffany Callaway Ferrell serves as vice president of operations for Atlanta Gas Light and Chattanooga Gas Companies where she is responsible for day-to-day operations, including safety, compliance, operational excellence and financial performance, for more than 700,000 customers. Atlanta Gas Light and Chattanooga Gas are subsidiaries of Southern Company Gas which serves more than 4.5 million utility customers in seven states.

Most recently she was the General Manager of Shared Services, Georgia Power Company where she was responsible for leading several statewide organizations under the shared services umbrella, including Cable Locating, Geographical Solutions and Services, Land Engineering, Metering Services, and the Repair Shop.

Previous roles held by Ferrell in the energy industry at Southern Company Gas and Atlanta Gas Light, include director of regional operations; Metro Atlanta, regional manager, Central Georgia and automated meter reading; asset protection manager; operations manager of liquid natural gas facilities; and senior Federal Energy Regulatory Commission advisor.

Ferrell also served as fleet operations manager for Southern Company Gas, which led to her gubernatorial appointment to the Commission for a New Georgia Fleet Task Force.

Prior to joining Southern Company Gas, Ferrell held roles in logistics and engineering with General Mills Inc.

Ferrell was a member of the 2005 inaugural L.E.A.D Atlanta class and Leadership Macon 2010 and Leadership DeKalb 2013. She currently serves on the Atlanta Business League Board of Directors, Chair and is an officer on The National Coalition of 100 Black Women Incorporated, Metropolitan Atlanta Board of Directors.

She is an active member of the community and was honored in the 2012 issue of “Who’s Who in Black Atlanta for Corporate Brass.” She was honored as one of the 100 Most Influential African-American Women in Atlanta in 2017 by the Atlanta Business League and received the prestigious League Leadership Award in 2016.

Ferrell received her chemical engineering degree from Vanderbilt University and was awarded the Gertrude Vanderbilt Scholarship. She earned a Master of Business Administration at Robinson School of Business, Georgia State University, where she was selected as a Nita Robinson Scholar and served as an adjunct professor.

Tiffany and her family live in Atlanta. She spends her free time with her family and is actively engaged in her community through her church and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated.

Mona currently works for San Diego Gas & Electric as the Emergency Operations Services Manager where she oversees emergency planning, EOC Operations, and regulatory compliance for the utility. Mona came from the City of San Diego Office of Homeland Security Senior Homeland Security Coordinator where her projects included EOC Manager, Emergency Planning, Training & Exercise Program, Access and Functional Needs Program, Care & Shelter Program, and Disaster Recovery. Prior to joining the City, she worked for Heartland Fire & Rescue as the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator. Her responsibilities included development of emergency plans (COOP, EOP, and Evacuation Plans) for a tri-City area. Additionally, Mona was responsible for the Community Emergency Preparedness and Outreach programs.

Previous to working the government sector, Mona’s experience also includes non-profit organizations. She was on the steering committee to develop the 211 system and eventually work for 211 San Diego as the Chief Operating Officer as well as the American Red Cross where she held several key management positions, including Director of Disaster Response and Preparedness.

Mona has been involved in disaster preparedness training, planning, response and recovery efforts for over 25 years. She was involved in major disaster responses, both locally and out of area, most notably the Northridge earthquake, Hurricanes Katrina, Gustav and Ike, the 2004 Tsunami in Thailand and the 2003 and 2007 San Diego wildfires.

Mona Freels has a dual bachelor’s degree in Homeland Security & Emergency Management from National University, is certified by the California Office of Emergency Services with the Advanced Professional Series certification and has a Type III credential in 6 EOC positions from the California State Training Institute.

John has been with SoCalGas for the past 15 years. He has had various roles in Engineering, Project Management, Operations, and Supply Chain. Currently he is the Portfolio Manager for SoCalGas’ Gas Operations Portfolio, which manages service and material contracts with a yearly spend of $1 billion. John has recently completed his MBA at the University of Southern California. John moved out to Los Angeles from Ohio in 2005. He has a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toledo and is a licensed Professional Engineer in California. John has been married for 10 years to his wife, Christine and has three children.