Celebrating how far women have come in the energy sector and addressing how far we’ve yet to go! Women are traditionally underrepresented in the energy industry. This program addresses some of the evolving opportunities and challenges that women face and advocates for workplace inclusion and teamwork across gender, racial, and generational demographics. Everyone is invited to attend the Women in Energy Symposium whether or not you identify as a woman. Women in Energy Symposium participants join together to explore areas such as leadership, education, networking and mentorship. We strive to incorporate both professional development and industry evolution on the agenda. With a growing emphasis on cross-functional teams and diverse skill sets, this program supports utility directives to build a cohesive workforce. This program is open to anyone in all facets of the utility industry.
Everyone is invited to attend the Women in Energy Symposium whether or not you identify as a woman. Women and men in all facets of the utility industry, whether leadership, craft, technical, or professional, are encouraged to join us for this dynamic conversation. Women can gain knowledge and perspective on how to develop and get ahead in a traditionally male-influenced industry. Men can gain insight into the issues women face in the industry to improve team development and synergy. And everyone can learn where utilities are seeing successes in attracting and retaining their female workforce, while effectively leveraging the benefits of greater organizational diversity. If you have an interest in this for yourself or your employees, join us!
Conference Registration: $699 USD
Registration prices increases $100 after October 16, 2023. Registration includes all sessions, conference materials, and food events. Guest tickets are available for $150 and allow a personal guest (a spouse or partner who does not work in the energy industry) to accompany a registered attendee at the event. Guest registration includes all meals and receptions.
9:45 AM - 3:30 PM
Optional Networking Opportunities
Please see the Networking tab for more information.
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Program Development Team and First-Time Attendee Meetup
4:30 - 6:30
Welcome Reception
Sponsored by KPMG
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
Networking Breakfast
sponsored by Michels
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
Welcome + Conference Overview
Speaker(s): Megan Weismantel, Sales Operations Manager, Burns & McDonnell
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
One Woman’s Perspective: Navigating Through Leadership
Speaker(s): Sarah Kist, Senior Director, T&D Engineering & Construction, Arizona Public Service Company
Imposter syndrome anyone?! Being a female in a male dominated industry is not easy. Sarah will share her thoughts on how to navigate as a woman and be successful in the utility industry. Speaking from twenty years of experience, Sarah will discuss her experiences in leadership and touch on skills that are critical in a time of momentous change – both for Arizona Public Service and the utility industry as a whole.
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Networking Break
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Table Topics
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
EV Fleets – The Disconnect between Initiatives and Capabilities
Moderator(s): Anni Glogovac, Counsel II, Avista Corp.
Panelist(s): Shae Davies, Fleet & Garage Operations Manager, Portland General Electric, Julie Gomez, T&D Supervisor, Tucson Electric Power, Lissa Brady, Fleet Asset Manager, San Diego Gas & Electric Company
Join us as we hear from a panel of Western Utility Fleet Managers on the industry and regulatory challenges of transforming a Utility Fleet to meet the industry’s Net Zero Commitments.
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Networking Lunch
sponsored by Burns & McDonnell
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Bridging the Gap between Operations and the Business Side
Speaker(s): Cheryl Mele, VP Customer Care and Communications, El Paso Electric Company
Utility companies often have a gap between the "standard" business functions (e.g., Human Resources, Finance, Customer Service) and the Operational functions. This session seeks to share information on the perspective of each group and how they approached and overcame the gap to focus on shared business impacts.
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Networking Break
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Driving a Culture of Excellence through Employee Engagement
Speaker(s): Julie Williams, SVP/Continuous Improvement and Optimization, Southwest Gas Corporation
In moments of structural change, such as reshuffling or power restructuring, the fundamental elements of employee engagement – trust, empowerment, development, recognition, and communication – can be leveraged as tools for fortifying resilience and fostering growth. Many forward-thinking companies have successfully harnessed these pillars by establishing development, coaching, and recognition programs. These initiatives have proven potent catalysts for employee engagement, even during budget and leadership recalibration periods. These scenarios demand creative solutions. When resources are realigned, and employees are asked to optimize their output, it offers an invigorating challenge rather than an insurmountable hurdle. This environment can lead to employees unveiling untapped skills and competencies, boosting personal development and team performance.
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Wrap Up Day 1
5:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Networking Reception + Dinner
sponsored by MasTec West
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
Networking Breakfast
sponsored by Wilson Construction
8:00 AM - 8:15 AM
Welcome to Day 2
8:15 AM - 9:15 AM
Climate Vulnerability and Future of the Industry
Panelist(s): Laura Nelson, Vice President/Sustainability and Public Policy, Southwest Gas Corporation, Michelle Kisil, Vice President, Customer Experience & Initiatives, ATCO Natural Gas, Mike Gomez, Sr. Energy Projects Advisor/Emerging Technology & Innovation, Southwest Gas Corporation
The energy industry is facing calls for change to combat the climate crisis. Join us to explore how energy providers are leaning into ways to leverage diverse energy portfolios while facing the challenges of renewable energies to be both sustainable, climate focused and accessible for customers.
9:15 AM - 9:30 AM
Networking Break
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Technology and Policy Changes to Support Clean Energy Transitions
Speaker(s): Rosie Magana, Distributed Energy Resources Manager, Southern California Gas Company, Leilah Saadi, Project Engineer, POWER Engineers, Inc.
Renewable energy policies in the United States have been evolving over the past few decades in response to concerns about climate change, energy security, and economic competitiveness. The focus on reducing carbon emissions and implementing renewable energy generation has led to an increase in clean energy projects, often implemented by developers rather than utilities. This raises the question for power delivery engineers: How can new generation or battery storage be safely connected to the existing electric grid while maintaining reliability and redundancy? What challenges of the policy-driven increase in electric demand and the role of utilizing fuel cell and linear generator technologies as localized sources of electric generation to reduce demand and provide supply do we face?
Please join us as we take a deeper dive to explore the process of safely connecting new generation or battery storage to the existing grid with reliability and redundancy considerations and how clean hydrogen and renewable natural gas could offer up a solution to keep the electric grid reliable as California scales up intermittent renewable resources and electric demand.
10:30 AM - 10:45 AM
Networking Break
10:45 AM - 12:00 PM
Leading Diverse Teams through Dynamic and Changing Times
Moderator(s): Karen Cash, Supplier Diversity Manager, Avista Corp.
Speaker(s): Sally Romero, VP, Gas Distribution Operations, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Hengameh Najafi, General Manager/Operations, Southwest Gas Corporation, Lacey John, Senior Change Process Leader, Tucson Electric Power
What is your team environment right now – change fatigue, burnout, siloed, poor communication, ineffective teamwork, lacking trust..? Want to learn practical tools to stay energized and lead your diverse teams through constant change? Whether “leadership” is in your formal job description or not, join us for an interactive session to gain insights and how to practically apply leadership skills during these dynamic and changing times to create an engaging culture.
12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
Closing Comments
Speaker(s): Megan Weismantel, Sales Operations Manager, Burns & McDonnell
Please contact the hotel directly at (480) 948-7750 to reserve your room. Identify yourself as being with Western Energy Institute (WEI) to receive a special rate of $219 USD/night. Please note that a mandatory $15 USD/night + tax resort fee applies and includes access to various hotel amenities including self parking and guestroom internet. This rate is guaranteed until October 17, 2023 or until the WEI room block is full.
Networking activities are scheduled for Wednesday, November 8, 2023.
9:45 AM – 2:30 PM
Tour of Southwest Gas Tempe Operations Center
Cost: $110 USD
Capacity: 38
This private tour, hosted by Southwest Gas, will take you behind the scenes of their Tempe operations center. The tour will include:
• Emergency Response Training Facility – simulated city where employees, contractors and emergency responders can participate in multiple live-gas scenarios to practice emergency response and ICS techniques
• Natural gas training facilities for Operations and Customer Service
• Emergency response trailer
• Fire pit with natural gas props
Southwest Gas will discuss how it utilizes the Emergency Response Training Facility to expand outreach and training opportunities with emergency responders, opportunities that are being implemented to increase liaison efforts with emergency responders and public officials, and damage prevention initiatives utilized in the division. Transportation and lunch will be provided.
12:15 PM – 3:30 PM
Topgolf
Cost: $110 USD
Capacity: 22
Whether you golf like a pro or have never picked up a club, this is a great opportunity to network while you take a few swings. Megan Weismantel will share her expertise in using golf as a career tool as well as guidance for those who aren’t completely comfortable with the sport. Transportation and lunch will be provided.