Register for this Event • Download the Preliminary Conference Brochure May 20-22, 2018 Keystone Resort & Conference Center Keystone, CO Download the Spring Conference Exhibitor Brochure
PRELIMINARY CONFERENCE AGENDA AT-A-GLANCE *These preliminary topics are subject to change.
SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2018
	8:30 a.m., Golf Outing
	6:00-9:00 p.m., Reception, Sponsored by RMEL Champions
MONDAY, MAY 21, 2018
7:00-8:00 a.m.,  Networking Breakfast
8:00 a.m.	Opening Remarks Tom Kent, VP & COO, Nebraska Public Power District, & 2018 President, RMEL Welcome to Colorado Mark Gabriel, Administrator & CEO, Western Area Power Administration
8:30-9:30 a.m.	Keynote Address: Commander Kirk Lippold, United States Navy
9:15–10:00 a.m., Networking Break
	Generation Track	T&D Track	Management Track
10:00-11:30 a.m.	Load Cycling Panel Gary Ruhl, Manager – Fuels and Technical Services, Omaha Public Power District Johnny Bofilios, Director of Business Development, Copperleaf	Battery Energy Storage Panel Thomas Spence, Arizona Public Service Dean Hubbuck, Power Supply & Rates Director, United Power  Michael Kendzierski, Director of Sales, Greensmith	IT/OT Convergence Panel Steve Bukowski, Director of Technology, El Paso Electric Company Jon Hawkins, Manager, Advanced Technology, PNM Resources
11:30 a.m. – 12:40 p.m., RMEL Emerging Leader Awards Luncheon
12:40-1:20 p.m.	STP’s Response during Hurricane Harvey Helps Make the Case for Nuclear Buddy Eller, General Manager, Corporate Communications & External Affairs, STP Nuclear Operating Company	Augmented Reality for Training and Troubleshooting David Claussen, Executive Director, System Maintenance, Westar Energy	Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Integration Douglas Marx, Director, Smart Grid, PacifiCorp
1:30-2:10 p.m.	Constant Change: Major Environmental Policies and Electric Power Andy Berger, Senior Manager, Environmental Policy, Tri-State Generation & Transmission Association	Texas Strong:  Hurricane Harvey Response and Restoration Deryl Tumlinson, Director, Distribution Programs and Construction Management, CenterPoint Energy	Electrification – Challenges and Opportunities  Mark Duvall, Director, Energy Utilization, Electric Power  Research Institute
2:10–2:40 p.m., Networking Break
2:40-3:20 p.m.	Tucson Electric Power: Modernizing with Flexible Generation Rick Burrows, Manager, Compliance and Special Projects, Tucson Electric Power Nelson Rosado, Manager, Fossil Power Technologies, Sargent & Lundy	Enhancing the Nation’s Resilience Against Severe Space-Weather Events William Murtagh, Program Coordinator, NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center	Data Management & Advanced Analytics Kim Wagie, Director, Digital Transformation & Continuous Improvement, Arizona Public Service
3:30-4:10 p.m.	Flexible Generation Defined Megan Parsons, Development Manager/Energy  Division, Burns & McDonnell	Decision Making in Support of Vehicle Electrification: Lessons Learned from the DOE/PacifiCorp-funded WestSmartEV Program  David Christensen, Executive Director, SELECT, Utah State University	FERC 2018 - An Update William Derasmo, Partner, Troutman Sanders
6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m., Reception, Sponsored by the RMEL Champions and Networking Dinner
TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2018
7:00-7:45 a.m., Networking Breakfast
7:45-8:00 a.m.	Welcome Back Tom Kent, VP & COO, Nebraska Public Power District, & 2018 President, RMEL
8:00-9:00 a.m.	Electric Utility Executive Leadership Panel Panelist #1: Alice Jackson, VP, Strategic Revenue Initiatives, Xcel Energy  Panelist #2: Bruce Rew, VP, Operations, Southwest Power Pool Panelist #3: Dawn Roth Lindell, Acting Executive VP Chief Operating Officer, Western Area Power Administration Panelist #4: Mindy Tagler, Sr. VP & CFO, Holy Cross Energy
9:00-9:20 a.m., Networking Break
	Generation Track	T&D Track	Management Track
9:20-10:00 a.m.	Reliability and Economics are Inseparable:  Integrating Mountain West into SPP David Kelley, Director of Seams and Market Design, SPP	Microgrids TBD, Black & Veatch	Workforce Management From the Outside-In R. John Miner, President & Principal Consultant, Collaborative Learning Inc./Collaboration Unlimited
10:10-10:50 a.m.	SCADA Integration for Maximizing Renewable Performance Andrew Melvin, Technical Manager, Ulteig	Securing T&D Assets and Operations Anthony Montoya	Reforming Residential Electric Rates – The Arizona Experience Chuck Miessner, Principle Strategist, Arizona Public Service
11:00-11:40 a.m.	Utility-Scale Renewables Industry Update: Tariffs, Trends and Best Practices Gretchen Dolson, Renewable Energy Practice Lead, HDR	Managing Outage Windows with Mobile FACTS Devices  Casey Heier, Director of Mobile Solutions, Smart Wires, Inc.	Innovation @ Ameren: Ameren Accelerator & Start-Up Engagement  Eli Gerson, Innovation Business Analyst, Corporate Planning, Ameren

The Spring Management, Engineering and Operations Conference has been a tradition since RMEL’s early beginnings. Known for providing outstanding continuing education and networking opportunities, this conference is a must attend event for engineering, operations and management personnel in the electric energy industry. With 30 presentations, this conference covers issues in generation, transmission, distribution, safety, customer service, human resources and other management topics. The timely topics and breakout structure of the conference allows attendees to customize their education experience to focus on presentations and resources that address their needs. Ample time is also provided to network with industry peers and visit with exhibitors. Maximize your time and training budget with this value priced and content rich event. Continuing education certificates are provided for the sessions attended.

Who Should Attend

The Spring Management, Engineering and Operations Conference attracts over 300 management as well as engineering and operations personnel from the many electric energy companies (utilities) and supplier and service companies that are members of RMEL. Utilities of all types of ownership participate including IOU, G&T, municipal, cooperative, and others. Companies from outside RMEL’s membership will also be in attendance. 

Continuing Education Certificate
All attendees will be mailed a continuing education certificate upon completion of the course. The continuing education certificate will award the following:

Full Convention registration: 14.0 PDHs
Monday only registration: 8.0 PDHs
Tuesday only registration: 6.0 PDHs