From the Desk of RMEL Executive Director Rick Putnicki

THE IN-PERSON SPRING CONFERENCE EXPERIENCE IS BACK!

May 2019, the date of our last Spring face-to-face Conference in Phoenix, seems like an eternity ago!  It is an understatement to say we are looking forward to finally getting back together again. It will be great to build our professional network again at the Spring Conference in Austin, Texas, May 9-11, 2022! Join us to learn more about the latest trends in technology, best practices and solutions for our electric energy industry. The RMEL membership has been working diligently to finalize speakers and logistics while preparing to bring you 25 relevant and timely presentations centered around the industry’s most urgent needs. The "tone” will be set for the 2022 Spring Management, Engineering & Operations Conference by high energy Keynote Speaker Johnny Quinn, U.S. Olympian and Former Professional NFL Football Player. In-person exhibitor opportunities are also back for 2022 – get details!

JOHNNY QUINN, U.S. OLYMPIAN AND FORMER PROFESSIONAL NFL FOOTBALL PLAYER TO KEYNOTE RMEL’S SPRING CONFERENCE  

Johnny Quinn is a highly sought-after speaker for businesses and organizations of all sizes. He is a U.S. Olympian in the sport of bobsled and competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Johnny is also a former pro football player, spending time with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers and Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL. Toyota, Chick-fil-A, Cisco, Wells Fargo, Southwest Airlines, Zillow, LiftMaster, Fiserv and Lockheed Martin are a few clients that have hired him to speak, and he has delivered a TEDx Talk on "Understanding the Olympic Mindset." Johnny has been featured on various media outlets around the world, such as: ABC, BBC, CBS, CNN, ESPN, FOX, NBC, TIME, USA Today and the Wall Street Journal. Johnny’s newest book, PUSH: Breaking through the Barriers is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Target. Johnny, his wife Amanda and their two children, Amelia and Oliver, reside in McKinney, Texas.

Johnny Shares a Message of How to Think Like an Olympian

Johnny has an athletic background that has opened the door to many opportunities. He is a U.S. Olympian in the sport of bobsled and competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. He has traveled the world with Team USA and competition has taken him to Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Russia and Switzerland. Competing, living and interacting within different cultures around the world has provided a unique perspective, and ability, to connect with today’s diverse workforce.

BREAKOUT SESSION TOPICS

Presenters will discuss timely and relevant topics and share those experiences that are moving our industry forward. More details on the 25 breakout sessions will be available soon! 

BOOK YOUR DISCOUNTED HOTEL ROOM AT THE HYATT REGENCY AUSTIN

A special room rate of $235 is available. The best way to book your room is online, but you can call (512) 477-1234 and mention “RMEL.” The reservation deadline to receive this rate is April 15, 2022. You must mention you are making your reservation as part of the RMEL room block when calling the hotel. By not doing so, you may be incorrectly told that the hotel is full or quoted a different room rate. If the contracted room block is not met, RMEL is financially liable for penalties. Government Employees: If you make your reservation at the federal government rate, please be sure to mention you are part of RMEL so you will be counted towards the room block.

We hope to see you in Austin! Keep up with the latest details at www.RMEL.org/spring as we get closer to finalizing the event content!

MORE RMEL IN-PERSON, VIRTUAL AND HYBRID EVENTS ARE COMING – LOOK FOR MORE DETAILS SOON

RMEL had several in-person events planned for early 2022, and those were all pushed to late Spring/early Summer after the Omicron variant’s aggressive but quick wave in January and February. Look for more details soon for Safety, Generation, Transmission and Distribution events located in various member regions.

HYBRID PANEL & ROUNDTABLE: DECARBONIZATION
April 14th, Overland Park, Kansas (Attend Virtually or In-Person)

RMEL will be hosting a panel and roundtable at Black & Veatch (Overland Park, KS) to discuss topics directly related to decarbonizing the Power Generation. This event will be of interest to anyone involved in generation planning, engineering and operations. Attendees will have the ability to participate in person, or remotely through an online conference. The Power Generation industry continue to march towards a low-carbon future. Many renewable generation sources are intermittent, making energy storage crucial to achieving the goal. EPRI will present an overview of the current energy storage technologies and the economic evaluation of options. Siemens will provide their perspective on hydrogen as a carbon-free fuel source and technologies associated with generating and utilizing hydrogen. Black & Veatch will present carbon capture technologies and applications in power generation.

2022 RMEL SAFETY CONFERENCE
April 19-20th, Tempe, Arizona

Safety is paramount in the power industry. It holds no boundaries, no rank. It is not a sometime thing. Safety must be at the forefront in everything we do. Everyone is responsible for safety. When it comes to safety, everyone’s a leader. Join us in Tempe, AZ, for the RMEL’s 2022 Safety Conference! Presentations will dive into the challenges we face today and safety best practices. Interactive roundtable discussions mixed into the program provide the opportunity to learn from each other.

NOMINATE AN EMERGING LEADER AT YOUR ORGANIZATION FOR AN RMEL AWARD
Submit Your Nomination by March 18th

RMEL's Emerging Leader Award recognizes and honors individual members who have made significant contributions within their organization, and have demonstrated the potential for leadership and outstanding service for the electric utility industry. The nominee must have no less than 5 years of experience and no more than 10 years of experience within the industry. Emerging Leader Award Winners are part of a dynamic group of future leaders who are introduced to the RMEL membership and recognized during the Spring Conference. Those recipients are now part of a strong professional network of industry peers. In addition, these award winners are presented unique development opportunities. Each year, past and current Award Recipients participate in an exclusive development session with Keynote Speakers who facilitate an open conversation with our Emerging Leader group. Nominate an outstanding individual at your company today!

JOIN THE RMEL TEAM

RMEL is looking to expand their TEAM! If you know of anyone interested in building a career and being a part of this great Association team, please send me a note!

SEE YOU SOON!

We look forward to seeing everyone soon and celebrating at the first in-person Spring Conference since 2019!