From RMEL Executive Director Ken Wilmot

It's hard to believe that a month has already flown by since I joined RMEL as your Executive Director. Time truly does fly when you're immersed in such an engaging and dynamic community! As I reflect on the past few weeks, I am filled with gratitude for the warm welcome I've received and the incredible learning experiences I've had.

One of the highlights of my first month has been the opportunity to connect with many of you, whether virtually or in person. Your passion for the electric utility industry is truly infectious, and I've been inspired by the depth of knowledge and dedication that each of you brings to our association. Your insights and perspectives are invaluable, and I am committed to ensuring that our association remains a vibrant and inclusive platform for collaboration and knowledge sharing.

I've also been fortunate to dive into the rich array of events and projects underway within our association, including one of our bigger initiatives in recent memory: rebranding! After a year of meticulous planning and collaboration with our Board of Directors, Education Committee members, and longtime RMEL advocates and stakeholders, we are poised to unveil a fresh new look that reflects our evolving identity and reinforces our commitment to education and relationship building. We will officially roll out RMEL’s new name, logo, and visual identity in early May, ahead of the 2024 Spring Conference, and we cannot wait to share it with you all. Stay tuned for more information very soon!

Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to our shared mission. I am honored to serve as your Executive Director and look forward to the journey ahead. As always, feel free to reach out to me directly at kenwilmot@rmel.org. And if you find yourself in the Centennial, CO area, please stop by our office to say hello. Or better yet, join us at the 2024 Spring Conference just up the road at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center! 

REGISTER FOR RMEL’S 2024 SPRING CONFERENCE & VIEW THE AGENDA AT-A-GLANCE!

Registration is OPEN for the 2024 Spring Conference! Taking place Monday, May 20th through Wednesday, May 22nd at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center, we are all ready to enjoy knowledge sharing, professional development, education and networking opportunities, camaraderie, and of course: famous mile-high views! Register and Book Your Discounted Hotel Room in RMEL’s block (hotel booking deadline is April 29th, 2024).

Take advantage of timely and relevant content in the 25+ technical sessions that tie together trends, technology, operations, engineering, leadership and culture to build toward the electric energy future. We will share more details about the program soon, but in the meantime, visit the 2024 Spring Conference event page for the most up-to-date information and check out the Agenda At-A-Glance to see the preliminary topics and schedule of keynotes, the leadership panel, sponsored receptions, and more!

If you are managing people or projects, engineering, planning or operating systems in the electric utility industry, this conference is for you. The Spring Conference has been a tradition since RMEL’s early beginnings. Known for providing outstanding continuing education and networking opportunities, this conference covers generation, transmission, distribution, and management topics. The topics and breakout structure of the conference allow attendees to customize their education experience to focus on presentations and resources that align with their needs. Ample time is also provided to network with industry peers including the golf outing, networking breaks and meals and evening receptions.

2024 SPRING CONFERENCE KEYNOTE SPEAKERS JUST ANNOUNCED!

RMEL welcomes two stellar keynote speakers. We are confident you will not be disappointed! 

Day 1 Keynote Speaker (Tuesday, May 21st): Aron Ralston, Fearless Adventurer, Wilderness Advocate, & Subject of the Film 127 Hours

Ralston's extraordinary story of survival after an 800-pound boulder trapped him in a remote Utah canyon captured global headlines in 2003. In his New York Times best seller, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, the Oscar-nominated film, 127 Hours, and on stage, Ralston takes audiences vicariously through those six days without water, means of communication, or hope of escape, to the ecstatic moments when he freed himself by severing his own arm. 

Following a miraculous rescue spearheaded by his mom and with the aid of prosthetics he helped design, Aron returned to his outdoor passions, completing elite mountaineering projects which remain unrepeated even to this day. Ralston’s incredible triumph in the face of insurmountable odds inspires audiences to harness the power of their deepest motivations, relationships, and mindset to transform personal and professional "boulders" into their blessings.

Day 2 Keynote Speaker (Wednesday, May 22nd): Dr. Matthew Hallowell, Founder & Executive Director of Construction Safety Research Alliance | President’s Teaching Scholar & Chaired Professor of Engineering at the University of Colorado

Dr. Hallowell earned a BS and MS in Civil Engineering and a PhD with a focus on Construction Engineering and Occupational Safety and Health. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers on emerging topics such as leading indicators, energy-based safety, and precursor analysis. Since 2022, he has been recognized by Stanford University as one of the top three safety researchers in the world and among the top 1% of scientists across all disciplines. Dr. Hallowell helps translate research to practice as the principal technical advisor to the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), the INGAA Foundation, and other industry associations. His work has been recognized with the National Science Foundation Career Award, the Construction Industry Institute Outstanding Researcher Award, and the inaugural EEI Thomas Farrell Safety Leadership and Innovation Award. Before his academic career, he worked in construction as a laborer, project engineer, and quality inspector.

THE NEXTGENERATION POWER PIONEER PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP RETURNS

Established by the RMEL Board of Directors in 2023, the NextGeneration Power Pioneer Committee is pleased to announce the return of the Pre-Conference Workshop, hosted on Monday, May 20th, prior to the start of the 2024 RMEL Spring Conference, for the electric energy industry's next generation. Join us for the opportunity to develop both supervisor and individual contributor leadership skills and network with others in the industry by connecting with others before the conference kicks off. The full Pre-Conference Workshop agenda will become available soon, and Professional Development Hour (PDHs) certificates will be awarded after completion of the workshop.

BOOK YOUR HOTEL ROOM FOR THE SPRING CONFERENCE AT A DISCOUNTED RATE

The deadline to reserve your hotel room is coming up on April 29th! Book your room at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center and receive the special RMEL room block discounted rate of $194. To reserve your room, click the "Book a Room" link above. Enter the dates of your stay within the block dates (May 19th - May 23rd) to receive the RMEL Spring Conference group rates and room availability.

We’ll see you in Denver soon!

SPRING CONFERENCE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE!

Reach a diverse electric utility audience and enhance your organization's visibility at the 2024 RMEL Spring Conference through Tabletop Sponsorships. Reserve your spot quickly as we have sold out in the past! View the Tabletop Sponsorship Brochure and Sign Up for a spot today. If you have questions or would like to discuss a customized opportunity, please contact us at info@rmel.org or 303-865-5544.

RMEL AS YOUR RESOURCE

As always, please consider RMEL a resource to you and your organization. Please share those development opportunities with your peers, workgroups and your professional network! Take advantage of the Job Postings section on the RMEL website to assist in your recruiting, and do not hesitate to reach out to us with topics or workshops you would deem beneficial to our industry.