From RMEL Executive Director Ken Wilmot

RMEL IS REBRANDING! THE ELECTRIFYING NEW NAME & BRAND WILL BE UNVEILED LATER THIS WEEK

I am thrilled to share some exciting news that marks a significant milestone in our association's journey. After months of careful planning and thoughtful consideration, we are proud to unveil our new brand identity later this week!

Our association has always been committed to excellence, innovation, and serving our members with the utmost dedication. As we continue to evolve and grow, it became clear that our brand needed to reflect the dynamic nature of our community and the values we hold dear. Our new brand identity is a testament to our commitment to our mission – Preparing the electric energy industry for the future through education and networking – and it embodies the spirit of collaboration, inclusivity, and empowerment that defines our association. With a fresh look and feel, we are poised to embark on an exciting new chapter together.

I want to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who has been involved in this process, from our dedicated Board of Directors to our valued members. Your input, feedback, and support has been invaluable every step of the way.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our association. Together, we will continue to strive for excellence and make a positive impact on our industry and community, and we can’t wait to celebrate this transformation with you very soon.

REGISTER FOR RMEL’S 2024 SPRING CONFERENCE & VIEW THE FULL EVENT BROCHURE!

Only a few weeks left until the 2024 Spring Conference – Register now! 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.

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. Visit the 2024 Spring Conference event page for the most up-to-date information and check out the Full Brochure to learn about the speakers, topics, and session descriptions for the three education tracks: Generation, Transmission & Distribution, and Management, as well as other exciting conference events, including the NextGeneration Power Pioneer Pre-Conference Workshop, keynote speakers, Senior Leadership panelists, sponsored receptions, rebrand celebrations, 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, plus meals and evening receptions.

2024 SPRING CONFERENCE KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

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.

ENHANCE YOUR CONFERENCE EXPERIENCE AND ATTEND THE NEXTGENERATION POWER PIONEER PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP

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 from 2:00-5:00 p.m. MDT, prior to the start of the 2024 RMEL Spring Conference, for the electric energy industry's next generation.

Are you an aspiring leader in the electric energy field? Do you mentor a colleague earlier in their career and are also driven to contribute to the industry’s future at your organization? If so, you and your colleagues are encouraged to attend the NextGeneration Power Pioneer Pre-Conference Workshop for the opportunity to develop both supervisor and individual contributor leadership skills and network with others in the industry. View the full Pre-Conference Workshop agenda now! Professional Development Hour (PDHs) certificates will be awarded after completion of the workshop.

The theme of the 2024 Pre-Conference Workshop is Navigating Your Career in the Transforming Electric Energy Industry. From empowering your team members to seizing personal growth opportunities, this workshop will explore strategies for fostering career advancement in the evolving energy industry. Discover how to identify and capitalize on opportunities both within and beyond your job description, driving professional growth and organizational success.

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

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 22nd) 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.