From RMEL Executive Director Rick Putnicki
This has been an extremely busy time of year for the RMEL staff and Education Committees. I want to share with you a few of the items we are focusing on to better serve our membership.
The countdown is on! We are excited to kick off the 2023 RMEL Fall Convention, which starts next week on Monday, September 11. As a service to the industry, the RMEL membership is celebrating 120 years of “Building the Network: Finding the Solutions to Tomorrow’s Challenges.” There’s still time for you to register, and we hope you’ll join us for a program focused on strategically addressing today's top concerns for electric utilities. Learn more about the event below!
THERE'S STILL TIME TO REGISTER FOR THE 2023 RMEL FALL CONVENTION!
September 11-13, 2023 at the brand-new Omni Hotel in Tempe, AZ
Register ONLINE by Friday, September 8 at 12:00 p.m. MDT. Register Now!
IN-PERSON registration opens on-site at the Omni Hotel in Tempe on Monday, September 11 at 2:00 p.m. MST.
This is your event! We look forward to hosting you and 250-plus of your electric utility industry executive peers. Here’s what you can expect at this year’s Fall Convention:
- Elite Convention Speakers — RMEL has a phenomenal lineup of influential and thought-provoking industry-leader speakers to make this an effective and inspiring convention that you won't want to miss.
- Meet Other Industry Leaders — C-Suite executives along with directors, managers and emerging professionals will all be there!
- Build Your Professional Network — The networking opportunities have earned an exceptional reputation due to the decision-makers and thought leaders in attendance. RMEL is committed to providing a relaxed and productive forum for our members. The focus of the Fall Convention is on value, substance and making connections.
- Dedicated Networking Opportunities — A golf outing, receptions and meals, an RMEL Foundation silent auction and networking breaks will provide valuable opportunities to connect with your industry peers.
VIEW ALL THE PROGRAM DETAILS IN THE 2023 FALL CONVENTION BROCHURE!
You can expect a solid lineup that will include keynotes, the popular CEO Panel, RMEL Foundation Auction and more. We look forward to seeing you there!
Check out the Fall Convention Brochure to get all the details about the agenda, networking opportunities, session topics and descriptions, speakers and much more!
THE 2023 FALL CONVENTION SECURED TWO QUALITY THOUGHT LEADERS AS KEYNOTES!
RMEL welcomes two stellar keynote speakers. I am confident you will not be disappointed!
Day 1 Keynote Speaker (Tuesday, September 12): Peter Zeihan, Geopolitical Strategist & Global Affairs Expert
With a lively nonpartisan approach backed by a decade in private intelligence, Zeihan shows the audience exactly why their world is changing fast — and how they can get ahead of it. Zeihan illustrates how geography redefines global power, how demographics doom the current trade order and how America’s energy revolution has fundamentally shifted global realities from Russia to Iran to China.
Day 2 Keynote Speaker (Wednesday, September 13): Vibhas Ratanjee, Subject-Matter Expert and Global Practice Leader for Leadership Development — Gallup
Vibhas specializes in organizational development, culture change, M&A integration and executive-level engagement strategies, including strengths-based leadership and succession management. Vibhas is also an executive coach and a leadership consultant to senior executives and CEOs. Vibhas is one of Gallup’s foremost practice leaders on leadership development and succession planning and has consulted with CEOs and boards globally. Prior to joining Gallup in 2000, Vibhas spent 6 years with various consulting and research companies working in the areas of employee engagement, leadership, customer experience and brand management.
JOIN US IN AN OPEN DISCUSSION WITH 2023 FALL CONVENTION CEO PANELISTS!
Additionally, RMEL is pleased to invite an open discussion with the always popular CEO Panel, taking place on Wednesday, September 13 from 10:15-11:30 a.m. MST.
The power industry has transitioned to a new electric energy business model, and the changes are continuing. Electric utilities are leveraging existing technology to minimize costs and maximize operations while delivering solutions that are more aligned with changing customer expectations. This panel will focus on the diverse strategies CEOs are employing to usher their utilities into the new power industry frontier. The participants in this year’s CEO Panel include:
Barry Clegg, President, Black & Veatch Operations
Susan Gray, President & CEO, Tucson Electric Power/UNS Energy Corporation
Jeff Guldner, President & CEO, Pinnacle West Capital Corporation • CEO, Arizona Public Service
Jim Pratt, General Manager & CEO, Salt River Project
HOTEL INFORMATION & ROOM RESERVATIONS
The deadline to book your discounted hotel room in RMEL’s block is Monday, August 21, 2023
The 2023 RMEL Fall Convention will take place at the brand-new Omni Hotel in Tempe, AZ. the deadline to book a hotel room in the RMEL discounted block of rooms has passed. However, if you still need a hotel room, please contact RMEL at info@rmel.org or 303-865-5544 for options and assistance.
SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIPS & PARTICIPATE IN THE RMEL FOUNDATION AUCTION (VIRTUALLY OR IN-PERSON!)
RMEL Foundation Auction — Tuesday, September 12, 2023 — 6:00-8:30 p.m. MST
Over the years, RMEL membership has been very committed to drawing and building talent for our industry. Since 2000, the RMEL Foundation, with support from the RMEL membership, has raised more than $1.3 million, awarded to students interested in pursuing a career in our industry. Many of those scholars are now working in your companies. You have an opportunity to continue that support by participating in the annual RMEL Foundation Auction, either through donating an auction item or making a small cash donation to become a Friend of RMEL (FoRMEL). The auction is held during the 2023 Fall Convention on Tuesday, September 12 and is a primary resource for the 501c3 charity to support the funding of scholarships for the next generation of electric energy industry professionals. We will use the same bidding app that we have used for the past couple of years. Your support is needed to continue the foundation's scholarship efforts. Even if you are unable to attend the Fall Convention, you can join the auction VIRTUALLY and bid on any donated items.To participate and bid virtually is easy, just follow the below steps:
- Access the RMEL Foundation Auction webpage.
- Click “Login/Register to Bid.”
- Click “Create Account” and follow the prompts to create a username and password, and enter your payment information on the secure Silent Auction Pro website. You'll have the option to enter your cellphone number to receive text message updates when you're outbid.
- Happy bidding! As soon as you're done signing up, click the link to view the auction items. When you find an item you like, you can click the green "Place a Bid" button, and/or you can click the blue "Watch an Item" button. The minimum bids and bid increments are prepopulated for you.
If you are unable to participate by donating an item or bidding on items during the 2023 RMEL Foundation Auction, monetary donations to support scholarships for the next generation of electric energy industry professionals is greatly appreciated!
RMEL'S UPCOMING EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCES & WORKSHOPS
Please visit the RMEL Events and Education Calendar webpage for the most up-to-date list of offerings, and reference the below Upcoming Event List in this newsletter to learn more and register. Our Education Committees, made up of RMEL members, strives to organize timely, important and thoughtful educational and networking events, and we are looking forward to a full year of these opportunities curated by our members, for our members. We hope to see you soon at an upcoming event!
RMEL INITIATIVES UPDATE
RMEL Rebranding Initiative
These are extremely exciting times for our association! The RMEL Rebranding Initiative is moving forward at a fast but methodical pace. The board, with help from a variety of members, have identified opportunities for our association to change its brand without losing the values of what we have built around … providing education and networking for the electric energy industry. We will continue to move this forward and anticipate we will have more to share after the first of the year. Stay tuned!
RMEL Dues Restructuring Initiative
As you make plans for your 2024 budget, I did want to share with you that the RMEL board and staff have begun to evaluate the RMEL dues structure. As we all have experienced the soaring inflation rates and rising cost of services in the hospitality industry, we have found ourselves needing to reevaluate our dues structure, which we can proudly state has not changed since 1995 (our last dues increase). The adjustment will reflect a way that best aligns with our changing industry and will include new package options that will make planning and budgetary processes easier for all members. Details of the restructure are being finalized now, but I can share that the top service supplier category dues rate will be $4,250 (previously $3,250). The Champions and Named Scholarship Programs will remain at the current pricing. The Utility Segment dues rate is currently determined by the megawatt hour sales multiplied by .0023. The new rate will be at .003, with a cap not to exceed $22,500 annually.
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! Also, do not hesitate to reach out to us with topics or workshops you would deem beneficial to our industry.
