3:00-3:30 p.m.

Business Meeting

Navigating Your Way Up the Pipeline

Diversity and inclusion efforts continue to be made on almost every level within the utility industry. To that end, many states have created on-the-job training programs that teach the newest generation how to achieve the skills they need to succeed in their vocation. The value of diversity is well recognized within this industry, but it is widely known that women, African-Americans, Hispanics, veterans, and other minorities hold few leadership positions across the country. Like in other industries, the escalating retirement of baby boomers is causing a significant gap in the workforce; as such, today’s energy leaders in both the public and private sectors must invest in the development of millennials, whom by 2030 will make up 75% of the workforce.  Proactive efforts in developing the next era of energy leaders will ensure the bright future of our power system and the critical preservation of institutional memory. As the saying goes: everyone has to start somewhere…but how do you end up where you want to go? This panel will delve into what needs to be done to build the pipeline the next era needs and what should be done to build the next generation of minority leaders in this industry.

Moderator: Hon. Sadzi M. Oliva, Illinois

Panelists:

Hon. Andrew Fay, Florida

Dr. Antonio Flores, President & CEO, Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities

Dwayne Pickett, Director, Regulatory Affairs, ComEd

Gerardo Delgado, Legal & Policy Advisor, Illinois Commerce Commission

Terri Oliva, Executive Director, Human Resources and Assistant Treasurer, Edison Electric Institute