Speaking
If you are interested at speaking at the Five Point Partners Executive Summit, contact Larry.Robinson@fivepoint.net or call (303) 522-4760 with your name, title, contact details, bio and suggested speaking topic.
Speakers
Joel Austin, Vice President & Chief Information Officer, Oncor
Joel Austin has more than 18 years of experience with Oncor. Austin has held a number of businesses – operations, IT and management consulting roles. He currently serves as Vice President, and Chief Information officer of Oncor.
Austin led Oncor’s 2009 re-sourcing of IT contracts with the termination of Capgemini Energy, as well as the transition of all services to the new Providers. His PMO also managed other Oncor Technology initiatives, such as the integration of new systems and build out of Oncor’s new Data Centers and dedicated infrastructure.
Austin holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Business Administration from the University of Kansas and a Masters in Business from the University of Missouri in Kansas City.
Warren B. Causey, Vice President for Strategy, Research and Analysis, Five Point Partners
Warren B. Causey is a researcher, writer and consultant who has worked with technology and innovation for more than 35 years. He is a renowned and prolific speaker and writer on utility business and IT topics. Causey has specialized in the utility industry since the early 1990s. He was involved in several major computer systems installations in the 1970s and 1980s, and was working on ARPANET, the military predecessor of the Internet when it still was a closely guarded military secret. He is a prolific author of more than 30 books, dozens of reports and hundreds of magazine articles including in all of the leading utility industry publications. He has worked as principle-in-charge for a wide variety of utility projects including IT Performance evaluation and gap analysis at Florida Power & Light, Nstar and Xcel Energy and many others. He is a frequent keynote speaker at many of the major industry conferences and is in demand for specific, contracted targeted advice sessions with utilities and vendors across the industry. Causey is former CEO of Warren B. Causey, Ltd., a former vice president at Energy Central/Sierra Energy Group, is a decorated veteran of the first Persian Gulf War, a private pilot, and a part-time United Methodist pastor. He resides with his family in the Atlanta area. He did his undergraduate work at Austin Peay State University and graduate work at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University.
Kevin Chase, Chief Information Officer, TXU Energy
Kevin Chase is chief information officer for TXU Energy. His core responsibilities include the applications, technical infrastructure and projects necessary to support TXU Energy and their future objectives. He was recruited to join TXU Energy as CIO in 2008 after serving the previous three years in executive consulting roles overseeing TXU Energy’s IT transformation. During his time as CIO, Chase has focused on bringing IT operations and development back to TXU Energy while deploying SAP and 40+ other systems comprising the CARE platform.
Chase started his career at Accenture (formerly Andersen Consulting) where he spent seven years designing, developing and managing large customer care and billing system implementations for energy and utility companies including Florida Power Corp., Southern Company, ComEd, NICOR Gas and Hydro One.
Larry Cochrane, Worldwide Utilities Strategist/Architect, Microsoft Corporation
Larry Cochrane is Worldwide Utilities Strategist/Architect, for Microsoft. In this capacity, Cochrane’s responsibilities include working with Microsoft product groups to create Utility specific solutions, the development and update of a Smart Energy Reference Architecture, support and management of engagements with customers executives, participation in utility industry standards setting bodies, and support for analyst engagements as well as enterprise sales activities. Cochrane also develops technical and sales strategies in concert with Utilities Vertical Partner Programs for the advancement of Microsoft Solutions.
Cochrane graduated from the University of Washington with bachelors of science degrees in numerical analysis mathematics and electrical engineering and a masters of business administration degree.
Cochrane resides in Redmond and brings direct product platform development and commercial support through his roles with Boeing, Datamax/NASA, ESCA, Alstom, and Areva.
Mary Fisher, Vice President of Strategic Technology, Xcel Energy and the Smart Grid strategy
As Xcel Energy’s vice president of Strategic Technologies, Mary Fisher oversees projects that identify and explore state-of-the-art technologies that help meet corporate goals, reduce emissions and improve environmental performance. She has assumed leadership for the nation’s first fully integrated smart grid community at SmartGridCity™ in Boulder, Colorado. The initiative is a real-life demonstration of smart grid strategies designed to engage customers in energy management and allow the utility to better manage overall grid operations.
Prior to her current role, Fisher also has served as Xcel Energy’s vice president of Transmission and Planning, during which time she was accountable for operations, capital improvements and project management of the utility’s 10-state transmission system.
Jim Greer, Senior Vice President, Asset Management & Engineering, Oncor
Jim is currently serving as Senior Vice President, Asset Management and Engineering for Oncor Electric Delivery. In this role, he is responsible for developing strategies, policies and plans that will lead to the optimization of the value and performance of electric delivery systems and related assets. Jim’s organization oversees all capital investment strategy, performance management, strategic sourcing, system planning, engineering standards, information technology and technology strategy activities to ensure a strategic fit with and achievement of corporate objectives.
Jim is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Texas, and serves on the Texas Board of Professional Engineers. Jim is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, and is the 2010 recipient of the IEEE’s national Leadership in Power award. He is also a member of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers, and a past president of the Fort Worth Chapter of TSPE.
Keith Hull, Vice President, System Operations, Oncor
Keith has 28 years of experience across a broad range of areas in the electrical utility industry. Keith managed various engineering, distribution construction, maintenance and operations organizations. His current position is Vice President of System Operations, in this position he is responsible for operating the distribution and substation system to ensure the safe, timely and quality delivery of electrical service to customers on the Oncor system. Mr. Hull’s organization is also accountable for the Distribution and Transmission Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system and the development and implementation of the new Smart Grid Applied Systems.
John Harpole, Founder and President, Mercator Energy LLC
John Harpole is founder and president of Mercator Energy LLC, a natural gas services, brokerage and research company. Mercator assists both producers and end users in 12 western and Midwestern states in selling and sourcing natural gas supplies. Mercator also conducts specific research projects for client groups exploring the impact of industry trends on various regional markets. Harpole is a board member of the Independent Petroleum Association of Mountain States, the Colorado Oil and Gas Association, the Leadership Program of the Rockies, University of Colorado’s Global Energy Management Program (GEM) and Energy Outreach Colorado.
David Johnson,Vice President & Chief Information Officer, Chattanooga Electric Power Board
David Johnson is a recognized leader and innovator in directing the development and implementation of enterprise information technology systems in such complex environments as high-volume transaction processing for the public utilities sector, travel and hospitality reservations, retail, and financial services. David began his career in information technology as a night operator while completing his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. Most recently, he has completed his Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management .
David’s career has spanned many of the most important transitions in the industry from the dominance of mainframe-based systems to today’s highly distributed enterprise systems and complex data-center environments. He frequently appears as a speaker and panelist at industry conferences on enterprise system development and management in a rapidly changing technology environment.
Rona Newmark, Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy, EMC Corporation
Rona Newmark is Vice President, Corporate Strategy, at EMC Corporation. With 2009 revenues of $14 billion and approximately 43,000 employees, EMC is the world's leading developer and provider of information infrastructure technology and solutions that enable organizations of all sizes to transform the way they compete and create value from their information.
Her Corporate Strategy role addresses two areas: 1) EMC’s products and strategies in the area of energy efficiency and energy efficiency standards, and 2) leading EMC’s efforts to address the developing Smart Grid market. Newmark represents EMC in the GridWise Alliance and in various committees and task forces in The Green Grid. In previous executive roles at EMC, she has established EMC’s Center of Excellence in St. Petersburg, Russia, has led improvement efforts in service tools and serviceability strategies, and has led the global product development organizations for EMC’s Centera and CLARiiON product lines.
Paul Pauesick, Director of Information Technology, Kansas City Board of Public Utilities
Paul Pauesick is the Director of Information Technology at the Kansas City Board of Public Utilities and is responsible for leading the Information Technology team responsible for business applications, information security, desktop environment, technology strategic planning, and IT business continuity planning. As Program Manager, he led the implementation of KCBPU’s ERP Financial Supply Chain, Human Resource, Business Planning and Budgeting, and Timekeeping management systems. Mr. Pauesick has 35 years experience in facilities management, telecommunications, and information technology.
Mr. Pauesick is a member of the Kansas City Technology Council, Oracle-Customer Advisory Board and sits on the board of directors of the Kansas City InfraGard Chapter. An author and speaker, Mr. Pauesick has written numerous technology reports, including “Digital Dwelling” and “Voice of the Internet” and has spoken at various technology conferences. Mr. Pauesick earned a bachelors degree in Design from Southern Illinois University and a Masters of Information Management from the Washington University – St. Louis.
Robert F. Powelson, Commissioner, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Robert F. Powelson was first nominated on June 19, 2008, by Gov. Edward G. Rendell to a one-year term on the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. The Senate unanimously confirmed Powelson on June 30, 2008. Commissioner Powelson was then renominated by Gov. Rendell for a five-year term on February 12, 2009, and once again unanimously confirmed on April 22, 2009. His term expires on April 1, 2014.
Commissioner Powelson currently serves on the Advisory Council of the New Mexico State University Center for Public Utilities. He is also a member of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Committee on Water and Critical Infrastructure. In addition, he is an active member on the Nuclear Waste Sub-Committee.
Commissioner Powelson holds a Bachelor of Administration degree from St. Joseph’s University and a Master of Governmental Administration degree from the University of Pennsylvania with a concentration in public finance.
Barry T. Smitherman, Chairman, Public Utility Commission of Texas
Barry Smitherman is a fourth generation Texan appointed to the PUCT on April 21, 2004. He was reappointed on September 13, 2007 and promoted to Chairman on November 14, 2007. In 2009, he received the State Leadership award from the American Wind Energy Association for the PUCT’s pioneering renewable energy zone policy for proactive transmission development.
Barry is a member of the State Bar of Texas, an ex officio board member of ERCOT, secretary/treasurer of RSC for the Southwest Power Pool, a member of the ERE Committee at NARUC, and served as one of 30 members of the DOE inaugural Electricity Advisory Committee.
Barry grew up in Highlands, Texas; a working class neighborhood on the east side of Houston. He graduated from Ross Sterling High School in Baytown and continued his education at Texas A&M University receiving a BBA summa cum laude. He received his J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law, and he received a M.P.A. at Harvard University and was awarded the first Joel Leff Fellowship in Political Economy by the Kennedy School of Government.
For 16 years Barry was a public finance investment banker working with state and local governments throughout the South, Southwest and Midwest. He held leadership positions with First Boston, Lazard Freres, JP Morgan Securities, and Bank One Capital Markets.
Barry has also been a prosecutor with the Harris County District Attorney’s office.
Bart Thielbar, Vice President, Five Point Partners
Bart Thielbar is the former founder and president of Itility Solutions, LLC. As a former utility CIO and a past chair of the Edison Electric Institute's (EEI) and American Gas Association's (AGA) Technology Advisory Council, Thielbar is intimate with the opportunities and challenges facing the utility industry today. Having led several successful system implementation and conversions throughout his career, he is well versed in the challenges and opportunities inherent to information technology initiatives. He is a published author and frequent speaker on issues related to utility automation and holds his Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) designation from the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA).