Technical & Operations Conference

Date:	December 6-8, 2016
Time:	Day 1: Dec 6, 2016 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm Day 2: Dec 7, 2016 8:30 am - 7:00 pm Day 3: Dec 8, 2016 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Location:	Best Western Plus Kelly Inn, 100 4th Avenue South, St. Cloud, MN 56301 Get Directions
This event is now closed for online registration

This conference is designed to offer useful information to superintendents, managers, supervisors and crew leaders about the upcoming challenges utilities are going to face with the economy, employee retention, and preserving the craft of the electrical industry. It is also designed to create great leaders within the municipal utility industry.

Conference Program

Tuesday, December 6

8:30 am-1 pm MMUA Board of Directors Meeting (State Room)

noon-5 pm Conference Registration Open (Lobby)

1 pm Welcome & Opening Remarks (Congress/Senate/Sunwood Ballroom)

1:15 pm Quality Leadership: Thinking Like a Leader, Debra Englund, HRExpertiseBP
The skills that got you where you are may not be enough in the future. Leadership skills and the Leadership Team are the foundation of an organization’s success.
•What is a quality leader?
•What are the fundamentals of quality leadership?
•What tools do you need?
•It’s all about behavior and expectations: How do you effectively promote strong performance?
•Communicate and Set Expectations
•Measure the right things the right way
•Maintain accountability and standards
•Reward excellence
•Improve, through exercises, by understanding the different social and communication styles of others.

Wednesday, December 7

8:30 am Creating an Empowerment Culture, Kit Welchlin, Welchlin Communication Strategies
An empowerment culture will lead to a more effective work force and efficient organization. No matter what your position or title, you can support the creation of a work environment that is empowering.
•Demonstrate appreciation for unique personal and professional value.
•Invite coworkers in on planning, ask for input, and consider their suggestions.
•Mission statements, value statements, and codes of conduct—Just slogans or important guidelines?
•Communication is a two-way street—if we have questions about expectations, we should be free to ask, without ridicule or humiliation.
•Share all available information so co-workers can make thoughtful decisions and have successful outcomes.
•Recognize hard work, attention to quality, and team spirit.

11 am Highline Heroes – a Family’s Perspective, Tracy Moore, Highline Hero Foundation
Nobody can talk about safety like the wife of a fallen lineworker. Tracy’s husband died in 2002. The years since have been filled with grief but also a passion to keep his memory alive, and to bring awareness, honor and recognition to lineworkers, through her Highline Hero Foundation.

noon Apprentice Lineworker & 2016 Rodeo Recognitions, Mike Willetts, MMUA and Don Harbuck, Northwest Lineman College

3 pm Vendor Setup for Trade Show (Grand Ballroom)

The afternoon conference sessions will offer a choice of two tracks.

Manager Track

1 pm Advancing Your Safety Culture/Critical Thinking, Dr. Jim Walters, Power of Learning
Human factors play a large role in improving the safety culture, and each person’s thinking is the key for improvement. Critical thinking is the foundation for changing activity and behavior. Learn how to apply what you learn with a focus on changing behavior.

2 pm Reliability Best Practices, Bob Jagusch, MMUA
This is a multi-faceted topic. Attend for a discussion of industry best practices and share lessons learned from utility experiences.

3 pm Cold Weather Rule, Tracy M.B. Smetana, Consumer Affairs Office, Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
What do municipal utilities need to know about Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule? Learn about the role of the state’s Consumer Affairs Office and some surprising ideas on answering consumer questions. Time for audience Q&A will be provided.

4 pm Cyber Security, Chad Boeckmann, Secure Digital Solutions, LLC
The power grid is a complex, interconnected network which is susceptible to damage by natural events. Yet there may be an even more ominous threat: “cyber” attacks. Learn more about this very real threat, what the industry is doing and how you can help prevent disruption. This presentation will cover the most commonly used control frameworks for the energy industry and how to measure, manage and communicate performance of the cyber security program. In addition, this session will present a prioritized security program roadmap to help attendees compare against their own current efforts.

5-7 pm Trade Show & Reception (Grand Ballroom)
Be sure to join us for our product show. There is always a lot of good information changing hands at the show. This is a great place to see what's new to the industry and provides an opportunity to make new connections.

Crew Leader/Foreman Track

1 pm Meaningful Job Briefings, Joe Schmidt, MMUA CSP
This session will offer an insightful look at the importance of conducting an appropriate and meaningful job briefing. What are the requirements depending on the subject? What format should be used? Successful job briefings, and failures, will be examined.

2 pm Electric Maintenance, Dave Wood, Ziegler Power Systems
This presentation will look at service recommendations per American National Standards Institute/InterNational Electric Testing Association standards. What benefits are there to thermal imaging? There will be time for discussion, so start thinking about your questions now.

3 pm Arc Rated Clothing & PPE Improvements, Rick Hawthorne, Carhartt
A look at arc-rated clothing and Personal Protective Equipment improvements. We will also delve into the recent recall of several Carhartt garments and what considerations were made in regards to that development.

4 pm Fall Protection & Improvements, Jason Giefer, DBI, MN / 3M
There are new regulations in regards to fall protection while climbing wooden poles and for employees who work at heights. OSHA requires employees to be trained on fall protection safety regulations. Take a look at new and improved equipment available.

Thursday, December 8

8:30 am Recent Accidents and Lessons Learned, Marc Machacek, MMUA

10 am MMUA Mutual Aid Framework & Development, Mike Willetts, MMUA

10:30 am MMUA Update

noon Adjournment

Hotel Information

The 2016 T&O Conference has a new location!
Best Western Plus Kelly Inn, 100 4th Avenue South, St. Cloud, MN 56301

The hotel does have online reservations for our room block. You can also call the hotel directly at 320.253.0606 and ask for MMUA's room block. Our special pricing is $91 per night (plus tax). If you would like information for a suite upgrade or have special billing requirements, please contact the hotel directly at 320.253.0606.

Cut-off date is November 21, 2016. After that date, reservations are accepted on a space available basis at prevailing rates.

Events for Associate Members

TRADE SHOW: Associate members can have a booth at the trade show to be held on December 7. Reserve your spot by clicking HERE. This one fills up fast so don't delay!

SPONSOR: We also have an opportunity for Associate members to sponsor events at the T & O Conference. We will post a sign at the event site with your company's logo and have you listed in the official conference program. To become a sponsor, click HERE and scroll down to the list of T & O Conference events.

HOSPITALITY: How about hosting a hospitality suite? Call Kelly Inn at 320.258.8406 or email Michelle Borresch for more information. Kelly Inn does not allow you to bring in food items from outside the hotel.

Conference Brochures

A printable copy of the conference brochure is available. Associate members can print a copy of the brochure for the trade show, reception, sponsoring and hosting hospitality suites.

Photographs

By registering for this conference, I/we the registered attendee(s), authorize Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association (MMUA) to photograph me at this event and use such photographs in MMUA marketing pieces (both electronic and print). I understand that I will not be paid for giving this consent.