2018 Conference Schedule

Prior to attending any conference functions (tours, activities, networking reception, etc.), all attendees must visit the Check-IN: Energetic Women Conference desk located in the Bonnet Creek North Foyer on the Lobby Level at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek.

If you are participating in a pre-conference tour or activity (with the exception of golf), you must visit the Check-IN: Pre-Conference Tours & Activities desk near the bus loading area next to the Disney Store on the Lobby Level at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek.

Sponsored by Burns & McDonnell

Unwind, check email, or chat with other attendees in this comfortable lounge area. Pop IN for refreshments, Wi-Fi, power outlets, or mobile device charging.

If you are participating in a pre-conference tour or activity (with the exception of golf), you must visit the Check-IN: Pre-Conference Tours & Activities desk near the bus loading area next to the Disney Store on the Lobby Level at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek.

7:45 AM – 1:00 PM | Swing IN: Golf Outing

The Energetic Women Conference Golf Outing is a 9-hole shotgun start at the Waldorf Astoria Golf Club, which is conveniently connected to the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek. Lunch and beverages are included. If you are pre-registered for golf, there is no need to visit the Check-In: Pre-Conference Tours & Activities desk. You may proceed directly to the Waldorf Astoria Golf Club. Please check in with Energetic Women representatives by 7:45 AM. The golf shop and driving range open at 7:00 AM if you are interested in visiting prior to check-in and shotgun.

7:45 AM – 1:00 PM | Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) Tour
56 attendees 

The Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), a University of Central Florida (UCF) energy research and education institute, has a more than 40-year history of basic and applied energy research excellence, which has grown to include all aspects of renewable energy, alternative fuels, fuel cells, energy storage, electric vehicles, and energy efficient building technologies. FSEC conducts continuing education and training programs for professionals, government, and industry leaders around the world in addition to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) opportunities for the future energy workforce. FSEC is located on UCF’s Cocoa campus, on a 20-acre research complex 35 miles east of the Orlando campus. This tour offers participants the opportunity to see FSEC’s research laboratories and training facilities. FSEC research faculty will be available for questions about their award-winning inventions, such as the Gossamer Wind ceiling fan sold at Home Depot stores and a hydrogen safety detection tape that was internationally recognized by the R&D 100 Awards program as one of the most technologically significant products to enter the marketplace in 2013. Lunch will not be provided, so please plan accordingly. Casual attire, comfortable clothing, and walking shoes are recommended. The tour is outdoor, so please dress for the weather and don’t forget sunscreen! Transportation provided.

8:00 AM – 12:45 PM | Clean the World Volunteering
40 volunteers 

Clean the World Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit charitable organization with a two-part mission:

1. Reduce the waste created by discarded soap and shampoo products
2. Prevent the millions of deaths caused by hygiene-related illnesses

Volunteers will quality check, sort, and box product and participate in other related activities. At this time, Clean the World is not accepting donated hygiene items. All volunteers must sign the liability waiver  prior to attending; waivers are not able to be printed and/or signed onsite. Please list the Company/Organization as ‘Energetic Women Conference’ and select ‘group’ as the Volunteer Information. Lunch will not be provided, so please plan accordingly. Closed-toe shoes are required; comfortable clothing and a refillable water bottle are recommended. While the volunteer warehouse is kept as cool as possible, it is NOT air conditioned. Transportation provided.

8:15 AM – 1:15 PM | Lakeland Power Plant Tour
35 attendees 

Lakeland Electric, a municipal utility, is the third largest public power utility in the State of Florida and serves 200,000 customers in the City of Lakeland. The utility is also one of the first established in Florida, having started operation in 1889. Today, power is generated at Lakeland Electric’s two main power plants, the 941-megawatt McIntosh Power Plant and the 176-megawatt Larsen Power Plant. McIntosh Power Plant houses one of the most efficient coal-fired generation facilities in the southeast and one of the most efficient combined cycle natural gas generators in the nation. These generators allow Lakeland to offer customers safe, reliable power at some of the best prices in the state. Lunch will not be provided, so please plan accordingly. Long pants and work boots or closed-toe shoes are required. Shorts and open-toe shoes are not permitted. Lakeland will provide hard hats, safety glasses, and hearing protection. Transportation provided.

8:30 AM – 12:45 PM | Curtis H. Stanton Energy Center (SEC) Tour
25 attendees 

Quite literally the heart of OUC, the Curtis H. Stanton Energy Center (SEC) is a strategically phased powerhouse comprising a portfolio of clean, modern, fuel-diverse, environmentally sound power-generation equipment. From coal and natural gas to solar energy and landfill gas, the SEC continues to lead the way as the most diverse generation site in the state. This is a winning combination for customers and the Central Florida community – providing affordable rates and a reliable, clean, and well-diversified power supply. The tour will include an overview of the SEC and its operation, along with a visit to the control room to review the daily operations. Lunch will not be provided, so please plan accordingly. Casual, comfortable clothing recommended and closed-toe shoes are required. Shorts, dangling jewelry or clothing, skirts, dresses, high heels, and sandals will not be permitted. You must have your government issued ID with you. SEC will provide hard hats and safety glasses. Transportation provided.

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Walt Disney World Solar Facility Tour | SOLD OUT
50 attendees 

Duke Energy welcomes Energetic Women attendees to tour the Walt Disney World Solar Facility, the only solar array in the world in a unique shape. The onsite educational tour will allow attendees to see first-hand how solar energy is generated, and participate in a Q&A session. Lunch will not be provided, so please plan accordingly. Long pants and closed-toe shoes are required. High heels, dresses, and skirts are not permitted. The tour is outdoor, so please dress for the weather and don’t forget sunscreen! Transportation provided.

9:30 AM – 11:45 AM or 3:00 PM  | Reedy Creek Energy Services (RCES) Presentation | SOLD OUT
108 attendees

Bus A Departure | 11:45 AM (conclusion of presentation)
Bus B Departure | 3:00 PM (option to stay in Disney Springs)

Reedy Creek Energy Services (RCES) is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. It operates the electric and other utility transmission and distribution systems of the Reedy Creek Improvement District (RCID) on behalf of the district, which specifically covers Walt Disney World just outside of Orlando, Florida. One of the busiest places in America, RCID boundaries include four theme parks, two water parks, one sports complex, 175 lane miles of roadway, 67 miles of waterway, the cities of Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista, an environmental science laboratory where the continuity of water quality is monitored, an electric power-generating and distribution facility, a natural gas distribution system, water and wastewater collection and treatment facilities, a solid waste and recyclables collection and transfer system, plus over 40,000 hotel rooms and hundreds of restaurants and retail stores! Marlin Vaughn, RCES Disney Cogen Plant Operator, will explain the operations at Reedy Creek from power generation to wastewater treatment. He will also speak about the need for diversity and sustainability in the energy sector. This presentation will be at the AMC Theater in Disney Springs. Lunch will not be provided, so please plan accordingly. Casual attire, comfortable clothing, and walking shoes are recommended. Transportation provided.

If you are involved in your company’s successful women’s group or your company is looking to start an ERG, participate this roundtable to gain insight and best practices on utility-related women’s groups within the energy industry. The discussion will be facilitated by Amal Berry of DTE Energy and Aithyni Rucker of Duke Energy.

All attendees are expected to readily contribute and engage in order for the session to be beneficial for all roundtable attendees. Feel free to bring your mission, objectives, events, and/or goals from your women’s groups to share with others.

Join us for a private event at Universal CityWalk®. Transportation will be provided, with return transport beginning at 6:30 PM. Food, beverages, and entertainment will be provided, including karaoke, a reggae band, and dueling pianos.

Aqua Zumba blends the Zumba philosophy with water resistance for a low-impact, high-energy fitness routine. Limited to 30 attendees.

Increase your wellness and your network by joining us on the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek jogging trail (1 lap = approximately 1 mile). Enjoy the resort scenery while networking with fellow attendees and industry executives. Please meet at the North entrance of the Pavilion. Designated departure times and executive participation are as follows:

6:00 AM Departure

• Walk | Cicely Hart, Vice President, Engineering and Technical Customer Relations – Duke Energy
• Walk | Tom Ziegenfuss, Vice-Chairman – EN Engineering
• Walk | Nancy Conder, Director, Compliance & Quality Assurance – Vectren

6:15 AM Departure

• Walk | Emily Henson, Vice President of Distribution Construction and Maintenance – Duke Energy
• Walk | Bev Melchisedech, VP, Operations Support – CenterPoint Energy

6:30 AM Departure

• Walk | Kimra Cole, VP, Distribution Operations – NiSource, Inc.
• Walk | Saudia Santure, Brand Manager – Consumers Energy
• Walk | Angela Jorgensen, Director of Talent Management and Organizational Development – Vectren

Sponsored by Burns & McDonnell

Unwind, check email, or chat with other attendees in this comfortable lounge area. Pop IN for refreshments, Wi-Fi, power outlets, or mobile device charging.

Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour

Read all about Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour.

Integrity and the Impostor Complex | Tanya Geisler

For high-functioning, high-achieving professionals with strong values of excellence and integrity, the Impostor Complex is a very present and real phenomenon. It inhibits our belief in our capacity and prevents us from activating on our excellence. But it doesn’t need to. Tanya will lead participants through a practical and meaningful process that will help them move from feeling like an Impostor to feeling like an Authority. And that will change everything.

Purposeful Leadership: Managing Upward | Pamela Green

When you successfully manage upward, your personal satisfaction is heightened and you’ll experience the type of professional rewards you desire most. But how? Managing up is the degree to which you are able to anticipate the needs of your manager to facilitate the achievement of goals, large and small. This requires a number of shifts in your conduct, attitude, behavior, skills, and capabilities—all pulling together for both your success and your manager’s. Managing up isn’t about sucking up; it’s about the strategic application of your skills and talents. Discover new ways of working with your manager to build cooperation and achieve success that benefits both of you.

Daily Reset Break: Take Mindful Control of our Daily Lives | Tessa Todd Morgan

Tessa Todd Morgan offers simple tools that can help anyone manage daily stress in minutes, before it turns into prolonged burnout. Are you ready to re-energize, re-center, and re-boot your mind, body, and spirit? Tessa will guide attendees in light participation, including breathing exercises, simple stretching for the workplace, and action plan coaching to help you focus on proactive behaviors that support emotional and physical wellness. Be prepared to learn about ways to fight fatigue, increase concentration, maximize energy, elevate creative thinking, and train your brain to be more resilient in the face of daily stresses at work and home.

Understanding and Overcoming Unconscious Bias | Kyl Myers

Unconscious biases are social stereotypes about specific groups of people that individuals form outside of their conscious awareness. Everyone has internalized unconscious biases towards social groups that may not align with their conscious values. It is sneaky and can have negative consequences on people’s experiences. It can also affect hiring and promotion practices, workplace environments, and the way companies interact with their customers. But have no fear – we can get our unconscious biases in check and actively work to improve our assumptions and interactions with others. Join Kyl Myers, PhD, a sociologist at the University of Utah and a tireless advocate for understanding the social systems we live in and how we can improve them, for this exciting session. Kyl will provide an overview of unconscious bias and how it impacts our lives through three different roles: as doers, receivers, and bystanders. Participants will engage in an activity that will help them take inventory of a time in their life when unconscious bias creeped in. In small groups, participants will come to realize how insidious and universal unconscious bias is and how we can work together to tackle unconscious bias in our lives to create a more equitable environment that genuinely celebrates diversity and inclusion.

Integrity and the Impostor Complex | Tanya Geisler

For high-functioning, high-achieving professionals with strong values of excellence and integrity, the Impostor Complex is a very present and real phenomenon. It inhibits our belief in our capacity and prevents us from activating on our excellence. But it doesn’t need to. Tanya will lead participants through a practical and meaningful process that will help them move from feeling like an Impostor to feeling like an Authority. And that will change everything.

Purposeful Leadership: Managing Upward | Pamela Green

When you successfully manage upward, your personal satisfaction is heightened and you’ll experience the type of professional rewards you desire most. But how? Managing up is the degree to which you are able to anticipate the needs of your manager to facilitate the achievement of goals, large and small. This requires a number of shifts in your conduct, attitude, behavior, skills, and capabilities—all pulling together for both your success and your manager’s. Managing up isn’t about sucking up; it’s about the strategic application of your skills and talents. Discover new ways of working with your manager to build cooperation and achieve success that benefits both of you.

Daily Reset Break: Take Mindful Control of our Daily Lives | Tessa Todd Morgan

Tessa Todd Morgan offers simple tools that can help anyone manage daily stress in minutes, before it turns into prolonged burnout. Are you ready to re-energize, re-center, and re-boot your mind, body, and spirit? Tessa will guide attendees in light participation, including breathing exercises, simple stretching for the workplace, and action plan coaching to help you focus on proactive behaviors that support emotional and physical wellness. Be prepared to learn about ways to fight fatigue, increase concentration, maximize energy, elevate creative thinking, and train your brain to be more resilient in the face of daily stresses at work and home.

Understanding and Overcoming Unconscious Bias | Kyl Myers

Unconscious biases are social stereotypes about specific groups of people that individuals form outside of their conscious awareness. Everyone has internalized unconscious biases towards social groups that may not align with their conscious values. It is sneaky and can have negative consequences on people’s experiences. It can also affect hiring and promotion practices, workplace environments, and the way companies interact with their customers. But have no fear – we can get our unconscious biases in check and actively work to improve our assumptions and interactions with others. Join Kyl Myers, PhD, a sociologist at the University of Utah and a tireless advocate for understanding the social systems we live in and how we can improve them, for this exciting session. Kyl will provide an overview of unconscious bias and how it impacts our lives through three different roles: as doers, receivers, and bystanders. Participants will engage in an activity that will help them take inventory of a time in their life when unconscious bias creeped in. In small groups, participants will come to realize how insidious and universal unconscious bias is and how we can work together to tackle unconscious bias in our lives to create a more equitable environment that genuinely celebrates diversity and inclusion.

Deborah Gardner

Regardless of your role in the energy industry, having goals is just not enough to succeed. And, when dealing with every facet of your chaotic life, whether in business or personal, every decision you make says something about you. Deborah Gardner, a swimming champion turned author and performance expert, will boldly unveil the most under-rated element needed to awaken your inner champion. During this wildly entertaining and humorous talk based on Deborah’s popular book, How To Sell To Men Without Wearing A Low-Cut Dress, hear new ideas and astonishing stories that exemplify the notion that behind every successful woman is herself. Are you up for the challenge?

Aqua Zumba blends the Zumba philosophy with water resistance for a low-impact, high-energy fitness routine. Limited to 30 attendees.

Increase your wellness and your network by joining us on the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek jogging trail (1 lap = approximately 1 mile). Enjoy the resort scenery while networking with fellow attendees and industry executives. Please meet at the North entrance of the Pavilion. Designated departure times and executive participation are as follows:

6:00 AM Departure

• Walk | Julie Turner, VP Carolinas, Natural Gas Generation – Duke Energy
• Walk | Nancy Moody, Vice President, Public Affairs – DTE Energy

6:15 AM Departure

• Walk | Nancy Conder, Director, Compliance & Quality Assurance – Vectren
• Walk | Heather Hipke, VP Finance – KS Energy Services, LLC
• Walk | Karima Hasan Bey, Director of Records, Management – NiSource, Inc.

6:30 AM Departure

• Walk | Tamara Gilliard, General Manager – Duke Energy
• Walk | Gordana Simic-Pejnovic, Director, T&D Production & Workforce Management, Power Delivery – NiSource, Inc.

Sponsored by Burns & McDonnell

Unwind, check email, or chat with other attendees in this comfortable lounge area. Pop IN for refreshments, Wi-Fi, power outlets, or mobile device charging.

Kelly McDonald

Diversity in the workforce is a hot topic. The most progressive organizations value diversity because they realize that a diverse workforce has positive impact on the bottom line. And a diverse workforce doesn’t just mean employees of different racial and ethnic backgrounds; it can also mean diversity of thought. There are numerous ways we can be “diverse”: A new mom is in a very different place than one who is an empty nester. Someone with a master’s degree is different than someone who went to a vocational/technical college. Someone who is foreign-born is different than someone who is U.S. born. This keynote takes away the baggage that is often associated with the word diversity and frames the subject in a more relatable way. We ALL deal with people “not like us.” Sometimes that can be frustrating, but it doesn’t have to be. How do you work alongside someone who may be quite different from you, respect those differences, and be effective in your role? And what about leading a diverse team? Leaders face the challenges of inspiring, communicating, and executing strategy with their teams. Now imagine the challenges of leading teams that are diverse (as all are). How do you lead a group when people are motivated by different values and work through different lenses? What is it like for the others on the team? How do they adapt to different people and work approaches? This session takes the topic of work and leadership to a new place – one that is getting more attention every day and will continue to do so.

2018 Maverick Award Recipient

2018 Excellence in Women’s Development Award Recipient

Sam Glenn

This keynote talk is positive, inspiring, engaging, and uplifting. Let’s be real: We’ve all had dreams or aspirations of being the superhero in the movies or books. But what about in real life? Is it possible? ABSOLUTELY! Sam’s message, “Become Your Own Superhero”, focuses on living the best version of yourself and using your strengths to make positive contributions. The core of this talk is about empowering people to choose an attitude that works for them and their organizational success, personal and professional development, serving customers with excellence, building a culture where people thrive, improving communication, and becoming the kind of person that people are excited to be around.