Agenda

Pre-registration required

Golf Outing – $25  |  8:00 AM Shotgun Start
The Energetic Women Conference Golf Outing is a 9-hole shotgun start at the Quicksilver Golf Club (2000 Quicksilver Road, McDonald, PA). Lunch and beverages are included. Signing up for golf limits your ability to participate in a pre-conference tour. You may still attend a pre-conference session that afternoon. Club rentals are available for $25. No refunds will be given for cancellations after May 22.

Equipment & Controls, Inc. (ECI) Operations Center Tour  |  7:15 AM – 12:30 PM
ECI specializes in process control and industrial automation products and solutions for manufacturing and process customers in the oil and gas, chemical, power, food and beverage, mining and metals, life sciences, pulp and paper, refining, petrochemical, OEM and nuclear industries. In addition, as an Emerson Impact Partner, ECI provides engineering, site support and training services for customers. ECI is an ISO 9001:2015 registered company and employs more than 250 professionals at seven locations across Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio and Western Maryland. This tour will provide an overview of the assembly, maintenance and calibration of associated devices. Eye protection will be provided. Closed-toed shoes are required. Shorts are permitted. The tour will be in indoors in air conditioned and ventilated warehouse conditions. Transportation will be provided. Lunch will not be provided, so please plan accordingly.
Capacity: 30

Beaver Valley Power StationTour  |  7:15 AM – 2:00 PM
Join us for a nuclear presentation and plant tour. The tour will include the plant and turbine deck, condensers, dry cask fuel, and cooling towers, along with the replacement steam generator tents. Closed-toed shoes that provide full, hard covering of feet) are required (no mesh on top of foot). Work boots preferred; steel-toed not required. All attendees must be U.S. citizens and provide a state-issued photo ID. Transportation will be provided. Lunch will be provided. Capacity: 30

Energy Innovation Center Tour  |  7:30 AM – 9:30 AM
The Energy Innovation Center is a Pittsburgh based, not-for-profit organization with a mission to engage corporate and community leaders, align workforce development and education, develop and demonstrate technology, and incubate businesses to support emerging clean and sustainable energy markets. They have joined with key stakeholders to transform a vacant property into a LEED Platinum Certified beacon for clean, efficient and sustainable energy solutions and technologies. Located in Pittsburgh’s Lower Hill District this 200,000 square foot building functions as a ‘living laboratory’ for industry-informed education and training programs and serves as a center that co-locates diverse tenants, including energy sector corporations, national energy research laboratories, political and community leaders, economic development organizations, and leading academic institutions. The facility tour will showcase their various tenants, research laboratories, mechanical rooms (including the sustainable energy solutions such as their microturbines) and feature the integration of new and sustainable technology (green roof, wind turbines, etc.) into a historical landmark building. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Transportation will be provided. Lunch will not be provided, so please plan accordingly.
Capacity: 40

TDW Solutions for your Pipeline’s Lifecycle Tour  |  8:30 AM – 11:15 AM
This tour includes a presentation on T.D. Williamson (TDW) followed by a tour of the facility housing TDW’s Advance Isolation and Pipeline Integrity equipment. The tour also includes a hands-on demonstration of ProStopp for Gas Distribution of POLYSTOPP® quick connect. Closed-toed shoes are required. Transportation will be provided. Continental breakfast items will be available, however lunch will not be provided, so please plan accordingly.
Capacity: 45

U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works Driving Tour | 7:30 AM – 11:45 AM
This driving tour of United States Steel’s Mon Valley Works, Clairton Plant. The Clairton plant is North America’s largest metallurgical coke plant. Metallurgical coke is the primary fuel and reductant used in integrated steelmaking blast furnaces. The tour will highlight the 10 by-product recovery coke batteries, with 708 coke ovens where the metallurgical coke is produced, and the chemical by-product recovery facilities that clean the coke oven gas that is generated from the coke making process. Closed-toed shoes and long pants are required. Photos are prohibited. Transportation will be provided. Lunch will not be provided, so please plan accordingly.
Capacity: 30

Department of Energy – National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) Tour  |  7:45 AM – 12:30 PM
The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratory that produces technological solutions to America’s energy challenges. NETL is also the only national lab dedicated to fossil energy research and development, making their team a sought-after national resource. Attendees will have the chance to visit laboratory stops focused on NETL’s main competencies: Geological & Environmental Systems, Materials Engineering & Manufacturing, Energy Conversion Engineering, Systems Engineering & Analysis, and Computational Science & Engineering. There will also be a panel discussion and networking time scheduled for attendees to meet many of NETL’s own energetic and pioneering women in energy. All attendees must be U.S. citizens and provide a state-issued photo ID plus an additional form of ID (such as social security card). A REAL ID or a passport will suffice for both forms of ID. PPE will be provided. Closed-toed shoes and long pants are required. Tours are held inside air-conditioned laboratories. Outside photography is prohibited. Transportation will be provided. Lunch will not be provided, so please plan accordingly.
Capacity: 50

Power Systems Experience Center Tour | 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Can you imagine a life without electricity? At Eaton’s Power Systems Experience Center, you can see how electricity flows from utility substations all the way to the outlet in your home. You will learn about new technologies and electrical solutions related to solar, microgrids, cybersecurity, arc flash safety and much more in a safe and controlled environment. Come see what some people call “Disneyland for electrical equipment.” Transportation will be provided. Lunch will not be provided, so please plan accordingly.
Capacity: 48

Dress for Success Volunteer Activity | 8:15 AM – 12:30 PM
The mission of Dress for Success is to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. This volunteer opportunity will consist of sorting and organizing donations of clothing, shoes, personal care items, and professional accessories. Transportation will be provided. Lunch will not be provided, so please plan accordingly.
Capacity: 20

Kerotest Plant Tour | 8:15 AM – 1:00 PM
Kerotest is known throughout the United States and Canadian utility markets. Their Polyball® polyethylene ball valves, Weldball® steel ball valves, MIJ insulators, Carbon Steel Strainers, and Gate valves have all become an industry standard. Users trust their field-proven products to help prevent failures and protect equipment, personnel and the environment. Kerotest also provides field repair kits for many of their valves and components to extend the life of a product and save their customers time and money. These are only a few of the reasons why you will find Kerotest written into many utility industry specifications. This tour at their North American headquarters will include machining, assembly, testing and painting of valves for the natural gas industry. Transportation will be provided. Lunch will be provided.
Capacity: 40

Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania – Monaca Training Center Tour | 8:15 AM – 12:30 PM
The Monaca Training Center is uniquely designed to combine classroom and hands-on training. The visit will include a tour of the outdoor Emergency Response Safety Town—a mock neighborhood complete with underground utilities and meters. It will also include a walk-through of classroom/training areas and demonstrations of the slip and backhoe simulator. Closed-toed shoes and long pants are recommended. Transportation will be provided. Lunch will not be provided, so please plan accordingly.
Capacity: 100

Clearway Energy’s Energy Center Campus Facility Tour | 8:30 AM – 10:45 AM
Operated by Clearway Energy, the Energy Center is a system that has quietly and effectively become a trusted source of heating and cooling for Pittsburgh city buildings. Chilled water and steam are piped to buildings yielding numerous benefits including reliability, efficiency, cost savings, ease of operation and maintenance, and environmental protections. Closed-toed shoes are required. PPE will be provided. Transportation will be provided. Lunch will not be provided, so please plan accordingly.
Capacity: 20 per tour

MPLX Houston Complex – Processing & Fractionation Facility Tour (MPLX is formerly known as MarkWest Energy Partners) | 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
MPLX is the largest natural gas processor and fractionator in North America. MPLX is a wholly owned subsidiary of Marathon Petroleum Corporation. The tour will consist of a presentation about MPLX, their operations and current processing capacities, along with an overview of the gas industry as a whole. Following the presentation, there will be a ‘windshield’ tour, which includes a guided drive through their Houston complex, with explanations. The tour will also include a stop in their control room for an explanation of how the plant is controlled, safety features, etc. Closed-toed shoes and long pants are encouraged for general safety purposes. Photos will not be permitted in the plant. Transportation will be provided. Lunch will not be provided, so please plan accordingly.
Capacity: 50

University of Pittsburgh Human Engineering ResearchLaboratories (HERL)Tour | 10:15 AM – 1:00 PM
HERL improves the mobility and function of people with disabilities through advanced engineering in clinical research and medical rehabilitation. The tour will consist of an overview of HERL, along with demos of some of the projects in their current research portfolio, and a tour of their prototyping facility. The facility includes a biolab for research and testing space and a machine shop that includes a 3D printer and circuit board building. The facility also maintains and uses virtual reality simulators to test devices not yet safe for a real-world environment. Tour will be inside the air-conditioned facility. Transportation will be provided. Lunch will not be provided, so please plan accordingly.
Capacity: 50

Pre-registration requested

Planning for a Low-Carbon Future
Climate change and how companies adapt to it is one of the most important issues facing the energy industry today. Reducing carbon emissions will require a coordinated effort involving utilities, businesses, government and a number of other key stakeholders. This panel will feature leaders who are experts on the topic. Panelists will delve into the issue, first providing an overview and then discussing potential solutions that will get us on a path for a carbon-free society.

Journey to Zero Incidents
In 2015, the American Petroleum Institute (API) published API RP 1173, the Pipeline Safety Management System Recommended Practice. Most recently in May 2019, AGA committed that all member companies will implement Safety Management System (SMS) within the next three years. This panel of three MEA members will share their unique journeys of SMS implementation, including the challenges and opportunities presented along the way. They will then host an insightful discussion from attendee’s experiences.

Digital Transformation and the Utility Industry
Digital Transformation is a popular buzzword phrase in the utility sector. This session will highlight what utility and contractor companies are learning through their digital transformation efforts. Participants will gather lessons learned on agile techniques for innovative solutions, leadership engagement for sponsorship success, and business adoption for sustainability. Panel members will take questions from participants about their digital transformation journey after a brief introduction and sharing session.

Pre-registration not required

World Champion adventure racer, CNN Hero, and San Diego firefighter Robyn Benincasa will get attendees buzzing with inspired ideas about raising your team to the next level, both personally and professionally. Robyn will take you on a fast-paced multimedia adventure that visually and viscerally imparts the mindset that allows teams to adapt, overcome, and win as ONE against all odds…especially when the stakes are high, the goals are audacious, and constant change is the only thing your team can count on (aside from one another!). You will discover that achieving at peak levels isn’t about only reaching UP and trying harder as an individual, but also reaching OUT and sharing strengths, talents, and even challenges with a world class team. You will take home simple and easily applied skills that allow you to create deep and lasting connections with all of the teammates in your life. More on Robyn Benincasa.

The Secret of Success: Live from Your Strengths, a CliftonStrengths Workshop | Libby Spears

Target Audience: attendees new to their leadership position or individual contributors that need a targeted strengths-based assessment for developmental planning purposes

Your strengths are those talents that you inherently possess + the time, effort, energy, and resources you invest to grow those talents into a strength. The genius of the CliftonStrengths assessment (taken by nearly 18 million people across the planet, according to Gallup) is that it offers a snapshot of your strengths using themes identified by Tom Rath and his team at Gallup. The CliftonStrengths assessment will help you confidently identify your strengths and allow you to start sharing them.

The assessment reveals, a workshop activates. Knowing what your strengths are is just the start. Now you need a learning environment to make sense of the assessment and how to use it to your advantage. Not only will you benefit personally from this workshop that offers insights and ideas for how to best utilize the report, but you will also see a deeper connection emerge. You will see how and why you gravitate to certain things, understand how to build a team of people that complement one another, and feel emboldened to pursue a professional path that highlights YOUR strengths.

This workshop will include a code to take the CliftonStrengths assessment so you can bring the results to the workshop. Detailed information on how to redeem this will follow closer to the conference.

Unstuck | Tara Renze

Target Audience: all attendees

Listen Up. Speak Up. Show Up. Level Up.

Often in our career and life we feel stuck. Stuck in a job. Stuck in a relationship. Stuck in fear. Stuck in complacency. Stuck in uncertainty. There is a gap between where we are and what we truly want. It’s not easy to speak up, show up, and level up, so we find ourselves settling for less than what we want and what we deserve. In “Unstuck” we uncover the six complimentary attributes that allow you to listen up, speak up, show up, and get what you want. Centered on the Bar-On EQ-i model by Reuven Bar-On, we take a deep dive into these 6 contrary characteristics that women need to deploy to unlock higher levels of success and fulfillment in life.

Experience Objectives:

• Gain clarity on the 6 contrary-complimentary attributes and skills needed to level up your success and fulfillment.
• Understand self-limiting attitudes, behaviors and beliefs to cause and keep you stuck in areas of your life.
• Learn how to ignite the perfect balance of empathy and assertiveness to navigate change, conflict and difficult situations.
• Develop a system for setting optimistic and realistic goals and expectations for your life.
• Discover your unconscious symptoms of being stuck and strategies to get and stay unstuck.
• Deploy simple tactics to be independent and adaptive to fuel your leadership and drive outcomes.
• Ignite your confidence and authenticity to listen up, speak up and show up.

Thinking Quickly On Your Feet | Erin Diehl, improve it!

Target Audience: all attendees

In this interactive session, attendees will participate in a series of improvisation-based exercises led by professional improvisers. improve it! conveys the theme that the proper equation for thinking quickly on your feet is “Focus + Trust = Your Targeted Message”. Attendees will learn:

• How to focus on the present moment and act quickly in relation to what is going on around them.
• Use “yes, and” responses to move the conversation in a positive way.
• How to concisely deliver their targeted message in the moment.

Boundary Spanning Leadership | Shelley Thompkins, Center for Creative Leadership

Target Audience: middle to senior level leadership; those with leadership oversight for multiple organizations and functions

The ever-increasing complexity of today’s world calls for a critical transformation in leadership from managing and protecting boundaries to boundary spanning – the capability to create direction, alignment, and commitment across boundaries in service of a higher vision or goal. The solutions to today’s most pressing business challenges rest at the intersection between vertical, horizontal, stakeholder, demographic, and geographic boundaries. A significant shift in today’s knowledge economy is the transformation of organizations from rigid hierarchical structures to networked structures with flows of people, information, and resources across boundaries. Ever-increasing interconnections, facilitated by advances in technology, have led to new forms of organizing, such as cross-functional teams, virtual workgroups, and cross sector partnerships. These shifts have given rise to a set of mission critical boundaries that leaders have to work across. This session will cover the five categories of boundaries (in order of importance) and address how to develop boundary spanning capabilities.

1. Horizontal – across functions and expertise
2. Geographic – across regions and locality
3. Stakeholder – beyond the boundaries of the firm, with external partners
4. Demographic – across diverse groups (i.e. gender, ethnicity, nationality)
5. Vertical – across levels and hierarchy

[Limited capacity]

The Secret of Success: Live from Your Strengths, a CliftonStrengths Workshop | Libby Spears

Target Audience: attendees new to their leadership position or individual contributors that need a targeted strengths-based assessment for developmental planning purposes

Your strengths are those talents that you inherently possess + the time, effort, energy, and resources you invest to grow those talents into a strength. The genius of the CliftonStrengths assessment (taken by nearly 18 million people across the planet, according to Gallup) is that it offers a snapshot of your strengths using themes identified by Tom Rath and his team at Gallup. The CliftonStrengths assessment will help you confidently identify your strengths and allow you to start sharing them.

The assessment reveals, a workshop activates. Knowing what your strengths are is just the start. Now you need a learning environment to make sense of the assessment and how to use it to your advantage. Not only will you benefit personally from this workshop that offers insights and ideas for how to best utilize the report, but you will also see a deeper connection emerge. You will see how and why you gravitate to certain things, understand how to build a team of people that complement one another, and feel emboldened to pursue a professional path that highlights YOUR strengths.

This workshop will include a code to take the CliftonStrengths assessment so you can bring the results to the workshop. Detailed information on how to redeem this will follow closer to the conference.

Unstuck | Tara Renze

Target Audience: all attendees

Listen Up. Speak Up. Show Up. Level Up.

Often in our career and life we feel stuck. Stuck in a job. Stuck in a relationship. Stuck in fear. Stuck in complacency. Stuck in uncertainty. There is a gap between where we are and what we truly want. It’s not easy to speak up, show up, and level up, so we find ourselves settling for less than what we want and what we deserve. In “Unstuck” we uncover the six complimentary attributes that allow you to listen up, speak up, show up, and get what you want. Centered on the Bar-On EQ-i model by Reuven Bar-On, we take a deep dive into these 6 contrary characteristics that women need to deploy to unlock higher levels of success and fulfillment in life.

Experience Objectives:

• Gain clarity on the 6 contrary-complimentary attributes and skills needed to level up your success and fulfillment.
• Understand self-limiting attitudes, behaviors and beliefs to cause and keep you stuck in areas of your life.
• Learn how to ignite the perfect balance of empathy and assertiveness to navigate change, conflict and difficult situations.
• Develop a system for setting optimistic and realistic goals and expectations for your life.
• Discover your unconscious symptoms of being stuck and strategies to get and stay unstuck.
• Deploy simple tactics to be independent and adaptive to fuel your leadership and drive outcomes.
• Ignite your confidence and authenticity to listen up, speak up and show up.

Thinking Quickly On Your Feet | Erin Diehl, improve it!

Target Audience: all attendees

In this interactive session, attendees will participate in a series of improvisation-based exercises led by professional improvisers. improve it! conveys the theme that the proper equation for thinking quickly on your feet is “Focus + Trust = Your Targeted Message”. Attendees will learn:

• How to focus on the present moment and act quickly in relation to what is going on around them.
• Use “yes, and” responses to move the conversation in a positive way.
• How to concisely deliver their targeted message in the moment.

Boundary Spanning Leadership | Shelley Thompkins, Center for Creative Leadership

Target Audience: middle to senior level leadership; those with leadership oversight for multiple organizations and functions

The ever-increasing complexity of today’s world calls for a critical transformation in leadership from managing and protecting boundaries to boundary spanning – the capability to create direction, alignment, and commitment across boundaries in service of a higher vision or goal. The solutions to today’s most pressing business challenges rest at the intersection between vertical, horizontal, stakeholder, demographic, and geographic boundaries. A significant shift in today’s knowledge economy is the transformation of organizations from rigid hierarchical structures to networked structures with flows of people, information, and resources across boundaries. Ever-increasing interconnections, facilitated by advances in technology, have led to new forms of organizing, such as cross-functional teams, virtual workgroups, and cross sector partnerships. These shifts have given rise to a set of mission critical boundaries that leaders have to work across. This session will cover the five categories of boundaries (in order of importance) and address how to develop boundary spanning capabilities.

1. Horizontal – across functions and expertise
2. Geographic – across regions and locality
3. Stakeholder – beyond the boundaries of the firm, with external partners
4. Demographic – across diverse groups (i.e. gender, ethnicity, nationality)
5. Vertical – across levels and hierarchy

[Limited capacity]

Ever wonder where the time really goes? In this talk, time management expert Laura Vanderkam discusses strategies for making the most of your time, both professionally and personally. Leave with practical tools for figuring out priorities, creating a smart schedule, embracing flexibility, and building in space—so you can feel less busy while getting more done. Laura will help you rethink how you spend your time within the priority categories of self, relationships, and career. More on Laura Vanderkam.