Public Utility Management Program begins its 18th Year

In late March, with snow still covering parts of the Berkshires, 17 public power officials drove out on the Mass. Pike to beautiful Lenox, Massachusetts. They were heading to the famous Cranwell Conference Center to attend NEPPA’s annual Public Utility Management Program, an executive development program now in its 18th year of service to the New England public power community. After 17 successful years at the New England Center in Durham, New Hampshire, the program had to find a new home in 2011, due to the Center’s closing last June. And so, after a review of many potential sites, we signed a contract with the Cranwell Resort and Conference Center to host this unique program. The decision has turned out to be a good one: Cranwell staff and facilities were excellent, and the setting proved ideal for a few intense days of classroom discussions, introspection and critical thinking.

This year’s program focuses on eight essential management skills for public power leaders: four each in the March and November sessions. In March, the topics were self-motivation and personal initiative, critical thinking and learning, business and financial skills and people skills. The classes were led by individuals who brought significant experience to their topics: Dr. Paul Powers, a licensed psychologist who consults with and coaches senior executives in a wide variety of industries; Dr. Rockie Blunt, NEPPA’s Director of Educational Services, who has done extensive training in the fields of communications and learning and Chuck Underhill, Power Supply Engineer for the Danvers Electric Light Department and also a consultant on rates and finance to public power utilities. Each of them did an outstanding job in covering their topics, leading class discussions and making sure each participant had a "take away" from each day’s work.

The November session for this year’s program will cover four more management skills: communications, negotiation and persuasion, strategic planning and political skills. It promises to be equally informative, stimulating and enjoyable to our participants. We still have room for a few more who would like to join us.

NEPPA’s Public Utility Management Program is truly a unique professional development and learning experience. It was developed by public power professionals for public power professionals, and has had a profound impact on the way that many participants see themselves, their jobs and their careers. We encourage all NEPPA members to take advantage of this program, either this year or in the future, and to see for themselves the impact that it can have on their organizations.