From RMEL Executive Director Rick Putnicki

We are now officially at the halfway point through 2023 – time is flying! I sincerely hope you had a wonderful Independence Day holiday this past week and that your summer has been full of quality time with friends, good weather, backyard BBQs, and fun family vacations!

2023 RMEL FOUNDATION GOLF TOURNAMENT RECAP

A RMEL Shout Out to all participants in the 2023 RMEL Foundation Golf Tournament that took place on Tuesday, June 27th in Littleton, CO. Other than a little wind, the weather couldn’t get any better for spending time with your colleagues, friends, and us, golfing for a great cause, at the beautiful Arrowhead Golf Course!

All proceeds from sponsors and the participant purchases of mulligans and raffle tickets go directly to the RMEL Foundation College Scholarship Fund. We are ecstatic to announce that we have raised a record amount of over $66,000 for students pursuing careers in the electric energy field, promoting that pipeline of talent, and building a strong workforce in our industry for years to come! This is by far the most funds raised during the golf tournament and we couldn’t be more grateful for your generosity – thank you!

If you didn’t get a chance to participate, you can still contribute to the Foundation Scholarship Fund by donating an item to the RMEL Foundation Auction that will take place at the 2023 Fall Convention in Tempe, AZ. Learn more about the RMEL Foundation Auction below! Another way to support this cause, is to become a Friend of RMEL by donating as little as $100.

SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIPS AND DONATE TO THE RMEL FOUNDATION AUCTION

Donation Deadline is Friday, August 18th, 2023

Donations are needed! Help support students pursuing electric energy careers by donating an item for the Annual RMEL Foundation Auction. The auction will be held during the 2023 Fall Convention on Tuesday, September 12th and is a primary resource for the 501c3 charity to support the funding of scholarships for the next generation of electric energy industry professionals.

We will use the same bidding app that we have used for the past couple of years. We will send more details to access that app before the auction.

Since its inception in the year 2000, the RMEL Foundation has grown considerably from the two $500 scholarships that year. To date, through your collective generosity and support, the RMEL Foundation has awarded more than 575 scholarships totaling more than $1.3 million for the next generation of electric energy professionals. Your support is needed to continue the Foundation's scholarship efforts. You are encouraged to donate an item to the auction and join the VIRTUAL auction to bid on donated items.

REGISTRATION FOR THE 2023 RMEL FALL CONVENTION IS NOW OPEN!

September 11th-13th, 2023 at the brand-new Omni Hotel in Tempe, AZ

RMEL is thrilled to announce that registration for the 2023 RMEL Fall Convention is now open! This is your event! We look forward to returning in-person and hosting you and 250+ of your electric utility industry executive peers for lively and enjoyable discussions centered on a program focused on strategically addressing today's top concerns for electric utilities. Here’s what you can expect at this year’s Fall Convention:

• Elite Convention Speakers - RMEL is building a phenomenal line-up of influential and thought-provoking industry leader speakers to make this an effective and inspiring convention that you won't want to miss.
• Meet Other Industry Leaders - C-Suite Executives along with Directors, Managers, and emerging professionals, will all be there!
• Build your Professional Network - The networking opportunities have earned an exceptional reputation due to the decision-makers and thought leaders in attendance. RMEL is committed to providing a relaxed and productive forum for our members. The focus of the Fall Convention is on value, substance, and making connections.
• Dedicated Networking Opportunities - A golf outing, receptions and meals, a RMEL Foundation silent auction, and networking breaks will provide valuable opportunities to connect with your industry peers.     

Exciting program details will be announced soon, and you can expect a solid lineup that will include keynotes, the popular CEO Panel, RMEL Foundation Auction, and more. We look forward to seeing you there!

CHECK OUT THE 2023 FALL CONVENTION KEYNOTE SPEAKERS!

The 2023 RMEL Fall Convention keynote speakers have been announced! Read more about the keynote speakers below.

Day 1 Keynote Speaker (Tuesday, September 12th): Peter Zeihan, Geopolitical Strategist & Global Affairs Expert

With a lively non-partisan approach backed by a decade in private intelligence, Zeihan shows the audience exactly why their world is changing fast—and how they can get ahead of it. Zeihan illustrates how geography redefines global power, how demographics doom the current trade order, and how America’s energy revolution has fundamentally shifted global realities from Russia to Iran to China.

Day 2 Keynote Speaker (Wednesday, September 13th): Vibhas Ratanjee, Subject Matter Expert and Global Practice Leader for Leadership Development – Gallup

Vibhas specializes in organizational development, culture change, M&A integration and executive-level engagement strategies including strengths-based leadership and succession management. Vibhas is also an executive coach and a leadership consultant to senior executives and CEOs. Vibhas is one of Gallup’s foremost practice leaders on leadership development and succession planning and has consulted with CEO’s and Boards globally. Prior to joining Gallup in 2000, Vibhas spent six years with various consulting and research companies working in the areas of employee engagement, leadership, customer experience and brand management.

BOOK YOUR 2023 FALL CONVENTION HOTEL ROOM

The deadline to book your discounted hotel room in RMEL’s block is Monday, August 21st, 2023

A special room rate of $239 is available. To reserve your room, click "Book a Room" to open the hotel's website with the RMEL Fall Convention group rates and room availability. The RMEL Fall Convention block dates are September 10th-13th.

The best way to book your room is online, but you can call 602-794-8600 and mention "RMEL." You must mention you are making your reservation as part of the RMEL room block when calling the hotel. By not doing so, you may be incorrectly told that the hotel is full or quoted a different room rate. If the contracted room block is not met, RMEL is financially liable for penalties. Government Employees: If you make your reservation at the federal government rate, please be sure to mention you are part of RMEL so you will be counted towards the room block.

2023 FALL CONVENTION SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

The 2023 Fall Convention will also feature roundtables, networking, technology showcases and more. Sponsorship opportunities throughout the event will include:

• Sponsorship of Keynote Speakers, CEO Panel and Other General Sessions
• Banner Advertising
• App Sponsorship
• Networking Event Sponsorship
• Technology Showcases
• Dedicated Company Landing Page
• And More (we are open to additional customized sponsorship ideas)

If you're interested in a sponsorship, would like to discuss a customized opportunity or have questions, please contact us at info@rmel.org or (303) 865-5544. 

RMEL'S UPCOMING EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCES & WORKSHOPS

Please visit the RMEL Events and Education Calendar webpage for the most up-to-date list of offerings, and reference the below Upcoming Event List in this newsletter to learn more and register. Our Education Committees, made up of RMEL Members, strives to organize timely, important, and thoughtful educational and networking events, and we are looking forward to a full year of these opportunities curated by our members, for our members. We hope to see you soon at an upcoming event!   

RMEL AS YOUR RESOURCE

As always, please consider RMEL a resource to you and your organization. Please share those development opportunities with your peers, workgroups, and your professional network! Also, do not hesitate to reach out to us with topics or workshops you would deem beneficial to our industry.