Join us for a dynamic day of interactive learning from industry utility leaders. Featuring keynote speakers, laser learning sessions, industry roundtables, virtual networking, and the opportunity for category specific business matchmaking.
DECEMBER 8-9, 2021
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
INDUSTRY ROUNDTABLES
LASER LEARNING SESSIONS
1:1 BUSINESS MATCHMAKER
As executive vice president and chief operating officer for Evergy, Kevin Bryant has management responsibility for all utility operations, including generation operations and generation services, transmission operations, transmission and delivery services, distribution operations and customer operations.
Since joining KCP&L in 2003, Mr. Bryant has held several positions that have drawn on his strategic insight and finance/marketing experience. Prior to his current position, Mr. Bryant served as vice president of Strategic Planning, president of KLT and vice president of Investor Relations and Treasurer. He was named Executive Vice President Finance & Strategy and CFO in 2015.
Mr. Bryant serves on the board of directors of Winnebago Industries, a publicly traded company that serves its customers by offering outdoor lifestyle products, including motorhomes, travel trailers and boats. Mr. Bryant also serves on the board of directors of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kansas City, a non-profit organization that works to lead youth down a path to success by ensuring they have the skills needed to pursue a career.
9:00 – 9:10 | Welcome
9:10 – 9:25 | Keynote Address
9:25 am – 10:10 am, CST | Utility Laser Learning Sessions (Registrants attend 2 of total)
10:10 – 10:25 | Break
10:25 – 10:55 | Industry Roundtable: A Conversation on Industry Transformation
10:55 – 11:55 | Utility Partner Zoom Rooms (Registrants attend 3 of total)
11:55 – 12:00 | Wrap-up
1:00 – 1:05 | Welcome
1:05 – 1:55 | Diversity Best Practices Laser Learning
Cybersecurity in the New Now
Moderator: Paul Reyes, CISO and VP Cybersecurity, Risk and Compliance, Vistra Corp.
Presenters:
Driving in the Future of Electric Vehicles
Moderator: Byron Witherspoon, Director Supplier Diversity, Ameren
Presenters:
New Developments in ESG for Utilities
Moderator: Ellen Fairchild, VP Chief Compliance Officer • Corporate Compliance & IA, Evergy
Presenters:
Energy Impact Partners – Funding the Innovation of the Future
Presenter: Anthony Oni, Managing Partner & CEO EIP Elevate Future Fund, Energy Impact Partners
Success with Subcontractors
Moderator: Lex Silbernagel, Special Projects Manager – Utility, Border States
Presenters:
Utility Industry Roundtable: A Conversation on Industry Transformation
Moderator: Linda Graves, Lead Analyst, Supplier Diversity, CenterPoint Energy
Presenters:
Diverse Partnership Investment – Sharing “Winning” Opportunities
Moderator: Valerie Coyazo, Lead Supplier Diversity Manager, Evergy
Presenters:
Tier 2 Reporting – Knowing Your Supply Base
Moderator: Wendy Moreno, Supplier Diversity |Strategic Sourcing & Planning, Xcel Energy
Presenters:
Working It: Workforce Development & Inclusion
Moderator: Lesley Elwell, SVP Chief HR Officer, Evergy
Presenters:
The Value of Advocacy Organizations in Advancing DE&I
Moderator: Heather Herndon Wright, Director, Supply Chain Diversity & Sustainability, Vistra Corp.
Presenters:
Register for the Business Matchmaker, submit your profile, and you might have the chance to meet one-on-one with a representative --or two or three! Matches are based on buyer procurement needs with no guarantee of a match.
Confirmed Buyer Representatives include, but are not limited to:
Category Opportunities include, but are not limited to:
Project Development Opportunities: Environmental Services, Permitting, Technical Studies, Pre-construction Work, High-Voltage Tie-ins/Interconnects, Abatement & Demolition, and Engineering Services
Construction – Substation Construction, Transformers, Invertors, Electrical
Q&M – Preventative Maintenance, Vegetation Control, Panel Washing, Fence & Road Maintenance, HVAC Maintenance
IT – IT Consulting, Software
Consumer Facing Services – Marketing, Other Services
Transportation & Logistics – Fleet Materials and Services
Matchmaker Registration Deadline: COB Friday, 12.3.2021
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
The mission of the Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) is to support and accelerate business development and growth, targeting women and serving all diverse business owners, in order to strengthen their participation in, and impact on, the economy.
WBDC © 2020. All Rights Reserved. | PRIVACY POLICY
Women's Business Development Center 8 S. Michigan Avenue. 4th Floor Chicago, IL 60603
P: 312.853.3477 www.wbdc.org