Marriott Shoals Hotel
800 Cox Creek Parkway South
Florence, AL 35630
1.800.593.6450

<Click here to make your reservations>
TVPPA room rate: $114 single/double (online group code: tpwtpwa)

IMPORTANT: The hotel is holding a block of rooms for TVPPA attendees until March 9. However, the room block could sell out prior to March 9, so early reservations are encouraged. Reservation requests received after March 9 will be confirmed on a rate- and space-available basis.

NOTE: If you HAVE a Marriott Shoals reservation but need to cancel, please cancel through TVPPA. If you NEED a reservation, please let TVPPA know. We'll match cancelled lodging with those needing rooms. Contact Conferences by telephone, 423.648.2466, or by E-MAIL, conferences@tvppa.com.

— Click here for online registration —

First Class in New Purchasing Certificate to focus on Ethics
Wednesday, April 1, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Scheduled in conjunction with the Purchasing Conference, the inaugural class in TVPPA’s Utility Purchasing Professional (UPP) certificate program will concentrate on ethics and ethical issues.

Customized for the UPP program by the Institute for Supply Management (ISM), Business Ethics and Supply Management will address personal vs. corporate ethics and impacts of behavior, what is ok to accept and what is not, conflict of interest, handling of information, quotes, relationships with suppliers, negotiations, and how to ask for clarity.

Registration for the class is separate, and may be done online via the Public Power Academy here.

Registration Open
Continental Breakfast provided

First General Session

Tactical Communication Skills — Verbal Judo, Part One
Our dynamic, energetic keynote speaker will give you tools that result in better relationships and better communications, through empathy. It’s all about how we verbalize things. You’ll learn how to use words that are on target, ensure that you are understood, communicate with difficult people, and achieve cooperation. Lee Fjelstad is Vice President of the Verbal Judo Institute. Sharing the verbal judo principles has taken him to Canada, Scandinavia, the Caribbean, the Netherlands, England, and across the U.S. Afterwards attendees often say, “This knowledge changed my life; wish I had been exposed to it years ago.” (Download handout)

DOE Efficiency Standards for Transformers
Transformers shipped after January 1, 2010, must meet DOE efficiency standards. Learn how these new rules will impact cost, delivery and transformer size. Get answers to questions, like, does your utility still need a loss evaluation formula, do transformer specs need to be updated, how can a utility know it’s getting the low losses promised, and how can a utility prepare for potential rationing due to shortages of low-loss electrical steel. Session leaders are Tony Hartfield, shown, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, for ERMCO Transformers, and Casey Turner, Regional Marketing Manager for Howard Industries. (Tony's Presentation) (Casey's Presentation)

TVPPA Transformer Analysis: Efficiency vs. Cost
While improvements in power distribution transformer efficiency are positive, these newer transformers weigh more and are more expensive. For utilities not presently using a good energy loss formula in selecting transformers for purchase, the impact could be huge. Commissioned by TVPPA’s R&D Committee, Power System Engineering (PSE) is conducting a project to help utilities be in full compliance with the new DOE standards, and at the lowest cost. Jeff Triplett, Utility System Consultant for Power System Engineering, Marietta, OH, will provide a progress report, describe project deliverables and give a completion date. (Presentation)

Update on TVPPA Purchasing Certificate Program
With a curriculum created by and for TVPPA-member utility purchasing professionals, the new Utility Purchasing Professional (UPP) certificate program brings customized training from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) training to you, in a blended format of instructor-led and online training. Danette Scudder, TVPPA’s training administration manager, will discuss the development process for the UPP program, review program completion requirements, timelines and will answer questions. (Presentation)

Lunch (on your own)

ID Theft & “Red Flags” Rule
This interactive session will look at the “Red Flags” legislation and how it affects day-to-day operations in a utility. You’ll learn the components of an Identity Theft Prevention Plan required of utilities by the Federal Trade Commission, whose compliance deadline is May 1, 2009. Dr. Tish Erdmann, President of Company Compass, has taught this subject to public utilities across the country, and she’ll help you ensure compliance.

Clean, Green Alternative Fuels for Vehicles
Dave Pelton, President, Clean Cities of Middle Tennessee, will provide an overview of alternative fuel types. He’ll include what DOE and EPA consider alternatives, and how the free market is forcing government to alter its definition. Fleet managers will need to assess vehicle needs, location, and purchasing availability before deciding on a specific alternative fuel. Because of the national security element, many fleets should try more than one alternative. (Presentation)

Best Practices in Warehousing & Inventory Mgt.
A municipal utility purchasing agent and an electric cooperative warehouse supervisor will share their knowledge and lessons learned on this perennially popular topic. But they don’t profess to know it all; that’s why you should plan to share your experience during this informal session, led by Chris Cooper, left, of Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation and Randy Tucker, right, of Tullahoma, TN, Utilities. (Presentation - very large...download before launching)

DOE Light Standards & Lamp/Fixture Disposal Costs
The Obama administration has named Steven Chu to head the Department of Energy (DOE). Mr. Chu plans to push through no fewer than 25 energy efficiency standards that are overdue from DOE, some of which pertain to lighting. Sam Delay, TVA Lighting Services, will update us on DOE regs related to lighting, especially lighting products used by power distributors. He’ll also cover the regulations and costs associated with disposing of expired lamps and fixtures.
(Presentation) (Spreadsheet 1) (Spreadsheet 2)

Reducing Paper in Your Purchasing Function
“Has anyone seen the requisition for safety glasses that Bill was working on?” “It’s time to draw straws to pick the lucky person who gets to go into our not heated/cooled storage building and pull the Specialty, Inc. 2003 archive file.” If any of this sounds familiar, don’t miss this session. Brad Davis, president of MidSouth Imaging, will look at a better way to capture, store, and retrieve documents. Learn about solutions to better manage paper in your department. (Presentation)

Savings Experienced Through Group Buying
There’s no sweeter sound than “volume discount.” Power distributors around the Valley are saving a considerable amount of money and time by adding their needs to those of neighboring utilities, then buying as a group. Panelists include Chris Cooper, left, Middle Tennessee EMC, Mike French, center, Greeneville, TN, Light & Power, and Scott Woodlee, right, of Volunteer Energy Cooperative based in Decatur, TN. (Presentation)

Dealing with Difficult People — Verbal Judy, Part Two
Wouldn’t it be great if you knew how to turn a “confrontation” into a “conversation?” In this segment, Lee Fjelstad, Vice President of the Verbal Judo Institute, will share some ways to communicate with, and gain cooperation from, difficult people. You’ll learn how to stay calm in the midst of conflict, deflect verbal abuse, and offer empathy in the face of antagonism. Verbal abuse is the number-one form of abuse in society. Empathy is the most powerful word in the English language. Learn how to respond – not react – to situations. (Download handout)

Factors Impacting TVA’s Fuel Costs
Making electricity requires fuel, whether it’s coal, natural gas, uranium or something else. Fuel costs have ridden the roller-coaster so much that TVA, and other utilities, added a fuel cost adjustment to its power rate. It’s enough to make a fuel purchaser dizzy and the electric consumer angry. What measures is TVA taking to control and moderate its fuel costs? Jacky Preslar, General Manager of Fuel Supply in TVA’s Power Supply & Fuels organization, will update us on practices his group is using in these challenging times of increasing fuel demand and near-static supplies. (Presentation)

Innovative Purchasing Techniques, Strategies
During its 75-year history, TVA has learned many things about buying goods and services, resulting in process improvement over the years. TVA has transitioned from the days of 10,000 suppliers to a current base of just over 3,300 suppliers. At the same time, TVA’s spend with suppliers located within the Tennessee Valley has increased from about 40% to more than 60% of the $2.6 billion total annual spend. Terrell Burkhart, Vice President of TVA Procurement, will share key techniques and strategies, as well as some current initiatives that support TVA’s mission of low-cost, reliable power. (Presentation)

Effective Strategies in Problem Solving —
Verbal Judo, Part Three
You can train yourself to DO the opposite of what you FEEL. Learn what to do when criticized. Learn how to avoid making one of those speeches you’ll live to regret. Self control and discipline are crucial to your effectiveness on the job – or in any other aspect of life. You’ll be able to stop and analyze what the problem is, how the other person sees it, constraints that may make it difficult to solve the problem, and the importance of a concerned and caring face. Lee Fjelstad leads this concluding session, and provides a detailed handout to help you master the skills of verbal judo. (Download handout)

Adjourn