American Gas Association and Women’s International Network of Utility Professionals partner with MEA for 10th Annual Energetic Women Conference
American Gas Association (AGA) and Women’s International Network of Utility Professionals (WiNUP) are supporting women in the energy industry and field of STEM and Operations through a partnership at the 10th Annual Energetic Women Conference, an event of Midwest ENERGY Association (MEA).
The mission of Energetic Women is to prepare women within the energy industry for leadership roles in operations and engineering. The annual conference, hosted this year in Chicago June 14-16, is attended by hundreds of industry professionals interested in developing and enhancing their leadership and interpersonal skills.
This is the first time organizations were invited to partner with Energetic Women on this valuable event. According to Nichole Owens, 2017 chair of Energetic Women and director, customer care at ComEd, this is an exclusive opportunity for like-minded associations to develop mutually beneficial relationships with Energetic Women, which currently represents 626 utilities and businesses that support the energy industry.
As associations serving the energy industry, MEA, AGA, and WiNUP have a shared interest in supporting the preparation of women for leadership roles in the energy industry. AGA and WiNUP are able to showcase their efforts to support and expand diversity and women in the utility sector through partnership on the Energetic Women Conference, which is “a ‘must attend’ for every woman in the energy industry,” says a 2016 conference attendee.
“Natural gas utilities are actively recruiting and training a diverse and inclusive workforce that will upgrade and maintain the energy infrastructure of the 21stcentury,” says Dave McCurdy, president and CEO, AGA. “For ten years, [MEA] has made a monumental contribution to the development of the energy industry workforce and the inclusion of women through education, experience, advocacy, networking and leadership with their Energetic Women Conference. We…are pleased to be a partner for this fantastic event.”
Over the past 9 years, this conference has served over 2,500 energy professionals from leading utilities, municipalities, contractors, and associates across the country. In 2016, 58% of attendees were management level or above. Generationally, attendees range from emerging professionals (30% Generation Y, 1% Generation Z) to up and coming leaders (55% Generation X) to established personnel (14% Baby Boomer Generation).
MEA anticipates record-breaking attendance at the 10th annual conference this June.
To learn more about the conference visit www.energeticwomen.org. For questions, contact Stacey Bonine at (651) 289-9600 x114, or staceyb (at) midwestenergy (dot) org.
About AGA:
The American Gas Association, founded in 1918, represents more than 200 local energy companies that deliver clean natural gas throughout the United States. There are more than 72 million residential, commercial and industrial natural gas customers in the U.S., of which 95 percent — just under 69 million customers — receive their gas from AGA members. Today, natural gas meets more than one-fourth of the United States' energy needs.
About WiNUP:
Empowering Women in Utilities since 1923! An organization providing a link for developing and recognizing professionals involved with utility business trends, issues, products, and services.
About Energetic Women:
Energetic Women’s mission is to prepare women within the energy industry for leadership roles in operations and engineering. They encourage leadership growth and development, through advocacy and supportive programs. Energetic Women is a service of MEA.
About MEA:
MEA serves the people that deliver electricity and natural gas to homes and businesses. MEA (Midwest ENERGY Association) was founded as a trade association over 100 years ago by distribution utilities, whose vision was to improve safety and efficiency. Today, energy delivery companies and their contractors around the globe benefit from MEA's industry learning seminars, operations summits, and other events. Members collaborated to develop EnergyU, the world's premier online training and testing system for gas and electric distribution utilities.