U2030 Annual SPARK Meeting
2025 Theme: Rethinking Priorities: Bold Utility Leadership
September 15-17, 2024
The Edgewater Hotel, Seattle, WA
Subject to Change
Preliminary Agenda
Monday, September 15, 2025
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM - Community Service Projects
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM – Welcome Cocktail Reception, The Edgewater Hotel, Seattle, WA
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
7:30 AM – 8:00 AM – Continental Breakfast
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM – Welcome, Safety Moment & Introductions
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM – Fireside Chat: Welcome Seattle and Rethinking Priorities
9:00 AM – 9:15 AM – Panel: Progress on U2030’s Vision & Roadmap
Find out what we have accomplished, learning, member resources, and what’s next for U2030.
Panelists:
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Vanessa Edmonds (U2030)
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Christina Corcoran (U2030)
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Mike Smith (U2030)
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Marlene Rosenberry (U2030)
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Val Williams (U2030)
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Dave Reim (U2030)
9:15 AM – 9:30 AM – Break
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM - Townhall: Utility Procurement Priorities
During this collaborative Townhall session, we will discuss utility investment priorities and exchange ideas to enhance our collective understanding and drive successful project outcomes.
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM – Panel
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM – Group Activity
11:45 AM – 1:00 PM – Lunch & Ignite Talks: Enlighten Us but Make it Quick
Ignite Talks, 5 minutes each, 20 auto-advancing slides.
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM - U2030 Annual Research Report Results
1:30 PM – 2:15 PM – CoE Session
2:15 PM – 3:00 PM – Break
3:00 PM 3:45 PM – Panel
3:45 PM – 4:00 PM - Group Activity
4:00 PM – 4:45 PM – CoE Session
4:45 PM – 5:00 PM – Day 1 Recap & Key Takeaways
6:00 PM – 8:30 PM – Women Who SPARK Awards Ceremony & RADIATE Leadership Program Graduation
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
7:15 AM – 8:00 AM – Continental Breakfast
8:00 AM – 8:15 AM – Day 2 Welcome
8:15 AM – 8:45 AM – Day 2 Keynote Fireside Chat: Balancing Modernization with Preservation: A Path Forward for Utilities
Speaker: Maureen Elenga (Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation)
Interviewer: Vanessa Edmonds (U2030)
8:45 AM – 9:15 AM – Ignite Talks
9:15 AM – 9:30 AM – Break
9:30 AM – 11:15 AM – Mini Workshop
11:15 AM – 12:00 PM - Panel: Women Who SPARK Award Winners: Team Award
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM – Lunch & Ignite Talks
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM – Panel
1:30 PM – 2:15 PM – CoE Session
2:15 PM – 2:30 PM – Group Activity
2:30 PM – 3:00 PM – Meeting Wrap-Up & Key Takeaways Wall
3:00 PM - Meeting Adjourns
U2030 LookUp Moments Monthly Newsletter
SUBSCRIBE
Make connections and expand your creative problem-solving potential by participating in creative sessions. Past session examples include:LEGO-building Challenge, Utility Family Feud, Book Giveaways, and Gallery Walk.
Kinesthetic Learning Opportunities
Celebrate winners of our WWS Awards for outstanding achievements in innovation, transformation, and mentoring. Email Mike Smith at msmith@utility2030.org about sponsorships.
Women Who SPARK Awards
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Join us to celebrate our first class of RADIATE Leadership Program participants during a graduation ceremony and Capstone Project Presentations. Email Mike Smith at msmith@utility2030.org about sponsorships.
RADIATE Program Graduation
Event Highlights
Keynote Fireside Chat:
Balancing Modernization with Preservation
When considering utility priorities over the next 5-10 years and beyond, the instinct may be to rip and replace. However, it's not that simple. Utilities must collaborate closely with city planners to balance the demands of infrastructure development with the critical need to protect and preserve historic and cultural heritage.
Keynote Speaker
Meet Maureen Elenga, Transportation Project Reviewer and Architectural Historian for the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation.
During this fireside chat, she will discuss how the state is partnering with utilities to ensure that modernization—including the support of an ever-growing number of EVs—respects and preserves Washington State's historical assets.
About Maureen Elenga
A 25-year resident of Seattle, Washington, Maureen holds an MA in Art Architectural History from the University of Washington.
She is the author of Bridges of Seattle and Seattle Architectures: A Walking Guide to Downtown.
Join Maureen to explore how utilities can partner with governments to navigate the complexities of modernization while simultaneously honoring the past.
Video Interview
Watch an interview with Maureen discussing what makes The Edgewater Hotel, our SPARK 2025 venue, unique. VIDEO
Rock Star History – Legends like The Beatles and Led Zeppelin have stayed at The Edgewater.
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Fishing from the Window – The Beatles famously fished right from their hotel room window during their stay.
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Anthony Bourdain-Approved – The late, great chef, Anthony Bourdain, praised the hotel’s restaurant, particularly their cedar plank salmon dish, as one of the best he had ever had.
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Water, Water Everywhere – Built on a pier, The Edgewater Hotel offers stunning views from almost every room.
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Prime Location – The hotel is just a short stroll to the Space Needle and Pike Place Market.
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Safety First – Seattle has worked hard to make this iconic spot secure and welcoming.