ENERGIZE Retreat

Tuesday, April 8, 2025
 
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Charitable Group Activity: Assembling Care Packages
Join forces to support our community by assembling care packages on-site for needy individuals. This hands-on activity fosters teamwork, compassion, and shared purpose—a meaningful way to give back while building camaraderie.
 
6:00 PM – 8:30 PM | ENERGIZE Welcome Dinner & Keynote | Theme: Leading with Purpose – Lessons from the Military to the Boardroom |  Dinner Sponsor: InvoiceCloud
Kick off the ENERGIZE Retreat with opening remarks from U2030 leaders and dinner sponsor Alice Palmer, InvoiceCloud’s CMO. Then, prepare to be inspired by Brigadier General (Ret.) Dr. Kaffia (Belle) Jones will share powerful, cross-sector leadership lessons drawn from her 38-year military career and work in executive and academic settings.
Keynote Speaker:

• Dr. Kaffia (Belle) Jones, Retired Brigadier General, U.S. Army & Leadership & Psychology Expert

 
April 9, 2025

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7:00 AM – 7:45 AM | Yoga by the Pool at Hotel Adeline
Start your day with a rejuvenating poolside yoga session led by Vicar Events.
 
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM | Continental Breakfast
Enjoy breakfast while networking and preparing for the day.
 
9:00 AM – 9:45 AM | Welcome, Safety Moments, Introductions & Activity
Review safety protocols and discuss psychological safety in teams inspired by The Fearless Organization by Amy Edmondson.
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Facilitators:

• Vanessa Edmonds, Founder & CEO, U2030

• Chris Hilborn, President, Advisory, U2030

• Jody Allison, VP, Customer Transformation, Xcel Energy

• Bill G. Williams, CEO, The B4 Group

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9:45 AM – 10:00 AM | Icebreaker: Making Meaningful Connections
Engage in a dynamic networking challenge.
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10:00 AM – 10:45 AM | Self-Care and Mental Health Session
Gain practical strategies for workplace well-being through:

• Ignite Talk: Superwoman's Secret, Christy Dray, Manager,  Substation Maintenance,  SMUD

• Group Activity, Dr. Kaffia (Belle) Jones, Retired Brigadier General & Leadership Expert

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10:45 AM – 11:00 AM | Break
 
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Mastering Critical Conversations - How-To
Practice handling tough conversations using Radical Candor principles.
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12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Hybrid Guided + "Open Space" Lunch Session – Sponsored by Avertra
Grab your lunch from the buffet and choose a table with a topic that resonates with you. Each table has a tent card featuring a leadership theme, ranging from work-life balance to navigating difficult conversations.
 
Don't see the topic you're looking for? Head to a table with a blank tent card, write a topic and start a new conversation. Follow the Open Space "two-foot rule": if a conversation isn't serving you or your curiosity leads you elsewhere, feel free to move to another table. No awkward exits—go where the learning feels right.

 

Introduction: Theresa Robey, VP of Customer Success, Avertra

 

Table Topics: 

• Managing Male/Female Dynamics

• Advocating for Yourself

• Navigating Political Discussion

• Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

• Building Cross-departmental Trust

• Managing Burnout

• Igniting a Feedback Culture

• Managing Workplace Bullies

• Open Space (Blank)

• Open Space (Blank)

• Open Space (Blank)

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1:00 PM – 1:45 PM | Ignite Talks: Leading Through Workplace Challenges
Experience fast-paced, impactful 5-minute presentations featuring 20 auto-advancing slides, delivering key leadership insights on navigating challenges.
​Speakers:

• You Are the Barre: The Choreography of Change with Grace – Marguerite Behringer, Director, Regulatory Policy & Industry Relations, Landis & Gyr

• Keeping the Bigger Picture in Focus - Leah Tutnauer, Manager, Support Services, Exelon

• Leading Under Pressure – Christina Northrup, President, BHC Global

• Mastering Change Leadership – Lauren Preston, Independent Consultant

• Lessons from the National Park System on Winning Others Over – Kathryn Pohlman, Sustainability Manager, NES

• 3 Strategies for Making Affordability Work - Daniel Cheung, Vice President

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1:45 PM – 2:00 PM | When Do You Pack Your Workout Clothes?
Business travel and staying fit go together like oil and water, right? Well, not always. In this session, we'll examine some tips and guidelines for navigating the challenges of staying fit on the road and explore strategies for maintaining wellness while traveling.
Facilitator: Mike Smith, Principal, U2030
 
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM | Fireside Chat: Having Influence Beyond Authority
Discussion on the influence of leadership without direct authority.
Moderator: Jay Stowe, CEO, Stowe Utility Group
Speakers:

• Brandy Bolden, CCO, SMUD

• Julia Zhu, EVP & Chief Digital & Innovation Officer, Alectra

 
2:45 PM – 3:30 PM | Building Resilient Utilities – Emergency Preparedness & Crisis Response
Explore best practices for crisis response and disaster planning.
Facilitator: Mark Stultz, Managing Partner, EVC Insights LLC
 
3:30 PM – 3:45 PM | Break
 
3:45 PM – 4:30 PM | RADIATE | The Power Seat: Leadership on the Spot Game Show
A high-energy session where participants tackle real-world leadership challenges in a game show format. Winners earn titles like "The Resilient Leader" and "The Buy-In Boss."
Moderator: Samantha Hart, CEO, Milepost
 
4:30 PM – 5:00 PM | Getting Things Done at Your Utility: Leveraging Retreat Learnings
Transform retreat insights into organizational success.
 
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Closing Dinner | Poolside | Hotel Adeline | Sponsored by Paymentus
Wrap up the retreat with a celebratory networking dinner, reflecting on insights gained while fostering lasting connections.