Enhance your problem-solving skills and build lasting connections through dynamic "unconference" sessions designed to energize and inspire. 2025 sessions include Ignite Talks, a Book Swap & Share, Knowledge Sprints, Peer Speed Consulting, Center of Excellence Lightning Round Panels, and a Diversity of Thought Brainstorming Blitz.
Creative Session Designs
Past attendees say SPARK offers opportunities to connect with the most influential leaders in the utility industry through intimate, meaningful interactions not found at other events. SPARK is thoughtfully designed to foster trust and support, setting the stage for relationships to grow and thrive long after the event.
Unmatched Bonding Opportunities
Join us in honoring the 2025 Women Who SPARK Award winners for their remarkable achievements in innovation, transformation, and mentorship. Don't miss the chance to learn from their inspiring contributions and leadership strategies through engaging panel sessions and Ignite Talks.
Women Who SPARK Awards
Join us in celebrating the inaugural class of RADIATE Women's Leadership Program graduates at their special graduation ceremony. Gain valuable insights as they present their capstone projects, showcasing fresh perspectives and innovative solutions.
RADIATE Leadership Program
Social impact and charitable giving are among our top priorities, so we engage in community service projects before each event. Join other attendees during our community service project and foster the empathy to develop impactful solutions for utility customers.
Community Service Projects
The iconic Edgewater Hotel, with former guests like the Beatles and KISS, is the venue for SPARK in 2025. Just steps from the Space Needle and Pike Place Market, the hotel offers a secure and welcoming atmosphere with waterfront views from every room.
Iconic Seattle Waterfront Venue
SPARK Differentiators
Preliminary Agenda
(Subject to Change)
11:00 AM – 2:30 PM - Community Service Project & Lunch
Kick off SPARK with a hands-on community service project that fosters connection and gives back to the local community. Enjoy lunch with fellow attendees, continuing to build relationships and network in a relaxed setting. Transportation will be provided.5:30 PM – 7:00 PM – Hosted Welcome Cocktail Reception
Start the evening with casual networking over cocktails, getting to know other attendees in a relaxed atmosphere before diving into the program.7:30 PM - Dinner On Your Own
Explore the vibrant local dining scene alongside event sponsors and other attendees, giving you a chance to continue networking in a more casual environment.Monday, September 15, 2025
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM – Continental Breakfast
8:30 AM – 9:00 AM – Welcome, Safety Moment & Introductions
Set the tone for the event with a preview of the day’s agenda and an introduction to this year’s theme, "Rethinking Priorities: Bold Utility Leadership."9:00 AM – 9:30 AM – Day 2 Keynote Fireside Chat: How Seattle City Light’s Priorities Have Changed to Reach Sustainability Goals
Join us for a fireside chat with Seattle City Light as we explore how their priorities have evolved to meet ambitious sustainability goals.
9:30 AM – 9:45 AM – Group Activity: Book Swap & Share
Engage in a fun, interactive session where attendees share excerpts from their favorite business or leadership books, sparking new ideas and discussions.
Facilitator: Sean Vanslyke, CEO, SEMO Electric & GOSEMO Fiber.9:45 AM – 10:00 AM – Break
10:00 AM – 10:15 AM – Panel: Progress on U2030’s Vision & Roadmap – How Our Priorities Have Changed
Join U2030 leadership as they share progress updates, key accomplishments, and exciting plans for the future of the organization.
10:15 AM – 11:15 AM – Ignite Talks: Enlighten Us but Make it Quick
Get ready for fast-paced, high-energy presentations on trending utility topics. Each presenter has just 5 minutes, using 20 slides that automatically advance every 15 seconds. It’s a crowd favorite for a reason!
11:15 AM – 12:00 PM - Executive Panel: The Future of Utility Leadership—What Top Executives Seek Today and How It's Evolving
Top executives discuss how the leadership qualities they seek in the next generation of utility leaders have shifted, highlighting the new priorities and skills that are replacing traditional expectations to meet the demands of a changing industry.
12:00 PM – 12:45 PM – Lunch & Get to Know Other Attendees
12:45 PM – 1:00 PM – Annual Research Study: Knowledge Sprint: Changing Priorities
Discover key insights from U2030’s annual research study in this quick, focused session, followed by a brief audience discussion.
Speaker: Mike Smith, Principal, U2030.
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM - Afternoon Keynote Fireside Chat: Balancing Modernization with Historical Preservation
Explore how utilities and city planners can work together to modernize infrastructure while preserving cultural and historical landmarks.
Speakers: Maureen Elenga, Transportation Project Reviewer and Architectural Historian, and Vanessa Edmonds, Executive Director, U2030.1:30 PM – 1:45 PM - Break
1:45 PM – 2:45 PM – Utility Customer Panel
Gain insights directly from utility customers as they discuss current challenges, expectations, and trends that are shaping their experience.2:45 PM – 3:45 PM – Peer Speed Consulting
Engage in 5-minute “consultations” where participants offer quick insights and advice on current challenges, rotating through several peers for a range of perspectives.3:45 PM – 4:00 PM - Break
4:00 PM – 4:45 PM - CoE Lightning Round Panel
This fast-paced panel features rapid-fire Q&A, where panelists tackle audience-submitted questions on utility challenges in just 2-3 minutes each.4:45 PM – 5:15 PM – Day 1 Recap & Key Takeaways: Rethinking Priorities
Wrap up Day 1 by reflecting on the day’s key challenges and insights and explore how they prompt a reevaluation of priorities to drive future success.
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM – Women Who SPARK Awards Ceremony, RADIATE Women’s Leadership Program Graduation & Dinner
Celebrate the accomplishments of women in the utility industry during a special evening honoring Women Who SPARK award recipients and RADIATE Leadership Program graduates.Tuesday
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM – Continental Breakfast
8:30 AM – 8:45 AM – Day 2 Welcome
Kick off day two with a recap of the biggest insights from day 1 and a preview of the exciting sessions and key moments to come.Bottom of Form
8:45 AM – 9:45 AM - RADIATE Leadership Program Capstone Project Presentations
See the RADIATE Leadership Program participants showcase their capstone projects, presenting innovative solutions they’ve developed over the course of the program.9:45 AM – 10:00 AM - Break
10:00 AM – 10:45 AM - CoE Lightning Round Panel
Another round of fast-paced Q&A with panelists answering your questions about utility challenges in quick, 2-3 minute responses.10:45 AM – 11:30 AM - Diversity of Thought Brainstorm Blitz
Join small groups to brainstorm actionable ways to enhance diversity of thought within utility teams and how you can make this a priority at your utility. After the session, each group will share their standout idea with the larger group.
11:30 AM – 12:15 PM – Panel: Women Who SPARK TEAM Award
Celebrate the team that exemplifies innovation and collaboration in advancing utility industry goals, as they share their journey and lessons learned.
12:15 PM – 1:00 PM – Lunch
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM – Fireside Chat: Women Who SPARK Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
Hear from this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient as they reflect on their career and share insights on leadership and innovation.
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM - Women Who SPARK Award Winners Ignite Talks
Listen to award-winning women in the industry deliver rapid, engaging talks on their experiences and insights into driving success in utilities.
2:30 PM – 3:00 PM – Meeting Wrap-Up & Key Priorities Wall
Wrap up the event with a final reflection on key takeaways and final insights from the sessions.Wednesday
General Info
U2030 Annual SPARK Meeting
September 15-17, 2025
Event Venue
The 2025 SPARK Meeting will be held at the iconic Edgewater Hotel in Seattle, WA. The discounted room block link is coming soon.
Tickets
U2030 Member Tickets
As a U2030 member company, you receive six event tickets that can be used for either the SPARK Annual Meeting or the U2030 ENERGIZE Retreat. Additional member benefits include:
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Unlimited Individual Logins to the U2030 Collective Brain Platform with access to member-only resources
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Unlimited Participation in Virtual Centers of Excellence Meetings
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Discounts on Advisory Services
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Leadership and Professional Branding Opportunities
Not sure if your company is a member or want to review your membership benefits? Please email Marlene Rosenberry at mrosenberry@utility2030.org for assistance.
Non-Member Tickets
Interested in attending SPARK as a non-member? Please contact Mike Smith at msmith@utility2030.org for details on how to participate.
Join us at U2030 and take full advantage of the opportunities to grow, lead, and make an impact in the utility industry!
What sets U2030 apart is that it's not just a networking hub for C-level executives; it’s a comprehensive support system for directors and managers aspiring to learn and grow their careers.
Unlike traditional events that leverage lecture-based meeting designs with extremely large passive audiences, U2030 fosters an engaging, intimate, and collaborative environment. At U2030 every attendee is an active participant, gaining opportunities to expand their networks, enhance their leadership skills, improve their speaking abilities, and learn new tools for inspiring their teams and improving their businesses .
U2030 seeks to elevate women in the utility industry through a focus on inclusivity and belonging at all of their events, and is one of the first to have a women-only award program, the Women Who SPARK Award and gala, during the U2030 Annual SPARK Meeting. U2030 is truly a place where all levels of leadership can grow and thrive together.
Chris Hilborn
Trying to Decide Which U2030 Event to Attend?
U2030 is hosting two distinctive events in 2025: the U2030 ENERGIZE Retreat and the U2030 Annual SPARK Meeting.
Member companies receive six tickets each year that can be used flexibly for either event or split between both, allowing different attendees to participate based on their needs.
2025 Theme: Leading with Confidence & Heart
Date: April 8-9, 2025
Location: Adeline Hotel, Scottsdale, AZ
ENERGIZE Retreat
Focused on personal growth and well-being, our ENERGIZE Retreat helps leaders strengthen their internal foundation to enhance their Impact.
Theme: Rethinking Priorities: Bold Utility Leadership
Date: September 15-17, 2025
Location: Edgewater Hotel, Seattle, WA
SPARK Meeting
Designed to equip attendees with transformational leadership strategies to overcome external challenges, SPARK empowers participants make a greater impact.
U2030 LookUp Moments Monthly
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What Makes SPARK a Magical Experience
As a utility industry leader, you are navigating unprecedented external challenges that require you to innovate and transform faster than ever before. Creative problem-solving and transformational leadership are essential for thriving in this rapidly evolving environment.
Centered around the theme “Rethinking Priorities: Bold Utility Leadership,” the 2025 SPARK program will ignite fresh thinking through dynamic, participant-led "unconference" sessions. These are opportunities to engage in innovative problem-solving, form meaningful connections, and experiment with cutting-edge leadership approaches in a supportive, judgment-free space.
SPARK will also feature an inspiring dinner gala to celebrate the 2025 Women Who SPARK Award winners and graduates of the inaugural RADIATE Women's Leadership Program.
Join us to connect and grow with other forward-thinking leaders!
Explore actionable strategies for achieving ambitious decarbonization and sustainability targets while balancing operational efficiency and resource management.
Meeting
Sustainability Goals
Gain new insights to better prepare for outages and emergency situations while enhancing communication strategies to meet evolving customer expectations and build trust during critical moments.
Outage & Crisis
Planning
Learn how to optimize grid performance as electrification accelerates and DERs grow, focusing on balancing supply and demand to ensure reliability and resilience.
Managing the Grid with Electrification & DERs
Discover what top utility executives are looking for in their employees and how leadership expectations and skill sets are shifting in today's fast-changing industry.
The Future of Utility Leadership
Explore the challenges of upgrading utility infrastructure to support the growing needs of electric transportation, while ensuring that historical landmarks are preserved.