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, build relationships, and network in a relaxed setting. U2030 will provide transportation.
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, allowing you to continue networking more casually.
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 and Puget Sound Energy Are Shifting Priorities 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
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
Join U2030 leadership as they share progress updates, key accomplishments, and exciting plans for the organization's future.
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 and uses 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 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 – 1:45 PM – Annual Research Study: Interactive Data Walk & Hack the Data
Experience U2030’s key research findings in an engaging, hands-on format. Large, visually striking posters will display insights around the room, allowing attendees to explore in small groups, interact with the data, and contribute thoughts via sticky notes or a live polling app. Facilitators will lead the walk, offering deeper context at each station.
Following the walk, participants will break into working groups to "hack the data," brainstorming new opportunities based on the findings. Each group will present a concise 1-minute summary to drive collaborative learning and innovation.
1:45 PM – 2:15 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.
2:15 PM – 3:00 PM - Break
3:00 PM – 4:45 PM – Utility Customer Panel
Gain insights directly from utility customers as they discuss current challenges, expectations, and trends shaping their experience.
4:45 PM – 5:15 PM – Day 1 Recap & Key Takeaways: Rethinking Priorities
Wrap up Day 1 by reflecting on the key challenges and insights and exploring 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
Start the second day recapping the most significant insights from day 1 and a preview of the exciting sessions and key moments.
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 throughout the program.
9:45 AM – 10:00 AM - Break
10:00 AM – 10:45 AM - CoE Lightning Round Panel
Hear a 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 the diversity of thought within utility teams and how to prioritize this 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
Please note that this is a preliminary agenda and subject to change.
Preliminary Agenda
More About the Women Who SPARK Awards
The Women Who SPARK Awards celebrate women's impactful contributions and diverse perspectives to utility innovation and transformation. These awards also highlight a commitment to fostering the success of others within the industry.
A distinguished panel of judges evaluates nominations based on robust scoring criteria across six key categories, ensuring a fair and comprehensive selection process.
Mark Your Calendar: Nominations for the 2025 program open on January 15, 2025.
Who Can Be Nominated?
Nominees may be employees of utility companies or solution providers. U2030 membership is not required to be nominated or to win, making this an inclusive recognition opportunity for all.
Not sure about your company’s membership status or want to review membership benefits?
Contact Marlene Rosenberry at mrosenberry@utility2030.org for assistance.
Registration & Hotel Information
SPARK Annual Meeting
Sept. 15-17, 2025
Edgewater Hotel
Seattle, WA
U2030 Member Tickets (Utility Employees)
As a U2030 member utility company employee, your team receives six event tickets, which can be used for either the SPARK Annual Meeting or the U2030 ENERGIZE Retreat.
Members use this link to register.
Member companies who wish to purchase additional tickets at a discount of $495, should use this REGISTRATION LINK.
Non-Member Tickets (Utility Employees)
Utility employees who are not U2030 members may attend with a “try before you buy” ticket, registering for $995 using this REGISTRATION LINK.
U2030 Member Tickets (Solution Providers)
The number of tickets available to you is based on your membership level. A special registration link will be sent directly to your email.
If you’re a non-member from a solution provider company and wish to attend, please contact us at info@utility2030.org.
2024 Women Who SPARK Award Winners
As a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) certified by WBENC and CPUC Supplier Clearinghouse, we prioritize diversity of thought and inclusion in everything we do.
