Tuesday - Thursday
October 28 - October 30
Golden Eagle Resort,
Stowe, Vt.

Lodging
Overnight lodging available at $79 per night plus tax; for reservations, call the Golden Eagle directly at (800) 626-1010 and mention the NEPPA meeting.

Crew Leadership 2008
A professional training program
for public power field supervisors

Course Description
This three-day program has been designed to provide supervisory and leadership skill training for the field supervisors (and potential future supervisors) of public power systems. These positions, which are typically known as line superintendents, foremen, general foremen, lead linemen or crew leaders, are responsible for the day-to-day management of field operations for public power utilities, including job planning, job safety, employee training, evaluation, and crew productivity. The importance of crew leadership cannot be overstated. The crew leader is the vital link between the planning and accomplishment of management goals for a public utility, as they relate to system operations.
The course covers all of the elements of the crew leader’s responsibilities. It provides a review of the knowledge, skills and abilities required for successful crew leadership, and the resources used in carrying out assigned tasks. It also focuses on the supervisory skills needed to effectively lead field crews, including decision-making, delegation, discipline, coaching and time management. All participants will gain a clear understanding of the challenges inherent in crew leadership positions, and the skills and commitment required to meet these challenges.

Who Should Attend?
The course is open to crew leaders, supervisors, superintendents, lead linemen, foremen and managers of operations personnel who have not had formal training in supervisory or leadership skills, or who wish to improve their understanding and utilization of effective leadership skills. Also, other operations personnel who seek to strengthen their management skills are invited to attend.

Instructor
The course instructor is Wyn Braun, a Northeast Public Power Association trainer with over 30 years experience in the electric utility industry. As regional operator, shift supervisor, and regional manager for the Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation, he has supervised staff at all levels of an electric utility, with responsibility for teaching, training and testing employees in all areas of electric utility work. He has dealt with a large variety of personnel and labor issues, including arbitration, grievance procedures and job performance counseling.

Course Content

Evolution of linework – a review of the changes in equipment, record-keeping, safety regulations and technology, and how they impact the nature and complexity of utility linework

Employer expectations – importance of job descriptions, budgets, safe working conditions and an orientation to customer service

Scheduling line crews – use of work schedules, job orders and work management systems to plan and schedule system improvements, maintenance projects, service and emergency work

Resource management and control – use of vehicles, equipment, tools, materials, budgets, labor and cost calculations

Technical Knowledge – basic electrical theory, fundamentals of system protection, power flow, transformer theory and connections, rigging methods and calculations, National Electric Safety Code, OSHA regulations, safety, live line equipment and methods, personal protective grounding, substations, testing equipment, metering, trouble investigation, communications systems

Supervisory Skills – decision-making, delegation, discipline, documentation, coaching, planning, organization, and time management

Leadership Skills – analysis and problem solving, role modeling, training, performance management, communications skills

Job Responsibilities – safety, work quality, customer interaction, productivity, vehicle, equipment and tool use and care, employee performance evaluations, records and reporting

Fees
Program fees per person include class textbooks and materials, morning coffee, lunch and afternoon beverages. Overnight lodging is not included in program fees but is available at both locations.

NEPPA Members $625
Non-members $925

Cancellation Policy
Cancellations must be made no later than April 1for the Spring Session and October 10 for t he Fall Session in order to receive a full refund

Class Schedule
Lunch will be provided on all three days, along with morning coffee. In addition to classroom time, dinner discussions on leadership topics will be held with the instructor for those students who are staying at the training sites.