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After three years in New Orleans, we thought a change of scenery might be nice, so welcome to Texas! We’ve moved the 2024 Trainers Conference and Tradeshow to San Antonio, and we’re ready to discuss safety and training in a Texas-sized way!

Competency is critical in our industry. Advancements in technology and changes in learning styles have created industry-specific challenges, that we as leaders must address. It has never been more important to train with these challenges in mind. Our brand new speaker lineup will tackle these issues and prepare us to meet the demands of tomorrow.

Don’t miss out on industry experts guiding you through these topics:

Safety – Past, Present, and Future
Are We Good or Just Lucky?
Selected to Lead, A Foreman's Field Guide to Success!
Utilizing Technology for Competency Training
and much much more!

Attendees can also interact with on-site exhibitors showcasing our industry’s top products and services. Come join us on the Riverwalk and see for yourself how everything is bigger in Texas!

SPEAKERS

Keynote Speaker

Mike Starner, CUSP

Mike Starner is a Certified Utility Safety Professional (CUSP) with 30 years in the electric utility industry. He began his career as a line clearance contractor before accepting an entry level position within his local utility. His career advanced from street light servicer, to lineman, to troubleman, to crew leader before his promotion into management. As a manager, Mike was responsible for several key departments including substation construction and maintenance, electric operations, and safety. Mike left the utility in 2016 to explore new opportunities within the competitive electrical contractor space before ultimately accepting a role with the National Electrical Contractors Association, where he currently serves as the Executive Director of Outside Line Safety.

Derek Grimes

Derek currently works with The El Paso Electric Company and serves in the role as Director of Safety. In this role Derek leads a Safety Department who is responsible for the occupational safety and health programs, safety compliance and training, industrial hygiene programs, the administration of the professional drivers program, and the administrative oversight of the five apprenticeship programs. Derek has been in the industry in different positions since 2006. He holds many certifications including as a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) and a Certified Utility Safety Professional (CUSP). He also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety and Health and a Master’s degree in Business Management and Leadership (MBA). One of Derek’s most recent accomplishments was assisting with the design, development and opening of a new training center for El Paso Electric.

John Ed Shinpaugh

John Ed Shinpaugh is currently the CEO of Fannin Electric Cooperative located in Bonham, Texas. Fannin is a $70 million-dollar, 12,000-meter electric distribution cooperative serving Fannin and parts of 4 other Counties in Northeast Texas. He has been with Fannin since 2013. He also serves as Vice Chairman of the board at Rayburn Electric Cooperative, a generation and transmission cooperative located in Rockwall, Texas. John Ed is a graduate of Texas A&M University - Commerce, and The University of Wisconsin School of Business – NRECA, Robert I. Kabat – Management Internship Program.

Jeremy Gee, CUSP

Jeremy Gee, Jackson EMC Safety and Training Specialist, is a former United States Marine Corps Infantry Sergeant and Journeyman Lineman with 20+ years of experience in the electric distribution industry. He’s spent the last four years in the Safety and Training Department educating and Training employees on safety and facilitating Jackson EMC’s comprehensive Lineman Training Program.

Brent Jeffries

Brent Jeffries has been with Bierer Meters for 9 years as the VP of Field Operations and Safety and Training. He's also the founder and facilitator of the nationally recognized Electrical Culture of Safety (ECO's) Linemen Safety Webinars. ECO's, now 9,500 members strong, is a monthly national Linemen Safety Webinar consisting of a grass roots nationwide coalition of Safety Professionals, freely giving back their expertise, knowledge, understanding, and experiences, all at no cost.

Jim Vaughn, CUSP

Jim is a Senior Consultant with ISPC and works throughout North America assisting utilities and contractors with technical training on high-voltage systems. Jim began his career 40 years ago as an IBEW Journeyman Lineman, but for the past 20 years, Jim has worked on-staff with electric utilities, several large contractors, as well as in academia, in various roles concerning safety and training for lineworkers. Jim has numerous certifications and has been awarded the John McRae Safety Leadership award by USOLN and is a Certified Utility Safety Professional.

Mark Forster, CUSP

Mark Forster is a Certified Utility Safety Professional with over 25 years in the electric industry, including over 17 years in the electric utility industry working for PPL Electric Utilities. Mark has held various positions there including Substation Journeyman Electrician, Electrical Field Supervisor, and Technical Training and Procedure Specialist. In his technical training role, Mark delivers training in various subjects, develops new procedures, and makes updates to existing procedures. Mark led the effort in rebuilding the company's energy control process training, as well as securing an old substation facility which he is turning into a substation training facility for new hires and for continuing education. Mark enjoys sharing knowledge and teaching others and has a very practical approach to his training delivery.

Curtis Bradley, CUSP

Currently the VP of Safety, Quality, and Training at the Desoto Group, LLC, a weekend lineman instructor at East Central Community College, and the owner of Premier Lineman Consulting, LLC. Curtis has worked hard to obtain a BS in Occupational Safety and Health from Columbia Southern University and attained certification as a Certified Utility Safety Professional (CUSP) from USOLN.

Kenneth Pardue, COSS

Kenneth is Vice President and General Manager for T&D PowerSkills, LLC and is a Director of SMI, LLC. Responsible for daily management and operations of T&D PowerSkills, Kenneth’s 15 years of service has allowed him to create and maintain the most effective lineworker training program in the industry. He also oversees the different delivery models for the training materials, including high definition delivery through the Learning Management System. Kenneth is a Certified Occupational Safety Specialist.

Brian Doubinin

Brian Doubinin is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and co-founder of 3DInternet.

3DInternet is the leading supplier and world leader in technology development of energy sector 3D simulations, interactive safety simulations, virtual reality, app development, infrastructure visualization projects, and electrical, gas, and oil courseware development.

Jerry Havens, COSS

Jerry is the Director of Sales for T&D PowerSkills, LLC and works with utilities, contractors and colleges on helping to establish lineworker training programs using the T&D PowerSkills program. Jerry is also instrumental in developing and updating the video-based components of the units, using his background in broadcast media. Jerry is a Certified Occupational Safety Specialist.

Ronald J. Schenk, CUSP

Ron is a Director and co-founder of T&D PowerSkills, LLC, the Institute for Safety in Powerline Construction, Inc. (ISPC), and Safety Management International, LLC (SMI). Ron’s 30 years of service includes on-staff, as Director of Training for a large regional powerline contractor and training and safety consulting for electric utilities around the United States and the Caribbean. Ron is a past Director of Utility Safety and Operations Network (USOLN) and is a Certified Utility Safety Professional.

Mack Turner, CUSP

Mack is Executive Director of ISPC and a Director of both SMI, LLC and T&D PowerSkills, LLC. Mack is a past Chairman of the Board for USOLN and helped to create the Certified Utility Safety Professional (CUSP) program and credential, earning him the distinction. He has been actively involved in training and safety, on-staff for investor-owned utilities, and in safety management for a large powerline contractor. Mack recently received the John McRae Safety Leadership award by USOLN. For the past several years, through ISPC, Mack has helped hundreds of utilities and contractors become more effective in lineworker safety.

Dan Taylor, CUSP

Dan Taylor began his career in his hometown of Loa, Utah working for Garkane Energy. With 38 years of professional experience, he has been a journeyman Lineman for Garkane Energy since January 18, 1986. Dan has been involved with Garkane's safety program for 20 years. He is a Certified Utility Safety Professional (CUSP) and also a Certified Loss Control Professional (CLCP). Utilizing his background in transmission, distribution, overhead, underground work, Dan has the knowledge of vital working skills. Dan has been an instructor at the Mesa Hot Line School, Rualite Hot Line School and IPSA Hot Line School. He has taught rubber gloving, distribution and transmission hot sticking.

SPEAKERS

AGENDA