Electric Ops Roundtables
Discussion-based learning for electric utility personnel
The MEA Electric Steering Committee reintroduced the roundtable in 2025 after having been on hiatus for several years. They identified a gap and sought to address challenges of supervisors with less than three years of experience. The committee is continuing to serve this group with another specialty roundtable focused on individuals transitioning from peer roles to leadership positions.
Electric Ops Virtual Roundtable: From Buddy to Boss | Thursday, January 22, 2026 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM CT | Live Online
Stepping up from “one of the team” to “the one in charge”? Join us to hear how others made the leap successfully.
Electric Ops Virtual Roundtable: From Buddy to Boss
Stepping into leadership is exciting—and challenging—especially when you’re guiding the same team you once worked alongside. The Buddy to Boss panel is an interactive virtual roundtable designed to support individuals transitioning from peer roles to leadership positions, particularly within environments that include unionized teams or supervisors stepping into leadership without a craft or field background.
This session highlights real-world experiences, lessons learned, and practical strategies to help new leaders build trust, navigate the shift from bargaining to non-bargaining, address early performance issues, and lead confidently and authentically. Participants will walk away with actionable insights to support a smooth and successful transition into their supervisory roles.
Facilitators
Jessica Franklin, director, system operations, AES Indiana
Erin Miller, senior manager IPL operations performance & strategy, Alliant Energy
Panelists
Roundtable panel members are drawn from a variety of energy companies with each having recently made the transition from peer to supervisor. They bring candid perspectives on what the journey looks like, what they learned along the way, and how they approached challenges during their first months in leadership.
Who Should Attend
This session is ideal for anyone transitioning from peer to supervisor within utility environments or teams that include unionized staff. It’s especially valuable for new leaders without a craft background, those managing former peers, and anyone seeking practical guidance on navigating the early challenges of supervision.
If you have any questions, please contact Leslie Thomas.
Looking for additional learning opportunities for electric utility personnel?
Check out the library of online courses for electrical lineworkers.
