Diverse leadership in the utilities industry.

The public utilities industry is vital. It is expected that our rooms will be bright with the flip of a switch, or that our homes will be warm from heat generated by natural gas. Anyone who has experienced a power outage knows that life without utilities is virtually impossible.

Utility companies are unique, in that they are for-profit service organizations that have a great deal of responsibility to the government and constituents of the areas that they serve. The utility executives of today are tasked to successfully lead previously stable, traditional companies through the forced, difficult changes of recent deregulations, while maintaining the approval of politicians and, most importantly, serving the public. Some of the most high-profile, profitable utilities in the country are being expertly led by African American executives.

Kevin Walker, President and COO of American Electric Power, relishes in his depth of responsibility, "It's a sweet spot in the middle of a purely capitalistic industry and a socialist industry. We serve the customer and we serve the community. It's a service model. It's unique in that at the end of the day, there are some things that I do that are not clearly driven by profit. We help the community. We're a nice balance in the business world that's not seen in other places. I feel better about myself when I come home at night."

It appears that diversity is highly valued, and the selection of qualified and educated minorities provides utilities companies with an unbeatable competitive advantage. Do utility companies have a deeper commitment to diversity, and offer more opportunities for qualified African Americans to succeed?

"Utilities tend to be, to some extent, a little more public than other companies in that they are regulated by the government, and there is, in many instances, more of a focus on whether or not the senior leadership team reflects the customer base," says Desiree Rogers, President, Peoples Gas & North Shore. "There's more pressure to reflect the constituents. They're more aggressive about looking at talented minorities."

Critical Leadership Success Factors

Talent is distinctively defined in top management roles, which are weighty and high-pressure. To be a strong leader in the utilities field, it takes a combination of the following:

* Education. Utilities executives recommend coursework or experience in Engineering, Accounting, or Law. An engineering degree addresses the technical aspects of utilities. Accountants are critical, and a strong legal team is essential especially now, in the era of deregulation.

* Management Skills. An outstanding manager knows all aspects of the industry, and is what Desiree Rogers refers to as a generalist: "The person who rises to the top is a generalist with some expertise in the various disciplines. I'm not an engineer, but I'm a generalist. I understand the issues and the goals, and I know how to get them done."

* Knowledge of the Utilities Industry. Chris Womack, SVP, Fossil & Hydro Power, Georgia Power Co., stresses the importance of industry knowledge. "Understanding the industry is very important. It's a complex and heavily regulated industry. A deep appreciation of this business puts you in a strong position to advance."

* Passion and Preparation. Utility executives are trying to change its perception, and seek employees with vision, creativity, and leadership potential. Frank Clark, President of ComEd, reflects on his 35 years in the utilities industry, "Years ago, utilities didn't attract the best people because it was seen as 'sleepy', but recently because of the deregulations and the attention brought to the industry, utility companies are seen as progressive, competitive companies. We are attracting the best of everyone. Back in the day a Harvard grad wouldn't have even considered a utility company. That's not true today. We welcome folks that have good education and bring passion and creativity. That's who we want."

Limitless opportunities exist for African Americans to thrive in the utilities sector. As Theopolis Holeman, Group VP of Power Delivery for Duke Power, puts it, "Career opportunities run the gamut from craft workers to human relations experts to attorneys to other professionals." Mr. Holeman predicts that the future will hold even more opportunity for those interested in pursuing a career in utilities. "Similar to other industries, we're faced with an aging workforce. Over the next five to 10 years, we will see immense growth. There are all kinds of career options, and anyone who has prepared themselves can make a way for themselves in this industry."

Supplier Relations

Utility companies encourage supplier diversity, and seek minority-owned companies who provide a consistently high quality level of service. Most companies participate in minority job fairs, and have implemented programs dedicated to supplier diversity. Dan Packer, CEO and President of Entergy, says "Entergy has a long standing commitment to expanding business opportunities for minority--and women-owned firms. Further, we have established a Supplier Diversity Initiative to increase business opportunities for these growing enterprises."

Suppliers interested in working with utility companies should visit their websites for opportunities and contact names