AUEC Highlights 8.23

Service • Innovation

Innovation Impresses, Record Attendance

Over half of CSA’s Membership attended this year’s Annual User & Education Conference (AUEC). That’s a record!

Richard Adams said, “This was the largest AUEC ever, in terms of Member Utilities represented and the number of utility personnel in attendance.”

Richard went on to say “our objective this year was in keeping with the Conference theme – Service and Innovation. Monday, we held a combined 7 CSA & PCS breakout sessions, as well as Tech Board and User Group meetings. Tuesday started with our Keynote Speaker, Jane Stange with over 300 people attending. Tuesday and Wednesday saw a combined 35 CSA and PCS sessions, topped off by Family Fun night with 600 plus in attendance.”

Richard Adams Chief o cer, Member Services & Engagement

Highlights

5-Year Roadmap/Web CMB

Record Number of Members at Conference

Record Number of Attendees at Conference

Over 60 General Managers & Senior Executives Attended

Excellent Attendance in All Sessions

When people attend AUEC, they realize with CSA has a whole team there to support them, and that same team will still be there for them after the conference. After my presentations, I always get follow-up questions, which is gratifying because it tells me the information presented struck a chord and was of genuine interest to them. On the ip side, I take what I learn from their questions back to my team and translate it into improvements we can deliver next year, if not sooner. Being at AUEC and getting the facetime with our members is so important, for them and for me.

Barbara Bragg, VP of Quality Control

Many of the attendees were excited about the Web CMB product roadmap and were very engaged throughout the Conference. And, as always, there were rave reviews for Family Fun Night and the reworks

Polly

Financial Systems Manager

The highlight for me every year is the interaction with our Members. Listening to Members share their business processes with one another, and how they accomplish various tasks, gives me ideas about how I can better serve their needs. In the various breakout sessions, I already enjoy seeing enthusiastic reactions when someone sees a new, more e cient way to approach something.

Jeffrey Newell, Business Analyst

Above, Greg Fay, Board President, speaks to members.

Pund,

New Web CMB Debuts to Rave Reviews

These are just a few of the features to expect, and according to Josh Allen, “The response to the new Web CMB was awesome. The vibe I got from our members was one of momentum and pride. The best way I can describe it is a pitch-black room, and then someone lights a candle. Showing this software reenforced what we are capable of in our Member’s eyes. We were able to showcase the hard work done the last several years and the skill sets it required. There was a tremendous feeling of mutual pride among CSA staff and Members. The main question in our member’s minds was ‘When can we have it?!’ Continued hustle and hard work are required to nish the job, but we will nish it, just as we always have. “

Steven Dyer, Assistant General Manager & Chief Technology O cer noted, “The reaction to the new product roadmap was even greater than I expected. Based on the response from our Tech Board and Developer Group when they rst saw it, we knew it would be a revelation to the membership, largely because we’d been able to keep it a secret until the time was right. The attendees were more than pleasantly surprised. I can’t tell you how many times someone came up and said, ‘you have listened to what we said and what we needed, and the things that we did not care for in the existing product.’”

Dyer told attendees, “If you can’t see in our faces and by our actions that we truly care about

what we do, then we’re doing it wrong.” Dyer continued, “I had a general manager walk up to me and say ‘You guys must understand we deeply appreciate CSA, and the people and effort that you guys put forth for us, never think we don’t. We could not do what we do without you CSA. You are like part of us, a part of our family.’ It was clear to me it came straight from the heart, he truly meant what he was saying.”

Steven Vallarian, Vice President of System Operations, created a hands-on lab at the conference so members could experience using the Web CMB product. Steven said, “As soon as the presentation was over, the lab was covered up. We had people standing line. It went over very well, and we got lots of good feedback. Everyone said they loved the ease of use. They loved the new features…they loved everything about it. No negative feedback. People were very engaged and had lots of ideas for new products and features. We need to hear that to keep growing as company and as individuals.”

Payment Volume

Surpasses $1 Billion

The Member Engagement & Payment team was pleased and proud to announce that after processing the rst transaction 3 ½ years ago, total transactions have now exceeded One Billion dollars on behalf of our Members.

AUEC 2023 Keynote Speaker, Janine Stange

This year’s conference, Janine Stange, a motivational speaker, singer, and on-air personality -best known for her historic journey to sing the Star-Spangled Banner in all 50 states, shared her life lessons that helped her to realize her 50 state goal. She encouraged the attendees to stay focused and on target.

She shared one of her favorite motiva-

tional quotes. “Do what you can, with what you’ve got, where you are. - Squire Bill Widener”

Ms. Stange has appeared on major network programs such as the Today Show, Fox & Friends, NBC Nightly News, and Fox News @ Night. She can be heard every Thursday morning on Sirius XM’s ’60s Gold with Phlash Phelps.

Left, Abby George, Information Systems Rep, answers questions about CSA’s new product in the hands-on lab.

Left, Al Williams, Senior VP Implemenation Strategy, and Selena Brower, Payment Services Coordinator, greet attendees at the Conference.

Josh Allen, Chief Software Architect

Doug Penny, Sr VP Member Services

History of Hustle

Scott Hendrix provided a fascinating keynote about how hard work and hustle characterize the utility industry. Our 32nd President, Franklin D. Roosevelt said the primary purpose of both TVA and the entire utility industry is to “change and improve the standards of living of the people.” Hendrix said, “Larger cities across America were the rst to bene t from organized water, gas, telephone, and electric service. However, it was the hustle and hard work of public and cooperatively owned utilities that improved living standards for people in small towns and rural America.” Mr. Hendrix recounted examples of how technology has changed people’s lives and pointed out that some technologies thought of new, have in fact been around for a long time. The rst electric car was invented in the 1890s, and beroptic cable has been in use since 1965.

Today, Tombigbee EPA in Tupelo, MS provides electricity to over 45,000 members. After just 3.4 years, Tombigbee Fiber now serves over 19,000 customers, and they relied on CSA’s CMB+Fiber billing and provisioning system to help achieve that rate of growth. Mr. Hendrix: “That’s what you call real hustle.”

Fun Times on the Coast

Clockwise, from far leftFamilies enjoyed the photobooth at Family Fun Night (FFN); Aerial view of FFN dinner; A successful catch during morning deep sea shing excursion; CSA sand sculpture; More family fun during dinner buffet; Time to show off the dance moves at FFN; and Greg Fay helps Scott Blassingame cut the CSA 85th anniversary cake.

Scott Hendrix, CEO, Tombigbee Electric Power/ Tombigbee Fiber, LLC