Vice President, Capital Programs & Engineering / Quality
Jeff Willman
Vice President, Water Operations
Craig Jackson
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Sabine Karner
Vice President and Controller
Joseph M. Perkins, Jr.
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
Joe Sutherland
Vice President, Regulatory Affairs
Jodi Whitney
Vice President, Human Resources & Chief Diversity Officer
Mike Strohl
Senior Vice President, Chief Customer Officer
John Lucas
Vice President, Information Technology
Curtis Popp
Vice President, Customer Operations
COMPANY VISION:
Enhance the well-being of our customers, communities, and employees by providing unparalleled service now and for generations to come.
COMPANY MISSION:
We fulfill the Promise of the Trust to provide essential utility services for our customers and communities, maintain the lowest possible rates with sound financial management, and create the greatest long-term benefit through a unique business structure.
ENGAUGE
Engauge is published by Citizens Energy Group, Corporate and Public Affairs Department, under the direction of Shannon Stahley, Director of Corporate and Public Affairs. It is distributed to the company’s employees and retirees, and to other interested parties upon request. The Corporate and Public Affairs Department welcomes any ideas, comments, or suggestions from readers on how this publication might better serve you. Please email the Corporate and Public Affairs Department at alowe@citizensenergygroup.com or call 317.927.4336.
Editor: Adam Lowe
Contributors:
Ben Easley
Susan Harris
Graphic Arts: Wayne Stohs
Joel Bustamante
Celebrating 2023 Employee Volunteerism
Citizens Energy Group encourages all employees and retirees to volunteer their time to support non-profits in our community.
Through the Citizens for Good volunteer support program, employees and retirees have the opportunity to earn a $250 grant per calendar year for a non-profit organization at which they volunteer. Employees must volunteer at least 50 hours and retirees at least 100 hours in order for the organization to be eligible for the grant.
Thank you to the employees listed below for making a positive impact in their communities last year. They each earned a $250 grant for a non-profit organization.
Terrell Al-Sharif: Indy Rarebreed Wrestling Academy
Susan Harris: Engineers without Borders
Michelle Bennington: Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Indiana
Tracey Black: Hendricks County 4-H Club Happy Heelers
Olivia Hawbaker: Common Ground Christian Church
Beth Noel: Learning Trails and TheraTrails
Gillian Marks: Freetown Village
Nicolas Smallwood: Whiteland Youth Baseball, Inc.
Sara Smith: Emmanuel Church
Derek Sutton: Carmel Dads’ Club
Ann Shutters: Premier Dance Company Boosters
Kenya Perkins: Boys and Girls Club of Indianapolis
Citizens’ Health, Safety and Security Department checking out new ways to “reinvent the wheel” for Safety Month
REINVENTING WHEEL THE
The Energy Wheel is a tool to help industrial workers identify more of the safety hazards they encounter at work. This diagram calls out 10 sources of potential illness and injury common on industrial worksites to help overcome people’s cognitive biases about situations they consider safe or unsafe.
Injury prevention scholar Dr. William Haddon pioneered the idea that every illness or injury results from unwanted contact with some sort of energy. The Energy Wheel uses that principle to help workers identify sources of energy common on worksites that pose potential injury, including the sources they naturally miss.
“Our research showed that some hazards are instinctual … while others are processed through complex thought,” says Dr. Matthew Hallowell, professor of construction engineering at University of Colorado Boulder, and specialist in construction safety.
“The hazard types that we process instinctually are gravity, motion, and ‘moving mechanical.’ We tend to see those first and most often.”
Humans process these instinctual hazards in the amygdala, a part of the brain associated with emotion and emotional responses. The fight-or-flight reaction these hazards provoke actually bypasses conscious thought and stirs up people before they even notice the danger.
But plenty of other hazards don’t trigger this response.
“Tension, compression, torque, pressurized systems, and changing surface temperature are examples of hazards that require complex thought and are more likely to be missed during normal hazard scans,” says Dr. Hallowell.
By using the Energy Wheel, utilities can call their workers’ attention to these hazards they may have missed. Organizations can use the Wheel’s icons to label hazards they find on site or walk through each hazard step-by-step during safety briefings and toolbox talks.
“It helps frontline workers to be more effective in performing the safety activities that they are already performing,” says Dr. Hallowell. “The Energy Wheel simply helps us to identify more hazards, more easily.”
The Health, Safety and Security Department
Our Vision
We will fulfill the promise of the Trust by providing training and tools to maintain a safe and healthy workplace for all employees to be in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. We will promote a positive attitude towards safety and establish proactive safety objectives for all employees and contractors.
Our Mission
Health, Safety, & Security (HSS) educates customers (employees) to identify hazards related to work being performed and empower them to act to eliminate or reduce exposure to the hazard.
Our Values
• Collaboration: We work as a team ensuring all employees understand they have an obligation to stop a job/ task to prevent an unsafe incident from occurring and to report unsafe incidents or near misses.
• Communication: We are dedicated to communicating across departments new regulations, policies and processes within Health, Safety and Security to ensure the most accurate information is relayed to all employees.
• Training: Provide safety training to employees ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge and resources to perform their jobs safely, reduce injuries, accidents, environmental impact and ensure compliance.
• Timeliness: Assure timely and thorough reporting and investigation of all incidents and the identification of corrective actions.
• Confidentiality: We maintain the highest level of confidentiality with respect to information we encounter.
Our Health, Safety, and Security Team
Doug Buffington Director, Health, Safety and Security 317-710-0242
Albert “Jerome” Mayden Safety Specialist Areas of Support: Corporate Support Services, Steam, Chilled Water 317-727-1817
Darren Baker Manager, Safety and Security 812-251-6344
Scott Griffith Safety Specialist
Areas of Support: Water, Wastewater, Westfield, Above Ground Assets/Plants 317-850-2011
John Harz Construction Safety Administrator 317-639-7032
Lisa Oaks Safety and Security Administrative Coordinator 317-927-4465
Lance Miner Safety Specialist Areas of Support: Steam, Chilled Water, Shared Field Services, and Designated Employer Representative 317-418-3799
Brittany Irwin ATI Certified Early Intervention Specialist 812-251-6344
Marla Mitchell Security Officer 317-927-4384
Rich Willsey Safety Specialist Areas of Support: Gas, Water, Wastewater, Underground Assets 317-517-1151
Meet Marla Mitchell, Security Officer
Marla Mitchell got her start at the Indianapolis Water Company, serving in roles such as Mail Room Clerk, Customer Service Representative, and Front Desk Receptionist. She transitioned to Citizens Energy Group with the acquisition of Indianapolis Water and now serves at Utility Security Associate.
1. Tell us about your team/department, and what you are responsible for at Citizens.
We are responsible for the safety and security of all Citizens employees. In my role, I manage the ID badge process (creating or removing badges), manage facility access, maintain door and gate security, monitor and maintain security cameras for all Citizens sites, maintain and authorize keys, and manage our team of security guards.
2. What do you enjoy about your job?
I enjoy being able to “fix” things for employees: badges, access, gates, etc. It gives me satisfaction to make their lives easier—at least at work, anyway!
3. What do you appreciate about working at Citizens?
I appreciate my coworkers and my manager. I love being able to volunteer my time for the community, and we are given many opportunities throughout the year. We’re also given plenty of opportunities to learn about a variety of different skills. Of course, the benefits are fantastic as well.
4. How do you spend your time outside of work?
My husband and I used to ride our Harley all around the states, including Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Maine, North Dakota, Colorado, even into Canada to name a few. We sold our bike and may try an RV or mobile home and travel with our beloved dog. We plan to travel to Oregon to see my son and grandkids for sure. We have 13 grandkids and three great grandkids!
I have an eclectic taste in music and have been to a long list of concerts, including Chicago, Bob Seger, John Denver, Santana, Luciano Pavarotti, and others. I also enjoy stage plays and shows; my favorites have been Phantom of the Opera and The King and I
5. What are some ways we can do our part to create a safer workplace?
When you see something that looks “wrong,” stop and ask yourself, “How could that be dangerous? How could I make it safer?” Always make a supervisor or safety team member aware of safety concerns. Don’t wait for someone else to bring it to their attention. If you practice safety in everything you do, you’re more likely to make it home after a day’s work healthy and safe. Besides, others will see it and may try to emulate your “safety” attitude.
Meet Lisa Oaks, Safety and Security Administrative Coordinator
Lisa Oaks has been with Citizens Energy Group since January 2001 when she joined the team as an Administrative Assistant for Customer Relations. She transitioned to the security team in 2012, and in 2016 became Safety and Security Administrative Coordinator.
1. What did you do prior to coming to Citizens?
I was employed by a local telecommunications company for 10 years. A Citizens employee and former manager recruited/recommended me to come join the Citizens team.
2. Tell us what you are responsible for at Citizens. As the Administrative Coordinator for the Safety and Security team, my responsibilities include ordering services and supplies, managing and paying invoices, issuing parking tags, making ID badges for employees and assigning proper access rights to accompany them, and maintaining photos in Active Directory.
3. How do you spend your time outside of work? I enjoy traveling anywhere with my grandchildren. They are the loves of my life.
4. What are some ways we can do our part to create a safer workplace?
Always be alert and pay attention. Limit distractions. That means no cell phone use as a driver while your vehicle is in motion.
Safety Tip: Head Up, Phone Down
Distracted walking incidents are on the rise, and everyone with a cell phone is at risk. We are losing focus on our surroundings and putting our safety at risk. The solution: Stop using phones while walking, and not just in crosswalks and intersections. More than half of distracted walking injuries occur in our own homes, proving that we need to stay aware of our surroundings whether indoors and out.
Employees Volunteer for Spring Events
10 Thousand Trees – April 26
On April 26, Citizens Energy Group volunteers planted the final selection of trees (including a ceremonial 10,000th planting!) in our multi-year 10 Thousand Trees initiative, alongside partners Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc. and the City of Indianapolis. We kicked off the first planting in 2007 and crossed the finish line this year with the 10,000th tree in Windsor Village Park. Hundreds of volunteers throughout the years helped achieve the goal. City leaders and news outlets were present at the planting to celebrate and document the milestone. At the end of 2023, Citizens’ Environmental Stewardship team estimated that the trees planted via the 10 Thousand Trees program had sequestered 180 tons of carbon thus far, with an accelerating rate of sequestration as these trees mature.
Mini Marathon Pit Station – May 4
On Saturday, May 4, more than 40 employees, retirees, and their families got up early to volunteer their time for the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon inside turn one of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Citizens team was a well-oiled machine setting up and tearing down the pit station for the event, but more importantly they encouraged more than 20,000 runners in their race to the finish line. This has become a favorite event for Citizens employees, whether it’s first-timers, veteran volunteers, or families creating new traditions. Thank you to each of our volunteers for making our community a place where we all want to live, work, and serve.
White River Cleanup – April 27
As a sponsor of Friends of the White River’s annual downtown White River Cleanup, Citizens helps recruit volunteers to remove litter and illegally dumped debris from the banks of the White River. This year we had 71 total volunteers, 16 from Citizens. An estimated 115 tons of trash were removed during the cleanup. DPW provided a front-end loader and a boom truck with operators to remove large debris. Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc. provided three 40-yard dumpsters and a packer truck with a DPW operator to facilitate trash removal.
Friends of the White River is hosting several smaller cleanups throughout the rest of the year. More information can be found at their website: https://friendsofwhiteriver.org/events/.
The Greatest Spectacle in Pickleball – May 17-19
The newest event in Citizens’ suite of charitable outings benefitting the Warm Heart Warm Home Foundation™, The Greatest Spectacle in Pickleball is a three-day pickleball tournament extravaganza. The event hosted 479 players in 45 different events from nine different states, and it was supported by a team of more than 60 volunteers, including five Citizens employees.
AN OLYMPIAN EFFORT
Citizens supplies 2 million gallons of water for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming
The 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming has been taking place this month in downtown Indianapolis, hosted in Lucas Oil Stadium. But years of work have gone into the event planning, including the recent construction of two pools on the stadium floor. For our part, Citizens Energy Group supplied 2 million gallons of our water, meaning that the road to this year’s Olympic Games in Paris – at least for the swimmers – is made of Citizens’ finely produced water.
Early on Thursday, May 23, Paul Dicken, Director Water Distribution, met with multiple contractor teams at street level on Capitol Avenue to formally open the hydrant that would fill the pools inside the stadium. Multiple steps had already been taken to ensure a smooth delivery of so much water: The hydrant had been flushed; the hoses had been sanitized; and a pathway of scaffolding and filtration/treatment equipment had been laid by various contractors to receive the water and prepare it for pool use.
With the hydrant finally open, Paul and the contractors watched as the first million gallons began to fill the competition swimming pool; a second million gallons would be supplied to the warm-up pool after it was fully constructed. There was only a 14-hour window in which the water could be supplied, meaning that it had be delivered at a rate of at least 1,400 gallons per minute.
Supporting major events in Central Indiana such the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming is a great way for Citizens to do what we do best—but with a national spotlight! Certainly, our employees know that supplying 2 million gallons is not a major hurdle, given that our system produces about 127 million gallons each day on average throughout the year. But the event is an opportunity to demonstrate our performance excellence, making sure both the supply of the water and the collection/treatment of the wastewater afterward are as seamless as possible.
It’s also a great educational opportunity for our customers and the community at-large. Via social media and other methods, the Corporate & Public Affairs team hopes to remind or introduce customers to the complexities of our work at Citizens by highlighting different facets of water production, distribution, and collection.
Our supply of water to the Trials also allows us to put strategic lawn irrigation in the spotlight in a new and interesting way. Educating customers about the potential detriments of overwatering their lawns has been a priority of the Water Distribution team, as nearly 100 million gallons of the water we produce each day can go to lawn irrigation in the summer months, which can lead to stress on pipes and water infrastructure. Apart from being an unnecessary addition to their water bills, perhaps if customers realize that 50 times the amount of water supplied for the Olympic pools in Lucas Oil Stadium is being used on lawns each day, our community will take a second look at how they use (or overuse!) their water service.
To kick off the U.S. Olympic Team Trials –Swimming, Citizens employees along with the Indianapolis community were invited to a Starting Block Party on June 14 at which Citizens was recognized as a sponsor. We are proud to have been a small part of the excitement as our city and the country watched swimmers break records and achieve their dreams of qualifying for the Olympic Games during the Trials in Indianapolis.
Citizens Employees Volunteer at Gleaners Food Bank
Nearly 30 Citizens employees spent their morning on April 24 to provide nourishment to food-insecure neighbors. The team worked a volunteer shift at Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana and in three hours packaged a record 1,050 boxes of non-perishable food for distribution to children at summer camps. Led by Sabine Karner, Vice President and Controller, Citizens volunteers at Gleaners quarterly, and the impact is only continuing to grow: Only halfway through 2024, Citizens volunteers have already provided close to 41,000 meals!
“The summer months are a particular challenge for families with children, many of whom rely on school meals for one to two meals per day,” said Fred Glass, President and CEO of Gleaners. To address this typical spike in need, Gleaners operates mobile pantries in Marion County and works with many school pantries in rural counties to remain open during the summer. In 2023, more than 1.1 million meals were provided through these programs.
“None of this would be possible without our donors and volunteers, and Citizens Energy Group is generous in both of these areas,” said Glass.
The quarterly volunteer trips to Gleaners prove to be a meaningful way for staff to connect with one another and the community. Carol Traylor, Supply Chain Systems Analyst and first-time Gleaners volunteer, shared, “I was only familiar with Gleaners by name prior to today and had no concept of the depths of their resources and importance to our communities. This was a great experience for me and I’m glad I was able to support their efforts. Happy to have seen [fellow employees] in person and/or met some for the first time! Looking forward to getting there again in the future!”
The opportunity for connection is a popular aspect of volunteering. “Thanks for the opportunity to join today at Gleaners. It’s extremely fulfilling to me to serve the community and be part of something greater. I loved seeing Finance and Supply Chain friends in person and outside of email!” shared Anne Payne, Gas Supply Analyst.
Anyone interested in joining the Citizens team for upcoming volunteer shifts at Gleaners, please reach out to Sabine Karner. No experience necessary!
A special thank you to the individuals who spent their time volunteering in April.
Citizens Recognized as Choice Employer
Citizens Energy Group received the Choice Employer Award at the Mayor’s Celebration of Diversity Awards on May 9.
The Choice Employer Award recognizes an employer who “offers all full-time employees a ‘good wage’ of $18 an hour with benefits and additionally embodies the traits of a ‘Choice Employer’ by creating a work environment that focuses on supporting Career Pathways, Culture and Diversity, and Employee Resources.” Citizens offers up to $6,000 in tuition reimbursement, a Health and Wellness Program, and Diversity and Inclusion Training for all employees.
“My congratulations to all of this year’s Mayor’s Celebration of Diversity Award winners,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “We extend this recognition each year because diversity is one of our city’s greatest strengths – and embracing that diversity, ensuring every resident has the opportunity to participate in our growth and success, benefits our whole community.”
In total, seven awards were given at this year’s event, with unique focuses celebrating the quality of services delivered by community-based organizations, impact of youth apprenticeships, good wages and employee support, excelling in youth employment, diversity in leadership, and a focus on workplace culture.
Fire, Police & Deputy Sheriffs Honored at Annual Luncheon
Citizens Energy Group served as the title sponsor of the 56th Annual Fire, Police & Deputy Sheriff’s Community Recognition Luncheon on April 30, continuing a tradition first established by the Indianapolis Water Company in 1968. Nearly 40 local public safety professionals were recognized for their dedication and service to central Indiana throughout 2023.
A true community event, more than 40 local businesses and organizations sponsored the awards ceremony. Citizens has served as host for the past 12 years.
Citizens President & CEO Jeffrey Harrison welcomed guests to the event. He was joined in recognizing the 2023 honorees by Indianapolis Deputy Mayor Judith B. Thomas, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Christopher Bailey, Indianapolis Fire Department Chief Ernest Malone, Marion County Sheriff Kerry Forestal, and members of the City-County Council.
In addition to being the title sponsor of the event, Citizens sponsors the Firefighter of the Year Award. Paul Dicken, Director Water Distribution, presented the award to IFD Engineer Brendan Sullivan. A member of Squad 29 in Garfield Park, Sullivan was credited for saving two individuals in separate structure fires in 2023.
Dicken shared, “Our partnership with IFD is very valuable. One of our top priorities is to make sure that all our hydrants are operable so IFD can do their job and maintain public safety. We interact with the firefighters daily, so for us to be involved with the selection process for the awards luncheon is truly an honor. It is very rewarding to hear the stories of their heroic efforts that happen daily to protect the community.”
In addition to saving two individuals, Engineer Sullivan was also a part of the IFD crew that responded to the Criminal Justice Center where they attempted to save the life of Marion County Sheriff’s Deputy John Durm after an inmate escaped on July 10. Durm tragically lost his life that day.
Deputy Durm faithfully served the Marion County Sheriff’s Office for nearly four decades. He was posthumously awarded the Sheriff’s Deputy of the Year Award, which was received by his sons during the luncheon.
IMPD Detective James Hurt was recognized with the Police Officer of the Year Award for his numerous successful homicide investigations—a track record that includes never losing a murder case at prosecution.
As the title sponsor of the luncheon, Citizens manages logistics, planning, script writing, and graphic design support. Special thanks to Jennifer Mentink, Wayne Stohs, Joel Bustamante, and Adam Lowe for their work on the luncheon. We would also like to thank our employee volunteers who assisted throughout the event: Crit Crabtree, Ben Easley, Shannon Frederick, Rosemary Meagher, Laura O’Brien, Anne Payne, Lavashia Primus, and Terri Williams
2024 Hurty Awards
At the May Leadership Forum, Paul Dicken, Director Water Distribution, and Steve Berube, Director Water Production, announced the 2024 Hurty Award recipients.
The John N. Hurty Award is named after John Newell Hurty, M.D., who was the state health commissioner from 1896 to 1922. He was instrumental in the formation of an organization of community water systems operators, which was the forerunner to the American Water Works Association (AWWA).
Recipients of the Hurty Award must have been employed 25 years or more in some phase of production or distribution in the waterworks field, serving the residents of Indiana.
Recipients receive a certificate signed by the governor and the commissioner of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, and a lapel pin. An advanced lapel pin is given to those eligible for each additional five-year period of service.
Congratulations to our recent award recipients!
• 25 Years: Brian Campbell, Brandon Carter, Stuart Donaldson, Darron Edwards, Phil Meehan, Barry Platt, John Rhorer, Jay Hunsicker
• 30 Years: Kevin Brown, Sherri Purvis, Katrina Revere, Mark Ringham
• 35 Years: Kimberly Brokering, Sarah Kidwell, Larry Cox, Ken Latta, Keith Crawford
• 45 Years: Cheryl Key
IFD Firefighters Partner with Citizens Energy Group in “Badges for Burn Camp” Hydrant Project
The Indianapolis Fire Department once again teamed up with Citizens to paint the town teal and raise money for a good cause. IFD recruits from Class #89 spent the morning of April 28 cleaning and re-painting more than 300 Citizensowned hydrants in the IFD service district. Assistance was provided by several Citizens employees in the Water Distribution department under the supervision of Paul Dicken, Director Water Distribution. The event dubbed “Badges for Burn Camp” is part of an initiative for IFD recruit firefighters to engage in a community service project beyond their commitment to serve.
“We are excited about the opportunity to provide IFD with a fundraising mechanism that will ultimately pay the way for a child to attend Hoosier Burn Camp,” said Jeff Willman, Vice President of Water Operations. “At Citizens, we know the importance of home-heating safety and fire prevention. That is why it’s imperative that we make sure our hydrants are working properly and are highly visible so firefighters can do their jobs effectively.”
IFD and Citizens have enjoyed a longstanding partnership and vested interest in optimally maintained hydrants. These are a lifesaving necessity for both IFD firefighters responding to a fire and the community we serve. This project is a chance for firefighters to get close with the hydrants outside of an emergency, noting their color marking system and the components that make up a working hydrant. Hydrant Specialist crews from Citizens worked alongside the firefighters and took the opportunity to check and address any issues or questions that came up during the event.
Did You Know?
Citizens Energy Group provides inperson hydrant training to the annual Indianapolis Fire Department cadet training. Under the tutelage of Darrel Richardson, Valve & Hydrant Supervisor, cadets are shown a demo fire hydrant along with a demonstration of how to properly operate it. Darrell walks the class through the mechanics and functions of the hydrant parts, gives cadets the opportunity to practice operating the hydrant, and wraps up with a Q&A and a presentation on how to report hydrant malfunctions and issues.
In addition, Citizens operates a Fire Watch program, confirming that a Valve & Hydrant Mechanic will be on call in each of three daily shifts to be responsible for responding to fires in case of hydrant issues.
Citizens Energy Group Bass Tournaments – Spring Recap, Fall Signup
Congratulations to the winners of the Citizens Energy Group 2024 Spring Bass Tournament at West Boggs Lake!
• 1st Place: Ron Sanders and Brad Hostetler (six fish weighed, totaling 18.7 pounds)
• 2nd Place: Larry and Silas Ratliff (six fish weighed, totaling 16.8 pounds)
• 3rd Place: Todd Lawson and Donnie Vaughn (six fish weighed, totaling 14.8 pounds)
• Big Bass: Brad Hostetler with a 5.5-pound largemouth bass
Current and former Citizens employees are invited to join the 2024 Fall Bass Tournament on Saturday, September 28 at Lake Lemon in Unionville. Tournament fees are $60 per boat, inclusive of a $10 Big Bass entry. Tournament fees must be paid in advance by Thursday, September 26. Fifty percent of the proceeds will be donated to Riley Children’s Hospital.
• Check-in: 6:30 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.
• Pre-tournament meeting: 7:00 a.m. at ramp
• Tournament: Post-meeting until 2:00 p.m. (Sunrise 7:39 a.m.)
• Food and drinks to be provided after awards. Contacts:
• Larry Cox, 317-445-6279
• Chris Barron, 317-750-5019
• Douglas Buffington, 812-583-5439
Indianapolis Water Pension Plan Update
The Pension Plan for Collectively Bargained Indianapolis Water Employees has achieved full funding. Therefore, Citizens’ Board of Directors approved the termination of the plan and awarding vested benefits to participants.
To be clear, this decision has no impact on the Citizens Energy Group Retirement Plan. As long as an employee remains eligible, they will continue to accrue benefits under the Retirement Plan for their ongoing work for Citizens. Employees affected by this change have been contacted by mail with information specific to the termination of the pension. If you have any questions, please contact Adrianne Bowers, Manager of Compensation and Benefits, at 317.927.4635 or abowers@citizensenergygroup.com.
Citizens for Good: Volunteer Spotlight
Our volunteer spotlight is a chance to meet a Citizens Energy Group employee who is making a big impact in the community outside of their job. Citizens employees are encouraged to volunteer at Citizens-sponsored events, or at community organizations of their choice.
Meet Gillian Marks, IT Business Relationship Consultant I
Gillian Marks was beginning her career as an intern for Veolia Water in 2011 when Citizens acquired the Indianapolis Water Company. Shortly after, in 2012, she was offered a full-time position at Citizens as a Lab Technician.
Gillian worked in Water until 2022, when she transitioned to Citizens’ IT department; she now serves as a Business Relationship Consultant. “My job is to be an advocate for my assigned business areas, helping ensure their IT needs are being met in a timely fashion. I assist them in researching, acquiring, and implementing innovative IT solutions designed to improve various work processes,” she explains.
Gillian has volunteered with Freetown Village since 2021.
Why is it important to you to volunteer?
I love being involved the community. Volunteering allows me to pitch in where I can, meet new people, and have a small impact in helping those that need it. What sparked your interest in volunteering for Freetown Village?
I love art and history, especially learning about Black history and culture. I was surprised to learn they had been around telling the lesser-known stories surrounding Indiana figures for more than 40 years. I had never heard of them prior to seeing the invitation to join the board of directors. I instantly wanted to get involved and help expand the brand and reach more people. What motivates you to stay involved with Freetown Village?
I believe in the mission of the organization, and I love what it strives to do in the for the community. I enjoy how actively involved the board members are in developing the vision for its future. I am gaining quite a bit of experience from the relationship, and I love it. You’ve volunteered for Citizens-sponsored events. What has been your favorite?
I don’t know that I can pick a favorite. The events offer different perks. I really enjoy Sharing the Dream because it offers an opportunity to interact with so many people across the organization while revitalizing a public space. But I also enjoy many other events that allow the opportunity to interact and engage with the public, like volunteering at the Colts training camp or Earth Day at the JCC. It’s nice to have a day away from the office enjoying some fresh air while meeting new people and/or reconnecting with old acquaintances. What do you enjoy most about volunteering alongside your Citizens coworkers?
Volunteering at company-sponsored events allows me to meet and develop relationships with people from other departments. Citizens has so many locations and departments. I may not have had the chance to meet and engage with as many coworkers had it not been for shared volunteer experiences.
About Freetown Village, Inc.
Freetown Village, Inc. PO Box 1041 Indianapolis, IN 46206 www.freetownvillage.org
Freetown Village is a living history museum with the mission to educate the public about African American lives, arts, and culture in Indiana through living history, exhibits, allied programs, and the collection and preservation of artifacts. Programs include interactive theater, music, storytelling, hands-on crafts or heritage workshops alongside other performance-based programs. Programs tour statewide and are appropriate for various ages.
Ophelia Wellington shares, “As with many smaller non-profit organizations, our needs include additional resources: increased funding and donor support; volunteers for boards, committees, special projects; and a permanent location. Volunteers help to increase our capacity. They bring energy, resources, networking, expertise—and they are very cost effective.” Volunteer roles are available on the board, in committees, and for special projects.
On Gillian’s volunteerism, Ophelia states, “Gillian is very smart and very resourceful. She helps us to move through very complicated scenarios, and she is willing to step up and take on responsibilities. In addition, she is very pleasant to work with; she has a very easygoing personality.”
Quality Corner
CLASS STIP Metric Update
At the end of May, the Trust-wide total of project points was 56. Our STIP levels for fiscal year 2024 are 80 project points for Threshold, 90 project points for Target, and 100 project points for Outstanding. Do you have an idea for an improvement project? Utilize the Project Pipeline on the Quality iTrust page or reach out to any member of the Quality team.
• Gravity belt thickeners (GBTs) are designed to remove water from waste-activated sludge (WAS) using a porous belt system. For the optimum amount of water to be removed from the sludge, it must be conditioned with a polymer that causes clumping, or flocculation, to occur. Cost and usage increases had led to a cost of $828,000 per year.
• The team consulted with the centrifuge manufacturer and a consultant, BL Anderson, on root cause analysis for ways to reduce overall polymer use in the solids dewatering process. After several tests and trials, a new process bypassing the GBT process and gravity thickened WAS in both equalization tanks was tested and adopted. This has completely eliminated the polymer use in the GBT process.
• Benefits: Cumulative cost savings from this project are anticipated to be greater than $1 million, factoring in reductions in maintenance, labor, and polymer costs. Since this project was implemented after the 2024 budget was submitted, the final cost savings will be calculated after the 2025 budget season is complete.
Atrazine Monitoring Program Improvements
• Project Leader: Matt Gozun (Water Production/Water Quality Planning & System Control)
• Matt’s project addressed the problem that the current Atrazine Management Program was not effective in meeting the limits for atrazine in finished water. The current Atrazine Management Program was reviewed to streamline atrazine sampling and data availability to prevent any exceedances of 3 micrograms per liter of atrazine in finished water. Through analysis, two issues were determined to be contributing factors in the unforeseen spike in atrazine.
• Benefits: On average, using the new atrazine monitoring method led to a total reduction of about 60 tests per year, resulting in a savings of $2,800 in testing costs. Fifty-one work hours are also saved per year, allowing time to be utilized elsewhere.
• Erica’s project developed and documented a process that safely measures the current weight of liquid nitrogen and argon to determine when to replace tanks. This will reduce the number of days that tests cannot be run. Since 2011, Laboratory Between July 2022 and June 2023, there were 36 days of important water quality data delay due to sample re-runs. This resulted in a loss of inventory, analyst overtime, and delay in important water quality treatment decisions.
• Benefits: After implementation, scales accurately display the net weight of nitrogen/argon, resulting in 0 delays of important water quality data.
• Payton’s project developed a standard cost estimation method for lift station projects. Data from previous lift station projects was consolidated, analyzed, and evaluated. Through this process, new cost estimation methods were determined and programmed into a new estimation template.
• Benefits: With the new template, estimates were reduced from a 17.9 percent overestimation to a 3.03 percent overestimation on average (after removal of contingency). Additional projects will be able to be programmed for lift station capital work. Secondary benefits are time savings, clearer expectations, and enhanced organization with contractors during projects. The template line items set a standard format against which contractors can invoice and track project costs. This will allow for better cost control from the perspective of both Citizens and contractors.
Recently Completed Just Do It (JDI) Projects
Just Do It projects are a great way to continuously improve something where the solution is already known. This doesn’t mean it necessarily has to be a quick or simple project, it just doesn’t go through the DMAIC process. But Just Do It projects can make a big impact in efficiency and savings. All completed Just Do It projects can be found on Quality’s CI Activities and Completed Projects page.
• Factory Talk Asset Center: Jason Young (Wastewater Operations)
• Collection Systems Cleaning Frequency: Kevin Hackett (Wastewater Collections)
• HMI Alarm Notification (WIN911): Andrew Gibson (Information Technology)
• CCTV AI Implementation: Kevin Hackett (Wastewater Collections)
Erica Duncan
Citizens Sponsors 33rd Annual ROSE Awards
Every spring, Visit Indy rolls out the red carpet at the annual ROSE Awards event honoring hospitality employees or volunteers who provide excellent customer service. ROSE is an acronym for “Recognition Of Service Excellence.” The program shines a light on the servers, transportation providers, service associates, and other non-managerial hospitality employees who make every Indianapolis visitor feel special. By going beyond the expectations of their job descriptions, these service champions leave lasting impressions that bring true meaning to the phrase “Hoosier Hospitality.”
The 33rd Annual ROSE Awards were held on May 9, 2024. Citizens Energy Group nominated two employees: Matt Anderson, Utility Service Specialist and Customer Champion Award winner for 2023, and Mark Foster, Customer Case Management Associate. Both Matt and Mark truly exemplify what it means to provide excellent customer service!
Matt Anderson was nominated in recognition of his life-saving actions taken during a call to a customer residence, where his diligent efforts lead to a carbon monoxide detection and safe evacuation of two residents. Matt was recognized with an annual Customer Champion Award in our January 2024 issue of Engauge. Mark was nominated in recognition of his outstanding customer service efforts after helping an aging customer with severe health issues navigate a water leak that resulted in a bill exceeding $18,000. Mark coordinated with Brett McLellan and utilized Warm Heart Warm Home funding to cover the repair costs and coordinate a refund of more than $18,000 back to the customer.
New Employees
Currie
Charles Butterfield
Support Services Sarah Clark
Dylan Conwell Water
Luke Cromer
Jalen Dobbins
Support Services
Chad Allen Gas Shepard Allen Corporate Support Services
Jordan Ankney
Support Services
Brooke Banta Corporate Support Services
Ashtynn Bedusek Corporate Support Services
Michael Buchanan Gas
Devin Gross Gas
Kevin Humphrey Corporate Support Services
Christopher Hunter Water
Christopher Krul Water
Jared Goss
Tyler Leopold
Davia Poythress
Colin Price,
Brandon Rascoe
Kimberly Wilson
2020 North Meridian Street Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
In Memoriam
We are saddened to report the recent passing of two retirees.
William R. Drane, on May 6, 2024. William retired on September 30, 2001, after 35 years of service.
Dolores J. Urban, on May 15, 2024. Dolores retired on April 1, 1998, after 27 years of service.
