Management Team

MUWG MANAGEMENT

PROGRAM MANAGER / PRESIDENT
Clay Cook

Clay has over 35 years of experience with fossil power plants in the areas of program development, quality assurance, maintenance and inventory management. This includes nearly thirty years of experience with enterprise asset management applications and twenty-two years of experience with Maximo upgrades, integrations, training, reporting, inventory and financial management.

Clay oversees all aspects of MUWG, including conference planning and execution. He also facilitates MUWG Training programs and performs MUWG assessments for organizations wanting to evaluate their implementation and use of Maximo.

Treasurer
Teresa Gibbons

Teresa is very detail oriented and has many qualifications which make her perfect for this role. Teresa is proficient in using QuickBooks and has owned her own business. She has worked in the banking/mortgage industry from many years. She is on two not for profit boards serving as Treasurer on one board and serving as Secretary on another board. Teresa is currently employed in County government as the executive assistant to the Matagorda County Precinct 2 Commissioner.

The Treasurer retains ultimate responsibility for all financial matters of the corporation and must ensure adequate oversight is maintained.

Administrator
Gail Cook

Gail is a previous business owner and is currently the Treasurer for another not-for-profit organization.

Gail maintains all member and vendor records from past conferences and is responsible for processing all conference registrations, payments, receipts, and vendor sponsorships including working with the Webmaster to keep the MUWG Website current.

SR. MANAGER
Rick Ulrich
Email

Rick has over 33 years in power generation, water management, and T&D experience in various areas of reliability maintenance, asset and inventory management. Including 20 years of continuous process improvement, Predictive Maintenance, Lock Out/Tag Out, and mobile. He has experience with Maximo upgrades, integrations, training, reporting and business systems analysis.

Rick is actively involved in MUWG vendor relations, supports conference planning and execution, and constructs the conference app, Guidebook. Rick also assists with the MUWG Planning and Scheduling training program.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The MUWG Board of Directors oversees the financial and business affairs of the organization.

BOARD CHAIR
Mel Bennett
Mount Pleasant Water Works

Mel has worked for Mount Pleasant Waterworks (MPW), a water and wastewater utility near Charleston, S.C., for over 40 years. He helped to implement, and then administered MPW’s first CMMS in 1990 while he was Supervisor of the four Water Treatment Plants. He went on to manage the entire Water Department, which included the Water Treatment Plants and the Water Distribution System. Eventually Mel moved out of the Water Department and became Director of Safety and Environmental Compliance. Gradually that position evolved into managing a very diverse department of multiple functions.

From our initial implementation of Maximo in 2010 through January 2017, Mel and his staff were responsible for all user training, ongoing user support, all front-end configurations and administration of the system, and Quality Assurance reviews of the data contained within Maximo.

In January 2017, Mel stepped out of his Department Manager role and into a newly created position entitled Asset Management Specialist. The goal of this new position was to narrow Mel’s scope of responsibilities, allowing him to focus most of his time specifically on Maximo and its impact on asset management / maintenance management activities throughout the organization.

Eventually, through a slight reorganization, a new Asset Information Department was formed. Then in November 2020, Mel was selected to fill a newly created Asset Information Department Head position. Among other things, this department is responsible for Maximo administration and configurations, user training & support, and Maintenance Planning & Scheduling.

Board VICE-CHAIR

Steve Reasor

Tennessee Valley Authority (Retired)

Steve retired as s Senior Program Manager in Power Operations with the Tennessee Valley Authority-TVA and managed TVA’s Enterprise Asset Management Governance program. Has a combined total of 33 years’ experience in numerous positions including Information Technology, Engineering, support roles in Operations, and Maintenance business units. He also served as TVA’s Asset Management product suite owner.

Began participating in the MUWG in 2011 and has been in various roles, including presenter, attendee, and member of the management committee.

BOARD MEMBER
Chet Johnson
Duke Energy (Retired)

My 39 years at Duke spanned from Distribution Engineering to Resource Management to Supply Chain Management and ended as the Lead Technology Consultant for the Maximo product suite for multiple business units. I also served in many project lead roles for technology initiatives, one of the last being the lead for the mobile design team for Supply Chain. Prior to that (2007-2011), I lead the Supply Chain implementation of Maximo for Generation, Transmission and Distribution business units, along with a mobile warehousing solution across a five-state deployment. Prior to that managed 21 Field Operation warehouses and a Distribution Center warehouse in the Carolinas. My final consultant role provided guidance and direction to the Fleet, Finance and Supply Chain business units at Duke Energy to enhance the use of the EAM Maximo Product Suite. I have now retired from Duke and excited to still be able to engage with the MUWG organization through the Board and provide consultant services in the utility industry.

BOARD MEMBER
Wayde Prejean
Kinder Morgan Inc.

I have worked for Kinder Morgan and predecessor companies for 42 years in various Accounting areas, on process / re-engineering projects and as the Maximo Coordinator / Administrator from the business side. I am currently Manager IC over the business/support side of Maximo in the Operations Corporate Management department for Kinder Morgan’s Natural Gas segment.

I am a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and also hold the Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) designation.

I have been involved in numerous Maximo implementations and have supported Maximo since 1996. I have been a frequent attendee and presenter at PULSE/Maximo World/InterConnect and at MUWG, GOMaximo and other conferences. I have been part of the MUWG Management Committee for over 20 years.

BOARD MEMBER

Bobby Shewmake
Southern Company

Bobby retired from Southern Company in 2023, having worked in the Nuclear Industry for the last 42 years at 3 Locations: Farley Nuclear Plant (Southern Company), V.C. Summer (SCANA), and the Southern Company Corporate Offices in Birmingham, where he currently resides. His work history includes assignments in various roles in Health Physics, Chemistry/Radiochemistry, Real-time Plant Computer Systems Support, Design Engineering, and Enterprise Solutions Support (ESS) for Maximo/Primavera.

In his last role as a Technology Manager for Southern Company, his primary responsibility was support for Maximo and Primavera Technology Support for the Southern Company Enterprise. Maximo is used in Nuclear and Fossil Generation, Engineering and Construction Services, and Transmission and Distribution; and, serves as one of 4 core applications in a mix of about 30 systems that are integrated across the Southern Company footprint and supported by the Technology Organization. He also represented Southern on the EPRI I&C Working Group while in Engineering; and MUWG Management Committee and the IBM Nuclear Partners group while supporting Maximo.

Bobby has a B.S. in Physical Sciences (Auburn University) and a B.S. Mechanical Engineering (South Carolina) and is a Registered Professional Engineer (Inactive) in the State of Alabama.

IBM Maximo Representative

Terry Saunders
IBM Worldwide Utilities Industry Leader,

IBM Sustainability Software: Asset Management

Terry is responsible for world-wide market share growth of asset and work management solutions in Utilities: Generation, Transmission and Distribution for Electric, Gas, and Water. He works with design architects, development, support and our customers and business partners to manage strategy of the Maximo for Utilities Industry solutions. Terry began work with Maximo in 1997 and had previously worked in Generation, Substation, Transmission and Distribution as well as Chemicals, Petroleum, Refining, Mining, Food Processing, and Manufacturing. He has held senior roles in Product Development, Business Development and Industry Marketing for MRO Software and PSDI.

Terry Saunders has a Masters of Science Degree in Innovation & Technology from Boston University, 2010 and an undergraduate Degree in Communications from the University of Minnesota, USA.

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEMBERS

The Management Committee is responsible for MUWG Conference logistics including:

Participate in determining where and when workshops are to be conducted.
Participate in determining the theme and agenda for each workshop, considering the needs of the members.
Recommend possible presenters and breakout session facilitators.
Promoting MUWG Conference(s) within their utility and industry segment.
Conducting surveys of needs in their organization and distributing MUWG information, as needed.
Discuss conference evaluations and develop plans to improve the effectiveness of MUWG
Provide assistance at MUWG functions, including: Assistance with Conference registration and packet preparation.
Providing guidance to membership about the conference, especially new members.
Volunteer to present and/or facilitate sessions or recruit others to help.
Participating in pre and post Management Committee preparation and review.

COMMITTEE CHAIR

George Perry
New York Power Authority

George has worked in the Electric Utility Industry for almost 35 years. He started his career with Orange and Rockland Utilities at the Lovett Generating Station where he served in various positions in fuel handling and plant maintenance. After several years, he made the move to operations at the company’s hydro-electric facilities. As deregulation in New York State followed, George remained with the Hydro-Electric Operations group. Now with Southern Energy (later Mirant) George was promoted to Senior Hydro Plant Operator, where he was responsible for the development of and training on the lockout / tagout, station and substation switching, and plant operations programs.

After a twenty-one-year career, he joined New York Power Authority in 2009 as a Technical Training Instructor responsible for Operations at the Blenheim – Gilboa Hydro-Electric project. After a few years, George filled a void in the Safety Training field where he helped to revise and develop many of the company’s safety training programs. Most recently, George joined the Asset Performance Group under Strategic Operations where he is responsible for training and change management for Asset Management, Maintenance, and Information training including Maximo and related systems for all NYPA employees.

George also serves as the Management Committee Chair for the Northeast Maximo Users Group.

COMMITTEE VICE-CHAIR & MUGM COMMITTEE CHAIR

Janie Mann
IT Business Analyst - CoServ

I started my career with CoServ, an electric and gas cooperative based in North Texas, in 2010 as a Customer Service Rep. This is the role where I began to build my foundation of industry knowledge and appreciation for the people that we do our business for. Then, on to Construction Management & Logistics where we were responsible for work management for all electric and gas projects throughout the entire construction and closing process. It was in this role that I gained an appreciation of the work being done in the field in such challenging working conditions. In 2016, CoServ moved from the use of a home-grown system for work management to Maximo 7.6. I have been involved with the implementation from the very beginning and have seen the system grow from less than 100 internal users to over 1000 internal and external combined. None of this possible without the introduction of mobile accessibility.

I pride myself on the ability to provide connection and clarity needed for effective user adaption to new processes and technologies. Change management techniques, gaining a mutual respect between the technical side and user side, and a significant amount of patience is key. I look forward to bringing this expertise to the MUGM user community. Experience also includes projects to integrate Maximo and GIS Designer; integration with material supplier; and numerous system upgrades and enhancements.

COMMITTEE MEMBER & MSCUG MEMBER
Cristy Bennett
Oglethorpe Power Corporation

Cristy Bennett has been associated with the Electric Utility Industry for 38 years. After graduating with an Electrical Engineering degree, she spent 10 years working in Georgia Power Company’s Substation Control Design group.

That was followed by 11 years in the Supply Chain organization of Georgia Power & Southern Company, working in all areas of Supply Chain (purchasing, volume procurement, contract management, asset disposition & warehousing). After leaving the Southern Company, she spent the next 10 years as an independent contractor and full-time employee with Georgia Transmission Corporation (GTC) in their Procurement Services department. For the last 7 years, she has been Director of Supply Chain Services for Oglethorpe Power Corporation (OPC) which uses Maximo as its enterprise asset management & supply chain tool. She also serves as the lead of the OPC Maximo Governance Team, steering committee lead of the Maximo Supply Chain User Group, and Board member of the Utility Supplier Alliance Association.

COMMITTEE MEMBER
Jade Warren
Great River Energy

I began my career at Great River Energy (a G&T cooperative located in Minnesota) in 2004 as an intern on the IT Service Desk. In 2005 I was hired as an IT support analyst and had the opportunity to represent the IT Support Services department during the Maximo 5.2 to 6.0 upgrade and worked extensively on the implementation of our IT processes in Maximo. Following that upgrade, I took on the role of liaison between IT Support Services and our company's Maximo support group and maintained administrative rights within our Maximo systems. In 2014, I transferred full-time to the Maximo support group. In that capacity, I have been the lead developer on numerous projects in the Maximo space, including Operator Logging, Transmission Clearances, Permit Management, IT service enhancements, and myExperience (human performance management in Maximo).

I am skilled in presentation, facilitation, business analysis, application design, and translating business processes into elegant solutions. I specialize in enhanced application design using a combination of automation scripting, conditional UI, judicious class extensions, and creativity. I have been able to design many creative solutions that function within the constraints of "configuration", but also am able to pursue "customization" when it is the best path to reach a solution. I speak at several annual Maximo-related conferences on a recurring basis, and have been privileged to lead break-out sessions at the MUWG for the last 4 years. In my spare time, I work with my family on a small hobby farm and manage a beekeeping & honey business.

COMMITTEE MEMBER & MUGM MEMBER
Regan Layne
Tennessee Valley Authority

Regan started her career at TVA in 2012 as a Software Engineer intern. She spent her intern years working on TVA’s Maximo upgrade 6.2.3 to 7.5 project. During this time, she worked along side and supported multiple business units work and asset management programs through customization and configuration changes as well as automated testing.

In 2016 she moved on to a Mobility Program Manager role, where she provided governance and oversight of Maximo, in relation to enhancements, upgrades, and overall direction of system

processes. She was responsible for technology initiatives, projects and programs including acting as a liaison between the Transmission business unit and IT developing TVA’s Maximo Mobile applications.

In 2021, Regan moved on to be a Senior Business Technology Consultant for TVA’s Power Operations business unit on their Data Analytics & Technology team. Here, she continues to lead the Maximo Mobility effort as well as other continuous improvement technology projects.

COMMITTEE MEMBER & MSCUG COMMITTEE CHAIR

Destinie Richter

Oncor

My career at Oncor started in 2009 and has spanned through Transmission Engineering, Sourcing and now the Assistant Manager of Oncor’s Supply Chain Strategy and Technology group. I was on the original team that implemented Maximo within our supply chain organization as well as our work and asset management side for Distribution. I currently oversee Maximo for supply chain as well as all of our interfaces to and from Maximo to other systems within all of Oncor’s business units which includes AP, Distribution, Transmission, Energy Efficiency, Waste Management, IT and others. I am the current Chairperson of the Maximo Supply Chain user group. I am married with three children and received my Masters of Science in Supply Chain and Technology from Texas Christian University.

COMMITTEE MEMBER
Tom Press

APS

I started my journey in the electric utility industry over 31 years ago with Arizona Public Service "APS." My experience throughout my career with APS is in the Transmission and Distribution business unit in the customer service front line, Customer Project Manager, Senior Instructor, Work Week Manager, Work Management CFAL, and currently part of the company's transformational S.C.O.R.E. project (Supply Chain Optimization & Reliability Efficiency). My experience with Maximo started with release version 4.0 and has grown in each of my roles at APS with each consecutive release and upgrade. My responsibilities include managing customer distribution line extensions, training new project managers, training technical systems such as AutoCAD, Maximo, GIS, and others, Supporting construction planning and scheduling, and process - procedure development and adherence. In addition to my regular work duties, I was part of several peer group committees supporting work management, design standards, and customer affordability. As a S.C.O.R.E. project team member I represent T&D as we advance Maximo to an enterprise platform with alignment to our accounting, work management, and supply chain systems. In addition to this APS is deploying a mobile solution and Automated Utility Design solution that are fully integrated with Maximo along with 200 plus edge systems with Maximo.

COMMITTEE MEMBER
Mel Bennett
Mount Pleasant Water Works

COMMITTEE MEMBER

Courtney Brauer
NAES

As an accomplished Business Manager with nearly 10 years of dedicated experience in power generation, I've refined my skills in overseeing office operations, leading administrative teams, and implementing robust policies and procedures. My career has been driven by a fervent commitment to optimizing efficiency, managing budgets effectively, and utilizing Maximo to enhance productivity.

Currently serving as a Business Manager at NAES, stationed at the AMP Fremont Energy Center in Ohio, I play a pivotal role in preparing budgets, meticulously tracking budgetary performance, coordinating outage scheduling, managing inventory, and creating insightful budget and variance visualizations.

Outside of work, I find joy in spending quality time with my family, which includes our beloved canine companions. Traveling and rock climbing are among my favorite activities, providing me with a well-rounded perspective and a healthy dose of adventure.

Academically, I hold Bachelor's Degrees in Business Administration and Accounting and Finance, along with a Master’s Degree in Data Science, which has equipped me with a diverse skill set to tackle complex challenges in the ever-evolving business landscape.

COMMITTEE MEMBER
Wayde Prejean
Kinder Morgan Inc.

I am a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and also hold the Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) designation.

COMMITTEE MEMBER
Shane Turner
Vistra Corp

I have worked in power generation for more than 30 years in positions within Operations, Maintenance and Corporate. I am currently the Maximo Business Owner with Vistra, involved in Maximo implementations and support since 2006. Under ownership initially by Sithe Energies, then Exelon, then Dynegy, and finally Vistra, I have been actively involved in the conversion to, integration with, or initial deployment of Maximo for over 50 facilities to date. My Computerized Maintenance Management Systems experience dates back to 1989 with J.B. Systems and the evolution of the Mainsaver product.

Originally trained as a Nuclear Reactor Operator with the US Navy, most of my power experience is with combined cycle, natural gas facilities and now have Maximo deployed in battery, coal, gas, nuclear and solar generation as well as mining facilities.

My MUWG participation began in 2006 and has been in the various roles of a presenter, attendee, and member of the management committee.

COMMITTEE MEMBER
Amanda Huston
LCRA

I began my career at the Lower Colorado River Authority in October of 1996, in an entry level administrative role for Dam & Hydro Operations, holding various administrative titles while learning the industry. I transitioned into my current role with Telecom Operations in February 2020. Before then, the majority of my career was spent supporting Water Operations, which includes Dam and Hydro, Irrigation and River Operations and Water Surface Management.

I have been a Maximo user from the moment LCRA onboarded Maximo in 1999 and am currently a Maximo SME for Telecom Strategic Services. Telecom relies heavily on Maximo data to drive customer billing and accurate revenue recovery. I have over 25 years of asset and work management experience, including audit response and process improvement.

I have enjoyed being a participant at several MUWG conferences, have volunteered my time at many conferences and presented at breakout sessions in the spring and fall of 2018 and the spring of 2023.

When I can, I enjoy spending time with my pup Rascal, listening to audio books, traveling and being with good friends.

Interested in becoming a Committee Member?

MUWG depends on dedicated Committee Members from member utilities to guide and support the organization. Committee members are expected to promote MUWG in their organization and in the utility sector.

Additional responsibilities include participating on a monthly management committee conference call, attending at least one conference per year, and supporting our conferences by giving presentations or leading breakout sessions.