Craig Eicher Email & Phone Number

United States

• Direct the management, administration, implementation of contracts for Xcel Energy's wholesale electric business. Responsible for developing and implementing strategy to retain and acquire customers, including originating and negotiating new agreements or potential changes to existing wholesale agreements, regulatory and legislative initiatives• Originate, lead and direct interdisciplinary teams to provide and implement customized energy solutions to wholesale customers as the resource mix and regulatory initiatives evolve in Colorado and the company participates in organized markets• Develop, coordinate, and provide direction for long-term proposals and resulting transactions for existing and prospective customers• Collaborate with multiple internal groups to draft Federal Energy Regulatory Commission filings and to comply with FERC rules• Initiate, develop, and maintain relationships with other utilities, suppliers, power marketers, and other companies. Identify and analyze customers and competitors’ strategies, needs and plans to create and develop competitive intelligence and market plans for new wholesale sales and services

Denver, Colorado, United States

• Cultivated and maintained effective working relationships with local governments, communities and economic development organizations • Organized and managed cross-functional teams of internal colleagues to propel company’s business goals: negotiated and maintained gas and electric franchises, drove major construction projects to completion, siting and permitting, public relations and marketing communications, political advocacy and policy• Proactively engaged key stakeholders, including political leaders, city and county staff, community and business leaders, and key government boards, for the purpose of building strategic relationships that furthered company’s business goals• Maintained a comprehensive understanding of local issues and provide a single point-of-contact between local governments and company• Assisted various company business units in forging strategic external relationships with decision-makers to drive major infrastructure projects to completion (e.g. transmission lines, substations, high-pressure gas pipelines, rate cases and regulatory initiatives)• Served as critical liaison between company and key stakeholders during natural disasters

Denver, Colorado, United States

• Provided issues and crisis management, public affairs, project management and strategic planning services to private clients in multiple market segments• Developed proactive policy positions, internal and external communications and change management campaigns• Developed and executed national B-2-B marketing and communications programs• Public relations, integrated marketing, targeted media relations• Clients in manufacturing, outsourcing, industrial, commercial insulations, automotive, managed services, IT outsourcing, technology, non-profit, product engineering and development/aerospace, interactive marketing

Maitland, Florida, United States

• Strategic integrated communications planning and tactical management in support of Energy Deliver business group• Managed message development and communications • Strategic consultant to executive leadership: negotiating, editorial boards • Strategic planning for Public Policy Group: political grass roots organizing, opinion poll development, negotiation strategy, project/budget management• Communications campaigns for substation/transmission line siting, bargaining unit negotiations, regulatory, Superfund site, safety, diversity and accidents• Media relations – company spokesperson

Orlando, Florida, United States

• Developed community involvement program for Darden Restaurants, America's leading family dining corporation (Red Lobster, Olive Garden), headquartered in Orlando• Managed communication support to Darden leadership and Corporate PR, generating positive public and media relations for local community outreach events • News media advisor for special events and future strategies

Orlando, Florida, United States

• News anchor and reporter for CBS television affiliate in nation’s 19th-ranked DMA• Developed, managed, and executed news and information projects at all levels of production• Managed teams of producers, photographers, graphics artists, editors, and technicians on special projects • Extensive news reporting on government, politics, the U.S. space program, local courts and economics • Won awards and recognition as first American journalist to report from inside Russia's Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City after the Cold War• 2 Emmy Award nominations for International News and Feature Writing. 2 Central Florida Press Club Awards for News Reporting and News Writing. Associated Press Award for News Reporting