Kari West Email & Phone Number

Pittsburg, Ks, Us

Southeast Kansas/Southwest Missouri

As a Lead Customer Solutions Manager, I work with in three rate jurisdictions in Kansas & Missouri with an integrated team to serve commercial and industrial (C&I) customers. In addition, I work with communities and civic organizations as well. My role has many facets and requires organization and prioritization to meet project deadlines. Day to day, no two days are the same. I serve as an liaison to commercial & industrial customers and internally work with distribution, transmission and substation teams. I'm involved with the facilitation of expansions & resolution of billing inquiries. I also work to address customer power quality issues, facilitate community engagement, and many other public facing roles. My lead objective is to serve as a trusted energy advisor to our C&I customers.My duties & responsibilities include: • Account and project management responsibilities for assigned segments of the largest commercial and industrial customers in usage and revenue.• Must have working knowledge of an electric distribution system as well as all aspects of the receipt of electric service by the customer. • Communicate with the customer’s energy decision-maker, senior management, and third-party providers on all aspects of Company products provided to the customer. Required knowledge areas include the design and operation of electrical systems, general business acumen, regulatory and tariff issues, energy industry issues and account management.• Perform analytical work on complex problems and projects by applying state of the art economic, computer science, accounting, statistical, engineering or marketing knowledge, techniques, and procedures.• Promote the sale of regulated and non-regulated products and services to assigned customers using consultative selling skills.• Gain an understanding of the customer’s energy needs and formulate solutions, leading internal teams to do so, when necessary.

Girard, Ks

In my spare time, I work as a freelancer. I specialize in outdoor and agricultural photos, creating graphics for advertising, writing feature stories and news releases. From November to January each year, I make and market Granny Antonetti's French Cookies, a traditional galette recipe handed down from my Belgium ancestors. A few years ago, I was featured in a holiday traditions segment of Around Kansas and have shipped cookies across the country for families to enjoy.

Southeast Kansas/Southwest Missouri

With the merger and creation of Evergy, the parent company of both KCP&L and Westar Energy, I am excited to move into the Senior Customer Solutions Manager position. It combines my former role of Business Manager into an integrated Customer Solutions team serving commercial and industrial customers as well as communities and organizations in both Kansas and Missouri.

Southeast Kansas

I am blessed to work with an extremely dynamic and talented team of energy professionals to insure that our commercial and industrial customers have the tools they need to succeed. We are trusted advisors focused on energy efficiency, eletrotechnology, power quality, billing, development and expansion projects, community relations, and government affairs.While my job is based out of our Wichita office, I work out of 5 service centers (Pittsburg, Fort Scott, Humboldt, Parsons and Independence.) My primary service area includes communities, businesses and industries throughout Crawford, Elk, Chautauqua, Labette, Montgomery, Bourbon, Neosho, Allen, Coffey, Wilson, Woodson, and parts of Anderson counties in Southeast Kansas.

Southeast Kansas Region

I served as the Kansas Department of Emergency Management SE Kansas Incident Management Team Public Information Officer for the region. The position worked with crisis communications, gathering and disseminating public information and detailed documentation and situational planning during disasters throughout the state of Kansas. During my tenure with the team, we were deployed to areas devastated by flooding and tornadoes to provide assistance to the local governmental entities in time of crisis.

Parsons, Ks

Grant writer, social media moderator, press releases, created advertising, housing development, land management, and community relations and all aspects of community and economic development. Special Projects as assigned. While in Parsons, I secured the largest FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant any community in the state of Kansas had ever received. The $1 million grant was used to replace an antiquated emergency communications system and was used as a footprint for other communities across the state. Through grants, I brought in more than $3.5 million for community and economic development projects during my tenure.

Fort Scott, Ks

Public Relations Director for the College including all aspects of sports information, Journalism Advisor to the student newspaper and adjunct faculty member.

Kansas City, Mo

Assisted in magazine production, ad creation, photo archiving, taking photos and representing the Charolais Cattle Breed Association at state and national events. Coordinated state organization efforts.

Class Xvi, Rural Development In Kansas

Bachelor'S Degree, Agricultural Communications

Activities and Societies: Block and Bridle, Ag Communicators of Tomorrow, Alpha of Clovia

Education record

Command And General Staff Training, Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management

Certificate Of Completion, Community Development

Have completed the UCA Community Development Institute (CDI) Years 1 and 2.

Heartland Regional Economic Development Course