Mark Michaels Email & Phone Number

Seattle, Wa

Mark is an EVP and Executive Consultant supporting gas, electric and water utility clients with the implementation of Smart Grid technology programs.About VASS Solutions:“VASS Solutions is an agile consulting company with primary market focus on Electric, Gas and Water Utilities. VASS Solutions has the capability to provide planning, strategy, vendor/partner contract negotiations and management; justification, design, integration and implementation of core operational and strategic technologies and accompanying business processes that improve Utility operations, enhance customer interactions, and ensure the most valued benefit of these technologies for the Utility and its customers.Clients are why we exist. By employing highly capable, team oriented individuals with proven industry knowledge and demonstrated ability to build sustaining Client partnerships, VASS Solutions provides our Clients with superior opportunity for success. Our goal is to exceed the expectations of our Clients, to earn their respect, and to become their “trusted advisors” and partners. Providing outstanding value to our Clients in terms of quality, delivery and price is at the core of VASS Solutions."

CPS Energy, San Antonio TXMr. Michaels has supported CPS Energy’s Grid Optimization (GO) Program starting in August, 2012 by initially assisting CPS Energy with the thorough evaluation of, including industry insights into, two specific AMI Technology proposals for CPS Energy’s 740k electric and 340k gas meters. Those efforts were followed by a high level review of the AMI business case for use as the basis for the development of an integrated Business Release Strategy for CPS Energy’s long term Grid Optimization Program inclusive of AMI, MDMS, OMS, and Advanced data presentment. Those efforts were subsequently followed by development of an AMI contractual framework to support active AMI vendor negotiations support, inclusive of development of key AMI contract artifacts. Mr. Michaels continues to actively provide consulting and technical support for smart grid solution acquisition and deployment; and is embedded as part of the GO Program PMO team providing program management services, development and maintenance of the GO enterprise solution architecture, AMI and End Point Installation vendor management, test strategy development and management, MDMS design and implementation support, change management and communications support, field deployment logistics, and general Smart Grid technology and project implementation consulting expertise.

Greater Seattle Area

Southern Maryland Electric CooperativeMr. Michaels supported the strategic assessment of AMI and related technologies in support of SMECO operational goals and EmPower Maryland requirements. He helped to identify critical next steps/priorities and developed a cohesive strategy and roadmap for an Integrated Smart Grid Strategy that includes AMI, MDMS, OMS, DMS, SCADA, and demand response. He supported efforts to defined, develop, and issue AMI RFP requirements for a multi-phase AMI implementation that forms the groundwork for SMECO’s smart grid implementation. He provided extensive support for SMECO MDMS and SI vendor solicitation, evaluation, and procurement. He has also provided key business case content and input to SMECO’s Regulatory Filing for approval of its’ AMI Biusiness Case, MD PSC Case 9294, in June 2012.

Greater Seattle Area

City of Fort Collins UtilitiesMr. Michaels provided consulting and technical support for smart grid solution acquisition and deployment; with complete, end-to-end responsibilities to fully implement an advanced smart grid solution with AMI, MDMS, DR, ESB, and portal technologies.

Greater Seattle Area

Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)Mr. Michaels provided consulting and technical services for the creation of a PG&E “SmartMeter” IT/Operations/Applications Dashboard. The SmartMeter Dashboard provideD required key performance indicator (KPI), status, and summary information. Mr. Michaels workED collaboratively with PG&E to assist the team to identify appropriate metrics; locate source data; create the dashboard design, layout, and initial pages; and deliver the solution into the PG&E environment.

NV EnergyMr. Michaels’ consulting support to NV Energy’s (Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific) Advanced Service Delivery (ASD) project included support for the vendor selection process and contract negotiation support for Endpoint Installation; as well as providing Program Management and deployment support.

Greater Seattle Area

Mr. Michaels brings over 28 years of utility and telecommunications experience that includes Smart Energy Grid Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and Automated Meter Reading (AMR) systems; wireless Radio Frequency (RF) networks; computer and data center operations; Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA), Distribution Automation (DA), and Energy Management (EMS) Systems; and a variety of other technology project implementation. Mr. Michaels is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).Mr. Michaels’ experience encompasses over 16 years at a major gas and electric utility in a variety of management, operational, engineering and construction roles that included responsibility for justification, approval, design, delivery, and operation of utility infrastructure and Information Technology (IT) projects. Significant clients include Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative, Baltimare Gas & Electric Company, and NV Energy.

Provided direct business oversight and execution of Smart Grid AMI and AMR Pilot contracts using next-generation technology under development by L+G, and worked with most major west coast utilities. Lead person for Deployment Services to the Sales/Commercial Operations business development team, starting at the time of receipt of an RFP/RFQ, continuing through the bid/selection process, and participating as part of the final contract negotiation team. Developed and implemented a cohesive RFP/RFQ response process for Smart Grid Deployment Services that included development of: detailed pro forma pricing inputs for resources, contractors, related implementation costs and long term “managed services” provision; detailed project implementation schedules; and detailed Program Management methodology process descriptions.

Provided operational oversight and project execution, and managed P&L of Cellnet's contracts in western US using CN's wireless AMR technology.

Managed, lead and directed the implementation and daily operation of CellNet’s Automated Meter Reading (AMR) wireless communication networks in the Pacific Northwest, and consistently delivered daily customer data that met or exceeded all contract performance metrics. That system served over 1.65 million total endpoints. Had full P&L responsibility for this multi-year, $100+ million capital and several hundred $million service contract. Duties encompassed complete responsibility for overall planning and execution of the contract, including management of the initial network design and endpoint deployment activities, business planning, customer interface, subcontractor management, and long term operations and maintenance of the CellNet wireless communication network. Responsibilities also included preparation & submittal of annual capital and operating budgets, development of additional revenue streams, supervision of 45 on-site employees and coordination of the activities of 100+ corporate, sub-contractor and customer personnel.

San Francisco Bay Area

1995-96: Product Development Project Manager, High Reliability Power Systems, Utility Mktg:Managed and directed the development of selected Premium Power services that were targeted at customers whose businesses required higher reliability then the normal standard provided by the utility. Technologies examined included ‘fast circuit switching’, advanced engine/gen sets, flywheel energy storage systems, urban ‘grid network’ solutions, and more.1994: Project Management Supervisor, Distribution Projects, Utility Operations: Supervised a team of Project Management employees responsible for conversion of electric facilities, replacement of aged gas pipelines, and implementation of other major capital projects.1993: Senior Supervising Project Manager, Communications Systems, Telecommunications Dept.1992: Distribution Planning Supervisor1991: Distribution Planning Engineer1989-90: Project Manager, Local Area Network/Wide Area Network (LAN/WAN), Distribution Operations. 1987-88: Construction Manager & Engineer, Power Control EMS and SCADA Systems:Construction Manager responsible for installation of telecommunications and remote terminal units (RTUs) and associated equipment at nearly 200 sites including all major fossil and hydro plants; 500kV, 230kV and 115kV substations. Managed selected Hydro and transmission SCADA projects that were complementary to the EMS implementation. Coordinated closely with Power Control personnel to implement, test and startup all systems, and to turnover operational control to them.1981-86: Staff, Group & Field Engineer, Mechanical Systems, General Construction, Nuclear Power Division:At PG&E’s 2300MW Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, wrote construction & site labor specs; bid & awarded contracts for key capital projects like the MSR/Feedwater heater replacement project. Was group lead for the Mechanical Dept. responsible for piping and support modifications; maintained AWS certification for weld inspection.