Utility Management Certificate Program: Instructors

*Note: Instructors list subject to change.

LINDA CRAFTS
Linda Crafts has over 25 years experience in consulting, business management, and training. This includes hands-on experience in business and operations strategy, reengineering and all aspects of transition management with extensive experience in supporting IT systems integration efforts. As a partner in Cumulus Resources LLC, a Portland-based consulting firm, Dr. Crafts focuses on transitional issues resulting from organizational change. Prior to working at SAIF Corporation, she served as a leader and facilitator in WorkOut, the GE business work redesign initiative, spending eleven years at GE Industrial and Power Systems in Schenectady, NY. Dr. Crafts teaches courses in organizational development in both online and face-to-face formats for the Oregon Graduate Institute. She received her undergraduate degree from the State University of New York at Fredonia, and MBA from the College of St. Rose, and a PhD degree from the Fielding Graduate University.

JOHN M. HYNES, MSEE, MBA
John began his career in the energy industry in 1983. He developed and facilitated technical training programs for nuclear operators, telecommunications technicians, relay protection technicians and high voltage equipment maintenance technicians before moving on to senior positions in sales, marketing, and strategic planning. John used his financial skills to design production optimization models for heavy manufacturing clients, analyze the profitability of business and marketing plans, perform due diligence on targeted acquisitions and determine the valuation of businesses selected for investment. John develops and facilitates Business Finance and Energy Industry Knowledge programs for Excidian, a training company.

PAMELA LESH
As Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Strategic Planning, Pamela Lesh is responsible for shepherding PGE’s strategic planning process and for all federal and state regulatory matters related to PGE. Lesh joined PGE in 1986 as assistant general counsel. She served as vice president of Rates and Regulatory Affairs from 1996-1997, when she took a position at ConneXt, Inc., as Vice President of Strategic Relationships. She returned as vice president at PGE in January 1999, managing PGE’s relationships with the Oregon Public Utility Commission and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. After earning a juris doctorate degree in 1981 from the University of Washington School of Law, Lesh worked at several Seattle law firms, which included experience in regulatory and administrative law with a focus on natural gas and electric energy. In 1978, Lesh earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Washington State University.

STEVEN M. MASER
Steven M. Maser is Professor of Public Management and Public Policy at Willamette University’s Atkinson Graduate School of Management. He directs the Utility Management Certificate Program. Professor Maser has taught MBA-level courses on government-business relationships, public policy, and conflict management. He has published over twenty research articles on government regulation of business, constitutional choice, public policy, and law and economics. He received degrees in political science from MIT (BS) and the University of Rochester (PhD).

JULIA RYAN
Julia (Julie) Ryan is Managing Partner of Aether Advisors LLC, providing advisory services to utility executives in the areas of risk management, strategy development, and business planning. Prior to that she served as the Vice-President for Risk Management and Strategic Planning at Puget Sound Energy, where she led its newly created “Risk Operations” department, implementing the company’s first enterprise risk management framework. Previously, she had been Vice-President of Energy Portfolio Management, responsible for the utility’s wholesale power and natural gas supply, hedging and optimization activities. Before joining PSE, she was one of four principals who developed a North American marketing, trading and merchant power business plan and entry strategy for parent companies, Gener S.A. and TransAlta Corp. Julie started her career at Louis Dreyfus Corporation, where she managed joint-ventures to market natural gas and alternative fuels for industrial and regional accounts, and she pioneered basis and futures trading in the industry, building one of the largest NYMEX gas futures and basis trading entities. Julie has spoken at industry conferences on the topics of hedging and risk management, and developed in-house risk management training for Puget Sound Energy. She graduated cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Smith College in Massachusetts with a degree in English.

JAMES M. VAN NOSTRAND
James M. (Jamie) Van Nostrand is Executive Director of the Energy and Climate Center at Pace University in White Plains, New York. Jamie has been involved with utility regulation for over 25 years. He started his career with the New York Public Service Commission, where he served as an Assistant to the Commission for Opinions and Review and Assistant to the Chairman. In 1980, he joined Perkins Coie in Seattle, where he represented Puget Sound Power & Light Co. (now Puget Sound Energy), U S WEST (now Qwest), and ScottishPower in state regulatory proceedings. Since joining Stoel Rives in 1999, Jamie has represented PacifiCorp in retail rate proceedings in six states (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming and California), as well as NW Natural in Oregon and Washington. He has also represented clients before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Regulatory Commission of Alaska, and the Arizona Corporation Commission. As the professional development partner for his practice group at Stoel Rives, Jamie was responsible for designing and presenting a curriculum for training lawyers in energy and telecommunications law.

DAVID WEBER
David Weber has 27 years of experience as a CIO, consultant, project executive, project manager, systems architect and programmer for utilities, finance and general business. He has been Director of Information Services and Chief Information Officer at NW Natural since 2000, where his responsibilities have included managing the development and implementation of its customer information system. His work in the utility industry, creating and executing multi-year IT strategies, has resulted in significant cost savings while enhancing customer service by reducing user interpretation errors and allowing for rapid delivery of new products and services to customers. Dave has taught over 1,000 hours of project management education to clients and internal customers throughout the US. Before his service as a Marine Corps pilot, he received a BS from the University of Denver, where he developed an interactive computer model for forest ecosystems. He is an IBM Certified Project Executive.

TRACY YOUNT
Tracy Yount is Director, Business Development and External Affairs for Chelan County Power. This position is charted to continue the expansion of External Affairs from a political-centric function to also include business opportunities that leverage the unique characteristics of Chelan PUD’s hydro power generation, natural resource programs, and high regard in the regulatory community. Tracy is responsible for the origination, analysis, and policy guidance of opportunities made possible by the intersection of the District’s inherent hydro-electric capabilities, energy and regulatory markets, new and existing legislation, and regulations. In addition, he is responsible for the tracking, reporting, and strategic analysis of emerging regulation and legislation that may impact District operations and the hydro industry.