Maintain a clear understanding of the industry’s complex technology, regulatory, financial, and human resource issues with Board Governance solutions from Hometown Connections. Governing boards and city council members overseeing community-owned utilities need to understand their roles and responsibilities as stewards of the city’s utility services.
Hometown Connections staff briefs governing officials on industry conditions and offers training on how to work with, and guide, the utility staff.
Your Partner for Board Governance
Integrated consulting services for utility board development, including team building, performing the duties of public utility governance, and representing the customer.
Benefits
The governing bodies of community-owned utilities guide the staff and represent the needs of customers during complex economic times. Yet board members come from a variety of backgrounds, with different levels of experience addressing the complex nature of operating an electric, water, wastewater, and/or gas utility. The path forward requires a knowledgeable and unified board, able to work effectively with utility staff.
The Hometown Connections consulting team has worked with hundreds of public utilities for more than 20 years, providing governance facilitation and education services. We know this industry and the tenants of effective governance in it. Utilities that bring in Hometown Connections for board development are better able to evaluate the current state of the utility and put in place policies and plans for a successful future.
Features
Hometown Connections briefs governing officials on industry conditions and offers training on how to work with, and guide, the utility staff.
Hometown Connections organizes its governance development consulting assignments, workshops, and courses around these primary topics—with the ability to customize content to the needs of individual utilities, state associations, or joint action agencies.
Hometown Connections addresses how to assemble, onboard, and maintain a high performing board. Topics covered include:
- Succession planning
- Attracting viable board candidates
- Candidate orientation
- Orientation for new board members (and existing too!)
- Building a strong board culture
- Mechanics of a good board meeting
Hometown Connections reviews the common requirements/foundational information for most governing boards of community-owned utilities:
- Organization-specific: charter, by-laws
- Independent utility governing board: legal relationship and responsibilities to the government agency that formed the utility
- State-specific rules that may speak to open meetings and records, conflicts of interest, training required, potential PUC oversight, etc.
- Legal counsel
- Key Board Responsibilities
- Strategic planning
- Financial oversight and planning
Hometown Connections covers how the utility governing board can establish itself as the proper voice of the organization’s customers/owners:
- How to “be” the voice of the customer as board members
- How to be a conduit of information between the customers/owners of the utility and the utility
- How to communicate with elected/appointed officials in other agencies and levels of government
Hometown Connections examines feedback mechanisms for the CEO and how the governing board can pursue its own continuous improvement opportunities.
- Monitoring organizational performance
- Evaluating and Managing the CEO
- Self-assessment tools for the CEO
Board Development News
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Former AMP Executive Marc Gerken Appointed Interim HCI President & CEO
Learn More: Former AMP Executive Marc Gerken Appointed Interim HCI President & CEOThe Hometown Connections, Inc. (HCI) Board of Directors announced the appointment of Marc Gerken as interim president and chief executive officer. Gerken will fill the seat vacated by Tim Blodgett who, after 23 years with HCI, announced he would be leaving at the end of the year.
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HCI President And CEO Tim Blodgett Announces Departure After More Than 20 Years of Service
Learn More: HCI President And CEO Tim Blodgett Announces Departure After More Than 20 Years of ServiceHometown Connections, Inc. (HCI) CEO and President Tim Blodgett is stepping down after more than 20 years at the municipal utility service provider. He announced on Thursday his intention to step down by the end of 2021. The HCI Board of Directors will begin a nationwide recruitment to fill the position.
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Governance in Public Power: The Role of Policymakers in Today’s Marketplace
Learn More: Governance in Public Power: The Role of Policymakers in Today’s MarketplaceThe success of the public power business model depends on utility managers receiving clear guidance from engaged and well-trained governing boards. A high-performing governing board can be one of the utility’s most valuable assets. To be successful, these officials must understand their responsibilities, stay current on industry challenges, and serve as ambassadors for public power…
