CEO Paula Gold-Williams named ‘Thought Leader of the Year’
Innovative. Passionate. Forward-thinking. These are all words fellow team members use to describe our President & CEO Paula Gold-Williams. But we’re not the only ones who’ve taken notice. Paula’s People First-leadership style caught the eye of her colleagues who voted to make her “ETS Thought Leader of the Year!” Zpryme, a research and events firm focusing on energy and host of the Energy Thought Summit (ETS), CPS Energy team members, and peers in the energy industry surprised Paula with the recognition at the Future of Energy Symposium launch event, on Tuesday, Feb. 20.
“I am beyond honored,” said Gold-Williams. “To be part of this group of ETS winners and to be voted by industry peers, humbles and excites me for the future of CPS Energy, the dynamic energy industry we operate in, and the great San Antonio metropolitan community we serve. Our team works 24/7/365 to ensure reliability and enhanced customer experiences for all. This award is a testament to the “People First” philosophy that’s embraced by all the 3,100 women and men who work every day to enable our customers to achieve their dreams.”
The award honors an individual among the ETS community of thought leaders with an inventive, brave vision to inspire the global energy ecosystem. The award was presented to ComEd President and CEO, Anne Pramaggiore, last year; former CPS Energy President & CEO, Doyle Beneby, in 2016; and University of Minnesota Professor and IEEE Chairman, Dr. Massoud Amin, in 2015, the award’s inaugural year.
Under Paula’s leadership, CPS Energy is the top public power wind energy buyers in the nation and number one in Texas for solar generation. We earned an AA+ credit rating, one of the best in the industry. We were also named “Customer Champion” to all combined utilities, and ranked 1st as the Most Trusted Brand for a combined (electric & gas) utility in the U.S. Southern Region in 2017 by Market Strategies International (MSI). Through our New Energy Economy, we’re investing in innovative technologies that will help customers use energy more wisely and lower their bills, create jobs and educational investments, leverage valuable economic development opportunities for its community’s future and protect the environment. Click here to read our news release to learn more.
“Paula is very passionate about making sure CPS Energy is well-positioned for the future and that we provide a great benefit to the community,” said Simon Castillo, CPS Energy Business and Economic Development Manager. “She has a deep understanding that it’s the people she leads that will truly make a difference and make this company successful.”
At the launch event, Paula shared how the nation’s largest municipally owned energy company is rising to the challenge of adapting to customer’s expectations that have evolved with the development of new technology in the energy industry. Paula and other top industry leaders will continue their conversation about the current and future state of the energy industry at the Future of Energy Symposium on Feb. 27 at Texas A&M – San Antonio and the Energy Thought Summit planned for March 26 – 29 in Austin.
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