FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Terrie Prosper, 415.703.1366, news@cpuc.ca.gov
PUC ANNUAL DIVERSITY HEARING FOCUSES ON EXPANDING CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES IN LEGAL AND FINANCIAL SERVICES
Honorable Willie L. Brown, Jr. to Give Keynote Address at
Keeping California First in Diversity: Raising the Bar
SAN FRANCISCO, September 21, 2006 - The California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) will hold its Fourth Annual Diversity Hearing, "Keeping California First in Diversity: Raising the Bar," on Tuesday, October 3, 2006, featuring a keynote address from the Honorable Willie L. Brown, Jr.
The event will focus on ways to increase contracting opportunities between utilities and women, minority, and disabled veteran-owned businesses, specifically in the areas of financial, legal, architectural, and engineering services. The hearing will assess the status of diversity in procurement practices and identify areas for improvement. The Commission will frame the issues and seek feedback from participants to describe challenges and propose solutions. The event is free and a session for public comment will be included.
WHEN: Tuesday, October 3, 2006, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
WHERE: Hiram Johnson State Building
Milton Marks Auditorium
455 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco
WHO: PUC Commissioners; the Honorable Willie L. Brown, Jr.; Senator Martha M. Escutia, Chair, Senate Energy Utilities and Communication Committee and Chair, California Latino Legislative Caucus; Gwen Moore, President and CEO of GeM Communications Group and Former Member of the California State Assembly; CEOs, CFOs, and General Counsels (or their designees) from California's largest utilities; and others - please see agenda below.
Please join us and register online at http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/events/RegisterIntro.asp?EventID=10.
If you need special accommodations for this public meeting, please make a request through the Public Advisor's Office by Sept. 28, 2006, by sending an email to public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov or by calling 415-703-2074 (TTY 866-836-7825 or 415-703-5282), or by faxing to 415-703-1758 (please include "Attention Public Advisor").
For more information, please contact Sheri Boles, Assistant Public Advisor, at 415-703-2442 or sni@cpuc.ca.gov.
For more information on the Commission's Utility Supplier Diversity Program, please visit http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/static/supplierdiversity/index.htm.
For more information on the PUC, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov.
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Tentative Agenda
California Public Utilities Commission's
Fourth Annual Diversity Public Hearing
"Keeping California First in Diversity: Raising the Bar"
Tuesday, October 3, 2006
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Hiram Johnson State Building
Milton Marks Auditorium
455 Golden Gate Ave., San Francisco
9 a.m. Welcome and Opening Remarks
Michael R. Peevey, CPUC President
Senator Martha M. Escutia, Chair, Senate Energy Utilities and Communication Committee and Chair, California Latino Legislative Caucus
Gwen Moore, President and CEO of GeM Communications Group and
Former Member of the California State Assembly (1978-1994)
John Bohn, CPUC Commissioner
Geoffrey F. Brown, CPUC Commissioner
Rachelle Chong, CPUC Commissioner
Dian M. Grueneich, CPUC Commissioner
9:25 a.m. CPUC Staff Update and New Endeavors
Steve Larson, CPUC Executive Director
Linda Serizawa, CPUC Director, Consumer Service and Information Division
Utility Supplier Diversity Program
Language Access Services
Focus: Financial, Legal, Architectural, and Engineering Services
9:40 a.m. California Utilities Diversity Council (CUDC) Report
Introduction
José L. Pérez, Publisher, Latino Journal, CUDC Chair
Procurement
Joan Kerr, Executive Director, Supplier Diversity, AT&T, CUDC Member
Philanthropy
José L. Pérez, Publisher, Latino Journal, CUDC Chair
Customer Service and Marketing
Nancy Zarenda, Director, Spanish Language Academy (Rio International
Language Services), CUDC Vice-Chair
Governance
Frank Quevedo, Vice President, Southern California Edison, CUDC Member
Employment
Steve Leder, Director, Professional Staffing and Diversity, Pacific Gas and
Electric Company, CUDC Member
10:25 a.m. Keeping California First in Diversity: Raising the Bar
Alan J. Fohrer, Chief Executive Officer, Southern California Edison
Edwin A. Guiles, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Sempra Energy (San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas Company)
Tom King, Chief Executive Officer, Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Timothy McCallion, President - West Region, Verizon
Melba Muscarolas, Vice President and General Manager - San Francisco
Market Area, AT&T
11:15 a.m. Introduction of Keynote Speaker
Michael R. Peevey, CPUC President
11:20 a.m. Keynote Speaker
Honorable Willie L. Brown, Jr., The Willie L. Brown, Jr. Institute on Politics
and Public Service
11:50 a.m. Lunch
Provided by the Latino Journal, a magazine dedicated to public policy and
government from a Latino perspective
12:35 p.m. Legal Services - Panel Discussion: Strategies to increase business with diverse law firms, overcome impediments, and achieve long-term goals
Facilitator: Peter Arth, Jr., Chief of Staff to CPUC President Peevey
Elaine M. Duncan, Vice President, General Counsel - West Region, Verizon
Sanford Hartman, Vice President and Managing Director, Law, Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Stephen E. Pickett, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Southern
California Edison
Sandra Sakamoto, General Attorney and Assistant General Counsel, AT&T
W. Davis Smith, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Sempra Energy (San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas Company)
Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Sempra Energy Utilities
1:35 p.m. Financial Services - Panel Discussion: Strategies to increase business with diverse financial institutions, overcome impediments, and achieve long-term goals
Facilitator: Peter Arth, Jr., Chief of Staff to CPUC President Peevey
Chris Johns, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer,
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Joan T. Jones, Vice President - Finance and Treasurer, Sempra Energy
(San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas Company)
Lori Lee, Vice President - Finance, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, AT&T
Terri L. Maria, Director, Financial Planning and Analysis - West Region, Verizon
Henry Mendoza, Chairperson, California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce
Managing Partner, Mendoza Berger Company, L.L.P.
Thomas M. Noonan, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer,
Southern California Edison
California Public Employees' Retirement System Representative (INVITED)
2:50 p.m. Statewide Small Business Expos
John Bohn, CPUC Commissioner
3 p.m. The Greenlining Institute Report
Paul H. Turner, Senior Program Manager, Claiming Our Democracy
The Greenlining Institute
3:10 p.m. Public Comment
3:30 p.m. Closing Remarks
Michael R. Peevey, CPUC President
