• Ask Your Network

  Member Spotlight: Andy Kapp

  Posted by Kevin Praet (Adm) on November 2, 2020 at 8:27 am

  Andy Kapp is an active UAI member and provides outstanding influence and contributions to the UAI community through any of our multiple channels, including, but not limited to engagement on UAI Connect, volunteering with UAI, involvement and/or leadership in monthly Community Conversations, and/or speaking at UAI events, plus so much.  As thanks, we are featuring him in the UAI Member Spotlight.

   

  Andy’s focus is on emerging and evolving technologies and their impacts on existing analytics and data science architectures and/or business capabilities.

   

  Kevin: How did you get into the utility analytics industry?

  Member: Right out of college I turned my focus to analytics because it was fast and fun work. My analytics focus quickly crossed paths with technology architecture and, for the last 20 years I have supported organizations in their efforts to implement and adopt enterprise-grade analytics platforms and programs. I started with Evergy (formerly Westar) in 2013 and, since then, have been involved with the establishment and evolution of their analytics program.

   

  Kevin: What project have you enjoyed working on most in your career?

  Member: I wear two hats; one in technology architecture and the other in Research and Development. I have enjoyed wearing both hats (and their associated projects). A favorite project that comes quickly to mind… In 2019 I was asked to research KNIME. While learning KNIME I found a new world of “wow, my job just got a whole lot easier. I can use KNIME here, here and there!”. We have gone on to promote KNIME as an enterprise tool and our user-base is quickly growing! I know this response is lacking in detail, but that’s on purpose… if you haven’t tried KNIME go take it for a spin!

   

  Kevin: What has been your biggest professional challenge and how did you work through it?

  Member: My largest challenges have typically been around gathering support for and promoting new technology investments. Everyone is so busy and finding time for them to learn about new technology is often a luxury. I’ve adopted a tactic of, “having intoxicating excitement” when promoting a tool. So, honestly, I end up sounding like an infomercial but… it gets the attention and support needed to make necessary technology investments.

   

  Kevin: If you could go back in time and give yourself one piece of advice before entering the utility analytics industry, what would it be?

  Member: I was fortunate enough to have electrical, software and business backgrounds. I have heavily leveraged those educations and skills in my positions at Evergy. But the most valuable portion of my job has been developing and maintaining relationships. If I were to go back and tell myself to work on one skill, it would be, “become an expert at relationship building”. This one skill has been key to achieving results and providing value.

   

  Kevin: What would you like to talk to fellow colleagues and members about in UAI Connect? Or what issues or topics would you like to see more discussions on in UAI Connect?

  Member: I have been involved in UAI for years but, like many folks, I’m busy and have difficulty finding time to explore UAI’s content. To stay engage, I have started to listen to the recorded UAI webinars while jogging and commuting. In general, this keeps me up to date on how other utilities are addressing their challenges.

   

  Kevin: Thank you so much for sharing with us and for being a highly engaged member of UAI!

  Do you have any final thoughts, ideas, or comments you would like to share with your fellow UAI members?

  Member: We all utilize similar platforms (customer, energy, and work management systems). This being the case, we have huge opportunities to share analytic solutions that plug into data from these systems. I would love for UAI to host a website where utilities can post and share their solutions. Say, for instance, if I developed a Python script to predict recloser end of life, it would be easy to wrap that script up and post it to a solution board that is accessible to other utility members. Members could collaborate on these solutions… improving the models and ease of use for all member utilities (insert intoxicating excitement here).

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  Kevin Praet
  Membership Coordinator
  Utility Analytics Institute (UAI)
  Boulder CO
  315-440-3033
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  Kevin Praet (Adm) replied 4 years ago 1 Member · 0 Replies
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