[Leslie Cook (Adm)]

Thanks for allowing UAI to feature you, @Lawrence, in our March 2022 Member Spotlight! Even though you have only been involved in the UAI for a short time, you jumped in quickly and have provided incredible value to the community. Thank you so much! It is great to get to know you even more through this interview.  I love a few of your quotes that you shared in your interview, like “I view challenges as growth that provide opportunities that will later help you to share blessings with others.” and “Always have a good attitude and know that the insights you bring will shine a light of truth for many other in darkness.“

Cheers!

     Leslie

Cheers!

     Leslie ​

——————————
Leslie Cook
Membership & Digital Engagement Manager
Utility Analytics Institute (UAI)
719-203-8650, lcook@utilityanalytics.com
——————————
——————————————-
Original Message:
Sent: 03-02-2022 10:00
From: Kevin Praet
Subject: March (2022) Member Spotlight: Lawrence Bustos (TECO-People’s Gas)

Lawrence Bustos 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. Lawrence is the Manager of Business Operations Support Services at TECO-Peoples Gas System based out of Tampa, FL. He has 7 years of experience in the oil and gas industry in engineering and operations.

 

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

Lawrence: While developing a presence within the company for using data and BI Reports, I was invited by multiple colleagues to research UAI. Our company was a member and made it easy for me to connect. I was initially working on measurement data for gate stations and was interested in applying data mining concepts for solving solutions. I was not aware of how many other data analytics leaders were doing what I love doing. When I learned about UAI from colleagues, I instantly felt that burden was lifted knowing that I wasn’t alone. After becoming a member, I attended the 2021 Annual conference and have enjoyed meeting so many wonderful people in the industry.

 

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

Lawrence: I have enjoyed working on collaborating with multiple departments within the company to visualize and organize reports using platforms such as Power BI and Qualtrics. The project consisted of data engineering, data visualization and is an ongoing cultural shift for creating a data driven community within the company. I have focused on operations data and specific information that can help us with field operations and damage prevention. Our reports help in viewing operational data, which in turn can be correlated to financials specific to operation and optimized customer support. Our team members have embraced utilizing multiple dashboards and reports, to analyze and develop solutions based off factual data presented in simple reports. I am proud of team members in our company for understanding how powerful data is and most importantly how it helps people.

 

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

Lawrence: I usually don’t view challenges as something to overcome. I view challenges as growth that provide opportunities that will later help you to share blessings with others. Self-growth in general specific to the utility analytics space has been starting a vision by yourself and developing a clear communication for leaders and team members to understand. Developing a direction for a company wide data strategy is something I continue to work on with colleagues and leaders. I am thankful for the many people who I have found within TECO-PGS and in UAI, which have made me feel like there is a community available to help in pioneering the way forward.

 

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?

Lawrence: This industry is in an infant stage; thus, you are carving out new paths and creating many new opportunities that have never been used. Thus, be patient and strategic in communicating a vision before practical application. Always have a good attitude and know that the insights you bring will shine a light of truth for many other in darkness.

 

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?

Lawrence: I would like to learn more about applications of artificial intelligence and data mining applied specifically to gas utilities particularly in Engineering, operations, and business forecasting. I enjoy learning about predictive analytics being applied to help forecast and optimize strategic business decisions. This includes how operations variables can predict financials and grant insight into better customer and business relationships.

 

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?

Lawrence:  Thank you all for being so welcoming and for creating connections that make a safe space to for us to collaborate. If anyone ever wants to discuss utility analytics, I am always available to help. I am passionate about all data analytics topics and enjoy meeting new team members in the industry.

——————————
Kevin Praet
Membership Coordinator
Utility Analytics Institute (UAI)
Boulder CO
315-440-3033
——————————