[Leslie Cook (Adm)]

Great interview, @Michael! When I read the following part, I literally laughed out loud, spitting my coffee out. LOL! :-)

“Then, after seeing the future me, I would sprint to my doctor and ask about medication that would help me keep my hair.”

Thanks to you and GTC for being engaged members of UAI!

Happy New Year!

Cheers,
Leslie​

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Leslie Cook
Membership & Digital Engagement Manager
Utility Analytics Institute (UAI)
719-203-8650, lcook@utilityanalytics.com
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——————————————-
Original Message:
Sent: 01-03-2023 12:20
From: Kevin Praet
Subject: January (2023) Member Spotlight: Michael Fourman (Georgia Transmission Corporation)

@Michael 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. 

Michael is the Director of Engineering and Business Intelligence at Georgia Transmission Corporation.  He has been at GTC for almost 25 years serving in several areas in the Projects and Maintenance areas.  He enjoys sports, home brewing, and spending time with his family as a proud husband, father, and grandfather.

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

Michael: I’ve had the pleasure of working in many areas of the utility industry in my career.  The diversity and constant learning have been exciting, but it does come with some initial knowledge gaps which required me to lean on data versus experience to be successful.  When GTC decided to start a data analytics area, I happened to be equipped with a solid base of knowledge needed to lead that effort.

 

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

Michael: It’s been just a few months since we’ve actually started completing individual analytics projects and they’ve all been enjoyable, but I’ve only played a small role in their success. I would say my favorite has been building the data analytics program itself.  It’s still a work in progress but I’ve been able to hire a key position and build an incredible team of citizen analysts who have helped get the program where it is today.  Seeing the program grow from just an idea has been rewarding.

 

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

Michael: Being a new program it seems like we face a new challenge every day.  Personally, my biggest challenge has been striking the balance between our new program providing early returns while not going so fast that we build a weak infrastructure.  Its harnessing the excitement of our data analytics customers while building the program the right way to facilitate future growth.

 

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?

Michael: I collected a lot of data over the years that I used for the immediate need then never kept.  I would recommend to myself learning some database basics and keeping the data I’ve generated.  Then, after seeing the future me, I would sprint to my doctor and ask about medication that would help me keep my hair.

 

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?

Michael: The utility industry is a little unique in that we typically do not need to compete for customers.  This is especially true for transmission organizations.  With this in mind, we should worry less about sharing our knowledge.  There are so many great things the professionals in this industry are achieving every day that would be helpful to others.  Maybe it’s the cooperative spirit that has been instilled in me but why not help our colleagues solve problems or implement use cases that you’ve already done?

 

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?

Michael: At GTC, we believe Data Analytics will be part of the workforce transformation of the future.  We are already considering analytics skills in candidates we hire for non-analytics position.  If you know a student at any level, encourage them to add data analytics tools to their toolbox.

​

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

[Haneesh Marella]

Great interview and points! Totally agree with the point on the biggest challenge being “striking the balance between our new program providing early returns while not going so fast that we build a weak infrastructure.  Its harnessing the excitement of our data analytics customers while building the program the right way to facilitate future growth.”. Very critical for projects to sustain long term and a key point for leadership to take a note of. 

Thanks for sharing insights!

——————————
Haneesh Marella
Senior Product Manager
Entergy
TX
5622415791
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——————————————-
Original Message:
Sent: 01-03-2023 12:20
From: Kevin Praet
Subject: January (2023) Member Spotlight: Michael Fourman (Georgia Transmission Corporation)

@Michael 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. 

Michael is the Director of Engineering and Business Intelligence at Georgia Transmission Corporation.  He has been at GTC for almost 25 years serving in several areas in the Projects and Maintenance areas.  He enjoys sports, home brewing, and spending time with his family as a proud husband, father, and grandfather.

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

Michael: I’ve had the pleasure of working in many areas of the utility industry in my career.  The diversity and constant learning have been exciting, but it does come with some initial knowledge gaps which required me to lean on data versus experience to be successful.  When GTC decided to start a data analytics area, I happened to be equipped with a solid base of knowledge needed to lead that effort.

 

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

Michael: It’s been just a few months since we’ve actually started completing individual analytics projects and they’ve all been enjoyable, but I’ve only played a small role in their success. I would say my favorite has been building the data analytics program itself.  It’s still a work in progress but I’ve been able to hire a key position and build an incredible team of citizen analysts who have helped get the program where it is today.  Seeing the program grow from just an idea has been rewarding.

 

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

Michael: Being a new program it seems like we face a new challenge every day.  Personally, my biggest challenge has been striking the balance between our new program providing early returns while not going so fast that we build a weak infrastructure.  Its harnessing the excitement of our data analytics customers while building the program the right way to facilitate future growth.

 

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?

Michael: I collected a lot of data over the years that I used for the immediate need then never kept.  I would recommend to myself learning some database basics and keeping the data I’ve generated.  Then, after seeing the future me, I would sprint to my doctor and ask about medication that would help me keep my hair.

 

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?

Michael: The utility industry is a little unique in that we typically do not need to compete for customers.  This is especially true for transmission organizations.  With this in mind, we should worry less about sharing our knowledge.  There are so many great things the professionals in this industry are achieving every day that would be helpful to others.  Maybe it’s the cooperative spirit that has been instilled in me but why not help our colleagues solve problems or implement use cases that you’ve already done?

 

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?

Michael: At GTC, we believe Data Analytics will be part of the workforce transformation of the future.  We are already considering analytics skills in candidates we hire for non-analytics position.  If you know a student at any level, encourage them to add data analytics tools to their toolbox.

​

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