Meet the Speaker: One of our Rock Star Presenters at the upcoming Change Management for Utilities Conference in Las Vegas.
Q: Name, title, company?
A: Lisa Imondi, Organizational Change Leadership, Cornerstone Program, American Electric Power
Q: Family, hometown, where you live?
A: Married 15 years to Dave Fischer. We have a 3-year-old rescue Shih Tzu, Baylee. She is the Queen of the house! We live in downtown Columbus, Ohio in a home built in 1888.
Q: What is your Utility experience?
A: Utility specific change management experience includes leading the change management efforts for several enterprise-wide initiatives at American Electric Power including a data center move, implementation of a new expense policies and PeopleSoft Expense, Ariba e-procurement Solutions, and Business Continuity program. Additionally, I have change management experience in organizational restructuring for a large gas company, implementing customer experience for retail energy, and guiding a manufacturing firm thought a corporate restructuring.
Q: What do you like to do when you’re not working? Hobbies?
A: Outside of work I am a singer/songwriter. I have released two CDs with original music and have performed with a 27-piece big band and have had several bands. I also love to cook and entertain.
Q: Notable achievements?
A: My amazing marriage to my wonderful husband is the achievement that is most meaningful to me. Also, having the opportunity to record songs that I wrote in a studio with a band was pretty cool! I also wrote a song for a non-profit that was used as the theme song for one of their primary fund raising events.
Q: Where do you see Change Management in utilities in two years?
A: Utilities are under enormous pressure to change in a couple of key areas: Improve operational effectiveness and ultimately reduce costs – and improve customer experience. Both of these challenges require fundamental changes in people, process and technology. I see change management becoming more integral to the success of utilities and their ability to transform into the ‘next generation energy company’ as defined by Edison Electric Institute (EEI). Just in the past few years, I have seen and increased focus on change management and appreciation for the quantifiable value.
Q: What is your biggest challenge?
A: Balance. I like to be involved in everything and there just isn’t enough time! I am learning how to say ‘NO’ but it is a daily struggle!
Q: What did you do prior to your current role?
A: I worked in a number of different industries doing marketing, communications, and eventually transitioned into change management.
Q: Who are a couple of your role models (and why)?
A: My grandfather had a huge influence on my outlook on life. He always looked at life from the perspective of the ‘glass half full’. He approached everything with a positive attitude and was able to laugh himself. He never took himself or anything too seriously. His personality was infectious, he knew no strangers, and treated everyone as a friend. I find myself trying to model my behavior after him all the time.
Q: What is one of your big goals?
A: To have one of my original songs recorded by a recording artist. To retire healthy with my husband so that we can enjoy life!
Q: What is the biggest misconception you run into in your role?
A: That corporate communications is the same thing as change management. That change management is just training and blast emails! That we can tell people what is going on one time and everything will be fine…
