Guest rooms are large, restaurant choices are over-the-top, the live shows are amazing, and the lessons learned make us better professionals. That’s why Las Vegas is a leading conference destination. Conferences Connect’s Utility Revenue Week at Caesars Entertainment’s Bally’s, once again, proved that point!
The week began with a workshop focusing on Benchmarking & Performance Measures for Utility Billing & Payments co-hosted by Utilligent’s Customer Operations Principals Bob Cooke and Ted Nolte. In this workshop we had the opportunity to see what are we doing right and learn where can we improve. After lunch Ashley Baptiste CEO of Conferences Connect, and the conference producer, lead a Round Robin and Key Issues discussion where we had the chance to meet who was in the room. Randy Vykocil of Western Union Payment Services updated us on trends and behaviors influencing billing and payments Pre and Post Durbin. The first day sessions ended with Rich Brewer of SourceGas sharing how they cracked the code on adding revenue while strengthening the relationship with customers through non-regulated products to their bill. The first day conclude with a crowd favorite networking reception.
Day two of Billing & Payments for Utilities began with Torri Johnson of Xcel Energy sharing the processes, successes, and what we would do different, of creating a new paper bill that served the goals of all stakeholders. Karen Basilotta and her team at Las Vegas Valley Water District shared how they learned new avenues of customer interaction that lowered cost and improved payments and collections. Maureen Russolo of E Source showed attendees how Journey Mapping your existing meter-to-cash processes will improve customer satisfaction levels and operational savings. Steven Bott of Ameren shared a case study on partnering with a third party to meet the customer’s demands through mobile payments. The Billing and Payments for Utilities sessions ended with Ashley Baptiste leading a discussion on what did we learn, how did we grow and what are we going to share with our co-workers.
Credit & Collections for Utilities began on Wednesday with Bob Cooke and Ted Nolte sharing benchmarking, technology, tips and techniques of large for profit industries. Sandi Spurbeck of Ameren Missouri shared the challenging process of changing habits and systems relating to Credit & Collections. Karen Bailotta of LVVWD presented The lien Project and Payment Options with a Positive Impact both were extremely informative and new approaches to conference attendees. Rich Brewer of SourceGas surprised the room with found money when he shared a large credit card company payed SourceGas just for accepting their card.
There was much more industry information shared at this informative conference that we are unable to share here, remember… What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas
Utility Revenue Week in Vegas was very informative and a huge success. Attendees started with only a shared need to learn more about their challenges in the industry. Attendees left with a team of like minded resources to help them navigate their own organizational projects.
[ap_testimonial image=”http://utilityevents.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/JoeHerits.jpg” image_shape=”round” client=”Joe Herits, Billing Specialist | Middlesex Water Company” designation=””]
Ashley and the Conferences Connect team did a fantastic job of promoting an environment where the presentations and discussions were both informative and stimulating. The information offered and shared amongst my peers at the Billing and Payments for Utilities conference was and is a tremendous help in highlighting the problems and opportunities we face as a utility today. The positive experience gained is immeasurable.
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