DyNAMC covered the Utility Marketplace Access
Subcommittee (UMA) portion of the NARUC
meeting – which is responsible for furthering
awareness and education regarding opportunities
for diverse suppliers to participate in the utilities’
procurement programs, as well as encouraging
utilities to review and amend, as applicable, their
procurement strategies to ensure that diverse
suppliers are included.
In attendance were approximately 11
Commissioners, in addition to two Commissioner
Emeritus, representatives of investor-owned
utilities and diverse and emerging suppliers from
various states, which grew to approximately 73
additional attendees by the end of the meeting.
On the UMA agenda:
PANEL: Supporting Supplier Diversity in Financial
Services within Investor-Owned Utilities
Commissioner Sherina E. Maye (Illinois)
moderated UMA’s next panel to supporting
diverse firms in all areas. Commissioner Maye
opened with noting that the panel served as a
review and update of sorts, since at the July
20, 2011 Summer Committee Meetings, UMA
proposed and NARUC adopted a Resolution
Supporting Supplier Diversity in Financial
Services within Investor-Owned Utilities. UMA
welcomed representatives of three diverse firms
to the meeting. They were Ani Tchaghlasian,
Senior Vice Presiden, Investment Banking, Loop
Capital Markets; Lawrence F. Goldman, CFA,
Managing Director, Head of Capital Markets,
Ramirez & Co., Inc.; and Clifford C. Swint, CFA,
Executive Vice President Capital Markets, MFR
Securities, Inc.
After opening comments from each panelist,
Commissioner Maye encouraged a free flowing
discussion format. Mr. Clifford discussed the
power of networking with firms and companies.
He stressed the importance of adding value to
a project and make sure to keep companies
interested in the services offered by diverse
firms. He also encouraged Commissioners and
diverse firms to keep a regulatory focus, and
make certain to understand what the company
can offer.Mr. Goldman discussed the importance
of building a powerful, meaningful relationship
with a client and to perform in a valuable way.
He noted that diverse firms looking to partner
with a company must “want” to do it, and that
trying to force them to do it will eventually
backfire. Ms. Tchaghlasian noted that DBM
firms are scrutinized more closely than non
firms, so mistakes are not acceptable. She
encouraged companies to develop expertise
and build from within to develop the appropriate
skills necessary to achieve goals. Commissioner
Maye then encouraged Commissioner Brise to
reflect on Florida’s experience with a traveling
Roundtable series that has been hosted by
several Commissions including Florida and Illinois
(among others). Commissioner Brise noted
that