When I look around Wolverine I see many different teams, formal and informal, working to achieve different goals. We have so many talented employees who care about their jobs and take pride in doing them well. I literally see it more in our new HQ, because I can see teams working together in collaborative spaces, conference rooms, the lunch area and our back patio.

I’ve talked a lot lately about teams of engineers, linemen, technicians and plant operators who bring our notable construction projects on-line and provide essential reliability services to our members. They deserve the attention! Everyday I see other teams now that I’m not stuck in a dark corner like I was in the old building. I get to see accounting and finance employees making sure we have the cash to build our projects and run the business. They ensure we properly record (account) for our assets, they render bills and pay bills, and they prepare and keep the records of our operations consistent with regulations. I get to see Wolverine employees buying the land we need for new construction, managing our rights-of-way, and ensuring the facilities we operate do so in accordance with environmental rules. I see the energy from the human resources group attending to our computer networks, software, looking out for employee safety, recruiting and hiring great new employees, and making sure we get paid (thank you!). I get to peer through the glass to see Merchant Operations buying and selling power, and occasionally I’m allowed a glimpse inside our Energy Control Center as they manage our transmission system 24/7. Of course, the glue holding it all together comes from the administrative services group who provide daily assistance, organization and maintenance for all of us.

Everyday someone impresses me at Wolverine with his or her talent, work ethic or creativity. In addition, I get to see the professional talents of my senior team members on a daily basis. My team recently undertook a challenging assignment called a 360 exercise. Think of it as getting feedback from all around. Each senior team member (including me) worked through three personality tests, and in addition, was reviewed by his or her boss, subordinates and peers. This work is hard, it’s time consuming, and it can be brutal. The focus is all about learning how we can be more effective working together, and how those improvements can be taught throughout the organization. This process takes courage, so pat your VP on the back! I remain excited to see how we grow as a senior team through this process. After all, a group of bright individuals is never as good as a team of trusted partners.