ITS Division Shares Latest Innovations at the March Town Hall Employee Meeting
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The Town Hall Employee Meeting on March 20 featured presentations about exciting topics from the Information Technology Services (ITS) Division, including crucial technology developed to assist with LADWP’s response to the January wind and firestorms, and the Department-wide implementation of Workday arriving in June.
Justin Sarris, Assistant Director of Information Systems, showcased the innovative systems and applications ITS rapidly developed amidst the emergency response. Today, these same technologies are playing a critical role in the recovery efforts. During the second presentation, Alina Cummings, Assistant Director of Information Systems, provided an exciting update on the implementation of Workday, the new system the Department will be adopting this June to increase efficiency and streamline many of our human resources and payroll related tasks. The presentations highlighted the innovative work the ITS Division is doing to modernize Department-wide processes and keep us moving into the future.
Following the presentations, the speakers joined Chief Information and Artificial Intelligence Officer Norma Grubb and CEO and Chief Engineer Janisse Quiñones for a Q&A session to answer questions from audience members about the meeting’s topics. Information from the meeting is available to employees on MyDWP. Next month’s meeting is slated for May 15, the third Thursday of the month.
Workday Countdown: Preparing for Go-Live on June 16
Workday familiarization events for employees throughout the Department have been a big success. About 4,200 time entries were submitted, over 400 feedback form entries were received, and more than 500 employees participated in the Workday Readiness Fairs and Dress Rehearsal. Feedback collected has been invaluable, helping the ERP project team identify areas for improvement, address common questions, and refine training materials to ensure a smooth transition.
As we approach the June 16 go-live date, now is the time to finalize preparations. Employees are encouraged to:
- Take the final Workday Change Readiness Survey by May 2
- Complete any remaining Workday training on Cornerstone
- Verify personal information (such as work schedules) in current systems to ensure accuracy in the new system
- Familiarize yourself with Workday tools and features before launch
- Continue practicing in the Workday test environment, which will reopen from April 28 through June 6
As we approach the final stretch, continued preparation and engagement will be essential to make this transition smooth and successful.
Please continue to visit the ERP MyDWP site for updates and information.
Reach out via email to your Change Champions or email WorkdayQuestions@ladwp.comwith any questions.
Women’s HERstory Month: Women in Leadership and the Power of Mentorship
LADWP proudly recognizes and commemorates the influence of women at the Department over the last 100 years. As of February 2025, LADWP employs nearly 2,900 women out of our workforce of over 11,000. Department leadership is actively working to increase this number, particularly in non-traditional roles, by conducing outreach and mentorship.
Zoraya Oliver-Griffin, Chief Climate Resiliency and Emergency Management Officer, represented LADWP as the keynote speaker at the Girls Academic Leadership Academy’s 8th Annual Young Women's Career Conference. She delivered a message of empowering the next generation of scholars to embrace their unique potential, pursue their dreams, and believe in the power of mentorships.
CEO and Chief Engineer Janisse Quiñones participated at HOPE Latina History Day Conference on a panel, “Creative Change: Latinas Shaping Environmental Leadership Roles.” Quiñones joined Elsa Valay-Paz, Vice President of Gas Aquisition at SoCal Gas, and Michelle Valles, News Anchor and Reporter at NBC4, who moderated the discussion, to reflect on her role as a Latina leader and the unique experiences she shares with other Latinas in their career journeys.
On March 22, LADWP also participated in the Natural History Museum of L.A. County’s Girls in STEM Day at La Brea Tar Pits. This exciting event for girls ages 8-18 provided hands-on STEM activities career exploration, a STEMinist Fair, and panel discussion. A special thank you to our LADWP employees who dedicate time to connect with students and show them that their dreams are within reach.
Each Women’s History Month, let’s remember that by honoring the past we acknowledge the achievements of women throughout history and also highlight the experiences of underrepresented women, whose voices have often been marginalized. By uplifting diverse voices, we can empower future generations to break barriers and shape a more inclusive future for everyone. The journey continues!
New Director of Emergency Management Appointed
Mona Freels has been appointed as LADWP’s Director of Emergency Management, effective February 10, 2025. She will help ensure Department readiness in operational and financial response and recovery, as well as develop, lead and test emergency preparedness exercises and training. Her responsibility will also include managing operations of the Office of Emergency Management.
Freels brings more than 30 years of experience in disaster preparedness and emergency planning and operations. Most recently she was the Emergency Operations Services Manager for San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E). She will report directly to Zoraya Oliver-Griffin, Chief Climate Resiliency & Emergency Management Officer.
LADWP Celebrates the Year of the Snake
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On March 22, LADWP employees, including members of resource group ASPIRE (Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Supporting Progress, Inclusion, Respect and Empowerment), marched in the 126th annual Golden Dragon Parade. This event is normally celebrated closer to the Lunar New Year but was rescheduled due to the January wildfire emergency.
The Golden Dragon Parade is known for highlighting the current year’s Chinese zodiac. With 2025 being the Year of the Snake, this Chinese zodiac is often characterized as a time for opportunity, renewal and challenges.
LADWP’s Director of Corporate Environmental Affairs Katherine Rubin kicked off the celebration at the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles’s reception, where she accepted a “Sponsorship Award” on behalf of LADWP in recognition and appreciation for contributions to the day’s festivities. To continue the celebration, Katherine joined the rest of the LADWP parade group to begin their march through Chinatown.
Marching alongside LADWP’s electric fleet vehicles, ASPIRE representatives played music featuring artists from the AANHPI community and had a bubble machine to keep the energy up and spirits high throughout the parade route.
“I loved seeing colleagues from across the Department come together to celebrate and showcase our diversity. It was a proud moment to represent our AANHPI community and share our culture with the city.”
Serena Beltran, LADWP Audio Visual Technician and ASPIRE Member
Events like the Golden Dragon Parade help promote a clean and equitable energy future for all Angelenos, and serve as a positive way to engage with our communities. Throughout the parade, LADWP proudly promoted “Powered By Equity” initiatives on our latest all-electric fleet vehicles.
As LADWP continues to work toward achieving a 100 percent clean energy by 2035, highlighting our Powered by Equity programs and rebates help make our community members an active part of L.A.’s clean energy transition.
Are you interested in joining ASPIRE? If so, please email ASPIRE@LADWP.com to sign up.
LADWP Projects Garner EPRI Technology Transfer Awards
LADWP won multiple awards at the 2024 Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Technology Transfer Awards. The Department was honored in February for innovation, dedication to advancing technology and leadership, and was recognized for various projects in the Energy Delivery and Customer Solutions sector that applied EPRI research for solving the pressing problems of today.
The first award was for the Hollywood Reservoir Landholding Analysis project. This project supported LADWP’s biodiversity motion by installing a pollinator garden at Hollywood Reservoir to increase biodiversity and public engagement in the area. Employees involved in the project were Helen Helen Grace Olivares, Managing Water Utility Engineer; Katherine Rubin, Utility Services Manager; Maria Sison-Roces, Utility Services Manager; Noe Gomez Romero, Park Maintenance Supervisor; Eusebio Serna, Senior Gardener; John Willett Senior Gardener; Meliana Tanzil, Senior Architectural Drafting Technician; and Michael Ventre, Senior Public Relations Specialist.
The next award was for the Resource Adequacy for a Decarbonized Future project. This project was part of an EPRI initiative that focused on assessing resource adequacy amid changing resources, extreme weather conditions and shifting demands using updated metrics, methods, and tools. Heading this project was Jay Lim, Power Engineering Manager.
The LADWP Zero-Emission Planning and Grid Assessment project also took home an award. This project was centered on grid updates for the Port of Los Angeles using EPRI’s study, and involved the planning of a 191 megawatt (MW) increase to support electrified cargo-handling equipment. Infrastructure investments, supporting zero-emission goals and regulatory compliance were the focus of the study. The project team included Karl Agbayani, Electrical Engineering Associate; Kent Chan, Electrical Engineer; Peter Liang, Electrical Engineer; Yamen Nanne, Power Engineering Manager; and Aung Win, Electrical Engineer.
Congratulations to all of the winners and all those at LADWP leading the way in innovation and progress in the energy sector!
Safety
LADWP Wins 2024 APPA Safety Award of Excellence
LADWP recently earned the 2024 Award of Excellence, Diamond designation, from the American Public Power Association (APPA). This esteemed honor exemplifies our Power System’s commitment to the safety of employees. This year marks the third year in a row that the Department has been recognized by APPA. The Department received an Honorable Mention in 2022, Diamond Designation in 2023 as well as Diamond Designation in 2024.
This award honors utility companies that prioritize safety in their operations. In order to qualify, LADWP reports the Power System’s injury statistics and monitors trends in the data. This year, LADWP’s injury rate across the entire Department (not just the Power System) dropped by nine percent. For the previous three years, LADWP’s Days Away, Restrictions and Transfers (DART) also dropped. DART is a significant measure of the severity of an injury, as it notates injuries that result in days away from work, including work restrictions and transfers.
This designation from APPA is an important recognition that highlights the practices LADWP employees implement every day to make safety the utmost priority.
