New Executive Appointments
LADWP has welcomed three new leaders to the executive management team. Norma Grubb has been appointed as Chief Information and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Officer, Kendall Helm joins LADWP as Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer, and Joanne Martin will serve as Chief Risk and Compliance Officer. All three are very knowledgeable in their respective fields and bring a wealth of experience to their new roles. They will further strengthen LADWP as an organization to be the sustainable, safe, and modern utility that Los Angeles deserves.
To learn more about their backgrounds please read the Bulletin.
Workday Dress Rehearsal
Get Ready for the Workday Dress Rehearsal!
The Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) project team is excited to share the next phase of the Workday launch: the Workday Timekeeping Dress Rehearsal, taking place March 24 to April 4.
The Dress Rehearsal is designed to give all employees the chance to practice using the new Workday HR and Payroll System for time entry functionality. It is a critical step to help everyone feel comfortable and confident with Workday before the official go-live date. Follow the steps below to ensure Workday success:
How to Prepare for Workday Success
- Complete the “Welcome to Workday” eLearning courses on Cornerstone. These modules are a great way to get comfortable with Workday’s tools and interface.
- Check your personal data on EIS such as your work schedule, work shifts, supervisor and work history, and ensure that your information is accurate and up to date. Correct information will help ensure a seamless transition into the Workday system.
Workday Dress Rehearsal Activities
- If you currently enter your own time or time for others, practice entering time and get familiar with recording time in the Workday practice environment.
- Gain hands on experience by exploring the system to build confidence in using Workday’s time entry tools and features.
- Attend a Workday Readiness Fair for support and guidance. ERP project staff will be available for assistance and any questions you may have. Be on the lookout for separate communications regarding readiness fair details.
- If you do not enter your own time, you will not be a direct participant in the Dress Rehearsal, but you are still encouraged to get familiar with Workday and complete the “Welcome to Workday (Timekeeper Time Entry)” Training course available on Cornerstone here.
The ERP project team is committed to helping you every step of the way. The Workday Dress Rehearsal is a valuable opportunity to build confidence and make a smooth and successful transition to Workday.
Winning with Workday: Episode 4 - FAQs with Chief People Officer Tracey Pierce
Get answers to your top Workday questions as Tracey Pierce discusses key insights and what to expect before launch. Watch above to stay informed and prepare for a smooth transition!
To keep in the loop on the latest Workday updates, please visit the ERP MyDWP site, and email your Change Champions or WorkdayQuestions@ladwp.com with any questions.
Employee Arc Rated Clothing Store is Just the Right Fit
A unique clothing store recently opened in Lone Pine, providing Owens Valley (OV) employees with access to a wide inventory of job-specific clothing and gear. Long in the making, this specialty store helps meet the needs of employees that are required to wear Arc Rated safety clothing. Arc Rated refers to personal protective equipment (PPE) clothing that protects workers from heat, fire, and electric arc-related injuries. Clothing items also include warm-weather gear, to be able to work in the frigid winter conditions of the OV. In the past, a limited supply of clothing on hand made it difficult for employees to replace damaged or worn clothing because they had to wait for orders to be transported in from Los Angeles.
As the saying goes, ‘See a need, fill a need.’ With support from OV Supply Chain Services and Power System Safety, a small warehouse in the Lone Pine District yard was cleaned out and converted into a store fully stocked with an abundance of clothing and gear in many different sizes. The store has created a much smoother and more efficient process for ordering or replacing specialty PPE.
“There’s been a lot of positive reaction from all the employees who have visited the store, as they no longer have to be fitted for thick, cumbersome Arc Rated clothing in warehouses or facility restrooms,” says David A. Pratt, Superintendent - Owens Valley Electric System. “Those weren’t the best conditions, and this store was created to eliminate that uncomfortable experience with a welcoming environment complete with a fitting room and a mirror, comparable to any retailer.”
The store initially offered only cold weather clothing, but now carries an entire catalog of Arc Rated clothing for men and women. Other items available include pants, shirts, hoodies, beanies, balaclavas, bib overalls, insulated and non-insulated items, and jackets. In the future, store staff hope to stock insulated vests. In the event that items ordered are found to be the incorrect size, it’s no longer an issue. The correct item is ordered, and the wrong-sized item(s) are now added to the store inventory to be made available to other employees.
“It’s been a long-time dream of Brian Wilbur and I, back when we were in Safety, to have a store like this set up where our employees can get exactly what they need on the same day. Thanks to Dave Pratt and Owens Valley Supply Chain personnel for making this happen. My hope is that this practice is emulated throughout our service territory for all field employees.”
David Hanson, Senior Assistant General Manager - Power System
The store is located at 704 South Main Street, Lone Pine, CA 93545. It’s overseen by Store 43 Senior Storekeeper Justin Ruiz and staffed by Storekeeper Brian Guzel. Hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Unique Valve Model Helps Train Water Utility Workers
Water Utility Workers (WUW) from Water Transmission Operations help ensure that the water distribution system is maintained and functioning optimally. From installing pressure reducing valves, pressure relief valves and altitude valves to retrofitting stations and conducting preventative maintenance, WUW’s need an in-depth understanding of how the system works. Although most people don’t give them a second thought, pressure reducing valves are a critical component of the distribution system to reduce the pressure of water from a higher elevation zone to a steady, lower elevation zone. For new employees, sometimes simple descriptions in a textbook don’t provide the full picture of a valve’s intricate, inner workings. That’s when Cesar A. Garcia, Senior Water Utility Worker, was inspired to create a cutaway model of a pressure reducing valve. Garcia was assisted on the cutaway model by WUW's Steve Dudley, Josue Varela and Baltazar Cano.
“I really wanted our new trainees to understand and visualize how our equipment works. With this cutaway, they can see how water flows through the valve and how it hydraulically modulates. This helps them have a better understanding once they’re out in the field working on the job."
Cesar A. Garcia, Senior Water Utility Worker
A working six-inch valve was cut right down the middle using a circular ban saw, so that all the components were visible. A smaller tool known as a die grinder was also used to grind and cut out smaller pieces. The valve was then painted inside out, providing a high contrast so that all the parts could be seen clearly. The results are an eye-catching training model that can also double as piece of industrial art. As the need arises, future cutaways of other water system equipment will be created by Water Transmission Operations to assist with training.
“The cutaway has produced very positive reactions from employees, and I commend Cesar and his team for taking the initiative to create this great training aid,” said Bernard Jackson, Water Utility Supervisor. “Our new employees will be that much more knowledgeable and proficient in their work, helping us improve service to our customers.”
LADWP Crews in the Community: A Small Gesture with a Big Impact
Five-year-old Ethan walks to school every day with his mom Jessica. What one might consider routine, Ethan looks forward to every day. That’s because the walks to-and-from school offer him a chance to see his friends. These friends are not a group of his peers or classmates but an LADWP water crew working in his neighborhood.
Shortly after the Water Distribution Western District crew started working in the neighborhood, they got on a first-name basis with Ethan. The crew even inspired the five-year-old to pursue a career in sewer construction one day, as he hopes to drive a back-hoe loader. The team gifted Ethan with his own LADWP hard hat, letting him know he is one of the crew. The hard hat is personalized, and now Ethan barely wants to take the hat off.
“We see the crew each day - and in addition to working quickly on our streets, noticeably ahead of their anticipated schedule for each road, they are also courteous and respectful of the neighbors, maintaining a very orderly work zone. This incredibly touching gesture with Ethan demonstrates that they are also genuinely great individuals with big, kind hearts.”
Jessica Thomas, Ethan's mom
The Western crew includes Water Utility Supervisor Armando Gutierrez; Maintenance Construction Helpers Steve Martinez and Miguel Rios Chavez along with Water Utility Workers Clinton “CJ” Jackson; Danny Valles; Keith Scott and Stevan Sendzik. Daniel Lopez, Heavy Duty Truck Operator, and Freddy Gandara, Equipment Operator, round out the crew.
Their hard work, dedication and kindness in the community has left a positive impact on the neighborhood. Their exemplary work ethic and community outreach helps build goodwill in the communities LADWP serves.
