February Town Hall Features JFB Modernization Project and Newest Executive Team Members
The Employee Town Hall Meeting on February 20 featured a presentation on the John Ferraro Building (JFB) Modernization Project and included an introduction of the Department’s newest executive team members.
Tom DeSmet, Director of Facilities Services, outlined the Department’s plan to upgrade LADWP’s downtown headquarters and the necessary depopulation efforts. The second presentation featured a panel of five of LADWP’s newest executive team members including Zoraya Oliver-Griffin, Norma Grubb, Kendall Helm, Joanne Martin, and Rajiv Mehta. Each team member gave a brief introduction about their career background and what their roles and responsibilities are at the Department.
During the meeting, CEO and Chief Engineer Janisse Quiñones also recognized a Water Distribution crew for their exemplary community engagement efforts during a long-term pipe upgrade project. Read the full story in February Intake.
At the end of the meeting, the presenters and Quiñones took questions from audience members about the meeting’s topics. Information from the meeting is available to employees on MyDWP.
LADWP Teams Take Top Spots at 13th Annual Tap Off Competition
As a testament to their skill and dedication to their training, LADWP teams took all the top spots this year at the 13th annual LADWP Tap Off Safety and Emergency Response Fair, amidst a very competitive field of teams from various utilities across Southern California. Check out this video for some of the highlights.
The Pipe Tappers competition requires a three-person crew to manually drill a hole and install a valve into pressurized cement-lined, ductile iron pipe using a heavy, hand-cranked direct insert tapping machine. Copper service lines are then quickly attached and run to a service meter. LADWP’s Tap Kings came in 1st place with blistering times of 1:10 (1 minute 10 seconds) and 1:38 in their two attempts. The team is comprised of Adrian Suarez, Senior Water Utility Worker (Coach); Christopher Torres, Water Utility Specialist; Timothy Gonzales, Water Utility Specialist; and Joshua Madrid, Water Utility Worker. Coming 2nd place with a time of 1:33 was LADWP’s L.A. Tappers, comprised of Water Utility Supervisors Cesar Barragan, Jose Campos and Nick Castruita, and Maintenance Construction Helper Adan Gonzalez,. The Hydrant Hysteria competition involves the timed reassembly of a fire hydrant broken down into separate components. LADWP’s Hydro Kings took 1st place with incredible times of 1:29 and 1:09. The Hydro Kings consist of Adrian Suarez, Senior Water Utility Worker (Coach); Christopher Torres, Water Utility Specialist; Timothy Gonzales, Water Utility Specialist; and Joshua Madrid, Water Utility Worker. In 2nd place were the LADWP Hydro Maniacs, with equally impressive times of 1:27 and 1:23. The Maniacs consist of Matthew Hogan, Water Utility Supervisor (Coach); David Carlson, Water Utility Worker, and Edward Astorga, Maintenance and Construction Helper.
"The Tap Off competition this year has expanded with more participants, vendors and training, and it really showcases the amazing work our crews carry out on a daily basis. Events like this help maintain a high level of training and proficiency, and as we saw with the recent fires, we need to be ready for any emergency."
Oscar Salas, Water Services Manager - Training, and Co-Coordinator of Tap Off
The Meter Challenge competition features individual competitors assembling a water service meter from a jumbled bucket of parts. Scott Wall, Water Service Worker from East Valley took 1st place this year with a whirlwind time 43.53 seconds!
The Hot Flare is an individual event that requires competitors to quickly replace a service meter while the pipe is under pressure. It is the wettest of all the events. The 1st place winner this year was Christopher Torres, with times of 1:07 and 43.54 seconds. Torres was the standout for LADWP this year, competing in three events.
Other water utilities that sent teams to the Tap Off included Long Beach Utilities, City of Huntington Beach, City of Anaheim, and Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District. The winning teams will go on the regional competition held April 7-10 in Anaheim, and eventually the national competition scheduled to take place later this summer in Denver, Colorado.
Workday Dress Rehearsal is in Full Swing!
The Workday Dress Rehearsal is now underway! Taking place virtually from March 24 to April 4, the Dress Rehearsal is a crucial opportunity for employees to familiarize themselves with Workday and practice essential tasks like time entry before the go-live date in June. This step is critical, and all employees are encouraged to take the final steps to ensure a smooth transition into the Workday system. The Workday Dress Rehearsal is more than just a practice session; it’s an essential step in ensuring that the June 2025 go-live date will be a success. Watch the video above, featuring Chief Information Officer and Chief AI Officer Norma Grubb, to learn more about this event.
How to Participate
The Dress Rehearsal allows employees to get hands-on experience in the Workday practice environment in a risk-free setting. It provides an invaluable opportunity to practice entering time, explore Workday tools, and resolve any questions or issues before they become critical at launch. This is a vital step in ensuring that all employees are fully prepared. For more information on how to participate in the Dress Rehearsal, click here.
The Dress Rehearsal practice environment will be accessible from your myid.ladwp.com. Once logged in, you will click on the Work Day LADWP11 tile to enter the Dress Rehearsal environment. More detailed instructions will be sent via Department-wide announcements.
Visit a Workday Readiness Fair for dress rehearsal support, go-live information, and guidance. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) project staff will be available for assistance and any questions you may have. These Readiness Fairs will be held at various LADWP facilities to give all employees an opportunity to attend. Be on the lookout for more information about a Readiness Fair coming to a location near you.
Preparing for Go-Live
As we move into the final phases of Workday, here is what employees should focus on:
- Practice and Review: If you are participating in the Dress Rehearsal, reflect on any challenges you encountered, and revisit modules or training materials as needed.
- Complete Your Training: It is not too late to complete your “Welcome to Workday” eLearning course on Cornerstone.
+ Welcome to Workday (Self-Time Entry) + Welcome to Workday (Timekeeper Time Entry)
- Verify Your Information: Double-check your employee information on EIS and eBenefits.
Continued preparation and engagement will be essential to making this transition seamless and successful. Please continue to visit the ERP MyDWP site for updates and email your Change Champions or WorkdayQuestions@ladwp.com with any questions.
New Hires Receive Warm Welcome with Revamped New Employee Orientation
LADWP’s Employee Development Group in the Human Resources Division has revamped the New Employee Orientation experience for newcomers to the Department. All new employees who join LADWP will now take part in the New Employee Orientation event called NEO102, which features in-person presentations and activities.
The official relaunch of the new employee experience debuted on February 19, where approximately 200 employees convened at the John Ferraro Building for the event. These newest members of the Department were able to hear from LADWP’s leadership team, including Janisse Quiñones, CEO and Chief Engineer; Anselmo Collins, Senior Assistant General Manager of the Water System; Brian Wilbur, Assistant General Manager of Power Design and Construction; Joseph Ramallo, Chief Customer Officer and Senior Assistant General Manager of Communications and Community Affairs; and Dan Aeschleman, Chief Safety Officer. Important information about Department benefits, union representation and retirement were shared, followed by a question-and-answer session, to set employees up for success as they embark on their new journey with the Department.
After the presentations, attendees participated in a resource fair where they were able to meet and network with fellow new employees as well as over 15 of the Department’s employee and professional resource groups and partners like IBEW Local 18, the Employees Association, and the Water and Power Community Credit Union.
The Department looks forward to hosting this revamped New Employee Orientation monthly to actively engage with new employees and introduce them to all LADWP has to offer!
Employees hired prior to January 1, 2025 who are interested in attending NEO 102 are welcome to attend, but should obtain supervisor approval before registering. Employees can self-register to a NEO 102 session via Cornerstone. Click here to review the enrollment guide. Locate New Employee Orientation - Part 2 (NEO102) on the Events Calendar for the month and day you are planning to attend and click on the event name to register for the session.
For further information or questions, please contact NEO@ladwp.com.
Upcoming dates for NEO 102:
April 16, May21, June 18, July 16, August 20, September 17, October 15, November 19, and December 17, 2025.
LADWP Employees March in 40th Annual Kingdom Day Parade to Honor the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
On February 17, employees, among them members of LADWP's chapter of National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), participated in the 40th Annual Kingdom Day Parade in South Los Angeles. Under the theme "Peace and Unity, Let It Start with Us," LADWP employees proudly marched next to our latest all-electric fleet vehicles along the three-mile parade route that stretched from Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard to Crenshaw Boulevard.
The celebration was previously scheduled for January 18, but was postponed due to the January wildfire emergencies that took place throughout Los Angeles. Undaunted, parade organizers and marchers showed flexibility and resiliency by coming together to honor Dr. King's legacy of equality, community, and justice.
"This year's Kingdom Day Parade was inspiring and uplifting. I'm excited to be part of such a strong LADWP community that supports the ideals and dreams of Dr. King."
LaVern Braziel, LADWP Utility Services Specialist & Vice President of LADWP- NSBE
LADWP continues to prioritize community outreach to ensure that all customers benefit from our carbon-free technologies, programs, and policies. To help reach this goal, our parade vehicles proudly promoted the Department’s “Powered by Equity” initiatives that focus on creating a cleaner and more equitable energy future for all Angelenos. Our participation in community events like this remind us of the vital role we play in shaping and serving our communities.
Black History Month Observed at LADWP with Special Cultural Celebration
LADWP employees observed Black History Month with a special celebration of Black Culture on February 26. Hosted by the National Society of Black Engineers (LADWP-NSBE) and the Water and Power African American Association (WPAAA), the outdoor event took place on the picturesque south side apron of JFB next to the reflecting pool. The event also coincided with LADWP-NSBE’s 5th anniversary as a professional organization.
The celebration kicked off with CEO and Chief Engineer Janisse Quiñones providing opening remarks to attendees. Participants had the opportunity to enjoy entertainment at the event from a live jazz band – The Wylde Bunch – and three prominent Los Angeles poetry artists – including Jessica Gallion “Yellawoman”, Cory Cofer “Besskepp” and Charlie E. Scott III “Philosophy,” who also acted as master of ceremonies for the event.
The mission of WPAA is to strengthen the foundation of African American employees at LADWP by advancing the employment, economic and social welfare of its members and the community. Since its inception in 2020, LADWP-NSBE promotes awareness about engineering opportunities, and also works to increase minority awareness and involvement in engineering at every level – from increasing peer involvement to outreach in the local communities. If you are interested in joining LADWP-NSBE, please email nsbe@ladwp.com.
Select the Perfect Health Plan During Open Enrollment – March 31 to April 11
Life is full of changes and that’s why it’s important to review your healthcare plan every year. From March 31 through April 11, 2025, LADWP employees have the opportunity to make changes to their health plans during Open Enrollment. With many benefits to choose from, Open Enrollment allows employees to reassess, reevaluate and make changes that align with their everyday lives and changing needs.
The best way you as an employee can prepare for Open Enrollment is to go through the 2025-2026 Benefit Guidebook to determine which plan is best suited for your needs. It’s also important to make sure you have all the required documents in order to enroll dependents. The Health Plans Office recommends that employees contact them regarding any questions for Department-sponsored plans. You can contact the IBEW Benefits Service Center for IBEW-sponsored plans. Even if you plan to keep the same providers, it is recommended you read the Benefit Guidebook in case there are any benefits changes or deductions for your current plan.
Enrollment in health plans at LADWP is not mandatory for employees. You may cancel your plan at any time should your spouse or domestic partner have health benefits insurance you choose to use instead.
Enroll In-Person:
- March 31 – April 11
- 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (Monday – Friday)
- JFB A-Level
- Make changes to your benefits, including choosing a new plan. Health and dental carrier representatives will be available to assist and provide information.
- Health and dental carrier information sessions (schedule available at https://ebenefits.ladwp.com)
Enroll Online:
- For LADWP Sponsored Plans – make changes at https://healthcareladwp (accessible through MyDWP only)
- For IBEW Local 18 Sponsored Plans – make changes at www.mybenefitchoices.com/local18
LADWP Sponsored Plans information:
- https://ebenefits.ladwp.com
- healthplans@ladwp.com
- (213) 367-2023 or (800) 831-4778
IBEW Local 18 Sponsored Plans information:
- local18@mybenefitchoices.com
- (818) 678-0040 or (800) 842-6635
