Where should Wolverine employees direct their efforts next year?  What makes Wolverine strong?  What things do we need to improve on?  What issues could threaten Wolverine?  What opportunities lie in front of us?  These core questions comprised the bulk of our conversation with the Board and Member CEOs at last week’s Strategic Planning session.  We held several hours of healthy conversation and left the meeting with sharper focus.

Zach Anderson led the Board through a series of background slides on Wolverine’s power supply mix.  He facilitated discussion about our renewable strategy and sought input from members on their desires for future “green” power.  We discussed Alpine and the potential of conversion to Combined Cycle, what it might mean, and what the challenges could be.  Zach also laid out how our amazing portfolio of generation assets and strong transmission system leave Wolverine poised for growth.

Janet Kass reviewed Wolverine’s financial growth over the past twenty years, and outlined the foundation of Wolverine’s present financial strength.  She laid out the timing for other good news in Wolverine’s financial projections, setting the stage for why we may have a good window in our future for additional asset development.  Janet discussed paths Wolverine’s Executive Team will explore in 2017, including Alpine Combine Cycle, sales growth and fiber optic business opportunities.  Then she explained the financial mechanics of how Wolverine growth can benefit its members.

At the Board Meeting on Friday, the Board approved our 5-Year Construction Work Plan, and the 2017 Annual Budget.  Tim Martin provided budget closeout information for the Headquarters project and discussed the status of our Service Center construction, showing pictures of Grawn and Atlanta.  Brian Bejcek provided the final closeout presentation for Alpine and reviewed the remarkable, and short, timeline of the project.  Brian highlighted the specific accomplishments of key Wolverine individuals from various departments that made Alpine successful.

The Board filled a number of vacant Board officer and committee assignments necessitated by the passing of Mr. Deneweth.  I felt his loss in the somber tone of the meeting at times, but I also sensed the optimism for our bright future.  Rick would surely want us to continue to look to the future and dare to shape a vision for Wolverine worth chasing after.  Where there is vision there is hope…and hope does not disappoint!