2024 User Group Agenda

Chuck Kharrl

Vice President, Operations Support

Southern Nuclear Corporation

Chuck Kharrl is vice president of operations support at Southern Nuclear, leading the governance and oversight, refueling and capital projects organizations. He previously served as the site vice president at the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant. Chuck has more than 30 years of experience in the nuclear industry and, in addition to his previous leadership role at Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant, he served as vice president at Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station.

Chuck has held senior reactor operator licenses at Palo Verde, Enrico Fermi Nuclear Generating Station, and St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant. He graduated from the Naval Nuclear Power School and earned his master’s degree in business administration from the University of Arizona.

Spencer Harris

Manager of Fleet Projects

Southern Nuclear Corporation

Spencer manages a team of Project Mangers to develop fleet strategies for the implementation of like projects at each site (transformers, cranes, etc.). Their vision is to provide a lower overhead implementation with an increasingly high quality through repetitive implementations and a fleet strategy for maintenance, operations, and supply chain.

He is father of two beautiful daughters and is a private pilot and an Auburn Football Letterman.

Corey Anderson

Procedure Specialist

Xcel Energy

Corey Anderson is a Procedure Specialist at Xcel Energy, known for his track record of success in nuclear operations and performance improvement. He currently acts as a team lead for the procedure group portions of the Electronic Work Packages project, where he has played a key role in designing, testing, troubleshooting, and managing the change process.

Corey began his career at Xcel Energy in 2016 as a contract Nuclear Security Officer. He then transitioned into an Operations role in 2018, working his way up to become a Journeyman Auxiliary Plant Equipment Operator. In 2021, Corey made the jump to the Performance Improvement department, where his experience in nuclear operations and security provides him with a unique perspective on performance improvement.

In addition to his practical experience, Corey holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. He is a Certified Scrum Master (CSM) as well as a Procedure Professionals Association (PPA) certified technical writer. Corey is pursuing his Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, demonstrating his commitment to continued learning and professional development.

Dan Bierbrauer

Technology Director

Southern Company

Dan Bierbrauer is the Technology Director for Southern Nuclear. In this role, Dan’s primary responsibility is to provide leadership and oversight of the Information Technology department and ensure alignment of Southern Nuclear strategic technology initiatives. Most recently, Dan served as the IT-General Manager for Southern Nuclear and as the Cyber Security Manager at Vogtle 3&4. Prior to joining Southern Company in March 2013, Dan worked at Exelon/Constellation for 23 years in various roles of increasing responsibility in Nuclear Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Information Technology, Cyber Security, Emergency Preparedness, Licensing and Security.

Dan holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo, a master’s degree in management from the State University of New York at Oswego and a Master’s degree in Information Technology from Syracuse University. He previously held a Senior Reactor Operator and Site Nuclear Engineering Certification. He currently resides in the Birmingham Area with his wife, Kendra, and family.

Thomas F. Brooks

Technology Planning Analyst

Southern Company

Thomas works at Southern Company as a Technology Planning Analyst. He was born and raised in Elba, AL. After high school he joined the Army National Guard where he served six years as a mechanic.

Thomas holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a minor in Computer Information Science from Troy University at Troy. He has over 15 years of experience in the technology field and has worked in the hardware, software, and asset management sides of IT.

He currently resides in Calera, Alabama with his lovely wife of 21 years and their two teenage boys. His main hobby is being a shade-tree mechanic in his spare time.

Todd (James) Conner

Vice President - Maintain

Xcel Energy

Todd is responsible for deploying digital solutions that support and enable the workforce to execute their craft. Some areas include simplification of the work management process and mobilizing equipment analytics, all with an eye toward operational excellence. He has been working with his maintenance counterparts in Generation to understand maintenance more broadly at Xcel Energy and find ways to partner with them. He also has been working closely with our bargaining unit leadership to build a relationship that supports the priority of expanding their capability.

Todd came to Xcel Energy in April 2019, from Westinghouse where he was vice president Global Plant Modifications. Before that, Todd was vice president BWR Services and Operating Plant Modifications at Westinghouse, and site vice president at Fermi. Throughout his career, Todd has held other significant leadership roles such as plant manager, operations director, maintenance director and numerous engineering roles. He holds a Bachelor of Science, Nuclear and Power Engineering from the University of Cincinnati, and received his BWR-5 Senior Reactor Operator ANSI Certification while working at Exelon’s LaSalle County Station

Nicole Fortune

Senior Technology Planning Analyst

Southern Company

Nicole Fortune is a Senior Technology Planning Analyst at Southern Company supporting Southern Nuclear subsidiary. She supports the ideation to maturity phases of bringing technology related projects to the fleet of Southern Nuclear plants including general software, data analytics, and AI solutions.

Nicole brings over 19 years of IT experience in the utility and telecommunication industry having served in several roles involving billing, taxation, applications, and data migration.

She is a member of IIAB and PMI and recently certified as a PMI-Business Analyst. She loves to mentor others working within several organizations and spending time with friends and family. She is an avid reader of books and a continuous learner and is currently studying Organizational Psychology.

Sharon Gray

IT Support Manager

Southern Company

Sharon Gray is an IT Support Manager in the Nuclear Technology Solutions Applications Portfolio at Southern Company Services. In this role, Sharon is responsible for managing and representing SNC’s interest relative to all aspects of lifecycle for IT infrastructure, applications, desktop software, personal computing devices, and telecommunications. In addition, she ensures the successful implementation of SNC technology projects and initiatives.

Sharon began her career with Southern Company in 1999 as an Engineer supporting Southern Company Services Vogtle Project. She has held several fleet level positions in Engineering Programs and Systems during her tenure at Southern Company, the majority of which have been at Southern Nuclear. Prior to Southern Company, Sharon was employed with Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) as an engineer where she supported Watts Bar, Sequoyah, and Browns Ferry.

Sharon has a Bachelor of Science in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Alabama and currently resides in Bessemer, Alabama.

Dr. Anna Hall

Senior Scientist

INL

Dr. Anna Hall is a senior scientist in INL’s Human Factors and Reliability Department and the Digitalization principal investigator. Her research background includes cognitive aging and aging neuroscience, and at INL she is leading efforts to characterize how cognitive development across the lifespan impacts nuclear power operations and automation. She is involved in modernization of the US reactor fleet, advanced concepts of operation in new reactors, simulated thermal power dispatch systems, and explainable AI (XAI).

Dr. Hall holds undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in psychology from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, and the University of New South Wales, Australia, respectively. She completed post-doctoral fellowships at the University of Cambridge, England and at the National Institutes of Health, USA.

She founded the Laboratory of Aging Science and Health at Idaho State University, and before joining INL in 2022, she was the managing director of a research consultancy company that specialized in offering human factors research expertise in support of INL nuclear power operations.

Bruce Hallbert

INL

Bruce Hallbert leads the Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program, a DOE-sponsored multi-Laboratory multi-disciplinary program that conducts collaborative research with stakeholders of the commercial nuclear power industry to sustain US nuclear power generation assets.

Ken Kruse

Maintenance Planner

Xcel Energy

Ken began his career with Xcel Energy in 1997. He worked with the Nuclear Supply Chain and helped to implement two software initiatives and helped to implement the supply chain portion of the work management process. In 2004 he worked as the Warehouse Supervisor, where he consolidated the warehousing operations and implemented inventory control measures. In 2010 he worked as a procedure writer where he wrote and revised maintenance procedures. Ken moved to the Planning Department in February of 2021.

Throughout his career, Ken has been interested in process improvements and increased efficiencies. His current work on dynamic work instructions is a continuation of these interests. Ken holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire with a minor in technical writing.

Scott Lappegaard

Director of Nuclear Operations

Xcel Energy

Scott is responsible for developing and deploying digital solutions, including Electronic Work packages, Workflows and Forms. Our team enables workers to execute the eWP capturing user feedback on tablets, via site Wi-Fi in the field. Following completion of the digital instruction, all work plan information is consolidated into a digital record with our Documents group.

Scott came to Xcel Energy in 1985, as the Prairie Island Plant Chemist, becoming the manager for the Chemistry and Environmental departments in 1995. He transitioned over to Work Management in 2000, eventually overseeing On-line and Outages as the Production Manager and WM CFAM. He was Product Owner for the Fukushima Response project and is currently Product Owner for the Electronic Work Process / Digitalization for Xcel Nuclear fleet.

Throughout his career, Scott has served on the INPO Work Management Working group as the committee chairman as well as participating on various INPO / WANO Evaluations and Assessments in Work Management, Fukushima Response, Plant Risk and Chemistry. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Minnesota and a Master’s in Business Administration from Cardinal Stritch University.

Ash Massoudi

CEO & Co-Founder

NextAxiom Technology, Inc.

Ash is a proven entrepreneur and a software inventor with the vision to transform the way work is performed.

Ash founded NextAxiom Technology in May 2000 and played the pivotal role in successfully propelling NextAxiom through the concept, R&D production, and customer acquisition stages into its current expansion phase. Before co-founding NextAxiom, as Director of Integration Technologies at PeopleSoft, Ash was responsible for delivering PeopleSoft's complete suite of integration technologies, including PeopleSoft's business components and near real-time application messaging solutions, which was deployed at over 4000 customers worldwide.

Ash also managed the assimilation of Advance Supply Chain Planning products within the PeopleSoft technology platform as a result of PeopleSoft's $275 Million dollar acquisition of Red Pepper Software. Ash holds a B.A. in Computer Science from the University of California at Berkeley and has been awarded ten U.S. Patents.

Shawn Mayo

CWE Manager - Nuclear Fleet

NextEra Energy

Shawn is a highly skilled professional with a wealth of experience in engineering and leadership roles. He possesses excellent social skills and is known for his strong work ethic and reliability. With a background in mechanical engineering and a detail-oriented approach, Shawn has consistently delivered exceptional results throughout his career.

Having worked at NextEra Energy since 2013, Shawn has held several key positions, demonstrating his expertise in managing and improving nuclear fleet operations. In his current role as Manager of the Center of Work Excellence, he has successfully led multiple projects to enhance the nuclear fleet's performance. He also played a crucial role in developing a Core Competency Model for CWE Product Owners and prioritizing product development based on feedback from the Nuclear Fleet. Prior to his current position, Shawn served as a Mechanical and Civil Design Engineering Supervisor at the St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant. In this role, he demonstrated strong leadership skills and supported organizational changes within the Engineering department. He also acted as a Maintenance Rule Program Coordinator and actively contributed to outage core teams.

Shawn's dedication to professional growth is evident through his active participation in leadership programs and professional organizations. As a member of the Leadership Accelerated Experience Program (LEAP), he optimized methods to evaluate leadership competencies and supported the integration of Intent Based Leadership principles into development programs. Additionally, his involvement in NAYGN St. Lucie, ASME UE Student Chapter, and other organizations showcases his commitment to mentorship and community engagement. Shawn holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Evansville. He possesses a diverse set of technical skills, including proficiency in software such as Cognos, PI Processbook, Excel, Word, and Power BI.

Joe Metzler

Mechanical and Nuclear Engineer

Ontario Power Generation

Joe is a Mechanical and Nuclear Engineer that has been working with OPG for 9 years. He is currently responsible for implementing NxA tools for the renewable energy business at OPG. This includes over 200 Hydroelectric units across 65 stations, as well as thermal operating units. His responsibilities include overall strategy for renewables, training, field testing, working with NxA on developments, and the collection and utilization of data being recorded within digital work documents.

Jim Plemmons

Senior Manager, Production System Transformation

Consolidated Nuclear Security

Jim is an Industrial Engineer who graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He has worked at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, for 40 years. He has held positions in Production Control, Scheduling, and Estimating. He has managed software projects for moving from legacy systems to modern SAP-based systems. His group sits between functional stakeholders and IT in order to deliver system solutions in the manufacturing arena.

Jesse Rain

Digital Transformation Manager

Xcel Energy

Jesse is responsible for developing and delivering Asset Performance Management (APM) digital tools, including CBM maintenance recommendations, asset strategy implantation, and equipment monitoring automation. Jesse was part of the eWP project at the beginning but was assigned to APM development about a year into it due to resource reorganization, he is currently transitioning back to eWP lead.

Jesse came to Xcel Energy in 2010 as a Predictive Maintenance Engineer at the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant. He transitioned to the Online Work Management team in 2013 where he worked as a Work Week Coordinator and Cycle Scheduler. He moved to the Xcel Energy fleet offices in 2018 becoming the Business Integration Manager supporting work management application integration and performance improvement across the Enterprise. In 2022 he was assigned to the Digital Transformation Manager position to oversee eWP, KR Reporting, and APM application development, change management and implementation.

Jesse has earned his Boiling Water Reactor Senior Reactor Operator Certification and successfully completed the Xcel Energy Path to Leadership program. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering from Excelsior University and a Master of Business Administration from Cardinal Stritch University.

Ricardo Rivera

IT Manager - One Fleet Digital Solutions

NextEra Energy

Ricardo is an accomplished professional with a wealth of experience in digital transformation and the critical role of the digital worker. With a solid background in program management and a passion for leveraging technology to drive organizational success. He possesses a deep understanding of the power of digital tools and their impact on business operations.

Ricardo has been working at NextEra Energy since 2008. He has successfully created technology roadmap and conceptual designs for Center of Work Excellence application strategic ideas in support of NextEra Nuclear Digital Transformation portfolio. Ricardo has also managed the development and implementation of NextEra One "NEO" platform and applications for Work Execution. Under his leadership, the team has delivered six applications, including AI/ML Models for predicting prioritization of work, a mobile solution for real-time remote work monitoring, and Computer Based Procedures, resulting in over 150k hours of efficiency gains.

Before joining NextEra Energy, Ricardo worked at Honeywell from 2000 to 2008, where he held positions such as Near-Earth Network Project Controls Manager and Six Sigma Plus Black Belt. During his time at Honeywell, Ricardo successfully managed various projects, developed performance measurement systems, and mentored green belt teams, resulting in significant savings for the company. Ricardo holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez Campus. Additionally, Ricardo is a Certified Black Belt Six Sigma Process Improvement professional and has published two US patents with another one pending.

Adam W. Smith

Deputy Group Leader

INL

Adam has over 34 years of experience in Electrical Engineering, Operations, and Maintenance at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and the Rocky Flats Environment Technology Site (RFETS). He has a master’s degree in both Electrical Engineering from the University of Colorado at Denver and Operations Research from the Colorado School of Mines.

In 1989, Adam Smith started work at RFETS as an Electrical Engineer. for the Plutonium Recovery Modification Project (PRMP) the scope of which involved the construction of a new plutonium processing facility. In 1990, he transitioned over to the Duct Remediation Project which required removal of 42,000 grams of Plutonium waste from facility process ventilation systems. From 1993 to 1996, he served as the site Project Engineer for RCRA Closure including the closure of 267 mixed residue waste tanks. In 1996, this project transitioned into the HEUN and Raschig Ring Removal Project in which he removed and disposed 15,000 lbs. of highly radioactive contaminated waste. From 1998 to 2004 Adam served as the Operations and Maintenance Manager for three major Plutonium Processing Facilities.

After leaving RFETS in 2004, Adam started work at Los Alamos National Laboratory as a Planning Team Lead at the Chemical and Metallurgical Research Facility. During that time he was assign as Project Lead for the Hazard Reduction and Wing Closure Project in which he removed, packaged and disposed out-of-service radiological contaminated equipment from over 240,000 sqft. of floor space. In 2010, Adam was assigned as the Maintenance Manager for the Central Work Control Team and is responsible for the site’s CMMS application, Asset Suite and supporting applications including eSOMS and Mobile Work Package. He currently is the Deputy Group Leader under Work Control for LANL’s Maintenance and Site Service Division.

Blake Wiggins

VP Client Services

NextAxiom Technology, Inc.

Blake Wiggins has spent 30+ years working with the nuclear Industry focused on EAM and APM. He worked for 24 years with Indus/Ventyx/ABB/Hitachi in many roles including Product Manager for the Passport/AssetSuite Product Line.

He then spent 5 years with GE Power Digital leading the development of the Asset Performance Management solution taking operational data and applying Physics-Based, Pattern Recognition, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence and other analytic methodologies to gain deeper insight and understanding of the "State, Status and Health" of both the asset, and the systems they belong to for a new stage of the Maintenance Maturity Curve now known as Value Based Maintenance and Operational Excellence as part of their APM offering.

Sandy Zylka

EVP Productions & Technology, Co-Founder

NextAxiom Technology, Inc.

Sandy is a co-founder of NextAxiom® and the co-inventor of NextAxiom's six patent-pending innovations. She has managed all aspects of the hyperService and DWEP Platforms. To stay current with customer needs, and help drive product roadmap decisions, Sandy participates in projects and workshops with NextAxiom customers that include: ABB, American Electric Power, Bruce Power, Basin Electric Coop, Duke Energy, EDF Energy, Entergy, Exelon, General Electric, Idaho National Lab, Los Alamos National Lab, Southern Company and Tri-State Generation.

Prior to NextAxiom®, Sandy served as Product Manager for PeopleSoft's Optimization Applications. She led an elite team of PhD's responsible for delivering PeopleSoft's Advanced Supply Chain Planning and Optimization products. Prior to that, Sandy held positions as Principal Usability Architect and Senior Optimization Engineer for PeopleSoft. As Senior Supply Chain Consultant for Red Pepper Software, she led supply chain and integration workshops for companies such as Pepsi, Bausch & Lomb, HP, Analog Devices, and 3Com.

Sandy holds a B.A. in Neurobiology from the University of California at Berkeley and has been awarded six U.S. Patents