Competitive Power College (CPC) Pre-Conference Workshops
COAL-GEN is pleased to be an authorized continuing education provider by the Florida Board of Professional Engineers. Many states recognize course the FBPE authorizes, so check with your state governing board to see if the courses you take are eligible for professional development hours. Attendance at a full day course awards 8 PDH and a half day course awards 4 PDH. Certificates of attendance are provided to all attendees at the conclusion of the day. Those attendees wishing to obtain PDHs are required to achieve a passing grade on an examination at the conclusion of the course. FBPE CEP #0003349

Monday, August 9, 2010 | 8-Hour Workshops

#101 – POWER PLANT CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT – A GUIDE TO SURVIVAL

Time: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Room: 307
Registration Fee: $500.00, includes workshop materials, certificate of completion, coffee breaks and lunch

Instructors
Peter Hessler, President, Construction Business Associates; Mark Bridgers, Senior Consultant, FMI

Course Target Audience
This very popular course is intended for new construction and outage management personnel with responsibilities for planning, developing and/or running major power plant construction projects. The course is intended for owners as well as contractors and benefits from their interaction with each other during the class.

Course Overview
In today’s power plant construction world, safety, cash flow, change orders and schedule are the parameters for success; this one-day course will cover the management of all of these. Additionally, course participants will explore the commercial and contractual necessities of construction contracting, along with claims avoidance methods, and examples of what can go wrong when prudent contracting is not practiced.

The morning will be devoted to understanding the contract and becoming familiar with its requirements. There will be a discussion of the importance of being familiar with the commercial conditions of a contract, and then an in-depth look at risk management will follow. Details of the claims process and the correct use of insurance protections will close out the morning.

The second half of this example-loaded course is devoted to managing safety, quality, and the economics of the site works. Discussions will be held about the monetary impact of inadequately managed safety and the real cost of poor quality. Financial management will follow, with an emphasis on using weighted and earned values. A hands-on exercise in understanding the
impact of productivity management is included.

The success of this course comes from a blend of instructor provided guidance along with active participation by the attendees. Its theme revolves around the concept that active construction management can save a company millions. The tools, the checklists and the guidelines provided, along with the best-selling book, Power Plant Construction Management – A Survival Guide, can then be put to immediate use.

Course Highlights:
◆ Risk – Identifying and Managing It
◆ Understanding the pricing and how it can change (unknowingly)
◆ What impacts cash flow
◆ Claims avoidance techniques for the owner and contractor
◆ Managing the site
◆ Managing the financials and controlling the costs
◆ Reporting on the project status
◆ The importance of communicating

Instructors’ Biographies

Peter Hessler, President, Construction Business Associates, LLC

Peter Hessler is the President of Construction Business Associates, LLC, a provider of business management services to the power plant construction industry. He has over 30 years of experience in the power plant construction and maintenance industry worldwide, having worked as an owner, contractor and consultant. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and is a member of ASME and the Lean Construction Institute. He is the author of the book, Power Plant Construction Management: A Survival Guide. In addition to consulting for owners and contractors, Mr. Hessler also speaks at industry conferences, is a guest lecturer at Columbia University on the topic of the construction world overseas and provides training and seminars on a wide range of subjects regarding good business practices in the power plant construction world. Mr. Hessler can be contacted at PGHessler@ConstrBiz.com.

Mark Bridgers, Senior Consultant, FMI

Mark Bridgers is a consultant with FMI, management consultants to the construction industry and leads FMI’s Utility Vertical Market team. He works with gas/electric utilities, utility contractors and engineers, and value added material/equipment suppliers to the utility construction industry. He helps firms prepare for and successfully navigate “strategic transitions,” often by undertaking an organizational analysis of these firms, reviewing construction cost management efforts, diagnosing accounting and financial issues, and strategy development. Typical projects include strategic plan design; financial performance analysis; development and implementation of tools to reduce construction cost, life-cycle cost, and operational friction; restructuring of processes and procedures; and leader development. His passion is helping organizations achieve breakthrough innovations through collaborative or integrated relationships. He is the architect of FMI’s corporate efforts in this area and designs and implements what FMI refers to as the “Extended Enterprise” among utility industry participants.

Mark is an avid educator, trainer, and writer with more than 19 years of industry expertise including strategy development, financial engineering, surety bonding, and reinsurance experience. His in-depth knowledge of the utility markets, electric/gas utility concerns, financial topics, and the surety and reinsurance markets — combined with his ability to convey difficult construction, insurance, and financial topics to laypeople and professionals alike — make him an enthusiastic and exciting speaker. His North American speaking includes the American Gas Association (AGA), Edison Electric Institute (EEI), PowerGen, Utility Supply Management Alliance (USMA), Electric Power Conference, Distribution Contractors Association (DCA) and National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA) among others. Mark is an author of over 100 articles and research papers published internationally in industry journals and peer reviewed periodicals, including ENR, Underground Contractor, and Electric Perspectives. He is frequently quoted on construction industry topics, including in the Wall Street Journal.

Mark holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Virginia‘s Darden School and a bachelor’s degree in financial management from Clemson University. He has earned the titles of Chartered Property & Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Associate in Reinsurance (ARe).


#102 – LOST EFFICIENCY: FINDING “LOW HANGING FRUIT” CANCELLED


#103 – POWER PLANT FANS: FROM FUNDAMENTALS TO OPTIMIZED PERFORMANCE, EFFICIENCY AND RELIABILITY

Time: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Room: 303
Registration Fee: $500.00, includes workshop materials, certificate of completion, coffee breaks and lunch

Instructors
Vern Martin, P.Eng., Senior Mechanical Engineer, FLOWCARE Engineering Inc.; Steve Kaufman, P.Eng., Senior Mechanical Engineer, FLOWCARE Engineering Inc.

Who Should Attend
Job description:
Design and project engineers, power plant owners and managers, maintenance department managers. Anyone with an interest in fan technology, selection/applications, trouble-shooting, performance upgrades and energy efficiency optimization.

Education level
The issues involved with fans range from simple mechanical concerns to sophisticated energy problems. FLOWCARE’s past training workshops have been held with millwrights, mechanics, electricians, sales personnel and engineers in attendance. While the subject matter can become very complicated, FLOWCARE has endeavored to explain the technical issues in a way that all parties will be able to grasp the concepts.

Overview & Objectives
Properly operating fans are a very important component in the success, efficiency and profitability of any power plant. This workshop provides attendees with practical information to aid purchasers, operators, engineers and maintenance staff with decisions they may face concerning the selection and operation of their fans. The tutorial will first deal with the fundamentals of fans and the principles of interaction with other process and system components. From this basis of understanding and by working through sample problems, attendees will learn about selection and application principles, control strategies, energy optimization methods, performance upgrades / retrofit techniques, testing, proper maintenance practices, root cause analysis of problems, trouble-shooting and applying remedial measures. Numerous examples will be provided of where problems arise with power plant fans and the measures that can be taken to avoid them.

Course Highlights
◆ Fan, system and fluid movement fundamentals
◆ Fan performance curves
◆ Energy optimization methodology and techniques
◆ Fan selection and specification issues
◆ Centrifugal versus axial fan technical considerations
◆ Variable speed considerations
◆ Fan motor sizing criteria
◆ Retrofit methodology
◆ Trouble-shooting of fan problems i.e. vibration, noise, control, performance and mechanical failure
◆ Solutions for aerodynamic problems and duct cracking
◆ Testing of existing fan systems - structural, mechanical and performance testing.
◆ Procurement, installation, commissioning and postinstallation confirmation tests.
◆ Case studies

Instructors’ Biographies

Vern Martin, P. Eng., Senior Mechanical Engineer, FLOWCARE Engineering Inc.

Vern is a senior mechanical engineer and a partner in FLOWCARE Engineering inc.; a company that specializes in fan and blower technical consulting services. He is a graduate from the University of Waterloo Mechanical Engineering Department in 1978.

Prior to his employment at FLOWCARE, he engineered, tested and conducted field trouble-shooting of fans for Sheldons Engineering; a manufacturer of both commercial and heavy-duty industrial fans. At FLOWCARE, Vern has primarily been involved in energy optimization studies and the trouble-shooting of large fans with performance, noise, vibration, control or failure problems. He has also developed energy reduction strategies and training programs for companies and utilities interested in fan efficiency and performance upgrades and has authored several handbooks on fan, pump and blower technology.

Steve Kaufman, P.Eng., Senior Mechanical Engineer, FLOWCARE Engineering inc.

Steve is a senior mechanical engineer working for FLOWCARE Engineering inc.; a company that specializes in fan and blower technical consulting services. He is a graduate of University of Waterloo in Mechanical Engineering in 1982.

Prior to FLOWCARE, Steve worked for Sheldons Engineering and Novenco Canada Inc.; companies that were well-known for manufacturing custom designed heavy-duty industrial fans.

Steve’s expertise has been concentrated in the following areas:

◆ Mechanical and aerodynamic design of fans and duct systems.
◆ Fan technology engineering standards and technical papers.
◆ Field troubleshooting of fan performance, noise, vibration, control and failure problems.
◆ Feasibility studies of fan performance, reliability and efficiency upgrades.
◆ Fan specifications for purchasing equipment.
◆ Fan technology training.


#104 – CAPITAL INVESTMENT ANALYSIS AT COAL -FIRED POWER PLANTS - CO-FIRING COAL WITH BIOMASS

Time: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Room: 305
Registration Fee: $500.00, includes workshop materials, certificate of completion, coffee breaks and lunch

Instructor
John M. Hynes, Partner, Excidian LLC

Who Should Attend
All positions in management / administration, engineering, operations, distribution, transmission, generation whose tasks require financial knowledge to either understand or contribute to decision making.

Participants attending Excidian’s course Capital Project Analysis at Power Plants should have a four-year college degree or at least 5 years experience in a plant management or supervisory capacity. They should have some business and financial acumen gleaned from academic courses or on-the-job experience.

Overview & Objectives
This one-day course has two modules. They are:
I. Financial Statements – Participants learn basic concepts of accounting and how the three major financial statements are constructed. Balance Sheet, Income and Cash Flow statements are studied using short, interactive exercises to demonstrate how routine business transactions impact each statement and to show how the statements relate to one another.

II. Capital Investment Decision Analysis – Participants review Present Value; Net Present Value; Internal Rate of Return; and Weighted Average After-Tax Cost of Capital. A customized spreadsheet model is used to perform project valuation exercises for coal-fired power plant projects, namely the investment to be able to co-fire with biomass and the investment in a scrubber. Participants make decisions about inputs that ultimately drive the decision of whether to allocate capital to the projects.

Course Highlights
◆ Customized. The Capital Investment module is customized for professionals making capital allocation decisions in power plants.
◆ Hands-on learning. Much of the day is spent working in large and small groups. Bring your notebook computer to work on the project valuation exercises.
◆ Interactive. Participants are encouraged to ask questions often and whenever they come to mind.
◆ Relevant to current events. Course facilitator, John M. Hynes, MSEE, MBA relates teaching points to current industry news.
◆ Primary learning goal. The primary purpose of this course is to provide participants with the financial knowledge to analyze power plant projects and to make financially sound business decisions.
◆ Participants exit this course understanding the importance of applying financial analysis to accurately analyze capital projects.

Instructor Biography

John M. Hynes, Partner, Excidian LLC

John began his career in the energy industry in 1983. He developed and facilitated technical training programs for nuclear operators, telecommunications technicians, relay protection technicians and high voltage equipment maintenance technicians before moving on to senior positions in sales, marketing, and strategic planning.

John used his financial skills to design production optimization models for heavy manufacturing clients, analyze the profitability of business and marketing plans, perform due diligence on targeted acquisitions and determine the valuation of businesses selected for investment.

Drawing on perspectives gained from his wide-ranging background and real-world management experience John develops and facilitates Excidian’s Business Finance and Energy Industry Knowledge programs.

In addition to the development and facilitation of training programs, John has written the following articles for Power Engineering Magazine:

1. The Power of Financial Acumen
2. Selling Capital Projects to Management
3. How to Compare Power Generation Choices

John’s experience with strategic, political, financial and organizational issues facing the energy industry, along with his extensive knowledge of finance, accounting and Wall Street have established him as an engaging and well-respected facilitator.


Monday, August 9, 2010 | 4-Hour Workshops

#401 – SPECIALIZED MARKETING, SALES & COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES TO THE POWER GENERATION MARKET

Time: 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Room: 306
Registration Fee: $350.00, includes workshop materials, certificate of completion and coffee break

Instructor
Ravi Krishnan, Principal Consultant, Krishnan & Associates Inc.

Who Should Attend
Job description:
Marketing & sales executives, project managers & engineers, R&D personnel from OEMs and service providers to the Power Industry

Education level
N/A

Overview & Objectives
This course contains specialized marketing techniques & strategies to utility & industrial plants globally. The techniques and tools identified would include optimizing a company’s sales & marketing effort through database marketing to the power, pulp & power, cement, refining and other related industries, advertising, sales & business development strategies, E marketing techniques, building a customer & competitor intelligence system, marketing collateral, internet & web optimization, media & branding strategies, technical writing & placement, market intelligence & research, & market evaluation.

Purpose
The objective of the course will be to enhance company exposure & branding within the target segment, lead & opportunity
generation, sales & business volume creation. Additionally, techniques identified in the course will focus on educating the
participants on successful marketing tools & strategies that will ensure ongoing exposure and brand recognition to the target
customer base that will ensure a continuous stream of sales opportunities for their product or service in the power and overall
energy industries.

Course Highlights
◆ Marketing Plan Development
◆ Database marketing to the power plant, pulp & paper, cement, refining and other related industries
◆ Lead Generation & Proposal Opportunity Development
◆ Building a customer & Competitive intelligence system
◆ Marketing collateral & internet, website optimization
◆ Media & branding strategies
◆ Technical writing & publication
◆ Press release dissemination
◆ Direct Mail, E-mail Marketing & Webinars
◆ Sales & business development strategies
◆ Grant funding & technology evaluation/market research & intelligence

Instructor’s Biography

Ravi Krishnan, Managing Director, Krishnan & Associates

Ravi brings nearly 20 years of experience in marketing and management services in the power, coal mining, and transportation industries. His areas of expertise are marketing & business development, management, and human resources consulting.

He has initiated several relationships among major utilities and OEMs such as Southern Company, Edison Mission, Caterpillar, Doosan Babcock, and Cormetech to name a few. His firm actively markets and supplies a range of boiler efficiency improvement & clean coal control technologies to the power industry. His firm is also very active in the power industry in India. Ongoing projects include marketing and business development programs for various US and European OEMs to supply clean energy technologies to the Indian power sector.

K&A also operates a separate division that provides manpower & recruitment services for the global power, coal mining, and infrastructure industries. His firm also owns and operates www.enstreet.com, web-portal focused on worldwide clean energy news.