CPS Energy information technology (IT) professionals will play key roles in the first North American Utilities Conference sponsored by SAP, while San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) schools will benefit from new books donated by conference participants.

SAP, a global business software applications and services provider, will host the IT meeting for approximately 400 conferees from around the world at San Antonio’s Grand Hyatt Hotel, Oct. 26-29.

Christopher Barron, CPS Energy’s chief information officer, will deliver the keynote address at 9:20 a.m. Monday, Oct. 27.  His topic will be “Electrifying Our Customers – How CPS Energy Is Mobilizing for the Future.”

Other conference speakers will include Spencer Abraham, former U. S. secretary of energy, and CEOs from a number of utilities.

Also making presentations on behalf of CPS Energy (and their respective topics) will be Lawanda Parnell, senior director of enterprise application delivery, and Sandra Nobile-Currans, manager of customer contact, “Customer Self-Service and Empowerment;” Elaina Ball, supply chain director, “Supply Chain Analytics Using Business Intelligence;” and Sabrina Geary, senior director of technical services, “Advanced Metering Infrastructure Deployment – Planning, Reporting and Management Challenges.”

During the course of the conference, attendees will be invited to take part in a “community challenge” that will result in providing much-needed books for SAISD’s academies, campuses serving pre-kindergarten through grades 6, 7 or 8.  Money for the books will be contributed at kiosks equipped with laptop computers and linked to www.donorschoose.org.  CPS Energy, SAP, E-Venture Events and SAISD jointed together to develop the community challenge.

More information about the conference can be found at www.sap-for-utilities.com.