The Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber has announced the keynote speaker for the 2023 Business Recognition Breakfast, Awards Ceremony & Annual Meeting .
I’ll be held Friday, February 17, 2023, at Lake Michigan College Mendel Center’s Grand Uptton Hall. Doors will open at 7:00 a.m. with the program beginning at 7:30 a.m.
Steve Baker, President and Chief Operating Officer of Indiana Michigan Power, an AEP Company, will provide the keynote. In his current role, Baker oversees the company’s distribution operations and a wide range of customer and regulatory relationships. Previously he served as Vice President, Distribution Operations for Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO), responsible for the operation and maintenance of the electric distribution system for approximately 554,000 customers throughout Oklahoma.
His career in the energy industry began as a field operation engineer with West Texas Utilities in Abilene, Texas. Since then, he has held a variety of leadership positions within Central and South West Corporation and American Electric Power.
Baker received a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Texas Tech University, completed the Executive Program-Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia, the AEP Management Development Program at Ohio State University, and the Texas A&M Management Development Program. Additionally, he is a graduate of the Leadership Tulsa and Leadership Oklahoma programs.
Outside of the office, Baker has served on the Texas Tech University College of Engineering Dean’s Council, the board of directors for the Tulsa Area Chapter of the Salvation Army, the Tulsa Innovation Labs advisory council, the Oklahoma Aquarium Foundation and the University of Tulsa Electrical and Computer Engineering College advisory board. Currently he serves on the board for Greater Fort Wayne Inc., Indiana Energy Association and is an executive sponsor for AEP’s Hispanic Origin Latin American (HOLA) employee resource group.
Arthur Havlicek, President & CEO of the Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber said, “We are excited to work with a great community partner in Indiana Michigan Power to share key information about what we can expect moving forward with current energy demands on the grid and requirements from both D.C. and Lansing. Steve’s keynote will be educational, informational, and easy to understand for anyone not in the industry.”
Early bird tickets are available, through January 31st online at https://bit.ly/BRB2023 at $55 per person, or a table of 10 for $450. February 1st through the 10th tickets will be available for $60 per person, or a table of 10 for $500.
In addition to breakfast and the keynote, attendees will hear a recap of 2022 and hear exciting news planned for 2023 from Havlicek, approve the new Board of Directors and Executive Board Slate, and celebrate the winners of the seven (7) Business Recognition Awards that will be handed out by the Chamber.
