Eric J. Charette, P.E.
@EricCharettePE
/in/EricCharette
Energy Central Blog

Summary of Qualifications
Mr. Eric J. Charette currently serves as Technical Director of Business Development for Utilities with Hexagon Safety & Infrastructure in the U.S. He is responsible for defining long-term organizational strategic goals and provides technical direction along with leading all presales efforts. Eric previously served as Executive Consultant for utilities for Intergraph, whereas the foremost expert on outage and distribution management systems and processes he developed the corporate vision for utility operations solutions and consulted with utilities to solve their business problems by applying Intergraph Technology.  Prior to joining Hexagon in 2006, Eric worked for Wisconsin Public Service Corporation as a distribution field engineer where he was responsible for ensuring safety and reliability of the electrical distribution system by providing engineering support for design, construction, operation and maintenance. Later promoted to Senior Outage Management Engineer, he was responsible for all outage management at WPSR, providing technical and strategic expertise and setting policy. He also successfully led the client-side implementation of the corporate OMS project including serving as the system administrator and client lead responsible for change management and end user training. Eric has been recognized as an industry expert in utility operations with several industry publications and presentations. He also serves on the Advisory Committee for the DistribuTECH conference. Eric is a proven expert in process improvement, change management and process management and possesses effective presentation and communication skills to all audience levels. Has a unique ability to motivate others to realizing their potential and achieving desired results.  Eric graduated from Michigan Technological University, in Houghton, Michigan, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering, with an emphasis in Power Systems. Eric is a registered professional engineer in the states of Wisconsin and Alabama.​

Education
Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan
Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering
Specialization in Power Systems, February 1999

Certifications and Publications
Registered as Professional Engineer
  • State of Alabama ● February 2011 ● License #: 31689
  • State of Wisconsin ● March 2004 ● License #: 36744-6
  • National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) ● January 2011 ● Record Number 43415
    • NCEES Record facilitates process to apply for licensure in any state
Published author

Professional Experience
Executive Technical Director Business Development
Hexagon Safety & Infrastructure (Formerly known as Intergraph)
Huntsville, AL April 2015 to Present
Business Development
  • Professional references available upon request
  • Defines long-term organizational strategic goals and provides direction for the U.S. Utilities organization. 
  • Identifies opportunities for new products, partnerships, acquisitions, campaigns, and distribution channels
  • Uses knowledge of the utility market from direct experience to identify and develop the company’s unique selling propositions, business opportunities and competitive differentiators.

Product Management
  • Serves as product manager for InService OMS/ADMS solution, including gathering requirements, development of product road maps, creating business justification for enhancements 

Sales Management
  • ​Serves as the direct point for numerous U.S. utility accounts, managing relationships, seeking out new sales leads, grooming those into sales opportunities and leading the entire sales cycle to booking

Technical Presales 
  • ​Leads and provides supervision for a team of technical industry consultants which help to develop customer requirements and directly support a sales organization throughout the entire competitive sales cycle through the close of business.

Marketing and Thought Leadership
  • Responsible for subject matter expert content in the form of thought leadership for collateral, presentations, press releases, blogs and social media 
  • Responsible for planning, development and implementation of innovative marketing plans designed to increase awareness of the organization and promote solutions, including coordination of trade shows, conferences and user group meetings.

Bids and Proposal
  • Responsible for managing proposal writing team supporting a $40M annual business with a $150M pipeline
  • Serves as subject matter expert for content in all proposal responses 
  • Serves as point for presentation of all large opportunity approvals to executive leadership

Professional Experience
​Executive Systems Consultant
Intergraph Corporation
Huntsville, AL December 2006 to April 2015
  • Provide global presales support for Outage, Distribution and Mobile Workforce on InService software solution
  • Providing requirements, marketing, vision and direction for development as industry solutions manager based on utility industry expertise and input received from customers
  • Prepare software/presentation material for presales demonstrations and competitive benchmark opportunities
  • Consult with clients to analyze and understand their business needs and determine products that best fit their requirements
    • Consulted with largest utilities in the U.S. including Oncor, PECO, DTE, Progress Energy
  • Prepare technical responses for RFI/RFP proposal inquires on OMS, DMS and MWFM solutions
  • Conduct software training on InService software platform
  • Presented at industry conferences and conducted online webinars as recognized subject matter expert

Professional Experience
Senior Outage Management Engineer
Wisconsin Public Service Corporation
Green Bay, WI March 2005 to December 2006
All engineering work and practice in compliance with Wisconsin Department of Regulation & Licensing for Professional Engineering Registration, Chapter A-E 4.03 Engineering Experience subparts (1) – (7)
Responsibilities
  • Overall process owner of Outage Management at WPSR
  • Provided technical and strategic expertise in the area of Outage Management and set WPSR policy
  • Process owner/client lead and client system administrator for OMS, included responsibility for user training 
  • Coordinated and directed training, change management and OMS related process improvement efforts
  • Led Outage Management Process Steering Committee 
  • Monitored validity of outage related statistics for commission reporting
Project Work
  • Client Project Lead for multi-million dollar Intergraph InService OMS acquisition project
  • Member Steering Committee, Core Team and Executive Review Board for OMS Project
  • Determined all client functional and data requirements for software deployment
  • Training Lead Client, included oversight of Trainers, Training Project Manager, 150+ users and SME’s
  • Led change management effort for project including informational meetings and software demonstrations
  • Worked closely with vendor and IT Project Lead on all technical and client issues for implementation including interface testing, data validation and functional acceptance testing

Professional Experience
Regional Electrical Engineer
Wisconsin Public Service Corporation
Wausau, WI & Oshkosh, WI. March 1999 to March 2005
All engineering work and practice in compliance with Wisconsin Department of Regulation & Licensing for Professional Engineering Registration, Chapter A-E 4.03 Engineering Experience subparts (1) – (7)
Responsibilities
  • Responsible for ensuring safety and reliability of electrical distribution system for 40,000 customers
  • Provided engineering support for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of distribution system
  • Optimization of electric service to new and existing electric customers, ranging from Residential, Commercial, Industrial and Agricultural customers
  • Responded to customer requests for power quality, voltage complaints and stray voltage investigations
  • Performed engineering calculations, provide code interpretations and plan/budget for system improvements
  • Developed detailed switching procedures based on load flow studies and equipment ratings
  • Provided all technical expertise at local level to designers, meter and line electricians
Project Work
  • Led multiple multi-million dollar overhead, underground and duct construction projects
  • Coordinated construction and service work for a team of 20 line electricians
  • Coordinated resources, restoration efforts for storms at the local and corporate level as an expert in restoration activities
  • Provided numerous technical training sessions to various internal workgroups
  • Presented extensively to external groups on electrical safety
  • Active in recruiting and hiring process for Electrical Engineers

Professional Industry Speaking Engagements
DistribuTECH Transmission & Distribution Conference
  • Serves as track chair on the DistribuTECH Advisory Committee 
  • Paper Session 2016 Damage Assessment Transforming the Chaos of Large Storms into a Planned Activity Through Automation
  • Paper Session 2008 AMR / OMS Integration
Geospatial Information & Technology Association (GITA) National Conference
  • Paper Session 2009 Spatial Perspective on Smart Grid
EPRI Smart Distribution and Power Quality Conference and Exhibition                           
  • Paper Session 2013 The Power of Visualization: Web Based Utilities Portal for Spatial Grid Management
Chartwell Outage Communications Conference
  • Paper Session 2016 Advanced Restoration Times for Utility Customers
Marcus Evans Outage Response & Restoration Management Conference
  • Paper Session 2012 Enhancing Outage Management Systems and Processes with Meter Integration
Regional GITA Conferences
  • Wisconsin Paper Session 2009 Spatial Perspective on Smart Grid
  • Wisconsin Paper Session 2010 Smart Grid Technology
  • Pacific Northwest Paper Session 2016 Network Model Management
Rocket City GIS Conference
  • Paper Session 2007 AMR / OMS Integration

References
Professional references available upon request