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Name: Amanda Rome
Title: Executive Vice President, Group President Utilities, Chief Customer Officer
Education: Graduated with highest honors from Pennsylvania State University in 2002 with a double major in Advertising and Public Relations and Speech Communication. Graduated Cum Laude from Georgetown Law School in 2006.
Company Description: Xcel Energy is a trusted energy provider that delivers clean, reliable, and affordable energy to customers across the United States. Across our footprint, we operate in eight states and deliver electricity to nearly four million customers and natural gas to about 2 million customers. The company offers a range of services including clean transportation programs, energy-saving programs, and customer support. Xcel Energy is committed to building a sustainable future by investing in clean energy solutions and ensuring reliable energy delivery to its customers
Tell us more about your job. I have responsibility for the overall strategy and performance of Xcel Energy's four operating companies, which collectively provide power to individuals, families and businesses in eight different states. In addition, I oversee our customer-facing organizations: Customer Energy and Transportation Solutions, which manages things such as our Clean Transportation/Electric Vehicle programs and Data Center strategy; Customer Care which includes things like the Customer Contact Center that customers from any of our eight states can call when they have questions or need help; and External Affairs and Policy which is helping us achieve our environmental, social and governance Sustainability and Net Zero clean energy goals. In my previous role as Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, I was responsible for the company's law department and overall legal strategy.
Why is STEM important within your industry? Xcel Energy is responsible for delivering the products (in electricity and natural gas) that power our lives. From heating and lighting our homes to cooking our food to charging our phones - it is essential to our way of life. The lifeblood of our company is grounded in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Our co-workers use their STEM skills to design and operate the equipment that generates electricity as well as the poles and wires that carry that electricity to our homes, schools and community gathering places. We use technology to innovate to drive the clean energy transition as we dream up amazing new things like battery storage and how to harness the power of geothermal energy using the heat trapped deep beneath the earth's surface.
Why is STEM important to your job? Understanding the complexity of our system is key to running an energy company that delivers what our customers need - clean and reliable energy that is there when you need it.
What do you like best about your job? My favorite thing is being a part of a team. In this role, I get to lead teams of incredibly smart, hard working and dedicated people who are committed to finding better and better ways to deliver on our critical mission.
What are the most important skills needed in your job? There are probably dozens of important skills around reading, technology and problem solving. But what's helped me the most during my journey are three things: 1) I'm authentically myself and don't try and be anyone else 2) I'm trustworthy - I do what I say I'll do; 3) I don't pretend to know it all - I am willing to ask questions and learn from others.
Have there been times in your career where you've faced difficult challenges and how were you able to overcome them? Of course. I tend to take those situations on directly and right away. When a challenge pops up, rarely can you solve it just by waiting around. I take a moment to inspect the challenge and understand it - but I don't sit and admire the problem for long. Once I have a solution and have connected with teammates to get their input, I roll my sleeves up and get after it.
What advice would you give to girls of all ages who are interested in STEM? Challenge yourself - go beyond what comes easy or naturally. As a volleyball coach, I tell my girls that if you're not making mistakes, you're not getting better because you're not challenging yourself enough. Same is true in STEM or anything else...the growth happens when you're stretching.
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Xcel Energy says power is being restored gradually to the customers in Northern Colorado who are in an area where planned power outages went into effect on Friday.
DougCo Alert is able to provide more information to both residents and first responders than the previous alert system.
Some residents and businesses in southeast Denver were without landline phone service for more than a week, leaving many frustrated by what they described as a lack of communication from service provider CenturyLink.
A second person who was shot at a party in Denver celebrating the arrest of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro nearly two weeks ago has died.
From learning English here, to succeeding in sports, and building a growing business that's now employee-owned, Mowa Haile says he loves Colorado's sense of community.
Watch meteorologist Callie Zanandrie's forecast.
DougCo Alert is able to provide more information to both residents and first responders than the previous alert system.
Some residents and businesses in southeast Denver were without landline phone service for more than a week, leaving many frustrated by what they described as a lack of communication from service provider CenturyLink.
A second person who was shot at a party in Denver celebrating the arrest of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro nearly two weeks ago has died.
From learning English here, to succeeding in sports, and building a growing business that's now employee-owned, Mowa Haile says he loves Colorado's sense of community.
Itsuko Cobb began blinging her own Colorado sports apparel nearly two years ago, starting with Denver Nuggets' jerseys, and the response to them was overwhelming.
Devin Hayes first started building his Broncos Room, or fan cave, when his family moved into their Westminster home. This is actually Hayes' second Broncos Room.
The Denver Broncos are playing against the Buffalo Bills, and the Denver Nuggets are playing against the Washington Wizards on Saturday.
A new report from the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation estimates the divisional round matchup against the Buffalo Bills, and a potential AFC Championship game, could generate more than $60 million in economic activity across the city.
Authorities said the alleged scheme involved 39 players, 17 different NCAA Division I men's basketball teams and 29 games.
"It's as definitive as we're going to get," CBS News medical contributor Dr. Céline Gounder said of the new research, which found no connection between Tylenol and autism or ADHD.
Federal prosecutors are investigating Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for allegedly impeding immigration agents, sources told CBS News.
Depending on the timing, NASA could launch a fresh crew to the space station while four other astronauts are flying around the moon.
As obesity rates among Americans drop and weight loss drugs lead to a slimmer society, airlines could save on fuel costs, according to a recent analysis.
Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum has sought to placate President Trump and build a strong relationship between the U.S. and Mexico.
Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum has sought to placate President Trump and build a strong relationship between the U.S. and Mexico.
The number of ICE detainees exceeded 70,000 for the first time in the deportation agency's 23-year history, according to internal DHS data obtained by CBS News.
The Justice Department says it also added about 80 more attorneys this week to help review the Epstein files to be released.
Gov. Jared Polis took a long stroll down memory lane during his final State of the State address Thursday.
"We are in a little bit of a pothole," said GOP Sen. Bernie Moreno, who previously expected the compromise to be unveiled this week.
"It's as definitive as we're going to get," CBS News medical contributor Dr. Céline Gounder said of the new research, which found no connection between Tylenol and autism or ADHD.
The Trump administration reversed cuts to grants for mental health and addiction treatment programs that a CBS News source said were valued at around $1.9 billion.
This year, AdventHealth says it will roll out close to 800 cameras in hospital rooms and urgent care centers across Colorado to add a virtual layer of care.
Every state will receive at least $100 million annually from the federal Rural Health Transformation fund, but some scored millions more based on their plans and willingness to pass policies embracing MAHA initiatives.
Roughly 1.4 million fewer Americans have signed up for an Affordable Care Act plan as expiring tax breaks drive up premiums.
Some residents and businesses in southeast Denver were without landline phone service for more than a week, leaving many frustrated by what they described as a lack of communication from service provider CenturyLink.
From learning English here, to succeeding in sports, and building a growing business that's now employee-owned, Mowa Haile says he loves Colorado's sense of community.
Itsuko Cobb began blinging her own Colorado sports apparel nearly two years ago, starting with Denver Nuggets' jerseys, and the response to them was overwhelming.
As obesity rates among Americans drop and weight loss drugs lead to a slimmer society, airlines could save on fuel costs, according to a recent analysis.
Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney said China has become a more predictable partner to deal with than the U.S., the country's neighbor and longtime ally.
At 71 years old, facing a terminal diagnosis, Colorado resident Tom Pringle has one more thing he wants to do before he dies: help other people in similar situations by trying an experimental drug to treat his ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
The families of three nonverbal students who were physically abused by a bus aide while traveling to school in Colorado have filed a lawsuit against their children's former school.
Many people who responded to a state survey regarding Xcel's Public Safety Power Shutoffs last month expressed dissatisfaction with Xcel's approach on Dec. 17 and Dec. 19, believing the utility overreacted.
State regulators said the text message from Christian Hatfield, the former district attorney for Colorado's 22nd Judicial District, "caused the staff member emotional harm."
A Venezuelan national suspected in a string of attempted armed robberies in 2024 in Denver's ritzy Cherry Creek North neighborhood has been apprehended in Detroit, according to police and prosecutors.