About Us | inPOWERd

STRATEGIC SOLUTIONS that improve Return on investment

INPOWERD LLC is a consulting firm that addresses the highly dynamic, changing needs of our clients with strategic consulting based on decades of demonstrable expertise. INPOWERD services can mobilize the right people, skills and technologies to help organizations align people, processes and management practices, maximize potential and achieve strategic objectives.

INPOWERD LLC is a verified Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB) with a unique blend of technical, business and regulatory experience, focused on pursuing excellence and creating innovative and flexible client solutions. INPOWERD's team of regulatory, technical and cybersecurity experts include industry experts and experienced specialists.

INPOWERD LLC provides strategic consulting services to private, commercial, non-profit and government (State and Federal) organizations and has served clients across the United States and Canada.

Vision

InPOWERd LLC is dedicated to improving the your organizations business process and regulatory outlook by building trust, exhibiting accountability and providing excellent customer service.

Mission

To ensure core client business needs are met and deliver added value and efficiency to the client.

Management BIO

Earl Shockley

President, Founder and Chief Manager

Earl Shockley is a decisive, action-oriented, senior executive with a unique blend of business, regulatory, and technical expertise. Earl’s experience includes 40+ years in the electric utility industry and 8 years as a regulator launching and directing various programs and maintaining operational sustainability at the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). His leadership was key in the development and successful deployment of numerous NERC and Regional Entity programs.

Earl founded INPOWERD with the goal of simplifying complexity around NERC regulation and helping his clients focus on the strategic objectives that truly matter. Earl’s goal is to help organizations translate regulatory requirements into actionable business practices that reduce reliability risk.

Earl is a sought-after strategic consultant, solution architect, public speaker, and expert witness on complex issues like regulatory compliance, risk management, organizational culture change, power grid operations and cybersecurity. Earl is the author of many formal reports, whitepapers, and publications including a series of short articles on organizational culture and regulatory compliance entitled “Perspective of an Ex-Regulator”. which has appeared in publications like Electric Light and Power Magazine.

Time at NERC

Earl is a highly experienced ex-regulator who:

Led or participated on 100+ Electric Reliability Organization (ERO) compliance and enforcement related engagements.
Led multiple NERC analytical and investigative efforts, including the FERC/NERC Inquiry & Investigation of the September 8, 2011, Arizona-California Blackout, the joint FERC/NERC Compliance Investigation of the February 2008 Florida Blackout, and the FERC/NERC inquiries of the February 2011 Southwest Cold Snap event and October 2011 Northeast Snow Storm event.
Was instrumental in the shift from the “zero-defect” compliance and enforcement approach to one that focuses on a company’s inherent risk and ability to manage reliability risk with associated internal risk control programs.

Major Publications

A series of short articles on cybersecurity, regulatory compliance and organizational culture entitled “Perspective of an Ex-Regulator.” Earl’s articles have been published internationally in Electric Power and Light Magazine.
Whitepaper “Overcoming Cybersecurity Challenges in Industrial Control Systems”
Article “INPOWERD Four Principles for Compliance Program Success”
Article “INPOWERD Compliance Audit Preparation Best Practices”
Article “INPOWERD Testing NERC Compliance Evidence for Quality"

Reports

Feb 2011 Southwest Cold Snap Event Report
Sept 2011, Arizona-California Blackout Report
Oct 2011, Northeast Snow Storm Event Report
Oct 2012, Hurricane Sandy Analysis Report
Jan 2014, Polar Vortex Review

Education

Master of Science Degree, Engineering Management – University of Tennessee Chattanooga, Chattanooga TN
Bachelor of Science Degree, Business Administration and Organizational Management – Bryan College, Dayton TN

Current and previously held certifications

Certified Level 3 Investigator – Accident Investigation & Root Cause Analysis (2005 – present)
Certified Technical Instructor / Facilitator (2005 – present)
NERC Certified System Operator, Reliability (1998 – 2012)
WSCC Certified System Operator – (1998 – 2001)

full resume

Our Core Values

Personal and Professional Integrity – INPOWERD strictly maintains core principles of Trust, Accountability, and Service and represents our company capabilities honestly. Appropriate confidentiality of client information is paramount, and INPOWERD never misrepresents the purpose for seeking information. INPOWERD promises are kept and outstanding work is delivered.
Clients Come First – The clients’ success is INPOWERD's success. Resources are committed wholehearted to address client success. In short, the client comes first.

Value Delivered – INPOWERD is committed to creating value and improving return on investment, with tangible and positive change, not simply presentations or ideas. Value is an essential deliverable throughout all phases of the consulting engagement, thanks to many years of bench-marking and an extensive knowledge domain. INPOWERD personnel are dedicated to ensuring that learning occurs, mindsets change, the healthiest possible decisions are made, the right actions are taken, and innovation is recognized.
Openness and Honest Communication – Clear, concise language is how we communicate.and honest open communication help set clearer goals and smoother paths to success. INPOWERD believes in full transparency. Client communication plans ensure that INPOWERD staff communicates with the right audiences at the right time.

Continuous Improvement – Continuous improvement means always raising the bar, delivering innovative solutions, enhancing quality and sustainability and never being satisfied with the status quo. During action planning, clients and INPOWERD are working together to explore new ideas, review alternative ways to proceed, and design interventions into existing systems for continuous improvement.
Satisfaction Guarantee: InPOWERd fees are based on the client’s unconditional satisfaction: If you do not feel full value was received, you can decide how much value you received and pay only that or nothing at all.
Availability Guarantee: INPOWERD guarantees a pre-defined level of availability for the services provided.
Guaranteed Total Costs of Ownership (TCO): All training modules, INPOWERD templates, spreadsheets and tools remain with the client at no additional cost.

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