About inpowerd

Trust • Accountability • Service

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 Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) specializing in power grid operations, regulatory compliance, risk management, physical and cyber security for the electric utility industry. The firm has a unique blend of technical, business, and regulatory experience and is focused on pursuing excellence and creating innovative and flexible client solutions.

INPOWERD provides strategic consulting services to client's across the United States and Canada.

Vision

INPOWERD LLC is dedicated to simplifying regulatory complexity and strengthening the clients business process by building trust, exhibiting accountability, and providing excellent customer service.

Mission

To ensure core client business needs are met by providing best-in-class consulting solutions. To be a valued partner to our clients and an inspiration to our community.

Management BIO

Earl Shockley

President and Founder

Earl Shockley is President and Founder of INPOWERD LLC. He 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 also serves as personal leadership and strategy coach for CEOs, COOs, CFOs, CIOs, executive teams, and frontline leaders in the energy sector.

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 in 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 Snowstorm 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.

Education

Earl holds a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration & Organizational Management. Earl also completed numerous advanced technical power system apprenticeships and certification courses while in the U.S. Navy and the electric industry; he holds or has held certifications in the following areas:

  • Certified NERC Auditor
  • Certified Level 3 Investigator - Accident Investigation & Root Cause Analysis
  • Certified Technical Instructor / Facilitator
  • NERC Certified System Operator – Reliability (1998 – 2012)
  • WSCC Certified System Operator (1998 – 2000)

Major Publications

  • White paper "Hitting a Moving Regulatory Target - CIP Case Study"
  • 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 Snowstorm Event Report
  • Oct 2012, Hurricane Sandy Analysis Report
  • Jan 2014, Polar Vortex Review

Current and previously held certifications

  • Certified NERC Auditor
  • 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 benchmarking 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, and honest open communication help set clearer goals and pave a smoother path to success. INPOWERD believes in full transparency. Client communication plans ensure that INPOWERD staff communicate 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.

Let's work together

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