Speakers bureau lets you interact with Hawaiian Electric
by Peter Rosegg | May 25, 2021
Electricity touches everyone in Hawaii — and it’s an ongoing challenge for Hawaiian Electric to interact with our customers. Our website, social media (including this blog) and news media outlets play a role in helping us connect with customers. Another way you might not be familiar with is our speakers bureau.
In my nearly 20 years with Hawaiian Electric, I’ve made an estimated 200 presentations to Rotary, Lions and Exchange clubs; business, trade and civic organizations (like the Outdoor Circle); and college and occasionally high school classes.
Most presentations to young people from preschool to 12th grade are handled by our education and consumer affairs staffers. They recruit a variety of Hawaiian Electric employees for presentations to school groups. Among the most popular (before COVID-19) were visits that included our bucket trucks.
My own presentations are a little less hands-on, so I work hard to keep them lively and topical, with plenty of time for questions. Recently for a presentation to a Honolulu Community College class, the teacher asked students for questions in advance. It was great. I went right to the subjects of interest (electric cars were big!) while weaving in our three Rs — reliability, renewable energy and resilience.
COVID brought changes in good and not-so-good ways. No one loves Zoom or WebEx, but these teleconferences eliminate travel time and put the speaker “in the face” of every attendee. Sadly, no bucket trucks for now.
Technology removes some human interaction. Many presenters say the best moment in talking to young children is when a youngster comes up to give them a hug. With high schoolers, it’s always special to receive a thank-you note.
When the education team put out a note to teachers recently that our Spring Speaker Series is open, they were flooded with requests. Some may have to wait until the fall series.
Teachers interested in printed and video materials for all ages available anytime can visit our website. To ask about a presentation contact sam.nichols@hawaiianelectric.com.
Peter Rosegg is a senior corporate relations specialist at Hawaiian Electric Company.
