With over a dozen vendors and a steady flow of employees visiting the booths throughout the day, the Supplier Fairs recently held at Xcel Energy’s Monticello and Prairie Island plants provided a unique opportunity for employees to network with industry suppliers and to learn about new and existing products and services available through the USA agreements.

“Our membership in USA helps us leverage opportunities to save money and share knowledge of suppliers, products and services with fellow members as we strive for excellence in running our plants,” said Tim Johnson, director, supply chain nuclear for Xcel Energy.

Approximately 150 employees attended the fair at Monticello, and approximately 200 attended the fair at Prairie Island. Key upper management also attended the fairs at both sites. “These USA fairs present suppliers with a unique opportunity to interact with personnel at the sites we don’t normally have access to and share information with them about the products and services included in our agreement with USA,” stated Ed Hollis, vice president strategic accounts for Curtiss Wright Flow Control Nuclear. “Such interaction and information exchange is extremely valuable to our organization and other key USA suppliers.”

Prairie Island employees Brian Rogers and George Andrews enjoy the fair.

.
Monticello Nuclear Plant Engineer Sam Shirey, left, stops by the Baldor industrial drives and motors exhibit and talks with sales rep Bill Antoski during the Monticello USA Supplier Fair.