Thank you for visiting the Educational Opportunities Web site. One of NWPPA’s primary functions is to provide you with learning opportunities that will allow you to meet the challenges of our industry with confidence. If you don’t see what you are looking for here, please use the "Provide an Idea for a Course" button below or contact one of our Training Staff to let us know what is needed and we will get back to you as quickly as we can.

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eLearning Study Center

NWPPA Webinars

Current Education and Conference Schedule

Provide an idea for a Course

Catalog of Courses and Workshops

OSHA Safety Training Curriculum

Willamette University Utility Management Certificate Program

NWPPA can provide you with learning opportunities in different formats:

Open Enrollment	In-House	Web Based
Formerly known as Regional or Cluster courses, these are group sessions generally offered in a centralized location with open enrollment to serve our utility and associate staff members.	In-house courses are offered within a utility for their own employees and provide the best benefit to the utility when they have 10 or more employees who need the same type of training.	The eLearning Study Center is offered for member employees, customers, and families in the topics of Professional Development and Personal Enrichment, as well as an innovative degree completion program.
		NWPPA Webinars

How to Arrange a Training Session

Check over our Catalog of Courses and Workshops section and select the session that you would like to have scheduled. Contact the training staff person listed as the contact on the catalog entry for assistance in setting up the course. If you don’t see what you are looking for, go to our Provide an Idea for a Course section and complete the suggestion form.

It is our goal to provide the learning experiences that you need, when you need them, at a location that is convenient for you.

Education Services Staff

NWPPA’s Education Services staff members work with a variety of committees, individual utilities, state and national associations, and individual participants to develop learning opportunities to meet specific needs. Our staff has been assigned primary areas of responsibility to make it easier for you to communicate with us:

Arnie Winkler, Director of Education
Arnie provides overall coordination of the Education and Training programs at NWPPA. You can contact Arnie with any general questions you have about education and training programs and services. In addition, talk with Arnie about training in the following areas: Board and management training; Executive Secretary/Administrative assistant training; workforce expansion; energy efficiency; and Power supply workshops. In addition, the Director of Education also coordinates the NWPPA Annual Conference and works with NWPPA's Power Supply, Rates & Economics Committee.
arnie@nwppa.org - (360) 816-1445

Barry Fuchs, Training Manager
Barry provides on-site logistical support for various NWPPA educational courses/workshops/conferences as well as the planning of these events. He is responsible for scheduling training in the following areas: e Learning; Customer Service/Credit & Collections; Accounting & Finance training; Pricing & Rates training; Human Resources training; Marketing training; Communications training; Key Accounts training; Staking Technician Certification; and Distance Learning/Web-based training. Barry is responsible for the Northwest Innovations & Communication Conference (N.I.C.), 3 C's Workshop; and Engineering & Operations Conference support.
barry@nwppa.org - (360) 816-1446

Scott Lowry, Training Manager
Scott is responsible for the Engineering & Operations Conference, Alaska Utility Conference, NWPPA/WEI Utility Pole Conference, Materials Management Workshop, and Environmental Task Force Committee.  He provides on-site logistical support for various NWPPA classes, workshops, and conferences as well as the planning of these activities. 
slowry@nwppa.org - (360) 816-1448

Ruth Manning, Training Manager
Ruth is responsible for training in the following areas: Front Line Leadership training; and Information Technology. Ruth is also responsible for administration of the Engineering & Operations Conference and Tradeshow exhibits. She provides on-site logistical support for various other NWPPA classes, workshops, and conferences. 
ruth@nwppa.org - (360) 816-1447

Janet Bolzell, Meetings Manager
Janet is responsible for reserving meeting and hotel space for all NWPPA training events and conferences. In addition, Janet handles all coordination of speaker materials and conference sponsorships.
janet@nwppa.org - (360) 816-1443

Wendy Carlson, Registration Administrator
Wendy is responsible for registration and invoicing for classes and conferences. She also produces certificates, name badges, and other course materials, and administers the CEU process and records.
wendy@nwppa.org - (360) 816-1442