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Utilities today face unprecedented challenges. Aging infrastructure, increasingly severe weather, rising energy demand, evolving regulations, and workforce shortages have made maintaining reliable electric service more complex than ever. At the same time, customers expect fewer outages, faster restoration, and greater transparency across every project.  Meeting these expectations requires more than hiring contractors to complete individual … Strength Across the Network: How XKIG Supports Utility Partners Nationwide 

Training employees who spend their days in the field requires a different approach than traditional classroom learning. In the July/August edition of UAA Newsline, Joy Lacher, Director of Learning & Development at XKIG, shares practical strategies for developing training that meets the unique needs of today’s deskless workforce.  In her article, “Training a Deskless Workforce,” Joy explores how … Learning Beyond the Classroom: Building a Stronger Deskless Workforce 

At XKIG, safety is more than a program or a policy. It’s the foundation of every decision we make. This summer, more than 60 unified safety professionals with over 1,000 years of combined experience from across the XKIG family of companies – Xylem Tree Experts, Kendall Vegetation Services, and River City Construction – gathered in Norfolk, VA, for our 3rd Annual Safety Summit. It … 3rd Annual Safety Summit: Building a Safer Future Together

When severe weather strikes, communities rely on more than power lines and utility crews. They rely on a coordinated network of people, equipment, planning, and expertise working together under challenging conditions. Storm response is not the responsibility of a single company or team. It requires collaboration across multiple disciplines, from vegetation management and utility construction to logistics and operational … Every Stage of the Storm: How the XKIG Family Responds When Communities Need It Most

Career paths are rarely predictable, and Caitlin Knox, Kemp West Regional Manager, shows that some of the most rewarding opportunities are ones you may never have expected. Kemp West, a division of Xylem Tree Experts, provides utility vegetation management, arboricultural consulting, and right-of-way services throughout the Pacific Northwest.  In the July/August edition of UAA Newsline, … An Unexpected Journey into Utility Arboriculture

The Southeastern Electric Exchange (S.E.E.) Annual Conference & Trade Show brings together utility leaders nationwide to discuss the challenges, opportunities, and innovations shaping the electric utility industry’s future. This year’s conference, held at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, Texas, welcomed more than 2,000 executives, operations leaders, engineers, and industry partners committed to advancing reliability, safety, … Inside the 2026 Southeastern Electric Exchange

by Cindy Edwards, President, River City Construction Recently, I had the privilege of speaking at the Leadership Conference for Women in Energy in Alpharetta, Georgia. The conference brought together leaders from across the utility and energy sectors to discuss workforce development, leadership, succession planning, mentorship, and the challenges shaping the future of our industry. I … Leadership, Resilience, and the Future of Energy

Natural disasters create operating environments where conditions can shift faster than crews can adapt. Hurricanes, wildfires, ice storms, floods, and severe wind events bring unstable trees, compromised terrain, damaged infrastructure, reduced visibility, fatigue, and constantly shifting hazards. In these moments, safety depends not only on technical expertise but also on disciplined decision-making under pressure.  In a recent … Weathering the Storm with Safety 

By Christy Bodnar, Assistant Director of TA and Onboarding, XKIG  Recently, I had the incredible opportunity to represent XKIG at Talent Acquisition Week in San Diego. I left feeling both energized and humbled, energized by the innovation in our field and humbled to have been invited to share my expertise with a talented community of TA professionals. Reelist, our social media recruitment partner, captured a 2-minute video of the … Social Recruiting at Scale: Turning Awareness into Hires

Earlier this month, XKIG hosted its fourth annual Leadership Summit in Norfolk, VA, bringing together approximately 150 employees from across the country for a few days of connection, collaboration, and forward-looking conversations.   What began four years ago as an opportunity to align leadership has continued to grow and evolve alongside our organization. This year’s summit reflected that … Connecting People, Powering Progress: XKIG’s Leadership Summit Recap