Skip to main content

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING?

Nick Leonardi

Nick Leonardi

Hot Spots on Energized Switches: What They Signal, What Causes Them, and What Utilities Can Do Without Creating Unnecessary Outages

Hot Spots on Energized Switches: What They Signal, What Causes Them, and What Utilities Can Do Without Creating Unnecessary Outages

| Nick Leonardi |

SPONSORED BY FIRSTPOWER GROUP
March 12th, 2026 @ 1PM ET

Hot Spots on Energized Switches: What They Signal, What Causes Them, and What Utilities Can Do Without Creating Unnecessary Outages

Which will include:

  • Hot Spot Interpretation: Understand that thermal anomalies signify underlying system failures, not just elevated temperatures.
  • Root Cause Analysis: Identify primary drivers of hot spots, such as mechanical resistance, corrosion, contamination, and lubricant failure.
  • Field Recognition: Recognize early physical warning signs in the field to prevent equipment escalation or failure.
  • Mitigation Strategy: Evaluate critical decision points to determine if a fix requires an outage or can be handled while energized.
  • Standardized Framework: Implement the Identify → Verify → Stabilize → Prevent workflow for consistent issue management.
  • Maintenance Optimization: Adopt best practices in lubrication and record-keeping to minimize repeat issues and improve switch reliability.
Read more
Bierer Meters Webinar

Lineworker Safety Tool Competence Workshop

| Nick Leonardi |

SPONSORED BY BIERER METERS
FEBRUARY 10th, 2026 @ 1PM ET

Lineworker Safety Tool Competence Workshop

Which will include:

  • Understanding proper Work Methods, Best Work Practices, Proper Body and Tool Position while using Phasing and Voltage Meters.
  • How to foster Line Team Connectivity.
  • How to bring Sessions 1 and 2 Hands On.
  • EWR How to build and sustain an organization’s Line Team and promote positive growth .
Read more

Dangers & Safety in Overhead Utility Work Training Safer Operators Through Simulation

| Nick Leonardi |

SPONSORED BY CM LABS
JANUARY 21ST, 2026 @ 1PM ET

Dangers & Safety in Overhead Utility Work Training Safer Operators Through Simulation

Which will include:

  • The key industry challenges, including workforce shortages, experience gaps, and persistent incident and fatality risks.
  • Why traditional training methods alone can’t fully prepare linemen for high-risk situations.
  • How simulation enables a more data-driven approach to workforce development .
  • How simulation helps reduce incidents, accelerate onboarding, and lower training costs .
Read more

Live from The iP Utility Safety Conference, Glendale, AZ – How Upstream Thinking Changes Safety

| Nick Leonardi |
Recorded live from the IP Utility Safety Conference in Glendale, Arizona , this free-flowing conversation features Kate Wade of IP magazine , Billy Martin of Think Tank Project, LLC , and Brant Jeffries of Bierer Meters. The group discusses how conferences and networking change our perspectives , using analogies like Billy’s “fire corn” and Heraclitus’s […]
Read more

Danny Raines, CUSP Inducted Into The Lineman’s Hall of Fame

| Nick Leonardi |
Danny Raines, CUSP was inducted into the Lineman’s Hall of Fame, an honor created to acknowledge and pay respect to lineworkers who have made notable contributions to the industry. His induction recognizes a lifetime of dedication to the electrical utility industry and the safety of its workers, showcasing the “passion for the linework industry” that […]
Read more
APWA PWX 2025

Key Takeaways from APWA PWX 2025: A Focus on Incident Prevention

| Nick Leonardi |
Key Takeaways from APWA PWX 2025: A Focus on Incident Prevention Last month, our team had the privilege of attending the American Public Works Association’s Public Works Expo (PWX) 2025 in the vibrant city of Chicago. This premier event brought together thousands of public works professionals from around the globe to discuss the latest innovations, […]
Read more
International Lineman's Rodeo 2025

International Lineman’s Rodeo 2025 – iP Was Live Onsite!

| Nick Leonardi |
We were excited to be part of the International Lineman’s Rodeo 2025! Our own Rich Kunkel attended this premier event, connecting with the best and brightest at this event. The Lineman’s Rodeo is a fantastic showcase of skill and dedication, and we were proud to be there supporting the community. We got to connect with […]
Read more

Rethinking Risk: Safety Culture, Risk Tolerance, and Relationship-Driven Leadership – Mark Taylor, CUSP

| Nick Leonardi |
In this compelling episode, Mark Taylor, CUSP, Senior Advisor of Corporate Services at Primary Engineering and Construction, joins us to explore how utility professionals perceive and manage risk. Drawing from decades of field and leadership experience, Mark discusses how a worker’s risk tolerance evolves over time, the importance of coaching over compliance, and how building […]
Read more

Built In, Not Bolted On with Doug Hill, CUSP – Why Safety Programs Succeed or Fail David McPeak, CUSP

| Nick Leonardi |
  In this episode of Built In, Not Bolted On, host Doug Hill sits down with safety leader and educator David McPeak to explore the real keys to successful Human and Organizational Performance (HOP). Through storytelling, relatable analogies, and a few laughs, they break down the power of caring leadership, building a just culture, the […]
Read more
Subsurface Utility Operations

Foundations of Safety: Reducing Risk in Subsurface Utility Operations

| Nick Leonardi |

SPONSORED BY CM LABS
MAY 21, 2025 @ 1PM ET

Safety from the Ground Up: Best Practices for Underground and Overhead Utility Operations

Which will include:

  • Common causes of incidents in trenching and electrical operations—and how to prevent them
  • OSHA regulations every utility operator should know
  • The role of site inspections, pre-shift checks, and protective systems in mitigating risks
  • How simulation training provides a safe, repeatable environment for high-risk scenario practice
  • Real-world success stories from utility companies using simulation to improve safety
Read more