Sessions
The Future of the Central Valley Project
10:45 AM - 11:30 AM Thu
Dawn Roth Lindell has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) since November 2013. In this role, she leads more than 200 technology team members managing both traditional and operational technology programs across a 15-state area. An integral member of WAPA’s senior management team, Dawn serves as an advisor to the Administrator and CEO and other WAPA executives on information technology issues, improving business procedures and enabling cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection. Her strengths in strategy and leadership help secure WAPA’s continuing ability to deliver on its mission now and well into the future.
Dawn came to WAPA from Colorado Springs Utilities, where she led more than 180 employees in every aspect of technology as the General Manager of IT Services. Colorado Springs Utilities is a $1 billion dollar water, gas, electric and wastewater utility and a WAPA customer. While there, Dawn’s diverse background enabled her to build relationships bridging the long-term gap between operations technology and IT support, resulting in a zero-findings Critical Infrastructure Protection audit for the utility, significant cost savings and service improvements.
Throughout her career, Dawn has been active in the utilities’ IT sector serving as Chairman of the Large Public Power Council CIO organization, Chairman of the Pikes Peak Regional Communications Network Board and on the board of the Water/Wastewater Forum. She was a founding member of the Western Cyber Exchange, an organization now merged with the National Cybersecurity Center.
Dawn holds a B.S. degree in chemical engineering from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Business Administration with a focus on information systems from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. Dawn is known as a visionary leader with the unique combination of strong technical skills, high energy and a passion for serving people.