Speaker Biographies
Chris Pilong – PJM Interconnection, LLC Christopher Pilong, Sr. Director ─ Operations Planning, is responsible for the Transmission Operations Department, Generation Department and Outage Analysis Technologies Department. These departments perform near-term transmission outage analysis and approvals, generation outage analysis and approvals, annual Black Start Unit commitments, as well as gas-electric coordination, near-term load forecasting, solar forecasting and wind forecasting. The teams also perform seasonal reliability assessments and coordinate directly with the Market Services Division and System Planning Division. Previously, Pilong worked as the director of the Dispatch Department and was responsible for the oversight of the dispatchers who operate and maintain the reliability of PJM’s portion of the Eastern Interconnection. The team operates the grid in accordance with NERC and PJM policies. In additio n, the team oversees the Real-Time Energy and Reserve markets.
Pilong also worked as the manager of the Reliability Engineering Department at PJM performing day-ahead transmission outage analysis, as well as real-time coordination of grid activities with neighboring RTOs and ISOs.
Pilong has a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from Lehigh University and a Master of Business Administration from Villanova University.
Rick Stackowicz – SERC Reliability Corporation
Rick Stachowicz transitioned to the O&P Compliance Audit Team at SERC Reliability Corporation in June 2023 after originally joining the SERC Situational Awareness and Event Analysis Team as a Sr. Reliability Engineer in July of 2020. He was promoted to Principal Reliability Engineer in 2022.
Rick was selected to be a team member involved in the FERC/NERC Joint Inquiries that investigated the causes and developed recommendations from Winter Storms Uri and Elliot. He has over 30 years of utility experience. He has been an experienced real-time system operator and team leader ensuring reliable and efficient operation of the bulk power system for over twenty years. He has a proven track record of successfully operating power systems, managing operators and engineers, designing transmission and distribution solutions, and leading complex projects with interdisciplinary teams within highly regulated conditions. Rick is a collaborative problem solver with superior interpersonal and communication skills who fosters inclusive and positive relationships with internal and external customers. Having spent most of his time in the control room, Rick thrives in fast-paced environments where attention to detail must be balanced with agility and creativity. He previously held positions as a Co-Gen Project Designer, Engineering Assistant, Sr. System Operator and Chicago Load Dispatcher with ComEd.
He obtained his NERC RC Certificate and worked as a Sr. System Operator with American Transmission Company, a Sr. Reliability Coordinator and eventually a Lead Shift Manager with MISO.
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