A Message from the Publisher – Spring 2024

Winning. The word was popularized as a hashtag by Charlie Sheen before he got cancelled (or was it in response to being cancelled?) around the time of his public meltdown several years ago. Regardless of what you think of Charlie, I like the way that he structured his catchphrase: as a verb in present tense. I assume that he means “I am winning.” That’s what grammar nerds refer to as “present progressive tense” which means the action is happening now and is still ongoing. With the way Charlie used the word, I believe there is also an implication that the action already started occurring in the past and is continuing to happen onward into the future: I am winning, I have been winning, and I will be winning.

“If you ain’t first, you’re last.” – Reese Bobby (Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, 2006)
The thrill of going head-to-head with others and striving to come out on top can provide quite a rush – the anticipation of victory, the adrenaline from competing, and the suspense leading up to the outcome. I tend to avoid board games unless I’m in just the right mood to handle the dynamics of winning – and losing. Personally, I don’t like how it feels when cutthroat competitive instincts rise up within me. There have been times in the past when I take a game too far and treat people ruthlessly. I win, but at what cost? Losing at games for me is no better: crafting a viable strategy, working hard to turn it into reality, only to have it all slip through my fingers like dust at the end. Doesn’t seem like a great investment of my time, thank you. I’m sure there’s something great that many of you love about games, and maybe one day I will discover it.

“It’s never the winning that’s the hard part; it’s the not giving up.” – Ted Lasso (Ted Lasso, 2022)
I think my favorite fictional coach is right. Sometimes we don’t win. In those moments, it can be hard to realize that striving toward winning still moves us further onward than if we had never tried at all. In life and in our professions, winning goes beyond simply achieving victory over competitors. Whether you’re a seasoned manager, an executive, or an employee ready to advance, pursuing the spirit of winning can pave the way to success.

In this issue, we explore winning in a few different ways. We glean insights from previous winners of EPA’s Partner of the Year award and UMA’s annual Sustainability and Innovation Award. Additionally, we hear from experts to help you master emerging trends from e-bikes to energy markets. Further, we will start assembling a playbook with considerations for electrification, and for low-income energy costs and pass through. This issue will assist you in your competitive strategy so you will not be second. As you turn the pages, I hope you ponder, how can you leverage each of these opportunities to help your company WIN this year?