IoT Roundtable Breakfast - July 27

Description

“Renewables & Technology:  Unleashing consumer benefits”

Speakers:  Gabe Castro, VP Business Markets, and Sam Sen, VP TXU Solutions, TXU

The once-staid electric market has been disrupted by emerging technologies, from smart meters to management of on-site renewables.  As the ERCOT and other electric markets shift from centralized to distributed structures, technology is the driving force making this happen.  The focus of this presentation will highlight how one company (TXU Energy) has adapted to the emergence of these technologies to provide innovative and customized solutions to their customers and the questions they are asking about what the future holds.

Gabe Castro is vice president of business markets of TXU Energy, a market-leading competitive retail electricity provider.  With more than 22 years of experience gained from working in multiple facets of the energy business, Castro is now responsible for energy sales through both direct and indirect channel sales across all lines of business.  Additionally, he is also responsible for the strategic development and tactical implementation of customer retention and growth strategies throughout the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), as well as heading up the retail gas sales team.  He also oversees product development, demand side management solutions, analytics, sales support, service, and deal structuring.

Castro joined TXU Energy in 1994, and he has taken increased roles and responsibilities across the company's competitive business markets.  From initially working in natural gas transportation, to focusing on the dynamic power market in Texas, to serving as company representative in Mexico City, to his current role as vice president, Castro is a leading member of the TXU Energy team.

Castro is an active volunteer with the United Way and an active member of the Texas Health Resources Leadership Council.  Previously, he has served as a director on the Economic Development Board for the Greater Irving Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce and worked on the 2011 March of Dimes Leadership Committee.
Castro holds a bachelor's of business administration degree in finance from St. Mary's University.

Sam Sen is Vice President - TXU Solutions at TXU Energy.  He leads the TXU Solutions business, offering customers value added solutions beyond traditional grid electricity plans.  These solutions currently include Home Warranties, Smart Thermostats, Cable/Internet/Telecom solutions as well as renewables and Solar / distributed generation products.  Prior to his current role, Sam was Vice President of Performance Excellence where he set up the lean program and various elements of TXU's operating model.  Prior to that, Sam was the Sr. Director of Planning and Analysis, responsible for leading strategic and financial planning at TXU Energy.

Prior to joining TXU Energy in 2009, Sam spent several years as a management consultant at Booz and Company (formerly Booz Allen Hamilton), where he served as a Principal working predominantly with clients in the Energy industry.  Sam's experience covered a diverse range of assignments ranging from growth strategies, functional strategies to mergers and acquisitions and divestitures.

Sam is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, earning a master's of business administration from the McCombs School of Business.  Sam also completed his Post Graduate Diploma in Management from the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad, India.