Utility Advanced Metering Infrastructure: Electric, Water, and Gas

Rick Hitzemann is an AMI advisor and program management consultant with over 25 years of experience in enterprise software acquisition, development, integration, and delivery. He has deep expertise in AMI program design, project governance, and business transformation, including organizational change management, business process design, and stakeholder communications. Rick has worked on over 20 successful electric, water, and gas AMI projects, spanning system assessments, procurements, implementation, and field meter and network deployments. With a passion for building effective relationships and translating complex technical subjects into actionable business strategies, he is a valuable asset in driving technology transformation and achieving measurable results in utility modernization efforts.

With 50 years of experience working for or consulting with utility distribution companies, Mark Johnson provides strategic and technical leadership to utility IT projects including AMI Systems integration and deployment, feasibility evaluation, strategic visioning, RFP development, vendor selection, business process optimization, and other aspects of projects from the start to full deployment. He focuses on increasing efficiency of business operations, improving workflow processes, and implementing AMI, GIS, and utility back-office technologies. In his tenure as a consultant, Mark has contributed to the success of a multitude of projects for clients.

Jon Mitchell is a consultant with nearly a decade of experience supporting electric, water, and gas utilities in the technical planning, procurement, and implementation of AMI. His expertise spans AMI and MDMS operations, metering and network technologies, financial modeling, and solution evaluation. Jon specializes in assessing operational needs and implementation risks for new metering programs, developing business cases and use cases to justify deployment, and defining technical and functional requirements for new systems. He has led complex RFPs and supported project governance and implementation management, advising utilities on technology tradeoffs, data quality, and performance validation to translate AMI investments into measurable operational efficiencies, improved customer engagement, and long-term asset optimization.

Nicole Naassan is a senior utility technology and operations executive with more than 30 years of experience leading complex transformation initiatives across the utility sector. As AMI Practice Lead at E Source, she oversees a broad portfolio of AMI and utility technology programs, guiding clients from strategy and procurement through implementation and operations. Nicole is known for translating strategy into execution—bringing structure to ambiguity, aligning diverse stakeholders, and driving measurable outcomes at scale. Her background spans consulting, utility operations, and regulation, including senior operational leadership at Constellation New Energy and service at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. She has led dozens of multi-year utility programs and built high-performing teams grounded in accountability, clarity, and strong client partnerships.