Steve Wenke is a utility professional with over 40 years of experience in generation strategy, planning, and operations. He recently retired as senior manager of generation strategy and planning at Avista, where he led initiatives across asset management, plant development, upgrades, and dam safety. Steve’s experience spans generation design, major capital projects, NERC compliance, and corporate initiatives including mergers, labor negotiations, and product development. He also led the development of a corporate human performance safety strategy and supported distributed energy resource initiatives. He has been active in industry leadership and advisory roles, including service with NERC committees, the DHS Dam Sector Coordinating Council, and the National Hydropower Association. He currently serves as President of the Hydropower Foundation.