Overcoming Challenges: Rebuilding and Upgrading Underground Distribution Systems in Urban Centers

Moderator: Frank Morrissey 
Managing Director - Underground & Submarine Cables \ Transmission & Distribution 
Burns & McDonnell 
  
Frank Morrissey is the Managing Director of Underground & Submarine Cables at Burns & McDonnell, where he collaborates with Electric Utilities and Developers to enhance grid resiliency, address aging infrastructure, navigate regulatory and permitting challenges, and achieve decarbonization through the successful interconnection of offshore wind, battery storage, and solar projects. With Burns & McDonnell’s comprehensive engineering and construction capabilities, Frank and his team provide customized solutions that empower clients to deliver safe, reliable, and affordable power. As part of an employee-owned firm, Frank and his team are dedicated to making each project a success by driving innovation and overcoming key challenges in the evolving energy landscape. 

Industry Leader Panelist: Scott McDougald 
General Manager for Network Underground Services  
Georgia Power 
 
Scott McDougald is the General Manager for Network Underground Services at Georgia Power and Alabama Power, where he leads the construction and maintenance of the distribution network system across the state of Georgia. With over 25 years of experience at Georgia Power, Scott has held several key leadership roles, including Distribution Manager in Athens and Distribution Control Center Manager in McDonough, overseeing outage restoration efforts and operations for over 1.25 million customers in the Metro Atlanta area. His career highlights include managing large teams, engineering and operational oversight, and ensuring reliable power delivery through effective system management and storm restoration efforts across Georgia. 

Industry Leader Panelist: Russell Profaizer 
Managing Director, Field Operations 
Duquesne Light Company 
 
Russell Profaizer is the Managing Director of Field Operations at Duquesne Light Company (DLC), where he leads the utility's field operations to ensure the safe and reliable delivery of power across the region. Russell has 17 years of utility industry experience. He has proven himself a transformative leader with a robust background overseeing critical safety and training initiatives, leading collective bargaining, grant funding opportunities, and grid modernization efforts. With his experience, he has brought multiple business units and external stakeholders together to lead and operationalize innovative technologies while aligning key benefits with community and labor union stakeholders. Previously, he held key roles at DLC, including Director of Advanced Grid Systems and Grid Modernization. 

Industry Leader Panelist: Adam Rehfeld 
Distribution Projects Manager 
Burns & McDonnell 
 
With 18 years of experience in the energy sector, Adam Rehfeld specializes in managing large engineering portfolios, including grid resiliency, storm hardening, and distribution automation for major investor-owned utilities (IOUs). He excels at coordinating diverse stakeholders to successfully implement comprehensive work portfolios. Adam is dedicated to leveraging technology and driving process improvements to enhance quality, efficiency, and stakeholder visibility in all projects.