Christopher Mickelson, MBA

Experience

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  Sellen Construction

  Jun 2000 - Sept 2002

  Accounts Payable and Subcontract Accounting

  • Providing comprehensive monthly, quarterly, and year-end reports to senior management as part of the internal accounting team.• Managing work activities to meet monthly, quarterly, and year-end closing, along with other stringent objectives and deadlines.• Auditing invoices, reconciling accounts, negotiating payment discounts, and creating purchase orders.• Maintaining effective working relationships and open communication with various individuals and firms.• Maintaining confidentiality of client account information and contracts. Show less

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  National University & Vietnamese American Training College

  May 2003 - Nov 2005

  English Teacher

  • Developed an innovative curriculum to effectively reach and instruct individual students and classes.• Introduced a program to help students that required additional assistance outside the classroom.• Established comfortable two-way communication that empowered students.• Applied academic methods to educate students in culture, grammar, and social conversational skills.

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  State of Washington

  Apr 2006 - Aug 2014

  Exercised sound judgment and provided expert witness advice on over 610 commission filings related to energy, water, solid waste, and transport industries; where I formulated and articulated the company’s views and identify approaches to address those arguments through open meeting briefing memoranda or written testimony in regulatory proceedings.Lead large diverse teams charged with the responsibility of analyzing complex utility rate filings, represent and ensure the public interest via developed counter-proposals through testimony, cross-examination, briefs, and other litigation functions.Assisted and guided regulated companies, consumers, and other stakeholders regarding the interpretation and application of regulations, regulatory process, and regulatory accounting principles. Coached associate analysts. Show less • Provided technical assistance to educate employers of their reporting responsibilities, prime contractor liability, record-keeping, and general regulations of other state department programs.• Conducted independent on-site financial audits and determined work operation compliance.• Communicated audit findings to employers, accountants, attorneys, and regulatory bodies.• Prepared subpoenas, other legal documents, and an extensive audit findings report.• Testified at the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals and other court proceedings. Show less

  • Senior Regulatory Analyst

    Jun 2007 - Aug 2014

  • Fraud Auditor

    Apr 2006 - Jun 2007
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  Austin Energy

  Aug 2014 - Jan 2020

  Energy Analyst (Lead/Acting Supervisor)

  Contributed and supervised four professionals that developed cost-of-service studies, pricing solutions, and forecasts to ensure potential impacts are considered in the budget and financial planning process for the ninth-largest municipality-owned utility in the eleventh largest city in the nation. Provided financial assessments to executives on a half-billion-dollar merger and acquisition purchase of a biomass power generation, while working with members of JP Morgan investment bank to negotiate transaction and purchase price.Performed quantitative analysis, forecasts, and economic analyses such as unbundling, stranded cost, decommissioning, cost-benefit, and other economic studies. Monitored ERCOT market developments and utilized data to draw meaningful conclusions and present results through reports and presentations that advised executives on short- and long-term outlooks.Testified as an expert witness in rate proceedings and workshops before local and state regulatory authorities. Monitored and participated in regulatory authorities’ processes regarding rule changes, workshops, and projects. Developed and maintained effective relations and open communication with various stakeholders. Show less

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  Michigan State University

  Aug 2018 - now

  Faculty Member

  Teach advanced regulatory theory, cost allocation, and pricing methodologies courses to public utility regulators and policymakers, energy boards or officials, attorneys, and other industry advocates at an annual energy regulatory studies program.

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  MDU Resources Group, Inc.

  Feb 2020 - Sept 2023

  Regional Regulatory Affairs Manager
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  Cascade Natural Gas

  Feb 2020 - Sept 2023

  Regulatory Affairs Manager

  Manage the regulatory affairs function for multiple jurisdictions per applicable governmental regulations, company policy, and legal requirements. Ensure compliance with state and federal regulations and compliance including the coordination of on-site audits.Lead and participate in the development, filing, and presentment of expert testimony to support the Company’s position in matters before state and federal regulatory commissions and legislative bodies in forums both formal and informal.Participate in the development and implementation of department goals for the Company's strategic plan, including the evaluation of staffing requirements, staff development, salary review, salary classifications, and job descriptions.Evaluate, analyze, and advise on the impact of long-range planning, the introduction of programs or strategies, rule changes, and regulatory action that affect the Company’s processes or regulatory strategies. Perform other tasks and special projects as assigned. Show less

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  Puget Sound Energy

  Oct 2023 - now

  Cost of Service & Pricing Manager