Travis Million of Golden Valley Electric Association

Travis Million will describe his journey from an engineering technician to become one of the leaders of Alaska's Electric Utility Industry. He will offer lessons learned, an overview of the current issues in Alaska and a look at where the industry in headed in the future. The presentation should be of particular interest to students of all engineering disciplines, whether they are new students trying to choose a major or graduating students looking to enter the job market.

Biography:

Travis Million, President & CEO, Golden Valley Electric Association

Travis Million joined GVEA in September 2023 as Chief Operating Officer, overseeing the operations, engineering, and power supply divisions. After serving as COO for eight months, he transitioned into the CEO role in June 2024. With a background in electrical engineering, his career in the electric utility industry spans nearly 25 years, including hands-on experience in various engineering roles at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc., and the High Frequency Active Auroral Project. 

Prior to joining GVEA, Travis spent over a dozen years with CopperValley Electric Association, first as manager of power generation, then as COO, where he oversaw operations, power production, engineering, environmental and regulatory compliance, and safety departments, eventually becoming CEO in 2020. His time at CVEA was marked by the relationships he built and the progress the cooperative made under his leadership. His involvement with state and national trade associations, such as the Alaska Power Association and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, has broadened his understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the electric utility industry.

He served on APA’s board of directors as chair of the government affairs committee and helped establish its Safety Committee, where he also served as chair. Travis is a member of NRECA’s Generation Advisory Committee, the Alaska Broadband Advisory Board and currently serves as chair of the Railbelt Transmission Organization. These roles have deepened his knowledge of electric utility issues, particularly those affecting the Railbelt, and have enabled him to develop a strong network of collaborative relationships that will benefit the cooperative going forward.

Email:

Address:758 Illinois Street, , Fairbanks, Alaska, United States, 99701