Leslie Sink

Leslie Sink joined Southwest Power Pool (SPP) in 2008 and has been SPP’s Manager of Stakeholder Training since 2010. SPP is a regional transmission organization that manages the electric grid across 17 central and western states and provides energy services on a contract basis to customers across the U.S. Leslie and her team are responsible for providing educational activities to develop and train SPP stakeholders in the reliable operation of the bulk power system and effective participation in SPP’s energy markets. A large part of this program is providing the necessary credential maintenance hours needed for grid system operators to maintain their North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) operator certification.

Leslie Sink is a visionary leader with a keen sense for strategy and execution. She has over three decades of extensive experience in leading, developing, and implementing learning programs and professional training for a diverse array of major industries including airline, auto, telecommunications, and energy. Her greatest strength as a leader is working collaboratively with her team. Through strong partnerships with her team and across SPP, Leslie creates a collective vision and transforms that vision into reality through flexibility and agility. In her current role, Leslie oversees the development and implementation of highly technical training that is critical to keeping the lights on across North America.

Under Leslie’s leadership, in 2022 SPP provided more than 34,500 training hours to 261 organizations and over 26,300 continuing education hours to 36 SPP member organizations. Leslie’s team was among the only in the energy and utilities industry to provide virtual operator credential maintenance training during the COVID-19 pandemic regardless of company affiliation.

Leslie is currently a member of the NERC Credential Maintenance Working Group and previously served as Chair and Vice Chair during 2015 – 2019. This group is responsible for developing and maintaining the NERC Credential Maintenance Program for North American system operators.

Leslie graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a Bachelors of Arts in Organizational Communication. She loves working in the community, and serves as an Arkansas Hospice Foundation Board member and is an active Arkansas Hospice volunteer. Now in her sixth year, she also participates and fundraises for the St. Jude Memphis Marathon.

Leslie regards her family as the greatest joy in her life.  She is proud of her loving daughter Hannah and the work that Hannah and her husband Jay are doing to make a difference and positive impact in their Louisiana community. Leslie considers the time she gets to spend with her precious grandchildren, Avery, August and Morgan as priceless.  Their infectious laughter and enthusiasm are an absolute blessing in her life.