Since becoming President and CEO of Nebraska public power utility Omaha Public Power District in 2021, Javier Fernandez has been participating in a listening tour with OPPD staff, which he notes helps to creates a culture of caring and trust.
When he became President and CEO, Fernandez let employees know that he was committed to listening to their thoughts and ideas, fielding questions and keeping the lines of communication available.
Some of the ways in which he has done this are through company town halls, business unit meetings, monthly videos fielding submitted employee questions, and the ongoing listening tours on-site at various OPPD work locations.
Since becoming President and CEO, he has prioritized visiting all OPPD locations along with attending business unit meetings.
“When I started my listening tour in 2021, it was to get to know all areas of the business and talk to employees firsthand that I may not have heard from in my previous role as CFO,” he said.
“I continue my listening tour years later because of the impact it has. Connecting with employees in every part of the organization at every level creates a culture of caring and trust -- which I strive for. Employees are at the heart of everything we do,” he said.
