EPTC Staff

Staff Members

Krystall Valencia

Acting EPTC Manager

Krystall has more than 18 years of experience in workforce development, safety, and organizational performance within the electric power industry. She currently serves as the Acting Manager of the Electric Power Training Center (EPTC), where she provides strategic leadership and oversight for all aspects of the organization, including instructors and staff, budget execution, curriculum development, training schedules, facilities, and administrative and instructional support programs.

Previously, Krystall served as the Human Performance Improvement and Just Culture (HPI/JC) Program Manager, where she led the development and successful integration of the program across WAPA. In this role, she partnered with leadership to implement practices and tools that strengthen organizational performance, accountability, and learning culture. She is widely recognized for her ability to translate strategic objectives into actionable initiatives that build high-performing teams and sustainable systems.

Krystall began her career with WAPA in 2007 in the Desert Southwest (DSW) Region Safety Office and later advanced to Regional Safety Manager. In that role, she led a diverse team, provided daily operational oversight, and delivered performance feedback and coaching to align individual and team efforts with organizational vision and mission. Her leadership approach emphasizes collaboration, continuous improvement, and strategic investment in people as a driver of long-term success.

A graduate of WAPA’s Leadership Learning Intensive (L2I) Program, Krystall actively contributes to continuous process improvement initiatives across the organization. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and brings a strong foundation in strategic planning, change leadership, and operational excellence.

Jim Bonner

Craft Training Coordinator

Jim has significant experience and education in instructional program management and coordination. He brings a systematic approach to training, informed by adult learning theory, to course facilitation and instruction, curriculum development and instructional systems design.

These skills served Jim well at the Department of Energy where he worked as a training and development specialist. In this position, he conducted training program process and data analysis and performed training evaluation functions. While at the DOE, Jim participated in the WAPA Joint Craft Training Committee as executive secretary; the Craft Leadership Development Program Steering Committee as a member, instructor and mentor; and the Craft Apprenticeship Standards Subcommittee within the Department of Labor’s registered apprenticeship programs.

Jim possesses a thorough understanding of new and existing training requirements. He uses this to assess logistical, technical and cost implications of program continuity and success.

Tim Slater

Instructor

Tim has more than 20 years’ experience in the electrical utility and power generation industries. His professional positions include power plant operator, unit/control room operator, operations and maintenance supervisor and maintenance manager in fossil fuel- and solid waste-fired generating facilities. In addition to this experience, Tim served in the U.S. Navy as a conventional machinist mate, surface fleet, excelling as an observer for engineering casualty control exercise training. He was a main control engine room supervisor for six months, and has experience as a construction project manager in commercial real estate development.

He holds an associate degree with a focus on pre-engineering from Pasco Hernando Community College and a bachelor degree in organizational management from Ashford University. Tim is also certified as a CompTIA certified technical trainer, Occupational Safety and Health Administration outreach trainer, mobile equipment trainer, National Association of Safety Professionals-registered safety training professional and licensed water system operator in Wyoming.

Prior to moving to Denver from Wyoming in June 2018, Tim worked as an O&M supervisor for Black Hills Energy in Gillette and as director/manager of Circle J Retreat Camp in Ten Sleep.

Jamie Williams (CONTR)

Instructor

Jamie is an accomplished System Operations Specialist with over two decades of expertise in the electric utility and power industry. Jamie holds a NERC RC Certification, is certified as and is a Certified DOE Accident Investigator, demonstrating his deep knowledge of operations and maintenance as well as regulatory compliance.

Throughout his career, Jamie has excelled in leading operational excellence across multiple disciplines. At Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC), where he served as an Operations and Planning Compliance Auditor, he conducted comprehensive reliability audits to help entities achieve full adherence to NERC Reliability Standards. During his previous career at Western Area Power Administration, he progressed through increasingly senior roles, from Meter and Relay Technician to Power System Operations Control Room Technical Lead, designing processes, and driving continuous improvement across operations and training functions.

Jamie’s technical expertise spans power system operations, project management, and technical writing. He is known for his strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities, having contributed to significant operational improvements, including a $2 million turnaround following an investigation of discrepancies with neighboring entities. His leadership extends to industry involvement, including participation in North American Transmission Forum peer reviews, NERC Operations and Planning Compliance Task Force (OPCTF), and service on advisory committees for wildfire management and Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) protocols.

Lisa Yuma

Management And Training Analyst

Lisa Yuma is currently the Electric Power Training Center’s Management and Training Analyst. Her organizational skills, attention to detail and thorough knowledge of business protocol were earned in both public service and private business.

She began her career as Secretary to the captain at U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons in Englewood, Colorado in 1989. She then became a Correctional Officer and worked alongside other Correctional Officers, who were the “First at Florence.” The group was historically the first to open the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) and Federal Prison Camp (FPC) to receive inmates in 1992.

Taking a job with a private sector moving company in 1994 expanded Lisa’s office management skills. Her duties ran the gamut from balancing the books to developing Material Safety Data Sheets and included extensive staffing responsibilities, such as recruiting, training employees, managing benefits plans and served as a liaison with US military institutions for their relocation.
Lisa returned to federal employment as a human resources assistant with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2010. She joined WAPA in 2013 as an executive assistant for the CFO. She moved to the EPTC to provide marketing, accounting and administrative support.

Lisa advanced into EPTC’s Management and Training Analyst position in 2018. She currently leads data analysis, meeting/class coordination and the execution of EPTC’s training and budget administration. Furthermore, Lisa is EPTC’s records liaison and WAPA’s representative regarding the partnership between the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and WAPA.