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Contingent Workforce (CW) Program Game Changers

These forward-thinking contingent workforce management professionals are evolving the global world of contingent work through their innovation, determination, and ability to change the game.

2024 CW Program Game Changers

Michael Beckwith

Category Manager, Staff Augmentation | Xcel Energy

honoree profile

Leading a contingent workforce program is tough. It’s even tougher in the fast-growing and dynamic electricity and natural gas industry. Michael Beckwith, whose program with Xcel Energy spends north of $2 billion per year, is drawn to the relationship building and cross-functional collaboration at his job.

Over the last year, Beckwith is particularly proud of instituting a new vendor management system. He started the process when he joined Xcel Energy in July 2022 by building a business case for a new VMS. Once approved, he implemented it over the past 12 months, going live in April 2024. The new VMS has helped consolidate the company’s supply base by 50%, update rates with market analysis and align more closely with talent acquisition, among other benefits.

It’s a huge step for the organization, of which about half its workforce is contingent, and enables Xcel Energy to modernize its staff augmentation program. The company will invest billions of dollars in capital projects over the next five years to lead the clean energy transition, using close to 12,000 contingent workers.

Working in the energy industry has given Beckwith a unique perspective on the future of work and the green transition. Inflation, the political climate and interest rates have brought a new set of challenges to Xcel Energy.

“We’re finding people meaningful work,” Beckwith says. “That hasn’t changed in the last 12 years.” But what has changed? The way they’re doing it, focusing on hiring the right people through data-driven decisions.

Beckwith will support Xcel Energy’s radical growth in the next five to 10 years by continuing to deepen relationships in the organization, build strong culture and retain top talent.