Sparks will provide an overview of the natural gas industry and discuss many of the changes in recent years that have led to an increased energy supply and lower costs. He will also discuss Consumers Energys natural gas infrastructure, and how it enables Consumers Energy to pass on these lower natural gas fuel prices to its customers.

Sparks has overall responsibility for daily energy supply operations, including natural gas and electricity purchasing and delivery. He previously was the director of fossil fuel supply and oversaw the procurement and transportation of fuel for the utilitys fossil-fuel generating plants. From 2001 to 2006, he served as director of electric system planning and protection and was responsible for the relay protection and planning of the utilitys high-voltage electric system. Before 2001, he held increasingly responsible engineering and management positions in the electric system operations and electric transmission areas. Sparks joined the company in 1990 as a graduate engineer who handled electric system, bulk power substation, distribution substation and customer substation planning for western Michigan.

Sparks graduated from Michigan Technological University with a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering. He also received a master of business administration from Western Michigan University. Sparks is a registered professional engineer with the state of Michigan and a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.