Category: SBS Blog

  • SBS Welcomes Colby Manwaring

    SBS Welcomes Colby Manwaring

    New Strategic Advisor Joins SBS Team

    “Colby will be an invaluable resource to support SBS’s exciting growth trajectory.”

    – Dennis Beck, Chief Executive Officer

    Colby Manwaring Press Release 

    LITTLETON, Colo., October 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Spatial Business Systems LLC (“SBS” or the “Company”), a leading provider of intelligent design software to utilities and other critical network infrastructure providers, announced today that Colby Manwaring has been appointed as a Strategic Advisor. 

    Dennis Beck, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of SBS, commented, “We are looking forward to working with Colby to drive growth in the coming years. His technical expertise and industry experience will be valuable in delivering excellent service to our customers. Colby will be an invaluable resource to support SBS’s exciting growth trajectory.” 

    “I am pleased to join the team at SBS and look forward to contributing to the Company’s growth. I am eager to work closely with the exceptional team at SBS to continue its track record of innovation and growth. SBS is well positioned to further enhance its market position and deliver compelling value to its Utility and engineering customers,” said Mr. Manwaring. 

    Mr. Manwaring brings extensive experience from his career in water and environmental software, notably as the former CEO of Innovyze, a multinational infrastructure analytics software company acquired by Autodesk in 2021. His leadership at Innovyze led to significant global expansion and established the company as a leader in smart water analytics software solutions. His strategic vision and execution have been instrumental in driving organic and inorganic growth, fostering strategic alliances, and achieving commercial success in his previous roles. 

     Mr. Manwaring holds a BS and MS in Civil Engineering from Brigham Young University. 

    ABOUT SPATIAL BUSINESS SYSTEMS LLC 

    SBS is a leading provider of intelligent design software and spatial data integration solutions to many of the world’s largest utilities and infrastructure firms across North America, Europe and Australia. The Company’s suite of vertical-focused software supports the engineering and design of critical network infrastructure assets, creating real-world models that are used to manage workflows, facilitate collaboration and standardize design rules. SBS provides its software solutions to over 200 enterprise customers and is headquartered in Littleton, Colorado. 

    Media Contact: Daniel Yunger Kekst CNC
    212‐521‐4800

  • The PUG 2023 Recordings Are Now Available

    The PUG 2023 Recordings Are Now Available

    The Peer Utility Group (PUG) celebrated a decade of collaboration at this year’s 2023 conference. We thank each of our presenters for sharing their experiences and expertise.

    Sessions Available on Demand

    We were fortunate this year to hear from a dozen different companies across both distribution and substation tracks. Presenters shared personal accomplishments, struggles, and insights into individual implementations. Each session was able to resonate to the diverse group of utilities and partners in attendance and we are grateful for all those who were able to take full advantage of the live open sessions.

    If you missed this year’s conference or would simply like to review the recorded presentations, please visit the SBS YouTube Channel.


    Thank You | PUG 2023
    No PUG conference is possible without numerous partners and utilities that offer their feedback and expertise to benefit the group. We are grateful to all the speakers for this year and hope to continue to deliver value to those in attendance.

    Why Attend in Person? | PUG 2024
    Of course the livestreamed presentations are only half the experience of PUG. Non-recorded open sessions were provided for utilities to get together and ask questions to each other and SBS experts. Non-recorded Q&A segments gave a chance for further collaboration between utilities. Social events like a golf tournament, mixers, and a night out at TopGolf were also a favorite of this year. If you haven’t yet attended a PUG conference in person, planning for PUG 2024 is already underway, be sure to keep your eyes out in the future for further details.

    If you have any questions feel free to reach out at [email protected]

  • Meet With Us At the 2023 Esri Infrastructure Management & GIS Conference

    Meet With Us At the 2023 Esri Infrastructure Management & GIS Conference

    SBS will be showcasing our products and answering your questions at Booth #333. Come learn how our intelligent design solutions can add tremendous value to your projects.


    The Esri Infrastructure Management and GIS Conference (IMGIS) is just around the corner. SBS is proud to be a Gold sponsor to this event and would love to meet you at booth #333. Join us October 10–12, 2023 | Palm Springs, California. To learn more about IMGIS click here.

    CEO of SBS, Dennis Beck, will also be speaking during this year’s partner presentation session. Visit the Sierra/Ventura session room at 2:15pm – 2:45pm on October 10th to learn about GIS, CAD and BIM for Utilities and Communications.

  • A Decade of Collaboration: The 2023 Peer Utility Group Conference 

    A Decade of Collaboration: The 2023 Peer Utility Group Conference 

    Learn and share information with your peers and SBS regarding our Intelligent Design Solutions for Distribution and Substations 

    The Peer Utility Group is a unique gathering of utility and engineering design professionals to exchange experiences and ideas on the design, integration and improvement of utility design and construction workflows. For 10 years the PUG has continued to grow as attendees openly share experiences and resolve common industry problems in a non-commercial environment. Attendees also get the opportunity to discuss product directions with the SBS development and delivery teams. 

    Conference Details 

    As we announce our 10th Annual Peer Utility Group Conference, we’re both excited and honored to gather in person to celebrate this milestone. This year’s conference will be held at the stunning Heritage Eagle Bend Golf Club in Denver, Colorado, from August 28th to 31st, 2023.  

    Our annual golf tournament will be held Monday morning for those that are interested, with full conference activities kicking off Tuesday. We are pleased to introduce our first Substation track in addition to the Distribution track. The substation track will be by invitation only, focused on physical substation design topics. Please contact SBS if you are interested in participating as seating is limited.   

    This event will provide a wealth of knowledge, insights and networking opportunities. Our program includes a wide range of conference sessions and evening events spanning throughout the week. Moreover, SBS experts will be available for open table discussions on Thursday afternoon.

    Please note that our initial year’s Virtual Livestream will only cover the Distribution track. Details are still underway, be sure to visit www.spatialbiz.com/peer-utility-group/ to stay up to date on the latest information.  

    Have something you would like to present at this years conference? Speakers get their tickets at no additional cost! If you feel like you would be a good fit see the FAQ section below for more info.  

    Here is what others had to say about last year’s PUG: 


    “Well planned, excellent logistics and extremely relevant content. A memorable time.”  

    “…this is a very well established conference. The SBS Team was great. Very knowledgeable, very funny and very helpful. I made some great contacts while at the conference and hope to return again to see how their solution is progressing.” 

    “ Attention to detail from the venue right down to cadence and information shared was impeccable.” 

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

    Q: How can I join PUG? 

    A: Simply click the “JOIN NOW” button on our website

    Q: What are the benefits of joining PUG? 

    A: PUG membership gives you access to non-commercial collaborations, direct interaction with industry experts, webinars, user-led presentations, free training and more.  

    Q: What kinds of topics are discussed in the PUG? 

    A: Since AUD is a cross-discipline design tool, information is often shared on Electric, Gas, Water and Communications networks. We primarily implement within your end-to-end workflows, so discussions related to Analysis, EAM and GIS systems are also prevalent. 

    Q: What is the difference from the Peer Utility Group and the 2023 PUG conference?  

    A: The Peer Utility Group (PUG) is an online group meant for discussion and sharing. The 2023 PUG conference is an annual event held by SBS to network and listen to industry speakers on a variety of distribution network design topics.  

    Q: When and where is the 2023 PUG Conference? 

    A: The conference is from August 28 – 31, 2023, at the Heritage Eagle Bend Golf Club, 23155 E Heritage Pkwy, Aurora, CO 80016.  

    Q: Can I register to present at the 2023 PUG? 

    A: Yes! We are currently looking for more speakers. If you would like to present on helpful advances in your organization then please contact [email protected] as soon as possible.  

    Q: What if I can’t attend the 2023 PUG in person? 

    A: We will provide a live-stream link for those unable to attend in person, covering the Distribution track. 

    Q: How can I stay updated about the PUG Conference 2023? 

    A: Visit our PUG Conference Page regularly for updates on available sessions and activities. For any queries, reach us at [email protected]  

    Q: Are there past PUG sessions available to watch?  
    A: While some sessions are reserved for PUG members only, there are sessions available. Visit our YouTube playlist here to see past sessions.  

  • Join SBS at Esri User Conference 2023  

    Join SBS at Esri User Conference 2023  

    SBS will be highlighting our intelligent design solutions at Booth #1012. 

    Head over to booth #1012 to learn how SBS intelligent design solutions leverage the power of ArcGIS Utility Network and the flexibility of AutoCAD to design utility and telecommunications infrastructure.   

    SBS solutions create the digital twins used to build and manage today’s critical infrastructure, all integrated with the enterprise.  Please stop by to learn more.    
     
    See below for further information and registration details.  

    July 10-14, 2023 
    San Diego Convention Center | San Diego, California 
     
    https://www.esri.com/en-us/about/events/uc/registration  

  • Connect with Us at Utility Week Live 2023 

    Connect with Us at Utility Week Live 2023 

    SBS will be attending Utility Week Live in Birmingham on May 16-17. Learn from peers and connect with us at Stand B14.   

    We are excited to be attending UWL 2023 to answer your questions and discuss how SBS products and intelligent design solutions are continuing to improve the globe’s critical network infrastructure.  SBS will be at the Locana booth, Stand B14.   
     
    Utility Week Live 2023 is the UK’s only pan-utility exhibition that brings together over 3,000 professionals from the energy, water, and gas sectors. Taking place at the NEC, Birmingham on May 16-17, this event offers an extensive FREE-to-attend content program, featuring 150+ industry-leading speakers addressing eight major challenge themes. Attendees will have access to 200+ market-leading exhibitors and partners, highlighting the latest innovative products and solutions. Utility Week Live 2023 is a must-attend event for utility professionals looking to network, discover innovation, and gain practical advice to address critical challenges. 

    Location:  
    NEC- Birmingham, UK | Hall 12 

    To learn even more and register for this event please visit this link.  

  • SBS Sponsors 2023 Substation Design Solution Industry Consortium 

    SBS Sponsors 2023 Substation Design Solution Industry Consortium 

    Nashville Conference Delivers a Sell-Out Event 

    SBS joined in with over 300 substation industry design professionals to support the 10th anniversary SDSIC conference in Nashville, TN on April 24th through 27th.  The conference was an outstanding success, with a record turnout of attendees.  The SDSIC has steadily grown to over 1800 members since it was founded 10 years ago. 

    Presenting from SBS included: 

    • Dennis Beck, CEO, with an industry update. 
    • Joey Baker, Director of Substation Solutions, with a company update and welcome. 
    • Randy Brunette, Technical Consultant, on substation protection and control and Autodesk Vault data storage topics. 
    • Arman Birang, Technical Consultant, on the use of augmented reality to support substation design and construction workflows. 
    • Steve Kauffman, Technical Consultant, presented topics on the latest developments in substation physical design and content generation.   
    • Trevor Scullion, Director of Emerging Technologies, shared a number of exciting developments in the use of machine learning and artificial intelligence in substation design.   
    • David Wilbur, Product Development, provided a technical overview of the recent work that has been done on the SBS Substation Design Suite™ Physical for AutoCAD product.   

    Of special note, Trevor Scullion received the SDSIC Paragon Award for his longstanding contributions to the SDSIC.   

    Also presenting were several industry leaders including American Electric Power, Ameren, Burns & McDonnell, Black & Veatch, Duke Energy, LG&E-KU, Mesa Associates, POWER Engineers, PPL Electric and Southern Company.  For those that are interested in joining the SDSIC please feel free to contact SBS at i[email protected], or the consortium directly at www.sdsconsortium.com

  • Updates to SDS Protection and Control and SDS Physical Products 

    Updates to SDS Protection and Control and SDS Physical Products 

    Updated Versions of SDS Protection and Control, SDS Physical for AutoCAD and SDS Physical for Inventor are Now Available 

    SBS is pleased to announce the release of three new SDS product versions, delivering enhanced features and compatibility for an improved user experience. We have carefully considered your feedback on previous features, and we believe these updates will further support our customers in creating intelligent designs. In addition to the added support for Autodesk 2024 product releases, we have introduced various other improvements to boost speed and functionality across the SDS product suite. 

    Explore some of the key enhancements below: 

    SDS Protection & Control v8.4: 

    1. Two new commands for faster diagram drawings and QA/QC 
    1. Enhanced functionality in the Renumber Terminals and SDS Settings configuration tools 
    1. New User Post for “Reference Drawings” on schematics 

    SDS Physical for AutoCAD (AUD) v8.4.5: 

    1. Compatibility for Autodesk Map 3D 2024 
    1.  New ‘Report’ keyword option to generate report for all drawing objects 
    1. Enhancements to existing AUDUPDATE3D command 
    1. Various bug fixes 

    SDS Physical for Inventor v8.3: 

    1. Windows 11 support now available 
    1. Compatibility with Inventor 2024 
    1. Various bug fixes for a smoother experience 

    SBS is dedicated to enhancing our products to elevate the accuracy, efficiency, and productivity of SBS solutions for our clients. For more information about these latest releases or any questions, please contact us at [email protected].  

    Click here to download the updated versions of SDS Protection & Control, SDS Physical for Inventor and SDS Physical for AutoCAD. We are grateful for your continued support. 

  • SBS Welcomes Al Eliasen

    SBS Welcomes Al Eliasen

    New President Joins SBS Team

    “Al Eliasen has recently joined our executive team, bringing a great depth of management experience to the company.  Al was previously the president of OSI, a division of Aspen Technology.  Al aligns well with our customer and employee centric culture and is a firm believer in the SBS core values of Flexibility, Innovation and a Passion for Customer Success. 

    I’m quite pleased to have Al on board.  Al will initially be focused on working with the team to align the organization structure, processes, and metrics to support our accelerating growth.  The rate of change within the utility and communications marketplace is unprecedented, and our customers are continuing to actively adopt our intelligent design solutions as organizations aim to improve productivity and enable digital twins and BIM to improve the overall quality of their design, construction and infrastructure management processes.  Al’s experience will help us immensely. 

    With Al assuming the role of President, I’m excited to focus on my responsibilities as Chief Executive Officer for the foreseeable future including customer engagement, partner development, and strategy and product roadmaps.  The company continues to be an exciting place to work and there are many things we seek to accomplish as we advance our intelligent design solutions throughout the global marketplace. “

    – Dennis Beck, Chief Executive Officer


    SPATIAL BUSINESS SYSTEMS LLC APPOINTS AL ELIASEN AS PRESIDENT

    Littleton, CO, April 5th, 2023 – Spatial Business Systems LLC (“SBS” or the “Company”), a leading provider of intelligent design software to utilities and other critical network infrastructure providers, announced today that Al Eliasen has been appointed President.

    “I am thrilled to join the SBS team and support the Company through its next phase of growth. I look forward to building on the Company’s strong culture and reputation as a leading provider of intelligent design software to the utilities & critical infrastructure market,” said Mr. Eliasen. “I look forward to collaborating closely with Dennis and the exceptional team at SBS to further SBS’s strong track record of innovation and growth.”

    Mr. Eliasen brings more than 30 years of experience leading operations within leading software and engineering organizations, having most recently served as President of OSI, a division of Aspen Technology (NASDAQ:AZPN), a provider of open automation, network control and optimization solutions to the utility industry.

    Dennis Beck, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of SBS, commented, “This is an exciting time for SBS and I also look forward to partnering with Al to drive transformational growth in the years to come and continue to serve our customers with excellent service.”

    Mr. Eliasen received a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Iowa State, an MS in Mechanical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an MS in Management from the Sloan School of Management at MIT.

    ABOUT SPATIAL BUSINESS SYSTEMS LLC

    SBS is a leading provider of intelligent design software and spatial data integration solutions to many of the world’s largest utilities and infrastructure firms across North America, Europe and Australia. The Company’s suite of vertical-focused software supports the engineering and design of critical network infrastructure assets, creating real-world models that are used to manage workflows, facilitate collaboration and standardize design rules. SBS provides its software solutions to over 200 enterprise customers and is headquartered in Littleton, Colorado.

    Media Contact: Daniel Yunger Kekst CNC
    212‐521‐4800

  • SDS Industry Consortium 2023 Spring Event 

    SDS Industry Consortium 2023 Spring Event 

    Join us at the SDSIC 2023 Spring Event in Nashville! 

    SDSIC is celebrating 10 years of serving the substation design community! The conference will consist of committee updates, peer utility presentations, vendor presentations, round table discussions, and other interactive events. 

    Date: April 24-27, 2023 

    Details:  

    Located at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Nashville Downtown 

    REGISTER FOR THE EXHIBITION HERE 

    For a full schedule and additional details visit- https://sdsconsortium.com/publiceventNashville