In partnership with MEARIE, Four Simple Words is leading practical, people-first conversations about AI in the utility sector. We believe AI should support the work you are already doing without adding complexity or confusion.
Our practical, hands-on approach cuts through the hype to deliver clear, actionable AI skills. With proven expertise from training hundreds of participants, we make AI understandable, useful, and immediately impactful—whether you’re a curious beginner or looking for strategic integration.
We blend AI capability-building with inclusive, human-centered principles, ensuring your team not only understands AI but leverages it meaningfully.
Training That Works
We have facilitated thousands of meaningful training processes (which have been as short as hours and as long as months) and meetings (which have ranged from 30 minutes to multiple days). Regardless of what your success looks like, we will make sure your time, energy and resources stay focused on your team goals.
Focused on Outcomes
Lasting training and facilitation require two powerful tools. The first is clarity on the ‘why’ people are coming together and what success looks like. The second trait of great facilitation is listening. As professional listeners, we create spaces where individuals and communities are comfortable and ready to hear one another.
AI Curious? AskElsie
Our President and Service Champion, Curt Hamond, will be speaking at MEARIE’s June 2025 conference. As part of our session, we have built AskElsie—a guided AI chatbot designed specifically for LDC executives. This is a MEARIE members-only tool to reflect and lead with confidence in this changing landscape.
AskElsie is a chance for you to explore how AI can support leadership, operations, and culture—without the pressure to become technical experts. Built specifically for the Ontario utility sector, AskElsie offers practical, plain-language support for questions about experimenting with AI, building team trust, and reducing administrative burden. AskElsie isn’t about having all the answers—she’s about helping you ask better questions, test ideas safely and think strategically about where AI fits in your work.
- Welcome! How can I help you think about AI at your LDC today?
Our AI Course Selection
Four Simple Words offers practical, plain-language AI programs tailored to Ontario LDCs. Join a scheduled session or book a customized session for your team.
ChatGPT 101
A virtual 3 hour session
Ideal for groups of up to 15 people.
Participant requirements:
A free or paid ChatGPT account set up before the session starts (account creation is not covered during the course)
Building Your AI Foundations
A foundational workshop for utility professionals that demystifies AI within the unique context of LDC operations. Learn essential prompting techniques through real utility sector examples while addressing industry-specific concerns around data security, regulatory compliance, and output accuracy. Discover which tasks can be effectively supported by AI while maintaining the standards utilities require.
What we cover:
- Intro to ChatGPT | Understand clearly what ChatGPT can do (and what it can’t!), and how it fits into your daily workflow.
- Effective Prompts | Learn simple techniques for writing prompts that deliver practical, immediately usable results.
- Hands-on Practice | Try it yourself in a supportive environment, guided by expert facilitators who’ve successfully trained hundreds of participants across diverse sectors
ChatGPT 201
A virtual 3 hour session
Ideal for groups of up to 15 people.
Participant requirements:
Paid ChatGPT account set up before the session starts (account creation is not covered during the course) and the ChatGPT ready to use on participants phones.
Smarter Prompts, Better Results
An advanced workshop for professionals ready to move beyond basics. Master sophisticated techniques for technical content creation, report visualization, and implementing quality control protocols specific to utility workflows. Learn practical applications for document analysis, recurring task automation, and complex problem-solving that address the unique challenges faced by LDC professionals.
What we cover:
- Advanced Prompt Techniques | Move beyond the basics to craft prompts that yield more nuanced, reliable, and creative responses.
- Quality & Accuracy | Strategies to critically assess, refine, and ensure the quality of ChatGPT outputs to confidently use them in professional settings.
- Integrating ChatGPT into Your Workflow | Practical examples and guidance on embedding ChatGPT into everyday processes, including email, reporting, creative projects, and team collaboration.
- Hands-on Advanced Practice | Interactive exercises guided by expert facilitators with extensive experience helping teams across various sectors move beyond foundational skills.
AI + Regulatory
A virtual 3 hour session
Ideal for groups of up to 15 people.
Participant requirements:
Paid ChatGPT account set up before the session starts (account creation is not covered during the course) and the ChatGPT ready to use on participants phones.
Reduce Burden. Strengthen Your Compliance
Developed in partnership with Ian Innis from Enelchus, this specialized workshop helps regulatory professionals streamline OEB submissions while maintaining compliance standards. Transform technical content into clear narratives, enhance interrogatory responses, and verify filing requirement compliance with confidence. Gain immediate, applicable skills for your next Cost of Service filing.
What we cover:
- AI for Regulatory Applications | Learn how generative AI can support key tasks in the Cost of Service process, from drafting evidence to responding to interrogatories.
- Model & Platform Comparisons | Understand the strengths and trade-offs between GPT-3.5, GPT-4, and CoPilot so you can choose the right tool for the task.
- Structuring with AI | Use role prompts and formatting cues to guide ChatGPT in creating submissions that are clear, confident and aligned with OEB expectations.
- Real-World Use Cases | Explore practical, regulatory-specific examples where AI accelerates work, clarifies language, and helps teams focus on strategic thinking.
Prompt Craft
Delivered via your existing Microsoft Teams environment for seamless integration.
Designed specifically for intact senior leadership teams.
Flexible scheduling aligned to your team’s strategic calendar.
Leading Strategic AI Transformation
Our premier executive program equips leadership teams to drive AI transformation while managing regulatory compliance and risk. This 6-month engagement develops your C-suite’s unified vision and governance framework for AI adoption through strategic in-person sessions, virtual training, and ongoing coaching—all delivered within your existing Teams environment.
Strategic Outcomes:
- Unified Executive Vision | Align your leadership team around a clear, actionable vision for AI to drive growth, efficiency, and innovation.
- Proactive Governance & Risk Management | Develop practical governance frameworks that protect your operations and ensure regulatory compliance.
- AI as a Strategic Advantage | Shift from viewing AI as a technical challenge to harnessing it as a core strategic advantage, deeply embedded into your business goals.
Strategic Implementation Phase (Months 1–3):
- In-person Executive Session: Align leadership vision and strategy.
- Three Interactive Virtual Sessions (3 hrs each): Delivered seamlessly via your existing Microsoft Teams environment.
- Closing Strategic Session: Finalize personal, team, and organizational AI goals.
Success Coaching Phase (Months 4–6):
- Monthly Group Coaching: Practical support on your implementation goals.
- On-demand Guidance & Real-world Application: Expert support embedded within your Teams platform.
- Progress Tracking: Regular, clear assessment of progress against your strategic targets.
AskLucky.ai is our comprehensive conversational AI solution that transforms HR knowledge into personalized 24/7 coaching support. Unlike simple chatbots (including AskElsie), AskLucky is a fully customized platform built with your organization’s specific policies, culture, and values.
AI Meeting Mattering
AskLucky creates a judgment-free space where managers receive contextual coaching precisely when they need it most. Whether preparing for difficult conversations, navigating complex HR situations, or developing leadership skills, AskLucky provides specific guidance tailored to your utility’s unique environment.
By democratizing access to organizational wisdom while maintaining individual privacy, this innovative coaching platform reduces the cost of employee turnover while freeing HR teams to focus on strategic initiatives. AskLucky turns management challenges into growth opportunities by offering just-in-time learning, practical conversation frameworks, and follow-up reflection prompts that deepen learning over time.
For utilities looking to strengthen leadership capabilities across multiple locations, AskLucky provides consistent, accessible coaching that scales with your organization.
Client Feedback
Karla Bailey
VP System Planning, Asset Management & Engineering
SYNERGY NORTH
Curt, I wanted to take a moment to thank you and Skyler for delivering such a high-quality training session. I’ve received fantastic feedback from my team. They found the training to be insightful, well-structured, and highly relevant to their work.
Many of them have mentioned that they now feel more confident in using the tool, and it has sparked great discussions on how we can incorporate it more effectively into our daily tasks. Your support and expertise truly went above and beyond, and we appreciate the effort you put into making the training so valuable.
Thank you again—we look forward to working with you in the future!
Thank You
We appreciate the opportunity to share these ideas with MEARIE customers as a starting point for your organization’s mattering journey. Please connect with David Ainslie or me with any questions or to schedule your first session.
Curt Hammond
President, Service Champion
[email protected]
519.580.9725