Nothing is more important than protecting the people who perform the work and the communities they serve.
Keeping Today's Promises, Preparing for Tomorrow
A trusted partner helping utilities strengthen resilience through planning, technology, and operational excellence.
Our Story
Impulse Energy Consultants was founded on a simple belief: utilities deserve more than additional resources during critical events. They deserve a strategic partner committed to helping them prepare for challenges, respond effectively, and continuously improve.
Today, Impulse supports electric utilities and infrastructure organizations across North America with emergency preparedness, storm restoration, construction management, program oversight, and operational consulting services.
Our team brings decades of utility experience combined with innovative technology and proven field processes. This combination allows us to support both long-term planning initiatives and complex restoration efforts when every decision matters.
We are proud to bring strong leadership, an unwavering commitment to service excellence and diverse experience and perspectives to every community that we touch.
Our leadership team brings more than a century of combined experience spanning investor-owned utilities and the national contractor community. Guided by Lean Six Sigma principles, Impulse aligns people, AI, processes, and technology to drive speed, safety, and reliability at scale. At every level, we operate with integrity and accountability, restoring confidence in storm response by delivering the right resources, at the right time, through a highly disciplined and transparent prime contractor model—where quality, people, and safety come first.
In summation, Impulse prioritizes Strategic Alliance Building; the establishment of long-term, trustworthy partnerships with clients, enabling the delivery of reliable and cost-efficient solutions across a diverse range of projects.
Meet the Impulse Leadership Team
Rick Bufford
Founder, President and CEO
Mr. Bufford has decades of experience in the field, mastering the electric power utility industry from the ground up. Bufford’s journey began in 1983 as a lineman for Oklahoma Gas and Electric. After his tenure at Oklahoma Gas and Electric, Mr. Bufford assumed an Executive role as the Managing Director of Transmission and Distribution Operations, Business Optimization and Training and Development at Hawaii Electric.
Bufford focused on obtaining his educational background, which led to his completion of earning three degrees, culminating in his MBA. A lifetime of dedication, education and leadership enabled Bufford to establish Impulse Energy Consultants in 2011.
Bufford’s vast knowledge and experience have Impulse poised to be a key figure in the future of the electric power utility industry as the electrification of America expands in this decade and beyond.
Guy Madison
COO
Guy Madison is a results-driven executive with nearly two decades of experience in the infrastructure and energy sectors, including leadership roles with MasTec, Michels and Quanta. Guided by integrity and a passion for collaboration, he forges partnerships that unite people, strengthen communities and deliver lasting value. His leadership is marked by accountability, mentorship and a relentless commitment to excellence in both people and performance.
Education:
Post Graduate Certification, Artificial Intelligence Engineering
MBA, Finance – University of Texas, Austin
BS, Business Administration – University of Pittsburgh
Gregg Hughes
SR. VP of Technology
Gregg Hughes is an accomplished leader with a proven track record in business development, generating over $400 million as President and Chief Revenue Officer at the Group of Patriots and scaling Palmetto Engineering and Consulting from three founders to over 150 employees with $15 million in revenue in five years. His leadership style, rooted in accountability and insightful questioning, drives innovation and strategic growth. Committed to diversity, Gregg ensures all voices are valued, fostering inclusive environments. He inspires excellence, pushing teams beyond their limits while building lasting relationships across sectors. A former Chair of the ACEC Small Firm Council, Gregg speaks nationally on entrepreneurship.
Bret Hankins
Vice President of Strategic Growth
Bret Hankins brings over 25 years of success from the private business community. Integrity, trust, and developing people have been key driving factors in his success. Mr. Hankins’ passion for lasting relationships has enabled business partners to enjoy longterm success in their respective sectors and also in their communities.
Education:
BS, Business Administration – University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.
Our Mission & Core Values
Mission
To help utilities build stronger, more resilient systems through planning, technology, and operational excellence.
Vision
To become the most trusted resilience and restoration partner in the utility industry.
Our Values
Safety First
Accountability Always
Partnership Over Transactions
Innovation With Purpose
Continuous Improvement
Safety First
Accountability Always
We take ownership of our commitments and deliver results with transparency and integrity.
Partnership Over Transactions
We succeed when our clients succeed. Every engagement is built on trust, collaboration, and shared goals.
Innovation With Purpose
Technology should improve decision-making, increase visibility, and create measurable value.
Continuous Improvement
Every project, event, and challenge creates opportunities to learn and improve.
Certifications That Drive Excellence
Impulse is proud to maintain certifications that demonstrate our expertise and the measurable value we bring to every client engagement.
6 Sigma Black Belt & Change Management
Leadership certifications include Six Sigma for quality control and Change Management for operational agility and risk mitigation: These certifications empower our leaders to implement data-driven strategies that enhance process efficiency and adaptability, ensuring that we can respond effectively to changing project demands and mitigate potential risks.
PMP-Certified Project Management
IEC leaders hold Project Management Professional (PMP) credentials, ensuring structured, timeline-driven execution of complex projects: The PMP certification equips our team with the methodologies and tools necessary for effective project management, allowing us to deliver projects on time and within budget while maintaining high standards of quality.
NAICS Registered Codes
IEC is registered under NAICS codes 237130, 22122, 22114, 221121, 238210, and 541330, enabling compliance with federal procurement categories: Our registration under these codes facilitates our participation in government contracts and ensures that we meet the specific requirements set forth by federal procurement regulations.
Audit-Ready and Safety Compliant
Adherence to OSHA, NFPA, and other national standards guarantees readiness for regulatory audits and contractual reporting: By maintaining compliance with these rigorous safety standards, we not only ensure the safety of our workforce but also enhance our credibility and reliability in the eyes of clients and regulatory bodies.