As the energy landscape continues to evolve, batteries are playing a pivotal role in transforming how we generate, store, and distribute power. In this keynote, ENGIE will provide an in-depth exploration of the battery market, examining current trends, future technologies, and the economic factors driving growth. We’ll discuss why battery projects are making sense at the distribution level, how smaller projects can accelerate interconnection, and the benefits they bring to cooperatives. From tactical deployment strategies to exciting future innovations, join us as we chart a forward-thinking course toward the energy solutions of tomorrow.
This session will cover a brief overview of how to apply for CISA Penetration testing. Following by short coverage of the external testing. It will conclude with an in-depth look at some of the mitigations taken along with how a possible attack to gain system admin would take place.
With eight years in cooperative work and over 20 years in IT, Chris Franzen is a seasoned professional. Active in the statewide IT community, Chris also mentors through the NRECA, bringing extensive expertise in IT security and operations to both local and national levels.
Bryan Sears is a cyber security engineer traveling the county to perform Penetration Test. Bryan has several industry certifications including the CISSP, OSCP, OSEP, and the CRTO. He is also a High school football and wrestling official Indiana.
There is a lot to understand when implementing a Predictive Maintenance (PdM) strategy for the distribution grid. Our presentation will review the differences between and Run-To-Failure (RTF) approaches to grid maintenance, the three direct benefits to be realized with PdM, how to implement a successful PdM project, and case studies showing the realization of PdM benefits over RTF maintenance strategies. We will also review the financial win and how every utility can understand their opportunities for immediate payback with a simple business analysis.
John Lauletta has been involved in electric utility measurement technology since 1975. John’s career includes ten years with American Electric Power as Measurements Manager, 14 years as VP Scientific Columbus and since 2006 as CEO/CTO of Exacter, Inc.
John holds electrical engineering degrees from The Ohio State University and Purdue University and is the Past Chair of the Central Ohio Power and Energy Society Chapter of IEEE. John holds several patents in predictive failure technologies. John manages several research programs for IIoT sensor development for electric utility applications as a Visiting Scientist at the University of Akron. John is the recipient of the 2018 PES Chapter Outstanding Engineer Award.
Due to their remote locations and valuable assets, power substations are often targets for theft and vandalism. When an intrusion occurs, swift action must be taken to minimize damage to people, property and service. i2c Technologies has designed the VX400 Covert Pole Camera Unit and the VP360 Pole Camera System as a first line of defense against threats in electrical substations. When a potential intrusion or threat is detected, the VX400 or VP360 will automatically alert monitoring personnel, who take control of the PTZ camera, get video verification, collect key video evidence, and if necessary, contact local authorities.
Mark Colton has over 30 years of technical sales experience, working with lens manufacturers in the optical industry, before joining CRC in 2009 as a business manager, focusing on alarm monitoring product and service development.
Jeff Doak, President and CEO of i2c Technologies founded the company in 2005. i2c has been a pioneer in IP Based Security Technology Solutions offering leading edge deployable surveillance solutions for the utility industry and law enforcement for nearly 20 years.
At Covert Threat, we specialize in fortifying the cybersecurity of electric cooperatives through cutting-edge strategies and solutions. In our forthcoming presentation, we will provide an in-depth overview of critical services related to social engineering. We will cover topics such as onsite impersonation, physical security testing, clean desk policies, the risks associated with dumpster diving, and the methods used in night breaches.
Our session will also include real-world examples to illustrate these threats and demonstrate practical measures for mitigating them. Additionally, you will hear firsthand from other cooperatives about their experiences with our engagements and the positive impacts we’ve made. By focusing on these targeted issues, we aim to equip electric cooperatives with actionable insights and effective strategies to strengthen their security posture and safeguard their critical infrastructure. Join us to enhance your cooperative’s security strategy and ensure robust protection against evolving threats.
With over a decade of experience in the cyber security sector, including extensive work with electric cooperatives, and five years in the education field, I have had the privilege of serving various sectors such as the U.S. Government, Military, Critical Infrastructure, Manufacturing, and Healthcare. My professional journey has also encompassed international collaborations with entities in the UK, Australia, Brazil, Europe, and the Hong Kong Police Department.
Information, Cyber Security Practitioner experienced within compliance in FFIEC, NIST, PCI-DSS, HIPAA, CCPA & GDPR frameworks with 15 years’ experience within Electricity, Oil & Gas, Manufacturing, Banking, Health and Government. Proven, respected and well-established professional with an understanding of the balance between Technology, Information Security and Compliance initiatives.
Originally from Sydney, Australia, and I love spending time with my family & dogs, playing video games, and traveling to new places. Whether I’m exploring a new city or just hanging out with friends, family or my furry companions, I’m always up for an adventure. These interests keep life interesting and full of joy. Balancing these passions makes every day a little more exciting.
Tamie Fox is the Director of Information Technology at Florida Keys Electric Cooperative. She has 25+ years of IT experience with the last 17 years working in the cooperative space. Tamie holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and is responsible for leading and directing the IT Department at Florida Keys Electric Cooperative. Tamie has been instrumental in developing and growing a strong cybersecurity culture at FKEC. In her spare time, Tamie loves watching football and is a big Seattle Seahawks fan.
Today, more than ever, drones are being used by utilities to increase efficiency and safety. David Welsh, Director of Information Technology at Coles Moultrie Electric Cooperative will share how they are using drones for substation and infrastructure inspections.
David Welsh has been employed with Coles-Moultrie Electric Cooperative for eight years but holds 17 years of experience in the utility industry. Within the co-op, the IT department handles IT, OT electronics, AMI and submetering. David was previously a journeyman lineman. Outside of work, David enjoys spending time with his family and camping.
Over the last few years, utilities had made strides in improving the distribution system by deploying modern technological advancements and technologies to our substation and three-phase main lines. However, the lateral solutions and practices has remained unchanged and stagnant. In this presentation, we will present modern lateral protection solutions, as well as showcasing a case study by a utility that had great success in changing their approach on their lateral protection philosophy.
Mark Alikpala, P.E. is an Application Director at S&C Electric Company. He focuses on the development and application of smart grid reliability improvement for electric distribution systems. Prior his current role, Mark has worked as a Field Service Engineer for S&C Electric Company, as well as a Distribution Systems Automation Engineer for an Electric Investor-Owned Utility. Mark has a degree on Electrical and Computer Engineering from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Michelle Adebisi is a Sales Engineer at S&C Electric. Her prior experience includes project engineering roles in Utilities Engineering, Land Development, Roadway Design, and Oil & Gas. Michelle holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin where she was an active board member of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and Women in Civil Engineering Organization. She was inspired by her parents who are also engineers. In her spare time, she enjoys participating in community outreach, cycling, and painting.
Government partnerships are important! Did you know that the National Guard, FBI, and DHS/CISA have resources available to help you. In this session you hear general updates from the National Guard and DHS/CISA. You will also learn what resources are available, how to get engaged, and what you can do to build relationships with government partners.
Bio Coming Soon
This session will focus on comprehensive Long Term Planning, not just capacity planning. Cooperatives play a key role anchoring the connectivity that communities, counties, and regions will need. This includes enhancing public safety, transportation, SmartX initiatives, education, healthcare, and other critical areas. By positioning ourselves at the forefront of this connectivity push, we are not only supporting these essential services but also driving economic development in these regions.
Tim Arbeiter is the Director of Broadband Consulting for Finley Engineering’s Broadband Consulting Group. Tim holds more than 20 years of multi-faceted expertise including his extensive knowledge of the broadband arena that has helped to deliver strong economic growth in the state of Missouri.
With a background in government and the non-profit sectors, Tim assists clients in staying up to date on legislative funding at the federal and state levels, consults with public and private stakeholders on win-win partnerships for broadband expansion, and devises actionable steps that will propel implementation efforts. He identifies and supports the long-term growth of Finley clients including defining programs and measurable objectives, strategic planning, feasibility studies analysis, and other initiatives.
In addition to his broadband leadership in the public sector, Tim brings expertise on the local level. He has served on local school boards, directed revitalization projects, held executive leadership roles for two chambers of commerce, and lead two statewide associations in advocating for better business climates. Tim is a member of the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). He has served on the NTIA State Broadband Leaders Network and the National Governors Association Broadband Advisors Council.
Sean Middleton is the President/CEO at Rural Electric Convenience Cooperative (RECC). He is a registered professional engineer who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Bradley University and an MBA from the University of Illinois Springfield. He recently served as director of strategy and operations for Finley Engineering, where he championed cooperative and municipal client causes throughout the nation by solving smart grid and other technology challenges. Sean has co-op experience, too. He was the manager of engineering at Illinois Electric Cooperative in Winchester, Ill. For more than 23 years, he led all new technology and innovation pursuits for RECC’s neighboring cooperative.
Travis obtained his BSEE from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He began his career at SouthEastern Illinois Electric Cooperative in 2008 as an Engineering Technician. In 2017 he was promoted to his current role as Engineering and Purchasing Manager, where he oversees the engineering, warehouse, metering, and dispatch departments, totaling 10 employees.
In his role at SEIEC, Travis performs several tasks that are Distributed Generation related, which are: maintaining an organized document trail, inputting and analyzing each DG proposed into the electrical model and finally field commissioning each installation before interconnection is complete.
Chris Smart is an accomplished professional engineer with over 19 years of experience in consulting engineering for electric utilities, mainly focused on distribution system planning including analysis using many types of engineering software and engineering principals, for several types of construction plans and long range plans. He has leveraged WindMil and CYME to perform detailed load flow and arc flash studies, as well as performed studies for forecasting, voltage drops, motor start analysis, short circuit analysis, sectionalizing and coordination analysis, motor voltage analysis, power optimization, and feasibility studies. He has also completed distribution and substation system planning for over 20 electric utility cooperatives, municipals, and investor-owned utilities. Chris has managed many projects and is very adept at budgeting, scheduling, and coordination of multiple projects.
Chris has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas, San Antonio, is a registered P.E. in Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, and in the process of adding licenses in other states. Chris is also a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), and Texas Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE).
Today’s levels of cyber protection may not be enough to prevent tomorrow’s cyber attacks. You need to build a network with the flexibility and adaptability required to continually enrich your cybersecurity position. This session will outline several important areas you must bolster in order to improve your future scalability, including Observability Engineering, Sources of Telemetry, Event Pipelining and Alarming on Incidents, and Platform Health Monitoring. We’ll also take a deep dive into SIEM solutions, storage and throughput capacity considerations, incorporating OSINT, and compliance considerations – all of which combine to help you architect a strong, resilient, and scalable cybersecurity fortress for your network.
As Director of Security Operations at Meridian, Travis King is responsible for leading the Cyber Resiliency Initiative’s (CRI) Managed Security Services (MSS) which provides 24/7 real-time cybersecurity monitoring, threat detection, and incident response for members through a state-of-the-art Security Operations Center (SOC). Prior to joining Meridian, he has held positions at Dell SecureWorks, another leading cybersecurity MSSP.
On top of providing technical subject matter expertise and operational guidance to all facets of MSS, Travis has demonstrated the ability to forecast and understand the implications of new technologies in the cybersecurity space. He has a keen eye for identifying emerging trends and is able to adapt his team’s strategy accordingly, always keeping them one step ahead of potential threats. His deep understanding of these technologies has allowed him to develop custom and market-viable solutions to complex problems, positioning Meridian’s MSS team as leaders in this industry space.
This session will discuss the practical applications of AI-driven tools for Electric Distribution Cooperatives including predictive maintenance, load forecasting, energy management, metering anomaly detection, and demand response optimization. We’ll also discuss how Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT can enhance interactions with cooperative members. Finally, the session will cover the rise of AI datacenters and their impact on cooperatives, including opportunities for new high load factor loads. Join us as we examine the history of AI, its applications within cooperatives, and the advantages and challenges associated with adopting AI tools.
Kevin Cox is a Principal and Utility Services Director at CDG Engineers based in of St. Louis, MO. He previously led Integrated Resource Planning and energy analysis for a G&T Cooperative Utility and is currently working directly with clients to implement industry standard methods for capacity expansion planning, load forecasting, strategy, and production cost modeling to their unique circumstances. Kevin is an Electrical Engineer and works with CDG’s electrical department to support distributed generation and storage projects, Arc-Flash/short circuit/load analysis studies, and relay upgrades.
Electric cooperatives are experiencing changes to the energy landscape at the bulk energy and local supply. These impacts can be seen in traditional Load Control and Distributed Energy Resources such as smart thermostats, solar, EV’s, generation and energy storage. These changes can have impacts on members energy costs, grid reliability and resiliency. Distribution utilities and G&T’s are either evaluating or implementing Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS) to better manage supply and grid stability. This session will discuss what is a DERMS, why a utility might implement a system and how existing utility systems can be integrated into the DERMS ecosystem.
Steve Pascoe is an Electrical Engineer with over 20 years of electric utility experience and works as a Business Development Manager at NISC. His area of expertise are distributions system operations, data analytics, resource planning, supply and grid stability. Steve’s professional experience includes 15 years working with NISC members to help them utilize their systems and data to make informed business decisions and streamline operations. Steve brings a well-rounded business and technical view on data analytics and DERMS and how both can be leveraged to assist utilities planning and managing supply and maintain grid stability.
Toth will discuss what we believe to be the key elements for any joint-use, make ready process (internal or 3rd party) to create an efficient, effective, and safe environment for broadband deployment throughout your system. Toth will provide insight into our range of experiences across the country regarding agreements, design standards, common practices, federal requirements, and coordination practices that will help create a rewarding broadband expansion plan for your members. From case studies to practical discussions, this session will provide valuable insight into your joint use processes.
Luke Snow is the Department Manager for Transmission & Distribution Line Design and Land Services where he oversees the land acquisition, engineering, and construction of all 12.47kV to 345kV lines. Prior to his current role, Snow served as the Transmission Engineering Manager where he has experience engineering and overseeing greenfield and rebuild projects, electric infrastructure modernization programs, utility relocations, fiber to the premises programs, and new mega load connections in both rural and urban settings.
Tyler Barnes is the Manager of Joint Use where he supports clients in developing a unique strategy for each project to accommodate individual distribution system needs in analyzing communication attachments. Barnes has experience on the electric distribution system in project planning, line staking, field observation, design coordination, contracts/procurement, and construction management. Tyler transitioned to Toth & Associates from Ozark Electric Cooperative in Missouri where he managed economic development negotiations for rural construction on the OEC distribution system.
Most cooperatives today are utilizing Microsoft Office 365 and we are all familiar with the standard office products, but what about MS Teams? Chris Reynolds, Chief Creative Officer for the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives has been using MS Teams for over 7 years to help streamline his departments workflow and processes. Come learn how you might be able to leverage MS Teams to create more efficient workflows and processes.
Chris Reynolds is the Chief Creative Officer at the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives, where he has worked for nearly 19 years. He began as a graphic artist and now oversees the communications department, including Illinois Country Living Magazine. Over the years, he has played a key part in implementing new services and programs and has restructured the department’s workflows to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
We’ll explore the essential components of a successful distribution automation system deployment – from the physical switchgear to the communication infrastructure, software, and logic that make it smart. By understanding the co-dependencies of these elements, you can ensure a successful DA implementation, building confidence in the system through your organization and ultimately a more efficient and reliable grid.
As a Business Development Manager at G&W’s Power Grid Automation Team, Alex is responsible for identifying and securing new business opportunities. He specializes in developing innovative automation solutions for both utility and industrial customers across the eastern United States. With 9 years of experience at G&W, including time as a Field Application Engineer, Alex is passionate about building strategic partnerships in the utility industry.
Session Description Coming Soon
Bio coming Soon
Craig Sondgeroth is the president/CEO of the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives (AIEC). Members of the AIEC include 25 distribution cooperatives, five generation and transmission cooperatives, and eight telephone cooperatives. Prior to becoming president/CEO, Craig served as the general counsel of the AIEC. Craig has worked as an attorney in state government and private practice. Craig received his bachelor’s from the University of Illinois and his law degree from Drake University. In his spare time, Craig enjoys farming with his father and spending time with his wife and three children.
Nick Reitz is the Vice President of Government Relations for the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives (AIEC). Nick joined the AIEC in 2012 as Manager of Government Relations. Formerly, he served as Director of Legislative Affairs for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Legislative Liaison for the Illinois Department of Agriculture. He received a B.A. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Fun fact, he was a Youth Day and Youth Tour participant in 1999 representing Egyptian Electric.
Ryan Heater is the vice president of government relations. In this role, he leads the association’s state and federal governmental relations efforts, which include lobbying, political action and grassroots initiatives.
He was most recently chief of staff of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. He also served as the policy and legislative director in the Indiana Lieutenant Governor’s office for three lieutenant governors – Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann, Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb and Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch. His professional background also includes positions in the Indiana Cable Telecommunications Association and the Indiana House of Representatives.
Ryan is a graduate of Purdue University and the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. He also served six years in the Indiana Army National Guard.
Sometimes life throws us a curveball. For Tom, that moment happened when he was just 17 years old and lost his best friend to a tragic accident. Faced with his own mortality, Tom resolved to extract as much as possible from the brief time given to him. Knowing he wanted a life of adventure and understanding, he decided to go on a walk…but not just any walk. A walk around the world!
Tom spent the next eight years saving and planning, and at age 26 he started walking. Seven years, six continents, and 28,000 miles later, Tom is one of the only a handful of people who have traveled around the world on foot and his faithful dog, Savannah, is the first dog to do so. Tom’s world walk was a deep dive into the kindness of humanity and as an amazing example of how far perseverance can take you.