Click here to view the full conference agenda.

We look forward to hosting our member cooperative staff and trustees at Ohio Electric Cooperatives' 2025 Summer Conference on August 11 and 12 at the Hilton Columbus at Easton Town Center, 3900 Chagrin Dr., Columbus, OH 43219.

For more information, please contact your local electric cooperative. We look forward to seeing you there! 

  • 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. Registration and Check-in
     
  • 5:00 - 5:15 p.m. Welcome
     
  • 5:15 - 10:00 p.m. OEC Casino and Networking Reception
    Heavy hors d'oeuvres, carving stations, and desserts from 5:00-8:30 p.m.
  • 7:00 a.m. Breakfast
     
  • 8:00 a.m. Chairman's Welcome, Pledge, and Invocation
    Mitch Headley, Chairman, Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc. 
     
  • 8:10 a.m. Authentic Leadership
    Dan Owalabi, Founding Executive Director, Branches Worldwide
     
  • 9:00 a.m. Rural Economic Development Loan Program: Powering Local Investment
    Moderator: Dennis Mingyar, Director, Economic Development, Ohio's Electric Cooperatives
    Panelists: 
    • Matt Berry, CEO, Midwest Electric
    • Randy Price, CEO & President, Paulding Putnam Electric and Internet
    • Ed VanHoose, President & CEO, Lorain-Medina REC and North Central Electric
       
  • 9:50 a.m. Break
     
  • 10:10 a.m. NRECA Federal Policy Outlook
    Ashley Slater, Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, NRECA 
    Click here to view Ashley's slides
     
  • 11:10 a.m. Energizing the Next Generation: E3 Smart Program
    Missy Kidwell, Manager, Cooperative Development, Ohio's Electric Cooperatives
    Abbey Thomas, Education Director, Ohio Energy Project
    Justis Clifford, Chief Strategy Officer, Lorain-Medina REC and North Central Electric
    Ellen Lynch, Teacher, Seneca East Middle School
     
  • 12:00 p.m. Lunch
     
  • 1:00 p.m. Shifting Currents: H.B. 15 & S.B. 2 Impact on Ohio's Power Landscape
    Marc Armstrong, Senior Director, Government Affairs, Ohio's Electric Cooperatives
    Kelly Barr, Manager, Government Affairs, Ohio's Electric Cooperative
    Shawn Nelson, Founder & Principal, Nelson Government Strategies 
     
  • 1:50 p.m. Data Centers: Moving Fast and Breaking Things
    Ben Wilson, Assistant Vice President, Power Delivery, Ohio's Electric Cooperatives
    Lija Kaleps-Clark, Associate General Counsel, Ohio's Electric Cooperatives
    Tom Schmidt, Principal Planning Engineer, Ohio's Electric Cooperatives
    Click here to view the slides
     
  • 2:40 p.m. President's Address
    Craig Grooms, President & CEO, Buckeye Power and Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives, Inc. 
    Click here to view Craig's slides
     
  • 3:00 p.m. Adjourn