Conference sessions are designed for utility employees and management in the fields of mutual aid, customer engagement, energy markets, artificial intelligence, geographic information systems, workplace safety, and current legislative issues. Conference participants typically include municipal utility supervisors personnel, municipal staff, city council representatives and municipal leaders. Veterans of public power and natural gas municipalities as well as those new to the electric and natural gas utility industry will benefit from attending the conference.

The conference is also recommended for utility employees with interests and responsibilities in conference topics and with cross-departmental responsibilities, as well as rising stars and future leaders who would benefit from learning about current industry trends and making connections with the regional public power community.

"Change is Mandatory...Stress is Optional!
What the Most Influential Do Differently"

Garrison Wynn
Author, Consultant and Motivational Speaker

In top performing organizations, influence isn’t optional…it’s contagious. This high-energy, research-based keynote blends humor (the funny kind) with proven tactics to help people communicate clearly, build trust quickly, and create a culture that sticks. 

Garrison Wynn shows how to reduce resistance to change, engage every generation, and attract (and keep) the people you need now. Because culture isn’t what you believe or post on the wall, it’s what people feel at work. Expect practical tools, some safety insights, and what's working right now that makes change easier, stress lower, and everyone more influential than ever. 

From digging ditches to Fortune 500 leadership, with stand-up comedy and surviving a chemical plant explosion in between, Garrison Wynn is a regular guy with a very irregular story. He uses real-world experience, data driven research and humor to help others become more influential and move change forward. A best-selling author who has spoken on five continents, he is dedicated to creating success in others.

"Everybody has a Plan Until They Get Punched in the Face"

Jodi Tvrdy, Quality Leadership and Safety, Ayars & Ayars

Jodi Tvrdy was in her new job as safety coordinator for Garner Industries in April 2024 just 15 days before a tornado destroyed the warehouse, collapsing the walls as 70 people took shelter inside. Jody will share her experiences from that harrowing event as it pertains to disaster preparation and recovery efforts.

Jodi currently serves at Ayars & Ayars in Lincoln where she works in Quality Leadership and Safety. She has served in Emergency Medical Services for 25 years, a 911 dispatcher and prison guard. Born and raised in Raymond, Neb., Jodi still calls it home, where she lives on an acreage with her fiancé. She is also the proud mother of three grown daughters.

"Believe in Safety: Know the Risk in Shortcuts"

Brandon Schroeder, Motivational Safety Speaker

Brandon Schroeder survived a catastrophic workplace accident in 2011—an event that forever changed his life and purpose. As a journeyman electrician turned national safety speaker, Brandon delivers a raw, emotional message about the real cost of shortcuts and the power of personal responsibility.

Through his presentation Believe in Safety, he challenges audiences to reflect, reset, and commit to a culture where safety isn’t optional—it’s personal. His goal? To reach the one person who needs to hear his story before it's too late.

"Overview of Energy Market Drivers as Seen Through the Lens of Municipal Power Groups and Commercial Traders"

Chris Kralich, Portfolio Manager, The Energy Authority

Chris Kralich has more than 25 years of experience as an energy trading professional navigating natural gas and power markets with a focus on futures, options, weather derivatives, fuel oil and natural gas storage.

Chris currently serves as a portfolio manager for The Energy Authority, based in Jacksonville, Fla. He will provide an overview of the current energy markets, including hedging/trading, global energy impacts and geopolitical effects.

"AI for Main Street Utilities: A Practical Guide for Leaders Who Don't Need to Become Technologists"

Dr. Tim McMahon, Heider College of Business, Creighton University

This session cuts through the AI (Artificial Intelligence) hype to provide municipal utility leaders with practical clarity on how AI affects their organizations. Rather than a technical deep dive, we'll explore AI as a strategic decision-making tool—connecting it directly to the real challenges small and mid-sized utilities face: stretched workforces, aging infrastructure, grant management, and cost pressures. 

Through relatable examples and a framework for responsible evaluation, attendees will leave with a clear understanding of where AI could realistically help their utility over the next 3-5 years, what questions to ask before investing, and how to consider risk, data security, and organizational readiness in a public-power environment.

Tim P. McMahon is an author, educator, and business leader who has founded and grown companies in radio, marketing, and hospitality, driving growth across both multinationals and startups through strategic innovation and genuine engagement with employees and customers.

"From Reactive to Ready: Building a Geospatial Strategy for Grid Resilience"

Pat Hohl, Director of Electric Industry Solutions, Esri

Municipal utilities face mounting pressure from extreme weather, aging assets, digital-native employees, and rising customer expectations. This session shows how leading utilities use GIS as their strategic foundation, not just for managing assets, but for predicting failures, accelerating restoration, and making smarter infrastructure investments. Learn how a clear geospatial strategy transforms scattered data into actionable intelligence that keeps the lights on.

Pat oversees the planning and execution of Esri’s go-to-market strategies in the electric utility industry. He was a pioneer in the use of GIS for electric utilities. He has a broad utility background with more than 35 years in engineering, technology, operations, and executive management. Pat is an accomplished author, consultant, and university professor.

"Big Results, Small Teams: Shaping Customer Engagement Through a High-Impact Time-of-Use Campaign"

Mary Malone, Director of Sales Development, Questline Digital

Mary Malone of Questline Digital walks through a real-life Time of Use/Time of Day campaign from a large Northeastern utility that delivered measurable results with a small team. Learn how strategic program marketing, smart messaging and efficient execution can help utilities educate customers, drive adoption, and strengthen relationships--proving that small teams can make a big impact.

As director of sales development at Questline Digital Mary Malone is an integral leader on the business development team, where she helps utilities strengthen relationships with customer segments through strategic partnerships, including Hometown Connections, key account solutions and targeted communications.

State Panel Legislative Updates

Joe Kohout, Kissel, Kohout, ES Associates (Nebraska)
Julie Smith, BrownWinick Law Firm (Iowa)
Nicole Means, Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities (Colorado)

Legislative lobbyists from Iowa, Colorado and Nebraska will highlight current happenings of each of their respective state legislatures for 2026.

Lodging Reservations

Click here to reserve lodging options at the Embassy Suites in downtown Lincoln, Neb.

For any questions, please contact:

Lodging/Registration: adegner@nmppenergy.org 

Program/Content: bdoll@nmppenergy.org