Event Agenda

Get checked in right outside of the conference space and grab a seat.

Meet the Cooperative Insights team, connect with peers from across the nation, and preview how the sessions ahead will build deeper understanding of the trends, challenges and opportunities shaping today’s cooperative landscape.

Cooperative Insights team

How is the grid changing, and what does it mean for cooperatives and the members they serve? This session explores the factors reshaping the electric industry, from data centers to reliability threats, and highlights opportunities and tools for cooperatives to serve members effectively now and into the future.

Chris Sturgill, Partner, ScottMadden

Chris VanLokeren, COO – NCEMC, NC Electric Cooperatives

Explore the latest Cooperative Insights research on what’s driving member satisfaction and loyalty today, how perceptions vary across member groups, and what the findings reveal about opportunities for cooperatives. The session will also provide practical guidance on understanding satisfaction and loyalty metrics and using those insights to set priorities, inform strategy and strengthen member relationships.

Introduction by Cathy Davison, Senior Relationship Manager, CoBank, sponsor of the 2026 Cooperative Difference Survey
Ying Chen, Member Insights Manager, Cooperative Insights
Lorrie Kristof, Senior Analyst, Cooperative Insights

Network and refuel!

Hear firsthand from cooperatives that consistently achieve high member satisfaction and loyalty results as they discuss the initiatives, communication approaches, and practices that have made an impact. This session will provide practical ideas and real-world examples that can be adapted and adopted to strengthen member relationships.

Missy Biegler, Business Solutions Coordinator, Powder River Energy Corporation

Brian Omerso, Manager of Marketing and Member Services, Clark County REMC

Kerri Testement, Manager, Member Communication, Jackson EMC

Moderated by Lindsey Davis, Director, Cooperative Insights

The cooperative model provides a distinct advantage in building trust with members. But what factors influence member trust, and where are there risks? Hear the latest data on trust and share strategies to build trust in a tabletop exercise.

Cooperative Insights team

Discover how Halifax EMC implemented an AI-enabled phone system to enhance member service and support employees. Explore lessons learned, impacts and additional examples of how cooperatives are using AI to improve how they serve members.

Julia Allsbrook, Director of Member Services & Community Engagement, Halifax EMC

Jack Pulsfort, IT/OT Specialist, Halifax EMC

Moderated by Lindsey Davis, Director, Cooperative Insights

Member service representatives are often a cooperative’s most frequent communicators, yet many co-ops focus communication planning and investment almost exclusively on external channels. In this session, Duck River Electric shares how Communications and Member Services partnered to create a “one voice” approach that brings frontline to the forefront, equipping MSRs with timely information, consistent messaging and confidence to represent the cooperative. Attendees will learn practical strategies for internal communication, storm response coordination, and cross-department collaboration that can be adapted by co-ops of any size.

Erin Binkley, Director of Member Engagement and Corporate Communications, Duck River EMC

Tara Groce, Manager of Member Services, West, Duck River Electric

Updates from Cooperative Insights

Cooperative Insights Team

Join the Cooperative Insights team and fellow Summit attendees for beverages and appetizers on the balcony. Enjoy dinner on your own after.

Start the day off right.

Perennial Summit favorite Dr. Michael Walden will provide a timely look at the forces shaping today’s economy, helping cooperatives better understand the opportunities and challenges ahead for both their organizations and the consumers they serve.

Dr. Michael L. Walden, Reynolds Distinguished Professor Emeritus, NCSU, and President, Walden Economic Consulting

How do you turn members into engaged participants and vocal advocates for your cooperative? Learn how SECO Energy uses member feedback, two-way communication and district meetings to strengthen relationships, improve experiences (including bill and website redesigns), and create members who champion the co-op in their communities.

Amanda Richardson, Director of Corporate Communications, SECO

In a rising cost environment, affordability is a growing concern for many members. In this session, explore how the economic mood is echoing through members’ lives via social media and a changing digital media landscape — and how cooperatives must adapt their approach to member communication.

Andrew Meehan, Vice President, Strategic Communications, N.C. Electric Cooperatives

Hear insights from three cooperatives on strategies to respond to member priorities, explain rate adjustments and time-of-use rates, and reinforce the value that cooperative membership provides.

Adam Martin, Manager, Corporate Communications, EnergyUnited

Conni Tucker, Communications Specialist, Central Electric

Brookes Versaggi, Manager, Member Engagement & Communications, Brunswick Electric

Moderated by Andrew Meehan, Vice President, Strategic Communications, N.C. Electric Cooperatives

The 2026 Cooperative Difference Survey shows that members highly value cooperative support that helps them manage costs. This session highlights a heat pump pilot that reduced winter demand and improved system efficiency. Learn how challenges such as upfront costs and installer education were addressed, and how innovative programs like this can help cooperatives deliver meaningful member value while strengthening their role as a trusted energy partner.

Kara Gravinese, Innovation and Business Development Analyst II, N.C. Electric Cooperatives