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2025 FMEA Energy Connections Conference & Trade Show
Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront
225 East Coastline Drive Jacksonville, FL 32202-5458 United States
The FMEA Energy Connections Conference & Trade Show is designed for a broad cross-section of employees, from public power technical personnel to safety managers. The event has much to offer to each segment of a utility's personnel, from directors and public power professionals involved in electric utility management and operations – to customer service and communication specialists.
| Who should attend this event? |
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The conference is designed for municipal electric utility professionals at every level, offering specialized breakout tracks in Customer Service; Safety & Training; Security & Technology; and Utility Operations. |
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Customer Service Customer Service Managers, Call Center Leaders, Billing and Collections Supervisors, Key Accounts Managers, Energy Services Coordinators, and Communications or Public Relations Specialists who want to enhance customer experience, streamline operations, and strengthen community relationships. |
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Safety & Training Line Superintendents, Transmission & Distribution Managers, Crew Leaders, Journeyman and Apprentice Linemen, Safety Managers, Safety Training Coordinators, Field Operations Supervisors, and Vegetation Management Specialists committed to advancing field safety, efficiency, and teamwork. |
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Utility Operations Directors of Electric Operations, Systems Planners, Distribution and Substation Managers, Electrical and Civil Engineers, Grid Modernization Specialists, Operations Supervisors, and Control Center or Dispatch Managers seeking insight into new technologies, infrastructure planning, and best practices in utility operations. |
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Security & Technology CIOs, IT Managers, Network Administrators, SCADA Specialists, OT Systems Engineers, Cybersecurity Leaders, Physical Security Managers, and Security Systems Technicians focused on protecting utility systems, integrating new technology, and maintaining operational resilience. |
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Leadership & Cross-Functional Roles General Managers, Utility Directors, Assistant City Managers, Human Resources Leaders, Training & Workforce Development Coordinators, Regulatory Compliance Managers, and Project Managers looking to stay ahead of industry trends and lead their teams with confidence. |
Conference Agenda
| General Sessions | |
| Presentation |
Welcome and FMEA's Year-in-Review, Amy Zubaly, Executive Director, Florida Municipal Electric Association |
| Presentation |
Leveraging APPA Resources to Build a Stronger Utility, Adrienne Lotto, SVP, Grid Security, Technical and Operations, American Public Power Association |
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Powering People: Building Stronger Communities and Careers, A panel discussion moderated by Elizabeth Bendele, Director of Member Services, Florida Municipal Electric Association, with Cathryn Lacy, Utility Marketing Manager, Lakeland Electric; Doug Peebles, Electric Utility Director, Ocala Electric Utility; and Becca Bides, Manager of Marketing and Community Engagement, Orlando Utilities Commission |
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| Presentation | AI & Machine Learning for Utilities, Amit Sinha, Lead AI/ML Architect - Digital Grid Solutions, TRC Companies |
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Building Strong Communities Awards Luncheon What I Learned from 100 Days of Rejection, Jia Jiang, Keynote Speaker |
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Four Concurrent Breakouts |
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| Customer Service | |
| Presentation |
Virtual Commissioning: Using Interval Data to Reshape Customer Behaviors, GiGi Carroll, Program Manager, JEA, and Korey Bush, AGM Customer Service, Lakeland Electric |
| Presentation |
How to Build Next-Gen Customer Service with Humanized Social Media (Not AI), Ruby Irigoyen, Senior VP, ESC Partners |
| Safety & Training | |
| Presentation | Resetting the Mind: The Mental Side of Safety, Jeffrey Sullivan, Director of Safety & Training, F&H Contractors |
| Presentation | Turning Up the Heat on Safety: What’s New from APPA and OSHA, Greg Labbé, Senior Operations Safety Specialist, American Public Power Association |
| Utility Operations | |
| Presentation | Tallahassee's Reliable Microgrid: A Generating Substation and the Hospital it Supports, Eric Walters, AGM Energy Supply, City of Tallahassee |
| Presentation | Hurricane Milton Outage Events and Root Cause Analytics, Sergo Sagareli, PE, Protection & Control Engineer, Lake Worth Beach, and George M. Guirguis, PE, Senior Director, United Utility Engineering |
| Presentation | Applications of Drones on Utility Reliability and Restoration, Erik Bitzko, Director of Electric Utilities, and Kyle New, VP Business Development, Firmatek |
| Security & Technology | |
| Presentation | Florida Critical Infrastructure Key Resources (FL-CIKR) Risk Management, Mike Hazell, Private Sector Coordinator, FDLE, Florida Fusion Center |
| Presentation | AI-Enabled Utility Asset Data Identification and Remediation, Alex Piquer, Director Technology Consulting, 1898 & Co. |
| Presentation | Cyber Florida: Partners in Cybersecurity Training and Resources, Bryan Langley, Senior Executive Advisor, Cyber Florida |
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Energy Connections Trade Show
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Networking Dinner (ticket required) Wear Your Favorite Team Colors |
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Wednesday, October 29 |
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Brief Business over Breakfast (Reverse Trade Show)
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Four Concurrent Breakouts |
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| Customer Service | |
| Presentation |
From Chaos to Coordination: How Tallahassee’s Customer Operations Team Delivers During Major Storms, TJ Carlisle, Assistant Director of Customer Operations, City of Tallahassee |
| Presentation |
Key Considerations for Outsourcing Customer Service Call Center Services, Nanette McTeague, Lake Worth Beach Utilities |
| Presentation | Shaping Customer Engagement: Insights from a High-Impact Time-Of-Use Campaign, Mary Malone, Director of Business Development, Questline Digital |
| Customer Connections Roundtable, TJ Carlisle, Assistant Director of Customer Operations, City of Tallahassee | |
| Safety & Training | |
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The Capacity Model, Donovan Guilbeau, VP Human and Organizational Potential, Southern Electric Corporation - A Quanta Company |
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Beyond Stretch & Flex: The Bionomic Approach to Injury Prevention for Utility Athletes, Dr. James Clapper, DC, Future Industrial Technologies |
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| Presentation |
Mutual Aid Onboarding at JEA, Jerry Creel, Director Electric Distribution Construction and Maintenance, and Walt Hiscox, Director Electric Distribution Construction and Maintenance, JEA |
| A Safety Conversation with Florida Public Power, FMEA Member Utilities | |
| Utility Operations | |
| Presentation |
Grid Hardening for Resilience, Juan Llera, Safety & Risk Coordinator, Keys Energy Services |
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Modernizing Vegetation Management with AI & Satellite Technology, Bradley Smith, Vice President, AiDash |
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| Presentation |
Planning for Load Growth and Data Centers, Michael Dammer, Manager for Emerging Technologies, Lakeland Electric |
| Presentation |
State of Florida Resources: Tiger Dams, US Flood, Cheryl Witmer, Director, US Flood Control |
| Security & Technology | |
| Presentation |
Cyber Threats and Defenses from the MS-ISAC, Megan Incerto, Regional Engagement Manager, MS-ISAC |
| Presentation |
Protecting Critical Infrastructure: Cyber and Physical Security Lessons from the Front Lines, Doug Westlund, Senior Vice President, Acumen |
| Presentation |
Substation Tiering, Brandon Edwards, Director of Security and Emergency Preparedness, JEA
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Utility Security Roundtable, Brandon Edwards, Director of Security and Emergency Preparedness, JEA |
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| Attendee Registration | Before August 23 | August 23 - October 17 | On-site |
| FMEA Municipal Member | $325 | $350 | $375 |
| FMEA Associate Member | $500 | $525 | $575 |
| Non-Member | $650 | $675 | $725 |
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Attendee registration includes the following meals: Cancellation Policy Cancellations must be made in writing, e-mailed to: Beth Morris, FMEA, PO Box 10114, Tallahassee, FL 32302-2214 • E-mail: bmorris@flpublicpower.com |
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Trade Show Exhibitors*
*As of September 19, the trade show is sold out of exhibitor tables;you may join our waitlist here. |
Trade Show registration includes a 6ft table (with tablecloth, skirting, and two chairs), as well as two representatives. One additional representative spot can be purchased for a max of 3 representatives per table. Exhibitors who would like to attend conference sessions, meals and events (general session, concurrent breakout sessions, Building Strong Communities Luncheon or the Florida public power networking dinner event) are required to "Add Conference Functions" when registering.
| Exhibitor Registration Rates | |
| Associate Member |
$750 |
| Non Member | $1100 |
| Add Conference Functions | $300 |
| Additional Table Representative | $200 |
| Electricity Required at Table |
$100 (electricity will be supplied by the hotel to the exhibit table; complimentary for sponsors) |
Notes: Net proceeds from the trade show may be transferred to the MEPAC (Municipal Electric Political Action Committee).
FMEA Continuing Education Program
There are 8.0 CEU’s (Professional Development Hours) available for attending this FMEA event.
Code of Conduct | Cancellation Policy
Attendees of Florida Municipal Electric Association meetings agree to abide by the FMEA Code of Conduct. If attendees engage in unacceptable behavior as outlined in the Code of Conduct, FMEA may take any action it deems appropriate, including, but not limited to, expulsion from the current and future meetings with no warning or refund.
Conference Hotel
Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront
225 East Coastline Drive
Jacksonville, FL, 32202, US
Room rate: $179 per night.
Scam Alert
Please do NOT make hotel reservations or purchase attendee lists through any third party that may contact you by phone or email. Use only the online reservation links, phone numbers, and discount codes available directly from FMEA.
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