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2025 Engineers and Operations Conference & Tradeshow

September 24, 2025 1:00 PM - September 26, 2025 11:45 AM (CDT)

Description

ENGINEERS & OPERATIONS CONFERENCE
September 24-26, 2025
The Garden Event Center, 
425 S Lake Ave,
Duluth, MN

This annual conference is a venue for the co-op engineering and operations professionals to learn about best practices and emerging issues, obtain valuable tools to enhance operations, and have the opportunity to network and share lessons learned and experiences with others from around the state. There is opportunity to share and discover programs that are successful for other cooperatives. Good practices, education about new practices and tools in system design, and updates on rules and regulations are reviewed.

AGENDA

WEDNESDAY
12:00pm  Registration
1:00pm    Welcome & Introductions 
1:10pm    History of MN Climate the Past 100 Years - Kenny Blumfield, Climatologist 
2:00pm    Form Battery Installations Updates - GRE & Connexus
2:30pm    Break
2:45pm    Federated Update - Chad Knutson
3:30pm    Artificial Intelligence: Voltwrite - Dairyland Power 
4:00pm    Adjourn 
5:30pm    Dinner sponsored by Primus Marketing

THURSDAY
7:00am     Breakfast in hotel breakfast area
8:00am     MISO Overview - Jarred Miland, MISO
9:00am     Project Management Panel: Substations & Line Rebuild Timelines/Supply Chain - 
10:15am   Break
10:30am   Personal Grounding & Protection - Joe Cardona, Hubbell Power Systems
11:15am   CEO Panel - Al Hamon, Runestone; Ron Meier, McLeod; Luke Johnson, Meeker
12:15pm   Lunch 
1:00pm     Wildfire Mitigation SEL & Out of State Utility Examples - Kevin Damron, Avista & Josh LaBlanc, SEL
2:30pm     Break
2:40pm     Stray Voltage Overview
3:15pm     Vendor Member Presentations
3:45pm     Adjourn

4:30pm - 6:00pm     MREA vendor member trade show and reception. The Garden Event Center.

FRIDAY
7:00am     Breakfast in hotel breakfast area 
8:00am     Power Quality - Chris Mullens, PMI 
9:00am     Ethics and the Cooperative - Erica Schmidt, Connexus
10:00am   Break 
10:15am   MREA Legislative Update - Darrick, MREA    
10:45am   Data Analytics with Shared or Limited Resources - Kahara Franze, PSE
11:15am   Committee Elections 
11:30        Wrap up & Adjourn

 

Continuing Education Credits (CECs)
Attendance at this event can be utilized for the submission of CECs.  Each participant will be awarded a Certificate of Attendance after the event takes place.  Please click the following link to access instructions for printing the certificate, found in your profile on our website.

 Please note that the number of credits listed within MREA's system is an estimation of what this event is worth.  Each state calculates CECs differently, thus individuals should follow recommendations of the state in which they make submissions when calculating CEUs earned for this, and other, events and classes attended.  For assistance in calculating PDH visit http://mn.gov/aelslagid/contedfaq.html

HOTEL
The Inn on Lake Superior
350 Canal Park Drive
Duluth, MN 55802
218-726-1111
Please call the hotel to make reservations under the MREA September Room Block.

EVENT POLICIES

MREA EVENT CANCELLATION POLICY (Click on link)


MREA EVENT CODE OF CONDUCT (LINK TO FULL POLICY)
MREA is committed to providing a safe, productive and welcoming environment for all participants and staff in MREA meetings, conferences, training programs, and events both online and in-person. All Event participants including but not limited to attendees, speakers, exhibitors, staff, students, guests and vendors, are expected to abide by this MREA Event Code of Conduct, and this code applies to all space and situations in which MREA meeting-related activities are being conducted, including virtual meetings and those sponsored by organizations other than MREA but held in conjunction with MREA Events. Participation constitutes agreement to comply with the Code of Conduct as a condition of attendance. 


2025 LATE REGISTRATION
All events in 2025 will be subject to a $50 late registration fee for anyone that registers less than 2 weeks prior to the published event dates.

 

Time

W 1:00-4:30 Th 8:00-3:45 F 8:00-11:45

Location

The Garden Event Center

Tradeshow held at The Garden Event Center

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Contact Information

Minnesota Rural Electric Association | MREA
Name: Amanda Meredith
Phone: (763) 424-7232
Email: amanda@mrea.org
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