A packed agenda awaits the year’s largest gathering of electric cooperative leaders as NRECA’s PowerXchange returns to the always popular Nashville, Tennessee, this year.

The annual meeting of members, set for March 3-8 at the Music City Center, provides a forum for co-ops to share ideas and discuss strategies for managing the industry’s many challenges.

“This is a transformative moment for the energy industry and for co-ops,” said Erin Pressley, NRECA’s senior vice president of Education, Training and Events. “Broadband is a new growth area for many, and the growth of EV adoption and evolving consumer behaviors continue to bring exciting challenges.”

More than 4,700 co-op leaders attended PowerXchange at the same location last year. Since then, several new hotels have opened near the 2 million-square-foot venue, and four of those facilities have been designated as host hotels for this year’s event.

“Hundreds of our member cooperatives’ territories are within a day’s driving distance of Nashville,” said Eric Commodore, NRECA’s director of meeting and event planning. “It’s a great opportunity for directors, managers and other staff to come experience a PowerXchange and share ideas and expertise.”

This year’s PowerXchange theme, “It’s Time to Lead,” will inform the lineup of breakout sessions focused on the broad themes of technology, emerging opportunities and workforce training and development. Specific sessions include marketing your employer brand, infrastructure funding opportunities, building your technology roadmap and much more.

“Our industry always requires strong leadership, but this is an unusually intense time we’re in—and a chance for co-ops to take advantage of some great headwinds,” said Pressley. “With the passage of the infrastructure bill, resources to invest in your future have never been more abundant.”

Among other PowerXchange highlights are NRECA’s annual business meeting, more than 30 director training courses including four new courses, a farewell from outgoing NRECA President Chris Christensen, and the expected election of Tony Anderson, general manager of Grawn, Michigan-based Cherryland Electric Cooperative, as the new NRECA president.

“Jeopardy!” co-host Ken Jennings will deliver the keynote address during the closing general session on March 8. Jennings, who racked up a fortune as a contestant on the popular quiz show before becoming one of its hosts, will offer insights on transformational team building.

NRECA’s Youth Leadership Council returns to PowerXchange for the first time since 2020. YLC members were selected to represent their state’s delegation last summer after attending the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour or participating in their statewide-sponsored conference or contest, said Beth Knudson, NRECA’s youth programs and training manager.

Entertainment Night, always a highlight for PowerXchange attendees, will feature Grammy-nominated comedian and Nashville native Nate Bargatze.

PowerXchange runs concurrently with TechAdvantage® Experience, the premier conference and expo for co-op engineering, operations, information technology, purchasing and supply management professionals.

Attendees at both events will have opportunities to meet with more than 375 exhibitors offering products and technologies that co-ops are using to meet the needs of their members.

“Don’t let these unprecedented times rattle you,” said Pressley. “It's never been more important for our industry to take charge of our future and build the road ahead. Join us in Nashville—we are stronger together.”

Register for 2023 NRECA PowerXchange by Friday, Jan. 6, to take advantage of the early bird registration discount. The hotel reservation discount deadline is Jan. 25.

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