NRECA's first certificate program for IT and operational technology professionals is designed to prepare tech leaders for broader strategic and enterprise-wide roles at electric cooperatives.

The Cooperative Technical Professional Certificate (CTPC) will equip IT and OT staff to help co-ops improve reliability, resiliency, efficiency and member service, said Charu Gupta, NRECA senior program manager of professional development.

Gupta added that co-op leaders increasingly want IT and OT professionals to not only implement technology solutions but serve as trusted strategic advisers, have a seat at the leadership table and influence business decisions.

“Co-op leaders’ expectations are evolving,” she said. “They want technical professionals to be their strategic internal adviser—helping guide the cooperative through a rapidly changing technology landscape, leverage innovations like AI and navigate emerging risks such as cybersecurity.”

The five-day CTPC program runs Sept. 21-25 at the University of Wisconsin’s Fluno Center in Madison. Registration for the inaugural class closes July 30.

The CTPC—nearly two years in development by NRECA and the university—includes four days of curriculum taught by college professors on emerging technology, data, artificial intelligence, governance and communications.

The program ends with a half-day interactive experience led by Justin Luebbert, NRECA senior manager, cybersecurity. Attendees will participate in a cybersecurity tabletop exercise and discuss managing cyber risks, investments and challenges with co-op experts.

The program has already attracted technical co-op professionals looking to broaden their leadership and strategic planning skills.

“Fostering a shared understanding of data, driving cross-departmental innovation and dismantling operational silos are essential for co-ops to thrive,” said Tim McLeod, analytics manager for Jacksonville, Arkansas-based First Electric Cooperative, who will take the course this fall.

“Finding a program that delivers this exact intersection through a dedicated cooperative lens is what truly sets it apart for me.”

Joseph Sparks, the head of IT operations at Spokane, Washington-based Inland Power & Light, said he has enrolled for the CTPC to keep pace with “the dynamics of the electric cooperative landscape.”

“My goal isn't just to become a better leader for the IT/OT department, but to step up as a strategic asset to our organization as a whole,” said Sparks. “I believe having a curriculum that is purpose-built around the cooperative model is absolutely foundational to gaining that level of understanding.”