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Hundreds of electric cooperative CEOs and general managers will gather at NRECA’s CEO Close-Up in Palm Desert, California, early next year to exchange ideas and discuss real-world strategies to tackle economic, technological and policy challenges.
The conference will be held Jan. 11-13 at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort. Hotel reservations must be made by Dec. 1 to guarantee special rates.
“CEO Close-Up is where cooperative leaders come to sharpen their vision, strengthen their strategy, and connect with peers who are navigating the same challenges,” said Erin Pressley, NRECA senior vice president for Education, Training and Events.
“I’m especially excited about the sessions that help CEOs communicate with clarity, lead with purpose and build cultures of trust. This conference is an essential launchpad for the year ahead.”
Speaker highlights
NRECA CEO Jim Matheson will welcome co-op leaders to the conference at the opening general session on Monday, Jan. 12.
He will be followed by Jonathan Martin, politics bureau chief and senior political columnist for POLITICO, who will lead a conversation on the ins and outs of campaigns, government, politics and policy. Martin will share anecdotes and firsthand accounts of what happens behind the scenes in the nation’s capital.
At lunch that day, Andrew Don, CEO of the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp. (CFC), will speak about what to expect in 2026 for the U.S. economy, financial markets and electric industry.
At the afternoon general session, Ty Thompson, NRECA vice president and deputy general counsel, will address recent legal developments that impact electric co-ops, including those involving artificial intelligence and co-op bylaw amendments.
On Tuesday, Jan. 13, the morning general session will feature Michael Maslansky, CEO of Maslansky + Partners consultants, who will talk about how to communicate rate changes to co-op consumer-members with clarity and confidence. He will help co-op leaders learn how to frame difficult rate and affordability discussions in ways that build trust, reinforce transparency and strengthen member understanding.
Andrew Sykes, a professor at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, will build on the theme of trust with a discussion of “creative conversations” at the closing general session. He will highlight the five types of conversations that co-op leaders should master to inspire action and ignite change among members and staff.
Breakout sessions
Plenty of networking breaks throughout the event will give CEOs valuable time to connect, exchange ideas and have meaningful conversations.
On Jan. 12, breakout sessions will cover a mix of topics, including updates on NRECA’s employee benefits plans, how to develop a workable strategic plan for your co-op, and the importance of creating partnerships between generation and transmission co-ops and distribution co-ops to power large data center loads.
Additional sessions will spotlight broadband breakthroughs and how CEOs can build trust with their members and communities through modern communication.
On Jan. 13, breakout session topics include retirement readiness, safety culture, creating high-performance habits for yourself and your team, the best way to tailor messages about rate increases, how to navigate governance challenges, and collaborating with data center and technology leaders.
Pre-conference events
A golf tournament, America’s Electric Cooperatives Advocacy Classic, will be held on Sunday, Jan. 11, beginning at 7 a.m. The fundraiser supports NRECA’s political engagement activities on behalf of electric co-ops. For details, contact Amy Lewis at Amy.Lewis@nreca.coop or 703-907-6917 or Gabe Snow at Gabe.Snow@nreca.coop or 703-907-5799.
That afternoon, there will be a talent development workshop designed to elevate leadership skills, followed by a Women in Power reception that evening.
