Electric cooperative directors who attend the 2027 NRECA Directors Conference in January will get the chance to hone their governance skills, network with peers and shape strategies to help their co-ops succeed.

The conference will be held Jan. 17-20 in Tampa, Florida. Directors who can’t travel to the event can attend selected online sessions, including access to livestreams of the opening general session, general session lunch, closing general session and one breakout per time block.

“Strong board leadership is critical to the success of every electric cooperative, and the Directors Conference is designed to support directors in that role,” said Rebecca Bittle, NRECA program manager for event education and programming.

“The conference brings together industry experts and cooperative leaders to explore emerging issues and exchange ideas. Attendees will leave with new insights, connections and practical knowledge they can bring back to their boards and communities.”

Speakers 

On Monday, Jan. 18, Cmdr. Rorke Denver, former leader of the Navy SEALS, will speak at the opening night dinner about what makes someone a hero. Denver led special forces on missions in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America and currently serves in the Navy Reserve. He is the author of the books “Damn Few: Making the Modern SEAL Warrior” and “On Heroism: Why We Fight and Why We Fight as One.”

Before dinner, Erin Pressley, NRECA senior vice president of Education, Training and Events, will moderate a chat with NRECA CEO Jim Matheson and CoBank CEO Tom Halverson on the challenges, opportunities and successes of electric co-ops.

Amelia Rose Earhart, a private pilot and former TV news reporter, will talk about how to “learn to love the turbulence” during the morning general session on Tuesday, Jan. 19. Earhart, the second-youngest woman to fly around the world, will focus on creating a solid plan to reach any goal, assessing risk and formulating backup plans to prepare for adversity.

NRECA Chief Operating Officer Jeffrey Connor will also give his COO update in the Tuesday morning session.

Later that day, at the general session lunch, experts from the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corp. (CFC) will discuss what to expect in 2027 for the U.S. economy, financial markets and electric industry and how those trends will impact co-ops.

At the closing general session on Wednesday, Jan. 20, author and entrepreneur Kevin Brown will address conference participants on “the hero effect.” After a 30-year career in franchising, Brown has turned his attention to writing and speaking about heroism. His second book, “Unleashing Your Hero,” focuses on people who use their talents to serve others and tells readers how to do the same at work and in their personal lives.

Also at that session, NRECA President Mike Partin will present an update from the board of directors.

Breakout sessions 

Breakout sessions will focus on a wide range of issues facing directors. Among them: asking the right questions about data centers, preventing electrical accidents, communicating better with consumer-members and exploring artificial intelligence and the future of energy.

On Tuesday, Jan. 19, veteran lineworkers from SECO Energy in Florida will hold two sessions demonstrating electrical safety. The demonstrations, to be held outdoors for part of the sessions, will illustrate the power and risks of high-voltage electricity through realistic everyday scenarios. Directors will gain knowledge of the safety equipment and practices that protect co-op employees and the public.

Networking breaks between sessions will give directors a chance to share ideas with one another. 

Pre-conference courses 

Director-training courses will be offered to in-person participants for an extra fee on Sunday, Jan. 17, and Monday, Jan. 18. Topics include the board’s role in risk management and cybersecurity, making decisions about capital credits, building board consensus, and applying emotional intelligence in the boardroom.