Connections Summit 2026

More than 200 members, sponsors, speakers, and guests joined us Feb. 12-13 in Cary, North Carolina, for a fantastic few days of connecting, learning, and problem-solving.

Thanks to all for joining us. We hope to see you in 2027!

Presentation Slides Available for View and Download

From Load Growth to Grid Impact: Meeting
the Data Center Energy Challenge
; Patricia Taylor, APPA
From Insight to Impact: Leveraging Data Visualization
for Smarter Utility Decisions
; Shawn Mankad, NCSU; Andrew Mitchell, Tantalus Systems
Wired for Success: Powering Eli Lilly with Capacity and Vision;
Alex Burris & Caleb Greene, City of Concord Electric Systems
Workforce to Leadership: Preparing Enterprise-ready Employees; April Broughton & Susanne Taylor; ElectriCities of NC
Driving Growth Through Innovation: Economic Development Strategies That Power Communities; Lindsey Almond, City of Albemarle; Kathy Howard, Greenville Utilities Commission; Holt Moore; City of Lumberton
Modernizing Utility GIS: Unlocking the Power of ESRI's Utility Network; Joel Campbell, Avineon; Stephen Fox & John Steel: City of Morganton; Emily Garrigues & Elizabeth Stancik, City of Statesville; Zach Lawlor, Langan
Customer Roundtable Hands-on Experience; Kelsey
Lawhead, Vice President, Customer Programs and Strategy, ElectriCities of NC
Operations Round Table; Jason Thigpen, Manager, Power Supply Operations, ElectriCities of NC