21st ANNUAL Energy Issues Summit& Pre-Conference Training Events

St. Cloud River’s Edge Convention Center and BEST WESTERN PLUS

Kelly Inn, St. Cloud, MN

August 8-11, 2016

PRE-CONFERENCE OPTIONS Monday, August 8: • New Director Orientation (Day 1 of 2: ½ day 1:00pm-4:00pm)

Tuesday, August 9: • New Director Orientation (Day 2 of 2: 8:00am-3:00pm) • Board Chair Round Table (9:00am-3:30pm)

COOPERATIVE NETWORK MEETING Tuesday, August 9, 3:30pm-5:30pm

POLITICAL FUNDRAISERTuesday, August 9, 5:30pm-7:00pm for

Sen. Dan Sparks (Austin) and Rep. Debra Kiel (Crookston)

ENERGY ISSUES SUMMIT Day 1: Wednesday, August 10 (9:00am-4:30pm)

Day 2: Thursday, August 11 (8:00am-11:15am)

Prospering Communities

Growing Rural Economies

LEAD • STRENGTHEN • DEVELOP • PROSPER

The Cooperative’s Vital Role in

Prospering Communities

PRE-CONFERENCE TRAINING OPTIONS

BEST WESTERN PLUS KELLY INN ST. CLOUD RIVER’S EDGE CONVENTION CENTER

CO-OP PRINCIPLE 7 • CONCERN FOR COMMUNITIES

MONDAY, AUGUST 8

TUESDAY, AUGUST 9

NEW DIRECTOR ORIENTATION (½ day + full day) Day 1 of 2: 1:00pm-4:00pm Location: BEST WESTERN PLUS Kelly Inn, University B Education Program Members $329 Non-Education Program Members $429

This MREA seminar is for electric cooperative directors recently elected to their local board. The seminar will provide an orientation for new directors including an overview of board responsibilities, affiliated organizations, the rich history of co-ops and the rural elec-tric program, legislative and regulatory concerns, and competitive pressures and changes occurring in the industry today. The orien-tation will help new directors understand industry terminology and issues discussed during the Energy Issues Summit.

NEW DIRECTOR ORIENTATION (½ day + full day) Day 2 of 2: 8:00am-3:00pm Location: BEST WESTERN PLUS Kelly Inn, University B Education Program Members $329 Non-Education Program Members $429

BOARD CHAIR ROUND TABLE (full day) 9:00am-3:30pmLocation: BEST WESTERN PLUS Kelly Inn, University AEducation Program Members $349 Non-Education Program Members $449 Co-op board chairs are invited for a facilitated session and round table prior to the MREA Energy Issues Summit. We will look to cover key challenges and hot topics that you are experiencing at your co-op and in your board rooms, and give plenty of time for sharing and discussion.

PLUS... COOPERATIVE NETWORK MEETING 3:30pm-5:30pm BEST WESTERN PLUS Kelly Inn, Grand Ballroom Political Fundraiser for Sen. Dan Sparks and Rep. Debra Kiel5:30pm-7:00pm BEST WESTERN PLUS Kelly Inn, Grand Ballroom (immediately following Co-op Network Meeting) Sen. Dan Sparks Rep. Debra Kiel

8:30 EIS Registration & Continental Breakfast River’s Edge Convention Center, Carlson Hall. Sponsored by

9:00 Welcome - Darrick Moe, President & CEO Minnesota Rural Electric Association

9:15 Energy and the Economy Professor King Banaian, Den, School of Public Affairs, St. Cloud State University

Professor King Banaian is director of the School of Public Affairs Research Institute at St. Cloud State University and is a professor in the Department of Economics at SCSU. King was state representative in the Minnesota House for District 15B, 2011-13 and is currently the host of the King Banaian Show on Business1570 KYCR broadcast in Minneapolis. Prof. Banaian will give a broad overview of the Minnesota econo-my, relating to national economic issues, while tying it to the impacts on energy and rural development.

10:15 Break 10:35 Strategic Rural Broadband Panel

Strengthening our communities improves the lives of our members. In many areas of the state, one major way to build progress in our communities is ensuring the exis-tence of high speed Internet access. Rural electric coop-eratives, telephone cooperatives, townships, and munici-pals around the state have been active in putting together partnerships and business plans. This panel will explore those partnerships and give you some strategic direction to consider options for your part of the state.

• Initial Overview and Panel moderated by Danna MacKenzie, Executive Director, MN Office of Broadband Development - Joe Buttweiler, Partnership Development Manager, Consolidated Telecommunications Company (CTC) - Stacy Cluff, Information Systems and Technology Administrator, Mille Lacs Energy - Robin Doege, CEO at Todd-Wadena Electric Co-op

11:45-1 Lunch - Co-Sponsored by 1:00 Minnesota Energy Policy Outlook Speaker of the House Kurt Daudt

Kurt Daudt was first elected in 2010. He represents District 31A north of the Twin Cities metro area including parts of Isanti, Anoka, and Sherburne Counties, and includes the cities of Zimmerman, St. Francis, and Bethel. He was elect-ed by his caucus members to become Speaker of the Minnesota House in November 2014. Daudt is the young-est Minnesota Speaker since the 1930s. The Speaker will discuss the importance of Minnesota’s rural electric coop-eratives and greater Minnesota economic development.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10

2016 ENERGY ISSUES SUMMIT PROSPERING COMMUNITIES:

ST. CLOUD RIVER’S EDGE CONVENTION CENTER

1:30 Energy Trends: Surviving in a Flat Energy Sales Environment Sheldon Petersen, Chief Executive Officer, CFC

Preliminary results for CFC’s 2015 Key Ratio Trend Analy-sis (KRTA) are in, and they show the typical electric coop-erative recording a 1.89 percent decline in kilowatt-hour (kWh) sales for the year. CFC CEO Sheldon Petersen says, “While growth in kilowatt-hour sales has been a challenge for many systems since the Great Recession, electric cooperatives have continued to provide reliable electric service to their members while keeping them-selves financially healthy.” We will look at key strategies your cooperative can implement to continue to stay strong for its membership, as well as be a driving force for community and economic development locally.

2:15 Break 2:30 Your Cooperative’s Vital Role in Growing the Rural Economy: Community, Cooperative & Economic Development Panel

Cooperative Principle 7 states that “While focusing on member needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies ac-cepted by their members.” In other words, it is in our core values to provide leadership in the areas of com-munity, cooperative and economic development. This panel will bring assorted perspectives for co-op leaders to strategically consider how co-op principle 7 can be applied in their own communities and how we can bet-ter collaborate regionally to achieve that vision.Possible panelists invited:

• State Economic Development Strategy & Planning… Jay Trusty, Executive Director Southwest Regional Development Commission, Slayton, MN

• Community Development…Mark Lofthus, Economic Development Director, Dakota Electric Association

• ND Rural Electric & Telecommunications Economic Development…Lori Capouch, Rural Development Di-rector, NDAREC

• Cooperative Development…Kevin Edberg, Executive Director, Cooperative Development Services

3:45 Evolution of the Electric Grid: The Enternet Steve Collier, Director of Smart Grid Strategies at Milsoft Utility Solutions

The North American electric grid is one of the largest and most complex machines ever created, but a disruptive evolution of that grid is happening. The century-old grid is proving inadequate in terms of economy, reliability, secu-rity, and sustainability. Utilities are finding that conventional approaches like adding more generators and transmission lines are not only not feasible, they won’t address the trans-formation of a centrally monitored and controlled grid into a distributed grid most of which is not under the control of in-cumbent utilities. The new and emerging electric network is even more complex and technology-reliant, and the Internet of Things (IoT), has emerged which is economical, efficient, resilient, and sustainable, even with billions of independent endpoints. Collier will describe how this new grid will facili-tate visibility and control via an Enternet of Things.

4:30 Adjourn

7:00 Breakfast Buffet at BEST WESTERN PLUS Kelly Inn Grand Ballroom. Sponsored by 8:00 Recognizing the Trends Transforming Energy

Simon Anderson, Venture ForesightSimon is a professional futurist, startup entrepreneur and emerging technology and trends consultant. He will take us on a ride into the future to see what’s in store for technology and the future of energy.

9:00 Break - Sponsored by 9:20 NRECA Update Ron Schwartau, Nobles Cooperative Electric and NRECA Director

9:35 Innovation & Renewables Jim Spiers, Vice President of Technology, Engineering and Economic Analysis, NRECA Business & Technology Strategies

10:30 National Election Outlook David Wasserman, Cook Political Report Sponsored by

David Wasserman is House Editor and Political Analyst of The Cook Political Report, a non-partisan publication that provides analysis of the Presidential, U.S. Senate, House and gubernatorial races for its subscribers. David is respon-sible for handicapping and analyzing U.S. House races. He will share his insights with MREA members on the upcom-ing 2016 elections.

11:30 Closing Remarks, Evaluations & Adjournment

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10

2016 ENERGY ISSUES SUMMIT THE COOPERATIVE’S VITAL ROLE IN GROWING RURAL ECONOMIES

ST. CLOUD RIVER’S EDGE CONVENTION CENTER

CO-OP PRINCIPLE 7 • CONCERN FOR COMMUNITIES PROSPER • STRENGTHEN • LEAD • DEVELOP

5-6:30 Reception - BEST WESTERN PLUS Kelly Inn, Grand Ballroom. Please join us for refreshments, snacks and fellowship with neighboring cooperative directors. Sponsored by

THURSDAY, AUGUST 11

Simon J. Anderson is an international futurist speaker and emerging technology and trends consultant. He co-authored the 2014 Bellwether Award winning book “Foresight 20/20: A Futurist Explores the Trends Transforming Tomorrow” and the 2015 “Updated & Expanded” Edition with fellow global futurist Jack Uldrich. In 2013, Simon founded Venture Foresight, a company dedicated to helping leaders and organizations recognize opportunities in emerging technologies and trends. Simon has been a member of the Young Professionals Network with the international organization Communities of the Future since 2013, which works to promote and facilitate “future’s thinking’ in communities around the world.

King Banaian is dean of the School of Public Affairs at St. Cloud State University. He is also a professor in the Department of Economics at SCSU and holds his Ph.D. in economics from the Claremont Graduate School. He is author of The Ukrai-nian Economy since Independence (Edward Elgar, 1998), co-editor of The Design and Use of Political Economy Indicators (Palgrave, 2008) and more than forty articles and book chapters discussing monetary policy and political economy. He has served as a consultant to central banks and governments in several developing. King was state representative in the Minne-sota House for District 15B, 2011-13. He is also host of the King Banaian Show on Business1570 KYCR broadcast in Minneapolis, and co-author of the St. Cloud Quarterly Business Report. He lives in St. Cloud, Minnesota, with his wife Barbara. Joe Buttweiler of Consolidated Telecommunications Company (CTC) is actively involved in the promotion and deployment of broadband services to all areas of Minnesota. At CTC Joe’s role is to develop strategies and partnerships which will expand broadband services to those without access and to those seeking improved access. Joe’s background originates in the electric cooperative industry having spent time at Great River Energy and later at Arrowhead Electric Cooperative. While at Arrowhead Joe oversaw Arrowhead’s Fiber to the Premise project which now provides speeds up to 1GB to co-op. members and to others in the Arrowhead region. Joe attended Bemidji State University where he studied Geography and holds an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University.

Lori Capouch is the director of the Rural Electric and Telecommunications Development Center, a cooperative develop-ment center supported by North Dakota’s electric and telecommunications cooperatives and hosted by the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives. Capouch’s work includes providing technical assistance for emerging and ex-panding rural businesses and cooperatives across the state of North Dakota. Prior to working for the Center, she served as executive director of the North Dakota Agricultural Products Utilization Commission. She holds a Bachelors of Science degree majoring in business management from the University of Mary. Capouch and her husband, Kurt, live in Bismarck and have two grown children.

Stacy Cluff is the Information Systems & Technology Administrator, at Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative. She has been with the member-owned cooperative for nineteen years. Her primary job functions are providing IT and network support at the cooperative, but she also oversees the cooperatives Internet business; which currently offers satellite and fixed wireless. She is committed to improving Internet options to people living in the rural areas and recently joined the Blandin Broad-band Strategy Board to help further this commitment.

Steve Collier is the director of Smart Grid Strategies, at Milsoft Utility Solutions. He supports product development, marketing, sales and support. He is Milsoft’s resident smart grid expert and an industry thought leader who writes, speaks and consults on the issues, technologies, and applications related to the development of a modern intelligent electric grid. Beginning at Houston Lighting & Power in the early 1970s, he has worked as a professional, executive, consultant and board member with energy, telecommunications and technology companies and cooperatives throughout the US and abroad. Steve has degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Houston and Purdue University. He is an IEEE Technical Expert and chairs the IEEE Smart Grid Education Committee.

Kurt Daudt, Speaker of the House, was first elected in 2010, he represents District 31A north of the Twin Cities metro area including parts of Isanti, Anoka, and Sherburne Counties, and includes the cities of Zimmerman, St. Francis, and Bethel. He was elected by his caucus members to become Speaker of the Minnesota House in November 2014. Daudt is the young-est Minnesota Speaker since the 1930s. Prior to being elected in 2010, Daudt spent six years on the Isanti County Board of Commissioners and is a founding member of Project 24, a non-profit organization that builds orphanages in Kenya. Kurt lives in Crown, MN on a farm once owned by his grandparents. The Speaker will discuss the importance of Minnesota’s rural electric cooperatives and greater Minnesota economic development.

Robin Doege has been President and CEO at Todd-Wadena Electric Cooperative for six years. He had managed a staff-ing and transportation services company, which he founded in 2005. Robin also held management positions at Connexus Energy in the areas of loss control, utility services/facilities and metering for ten years.

Kevin Edberg joined Cooperative Development Services (CDS) as executive director in October 2000 and is responsible for the overall strategic direction and management of the organization. He has a strong background in agriculture, eco-nomics, and marketing. He holds bachelor’s degrees in horticulture, agricultural economics, and secondary science edu-cation, and has done graduate work in plant breeding and plant physiology, all at the University of Minnesota. Prior to CDS, Kevin worked for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture for 13 years, the last six of which as head of marketing programs. In that capacity, he initiated programs in cooperative development, value added processing, agricultural diversification and represented the department in areas of international trade.

PRESENTERS

Mark Lofthus has been the economic development director at Dakota Electric Association since 2012. Before that, he was employed for 24 years at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, in business and community development program management. During the 1980s, he worked at the Countryside Council, a citizen-based research and action organization based in Marshall and serving southwest Minnesota. Mark has a B.A. in economics from the University of Minnesota, and an M.A. in public administration from Minnesota State University, Mankato. He serves on the boards of the Dakota Regional Chamber of Commerce; the Dakota-Scott Workforce Development Board; Think Small, a statewide leader in early childhood education; and the Minnesota Economic Development Foundation.

Danna MacKenzie is executive director of the Office of Broadband Development, a new state entity that was created during the 2013 legislative session to direct broadband planning and policy statewide. MacKenzie, who has 18 years of experience with broadband issues in rural Minnesota, has been the director of information systems for Cook County in Grand Marais since 1998. She has been an administrator on the Cook County Broadband Commission since 2009 and a member of the Blandin Broadband Strategy Board since 2005. MacKenzie, who grew up in the Twin Cities, has a bachelor’s degree in organizational management and leadership from Concordia University in St. Paul. She was a public policy fellow at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota in 2011.

Sheldon Petersen has served as governor and CEO of CFC since March 1995. Petersen began his career in the rural electri-fication program in 1976 as staff assistant for Nishnabotna Valley REC in Harlan, Iowa. He later served as general manager of Rock County Electric Cooperative Association in Janesville, Wisconsin. Petersen joined CFC in 1983 as an area representative and provided financial management and consulting services to the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Montana and the Dakotas. In 1990, Petersen moved to CFC headquarters where he held various positions, including director of Policy Development and Internal Audit, director of Credit Analysis, assistant to the governor and acting administrative officer. He also was instrumental in the governance of two CFC affiliated organizations that meet the financial needs of electric cooperatives and rural tele-communications companies and cooperatives. A native of western Iowa, Petersen received his bachelor’s degree in market-ing from the University of Northern Iowa in 1975. He and his wife, Donita, presently reside in Leesburg, Virginia.

Jim Spiers joined NRECA in June 2014 as the vice-president of business and technology strategies. Spiers came to NRECA from Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association in Westminster, CO, where he served as senior vice president of business strategy/chief technology officer. Spiers’ more than 25 years of experience spans utility and in-frastructure industry operations and planning, rate setting, regulation, restructuring, technology assessment, business planning and strategy and technology assessment. As an independent consultant prior to his tenure at Tri-State, Spiers helped clients on a diverse array of issues that ranged from technology assessments and business planning to rate recovery and regulatory compliance. Spiers served as director of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission from 1986 to 1991, and before that, as a hearings officer and researcher at the Colorado Department of Highways. Spiers has a law degree University of Colorado School of Law and a B.A. from Mesa College in Grand Junction, Colo.

Jay Trusty has served as the Executive Director of the SRDC since 2001. The SRDC is a nine county Regional Develop-ment Commission covering the far southwest corner of Minnesota, bordering on both Iowa and South Dakota. The SRDC is a federally designated Economic Development District that provides community, physical and economic development services. Previously, Jay was Community Health Services Administrator for Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Pipestone Public Health Services, a four county joint powers agency also in southwest Minnesota. He served for 14 years as a Board Member of the Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership and is a former Board Member of the National Association of Develop-ment Organizations, (NADO) and the Affiliated Community Health Foundation. Jay holds a Bachelor of Science degree in government from St. John’s University and a Master of Science degree in special studies: public administration from St. Cloud State University. Jay served as a Chemical Operations Specialist in the United States Army Reserve from 1981-1984 and as a Combat Engineer Officer from 1984-1994.

David Wasserman is House Editor for The Cook Political Report, where he is responsible for handicapping and analyz-ing U.S. House Races. Founded in 1984, The Cook Political Report provides analyses of Presidential, U.S. Senate, House and gubernatorial races. Nate Silver of ESPN’s FiveThirtyEight.com has written: “Wasserman’s knowledge of the nooks and crannies of political geography can make him seem like a local,” and the Los Angeles Times recently called David a “whip smart” and “scrupulously nonpartisan” analyst whose “numbers nerddom was foretold at a young age.” David has served as an analyst for the NBC News Election Night Decision Desk in 2014, 2012, 2010, and 2008, and has appeared on NBC Nightly News, ABC World News, C-SPAN Washington Journal, CNN, and NPR. A native of New Jersey, he holds a B.A. in Government with distinction from the University of Virginia and was awarded the 2006 Emmerich-Wright Outstanding Thesis prize for his study of congressional redistricting standards.