Business & Financial Conference

Program

The Business & Financial Conference offers keynotes, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities. Preconference seminars on Sunday, September 18, are a great value-add. 

Breakout Sessions

Benefit from engaging breakout sessions led by industry experts and public power colleagues — take home actionable ideas and tactics.

Breakout sessions are offered on Monday through Wednesday, September 19-21. Several breakout sessions run concurrently in each time slot and you can go to any sessions you like. Browse sessions below or download the session overview for a listing by date/time that you can share with colleagues and use to plan your itinerary.

Sessions cover the following tracks or topic areas:

• Accounting & Finance
• Human Resources & Training
• Information Technology
• Pricing & Market Analysis
• Risk Management & Insurance

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Agenda

The agenda for the 2022 Business & Financial Conference will be available in May 2022.

PRECONFERENCE SEMINAR
Preconference seminars offer longer class times, smaller class sizes, interactive formats, and experienced instructors. Dive deep into hot topics to add value to your conference experience.

Sunday, September 18

8:30 a.m. - Noon
Preconference Seminar

1:30 - 5 p.m.
Preconference Seminar

5 – 6:30 p.m.
Welcome Reception
Visit with colleagues and learn about the products and services that conference sponsors offer. 

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Monday, September 19

7 – 8 a.m.
Networking Continental Breakfast
Make the most of your time at this informal breakfast — visit with your peers and conference sponsors.

8 – 8:45 a.m.
Opening General Session

8:45 – 9:15 a.m.
Break

9:15 – 10:30 a.m.
Breakout Sessions

10:30 – 10:45 a.m
Break

10:45 – Noon
Breakout Sessions

Noon – 1:30 p.m.
Lunch on your own

1:30 – 2:45 p.m.
Breakout Sessions

2:45 – 3:15 p.m.
Break

3:15 – 4:30 p.m.
Breakout Sessions

5 p.m.
Happy Hour with Colleagues
Meet up with other attendees from public power utilities, affiliates, and partner organizations at a relaxing, fun, pay-your-own-way happy hour at the hotel bar. Share a drink and discuss how to take on the future.

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Tuesday, September 20

7:30  – 8:30 a.m.
Women in Public Power Networking Breakfast
Join in a lively discussion about the growing influence of women in public power. Share challenges and opportunities with your peers.

7:30 – 8:30 a.m. 
Networking Continental Breakfast
Power up with coffee and connections at this informal breakfast. Visit with your peers and chat with sponsors.

8:45 – 10 a.m. 
General Session

10 – 10:30 a.m.
Break

10:30 – 11:45 a.m.
Breakout Sessions

11:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.   
Lunch on your own

1:30 – 2:45 p.m.
Breakout Sessions

2:45 – 3:15 p.m.
Break

3:15 – 4:30 p.m.
Breakout Sessions

5:30 – 7 p.m.
Reception
Join your colleagues for an evening reception. You are welcome to bring a guest.

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Wednesday, September 21

7:30 – 8:30 a.m.
Networking Continental Breakfast
Network with your peers at this informal breakfast. There are no speakers or moderators. 

8:30 – 9:45 a.m.
Breakout Sessions

9:45 – 10:15 a.m.
Break

10:15 – 11:30 a.m.
Closing General Session

Conference adjourns

Registration

Registration for the 2022 Business & Financial Conference will open in May 2022.

2022 Conference Registration Fees

Member Registration Fees

American Public Power Association members receive the member rate. Fees increase by $50 after August 19th. 

• $825 - Business & Financial Conference
• $350 - Half-day preconference seminar

Non-Member Registration Fees

• $1,650 - Business & Financial Conference
• $700 - Half-day preconference seminar

Not an American Public Power Association member? Join today and save $775 on your conference registration. Call Member Services at 202-467-2936 email [email protected] to learn more.

Preconference Seminar Registration Fees

Preconference seminars require separate registration. Fees increase by $50 after August 19th.

• $350 - APPA members
• $700 - Non-members

Registration Cancellation, Refund, and Substitution Policy

Registrants who cancel in writing on or before Monday, September 12, 2022 are entitled to a refund of their registration fee, minus a $50 cancellation fee. Registrants who cancel after September 12, 2022 will not receive a refund, but attendee substitutions will be allowed for the 2022 APPA Business & Financial Conference and preconference seminars only. Registrants and no-shows who do not cancel on or before September 12 are responsible for the full registration fee and are not entitled to a refund of their registration fee. 

Requests must be made in writing and mailed or emailed to:

Meeting Services
American Public Power Association
2451 Crystal Drive
Arlington, VA 22202-4804
Email: [email protected] 

Questions?

Email [email protected].

Hotel

The hotel room block for the 2022 Business & Financial Conference will open in May 2022.

The 2022 Business & Financial Conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Savannah in Savannah, Georgia on September 18-21. All conference events will be held at the hotel.

Hyatt Regency Savannah
2 W Bay Street
Savannah, GA 31401

Hyatt Regency Savannah

The Hyatt Regency Savannah is located in the Savannah Historic District. With direct access to cobblestoned River Street, the Hyatt Regency Savannah puts you steps away from monuments, shops, local restaurants, and live music. Experience the city's unique spirit on a ghost tour or paddle-steamer ride, then unwind with a cocktail on our outdoor patio overlooking the Savannah River.

Reservations

• Main Telephone: (912) 238-1234
• Group Rate:
• Reservation Cut-off Date:
• Reservation Telephone:
• Online Reservation Link:

Logistics 

• Check in: 4 p.m. Check out: 11 a.m.
• Valet parking: $38 Valet overnight (With in-and-out privileges)
• Self-parking: $16 overnight (In-and-out privileges do not apply)
• Internet access: Complimentary wireless internet in sleeping rooms

Reservations & Cancellations

The cut-off date to receive the group rate at the Hyatt Regency Savannah is August 26, 2022. The room blocks may sell out before August 26, so early reservations are encouraged. Make your reservations directly with the hotel using the links or telephone numbers above.

Canceled reservations that are not resold may become a financial liability for APPA, so please make your reservations thoughtfully.

Scam Alert

Please do NOT make hotel reservations through any third party that may contact you by phone or email. Use only the online reservation links, phone numbers, and discount codes available directly from APPA —in conference brochures and the website at www.PublicPower.org.

Dress Code

The attire for the conference is business casual. Meeting room temperatures vary, so prepare to dress for cool conditions. Whenever possible, networking events will be held outdoors. 

Questions and Assistance

For questions or assistance making your hotel arrangements, please contact Meeting Services at 202-467-2941 or [email protected].

COVID-19 Safety Protocols

The safety of those attending the American Public Power Association (APPA) 2022 Business & Financial Conference is our top priority. We are partnering with the hotel, have talked to local health officials, and are applying lessons-learned from other associations to ensure we follow all the best practices for safely hosting in-person meetings in the current environment. We are relying on everyone to do their part to keep themselves and everyone else safe during the conference.

Below are some of the steps we are taking to ensure the safety of all meeting participants, and our expectations for all conference participants. All participants must agree to abide by these standards before they will be permitted to attend the conference. 

What attendees must do

APPA mask requirements

All conference participants will be required to wear masks in all APPA meeting areas and at official APPA functions, except when eating or drinking. This is consistent with current CDC recommendations that everyone in areas with high COVID-19 infection rates wear masks in public indoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status. 

Outside of APPA's meeting space, attendees must abide by the hotel policy and local guidelines at the time of the meeting. Attendees can step outside at any time if they would like to take off their masks. 

We know that our attendees will have different comfort levels with meeting in person again, and some attendees may have reasons to be cautious, including underlying health conditions or family members (including young children) who may still be at risk. We are relying on everyone to do their part to keep themselves and everyone else safe during the conference, and to be respectful of all other attendees and their comfort levels.

When you register

All participants must agree to the safety protocols outlined below before registering for the conference. Your registration implies your consent to adhere to these standards. 

Pre-Event Health Assessment 

Registrants will be asked to complete a self-assessment prior to traveling to the event. Participants do not need to submit a separate form; but we ask all attendees to honestly answer these questions to help us protect all conference attendees, staff, and the local community. 

1. Have you had any of the following NEW or UNUSUAL-FOR-YOU symptoms within the past 72 hours? 
   • Fever of 100.4 degrees or above, or possible fever-like symptoms such as alternating chills and sweating.
   • Frequent cough (not a chronic cough or your normal seasonal allergies)
   • Trouble breathing, shortness of breath, or severe wheezing 
   • Muscle or body aches that are not exercise related
   • Sore throat
   • New loss of smell or taste 
   • Headache
2. Have you, or anyone in your household or group, tested positive or are awaiting test results for COVID-19?
3. Do you, or anyone in your household or group, have the symptoms of COVID-19 as listed above?
4. Are you currently subject to a stay-at-home order from your doctor or state or local requirements to quarantine, isolate, or stay at home? 

If you answer YES to any of these questions, please STAY AT HOME. Please send your cancellation request to [email protected].

COVID Test Recommended 

We are recommending (not requiring) all participants get a COVID test 3 days before the conference; and again 3 days after returning home. 

Anyone who tests positive before the conference should stay home. If anyone tests positive after the conference, they should email Amy Rigney-Gay APPA’s Vice President of Human Resources & Administration at [email protected] to confidentially report so we can try to conduct contact tracing.

On-site Safety Protocols

The safety of all conference participants is our top priority. All conference participants must: 

1. Wear a mask in all APPA meeting areas and at official APPA functions, except when eating or drinking. 
2. Adhere to CDC, and state and local guidance before and during the event. 
3. Complete the health check-in each day before entering the APPA meeting space (see below).
4. Engage in appropriate physical distancing and hygiene practices.
5. Be respectful of all other attendees and their comfort levels.
6. Not attend the event if you are ill, actively experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms or have recently been in close contact with someone who is experiencing COVID symptoms or has tested positive for COVID-19.
7. Notify APPA’s Vice President of Human Resources & Administration at [email protected] if you test positive for COVID-19 up to 14 days after returning home.

On-site Daily Health Check-in

Each day of the conference, all participants will be required to complete a short health questionnaire, as many of us do when we come into the office. No medical tests are required; APPA will not ask for any medical records, test results, or proof of vaccination. 

The daily health check-in will be a simple online form, asking participants to self-certify that: 

• You have not recently come into close contact with someone with COVID-19 or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms;  
• You are not currently experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms that can't be explained by something else; and 
• You are continuing to follow CDC and local guidance. 

Participants must complete the daily health check-in before entering the APPA meeting space. A link will be emailed to attendees in advance, and will be available through the conference mobile app.

Show your completion screen when you arrive at the meeting space each morning to receive a colored wristband. 

• When you complete the questionnaire, you will get a screen telling you to proceed to the meeting. Simply show this screen on your mobile device to verify you have completed your daily check in.
• If you aren't able to show your completion screen, someone will look you up by name to verify you have completed your check-in. 

Your wristband is required for entry into all APPA sessions and activities. It also confers in-and-out privileges; once you receive your wristband for the day, you can enter and exit the APPA meeting space freely just by showing your wristband.

What we are doing

Personal Safety

APPA will take the following steps to ensure the health and safety of all meeting participants:

• All participants (including attendees, speakers, sponsors, guests and staff) will agree to and be required to follow safety protocols put in place by APPA.
• All participants must complete a daily health questionnaire before entering the meeting space. Attendees will receive a wristband confirming they have completed the daily check in so they may enter/exit the meeting space without having to complete it again on that day.
• Masks are required in all APPA meeting areas and at official APPA functions, except when eating or drinking.

Meeting experience

APPA is examining every aspect of the in-person meeting experience to ensure we are taking all appropriate precautions to protect the safety of participants, including:

• Modifying room seating and event layouts to allow for social distancing.
• Redesigning networking opportunities to accommodate social distancing while still facilitating meaningful conversations and exchanges.
• Holding networking events outdoors, whenever possible. 
• Making changes at our registration desk to alleviate congestion and reduce contact points.
• During sessions, Q&A will be administered through the conference mobile app (instead of shared microphones). 
• APPA may employ assigned seating, queued entrances, or timed entrance and exits of meeting rooms to manage crowd control and accommodate room capacity limits, according to state or local mandates. 

Cleaning and hygiene 

APPA is working with the hotel to ensure the cleanliness of the meeting facilities. 

• APPA will develop and institute a cleaning and sanitizing schedule with the hotel that meets the specific needs of the conference and our attendees. 
• High-touch surfaces within the meeting space will be cleaned multiple times a day.
• Hand sanitizer stations will be positioned throughout the meeting space.
• Additional hygienic supplies, including disinfectant wipes, gloves, and disposable masks, will be made available to attendees. 
• APPA is working with the hotel to ensure all hotel culinary and banquet team members adhere to strict guidelines for the preparation, handling and serving of food & beverages. 
• APPA will keep attendees updated on the hotel’s COVID related practices and protocols.  

Questions?

Contact us at [email protected].

Frequently Asked Questions

What are APPA mask requirements?

All institute participants will be required to wear masks in all APPA meeting areas and at official APPA functions, except when eating or drinking. This is consistent with current CDC recommendations that everyone in areas with high COVID-19 infection rates wear masks in public indoor spaces, regardless of vaccination status. 

Click here to view the latest COVID safety protocols for this event.

Where and when is the next Business & Financial Conference?

September 18-21, 2022
Savannah, Georgia 

What educational credits are available?

Academy events include the following opportunities for educational credits:

• Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET)
• Professional Development Hours (PDHs) as established by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)
• Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Credits from the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA)

Is there international registration?

Online meeting registration is for U.S. and Canadian residents only. International registrants must provide a signed registration form — signed by the authorized cardholder — if paying with a credit card. Fax the completed registration form to 202-495-7484 or email it to [email protected]. 

Alternatively, you could send a check from a U.S. bank payable to American Public Power Association. Please mail completed form with full payment to our bank lock box:

American Public Power Association
P.O. Box 418617
Boston, MA  02241-8617

Are meals included?

The following food functions/meals are included in the registration fee:

• Sunday - Welcome Reception
• Monday - Continental Breakfast
• Tuesday - Continental Breakfast; Reception 
• Wednesday – Continental Breakfast

What is the conference dress code?

The attire for the conference is business casual. Meeting room temperatures vary, so prepare to dress for cool conditions.

How can I present at the conference?

We welcome your topic and speaker ideas for future conferences and events. To submit your idea for consideration, complete this form. Conference topics are generally determined 6-8 months before the event is held. Ideas will be kept on file for a full year, so if the agenda for the conference has already been determined, your ideas will be considered for the next year’s event, or in case any space opens up in the current year’s program. You will be contacted only if your idea is selected for an upcoming conference.