Business & Financial Conference

​Program

The Business & Financial Conference offers three days of keynotes, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities.

• Pre-conference seminars on Sunday are a great value-add, allowing you to explore topics in-depth with experienced instructors.
• General sessions bring everyone together on broader issues.
• Breakout sessions dive deeper into key areas:
  • Accounting & Finance
  • Human Resources
  • Information Technology & Cybersecurity
  • Rates & Pricing
  • Risk Management & Insurance
• Networking events and the sponsor showcase provide connection opportunities.

Download a complete, printable PDF of the 2023 conference program.

Who Should Attend

Bringing together more than 450 public power professionals, the conference is ideal for both industry veterans and those new to the electric utility industry who are interested in professional development and networking.

Conference attendees get the latest information from experts in their fields, learn about the national issues and industry-wide activities and trends that are affecting their communities and utilities, and share experiences and strategies for dealing with key issues and challenges at more than 40 breakout sessions and roundtables.

Conference sessions are designed for utility employees at both the professional and management levels in the fields of:

• Accounting & Finance
• Human Resources 
• IT & Cybersecurity
• Rates & Pricing
• Risk Management & Insurance 

Attendees typically include specialists, coordinators, analysts, managers, directors, and vice presidents. The conference is recommended for public power professionals in the areas of business and finance, as well as future leaders interested in advancing in these areas and expanding their public power network.

Registration 

2024 Conference Registration Fees

Not yet a member? Join today and save money on your conference registration. Contact [email protected] to learn more.

Meals

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

• Sunday: Welcome Happy Hour
• Monday: Breakfast and Reception
• Tuesday: Breakfast and Reception 
• Wednesday: Breakfast

Group Discounts

Save money on each registration when your organization registers five or more people. The larger your group, the more you save! 

Your group discount will be automatically applied when you register a group of 5 or more people. Registrations must be submitted on the same order (at the same time) to qualify for the group discount; discounts cannot be retroactively applied to previous orders.

Cancellation, Refund, and Substitution Policy

Registrants who cancel in writing on or before Monday, September 1, 2024 are entitled to a refund of their registration fee, minus a $100 cancellation fee. Registrants who cancel after September 1, 2024 will not receive a refund, but attendee substitutions will be allowed for the 2024 APPA Business & Financial Conference and preconference seminars only. Registrants and no-shows who do not cancel on or before September 11 are responsible for the full registration fee and are not entitled to a refund of their registration fee. 

Cancellation requests must be made through your my.publicpower portal, or addressed to: [email protected].

Code of Conduct

Attendees of American Public Power Association meetings agree to abide by the APPA Code of Conduct. If attendees engage in unacceptable behavior as outlined in the Code of Conduct, the Association may take any action it deems appropriate, including, but not limited to, expulsion from the current and future meetings with no warning or refund.

Contact Us

Registration: [email protected]

Program/Content: [email protected]

Hotel: [email protected]

Billing: [email protected]

Conference Location & Hotel

The 2024 Business & Financial Conference will be held at the Hilton Cleveland Downtown.

Hilton Cleveland Downtown
100 Lakeside Ave E
Cleveland, OH 44114

Located in the heart of Downtown Cleveland, with the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Playhouse Square, and East 4th Street within a mile, the hotel is connected to the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland. It features an indoor pool, a fitness center, and a top-floor bar with views of Lake Erie.

Reservations

• Main Telephone: 1 (216) 413-5000
• Group Rate: Coming soon.
• Reservation Cut-off Date: Coming soon.
• Reservation Telephone: Coming soon. 
• Online Reservation Link: Coming soon.

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, contact [email protected].

• Sponsorship and expo packages for this event
• Information for confirmed sponsors and exhibitors for this event
• Sponsorship and expo packages for all events
• Sponsorship and expo policies

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I earn educational credits for attending this conference?

Yes, you can earn the following kinds of educational credits for participating in sessions during the conference:

• 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)
• APPA is officially recognized by the Society for Human Resource Management as a provider of Professional Development Credit and offers both HRCI and SHRM credit for all Human Resource sessions.

To receive a certificate for your participation, participants must complete the online conference evaluation after the event.

Are meals included?

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

• Sunday - Welcome Happy Hour
• Monday - Breakfast and Reception
• Tuesday - Breakfast and Reception 
• Wednesday – 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. 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.

More questions?

Contact [email protected].

Serve as an Officer

Utility employees play a vital role in planning the conference. Email [email protected] if you are interested in taking a leadership position in the conference by serving as an officer for one of the following tracks:

• Accounting & Finance
• Human Resources
• IT & Cybersecurity
• Rates & Pricing
• Risk Management & Insurance

Contact

Registration: [email protected]

Program/Content: [email protected]

Hotel: [email protected]

Billing: [email protected]