CEO Roundtable

2023 CEO Roundtable Program

Sunday, March 12

6 – 7 pm 
Welcome Reception (Guests welcome)
Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and drinks while you reconnect with old friends, meet new people, and network with public power leaders from across the nation.

Monday, March 13

8 – 8:30 am 
Breakfast

8:30 am – Noon  
The State of U.S. Foreign Affairs
Join Dr. Evelyn Farkas, one of the nation’s most trusted experts on U.S.-Russia relations and on American foreign policy and geopolitics, to discuss the state of U.S. foreign affairs, from Russia and China to North Korea and beyond. Take a look at how Russian President Vladimir Putin has shaped the Kremlin’s main objectives over the last decade, the problematic and shocking means they have used to advance this agenda, and how these actions have affected Russia, America, and the world. Examine the greatest challenges and opportunities facing America today, and review alternate approaches to prioritizing and managing geopolitical relationships that could create a more stable and hopeful future.

Dr. Evelyn Farkas was Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, serving as the Department of Defense’s top Russia expert under President Obama and advising three secretaries of Defense on policy related to Russia and the surrounding region during her tenure at the Pentagon. Dr. Farkas currently serves as the executive director of the McCain Institute Board of Trustees and regularly appears as a National Security Contributor on NBC/MSNBC to discuss hot-button geopolitical issues. 
 

Noon – 1:30 pm 
Lunch (hosted by APPA) 

1:30 – 4:30 pm
Prosperity Ahead – or Not?
Get an in-depth outlook on the economy, including how trends in demographics, technology, and globalization are reshaping how the global economy changes and our future. Learn directly from Harvard economics teacher and revered economic commentator Todd Buchholz on how to pinpoint the signs of stock market rallies and the warning signs of impending slumps, and discuss the political pressures on trade, debt, and interest rates from the U.S. to the E.U. and China. 

Todd Buchholz, managing director of the $15 billion Tiger hedge fund, Harvard economics teacher, and former White House director of economic policy. Before joining Tiger, Buchholz was President of the G7 Group, Inc, an international consulting firm whose clientele included top securities firms, investment banks, and money managers in New York, London, and Tokyo, including Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. Buchholz holds advanced degrees in economics and law from Cambridge and Harvard and several engineering and design patents. 

5:30 – 6:30 pm
Reception 
Enjoy some food, drinks, and down time with the friends and colleagues you already know, and grow your network of public power contacts.

Tuesday, March 14

8 – 8:30 am
Breakfast 

8:30 – 9 am
NERC Update
Jim Robb, President & CEO, North American Electric Reliability Corporation 

9 – 10:30 am
Addressing Fuel Cost Concerns 
Rising fuel costs and market volatility are affecting how utilities across the country do business and, in turn, their customers’ monthly bills. A panel of executives will share the extent – and nature - of the problem within their regions to spur a discussion on the similarities and differences of the issue across the country, what strategies utilities can implement to mitigate related effects in the short term, and potential solutions to avoid significant long-term impacts. 

Clint Bullock, General Manager & CEO, Orlando Utilities Commission, Florida; William Johnson, General Manager, Kansas City Board of Public Utilities, Kansas; and David Koster, General Manager, Holland Board of Public Works, Michigan

10:30 am
CEO Roundtable adjourns

11 am – 4 pm (includes a working lunch)
Supply Chain Summit & Strategic Discussion

Open only to public power utilities, joint action agencies, and state and regional associations.

Public power continues to face shortages and delays in getting necessities, from distribution transformers to large power transformers, smart meters, conductor materials, and more. Without new action and new solutions, public power utilities will not be able to power new residential and commercial development, new manufacturing facilities, invest in clean energy technologies to meet environmental goals, recover from increasingly intense weather events, or support a rapidly expanding electric vehicle fleet – possibly for years to come. 

This discussion will provide a forum for candid discussions of supply chain challenges across the APPA community with a focus on feasible and actionable options to ensure continued reliability and affordability for those served by these community-owned electric utilities

The discussion will examine the following questions and solutions: 

1. Forming consortia to leverage suppliers
   Would pooling resources help public power utilities from a state or regional focus? Where have members been successful and what can we learn from failed efforts? Are there certain components that would be best suited for this? 
    
2. Developing a manufacturing facility for public power
   ERMCO is one of the largest manufacturers domestically of distribution transformers and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Arkansas Electric Cooperatives. Is it reasonable or possible for public power to create something similar?
    
3. Standardization
   One of the “complaints” by the manufacturing sector is that there are too many types of voltage classes and styles needed for transformers. Is standardization possible and, if so, what steps would need to be taken to move forward? What would be the scope of potential gains or drawbacks for public power entities to have more standardized components?
    
4. Reforming bidding requirements
   Current local and state procurement laws are also hindering the ability to resupply. Having multiple bid requirements can make it difficult for manufacturers to meet all criteria. As the supply shortage persists, some manufacturers will not provide a bid to meet the requirement or are no longer accepting new requests. How have utilities changed their procurement process to get bids, and which requirements are manufacturers finding the hardest to meet? What can be changed and where have we found success?
    
5. Refurbishing transformers
   Many utilities contract outside companies to refurbish transformers. What are the successes and failures of these efforts? Can utilities do this work themselves? How much can refurbishment extend the current supply?

Facilitator: Christiana Briggs, President, Athena Strategic Design Inc.
 

Open only to public power utilities, joint action agencies, and state and regional associations. Eligible CEO Roundtable participants may also register for this event when they register for the CEO Roundtable; please make sure you select the "CEO Roundtable + Supply Chain Summit and Strategic Discussion" option when you register, to help us get an accurate head count.

Registration

2023 Registration Fees

Not yet an American Public Power Association member? Join today and save $1,395 on your CEO Roundtable registration. Contact [email protected] to learn more. 

Group Discounts

Save money on each registration for the CEO Roundtable when your organization registers 5 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, March 6, 2023, are entitled to a refund of their registration fee, minus a $50 cancellation fee. Registrants who cancel after March 6 will not receive a refund, but attendee substitutions will be allowed for the 2023 CEO Roundtable only. Registrants and no-shows who do not cancel on or before March 6 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]

Hotel

The 2023 CEO Roundtable will take place at the JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District in Savannah, Georgia.  

JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District
400 W River St.
Savannah, GA 31401 

JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District is the pinnacle of luxury in the Hostess City. Located within Plant Riverside District, Savannah’s iconic entertainment destination, walkable attractions and amenities include dynamic restaurants and lounges, upscale retail and live entertainment. Once a power plant on the Savannah riverfront, the hotel retains the Power Plant's architectural character, with historic details throughout the property with more than a dozen restaurants including three rooftop bars, an upscale retail and an art galleries along acres of the Savannah Riverwalk.

Reservations

• Main Telephone: (912) 373-9100
• Group Rate: Single/Double $295 per night (plus tax, 13%)
• Reservation Cut-off Date: February 24, 2023
• Reservation Telephone: (800) 228-9290
  • Group Code: APPA CEO Roundtable
• Online Reservation Link: 

Logistics 

• Check in: 4 pm Check out: 11 am
• Parking: Valet parking $48 per night, unlimited access; Self parking $43 per night, metered. 
• Internet access: Complimentary standard wireless internet

Reservations & Cancellations

The cut-off date to receive the group rate is Friday, February 24, 2023. The room blocks may sell out before February 24, so early reservations are encouraged. Make your reservations directly with the hotel using the links or telephone numbers above.

Cancelled 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. 

Questions and Assistance

For questions or assistance making your hotel arrangements, contact [email protected].

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I earn educational credits for attending this event?

Yes, you can earn the following kinds of educational credits for participating in the CEO Roundtable:

• 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)

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: Reception 
• Monday: Continental breakfast, lunch, and reception 
• Tuesday: Continental breakfast

What is the dress code?

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

What is the policy on refunds, cancellations and attendee substitutions?

Registrants who cancel in writing on or before Monday, February 6, 2023, are entitled to a refund of their registration fee, minus a $50 cancellation fee. Registrants who cancel after February 6 will not receive a refund, but attendee substitutions will be allowed for the 2023 CEO Roundtable only. Registrants and no-shows who do not cancel on or before February 6 are responsible for the full registration fee and are not entitled to a refund of their registration fee. 

I am interested in presenting at the conference — how can I do that?

We welcome your topic and speaker ideas for future conferences and events. To submit your idea for consideration, complete this form. 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 for the upcoming program. You will be contacted only if your idea is selected for an upcoming conference.

More questions?

Contact [email protected].