Electric Co-op Leaders Gather at NRECA’s PowerXchange

Nearly 100 leaders from Colorado’s electric cooperatives attended the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association PowerXchange and TechAdvantage conference in early March in San Antonio, Texas. 

Electric cooperatives must work together to make progress and keep the lights on for members who depend on them, NRECA President Tony Anderson told attendees. “We all have different personalities in our network and even in our boardrooms, but we all work as one to make decisions that drive co-ops forward,” Anderson said. “Our co-ops are stronger together. We have to keep showing up for each other and do the hard work if we want to have a positive impact and get things done.”

The general sessions were informative and featured unique keynote speakers, including baseball legend Cal Ripkin Jr., champion poker player Liz Boeree, and Mike Walsh, founder and CEO of Tomorrow. Breakout sessions during the conference covered topics that are at the forefront of industry leaders’ minds: rural broadband deployment, reliability, and legislative affairs. 

Youth Leadership Council participant Ethan McGuinness from La Plata Electric Association also attended PowerXchange.

“It’s such an incredible experience getting to connect with different kids and professionals from all over the country and all over the world. I have met some wonderful people from Texas, Oregon, New York, and Maine,” McGuinness shared. “It’s been a great educational opportunity to learn how rural electric co-ops are powering our world.”

It was the 2023 Washington D.C. Youth Tour that inspired McGuinness to pursue a career in politics, public service, and history. “The Youth Tour trip changed my life. I now have a goal to attend Colorado State University to study political science.”