30 JAN 2018 · Vern Dosch, CEO, NISC Vern opens the session with a quick historical overview of simple billing systems and how smart phones are changing co-op’s consumer relationships. He describes how CEOs, without technology backgrounds, are having to make sense and manage technology solutions to keep their co-ops current.

30 JAN 2018 · Jim Bagley, CEO, United Electric Cooperative (MO) Jim talks about United Electric Cooperative’s broadband deployment, and how broadband is meeting the connectivity needs of more than 5,000 consumers and 900 local businesses in a sparsely populated area of northwest Missouri. He discusses both the benefits and challenges of United’s commitment to broadband service.

30 JAN 2018 · Ron Salyer, President/CEO, Pioneer REC (OH) Ron describes himself as a non-technical CEO who is a “member services experiences guy.” Pioneer has made significant investments in technology to boost reliability and give consumers a great experience. Ron talks about investing in great tech talent, the payback of tech investments, collaboration within the industry, and how Pioneer has moved from being reactive to using technology to get ahead of system issues.

30 JAN 2018 · Ryan Hentges, Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative (MN) Minnesota Valley’s data resources have increased a thousand times in ten years, with the co-op now capturing 480 million records a year from its business. Ryan describes how technology helps the co-op meet the diverse urban and rural needs with the philosophy, “a member class of one.” He talks about the co-op’s focus on gaining value from its data, managing the challenges of “blinks,” technology for consistent business processes and how technology is guided by its strategic plan.