May 12, 2026 | Le Meridien Columbus
Kick off the conference with drinks, light bites, and networking during the Welcome Reception at The Mandrake Rooftop Columbus sponsored by SmartestEnergy US. Network with fellow attendees, speakers, and sponsors in a relaxed setting on Monday, May 11th starting at 6PM.
The Mandrake Rooftop Columbus
810 N High St
Columbus, Ohio (directions)
TEPA members can RSVP when you register for the conference. Guests will be charged an additional fee at registration.
Join us for a special community service project on Monday, May 11 from 2:30PM – 5:15PM with the Mid-Ohio Food Bank. As a part of the Mid-Ohio Food Collective, the Mid-Ohio Foodbank helps thousands of people across 20 counties live better lives through fresh food and support. Since 2024 the organization has distributed 84M+ pounds of food, or 193k+ meals every day. Join us to help get food ready families by sorting cans, packing boxes and checking food quality.
Mid-Ohio Foodbank
Gantz Road Market
4041 Grove City Rd, Grove City, OH 43123 (map)
Members can sign up when you register for the conference.
10:00 AM | Check In
Le Meridien Columbus | 2nd Floor, Coleman Ballroom
10:30 AM | Conference Opening & Welcome Address
– Greg Bechert: President, TEPA & Managing Partner, Scioto Energy
– Andy Cormie: CEO, SmartestEnergy US
10:45 AM | Keynote Welcome: The Future of Energy in Ohio
– State Rep. Adam Holmes: Chairman of the Ohio House Energy Committee
11:00 AM | Defending Competition: The National Outlook for Retail Energy Markets
From Ohio and Pennsylvania to Texas, Illinois, and New England, states are taking very different approaches to retail electricity competition. At the same time, rapid load growth—from data centers to large-scale industrial expansion—is putting real pressure on how these markets function. This discussion will look at the biggest policy risks facing competitive markets today, how the industry can respond, and where new opportunities may emerge as customer needs continue to evolve.
– Moderator | Kevin Schmidt: Partner and V.P. of Government Relations, Strategic Public Partners
– Shawn Nelson: Founder and Principal, Nelson Government Strategies
– Mike Nugent: Associate General Counsel, Regulatory and Compliance, IGS Energy
11:45 AM Lunch
1:00 PM | The New Broker Reality: From Easy Savings to Real Strategy
The market has changed. The question is….have you? With higher prices, more volatility, and real customer impact, brokers are being forced to evolve beyond pricing into strategy, risk, and advisory. As capacity costs, data center demand, and macro pressures show up in customer bills in real time, speed, data, and flexibility are becoming core to the model. This session will explore who has made that shift, who hasn’t, and what it really takes to compete now.
– Moderator | David Roylance: Principal, Prism Energy Solutions
– Tim Booth: Director of Account Management and Energy Strategy, Greencrown Energy
– Ray Culver: Senior Vice President, Energy Alliances
– Jeff Shoaf: Head of Growth, North America, 5
– Vin Zachariah: Chief Executive Officer, Ampica
1:45 PM | Market Madness: Politics, War, and the Future of Energy Prices
– Brian Habacivch: Principal Commodities Management Group, Constellation
2:30 PM | Networking Break Sponsored by ENGIE
3:00 PM | Capacity Shock: Market Impacts and Customer Strategies
PJM is facing unprecedented capacity cost increases, creating major bill impacts for customers. This panel will break down what is driving the recent spikes, how capacity costs are flowing through to customer bills, whether additional increases are likely, and what brokers, suppliers, and customers can do now to manage risk.
– Moderator | Iliana Varadzhakova: Principal, Scioto Energy
– Steve Girard: V.P. – East Sales, NRG
– Kevin Shannon: Regional V.P. – Sales, ENGIE
– Matt Stasium: Head of Strategic Partnerships & Sales, SmartestEnergy US
– Craig Wall: V.P. of Energy Operations, Mantis Innovation
3:45 PM | 2026 ABC Market Survey: First Look
– Young Kim: Principle, ERCG
4:15 PM | Closing Remarks
– Lauren Bailey: Director of Sales, Broker Online Exchange
4:30 PM | Networking Reception
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
