David Gattie is an Associate Professor of Engineering in the University of Georgia’s College of Engineering, and a Senior Fellow in the University of Georgia’s (UGA) Center for International Trade and Security and School of Public & International Affairs. He earned his B.S. and Ph.D. from UGA and has 14 years of private industry experience as an energy services engineer and environmental engineer. His research is in the area of energy policy and integrated energy resource planning for the power sector and, in collaboration with his colleagues in UGA’s Center for International Trade and Security, he has led the development of UGA’s Energy Security Studies Program focused on the U.S. national security implications of energy and energy technologies within the challenges of 21st century great power competition. He also has provided testimony before the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee on energy, climate and nuclear power policy, various state legislative committees and the Georgia Public Service Commission.

Mr. Keyser is in his fourth year as CEO of NRCO, where he leads a team of clean energy developers and analysts providing market intelligence and project origination services to 23 electric cooperative members across the country.  Prior to NRCO, Mike spent 11 years as CEO of BARC Electric Cooperative in Virginia and five years in American Samoa, as CEO and General Counsel of the American Samoa Power Authority.  Mr. Keyser holds a bachelor's degree in business from Washington State University and a law degree from Seattle University School of Law.

John Qualls is the Managing Partner at Big Intel Group, a strategic AI advisory firm specializing in training, consulting, and implementation. With a career spanning leadership, technology, and innovation, John has personally trained over 4,000 individuals and 40 executive teams on the practical applications of artificial intelligence. His work focuses on bridging the gap between AI theory and operational execution, helping organizations across industries future-proof their workforce and strategy. A dynamic speaker with deep technical fluency, John delivers insights that are as actionable as they are thought-provoking.

Todd Hillman joined MISO in 2004 and leads all of the organization’s customer and external affairs activities. He and his team drive MISO’s commitment to a quality experience for members, employees and stakeholders. As vice president and South Region executive in Little Rock, Hillman oversaw the successful integration of the MISO South Region. The
introduction of the Entergy system across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas made it the largest integration in RTO history.

Hillman is a veteran customer and business development executive with proven leadership in corporate strategy, product origination, project coordination, customer management and marketing and development. 

Lenny Krebs just completed his 9th season as the head girls basketball coach at Warsaw Community High School. He was named the IBCA District 1 Coach of the Year, and the coach of the 2025 Indiana Junior All-Stars. A 1991 graduate of Fairfield, Lenny went to Illinois Valley Community College for two years, where he was named third-team all-conference and won the team’s Most Inspirational Award. He earned a master’s degree in education from Indiana Wesleyan in 2006. Lenny was born with a profound hearing loss, yet excelled not just in the classroom but on the court as well. A little less than 5 years ago he had cochlear implant surgery and it was a life changing moment. He shares his journey through the challenges of coaching and overcoming obstacles in a way all can relate.

Cindy has more than 45 years of experience in environmental planning and energy facility development, including routing, siting, permitting, and construction in compliance with federal, state, county and local regulations and policies. A focus throughout her career has been integrating agency coordination and public engagement into environmental planning and permitting to support effective and meaningful outcomes. Cindy has managed projects of various sizes, complexity and controversy—from large-scale, regional, multi-state interdisciplinary studies to smaller-scale area- and/or site-specific analyses, incorporating public outreach and engagement programs tailored to the needs of each project.

Jeff Conrad came to Wabash Valley Power Alliance in 1999 and has served in various leadership roles, including Chief Operating Officer, before being named President & Chief Executive Officer in 2022. As CEO, Jeff is responsible for leading the organization and keeping the board informed related to all functions of the company including operations, legislation, regulations, future planning and provides recommendations to the board on policy matters. Jeff came to Wabash Valley Power from Cinergy’s Energy Commodity Business Unit and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting in 1990 and a Master of Business Administration in 1995, both from the University of Indianapolis. An avid athlete, Jeff was a college tennis player and has completed many marathons, including the Boston Marathon.

As Executive Vice President of Power Supply, Matt plans and implements WVPA’s power supply strategy and portfolio development while overseeing the risk management process. He also supports and implements our wholesale market operations and purchased power agreements to meet the long-term needs of our member co-ops.
Before joining us in September 2020, Matt worked for ACES Power Marketing in Carmel as Vice President of Regulatory and Reliability Services. He also held the position of Executive Director of Portfolio Strategy to develop and implement hedging policies for ACES members based on each organization’s distinct risk tolerance. He was one of the first system operators at ACES and actually worked with Wabash Valley Power on our legacy demand response program, so he was familiar with the WVPA member cooperatives before coming on board.
Matt earned his MBA from Indiana State University and his bachelor’s degree in Industrial Technology from Purdue University. When not watching the energy markets, Matt spends time with his wife watching their girls dance. He belongs to a CrossFit gym and also enjoys pretending to be a good golfer when the weather cooperates.

Bill Conley is the President & CEO of Boone Power (formerly Boone REMC) in Lebanon, Indiana. During his 28-year career at the cooperative, he has managed administrative and technical functions, as well as member and corporate services. He serves on several committees for Indiana Electric Cooperatives and Wabash Valley Power Alliance. Additionally, he is a member of the board of directors for Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, United Utility Supply, and Home National Bank. He previously served on the boards of the Boone County Economic Development Corporation and the Lebanon Educational Foundation. Bill holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Evansville and an MBA from Butler University. He also has earned the Credentialed Cooperative Director and the Board Leadership Certificates from NRECA. Bill enjoys spending time, and traveling with, his family and watching sports.

Dr. Rita Fields is an owner and co-founded of 313 Indisutries, INC and CEO of Copper Phoenix Consulting, LLC. She serves as the Chief Talent & Strategy Officer for Light House Michigan. She is faculty at the University of Michigan (Flint) School and Management and an instructor for the Society for Human Resources Management. Dr. Fields was selected to be a presenter at TEDx Detroit in 2015 and was featured speaker at the Detroit Policy Conference in 2017. In addition to many more honorariums, she is a dynamic speaker with her transparent commitment to sharing her story of struggle and resilience. 

Gary Varvel is a national award-winning, internationally syndicated editorial cartoonist through Creators Syndicate in Los Angeles. He currently writes the Varvel's Views From The Right newsletter on Substack. Varvel was born in Indianapolis in 1957, graduated from Danville High School in Danville, IN, studied at John Herron School of Art (IUPUI), worked for 40 years for Indianapolis Newspapers Inc where he was The Star's editorial cartoonist for 24 years and was inducted into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame in 2015. His cartoons have appeared on Fox News and in Newsweek, Time, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New York Post, USA Today, Washington Times, National Review and Sports Illustrated. Varvel is also the chairman of the board of House of Grace Films and co-writer and producer of the films,