Day 2 >> Future Grid Builders
Future Grid Builders serves as the executive-focused culmination of the event series, highlighting the utilities, corporate leaders, and innovation partners shaping the next era of grid modernization. This capstone event at Duke Energy Plaza will showcase the impact of ARL to Scale, demonstrate how partners are advancing real deployment pathways, and chart a shared vision for building the grid of the future.
Part 1 - Duke Energy
Location:
525 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC
Date:
July 28, 2026
Time:
8:00AM - 12:00PM
Capacity:
200
7:30
Arrival and check in, light breakfast and networking
8:30
Welcome and introductions
8:40
Keynote: How Networks Supercharge Adoption
Vanessa Chan, Vice Dean of Innovation & Entrepreneurship - Penn Engineering
9:00
Utility Pitch 1: Southern Company
Andy Phillips, Principal, Business Development - Southern Company
9:10
CTO Roundtable: Idea to Pilot for the Advanced Grid
Claudia Cosoreanu, Chief Technology Officer, Grid Automation - GE Vernova
Debrup Das, Head of Renewables, North America - Hitachi Energy
9:55
Utility Pitch 2: Xcel Energy
Matthew Tillman, Innovation Technology Consultant - Xcel Energy
10:05
The Case for Rethinking Utility Innovation Strategies
Mila Hunt, Strategy Office Director - GE Vernova
Meghan Dewey, SVP, Products & Services and Pricing Solutions - Duke Energy
Robin Lanier, Managing Director, Grid Strategy & Solutions - Georgia Power Company
10:50
Utility Pitch 3: Duke Energy
Ashley Coleman, Manager, Technology Development - Duke Energy
11:00
The Future Grid is Now
Ryan Rutledge, Executive Director - Joules Accelerator
Sasha Weintraub, EVP & Chief Customer Officer - Duke Energy
Rob Cox, Executive Director - UNC Charlotte EPIC
11:45
Closing Remarks
12:00
Event Concludes
12:15
Optional adhoc lunch gathering