Day 2 >> Future Grid Builders
Future Grid Builders served 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 showcased the impact of ARL to Scale, demonstrated how partners are advancing real deployment pathways, and charted a shared vision for building the grid of the future.
Future Grid Builders at Duke Energy
7:30
Arrival and check in, light breakfast and networking
8:30
Welcome and introductions
Ryan Rutledge, Executive Director - Joules Accelerator
8:40
Keynote: How Networks Supercharge Adoption
Vanessa Chan, Vice Dean of Innovation & Entrepreneurship - University of Pennsylvania Engineering
9:00
Utility Pitch 1: Southern Company
Andy Phillips, Principal, Business Development - Southern Company
9:10
Transforming the Grid: Pilot to Deployment
Nathan White, Director of Energy & Infrastructure - Guidehouse
Gabriel Regus, Senior Grid Technology Innovation Manager - Puget Sound Energy
Jason Krupp, Senior Program Manager of Technology Partnerships - TVA
Rich Gray, Innovation Director - S&C Electric Company
9:55
Utility Pitch 2: Xcel Energy
Matthew Tillman, Innovation Technology Consultant - Xcel Energy
10:05
The Customer's Role in Shaping Innovation Pathways
Jaideep Malik, Managing Director, Power, Utilities & Renewables Sector - EY Parthenon
Meghan Dewey, SVP, Products & Services and Pricing Solutions - Duke Energy
Robin Lanier, Managing Director, Grid Strategy and Solutions - Georgia Power
10:50
Utility Pitch 3: Duke Energy
Ashley Coleman, Manager, Technology Development - Duke Energy
11:00
The Next Decade: NSF Engine for Grid Modernization in the Carolinas
Kristina Johnson, Co-founder and Managing Partner - Catalyzer Ventures
Zachary Kuznar, Managing Director of Grid Solution Development - Duke Energy
Rob Cox, Executive Director - UNC Charlotte EPIC
Ryan Rutledge, Executive Director - Joules Accelerator
11:45
Closing Remarks
12:00
Networking
1:00
Event concludes