The bright lights of Las Vegas, and even brighter ideas offered at TECHADVANTAGE 2007, are sure to be a hit with utility industry professionals. Electric cooperative workers are lining up to attend the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association's (NRECA's) TechAdvantage 2007 Conference and Expo, to take center stage at the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel and Las Vegas Convention Center. The conference will be held March 16-18, while the expo will run March 17-20.

Attendees — whether they are in management, engineering, operations, information and technology, or supply and purchasing — are sure to take back valuable information and solutions to their electric cooperatives.

CONFERENCE AND EXPO

For those seeking extra learning opportunities, a variety of preconference workshops will be held March 15 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Attendees can choose from these sessions:

• Supply Chain Management Certificate Series, Unit III

• Downline Automation; Distribution System Planning

• Negotiation Skills; Implementing Open Source Software Applications

• Wind Technology Update; Geothermal Generation

• MultiSpeak Integrator Training

• Software Integration Forum Featuring MultiSpeak.

As for regular conference sessions, these will be centered on three customizable tracks: Engineering and Operations, Information Technology and Supply Management. More than 70 sessions will be dedicated to emerging technologies and practices. There will also be sessions on strategies to reduce costs, enhance reliability and increase service quality. Some sessions will be peer-to-peer forums to enhance the exchange of ideas, and others will contain case studies of lessons learned from inside and outside the industry.

A nice segue from the conference to the expo will be the TechAdvantage Expo Gala Grand Opening Celebration, taking place March 17 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. With more than 225 exhibitors, the expo provides a valuable opportunity to see the multitude of products and services designed to make electric co-ops more successful. Attendees can make the most of their time at the expo by asking questions and exchanging information with industry giants, entrepreneurs and peers.

TECHNOLOGY SHOWCASE

Adding to the already expansive expo, TechAdvantage's Technology Showcase offers attendees the chance to see how the latest and greatest technologies from exhibiting companies can benefit electric co-ops. The Technology Showcase will take place inside the exhibition hall on March 18 from 9 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., with a complimentary brunch.

The half-day educational program will be comprised of four Tech Tracks, featuring five 30-minute presentations focused on a technology at the forefront of co-op interest. The Tech Tracks explore consumer-focused technology, information technology and operations technology.

Attendees can also hear winners of the 2007 Cooperative Research Network's Innovators Award present their innovative technology solutions at the Technology Showcase.

SPECIAL EVENTS

In addition to the packed education schedule, there will be plenty of special events and entertainment for colleagues to network and enjoy themselves. To register for the conference and expo, visit www.techadvantage.org.