CHARGE Energy Branding North America
June 1-2 | The Royal Sonesta, Houston TX
After speaking to more than fifty of the US energy industry’s most influential executives and decision makers, we’re proud to present what we believe to be sessions that reflect the most pressing, challenging issues facing the industry while offering insights into its greatest opportunities.
The CHARGE agenda showcases an array of peer-led keynotes, panels, workshops, and in-depth masterclasses to give you the tools you need to succeed. Explore proven and innovative brand strategies from across the US and European energy markets to position your business for success.
To discuss speaking in the program or sponsoring a session, you should reach us at andrew@charge.events.
FIVE MAJOR AGENDA THEMES
After speaking with more than thirty energy retailers and utilities in an intensive market research process, we are supremely confident that the major themes and topics covered by CHARGE Energy Branding Europe will attract +300 major REP, utilities and key energy decision makers this October 11-13.
Leverage Digital Innovation to Rethink CX – Innovate with data-driven customer experiences to acquire and retain end-users, and deliver on the net-zero transition
Embrace Ecosystem Disruption with eMobility – Understand how social electrification and disruption is enabling new business opportunities for proactive energy brands
Supercharge Your Brands Sustainable Storytelling – Align your ESG strategy to meet rising user expectations and take advantage of authentic, accountable sustainable narratives to enhance your marketing and stakeholder management
Unlock Reputation Transformation – Explore how the world’s most valuable and influential energy companies have repositioned their brand identities around innovative, low carbon and decentralized economies
Differentiate Your Brand Identity with Partnerships – Explore the future-proofing benefits of strategic partnerships between utilities, retailers, vehicle OEMs and renewable energy developers, as the energy marketplace continues its rapid redesign
Our agenda challenges energy executives to think differently, and do differently, to optimize their brand, scale their business and ultimately influence their ability to deliver the sustainable energy transition.
From 09:00
To 09:10
May 31st - 6.30PM Pre-Registration & Welcome Reception Sponsored by ESG
Skip the Day 1 Registration Queue and have a couple of refreshments on us!
Join us in the exhibition area for our networking drinks, to celebrate new connections and break down silos to share gained insights with your industry peers.
From 07:30
To 08:00
June 1st Registration & Exhibition Opens
Join us to formally open the CHARGE Energy Branding North America 2022 exhibition, including booths from EC Infosystems, a VertexOne Company, ESG, Escalent, CG Infinity, V3 Energy & Technology, Customized Energy Solutions, Sales Focus, Tally Group, and Utility Rescue.
From 08:00
To 08:45
Breakfast & Networking
Join us in the Exhibition Area for a cup of coffee and a light breakfast for an energizer and a networking opportunity before we head into the Conference Room.
From 08:45
To 09:00
Welcome Remarks
Meet your hosts as they reveal the idea behind CHARGE and hear what we’ve learned developing an all-new platform for knowledge, networking, and best practice for global energy brands!
Then we’ll give you some top tips for making the most out of the event and give you a full preview of the very best content on offer this week!
Thanks for joining us for CHARGE Energy Branding Conference North America (June 1-2) – it’s going to be a blast!
Dr Fridrik Larsen, Founder, CHARGE Energy Branding/brandr
Bjartur Guðmundsson, Actor, Speaker, Trainer, Optimized Performance ehf.
From 09:00
To 09:15
[KEYNOTE] Don the hero's cape; why does your brand matter?
- Rethink your influence and feel empowered as an agent of innovation, inspirer of action and hero of the energy transition. What’s more, we’ll explore your immense power and opportunity to drive transformational change.
- Finally, we’ll assess your capacity as an internal brand advocate and learn how to embrace emotional, socially driven storytelling to supercharge your impact.
Colin Mangham, Chief Communications Officer and Bioinspired Brand Builder, Morpho Energy
From 09:15
To 09:30
[FIRESIDE] Unlock your brand purpose to navigate the energy transition
- As we navigate to a decarbonized, decentralized and digitized energy market, how do brands have to adapt to meet fast-changing social, political and regulatory expectations for the future role of major investor-owned utilities?
- Further, we’ll explore how energy companies are responding to both challengers and market disruption wholesale.
- Further, we’ll discuss how board-level brand leaders are awakening to the value of brand innovation, benchmarking and the importance of delivering customer-centric energy products and services and an ever more competitive energy landscape.
Deryl Brown, Executive Chairman, Atlantic Energy
From 09:35
To 09:55
[KEYNOTE] Digital empowerment and your bottom line
- Non-energy experiences, especially digital ones, increasingly shape modern consumer attitudes. As a result, consumers expect far greater agency and control than ever before, and energy markets have been racing to catch up.
- What tangible value is digital empowerment driving for your business? Furthermore, what level of control and transparency is meaningful enough to strengthen a brand?
McKenzie Meek, Market Strategy Manager, EC Infosystems a VertexOne Company
From 10:00
To 10:30
[PANEL] Lessons learned at the frontline of the nuclear renaissance
- The nuclear industry in North America has been on the cusp of a new renaissance for over a decade, still, current events have catalysed interest in nuclear as a vital tool in securing energy security like never before.
- Take the chance to reflect on lessons learned on the front line of one of the most complex challenges marketers and brand leaders have every faced, rehabilitating, and spurring investment in nuclear.
- Review the specific challenges of laying the foundations for SMR licensing and deployment, where grassroots consumer engagement will be critical to their eventual success and establishing of vital new modular supply chains.
(Mod) Jon Wentzel, VP Communications, Nuclear Energy Institute
Scott Vance, VP Corporate Governance & General Counsel, Energy Northwest
Diane Hughes, VP Marketing & Communications, NuScale
From 10:35
To 10:50
[FIRESIDE] Discovering the power of brand values in utility-scale solar
- As a utility scale solar developer, ibV spent their early years avoiding the limelight. Only recently, due to external events, and diversifying their customer base to include Oil & Gas businesses, have they awoken to the value and challenges of strengthening their reputation and brand strategy.
- Explore, why did brand and reputation suddenly become a core priority for the business?
- Discover the unique approaches ibV have taken to leverage their brand, marketing, and storytelling to influence and transform attitudes to renewables in previously siloed fossil fuel markets.
Timothy Kim, Chief Executive Officer, ibV Energy Partners
From 10:50
To 11:20
Coffee Break Networking & Exhibition
Join us in the exhibition area for a short break between sessions, to refill and make critical connections with key brand leaders and energy pioneers.
From 11.20
To 12:50
[WORKSHOP] Forge a brand pledge for CX excellence
Participate in an engaging breakout session delivered in the main conference room, as we take in a key executive panel, roundtables then final concluding panel.
- Part 1 (Panel 25mins): Delivering excellent customer service, experiences, and consumer protections are critical for retailers and utilities. What’s more, they’re essential for establishing strong brand identities that resonate with consumers and are vital to reducing churn. So why is it so difficult for retailers to differentiate excellence from normality? Further, we’ll consider; what do 5 STAR services, experiences, and protections look like in energy? What should be the criteria for excellence? And how often do we need to prove it?
- Part 2 (Roundtables 25mins): Breakout into roundtable to debate, how should retailers measure and benchmark their progress towards excellent brand health and consumer satisfaction? Are existing tools (NPS, JD Power Surveys, Google Reviews) powerful enough to prove excellence? What further examples of 5 STAR experiences can you share with your peers?
- Part 3 (Panel 25mins): Finally, debate whether an external body is required to collate and verify the authenticity of the submitted data? If so, how might they do so? If so, and retailers are to submit data to a 3rd party, what data, metrics and KPIs are they willing to make available?
(Mod) Young Kim, Principal, Energy Research Consulting Group
DeAnna Hardwick, Interim Executive Vice President of Customer Strategy, CPS Energy
Zac Lowder, EVP New Markets, Inspire Clean Energy
Brian Armentrout, Senior Marketing Director, Chariot Energy
James Smith, VP Marketing & Advertising, Energy Harbor
From 12:50
To 14:00
Lunch Break Networking & Exhibition
Join us in the exhibition area for a lunch break between sessions, to refill and make critical connections with key brand leaders and energy pioneers.
From 14:00
To 14:15
[KEYNOTE] How digitization is already harnessing innovation and driving competition
Digital Transformation: ESG Data Scientist George Behr reports his findings on many challenges of digitization and integration in current energy stacks, and how agile platform ecosystems help empower and unleash innovation.
George Behr, Data Scientist, ESG
From 14:20
To 14:50
[PANEL] Product-centric marketing; your brand in their home
- Based on data from the Cogent Syndicated Texas REP Trusted Brand Study, we’ll explore the market dynamics for home energy management offerings, and trends that highlight changing consumer interest and expectations for technology and product bundles
- Evaluate the importance of brand vs. product offerings in achieving differentiation in a crowded marketplace.
- Discuss the measurable impact of brand perception in supporting your customer acquisition and retention efforts.
KC Boyce, VP Energy Practice, Escalent
Scott Tjaden, Product Development Manager for Smart Home and Carbon-Free Energy Products, Constellation Energy
From 14:55
To 15:10
[FIRESIDE] Financing the Retail Energy Evolution
- Necessity (Consumer Value)
- Viability (Technological, Regulatory and Economic)
- Scale (Niche or Mass Market?)
J. Scott Perry, Chief Executive Officer, V3 Energy & Technology
From 15:15
To 15:45
[PANEL] Building a cleaner world through marketing and product partnerships
- Customers increasingly expect a cleaner world, but to what extent can we transform behaviours, habits and attitudes to energy use through innovative marketing and product partnerships?
- Further, we’ll examine how energy brands create brand equity by showing thought leadership on transformational energy habits, either by education, community engagement or CX gamification.
- Finally, we’ll debate the role operational and CX improvements in retail and a powerful tool to support the continued electrification of society, mobility and services.
(Mod) Rob Cantrell, President, Utility Rescue Holdings
Scott Burns, VP Innovation, Customer Experience, Partnerships, & Market Intelligence, NRG
Jamie Staples, Business Development Lead, Nest, Google
From 15:45
To 16:10
Coffee Break Networking & Exhibition
Join us in the exhibition area for a short break between sessions, to refill and make critical connections with key brand leaders and energy pioneers.
From 16:10
To 16:40
[PANEL] Two decades in; technological disruption in retail energy
- After two decades of deregulation of energy in about half the US, the products offered to customers are changing dramatically. Primarily driven by software, new TOU products, load shedding, and self-generation products are changing what it means to compete and are adding new customer value.
- Join us to reflect on the challenge ahead and explore how critical lessons learned can be deployed to develop the modern, customer-centric energy companies of the future.
(Mod) Jim Smelley, CEO/ Co-founder, Thought Ensemble & Board Member, CyberGroup
John Burke, Former CTO/Co-founder, Ambit Energy
Chaitu Parikh, President & Head of Retail Energy, David Energy
Victor Howard, Chief Marketing Officer, Shell Energy Solutions / MP2 Energy
From 16:45
To 17:15
[PANEL] What does a future proofed energy company look like?
- Considering the broad spectrum of topics today, our panellists will be asked to consider how innovation informs their brand, but also how their brand approach and consumer touchpoints influence their journey towards a digitized, decarbonized, smarter and more flexible future.
- Moreover, we’ll question how energy companies can balance, and reconcile the need to innovate at speed, with ensuring they continue to meet rising consumer expectations for service and experience.
- We’ll go further still to examine the unique narrative and communications challenges faced by energy technology (EnTech) companies in supporting the rollout of electric vehicles and grid electrification.
(Mod) Dr Fridrik Larsen, Founder, CHARGE Energy Branding/brandr
Natasha Crowe, Head of Marketing & PR, Octopus Energy
Craig Tropea, VP Sales and Marketing, Customized Energy Solutions
Steven Murray, Co-Founder, Firefly Energy Solutions
From 17:20
To 17:50
[PANEL] Touchpoints to trustpoints in an electrified society.
- What does the entrance of new players, and asset types, into the energy ecosystem mean for the future of customer-centric retail?
- Social electrification, particularly around transportation and intelligent homes, creates all-new touchpoints for energy companies to capitalize on; but how do we ensure that digital design experiences promote trust in addition to engagement?
- To what extent can EnTechs harness new data points to build dynamic product offerings that respond to the flexibility of customer needs and expectations?
(Mod) Maura Yates, Co-founder, Mothership Energy Group
Dana Guernsey, Chief Product Officer, Voltus Inc
Tom McGinn, Head of Business Intelligence, Energywell
Matt Adams, Senior Managing Director – Energy Structuring, Priority Power
Graeme Walker, Chief Executive Officer, Abacus Energy
Maggie Clancy, Chief Commercial Officer, Levo Mobility
From 17:50
Networking Drinks & Exhibition
Join us in the exhibition area for our networking drinks, to celebrate new connections and break down silos to share gained insights with your industry peers.
From 07:30
To 08:00
June 2nd Registration & Exhibition Opens
Join us for a cup of coffee and to welcome day two of the CHARGE Energy Branding North America 2022 exhibition, including booths from EC Infosystems, a VertexOne Company, ESG, Escalent, CG Infinity, V3 Energy & Technology, Customized Energy Solutions, Sales Focus, Tally Group, and Utility Rescue.
From 08:00
To 08:45
Breakfast & Networking
Join us in the Exhibition Area for a cup of coffee and a light breakfast for an energizer and a networking opportunity before we head into the Conference Room.
From 08:45
To 09:00
Welcome Remarks
To open the day, Bjartur will set the stage for another exciting day at CHARGE Energy Branding North America!
Bjartur Guðmundsson, Actor, Speaker, Trainer, Optimized Performance ehf.
From 09:00
To 09:30
[PANEL] Fine-tune operations to supercharge customer engagement value
Continuous improvement and an eye towards cutting inefficiency will be essential to optimizing your business, but how confident are you in the technologies and processes at your disposal, whilst ensuring that you’ve optimized all consumer engagement touchpoints?
In a new session, examine perspectives from major retailers (residential & C&I) as they assess the value and utility of the latest tools available for increasing operations efficiency, streamlining processes, eliminating waste whilst balancing greater CX returns.
Andreya Shaak, VP Product Management, EC Infosystems – a VertexOne company
Shannon Binns, Director of Remittance & Collections, ENGIE
Lindsey Margiotta, Chief Operating Officer, True Power
Don Whaley, President, OhmConnect Energy
From 09:35
To 09:50
[FIRESIDE] Radical collaboration to drive change
- How utilities and energy providers [Sunrun] can work together to deploy more distributed energy resources
- How radical collaboration leads to a better customer experience
- How collaboration and partnerships will accelerate the electrification of the home and transportation
- How radical collaboration benefits all parties (customers, utilities, policy, other providers)
Mary Powell, CEO, Sunrun
From 09:55
To 10:10
[KEYNOTE] Is ESG the not-so secret sauce to establishing trust in your brand?
- First seen at Davos, review global research findings on the relationship between Environment, Social, and Governance dimensions and Trust
- Explore tangible ways these findings can be applied to the retail energy market
- Learn from other industries how best to create, retain, and grow trust in your brand
Dr Fridrik Larsen, Founder, CHARGE Energy Branding/brandr
From 10:15
To 10:30
[PRESENTATION] Behind a logo: How to approach a rebrand and the case of Amigo Energy.
- Why rebrand and why now? Taking a look at the origins of the Amigo Energy brand and the decision to rebrand.
- We’ll talk about how we developed our brand style and some ideas that didn’t make the cut.
- Let’s discuss what it means to create brand authenticity in a crowded energy market and how we went deeper into our brand roots to pave a way for our future.
Bridget Flanagan, Marketing Director, Just Energy
From 10:30
To 11:00
Coffee Break Networking & Exhibition
Join us in the exhibition area for a short break between sessions, to refill and make critical connections with key brand leaders and energy pioneers.
From 11:00
To 11:30
[PANEL] National Electric Highway: A Pathway to Clean Energy Future
- Learn about the key barriers to building a national and regional electricity highway infrastructure.
- How could high penetration of EV affect grid planning and operations and what advanced technologies are needed to facilitate seamless integration of EVs and without compromising reliability, resilience and affordability?
- Explore how to support a positive and consistent customer experience around EV charging etc.
(Mod) Lawrence Jones, VP International Programs, Edison Electric Institute
Huma Seth, Director of Clean Transportation Commercial Programs, Xcel Energy
David Owen, Manager – Clean Air Technologies, CenterPoint Energy
From 11:35
To 11:50
[FIRESIDE] Energy Transition and the Customer: Powering More Possibilities
We are in a three part Energy Transition – the rise of renewables, adoption of distributed generation and the adoption of EVs. The transition is being driven by both changing customer preferences as well as easier access to solutions that meet these needs. Energy companies are uniquely positioned to help consumers navigate the transition and power more possibilities for them.
- How and why are consumer preferences changing?
- What possibilities does this provide to energy companies and what can they do around renewables, distributed generation and EV adoption to meet their needs?
- What are barriers to powering these possibilities?
Sam Sen, Vice President of Vistra & TXU Solutions, Vistra
From 11:55
To 12:10
[PRESENTATION] Enabling grid transformation with reputation management
- Explore how IPPs are speaking to the challenge and complexity of proving ESG authenticity to various stakeholder groups.
- Debate the value of “brand” and “reputation” to energy companies, and examine how reputation influences stakeholder management skill sets that are so critical to project delivery.
- Lessons learnt from the recently completed construction of the largest single phase wind energy project in the Americas and its 155-mile HVDC transmission line.
Beth O’Brien, Director, External Affairs and Sustainability, Pattern Energy
From 12:10
To 13:30
Lunch Break Networking & Exhibition
Join us in the exhibition area for a lunch break between sessions, to refill and make critical connections with key brand leaders and energy pioneers.
From 13:30
To 14:00
[FIRESIDE] Meeting clean expectations in C&I energy markets
- Take the opportunity to reflect on changing expectations for clean energy by major C&Is, particularly as their behaviour will influence the attitudes and urgency of clean energy procurement in Scope 2 supply chains.
- Explore the extent to which corporate CSOs, investors and the public feel more empowered to demand delivery on the sustainable energy transition, and the value of your brand as a tool in meeting and managing those expectations.
- Review the role of energy companies in future, as energy managers, in an ever more complex and sensitive energy ecosystem.
Deborah Merril, President Retail, EDF
Jeff Hanson, Senior Director, Energy Supply Chain, Digital Realty
From 14:05
To 14:35
[PANEL] How are high-carbon sectors responding to the challenge of ESG in action?
- Major oil and gas companies recognize the need to meet public, policy and investor expectations on long-term sustainability. So join us to explore how they’re embracing ESG values to measure, report and communicate on critical metrics, risk mitigation, investor relations and corporate vision achievement.
- What’s more, we’ll tackle how ESG adds corporate value to carbon technology companies whilst exploring the challenges of promoting success on sustainability for fossil fuel majors and their energy service providers.
(Mod) Bruce Crager, Executive Vice President, Endeavor Management
Niloy Shah, Chief Operating Officer, Ridgewood Energy
Aditya Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Promethean Energy
From 14:40
To 15:05
[WORKSHOP] The power of sound in brand identity for Energy Brand
- You might not realise it, but the best brands use sound as a critical part of their branding – just think of how satisfying the sound of cold can of coke or beer is.
- Sound plays an important role in their way customers develop emotional connections and reactions to brands, so how can you brand benefit from a better sonic awareness and strategy for sound?
- Attend this workshop to understand why sound matters and how you can leverage sound to boost your brand
Michael Boumendil, President, Sixieme Son
From 15:10
To 15:25
[PANEL] Phoenix Rising – How will you do different before CHARGE Energy Branding Week 2023?
This has been one of the most challenging and disruptive years in recent memory, but the presentations from the past two days have given us hope that the energy industry can seize the moment to finally deliver the sustainable energy transition.
Take the time to reflect on your learnings, takeaways and best practices and set yourself an aspirational goal for this time next year.
Think carefully… because we will be checking up on you!
(Mod) Mohsin Hassan, President & COO, Sunrise Energy Holdings LLC
Deborah Merril, President Retail, EDF
Carolien Oey, Brand Director, Enlit
Dung Tran, CEO, Varsity Energy
