The 2025 TennComm Conference will be held Tuesday, April 22 through Friday, April 25 at The Lodge at Camp Margaritaville in Pigeon Forge. This event allows co-op communication, marketing and member service personnel the opportunity to share ideas with peers and learn from industry leaders.
*Agenda subject to change
Tuesday, April 22
| 1:00 p.m. | Networking Activities Golf and photo safari |
| 6:00 p.m. | Duck Pin bowling A fun get acquainted activity at Camp Margaritaville |
Wednesday, April 23
| 11:00 a.m. | Registration Opens |
| 1:00 p.m. | Welcome and Logistics |
| 1:15 p.m. | Are Electric Co-ops Still Relevant? A discussion of the enduring power of the co-op business model Joe Arnold, Kentucky Electric Cooperatives |
| 2:15 p.m. | All I Know is What I Know A veteran co-op communicator shares some truths, tactics and techniques for bringing your A game to work every day Donna Abernathy, DLF Communications |
| 3:00 p.m. | Break |
| 3:15 p.m. | Call to Order: A discussion on Co-op Annual Meetings |
| 4:00 p.m. | Introduction of Exhibitors |
| 4:15 p.m. | Reception Visit with vendors and network with peers |
Thursday, April 24
| 7:00 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 8:00 a.m. | Do the Next Right Thing: Lessons in Co-op Governance and Transparency Former investigative journalist and South Carolina Reporter of the Year and current Vice President of Communications for the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, Avery Wilks discusses his career and his new-found appreciation for electric cooperatives |
| 9:00 a.m. | Dream Big: The Future of Youth Programs |
| 10:00 a.m. | Break |
| 10:15 a.m. | Updates from TECA and The Tennessee Magazine |
| 11:00 a.m. | Member Panel Discussion |
| 12:00 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1:00 p.m. | Open Discussion Updates from each co-op about issues and new projects |
| 2:30 p.m. | Break |
| 2:45 p.m. | For King and Country (and State) TECA’s Ryan King provides an update on legislation that will impact co-ops in the coming year |
| 3:30 p.m. | Breakouts Harnessing A.I. to Increase Productivity Joel Norris, TECA TVA Energy Efficiency Program Update Mallory Grant, Demand Management and Support Specialist, TVA Energy Right Canva and Can’tva: What’s Possible and What’s Not Nicole Christensen and Amber Weaver, TECA |
| 5:30 p.m. | Group Dinner Join TECA for a group dinner with colleagues from across the state |
| 8:30 p.m. | Campfire and S’mores Close out the day around the campfire with beverages and s’mores |
Friday, April 25
| 7:00 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 8:00 a.m. | Current Clicks: Best Practices for Co-op Websites TECA’s Joel Norris shares tips and tricks to elevate your co-op’s web presence. |
| 9:00 a.m. | Time Well Spent: Values Driven Time Management Cynthia Ghosten, TVA Leadership Development |
| 10:00 a.m. | Break |
| 10:15 a.m. | Storytelling in the Digital Age Matt Mitchell, star of the “It’s A Southern Thing,” “SEC Roll Call” and “Bless Your Rank” viral video series, joins TECA to provide the closing keynote address. Mitchell has written and produced more than 100 comedy sketches which have over 2 billion – yes, billion – views on Facebook and YouTube. His sketch “If Genies Were Southern” won the 2021 People’s Choice Webby Award for Shortform Comedy Video, and he has two Emmy nominations for writing and hosting. Mitchell demonstrates his ability to create content that connects with audiences in unique ways in videos like “Dollar General is Out of Control,” “How Every Small Town is Made” and “Southern Math is Tricky.” Mitchell will discuss “Storytelling in the Digital Age,” sharing his extensive experience creating authenticity, building community, adapting tradition to technology, navigating stereotypes and blending humor and heart. |
| 11:00 a.m. | Door prizes and Adjourn |
