The Energy Conversation: Round Three

## Details

Two rooms in, and the same thing keeps surfacing: Bend has serious energy talent, and the connections between them are still forming.

On September 9th, we're bringing together senior energy operators, utility leaders, founders, investors, and experienced builders for an evening of lightning talks and curated introductions. Round three. Same bar, sharper focus.

Rita Hansen opens with something worth showing up for. Oregon proves energy technology and then watches the companies commercializing it headquarter somewhere else. There's a live proposal to change that, with Central Oregon at the center of it.

No panels. No passive networking. No buzzword theater. Just real conversations from people doing the work.

## What to Expect

• Three lightning talks — one on the Center of Innovation Excellence proposal, two from the community
• Curated introductions before and after the talks, so you walk in knowing exactly who you should meet and why
• Food and drinks while the conversations keep going
• A room where serious work happens in an unserious setting

### The Curation Is the Differentiator

We use a matching algorithm that ingests public and private attendee inputs to surface the three most valuable connections for each person in the room. Everyone walks in knowing who they should talk to and why. No awkward cold networking. Just tighter, more productive conversations with the right people.

### Pitch a Lightning Talk

One slot is set. The other two are open to anyone in the room. Submit a topic here: https://forms.gle/8zwhFgReD8YYnXkRA.

These are insight-sharing, not sales — a recent learning, a shift you're seeing in the industry, a problem you've wrestled with. If you've got something worth five minutes and this room's attention, put it forward.

## The Speakers

Rita Hansen
Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Central Oregon Innovation Hub (EDCO)

Rita spent 11 years as CEO of Onboard Dynamics, an ARPA-E awardee commercializing natural gas compression technology, and brings 35+ years of executive management across energy, manufacturing, and technology startups. She now leads innovation and entrepreneurship for EDCO, connecting Central Oregon founders to technical assistance, capital, and the resources that help companies get built here.

Two more speakers to be announced.
Submit a topic before September 9th here: https://forms.gle/8zwhFgReD8YYnXkRA

## Why Attend

• Connect with senior energy professionals who are actively building, investing, and making decisions in the region
• Walk away with three targeted introductions to the people most relevant to what you're working on
• Understand what a state-designated energy innovation center would mean for Central Oregon, and where it stands
• Be part of the conversation that keeps putting Bend on the energy map

## Who Should Apply

This event is designed for people doing meaningful work across the energy ecosystem: power generation, transmission, and distribution; solar, wind, storage, fuel cells; microgrids, grid software, and energy data platforms; utilities, independent power producers, and energy policy; cleantech investors and advisors; AI and data center operators navigating energy demand.

Titles matter less than depth of experience, quality of perspective, and willingness to engage honestly. This room is designed for people doing real work and willing to share what's actually happening, not just what sounds good.

This is an invite-only event with a simple application process. We're curating for seniority, diversity of perspective, and genuine expertise.

Format: A two-hour evening starting at 5:30 PM with curated introductions, lightning talks, and networking over food and drinks.

Tickets: $35 (includes food and drinks). Your ticket is reserved once your application is accepted.

Venue: TBA in Bend.

## Partners & Sponsors

Event Sponsors:

• Your company — Your name

Sponsoring this event puts your company in the room with senior energy professionals actively shaping Central Oregon’s energy future. There's also a larger opportunity: sponsoring the WTT Energy Track itself, covering September 9th plus quarterly events through 2027. Reach out to John McMahon at [jpmcmahon@gmail.com](mailto:jpmcmahon@gmail.com).

## Apply Now

Space is intentionally limited. Apply here: https://forms.gle/8zwhFgReD8YYnXkRA

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