Powerful Sponsors 2025 NRECA CONNECT Conference, Highlights Digital Leadership, Collaboration, and a Case Study on Utility Web Strategy in Kansas City, Missouri
At the heart of public power storytelling, Powerful champions human-centered design and cooperative partnerships in Kansas City.
KANSAS CITY, MO — Powerful, a digital partner dedicated exclusively to utility organizations, proudly sponsored the 2025 NRECA CONNECT Conference, a cornerstone event in the electric cooperative communications community. Held in Kansas City, Missouri, this year’s conference drew more than 100 communications professionals from electric co-ops across the United States. Over the course of several days, these attendees explored the future of storytelling, brand strategy, digital transformation, and cooperative engagement—and Powerful was right there in the middle of the action.
As part of its sponsorship, Powerful contributed custom-branded conference lanyards, offering a welcoming and cohesive touch to the event experience while helping attendees stay connected throughout the venue. This gesture underscored the company’s ongoing commitment to detail and partnership, reflecting its philosophy of supporting utility communicators not just through websites, but through every possible touchpoint.
“Sponsoring CONNECT isn’t just about visibility,” said Charlie Stanley, CEO of Powerful. “It’s about showing up—present, available, and invested in the cooperative story. These communicators are the voice of public power. We’re here to help them elevate it.”
One of the most talked-about sessions of the week was a live case study presentation co-led by Stanley and Ryan Henn, Director of Marketing, Communications, and Energy Services at Midland Power Cooperative in Iowa. The session explored the strategic overhaul of Midland’s homepage, emphasizing the shift toward a task-oriented web experience that makes it easier for members to find what they need—when they need it.
This session dove into the practical design decisions that focused the site around clear, high-priority tasks like outage reporting, payment options, energy-saving programs, and community resources—ensuring Midland’s members could engage with their co-op with speed and confidence.
“Design isn’t just visual—it’s functional,” said Henn during the session. “Our goal was to create a site where members don’t have to dig to find what they need. Partnering with Powerful made that possible. They understood our goals, respected our members, and brought strategy to every click.”
The presentation sparked conversations throughout the week about how design thinking can be applied to digital platforms, not just to make them attractive, but to make them tools of empowerment for co-op members.
Powerful’s sponsorship and programming were further amplified by the presence of several team members and collaborators. Alongside Stanley, attendees included Jeff Marshall, Director of Content and Design Operations; Caleigh Pickard, Website Solutions Consultant; and Anne Prince, Utility Voices blog contributor and long-time co-op communications advocate. The team held impromptu sessions, joined roundtable discussions, and met one-on-one with communications professionals representing cooperatives of every size and geography.
“It’s rare to have this kind of face time with over a hundred co-op communicators in one space,” said Marshall. “We walked away with a clearer understanding of what’s working, what’s challenging, and where we can support the next evolution of digital engagement.”
Beyond the scheduled sessions, the CONNECT Conference created space for meaningful connection and peer-driven learning—something Powerful values deeply. The event served as a reminder that utility communicators sit at the center of a critical mission: ensuring members understand, trust, and value their cooperatives. From crisis messaging and energy education to public policy and local storytelling, these communicators carry the voice of public power, and Powerful is honored to support them with tools that elevate and humanize that voice.
Currently, Powerful partners with dozens of electric cooperatives across the country, offering tailored digital solutions built on thoughtful design, deep sector knowledge, and a relentless commitment to utility-focused needs. As the energy industry evolves, so too does the responsibility to communicate clearly, consistently, and with heart. Conferences like CONNECT reaffirm that utility storytelling isn’t just about branding—it’s about impact.
“Every conversation we had at CONNECT reminded us why we do this work,” said Pickard. “Our clients aren’t just looking for vendors. They want partners—people who understand their mission, their challenges, and their members. That’s the relationship we strive to build at Powerful.”
With another successful CONNECT in the books, Powerful returns energized and inspired, ready to turn feedback into action and insights into innovation. The company looks forward to continuing its support for the co-op communications community—not just at conferences, but in every project, every strategy session, and every digital launch.
About the NRECA CONNECT Conference
The NRECA CONNECT Conference is the premier annual gathering of communications, marketing, and member services professionals from electric cooperatives across the United States. Hosted by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), the conference provides a collaborative forum for co-op communicators to share strategies, explore emerging tools and technologies, and strengthen their craft through workshops, case studies, and peer-led sessions. CONNECT is designed to empower attendees with the insights, skills, and inspiration they need to effectively tell their co-op’s story, engage their members, and navigate an ever-evolving energy landscape.
About NRECA
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) is the national service organization that represents more than 900 not-for-profit, member-owned electric cooperatives and public power districts in the United States. Collectively, these cooperatives serve over 42 million people across 56% of the U.S. landmass, providing safe, reliable, and affordable electricity to rural and suburban communities. NRECA advocates for its members in Washington, D.C., offers a wide range of educational and business services, and supports innovation and resilience across the co-op network. Through its commitment to advancing the cooperative business model, NRECA plays a vital role in powering rural America and fostering energy equity.
About Powerful
Powerful is a human-centered digital solutions partner exclusively serving utility organizations. By combining collaborative strategy, thoughtful design, and accessible technology, Powerful helps electric cooperatives and public power providers build web platforms that are scalable, intuitive, and rooted in community impact. With a focus on long-term partnerships and client satisfaction, Powerful empowers utility teams to deliver exceptional digital experiences for the people they serve.
