2026 Lineworkers Conference & Tradeshow

Description

LINEWORKER WINTER CONFERENCE 
January 14-16, 2026 (W 1-4:30pm, Th 8-4:45pm, Vendor Show with prizes - 5-6:30pm, F 8-10:30am)
Holiday Inn & Suites St. Cloud
75 37th Ave South
St Cloud, MN 56301

This conference offers numerous technical and safety related presentations, information on the latest tools and equipment, benefit and retirement information, and many networking opportunities.  For additional information on the sessions please download the brochure below. 

AGENDA (subject to change)
Wednesday January 14th
11:30a    Registration
1:00p      Dakota Electric farm incident: Brandon Lunde, DEA
1:30p      Injury recovery: Heath Martin, North Fork Electric Co-op, OK
2:45p      Break
3:00p      Voltage regulator theory: Dan Landreman, Eaton
4:15p      Adjourn
Dinner on your own

Thursday January 15th 
6:30a     Breakfast
7:30a     Opening session - main conference room
8:00a     Breakout sessions:
                 3M Topic, Jim Stephens
                  Hi-potting, fault finding, grounding, Feliz Rosales
                  Chainsaw maintenance, Jake Carr, Carr's Tree Service
                  Lineworker safety competency workshop, Brent Jefferies, Bierer Meters
9:15a     Break
9:30a     Breakout sessions:Same as above
10:45a   Break
11:00a    Breakout sessions: Same as above
12:15p   Lunch
1:00p     Calm under pressure, lessons from Alaska's Wilderness: Caleb Stillians, Rise Up
2:00p     Retirement planning: Steve Prom, NFP
3:00p     Break
3:15p     Operations work order procedures: TeriLyn Wallis
4:30p      Adjourn
4:45p     Vendor show/reception    
Dinner on your own

Friday January 16th
7:00a     Breakfast
8:00a     Metering: Dave Skoglund, Irby Utilities
9:30a     Generations in the workforce: Micha Thompson, MRA
10:30a   Vendor grand prize drawing and wrap up
10:45a   Adjourn
  

WHO SHOULD ATTEND 
Lineworkers, crew leaders, and operations personnel

QUESTIONS
For registrations: Karen Miller, Karen@mrea.org or 763-424-7245

Cost
Please see registration page for pricing

VENDOR MEMBERS 
VENDOR MEMBER TRADE SHOW AND TOOL TIME PRESENTATION 
Our group - your potential customers, includes about 130-175 lineworkers from cooperatives throughout Minnesota. Lineworkers, who actually use your products in the field, really enjoy this time to talk wtih you about new products. They are also a great source of feedback about those products.

HOTEL 
Holiday Inn & Suites St. Cloud
75 37th Ave South
St Cloud, MN 56301
Booking Link

Event Policies
MREA Event Cancellation Policy (Link to Full Policy) updated 4.30.2025

MREA Event Code of Conduct (Link to Full Policy)
MREA is committed to providing a safe, productive and welcoming environment for all participants and staff in MREA meetings, conferences, training programs, and events both online and in-person. All Event participants including but not limited to attendees, speakers, exhibitors, staff, students, guests and vendors, are expected to abide by this MREA Event Code of Conduct, and this code applies to all space and situations in which MREA meeting-related activities are being conducted, including virtual meetings and those sponsored by organizations other than MREA but held in conjunction with MREA Events. Participation constitutes agreement to comply with the Code of Conduct as a condition of attendance. 

2026 Late Registration
All events in 2026 will be subject to a $50 late registration fee for anyone that registers less than 2 weeks prior to the published event dates.