• You Can't Spell Dairyland without AI: A Conversation with Dairyland CIO Nate Melby
    Dec 4 2025

    In this episode of the ACES Power Hour, host Mike Bodnar and Courtney Stooksbury Parker talk with Nate Melby, Dairyland Power Cooperative’s CIO, about Dairyland’s multi-year AI journey.

    They discuss building Voltwrite (a private generative AI), use cases from retrieval-augmented generation and agentic applications to augmented reality and workforce tools, plus the critical roles of cybersecurity, data protection, and governance.

    Nate shares practical lessons on adoption, training, and how co-ops can responsibly scale AI to improve efficiency and reliability while protecting critical infrastructure.

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    1 hr
  • Indiana's Energy Future with Indiana State Secretary of Energy and Natural Resources Suzanne Jaworowski
    Oct 30 2025

    Mike Bodnar and Courtney Stooksbury Parker sit down with Indiana Secretary of Energy and Natural Resources Susie Jaworowski to discuss the state’s energy priorities.

    They cover Indiana’s resource mix, the governor’s focus on reliability and affordability, plans to deploy nuclear (including small modular reactors) through public‑private partnerships, and community education and siting efforts.

    The episode also addresses data center growth, water stewardship, regulatory and rate challenges, and the upcoming Purdue Nuclear Energy and Economic Summit.

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    41 mins
  • The Search for Power Supply: What RFPs Teach Us About Power Markets with Kevin Suhanic
    Sep 29 2025

    In this episode, Mike and Courtney sit down with Kevin Suhanic, ACES’ Vice President of Portfolio Strategy and Origination, to explore ACES’ Origination services. Their conversation focuses on the requests for proposals (RFP) process that ACES manages on behalf of its Clients and highlights what this process reveals about the ongoing evolution of power markets.

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    51 mins
  • Fueling Demand Growth: Discussing the State of Natural Gas with Scott Akin
    Aug 7 2025

    Join hosts Mike Bodnar and Courtney Stooksbury Parker as they sit down with Scott Akin, ACES Executive Director of Natural Gas Trading, to discuss the intricate world of natural gas. With fascinating insights from Akin’s background in meteorology, the episode delves into the vital role of natural gas in balancing energy demands.

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    53 mins
  • Energy Outlook with ACES' CEO, Mike Steffes
    Jun 30 2025

    In this episode of the ACES Power Hour, hosts Mike Bodnar and Courtney Stooksbury Parker welcome Mike Steffes, President and CEO of ACES, to discuss the current state of the energy market.

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    56 mins
  • Status Quo is Not Company Policy: An Interview with Rayburn Electric Cooperative CEO David Naylor
    Jun 3 2025

    In this episode, hosts Mike Bodnar and Courtney Stooksbury Parker sit down with David Naylor, the President and CEO of Rayburn Electric Cooperative. Discover the fascinating journey of David Naylor, from his roots in Arkansas to becoming CEO of the innovative Rayburn Electric Cooperative.

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    53 mins
  • A Conversation on Mentoring with Meridian Cooperative CEO Chris Haas
    Apr 16 2025

    In this episode of ACES Power Hour, hosts Mike Bodnar and Courtney Stooksbury Parker sit down with Chris Haas, CEO of Meridian Cooperative, to discuss the pivotal role of mentoring in personal and professional development.

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    51 mins
  • The Power of Co-ops: Sitting Down with Oglethorpe Power CEO Annalisa Bloodworth
    Mar 27 2025

    In this episode of the ACES Power Hour, hosts Mike Bodnar and Courtney Stooksbury Parker sit down with Annalisa Bloodworth, President and CEO of Oglethorpe Power in Atlanta, Georgia. Annalisa discusses the unique aspects of the cooperative business model in the energy sector and shares insights into her journey from a small-town in Colorado to leading one of the largest electric cooperatives in the U.S.

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    51 mins