Annual Midwest Energy Summit focuses on the future of energy

WEST FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — This year’s Midwest Energy Summit focused on the growing demand, rapid innovation, and shifting policy of how people work, live, and plan for the future.

“Through your people, you have an opportunity to really grow your presence and credibility…Folks need to see you out there with them getting dirty,” said Caroline Hackerott.

Caroline Hackerott is an associate professor at North Dakota State University, where she focuses her work on disaster management. She believes that companies that help their communities can get more work done and build a trusting relationship.

“No one else is going to solve this issue. No one else is going to come in and build community-based resilience without us. So we are the cavalry,” said Hackerott.

The summit also focused its attention on businesses advertising and presenting themselves as a good energy-based company.

“Preparing employees and leaders for the future requires new approaches of training, development, recruiting, and long-term retention to help us meet the future. It’s not just about technology, it’s about the people,” said Katherine Worwa, Manager, Talent Management, Otter Tail Power Company.

“We’re going to need energy more and more as we enter a future that’s going to be more and more driven by computing and is the service industry. So, the folks in this room are going to be key to that,” said David Owen, former President of the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce.

Representatives from Applied Digital, X-Cel Energy, and other electric companies were also speakers for the panel.