August 3, 2017 | Mark Wagner, Vice President of Government Relations, Johnson Controls Chairman
Are you going to the Federal Energy Management Program’s 2017 Energy Exchange? The federal government’s premier energy event will bring together agency officials, program managers, and the private sector August 15-17 in Tampa for two and a half days of educational sessions and networking in the exposition hall. This is the place to be if you are thinking of working with the federal government, but with over 2,000 attendees at the event, it can be overwhelming. Here are a few tips for how you can get the most out of this experience.
1. Plan ahead. There are many educational sessions which are divided into 16 tracks on topics ranging from high performance buildings to fleets to doing business with the federal government. You can pick and choose sessions from different tracks and map out your schedule in advance. The website also offers recommended agendas for particular target audiences.
2. Be strategic in visiting the exhibitor showcase. This is a tremendous opportunity for one-on-one conversations with federal energy managers and prospective business partners. Consider reserving exhibitor space to showcase your technology. Check out the list of exhibitors in advance and plan whom you want to visit. There is plenty of time between educational sessions to visit the expo hall.
3. Don’t forget to bring an ample supply of business cards. This should be obvious, but many people underestimate what they’ll need. Don’t be caught empty-handed when you meet a prospective client or business partner—and make sure to follow up with your new connections when you get home.
4. Continue learning after the event. Slide decks from all presentations will be posted to the website in the weeks following the exchange. Answers to almost every question you might have about federal energy programs can be found in this wealth of resources.
As the largest energy user in the U.S., the federal government needs innovative solutions to power its buildings and fleets more cleanly, efficiently, and reliably. Your technologies and services can help.
I hope to see you at the 2017 Energy Exchange!
Joint blog post for the Clean Energy Business Network and Business Council for Sustainable Energy
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The Clean Energy Business Network (CEBN) works to advance the clean energy economy through policy, public education, and business support for small- and medium-size energy companies. Started in 2009 by The Pew Charitable Trusts, the CEBN is now a small business division of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy. The CEBN represents 3,000+ business leaders across all 50 U.S. states working with a broad range of clean energy and transportation technologies.
