Oklahoma's Premier Energy Conference

Managing the Next Energy Frontier:
Roger Farrer Energy Conference

Join Oklahoma's energy professionals for a premier conference dedicated to energy efficiency, renewable energy, and the technologies shaping our state's energy future.

Energy Professionals | Industry Leaders | Students & Researchers

7th & 8th

October

2026

Save the Date

Hamm Institute, Oklahoma City

About the Conference

Managing the Next Energy Frontier: Roger Farrer Energy Conference is Oklahoma's premier conference dedicated to energy efficiency, renewable energy, and the associated technologies driving our state's energy economy forward.

Named in honor of Roger Farrer for his decades of leadership in energy efficiency and management across Oklahoma, the conference brings together engineers, facility managers, utility professionals, researchers, educators, and students for a full day of technical sessions, peer exchange, and meaningful connections.

Each year builds on the success of the previous, attracting attendees from across the state and region to learn about clean energy topics as they relate to Oklahoma — and to network with peers, businesses, and the next generation of professionals.

HOSTED BY

AEE Oklahoma Chapter

CO-HOSTED BY

Oklahoma State University — GPCOE

Keynote Speaker

OPENING SESSION KEYNOTE

John Smegal

Analysis & Strategy Office, Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation, US Department of Energy

Mr. John Smegal serves as the university-based Industrial Training and Assessment Center (ITAC) Program Manager for DOE’s Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI) and has been responsible for overseeing the ITAC program for more than 16 years. The ITAC program works with small and medium-sized manufacturers to help them identify and implement opportunities to save energy, improve productivity, and reduce waste and water use. At the same time, the ITACs serve as a workforce development program intended to train the next generation of energy engineers/professionals. He is also responsible for overseeing the five regional ITAC Centers of Excellence, as well as the three ITAC Auto Supply Diversification Centers. Prior to joining DOE, he provided strategic and technical support to DOE, EPA, NRC, DoD, and other public and private sector clients. Mr. Smegal has a B.A. in Economics from Carleton College, where he was an Alfred P. Sloan Fellow, and an M.A. in Public Policy from the Harris School at the University of Chicago. technologies, and the path forward for energy professionals in our region.

Breakout Session Presenters

Industry experts, academic researchers, and practitioners sharing real-world insights on energy efficiency, renewables, resiliency, and workforce development.

Kerry Rowland

Senior Energy Efficiency Principal · Public Service Company of OK

Grid Orchestration - Practical Lessons from Deploying Flexible Load Management Devices

Matthew Derner

Hydraulic Institute

Beyond Efficiency: Building a Resilient Pump System Workforce for Sustainable Operations

Dr. Khaled Sallam

Associate Head, Oklahoma State University - Tulsa

Sizing Battery Storage for Off-Grid Wind and Solar Power: A Simplified Method and Its Implications for Oklahoma’s Energy Future

Dr. Hitesh Vora

Dean's Endowed Associate Professor, Oklahoma State University

Beyond the Energy Audit: Building the Next-Generation Energy Assessment Ecosystem

Why Attend?

Oklahoma-Focused Insights

Hear how energy efficiency, renewables, and resiliency strategies are being applied across Oklahoma utilities, campuses, municipalities, and industrial facilities — by people who work here.

Learn From Practitioners

Real-world case studies and lessons learned from engineers, facility managers, and researchers — actionable content you can take back to your team Monday morning.

Build Your Network

Connect with energy professionals from across Oklahoma — utilities, consultants, manufacturers, students, and faculty — in a full day designed for meaningful conversations.

Advance Your Career

Earn professional development credits, explore certifications like CEM, CEP, and CMVP, and stay current with the trends shaping the next decade of energy work.

What Past Attendees Are Saying

The Roger Farrer Energy Conference is the one event each year that brings Oklahoma's energy community together in one room. The conversations I have here lead to real projects back at the office.

— Past Attendee, Oklahoma Energy Professional