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2025 RodE&O Conference & Expo

NEPPA’s 2025 RodE&O  Conference and Expo will be held on May 5-8, 2025 at The Nantasket Beach Resort (45 Hull Shore Drive, Hull, MA 02045). This annual event is a great opporunity to join your professional colleagues for 2.5 days of skilled competition, educational sessions, roundtables, networking, sponsor exhibits, and more!

Thank You to our Conference Sponsors!

video courtesy of Al Coombs

Registration is now open – Early Bird discounts apply!

We have a new online registration portal.
See our step-by-step guide HERE for help registering.

View Our 2025 RodE&O Agenda

Monday, May 5, 2025

12:00 PM Benevolent Fund Golf Tournament - Golfer Check-In, Grab and Go Lunch (Golf Course Location TBD)

1:00 PM Golf Tournament Begins - Shotgun start (Golf Course Location TBD)

5:00 PM Lineworkers Rodeo Judges Meeting - (Rodeo Event Tent - Hull Shore Commons)

Tuesday, May 6, 2025  

7:30 AM Team Check-in (Registration Tent - Hull Shore Commons),
Sponsor Set Up (Vendor Area - Hull Shore Commons),
Continental Breakfast (Rodeo Event Tent - Hull Shore Commons)

9:00 AM Competition begins - 17th Annual Lineworkers Rodeo (Hull Shore Commons)

11:00 AM Lunch (Rodeo Event Tent - Hull Shore Commons)

3:00 PM - 6:00 PM Exhibitor Set Up (Expo Hall - The Nantasket Beach Resort)

5:00 PM Reception and Cash Bar (The Nantasket Beach Resort)

6:00 PM Dinner Buffet (The Nantasket Beach Resort)

7:00 PM Awards Presentations & Raffle (The Nantasket Beach Resort)

Wednesday, May 7, 2025  

7:00 AM  Registration (Nantasket Foyer),
Breakfast Buffet (Surf Ballroom)
7:30 AM Exhibitor Move In and Set Up (Nantasket Ballroom and Pavillion)
8:15 AM Welcoming Address and Introduction (Surf Ballroom)
8:30 AM  Keynote Speaker (Surf Ballroom)
"If You Can't Stand Up, Stand Out"
by Mike Schlappi, Gold Medalist and Author
At the age of 14, Mike was an outstanding athlete when a gunshot to the chest at point-blank range challenged his dreams. He would never walk again. After months of rigorous physical therapy, he began playing basketball from his wheelchair and went on to become a standout athlete. His thought-provoking keynote presentation challenges individuals of all ages and walks of life, that you can take response-ability and be empowered despite difficult circumstances.
9:30 AM Break

9:45 AM Breakout Sessions

Mutual Aid Behind the Curtain
Nick Lawler, LELED & Barry Tupper, HMLD

Powering Through the Wait:  Understanding Sustation Transformer Production and Supply Chain
Isabella Smith, Sales Engineer - Virginia Transformer Corporation 

The transformer industry faces rising lead times, supply chain disruptions, and growing demand. Virginia Transformer Corporation will cover key production challenges, impact on utilities, and market trends to help you navigate purchasing a transformer.

11:00 AM Breakout Sessions

Enhancing Field Safety Strategies, Protecting Workers and Ensuring Compliance
by Pat Laverty, GML & Anthony Calascibetta, Ipswich Utilities
Explore key aspects of field safety, including lone worker safety, job hazard recognition, use of tailgate checklists, and field auditing. Learn how to protect lone workers with advanced monitoring technologies, recognize and mitigate job hazards, and use comprehensive checklists and audits to ensure compliance and continuous improvement. Hear what practical strategies and tools your public power peers are using to enhance safety protocols and keep crews safe.

12:00 Exhibit Hall Opens (Pavilion & Nantasket Ballroom),
Demonstrations (Outdoor Exhibit Area),
Lunch
(Surf Ballroom)

1:00 PM Mutual Aid Committee Meeting (Surf Ballroom)

1:30 PM Demo #1 Pole Foam Demo - Rainbow Tech
2:00 PM Demo #2 Buck Squeeze Demo - Hydron
2:30 PM Demo #3 Power Pack Demo - Prime Power Rentals

2:00 PM Network Reception (Nantasket Ballroom)

3:30 PM Raffle Drawing (Nantasket Ballroom)

3:45 PM Cornhole Tournament (Outdoor Exhibit Area)
*If you are interested in participating in the Cornhole Tournament please
email plaverty@gmlusc.org to sign up!

4:00 PM Adjourn & Exhibitor Breakdown/Load Out

*Dinner on Your Own*

Thursday, May 8, 2025

7:00 AM  Breakfast Buffet (Surf Ballroom)

8:30 AM  Breakout Sessions - more details to come!

9:00 AM  Board of Directors Meeting (Nantasket Ballroom)

9:30 AM Break

9:45 AM Breakout Sessions

The TLC Of Customers During Turbulent Times…Being A Positive Ambassador Under Pressure
Robin Schell, Senior Counsel and Partner for Jackson, Jackson & Wagner

Battery Storage Case Study – Reading’s Long Term Battery Project
Greg Phipps, General Manager, Reading Municipal Light Dep

10:45 AM Break
11:00 AM Breakout Session

Physical Security Threat Landscape - Tactics and Trends of Concern and Resources Available to Smaller Municipals
Haley Luis, Physical Security Analyst, E-ISAC
This session will explore the evolving physical security threat landscape, focusing on critical assets, emerging tactics, and concerning trends. Additionally, practical resources tailored to smaller municipals to strengthen their security posture will be discussed.


12:00 PM Box Lunch (Nantasket Foyer)
1:00 PM Conference Adjourns

Attendee Registration

- General Attendance -

There are three different registration options depending on which events and which days you would like to attend. Please review the options below and pick the one that best suits your plans.

RodE&O Conference & Expo (2.5 Days):

Includes: Access to Rodeo & Awards Dinner Tuesday, educational breakout sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, admission to Expo Hall, breakfast, lunch, and breaks.

By April 11th As of April 12th
Member - $399 Member - $449
Non-Member - $435 Non-Member - $485
E&O Conference & Expo Only (1.5 Days):

Includes: Access to all events on Wed and Thurs (breakfast, lunch, breaks, educational breakout sessions and Expo Hall). Not included are Tuesday's events.

By April 11th As of April 12th
Member - $349 Member - $399
Non-Member - $395 Non-Member - $445

 

 

Expo Day Only (1 Day):

Includes: All events on Wednesday (breakfast, educational sessions, breaks).

By April 11th As of April 12th
Member - $299 Member - $349
Non-Member - $349 Non-Member - $399

 

Rodeo Day Only (1 Day):

Includes: All events on Tuesday (breakfast, Rodeo, lunch, dinner).

By April 11th As of April 12th
Member - $199 Member - $249
Non-Member - $249 Non-Member - $299

Exhibitor Registration

- Exhibiting at the Conference -

The Exhibit registration fee includes: Wednesday and Thursday educational breakout sessions, breakfast, lunch, and breaks as well as the opportunity to exhibit on Wednesday. Registration for an exhibit space includes one representative with the option to add additional reps for an fee.

Table Top Display:

Includes: Table with linen and 2 chairs in the exhibit hall. One representative, additional reps for a fee.

By April 11th As of April 12th
Member - $595 Member - $645
Non-Member - $925 Non-Member - $975

 

Truck/Trailer Space:

Includes: 10' by 33' outdoor space, available for parking with demo or display please choose this option. Please note: engines cannot run during show. One representative, additional reps for a fee.

By April 11th As of April 12th
Member - $695 Member - $745
Non-Member - $1,025 Non-Member - $1,075

 

Both Table Top Display & Truck/Trailer Space:

Includes: Table with linen and 2 chairs in the exhibit hall and 10' by 33' outdoor space, available for parking with demo or display please choose this option. Please note: engines cannot run during show. One representative, additional reps for a fee.

By April 11th As of April 12th
Member - $895 Member - $945
Non-Member - $1,225 Non-Member - $1,275

 

Add-On: Additional Representative

General Exhibitor Registration includes attendance for one representative. If you would like to add attendance for additional representatives you can add up to three, at an additional fee. 

Additional Fee
Additional Representative + $225

 

Add-On: Electricity

If you would like to add an electricity hook-up to your exhibit space you may, at an additonal fee. 

  Additional Fee
Electricity + $50

Team Registration

- Competing at the Rodeo -

Competitors may register as a three-person team or as an individual and then be placed on a team. By registering as a competitor, you are agreeing to abide by competition rules and to furnish your own hooks, belts, and hand tools, ensuring they are in safe operating condition.

Full Conference (2.5 Day):

Team of 3

$ 1,170

Individual

$ 390

Rodeo Day Only (1 Day):

Team of 3

$ 780

Individual

$ 260

In addition to your attendance at the conference you can also....

 

  • Attend the Benevolent Fund Golf Tournament on Monday (see Benevolent Fund tab)
  • Sponsor the conference and get your company's name out there ! (see Sponsor tab)
Cancellation Policies

For Attendee Registration, Cancellations are accepted until 4/21/2025. Substitutions can be made at any time.

For Exhibitor Registration, Cancellations are accepted until 4/11/2025. Substitutions can be made at any time.

For Competitor/Team Registrations, Cancellations are accepted until 4/21/2025. Substitutions can made at any time.

For Benevolent Fund Activities, Registration fees are non-refundable. Substitutions can be made at any time.

Things to Note
  • Lodging is not included in registration fees. Please see the Lodging tab for more details.
  • No dinner is provided on Wednesday. Attendees are expected to make plans for dinner on their own.

Sponsoring the RodE&O

Support NEPPA's RodE&O Conference and Expo and gain recognition for your organizations! Multiple sponsorship opportunties are available to meet every budget. Participants will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

Sponsorship Opportunities for Special Recognition

As part of being a Platinum, Gold or Silver Sponsor, you can choose one item or event to sponsor and your company will be highlighted at that event with verbal recognition and special signage. Below are the opportunities to choose from:

Platinum Level Sponsorship Opportunities
  • Branded Lanyards - All days
  • Lunch –Wednesday 5/7 -or- Thursday 5/8
  • Networking Reception (Food & Drinks) – Wednesday 5/7
  • Breakfast – Wednesday 5/7 -or- Thursday 5/8
  • Rodeo Banner (winning team takes home to display) - Tuesday 5/6
Gold Level Sponsorship Opportunities
  • Morning Break Refresh – Wednesday 5/7 - or- Thursday 5/8
  • Speaker Sponsorship – Wednesday 5/8
  • Rodeo Event – Tuesday 5/6 (Hurt Man Rescue, Pole Climb with Bell, Obstacle Course, URD/Riser Change out, 7.2KV Single Phase Insulator Change, 4KV Lightning Arrestor Change out)
Silver Level Sponsorship Opportunities
  • Rodeo Reception (Food & Drinks) – Tuesday 5/6
  • Rodeo Awards Dinner – Tuesday 5/6
  • A/V Sponsor - All Days
Additional Sponsorship Opportunities

Additional Sponsorships:

Cornhole Tournament (Wednesday 5/7) $1,800

Additional Benevolent Fund Activity Sponsorships:  

(Golf Tournament on Monday 5/5)
Tee Sponsor (one per hole) $250 each

Golf Cart Sponsor - $750
Lunch Sponsor - $500
Awards Reception Sponsor - $500

Donations of Door Prizes are always welcome! Please indicate your wish to donate a door prize during registration.

If you don't see something on the above list you would like to sponsor?
Please contact us at registrar@neppa.org or (978) 540-2200.

Registration

Once you have reviewed the sponsorship opportunities, click the "Register Online" or "Register with Form" button below to complete your sponsorship registration. We look forward to your participation on our event!

 

Please complete Sponsorship Registration by April 18, 2025. Refunds not provided for cancellations. Substitutions can be made at any time. 

  • As part of your sponsorship registration we ask that you submit a logo to us to be used on promotional items for this event.
    Please use this button to upload a quality logo image. 

 

LIST OF COMPETITION EVENTS

NEPPA’s 17th Annual Lineworkers Rodeo, held Tuesday, May 6, 2025, features three-person teams competing in six different events. Each event’s primary purpose is to promote safe work practices. The rodeo is designed to enhance skills and job knowledge, foster stronger working relationships, encourage teamwork, and provide a better understanding of utility work for families and other attendees.

JUDGING GUIDELINES

Team Definition: Three lineworkers who may rotate between events as climbers/groundmen.  All climbers must be current lineworkers or have been otherwise classified as a lineworker/apprentice.

Judging will be based upon safety procedures, work practices, neatness and ability, equipment handling and timely completion of each event, (however, time will only be used in case of a tie). Any mistake made that would under normal working conditions cause serious injury or death will constitute immediate disqualification.  Any event judge, with consensus of the master judge, can disqualify a team for inappropriate conduct at any rodeo event, including the awards banquet. Disqualified competitors must leave the rodeo grounds immediately and may not participate in any other rodeo-related activity for the remainder of the rodeo. Competitors that have been disqualified will forfeit any scores prior to the disqualifying event. A letter documenting the conditions that warranted disqualification will be sent to the competitor's employer.

GENERAL RULES FOR TEAMS

THERE WILL BE NO COACHING OF TEAMS FROM THE SIDELINES. NO WARNINGS WILL BE ISSUED BY JUDGES. COACHING WILL RESULT IN AN AUTOMATIC 2 POINT DEDUCTION. IF COACHING CONTINUES TEAMS WILL BE DISQUALIFIED FROM THAT EVENT

Hard hats & safety glasses are required for all participants & for all events.

Long sleeve shirts are required for all events. Sleeves may not be pushed up or rolled and must be buttoned (if applicable). Shirt tails must be tucked in at the start of the event.

Work gloves are required for all groundmen for all events.

Climbers are required to wear rubber gloves ground to ground, unless specified otherwise in the event description.

Climbing participants must inspect rubber gloves using the manufacturer’s field air test prior to each event.

Climbing belt, climbers, fall arrest & secondary belts must be in good, safe, working condition.

Fall arrest is mandatory for all rodeo events.

Fall arrest must be properly adjusted.

Handline must be secured to belt using a plastic breakaway hook. The first climber must secure handline to pole before the second climber ascends the pole.

Neutral must be handled by gloved hand or appropriate tool.

Positive Control is defined as placing a conductor or any other potentially hazardous piece of equipment into a desired position in the work area. “Control” may be affected by means of a tool (shotgun, clothespin(s)), materials (tape) or by direct physical contact by the lineworker.  Any questions regarding “Positive Control” should be directed to the Event or Master Judge

Participants will have five minutes prior to each event to ask questions, layout tools, test gloves, test pole & adjust fall arrest.

Tool sharing between teams is allowed.

Questions will not be permitted during judging. 

GENERAL RULES FOR JUDGES

Judges are to be dressed in appropriate PPE.  Active event areas are to be considered workzones, therefore judges must wear a hard hat, safety glasses, long pants, shirts, and appropriate footwear.

Judges cannot judge their own teams, in any events.

Judges are expected to attend Judges meeting, held prior to the Rodeo, as well as have a firm understanding of any events they are judging.

Judges should judge each event and competitor evenly and unbiasedly.

Must have a clipboard and a stopwatch capable of recording times down to hundredths of seconds.

Foul Weather Gear is not required; however, it is a good idea to be prepared as the rodeo goes on rain or shine

Judges will show respect to team members and apprentices and treat them with fairness and courtesy.  High fives, smirks, and other visible inappropriate actions will not be tolerated from judges. Unfair judging and disrespect to contestants will not be tolerated as well as disrespect to judges from contestants will not be tolerated. This type of behavior will result in a letter being written to management of the company involved. Judges must not judge a team from their own company.  If this happens the judge will be disqualified and the team will receive a 10-point deduction for the event judged.

All judges are expected to handle themselves in a professional manner during all meetings, hotel stays, and at any other sponsored function of the NEPPA Rodeo. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action up to being released from your duties and responsibilities of the NEPPA Rodeo.

INFRACTIONS

Each event is worth 100 total points.

All safety rules are to be observed during all the events.

 

INFRACTIONS - 2-POINT DEDUCTION

  1. Coaching teams from the sidelines
  2. Improper use or loss of hard hat.
  3. Improper use or loss of safety glasses.
  4. Improper wearing of shirts (please see long sleeve shirts requirement)
  5. Improper adjustment of fall arrest.
  6. Cutout/Loss of Control.
  7. No rubber on reach, fall or slip.
  8. Misuse of rubber.
  9. Dropping of tools.
  10. Misuse of tools.
  11. First climber fails to carry handline.
  12. Failure to use break away style hook for attachment of handline to climbing belt.
  13. First climber fails to secure handline to pole before second climber ascends pole.
  14. Operation of hand line while any climber is ascending or descending pole.
  15. Groundman not tagging handline for climber ascending or descending pole.
  16. Handline is dropped while both climbers are up the pole.
  17. Hot-dogging.
  18. Poor housekeeping.
  19. Groundman removing or failure to wear work gloves.

 

INFRACTIONS - 5-POINT DEDUCTION

  1. Exceeding “Drop Dead” time on any event EXCEPT Hurt Man Rescue

 

INFRACTIONS - 10-POINT DEDUCTION

  1. Working opposite phases. (Installation of cover is considered “working”.)
  2. Not using handline or material bag for sending material up and down the pole.
  3. Two climbers ascending or descending the same pole at the same time.
  4. Cutout and fall to ground.
  5. Giving up on event.
  6. Failure to adhere to the ground to ground rubber glove rule (unless otherwise noted in event description.)
  7. Exceeding “Drop Dead” time on Hurt Man Rescue event only.
APPEAL PROCESS
  1. A team may appeal to the Event Judge for any disputed call.
  2. If the Event Judge’s ruling on the appeal is unsatisfactory, a final appeal may be made to the Master Judge. Master Judges’ ruling is FINAL.
  3. No team may appeal ruling on another team score.

NOTE: All participants will be required to sign their scoresheet indicating agreement with the final score. Once a participant signs the scoresheet and leaves an event, that score is FINAL and ineligible for appeal.

 

The use of an ox block will be allowed for all events EXCEPT Hurt Man Rescue.

 

Event rotation flow will be monitored and enforced. Teams will have enough time between events to check in with the event judges when they arrive at the event.  Event rotation schedules will be distributed with registration packets. Score sheets will include a check-in/check-out time. Judges will also have a schedule with check-in/check-out times as well as team names so that participants can be located more easily for enforcement

Registration

Competitors may register as a three-person team or as an individual and then be placed on a team. Click "Register Now" button below for more information and to complete your registration. Deadline to register is Friday April 18, 2025. Cancellations can be made until Monday April 21, 2025. Substitutions can be made at any time. 

Questions Re: Rodeo Events?
Contact Ken Stone, Middleborough Gas & Electric Dept. kstone@mged.com, 781-953-2184
or call the NEPPA office at (978) 540-2200.

2025 Lodging Information

To make your overnight accommodations, please contact the hotel directly and mention you're with the
Northeast Public Power Association or 2025 NEPPA RodE&O to get the rate. 

Rooms and rates are held until April 14th and are based on availability. 
Space Limited!

Nantasket Beach Resort - $159/night + guest room amenity fee + tax

45 Hull Shore Drive
Hull, MA 02045

Check-in is 4:00 pm and check-out is 11:00 am.

Link to make reservations online: https://reservations.travelclick.com/108391?groupID=4548287
Call to make reservations over the phone: 1-888-641-4175

Guestroom Amenity Fee:

There is a $10 per room, per night amenity fee – includes parking, 2 bottles of water upon arrival, pool access, fitness center access, Wi-Fi, and hotel room amenities that is included in the agreed rate.

 

Taxes:

The above nightly guestroom rates are subject to state/occupancy taxes, currently totaling 9.7%. This tax is subject to change.

Hotel Policy:

Each guest is responsible for the guarantee of their reservation by credit card payment in the amount of one night’s room rate and taxes at the time of making a reservation. Nantasket Beach Resort does not pre-assign guestroom locations; guestroom locations are subject to availability. There is a $15.00 per person charge for more than two adults in a guestroom.

Individual Guestroom Cancellations:
In an event of an individual guestroom cancellation – this cancellation would need to be made 7 days prior to the schedule arrival date to receive the initial deposit refund. Any cancellation received within 7 days of the arrival date is a 100% cancellation penalty fee of all deposits collected. In an event of an individual guestroom “No-Show” the reservation will be cancelled, and any applicable deposits will be forfeited.

Support NEPPA's Benevolent Fund at our
2025 Benevolent Fund Golf Tournament        

Monday,  May 5, 2025 @ 12:00 pm

Location TBD

$100 per person

Play 9 holes and support NEPPA’s Benevolent Fund at the same time! Golf registration fees will cover greens, cart fees and net proceeds are donated to the Benevolent Fund.

More about the Course to come ...

 

Registration Fees Include:
• Golf Cart
• Scoring
• Tournament Scoring
• Gift Bag
• Lunch
• Awards Reception

Monday, May 5th, 2025
Shotgun start at 1:00 pm

Scramble format.
Prizes awards for:
Top 3 Finishers
Closet to the pin
Longest Drive (Men & Women)

Registration

Register a four person team or register as an individual player and we will place you on a team. Complete your registration using the "Register Now" button below. All proceeds go to NEPPA's Benevolent Fund to support public power employees, or their families, undergoing financial difficulties due to personal injury, illness or death.

Questions? Contact registrar@neppa.org or call the NEPPA office at (978) 540-2200.

We have a new online registration portal.
See our step-by-step guide HERE for help registering.

Questions:  Please contact registrar@neppa.org or call the office at (978) 540-2200.