Paulsen co-hosting webinar on strategies for communicating complex large load opportunities with clarity and confidence

As the electric utility industry navigates unprecedented load growth, effective communication about large load opportunities is becoming a strategic leadership responsibility. From data centers and manufacturing to other energy-intensive industries, utilities must balance economic development with reliability, affordability, infrastructure investment and member expectations.

Paulsen’s Matt Merritt joins Jeff Johnson of CoBank for a forward-looking conversation about large load trends and the communication strategies needed to lead them. Combining economic insight with proven messaging expertise, they will explore how utilities can build stakeholder confidence, communicate complex decisions clearly and position themselves as trusted leaders during a period of significant change. This conversation will be facilitated by Esther Simon of CoBank.

Participants will leave with practical communication frameworks and actionable strategies for engaging boards, employees, community leaders, policymakers and members on one of the most transformative issues facing the electric industry today.

Webinar: Large load communications tools and strategies

Date: Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Time: 9 a.m. Mountain Time

Featured speakers: 

Jeff Johnston | Lead economist, digital infrastructure, CoBank 

Jeff Johnston is lead digital infrastructure economist in CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange division. He focuses on emerging technologies, business models, risks and opportunities in the digital infrastructure industry. 

Matt Merritt | Director of public relations, Paulsen Marketing 

Matt leads public relations strategy and execution for clients in the agribusiness, energy and rural infrastructure industries. He has spent the past 18 years managing public relations and public affairs campaigns for national clients. 

Esther Simon | Vice president, CoBank 

Esther Simon is a vice president in CoBank’s Electric Distribution Lending division, where she partners with electric cooperatives on financing and long-term capital planning. She brings experience as a CPA and former electric cooperative CFO.