"Yes, And..." Spring Forum

"Yes, And..." Spring Forum: Thoughtfully Preparing Communities for Energy & AI
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Presented by the Lyndhurst Foundation

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As artificial intelligence and data centers influence our economy, communities across the region face a pivotal question: how do we prepare on our own terms?

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Join fellow community leaders, planners, business owners, and elected officials for an introductory forum exploring the basics of energy & AI, and how it impacts people, place, and policy.

The expansion of energy infrastructure and future technology presents a real "Yes, And" opportunity- the potential to welcome economic growth, and strong intention to preserve quality of life, landscapes, and character in our communities. This session will explore how communities in the tri-state region can step into this emerging space in a way that reflects their values.

Thrive's “Yes, And…” Forums convene people across the tri-state region to shape competing priorities into shared possibilities — because real progress doesn't choose sides, it connects them.

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Agenda

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10:00 AM Check-in & Aquarium Exploration

Attendees are invited to explore the Tennessee Aquarium before the program begins.

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11:30 AM Boxed Lunch

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12:00 PM

Welcome

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Presentation: Data Center Trends & Considerations for Communities
With Celine Benoit, Atlanta Regional Commission

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Panel Discussion: People, Place, & Power

Moderated by Dodd Galbreath, and featuring:

• Hunter Hydas, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
• Leigh Hopkins, Center for Economic Development Research (CEDR) at Georgia Tech
• Peter Hubbard, Georgia Public Service Commission
• Stacy Funderburke, The Conservation Fund

1:35 PM Break

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1:45 PM

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Resource Hub Update: The Region's New Data Tool

Hear an update about the Resource Hub, a public data platform designed for community leaders to make information easier to find, understand, and act on.

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Dig Deeper with Round Robins

Rotate through small-group conversations with our panelists for a closer look at the people, policies, and research shaping our region.

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3:00 PM Happening Here: Regional Projects at Work

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Presentation: Powering the Future of Electric Vehicle Fleets
With Virind Gujral, Founder/CEO of EV Bots
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Electric vehicles are transforming fleet operations, but charging infrastructure hasn't kept pace. Right here in the region, Virind Gujral, Founder and CEO of EV Bots, introduces a new approach: mobile charging robots that come to the vehicle, enabling rapid deployment without the wait for fixed infrastructure. Learn how this charging-as-a-service model is helping fleets go electric on their own timeline, and stick around for a live robot demonstration!

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Presentation: Where Technology Meets the Natural World

With Bill Finch, Paint Rock Forest Research Center

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Technology isn't just building self-driving cars and robots. It's also unlocking new discoveries about the natural world. Learn how HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology and the Paint Rock Forest Research Center are partnering right here in our region to pair advanced computing with conservation, using sophisticated research tools to deepen our understanding of genetics and the ecosystems around us.

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4:00 PM Closing Remarks & Reception

Guests are welcome to explore the Tennessee Aquarium before departing.

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Speakers

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Celine Benoit
Atlanta Regional Commission

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Dodd Galbreath
Institute for Sustainable Practice, Lipscomb University

Dodd Galbreath is the founding director of the Institute for Sustainable Practice and its graduate programs in sustainability at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. For over 42 years, he has also served in conservation technical assistance, environmental policy, and regulatory roles in federal, state, and local government, serving three Tennessee governors and four Nashville mayors from both political parties.

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Hunter Hydas
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)

Hunter Hydas is the Director of System Planning at the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). He has been in the energy industry since 2009. During his career at TVA, he has held various roles in energy policy, generation and capacity planning, business development, and customer relations.

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Leigh Hopkins
Center for Economic Development Research (CEDR) at Georgia Tech

Leigh Hopkins is Assistant Director of the Center for Economic Development Research (CEDR) at Georgia Tech. A dual-certified planner and economic developer, she specializes in building regional resilience through workforce development and strategic asset capitalization, with expertise in federal grant navigation and cross-sector partnerships. Hopkins is currently spearheading Georgia's first AI Strategy through Georgia AIM, building on high-stakes initiatives including the Northwest Georgia Manufacturing Partnership and post-disaster recovery in Southwest Georgia following Hurricane Michael. She holds a Master's in City and Regional Planning from Georgia Tech and a Bachelor's in Forest Resources from the University of Georgia.

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Peter Hubbard
Georgia Public Service Commission

Peter Hubbard is a seasoned energy expert with 16 years of industry experience spanning solar and battery storage development, electric utility Integrated Resource Plans, electricity and gas modeling, organized market analysis, fuel price forecasting, M&A due diligence, and grid interconnection. He brings this background to his first term as Public Service Commissioner. Raised in Cleveland, TN, Hubbard earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Physics and Mathematics from the University of Memphis and a Master's from Johns Hopkins in International Affairs, specializing in Economics and Energy, Resources & Environment. In 2019, he founded the nonprofit Georgia Center for Energy Solutions to advocate for clean energy and lower power bills across Georgia.

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Stacy Funderburke
The Conservation Fund

Stacy Funderburke is Vice President, Central Southeast Region, and Georgia and Alabama State Director for The Conservation Fund. He works on land conservation efforts in Georgia and Alabama, including expansion of parks, greenspace and trails within the metro Atlanta area. Stacy has worked on a number of key conservation projects in Atlanta, including the Atlanta Beltline and the Chattahoochee Brick Company site. He also works on projects across Georgia and Alabama, including the protection of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge from the Trail Ridge mining threat. Stacy launched the national Farms Fund program for The Conservation Fund and leads the Finding the Flint initiative in Atlanta.

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Bill Finch
Paint Rock Forest Research Center

Bill Finch is founding director of the Paint Rock Forest Research Center, a 5,000-acre research and natural history facility developed under the guidance of renowned evolutionary biologists E.O. Wilson, Stephen Hubbell, and Patty Gowaty in Jackson County, Alabama. He is the former director of the Mobile Botanical Gardens and Conservation Director for Alabama's Nature Conservancy chapter. An award-winning journalist, Finch's book Longleaf Far As the Eye Can See is in its fourth printing with UNC Press. As environmental editor of the Mobile Register, he earned numerous national awards. His weekly natural history radio show and podcast airs every Sunday morning.

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Virind Gujral
Founder & CEO, EV Bots

Virind Gujral is the Founder and CEO of EV Bots Inc., a Chattanooga-based company building autonomous robotics and EV fleet infrastructure. With a background in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh, Gujral brings deep technical and business expertise to the emerging EV landscape. A patent holder with hands-on engineering and product development experience, he previously led a $1 billion fleet fuel program serving more than 13,000 customers and 300,000 vehicles. At EV Bots, he leverages that operational expertise alongside a talent for partnership-building and fundraising to accelerate the future of autonomous, electrified fleet solutions.

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Presented By:

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With Support From:

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Dade County, Georgia