Thompson Construction Breakfast

Greg Thompson — CEO, Thompson Construction

Building America’s Nuclear Workforce: Federal Investment to Support the Next Generation of Nuclear Deployment 

Introduction:
Congressman Russell Fry — U.S. Representative, South Carolina’s 7th Congressional District

Keynote: 
Alex Fitzsimmons — Associate Deputy Secretary of Energy & Senior Advisor to the Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy

Special Signing Ceremony

The Nuclear Capital: Building America’s Next Industrial Powerhouse in South Carolina 

Opening Remarks: 
Ethel Bunch — Founder & President, Palmetto Nuclear Coalition 

Remarks and Introduction of Panel:
Michael D. Amiridis — President, University of South Carolina 

Moderator: 
Ethel Bunch — Founder & President, Palmetto Nuclear Coalition 

Panelists: 
Darla Moore — Investor, Philanthropist & Former Wall Street Executive
Alex Molinaroli — Former Chairman & CEO, Johnson Controls 
The Honorable G. Murrell Smith Jr. — Speaker, South Carolina House of Representatives 
Todd Abrajano — President & CEO, United States Nuclear Industry Council

Moderator: 
Rounette Nader — Vice President, New Nuclear Generation and License Renewal, Duke Energy 

Panelists: 
Luca Oriani — President, APX, Westinghouse Electric Company
Natalie Wane — Manager of Global Workforce Services & Principal Vice President, Bechtel 
Daniel Rickenmann — Mayor, City of Columbia 
Tim Hardee — President, South Carolina Technical College System
Hossein Haj-Hariri — Dean, USC Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing 

Introduction: 
Ethel Bunch — Founder & President, Palmetto Nuclear Coalition 

Special Remarks: 
Governor Henry McMaster 

Tim Walsh — Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management, U.S. Department of Energy

New Missions, Same Ground: How Federal Land Is Becoming the Platform for Advanced Nuclear and AI Infrastructure 

Moderator: 
Robbie Bennett — President & CEO, SRS Community Reuse Organization

Panelists: 
Tim Walsh — Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management, U.S. Department of Energy 
Harrison Boyd — Manager of Nuclear Projects, Amentum 
Jeff Uphues — CEO, DC BLOX 
Matt Griffin — Head of Nuclear Affairs, Antares 
Representative — Nucleo 
Adrienne Schweer — Head of Government Affairs, Oklo 

Welcome & Remarks: 
Boyd Blanchard — President & CEO, Blanchard Machinery Company 

Financing America’s Nuclear Future: Making Nuclear Bankable 

A high-level discussion on the financial structures, federal tools, utility economics, risk allocation, and repeatable deployment models needed to attract private capital and accelerate nuclear deployment at scale. 

Moderator: 
Maria Korsnick — President & CEO, Nuclear Energy Institute 

Panelists: 
Julie Kozeracki — Chief Investment Officer (Acting), U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Dominance Financing 
Marcus Enns — Managing Director, Brookfield’s Energy Group 
Bill Currens — Senior Vice President, Strategic Planning, Carolinas, Duke Energy
John Williams — EVP of Southern Nuclear, Southern Company

Exhibition & Networking

Visit exhibitors, connect with industry leaders, and continue the conversation.

From Innovation to Industry: Building Modular Reactors

Matt MacVicar — Vice President, SMR Strategy & Business Development, Rolls-Royce
Cristina Long Paredes — Executive Director, SC Nexus 

Fairfield Project: America’s Most Advanced Nuclear Site 

Remarks 
Jimmy Staton — President & CEO, Santee Cooper 

Moderator: 
Amy Tinsley — Vice President of Manufacturing Councils & Secretary of the Board,South Carolina Manufacturers and Commerce 

Panelists: 
Mike Finissi — Deputy Chief Executive Officer & Chief Operating Officer, Santee Cooper 
Sam Meyers — Senior Vice President, Brookfield Asset Management
Luca Oriani — President, APX, Westinghouse Electric Company 
Joe Klecha — Chief Nuclear Officer, The Nuclear Company

Ethel Bunch — Founder & President, Palmetto Nuclear Coalition