What a great week at the 2026 Minnesota Chief Engineers Guild Annual Conference & Trade Show at Breezy Point Resort!

IEA’s Amy Satterfield has been a longtime member of the conference planning committee and looks forward to seeing the event come together each year. The conference is always a valuable opportunity for facility professionals to learn, exchange ideas and connect with others in the industry.

This year was especially meaningful for Amy. She had the opportunity to present “Charging Ahead Safety: Managing Lithium Risks in Facilities” and was also honored with a 2026 MNCEG Service Award.

Congratulations, Amy, on this well-deserved recognition!

Lithium-Ion Battery Safety

During her presentation, Amy discussed the growing use of lithium-ion batteries in facilities and the safety concerns that can come with improper charging, storage or handling.

These batteries are now found in tools, maintenance equipment, mobility devices, electronics and many other products used every day. Understanding the risks and having the right procedures in place can help facilities protect employees, occupants and property.

Interested in learning more? Visit IEA’s Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Consulting page for information about facility assessments, charging safety, storage evaluations, emergency planning, training and more.

Supporting Games4Grads

IEA’s Jeff Athmann also joined in the fun by supporting the Games4Grads scholarship fundraiser—and he ended up winning the Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament! Well done, Jeff! ♠️

IEA continues to have tremendous respect for MNCEG and its members. Their willingness to share knowledge, collaborate and support one another is what makes this organization and its annual conference so special.

Thank you to everyone who helped make the 2026 conference a success. We are already looking forward to next year!