CHICAGO — DISTRIBUTECH, produced by Clarion Events North America, took place March 24-27 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, bringing together the transmission and distribution industry for education, product discovery and networking.
“This year, we introduced several new initiatives and enhanced existing programs to foster more meaningful connections onsite,” said Stephanie Kolodziej, Vice President, Transmission, Distribution, Renewables, Clarion Events North America. “One major shift was moving away from traditional conference tracks in favor of topic-based scheduling aligned with specific time blocks — making it easier for attendees to plan their day.”
The team also focused on helping foster connections before participants were even on the show floor.
“We also launched a new matchmaking program called Source, designed to connect buyers and sellers the day before the event officially began. This allowed for further conversations and meetings throughout the week,” Kolodziej said. “Additionally, we expanded our meetup program to include segmented audience types, allowing peer groups to connect more easily and efficiently while onsite.”
By the Numbers
DISTRIBUTECH saw increases in its net square footage and attendance from the 2024 edition, and reported of its total attendance, 30% was representation from utilities, making it the largest gathering of this group in the U.S. according to Clarion.
- Net Square Footage: 251,266 (14.13% increase over 2024)
- Number of Exhibitors: 630 (-4.5% decrease over 2024)
- Total Attendance: 18,180 (4.4% increase over 2024)
“We’ve maintained a laser focus on our core audience of utilities, particularly those engaging in group plans and those operating in high-growth, target states. Our strategy emphasizes a year-round, 365 approach to connecting with this audience — ensuring they have continuous opportunities to engage with peers and share insights,” Kolodziej said. “At the same time, we’re committed to creating standout moments during the event itself, designed to foster deeper learning and more meaningful connections among attendees.”
Introducing RFID to the Show
This year marked the first that the team implemented RFID (radio-frequency identification) to a show of this size, and it proved to be a game-changer for the event.
“Not only did it provide us with the data we needed to make smarter strategic decisions, but it also significantly improved the experience for our customers. In previous years, we relied on temporary staff to manually scan badges, which often resulted in data gaps and an inconsistent process,” Kolodziej said. “With RFID, data collection became seamless and reliable. We were able to track attendee engagement across all key areas — from session rooms and exhibit hall features to our keynote sessions — giving us clear insight into who was present and how long they stayed. This level of detail is instrumental in shaping future event strategies and enhancing high-value features for our audience.”
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Growing a Meaningful Program
DISTRIBUTECH’s Future Energy Leaders program brings students pursuing engineering and computer science degrees to attend the show for free. The students get to participate in industry sessions, courses and networking opportunities while in attendance.
“The Future Energy Leaders program remains a key part of DTECH, and we’re always looking for ways to grow and strengthen it. With an aging workforce posing a serious challenge across the utility industry — impacting both our utility attendees and vendor partners — there’s a critical need for skilled electrical and software engineers to help power the future,” Kolodziej said.
“This year, nearly 200 students participated in the program. We offer them complimentary access so they can explore what this dynamic industry has to offer and attend one of the biggest and best events in the industry. From attending sessions and networking with professionals to connecting directly with recruiters, the program is designed to give the next generation a firsthand look at the opportunities ahead. For DTECH, we also create a dedicated group of brand ambassadors to support us now and into the future.”
Building a Brand Persona Pays Off
In 2023, the DISTRIBUTECH team introduced a mascot to the event named Zeus to bring extra fun and personality to the event, and he’s become a fan-favorite of attendees and the show team.
“Zeus embodies the spirit of networking and good vibes at DTECH,” said Kolodziej. “Attendees line up for selfies with him, and exhibitors love the buzz when he stops by their booths. At our 2025 event in Dallas, we debuted Athena — Zeus’s counterpart — who represents wisdom and education. She’ll be tied to our conference and education program, adding a new, engaging layer to the attendee experience. Together, Zeus and Athena bring a playful but meaningful dimension to the event.”
Future Dates
DISTRIBUTECH 2026 will take place Feb. 2-5 in San Deigo, Calif.
The brand is also expanding with focused events on data centers and AI, along with the Midwest region and the Northeast.
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