08/18/2026
The Best Practices EXPO & Conference will present its first-ever Opening Day Panel Discussion “The Critical Importance of Industrial Energy & Water Efficiency” during the opening session in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. All attendees can join this session and earn 1 PDH credit.
Energy and engineering experts will come together for an engaging, high-impact panel discussion on optimizing industrial utilities. As facilities face rising operational costs, resource constraints and aggressive zero-carbon goals, managing energy and water efficiency has become an essential operational priority.
Moderated by Andrew Berger, President, Indiana Manufacturers Association, and Roderick Smith, Publisher, Best Practices Magazines & EXPO, this guided conversation features technical leaders and engineering specialists from Roche Diagnostics, John Deere, Runda Energy Consulting and PRVN Consultants. Panelists will share practical master planning strategies, capital project successes and sustainable utility solutions.
Key Takeaways
- Learn how to align plant utility operations with zero-carbon and energy targets
- Discover how to apply practical engineering solutions for compressed air and process cooling systems
- See examples of large-scale utility and efficiency capital projects executed effectively
- Gain real-world insights from technical experts managing plant utility upgrades
Moderators
Andrew Berger, President, Indiana Manufacturers Association
Andrew Berger serves as President of the Indiana Manufacturers Association, leading state and federal legislative advocacy, tax policy and industrial economic development for Indiana manufacturers. He holds a law degree from Indiana University and has spent over a decade advancing manufacturing policy in the region.
Roderick Smith, Publisher, Best Practices Magazines & EXPO
Roderick Smith is the Founder and Publisher of Compressed Air, Blower & Vacuum and Chiller & Cooling Best Practices Magazines, which reach over 17,400 subscribers across the globe. Based in Barcelona, Dusseldorf, Pittsburgh and Mobile, Smith worked as an executive in the compressed air industry (Quincy Compressor and SPX Hankison) from 1992 to 2006 before launching a media company in 2006.
Featured Panelists
Mustafa Wahid, Mechanical Design Engineer, Roche Diagnostics
Mustafa Wahid is an award-winning Mechanical Engineer and technical leader specializing in master infrastructure utilities planning, capital leadership and sustainable design across the Americas region. Armed with deep expertise in natural refrigerants and aligning global utility operations with zero-CO2 initiatives, he serves as the Regional SME for Roche Diagnostics, overseeing large-scale CapEx projects. Backed by over a decade of experience (Roche, Baxter, Exelon) and key credentials like C.E.M., C.E.A. and C.B.C.P., Wahid seamlessly bridges the gap between technical rigor and global corporate strategy.
Jose Luis Sarmiento Escalante, Facilities and Maintenance Engineer II, John Deere
Jose Sarmiento Escalante is a Facilities/Maintenance Engineer based in Paton, IA, where he leads capital projects, energy reduction initiatives and site-wide reliability and safety improvements. He is a Colombian Army veteran with a background in civil engineering and an MBA, currently pursuing a Master of Engineering in civil engineering and his Professional Engineer license. Sarmiento Escalante’s work emphasizes practical, data-driven solutions delivering measurable results and operational excellence.
Brad Runda, President, Runda Energy Consulting
Brad Runda is a proactive, productive energy and engineering leader who demonstrates a high level of initiative, problem solving and teamwork, and can organize, coordinate and achieve significant improvements. He has extensive leadership experience in energy management, engineering and utilities across many different industries, with executive-level influence. Runda has been effective at driving innovation and ensuring the ideas result in beneficial application in manufacturing applications.
Jim Nonnenmann, President and Principal Mechanical Engineer, PRVN Consultants
Jim Nonnenmann has over 27 years of professional experience including study, design, construction and commissioning services for district energy systems (central heating and cooling, combined heat and power, etc.), utility distribution systems, power systems and supporting facility mechanical systems. He has a BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Nonnenmann is a registered professional engineer in 13 states and is NCEES registered.
Secure Early Bird rates when you book by Sept. 30. Contact Kimberly Hill for group discounts at [email protected]. Register at https://cabpexpo.com/registration-2026.
About Best Practices 2026 EXPO & Conference
The Best Practices 2026 EXPO & Conference is the leading North American event focused on sustainable, safe and reliable on-site utilities powering automation. The event takes place Oct. 13-15, 2026, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. Attendees come from engineering firms, manufacturing plants and equipment companies responsible for specifying, purchasing, operating, selling and maintaining on-site utility equipment in industrial compressed air, nitrogen, blower/vacuum and HVAC/process cooling systems. https://cabpexpo.com
