For three days this May, members of both the energy and comfort industries will come together to learn about advancements in petroleum, energy and HVAC. The Eastern Energy Expo (EEE), taking place from May 20-23 at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut, will try and reach new heights with plenty of educational and networking opportunities.

In its third year, the EEE, cohosted by OESP, AREE and PPA, will bring in thousands of experts from multiple industries. According to the EEE website, the event has averaged 4000 attendees in its first two years. And, as pointed out by Marjorie Feinman, one of the showrunners for EEE, this year may see the expo go to new limits with the attendance exceeding that of last year’s event.

The expo will continue to expand its opportunities for attendees to connect with one another.

Opening EEE will be the Women in Energy Conference. This three-hour seminar will explore the issues, challenges, needs and strengths of women in leadership positions throughout the industry. A brunch will kick off this part of the expo, before being quickly followed by leadership presentations with two focuses: Leading Women in Energy and Strategies for Leadership. Throughout both the Leading Women in Energy Workshop and Strategies for Leadership, female leaders will discuss effective ways to be strong leaders in the energy industry.

The Women in Energy conference won’t be the only opportunity for attendees to meet one another. The welcome receptions invite all guests to connect with new associates on the opening night of the expo. The following day, the Annual Dave Nelsen Golf Tournament will allow new friends and associates to golf on the Elmridge Golf Course, while also raising money for the Dave Nelsen Scholarship Program. This scholarship program, established in 1999, has awarded over $300,000 worth of scholarships to students pursuing careers in the energy service industry.

Another destination that will allow members of the industry to connect and learn about one another’s businesses will be on the trade show floor. Open to attendees throughout Tuesday and Wednesday, the floor will display new products and technologies for industry members to learn about firsthand.

With so many exhibitors on display — 275 to be exact —  it may seem tough to get the full experience in just two days. EEE, though, has found a way to make sure attendees get the most out of their experience.

“There will be three areas of exhibits including indoor truck exhibits and outdoor live fire exhibits. Tuesday afternoon will feature a free networking reception in all areas of the trade show,” Feinman says.

Aside from the trade show floor, there are plenty of business-minded information for attendees to absorb and translate into their businesses.

“EEE offers nearly 50 business programs during the convention with programs focusing on business topics, technician education, motor fuels issues as well as a Women in Energy Conference,” Feinman says. “Whether you are a company owner, manager, service, customer service or marketing personnel, there is a program for you.”

Educational topics and sessions for this year’s expo include employment law, social media growth, new equipment technology and many more. On Tuesday, there will be business and educational sessions in the morning; and on Monday and Wednesday, industry members can attend business and technical sessions both in the morning and afternoon.

The biggest piece of learning, though, can come from this year’s keynote speaker. On Wednesday morning, Major Dan Rooney from the U.S. Air Force will hold a meet and greet with attendees before discussing values and principles as they relate to the business world.

“Dan Rooney is a perfect fit for our event. His core values as well as the mission of Folds of Honor align with an attendee that comes to our show,” said Feinman. “Our industry has a great amount of respect for American veterans and we are happy to support that effort.”

Major Rooney has served three tours of duty as a F-16 fighter pilot, became a PGA golf professional and is the author of “A Patriot’s Calling: Living Life between Fear and Faith.” On top of that, People Magazine has named him a “Hero of the Year,” and ABC World News’s awarded him “Person of the Year.”

Major Rooney has also founded Fold of Honor, a scholarship for family members of fallen soldiers. It has raised over $100 million for over 13,000 scholarships handed out.

Online registration for the event is still open. You can register and check out a full schedule of events at EasternEnergyExpo.com.

Educational and networking opportunities are the highlights of this expo. However, what has made this event unique and has helped it exceed last year’s attendance, is its ability to apply to multiple industries.

“EEE offers a wide range of choices to attendees in the energy and home comfort industries through its schedule of education programs, trade show exhibits and networking events. EEE is not defined to one specific industry but rather joins together opportunities for heating oil marketers, HVAC, propane, wholesale fuels and motor fuels marketers,” Feinman says.