What does it take to deliver home repairs and energy-efficiency improvements that make a real difference for families?
At the 2026 Rural Renaissance Roadshow, contractors and community partners working directly with Groundswell’s Save On Utilities Long-Term (SOUL®) program will share what they’re learning from the field—from serving homeowners and navigating projects to strengthening the local partnerships that make this work possible.
BEST PRACTICES FROM THE FIELD:
SOUL® PARTNERS IN THEIR OWN WORDS
Darrell C. Anthony
Owner & Principal Broker, DCA Realty, LLC | Owner, DCA Legacy Builders, LLC
Darrell C. Anthony is an Arkansas Delta entrepreneur and community development leader working across real estate, residential construction, and insurance. Through DCA Legacy Builders, he brings firsthand experience connecting quality housing, energy efficiency, affordability, and long-term economic opportunity for families and communities.
Julie Olive
CEO, Greenhome South
Julie Olive leads GreenHome South, a Georgia-based home performance company focused on helping homeowners improve energy efficiency, comfort, and the performance of their homes. An active voice in the home performance industry, Julie brings a contractor’s perspective on delivering practical energy-efficiency solutions and creating healthier, more affordable homes for the communities she serves.
More Arkansas Voices. More Energy Conversations.
The Roadshow brings together leaders from across the energy ecosystem to explore the challenges facing households, utilities, contractors, and communities—and the practical solutions being developed in response.
Defining the Energy & Affordability Crisis
Ted Thomas
Founding Partner, Energize Strategies & Senior Advisor, PowerLines
Ted Thomas is an energy consultant and former Chairman of the Arkansas Public Service Commission. His experience includes regional leadership on electric reliability, transmission, and energy policy, including work addressing resource availability following Winter Storm Uri. As a Senior Advisor to PowerLines, Ted also contributes to the organization’s work to modernize utility regulation, lower utility bills, and strengthen outcomes for energy consumers and communities.
Partnering with Local Utilities to Accelerate Resilience
Bob Atkins
General Manager, West Memphis Utilities
Bob Atkins brings more than 30 years of utility leadership to West Memphis Utilities. His experience spans investor-owned, cooperative, and municipal utilities, with a focus on innovation, organizational transformation, community service, and improving quality of life for utility customers.
Bring Your Experience to the Conversation
If you work in home repair, construction, energy efficiency, utilities, housing, workforce development, or community development, the Rural Renaissance Roadshow is an opportunity to connect with peers and hear how communities are approaching affordability, resilience, infrastructure, and local economic opportunity.
The Roadshow fosters partnerships that enable communities to deploy programs that make beneficial kitchen-table impacts for our neighbors. We hope that you’ll join us and increase the impact you’re making in your community.
November 4–6, 2026
Cook Museum of Natural Science
Decatur, Alabama
Serving with joy,
Autumn “AJ” Hough
Manager of Rural Events & Special Assistant to the CEO
