Full Agenda

David Terry

President, National Association of State Energy Officials

David Terry is the President of the National Association of State Energy Officials and has worked with NASEO in a variety of capacities since 1996. Mr. Terry leads NASEO's policy actions and programs in support of the 56 governor-designated state and territory energy directors and their offices. NASEO communicates the states' views on virtually all national energy issues. Mr. Terry has participated in governor-led policy meetings, testified before U.S. Congressional Committees and presented at White House and international energy forums.  Mr. Terry has 25 years of experience working on a range of energy issues for such organizations as the Governors’ Wind and Solar Energy and Coalition and Energy Services Coalition. Prior to working in the energy area, Mr. Terry was researcher at the National Academy of Sciences and a statistical analyst for a consumer products market research firm. He received a BA degree from Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, and he has completed graduate coursework in statistics and marketing at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia.

John Williams

Executive Vice President, Policy and Regulatory Affairs, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

As Executive Vice President for Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Mr. Williams’ primary responsibility is to help guide state energy policy development. At NYSERDA, Mr. Williams oversees the Energy and Environmental Analysis unit, providing economic analysis and scientific research to best inform policy-makers in energy and environmental issues, as well as the Performance Management unit, which provides market characterization and evaluation, clean energy market insights and statistical analysis that all guide effective clean energy strategies. Mr. Williams serves as NYSERDA’s designee on the New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment.

Mr. Williams’ previous work experience includes serving as Energy Counsel for the New York State Assembly; Staff Attorney for The Energy Project of the Pace University School of Law; and Financial Analyst for the Public Service Company of New Mexico, a combined electric and natural gas utility serving the largest markets in the state of New Mexico. Mr. Williams earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Columbia University, a Juris Doctor degree from the St. John’s University School of Law, and a Master of Laws degree in Environmental Law from the Pace University School of Law. He is a licensed attorney in the states of New York and New Jersey.

Janine Benner

Director, Oregon Department of Energy

Janine Benner is the director of the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE). Janine joined ODOE in 2017 as assistant director for Planning and Innovation and was confirmed by the Oregon Senate as director in February of 2018. Janine came to ODOE from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), where she served as associate assistant secretary in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and deputy assistant secretary in the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs. Janine also spent 12 years working for Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), as energy and environmental policy advisor, legislative director, and deputy chief of staff. She grew up in Portland, OR and has a degree in history from Princeton University.

Molly Cripps

Director, Office of Energy Programs, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

Molly oversees the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s (TDEC) Office of Energy Programs (OEP).  OEP promotes the efficient, effective use of energy to enhance the environmental and economic health of the state.  Efforts and activities include education, outreach, technical assistance, and/or funding and financing opportunities that focus on energy efficiency and conservation, renewable energy, utility data management, energy security planning and preparedness, and energy in transportation

Molly is the Administrative Lead for Tennessee’s Volkswagen Diesel Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust (VW Settlement EMT) allocation and a member of the Executive Committee for the Drive Electric TN Consortium.  She serves as Governor Lee’s designee to the State Energy Policy Council and represents TDEC on the Energy Efficient Schools Council and various TVA information exchanges and working groups.  She has served on the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) Board of Directors since 2014 and is currently serving as the Treasurer of the Executive Committee.

In addition to Molly’s energy-related work, she serves as the Director of Operations for the Bureau of Environment, including emergency response efforts.  Prior to joining the State in 2010, Molly spent several years practicing law in Tennessee, with a focus on compliance and municipal liability defense.  She holds a B.A. in History and Political Science from the University of Tennessee and a J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School.

Jeffrey Genzer

General Counsel, National Association of State Energy Officials

Jeff Genzer has been Counsel to NASEO since the organization began in 1986.  He represents the organization before Congress and the Administration, working closely with David Terry and the NASEO staff.  He has also practiced energy and environmental law since 1985 at the law firm of Duncan, Weinberg, Genzer and Pembroke, PC.  Mr. Genzer serves as President of the law firm.  Prior to going into private law practice, he served as counsel and energy lobbyist for the Energy and Environment Committee of the National Governors Association.  Mr. Genzer also worked on low income energy issues for the National Consumer Law Center.  He began his energy career as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Micronesia 41 years ago.

Dr. Will Toor

Executive Director, Colorado Energy Office

In January 2019, Will Toor joined the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) as its Executive Director appointed by Governor Jared Polis. Will’s background spans transportation electrification, sustainable transportation, smart growth, electric vehicle policy, clean energy finance, green building policy, local government policy and regional planning. Prior to CEO, Will was Transportation Program Director at the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP). Before SWEEP, Will served as Boulder County Commissioner for eight years where he led the effort to create and adopt a countywide Sustainable Energy Plan, the BuildSmart green building code, the EnergySmart program, and the ClimateSmart Loan Program. Prior to being elected Boulder County Commissioner, Will served as Mayor of Boulder for six years where he developed Boulder's community transit network, EcoPass unlimited access transit pass programs, and policies for denser, mixed-use urban infill development as an alternative to sprawl. Will previously served on and chaired the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG). He was appointed by Governor Ritter to the state Transportation Funding and Implementation blue ribbon panel, the Governor's Climate Action Panel, and the Regional Air Quality Council. He was appointed by Governor Hickenlooper to the Air Quality Control Commission and the state oil and gas taskforce. Will spent 12 years as Director of the University of Colorado Environmental Center, where he developed campus sustainability programs in the areas of solid waste, building energy use, and transportation planning. Will holds a BS in Physics from Carnegie Mellon University and a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Chicago.

Dr. Andrew McAllister

Commissioner, California Energy Commission

Andrew McAllister was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown in May 2012. He fills the Economist Member position on the five-member Commission where four of the five members by law are required to have professional training in specific areas - engineering or physical science, environmental protection, economics, and law.

Mr. McAllister has over 20 years of technical, programmatic and policy experience in the fields of energy management, efficiency and renewable generation. Before joining the Commission, he worked at the California Center for Sustainable Energy for six years, most recently as managing director and director of policy and strategy. Previously, he worked with NRECA International Ltd. in the electric sectors of countries in Central and South America, Southeast Asia and Africa on a variety of load management, generation and utility planning projects. He was a project manager at an energy consulting firm and worked as an energy efficiency analyst at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He has published on various energy topics in academic, trade, and popular journals.

Andrew studied both engineering sciences and art history at Dartmouth College and holds M.S. and PhD degrees from the Energy & Resources Group at UC Berkeley. He is a returned Peace Corps Volunteer.

Dr. Henry McKoy

Director, Office of State and Community Energy Programs, U.S. Department of Energy

Dr. Henry C. McKoy, Jr. is a seasoned professional in business, community and economic development, policy, government, finance, energy, philanthropy and the academic worlds.  Prior to the Department of Energy he served on the faculty at North Carolina Central University School of Business where he led the entrepreneurship program, with additional appointments at Duke, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Harvard.  He is a former banking executive, entrepreneur, and former Assistant Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Commerce.  He holds degrees from UNC-Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School (B.S.), Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment (M.S.), and UNC-Chapel Hill’s Department of City and Regional Planning (PhD).

Ben Bolton

Senior Energy Programs Administrator, Office of Energy Programs, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

Mr. Bolton serves as the Primary Emergency Services Coordinator for Energy for the State of Tennessee.  In his role as helps administer the Tennessee Office of Energy Programs activities related to energy security/assurance, critical infrastructure, & energy policy. In 2018, Mr. Bolton was selected as co-chair of the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) Energy Security Committee & serves on the FEMA's Mitigation Framework Leadership Group. Originally from Mule Capital of the World – Columbia, Tennessee, he has a B.A. in English and B.S. in biology from Birmingham-Southern College.

Michael Furze

Assistant Director, Energy Division, Washington State Department of Commerce

Michael Furze is an Assistant Director at the Washington State Department of Commerce where he leads the State Energy Office. The Office catalyzes the transition to a clean and just energy future through policy leadership, investing in leading edge clean technologies, planning & responding to energy emergencies and expanding access to clean energy and environmental justice. Their work strengthens communities so that the people of Washington thrive in a clean, affordable and just energy economy.

He currently serves on the Board of the National Association of State Energy Officials and co-chairs the NASEO equity committee. Michael holds a Master’s Degree in Community and Regional Planning and a graduate certificate in Town Design from the University of New Mexico.

He waits patiently for the sun to emerge from behind the rain and clouds of the Pacific Northwest.

Stacey Washington

Senior Energy Program Manager, Energy Office, South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff

Stacey Washington holds a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from North Carolina A&T State University. She has 2 years of process engineering experience, and over 20 years of industrial and state government environmental sustainability experience. She currently works in the SC Energy Office – Office of Regulatory Staff as a Senior Program Manager. In this role, Ms. Washington works in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and clean transportation as it relates to education, outreach, energy planning, and energy justice.

James Strange

Consultant, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, U.S. Department of Energy

James specializes in energy law and policy and has worked across state lines assisting government agencies, nonprofits, and businesses pursue their renewable energy and equity goals. Until recently, James was counsel for an organization that oversees the nation’s largest solar, storage, and transportation electrification programs. James is currently a full time consultant for the United States Department of Energy, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity.

Michelle Gransee

Deputy Commissioner, Energy Resources Division, Minnesota Department of Commerce

Michelle Gransee serves the MN Department of Commerce as the Deputy Commissioner for the Energy Resources Division. She is an experienced energy manager with a demonstrated history of working in government administration. She has particular expertise in program development and evaluation, energy policy, clean energy technologies, training and conflict resolution. She has worked for the state since 2009. She received her B.A. from Concordia College – Moorhead in philosophy and art history, post-baccalaureate certification in education from the University of Minnesota-Duluth, and M.S. in natural resource from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point.

Dan Burgess

Director, Maine Governor's Energy Office

Dan Burgess, was appointed as the Director of the Maine Governor’s Energy Office by Governor Janet Mills in March of 2019. Governor Mills has set an ambitious climate and clean energy agenda, including the recent signing of legislation that requires emissions reductions of 45% by 2030 and 80% by 2050 and increases Maine’s Renewable Portfolio Standards to 80% by 2030. Prior to his return to his home state of Maine, Burgess spent eight years working in leadership roles at the Massachusetts at the Department of Energy Resources and the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Burgess has a business degree from the University of Maine Orono and a masters in Public Administration from Northeastern University.

Katie Dykes

Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection

Katie Scharf Dykes is the Commissioner of Connecticut’s Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP).  She was nominated by Governor Ned Lamont to serve as the Commissioner of DEEP, and was confirmed on February 20, 2019.  Katie previously served as Chair of the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) from 2015-2018, and as Deputy Commissioner for Energy at Connecticut DEEP from 2012-2015. Katie also served as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, Inc. (RGGI) from 2014 to 2017.  RGGI is a multi-state effort focused on reducing carbon emissions from electric generating facilities.  Katie joined CT DEEP in March 2012 after prior service as Deputy General Counsel for the White House Council on Environmental Quality and as a Legal Advisor to the General Counsel for the U.S. Department of Energy.  She is a graduate of Yale College and the Yale Law School.

David Althoff Jr.

Director, Energy Programs Office, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

David’s office, DEP’s Energy Programs Office, is involved in supporting, designing, and implementing energy-focused programs to encourage the development and deployment of energy efficiency, energy resiliency and alternative energy projects in Pennsylvania.  The Energy Program’s Office’s mission is to support energy activities which result in environmental improvements including mitigating the effects of and adapting to climate change.

David along with his staff have spent the last several years developing forward-looking plans centered on positioning Pennsylvania to take advantage of the clean energy economy. Recent products include: A 2021 Climate Action Plan and Climate Impacts Assessment for Pennsylvania, A Clean Energy Program Plan for Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania’s Solar Future Plan, Pennsylvania’s Electric Vehicle Roadmap, a Food Waste to Energy Assessment and an Energy Storage Assessment for Pennsylvania.  These foundational plans have led to the creation of various follow-on stakeholder groups including, the Drive Electric Pennsylvania Coalition and the Pennsylvania Energy Storage Consortium. 

During his career with DEP, David has led the development and deployment of $125 million of American Recovery and Reinvestment Stimulus funds, the $100 million Pennsylvania Sunshine Program, and the $15 million Green Energy Revolving Loan Fund.  Dave has also served as the Executive Director for the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority.  Dave and his staff also lead the very popular Pennsylvania Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Programs which distributes nearly $5 Million annually to support innovation and emission reductions in the transportation sector.
Dave has proudly served the citizens of Pennsylvania through his work at DEP for nearly 30 years, is a life-long Pennsylvanian, a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and lives in Hummelstown, PA.

During his career with DEP, David has led the development and deployment of $125 million of American Recovery and Reinvestment Stimulus funds, the $100 million Pennsylvania Sunshine Program, and the $15 million Green Energy Revolving Loan Fund.  Dave has also served as the Executive Director for the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority.  Dave and his staff also lead the very popular Pennsylvania Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Programs which distributes nearly $5 Million annually to support innovation and emission reductions in the transportation sector.

Dave has proudly served the citizens of Pennsylvania through his work at DEP for nearly 30 years, is a life-long Pennsylvanian, a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and lives in Hummelstown, PA.

Stephanie Insinna-Sahondo

Director, Weatherization Assistance Program, Colorado Energy Office

Rob Curis

Manager, Government Affairs, Lowe’s Companies, Inc.

Robert is an experienced government affairs professional with a B.A in Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy from Michigan State University and over ten years of experience in government, politics, and public policy. Prior to joining the Government Affairs team at Lowe's, Robert served as a Policy Advisor for the U.S. Senate Democratic Policy and Communications Committee under Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow covering a broad policy portfolio that included labor and workforce development, transportation, technology, finance, manufacturing, small business, and economic development issues.

Representative

Deloitte

Amy Royden-Bloom

Program Manager, Residential Building Program, Building Technologies Office, U.S. Department of Energy

Amy Royden-Bloom is the manager of the Residential Buildings Integration team in the Buildings Technology Office at the U.S. Department of Energy. In this role, she provides leadership to maximize the benefits of energy efficiency and renewable energy through technology deployment, accessing new partnerships and resources, and communications and outreach activities.

Previously, she served as the State Energy Program Manager. The program provides funding and technical assistance to states, territories, and the District of Columbia to enhance energy security, advance state-led energy initiatives, and maximize the benefits of increasing energy affordability.
Prior to joining DOE in 2013, Amy was a Senior Staff Associate for 12 years at the National Association of Clean Air Agencies (NACAA), where she led the association’s efforts on global warming, enforcement, agricultural air pollution and training.  She previously worked as a special assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Department of State’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs and, before that, as a lawyer at DOE.

Amy holds a law degree from Harvard Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and Spanish from the University of Virginia.

Maddy Salzman

Head of Strategic Partnerships, Earth Advantage

Kristofor Anderson

Director, Energy Resources Division, Georgia Environmental Finance Authority

Dr. Carolyn Snyder

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Buildings and Industry, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy

Dr. Carolyn Snyder is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Buildings and Industry in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. In this role, she leads a diverse energy efficiency program and R&D portfolio that includes advanced manufacturing, building technologies, federal energy management, low-income weatherization, and intergovernmental partnerships.

Previously, Dr. Snyder served as the Director of U.S. EPA’s Climate Protection Partnerships Division. She led voluntary partnerships with thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations to remove market barriers for energy efficiency and renewable energy and accelerate emissions reductions.  She oversaw the ENERGY STAR program, the Green Power Partnership, the Combined Heat and Power Partnership, the Center for Corporate Climate Leadership, and the State and Local Climate and Energy program.

Prior to EPA, Dr. Snyder supported both public and private clients on strategic management and environmental projects at McKinsey & Company.  She served as a White House Fellow in the U.S. Office of Management and Budget working on cross-agency policy and management initiatives for the OMB Director.  She also was the Director of Delaware's Division of Energy and Climate, where she created and led the new division and managed a wide range of energy efficiency, renewable energy, climate policy, and low-income weatherization programs.  She earned a Ph.D. in Environment and Resources from Stanford University, Masters Degrees as a Marshall Scholar from Oxford and Cambridge, and a B.A. from Amherst College.  Her scientific research has been published in Nature, Paleoceanography, and Climatic Change.

Susanne DesRoches

Vice President, Clean and Resilient Buildings, New York State Energy and Research Development Authority

Sara Bazemore

Director, State Energy Office, South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff

Sara Pendarvis Bazemore is Director of the South Carolina Energy Office, within the Office of Regulatory Staff. Her team promotes energy efficiency, renewable energy and clean transportation through funding, education, technical assistance, and collaborative outreach efforts, while serving as an energy data clearinghouse. The State Energy Office implements strategies that maximize environmental quality and energy conservation and efficiency and minimize the cost of energy throughout the state.

Prior to joining the Energy Office in 2021, Sara practiced environmental and regulatory law for over 15 years both in the private and public sector. She spent much of her career in the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control’s Office of General Counsel (DHEC-OGC). She prepared, negotiated, and litigated environmental matters before South Carolina’s Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and other judicial and quasi-judicial forums, including appeals involving the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, coastal law, CERCLA and more. Additionally, Sara served as the Deputy Director of the SC Office of Ocean and Coastal Resources Management (DHEC-OCRM). In between her terms within the DHEC-OGC, Sara gained valuable insight and experience as an attorney in the private sector with Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough and most recently with D’Alberto Graham & Grimsley.

As a native Charlestonian, Sara developed a passion for the environment and public policy. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science from the University of South Carolina, where she was awarded the prestigious Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award. She earned a Certificate of Biblical Studies from Columbia International University (Seminary). Later, Sara earned her MEERM/JD dual degree (Master of Earth and Environmental Resources Management from the USC School of the Environment, along with a Juris Doctor from the USC School of Law). Sara is also an adjunct professor at USC’s School of Law, where she teaches Energy Law and Environmental Law in SC.

Katy Hatcher

ENERGY STAR National Manager, Public Sector, Climate Protection Partnerships Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Caterina (Katy) Hatcher is the US EPA’s ENERGY STAR Public Sector National Manager.  She works with public sector organizations, such as government agencies and schools, to help improve energy performance through the use of ENERGY STAR tools and resources, including ENERGYSTAR Portfolio Manager. Katy has been working for EPA since 1996.  She holds a degree from the University of Virginia’s School of Architecture in City Planning. By the end 2016, more than 500,000 properties have been benchmarked in Portfolio Manager, representing 50 percent of the nation’s commercial building space. Portfolio Manager has become the standard national platform for benchmarking energy use in commercial buildings in the United States and Canada. It has been adopted for use by leading US commercial real estate, retail, healthcare, and educational organizations. Many local governments incorporate Portfolio Manager into state and local benchmarking requirements.

Aaron Berndt

Head of Energy Industry Partnerships, Google

Aaron Berndt is Head of Energy Industry Partnerships at Google, where he leads the team that works with utility partners to develop customer-focused energy programs that leverage Google Nest products. Prior to joining Google, Aaron was a leader in PG&E's Customer Energy Solutions team, with responsibility for the delivery of key products and programs in PG&E's portfolio. Aaron holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and an M.B.A from U.C. Berkeley Haas School of Business.

Karen Lasure

Energy Development Specialist, Office of Energy, West Virginia Department of Economic Development

Karen Lasure is an energy development specialist with the West Virginia State Energy Office, housed within the recently formed WV Department of Economic Development. Karen directly manages 85% of West Virginia's State Energy Program activities. The office's largest SEP-supported program provides comprehensive statewide energy efficiency and workforce education. Most recently, Karen provided technical assistance and guidance to the West Virginia Legislature that led to the passage of HB 2667 (Energy Savings in Public Buildings). This bill sets the state’s first energy reduction goal of 25% by 2030, as well as establishes the first benchmarking and disclosure policy. Karen has over 20 years' experience in program administration and grants management, extensive experience in pre- and post- awards management, as well as university research compliance. Karen has worked directly in the energy sector since 2015. She received a bachelor’s in science from West Virginia State University and a master’s in organizational management from Emmanuel College in Boston, MA.

Kenya Stump

Executive Director, Office of Energy Policy, Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet

Mitchell Simpson

Director, Energy Office, Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment

Mitchell Simpson is the director of the Arkansas Energy Office (AEO), a division of the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality. Mr. Simpson has managed various local, state, and federal programs and divisions in municipalities like Little Rock and in branches of state government including the Arkansas Department of Health and the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services. At AEO, he directs the office’s energy efficiency, weatherization, transportation, financing, and market preparation programming. He holds a master's degree in public administration from Arkansas State University and a juris doctor from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Lynn Retz

Director, Energy Office, Kansas Corporation Commission

Lynn Retz joined the Kansas Corporation Commission’s Energy Division in December 2016. She was named Energy Director in May 2017. Prior to that, she worked in Legislative Post Audit for more than
eight years. Lynn worked as an attorney in private practice for several years and also worked for the
Kansas Performance Review Board.

Maria Effertz

Director, Division of Community Services, North Dakota Department of Commerce

Maria Effertz is the Community and Economic Development Lead with the North Dakota Department of Commerce. She works with the Main Street Program, ED&F developers and state liaison for community development programming. Prior to joining Commerce in April 2020, Maria worked in marketing and external relations for engineering and oil and gas development.

Maria has degrees in public relations, political science and management. Maria is from and currently lives near Velva, has two kids, two horses, one dog and too many cats to count.

Brian Selinger

Director, Energy Office, Iowa Economic Development Authority

Brian Selinger is the Director of the Iowa Energy Office, a division of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA). The Energy Office manages a diverse mix of state, federal and utility-funded programs and initiatives that provide energy-economic benefits for Iowa’s citizens, businesses, and organizations. Brian led the daily activities in the development of the state’s most comprehensive, strategic energy roadmap, the Iowa Energy Plan.

Brian joined IEDA in 2015 after serving as the Deputy Director of Policy and Research for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Brian’s professional experience includes work with Lockheed Martin as part of an Energy Efficiency partnership with a utility.

Julie Staveland

Assistant Division Director, Materials Management Division, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

Elizabeth Mahony

Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources

Elizabeth Mahony most recently worked for Attorneys General Andrea Joy Campbell and Maura Healey as an Assistant Attorney General and Senior Policy Advisor for Energy. Elizabeth served in the Energy and Telecommunications Division, focusing on utility clean energy procurements, solar program development, clean energy rate design, consumer protections, and legislative engagement. Before joining the Attorney General’s Office, Elizabeth was Acting General Counsel for the Department of Energy Resources and Committee Counsel to Benjamin Downing, Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy before that. Prior to her work in the energy field, Elizabeth was an associate at a small litigation firm in Quincy, Massachusetts, and was Public Affairs Director for the late Senator Susan C. Fargo (D-Lincoln). She is a member of the Boston Bar Association’s Energy Committee. Elizabeth is a graduate of Marist College and Suffolk University Law School. She lives in Walpole.

Nels Johnson

Senior Policy Advisor for Renewable Energy, The Nature Conservancy

Nels Johnson is Senior Advisor for Renewable Energy with The Nature Conservancy’s North America Climate Mitigation Program. He co-leads the Renewable Energy Deployment Strategy and works with TNC's teams across North America to integrate “smart-siting” into energy development. The goal of the strategy is to accelerate the deployment of clean energy technologies to achieve economy-wide net-zero emissions by 2050 while minimizing impacts to nature and local communities.

During his 35-year career, Nels has worked on forest management, carbon sequestration, protected areas design, energy planning, mitigation, climate adaptation, and incentives to sustain ecosystem services in Asia, Latin America and North America. He has published over two dozen articles, reports and books on these topics.

Randy Satterfield

Executive Director, NextGen Highways

Randy is helping to lead the NextGen Highways initiative, working with stakeholders to re-examine the use of existing rights-of-way for co-location of transmission and communications infrastructure. He has more than 20 years of energy industry experience, including helping to site and permit hundreds of miles of transmission lines. Randy helps organizations build sustainable growth, solve problems and deliver results for their stakeholders. As a strategic leader, he’s led diverse teams to position organizations for success. Randy also works with clients to deliver clean energy and decarbonization solutions.

Celina Cunningham

Deputy Director, Maine Governor's Energy Office

Celina Cunningham serves as the Deputy Director of the Governor’s Energy Office in Maine. Before joining GEO, Celina most recently was Vice President/Chief of Staff at the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), where she worked on overarching strategies and policies. Before joining SEIA, Celina spent a decade in public service at the federal level handling energy and environmental issues, including at the U.S. Department of the Interior and as staff at the U.S. House of Representatives.

Tom Oakland

Energy and Economic Collaboration Office, North Dakota Department of Commerce

Rob Creager

Executive Director, Wyoming Energy Authority

Rob Creager is the Executive Director of the WEA. He previously served as Senior Policy Advisor to Governor Mark Gordon, where he strongly emphasized Wyoming’s economic portfolio and public policy. In that role, he led multiple efforts, including implementing multiple pieces of federal legislation and the successful execution of five pandemic-related business relief programs. He led the Governor’s budget transparency promise by creating the Wyoming Sense initiative. Creager has also presided over several of Wyoming’s state agencies and served as the Governor’s liaison to the White House. He is a native of Casper, Wyoming and a graduate of the University of Wyoming.

Greg Todd

Director, Utah Office of Energy Development

Greg Todd has served on the Duchesne County Commission since 2015 but resigned in September 2022 to accept the appointment from Governor Cox to be his energy advisor and director of the Utah Office of Energy Development.

Prior to his public service, Director Todd spent decades of his career in the oil and gas industry, where he enjoyed working in various states and leading multiple innovative projects.

Director Todd recently moved to South Jordan, Utah to be closer to work, making it the first time he’s permanently lived in the Wasatch Front. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary/physical education from Brigham Young University.

In his free time, Greg enjoys watching all levels of sports, from high school to professional. Living in rural Utah for most of his life, he became an avid fly fisherman and enjoys the outdoor life that Utah has to offer. Among all else, he loves spending time with his wife and family, especially the grandchildren.

Dr. Joseph Moore

Managing Principal Investigator, Utah FORGE and Research Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Utah

Dr. Moore serves on the PMT as the Managing PI. Dr. Moore has participated in DOE projects since the mid-1970s. He holds appointments at the University of Utah as a Research Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Geology and Geophysics. Dr. Moore currently serves as the Managing PI, with Co-PI Dr. McLennan on the Raft River EGS project “Concept Testing and Development at the successful Raft River Geothermal Field, Idaho”. Dr. Moore has also actively participated in both the Coso and Desert Peak EGS projects. His expertise is in the geology, hydrothermal alteration and geochemistry of geothermal systems and in the development of conceptual models based on geoscientific data. He has published more than 150 reports and articles on his investigations. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Geothermal Resources Council and the Geothermal Energy Association Technical Board.

Ethan Tremblay

Policy and Markets Program Manager, Maine Governor’s Energy Office

Ethan Tremblay serves as Policy and Markets Program Manager for the Governor's Energy Office, focusing on a variety of renewable energy and grid modernization policy initiatives. Before joining the office he worked in the private sector providing energy efficiency program administrators and utilities with program evaluation, customer analytics, and data management services. Ethan earned his Master of Science in Resource Economics and Policy from the University of Maine.

Ariel Drehobl

Management and Program Analyst, Solar Energy Technologies Office, U.S. Department of Energy

Rikkia Ramsey-Williams

Director of National Programs, Coalition for Community Solar Access

Rikkia has a wide range of advocacy experience having led campaigns at the state and national level for over a decade on climate and national security. She currently serves as the Director of National Programs at the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA), where she leads the organization’s federal policy efforts. Previously, Rikkia served as the Director of the Women Legislators’ Lobby under Women’s Action for New Directions (WAND) educating woman state legislators on the intersection of national security and domestic policy. Prior to WAND, Rikkia served as the Director of Policy and Advocacy for Truman Center for National Policy and the Truman National Security Project, where she worked to advance values-based national security and foreign policy and educate policymakers on the nexus of national security and climate change. Rikkia formerly served as Congressional staff for U.S. Senator Kay Hagan on Capitol Hill and in her North Carolina district office.

Jacqueline (Jae) Berg

Director, Distributed Energy Resources Program, Center for Sustainable Energy

Jacqueline (Jae) Berg, Director, Distributed Energy Resources Program, Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE) for the Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing (SOMAH) Program.

The SOMAH Program is the largest investment of its kind in the nation, funded by up to $100 million annually for 10 years by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). Jae leads program strategy, policy, design and implementation to ensure the program meets its statutory goal to install 300 MW of solar on multifamily affordable housing.

With a focus on equity and environmental justice, Jae is committed to ensuring the SOMAH Program delivers benefits to those most in need. SOMAH's goal is to assure equal access to solar and help reduce energy bills primarily for tenants. The program's unique, community-based approach ensures long-term, direct economic benefits for low-income households, helps catalyze the market for solar on general market multifamily housing, and creates local jobs.

Additionally, Jae directs the CPUC’s Multifamily Affordable Solar Housing (MASH) Program in the San Diego Gas & Electric territory. Jae holds a Master of Architecture from the Newschool of Architecture and Design and a B.A. in architecture from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

Morgan Hoy

Senior Market and Regulatory Analyst, Energy Market Analysis and Standards Team, American Gas Association

Morgan Hoy is a Senior Market and Regulatory Analyst for the Energy Market Analysis and Standards team with the American Gas Association. In her role, she serves as the acting subject matter expert on the supply and demand dynamics of the natural gas market to give presentations to member companies and committees while also serving as a source for media inquiries. Morgan is also the primary lead for the Winter Heating Season and Energy Efficiency survey analysis, as well as the natural gas portion of the EPA's Greenhouse Gas Inventory report as well as the primary author of the bi-weekly publication of AGA's Natural Gas Market Indicators. Morgan has a Bachelor's of Science in Environmental Science from the University of North Carolina Wilmington and a Master's of Science in Natural Resource Policy from North Carolina State University as well as being published in a variety of academic journals.

Alan Zelenka

Assistant Director for Planning and Innovation, Oregon Department of Energy

Alan is the Assistant Director for Planning and Innovation at the Oregon Department of Energy. His team works on energy efficiency, renewable resources, sustainable transportation, energy planning, and climate change issues.

Before joining ODOE he was the Energy Services Leader for Kennedy/Jenks Consultants for over 10 years, a consulting firm where he worked with clients all over the west on climate change, energy efficiency, and renewables.

Prior to that Alan worked at Emerald PUD in Eugene for over 21 years, where he was the Power Manager.

Alan Zelenka graduated with a degree in political-economy from UC Berkeley, and got his master’s degree in energy planning and policy from the University of Oregon.

In his spare time, Alan is in his fourth term as a Eugene City Councilor.

Jason Lanclos

Director, Technology Assessment Division, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources

Jason Lanclos, P.E. (Jason) has worked at the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (LDNR) since August of 2018.  After serving as the Deputy Executive Director of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) for the Governor’s Office since 2014, Mr. Lanclos took the opportunity to return to working in the oil and gas and emerging energy technologies sector at LDNR after working in private industry for almost 13 years.  Mr. Lanclos currently serves as the director of the State Energy Office and Technology Assessment Division of LDNR.  Mr. Lanclos is currently serving as the coalition representative for the State and Midwest region on CCUS technologies and is a central board member for the National Association of State Energy Officials.  Mr. Lanclos has worked on and managed a variety of projects/programs in the oil and gas sector during his time in private industry and managed one of the largest ecosystem restoration efforts for the State of Louisiana while at CPRA.  He holds a degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Louisiana State University and is a licensed Professional Engineer.

Mandy Mahoney

Director, Building Technologies Office, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy

Mandy Mahoney leads the Building Technologies Office to create a self-sustaining market for building energy efficiency, including advancing technologies, promoting highly efficient buildings and homes, and accelerating the adoption of building codes and equipment standards.

Megan Levy

State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Project Manager, Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response, U.S. Department of Energy

Prior to joining The US Department of Energy’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) State, Local, Tribal, Territorial team in September of 2022, Megan spent two decades in energy efficiency, security, and resilience both with the low-income weatherization program and with the Wisconsin State Energy Office as Energy Emergency Assurance Coordinator and Resilience Strategist. From 2017 through 2022, Megan served as the Co-Chair of the NASEO Energy Security Committee. Formerly a member of the Board of Directors, Megan Energy serves on the Midwest Renewable Association Advisory Board (www.midwestrenew.org).  Megan is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Deanna Henry

Emergency Preparedness Manager, Oregon Department of Energy

Representative

U.S. Energy Information Administration

Angela Dayton

Workforce Training Program Manager, Office of State and Community Energy Programs, U.S. Department of Energy

AnnaMaria Garcia

Associate Director, Office of State and Community Energy Programs, U.S. Department of Energy

Anna Garcia is the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). In this role, she leads a diverse energy efficiency program and R&D portfolio that includes advanced manufacturing, building technologies, federal energy management, low-income weatherization, and intergovernmental partnerships.

Previously she served as Director of the Weatherization and Intergovernmental Programs Office. In that role, she provided leadership to maximize the benefits of energy efficiency and renewable energy through technology deployment, accessing new partnerships and resources, and communications and outreach activities.

Previously, Ms. Garcia served as Executive Director of the Ozone Transport Commission, the organization of 12 states and the District of Columbia created by Congress in 1990 to assess and coordinate the development of policies to reduce regional ground-level ozone or "smog" in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. Before joining the Commission, she was Director of Operations and State Programs for the Center for Energy and Climate Solutions, a non-profit that is a division of the Global Environment and Technology Foundation. She provided unique environmental and energy expertise through creating partnerships with and among state agencies to design multi-pollutant strategies that have both environmental and economic benefits.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Princeton University and an Executive Master of Business Administration from the George Washington University.

Ari Gerstman

State Energy Program Manager, Transformation and Planning, Office of State and Community Energy Programs, U.S. Department of Energy

Erin Taylor

Innovation and Special Projects Supervisor, State Energy Program, Office of State and Community Energy Programs, U.S. Department of Energy

Melanie Kenderdine

Principal, Executive Vice President, Energy Futures Initiative

Melanie Kenderdine joined former Secretary of Energy Ernest J. Moniz and fellow Principal Joseph S. Hezir in founding the Energy Futures Initiative (EFI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to driving innovation in energy technology, policy, and business models.

Kenderdine worked in the Obama administration at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) from May 2013 to January 2017. She served concurrently as energy counselor to the secretary and as the director of DOE’s Office of Energy Policy and Systems Analysis. Her 100-person office was responsible for analysis and policy development in areas, including DOE’s role in the annual review of the Renewable Fuel Standard Program requirements, energy innovation, and climate change. Her office produced two installments of the Quadrennial Energy Review and helped conceive and develop the Energy Security Principles adopted by Group of Seven (G-7) leaders in 2014. As energy counselor to the secretary, Kenderdine helped create Mission Innovation, now a 24-country/European Union initiative that supports transformational clean energy research, development, and demonstration; North American grid integration and security; and the modernization of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Prior to her service at DOE, Kenderdine helped establish the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI) and served there as executive director. During her six-year tenure at MITEI, she managed large research and administrative staff, was a key contributor to MIT’s Future of Natural Gas study, the MITEI Symposium Report on Alternative Fuels and Vehicles, and edited the MIT Future of the Electric Grid study. Kenderdine also started the C3E Symposium series, a joint MIT-DOE program to support women’s careers in clean energy with cash prizes; she still serves as a DOE C3E Ambassador.

Before joining MITEI, she was vice president of Washington operations for the Gas Technology Institute (GTI) from 2001 to 2007. While at GTI, Kenderdine established a separate not-for-profit company, the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America (RPSEA). As RPSEA’s first CEO, she transformed it from an MOU between GTI and one university to an industry/academic unconventional natural gas research consortium of 26 universities and 30 industry partners. Concurrently, she was a key architect of the Royalty Trust Fund, the only federal trust fund dedicated to energy research and development.

From 1993 to 2001, Kenderdine was an appointee in President Bill Clinton’s administration, where she served in several key posts at DOE, including senior policy advisor to the secretary, Bill Richardson, director of the Office of Policy, and deputy assistant secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs.

She was a primary architect of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve oil exchange of 2000, the creation of the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve, and the return of the Naval Oil Shale Reserve No. 2 to the Ute tribe in Utah, the largest land transfer back to Native Americans in the lower 48 in over 100 years.

Prior to joining DOE, Kenderdine was chief of staff and legislative director for then-New Mexico Congressman Richardson.

Kristina Fugate

Legal Counsel, Idaho Governor’s Office of Energy and Mineral Resources

Dr. Steve Aumeier

Senior Advisor, Nuclear Energy Strategic Programs, Idaho National Laboratory

Dr. Aumeier serves as Senior Advisor for nuclear energy strategic programs and a nuclear engineer at Idaho National Laboratory. In this role, he is responsible for developing strategies, programs, initiatives, and partnerships to advance U.S. energy security, regional economic development, and clean energy objectives. Over three decades of service in the national laboratory system, Dr. Aumeier has provided innovative leadership in a variety of business, management, and research roles spanning national and homeland security, clean energy and systems research, nuclear energy technology, and university research partnerships, including leadership of research and operations organizations comprising 400+ persons and $250 M budget. He is a recognized expert and thought leader in technology, business, and clean energy and national security strategies. Dr. Aumeier holds a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from The University of Michigan (1994) and an MBA from The University of Chicago (2002).

Savita Bowman

Program Manager, Carbon Management, ClearPath

Savvy Bowman is a Program Manager at ClearPath, leading the organization’s carbon dioxide removal (CDR), and steel and concrete industrial decarbonization initiatives. In this role, Savvy works to guide legislative efforts, including through new policy development, and manage stakeholder engagement with policymakers, government, industry, and coalitions.

Prior to joining ClearPath, Savvy was a Business Resolution Analyst at Tesla, where she managed pre-litigation solar and storage assets across North America and conducted risk mitigation assessments to resolve issues ranging from system performance discrepancies to contractual disputes. Her background also includes consulting for Pöyry, reviewing the feasibility of biomass energy deployment in Southeast Asia, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) researching the impacts of bauxite mining in Guinea for aluminum production. Savvy has a B.S. in Environmental Studies from SUNY-ESF and a M.S. in Sustainability Management from Columbia University.

Barbara Tyran

Director, External Relations, National Hydropower Association

Barbara Tyran is an Advisor of the Macro Grid Initiative, which seeks to expand and upgrade the nation’s transmission network to deliver job growth and economic development, a cleaner environment, and lower costs for consumers.

She brings outstanding federal/state government relations experience, following two decades as Director, Washington & State Relations, at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) where she was the principal liaison between EPRI executive management and Congress, the Administration, the national trade associations, state legislators/regulators, and the Washington policy community.

Her background includes federal advocacy for utilities and consulting for public/private/nonprofit energy clients, with engagements involving strategic planning, policy analysis, marketing, communications policies, and external engagement strategies.

Barbara holds a BA degree with Honors from Stanford University and an MBA from Yale University.

Chris Yunker

Managing Director, Resiliency, Clean Transportation and Analytics, Hawaii State Energy Office

Chris Yunker is the Managing Director for Resiliency, Clean Transportation, and Analytics for the Hawaii State Energy Office.  Mr. Yunker is an energy industry professional with a broad range of experience in a variety of functions and roles including start-ups, venture capital, and central station power plant development. Most recently Chris was the Rates and Analysis Manager for San Diego Gas & Electric where he oversaw rate design, forecasting and load analysis. Prior to that he held positions at SDG&E in Strategic Planning, Finance, RD&D, and Resource Planning. In these roles he oversaw the development of applications and served as an expert witness in proceedings before the California Public Utilities Commission covering topics ranging from rate policy, rate design, procurement and finance.  In addition Mr. Yunker has worked for Sempra Connections which installed micro-turbines in combined heat and power applications on the customer side of the meter as well as for GEA Power Cooling Systems, Inc. which developed condensing systems for steam turbines in utility scale central station power plants.  He has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from University of California – San Diego and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Southern California.  He is also a professional engineer (PE) in mechanical engineering and a certified energy manager (CEM) through the association of energy engineers.

Jeremy Lewis

Acting Director, Energy Conservation and Management Division, New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department

Dr. Timothy Unruh

Executive Director, National Association of Energy Service Companies

Dr. Timothy D. Unruh is the Executive Director of the National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO).  In this role, he manages the representation of its member Energy Service Companies.  NAESCO provides advocacy for the industry at the Federal, State and Local levels, and provides for member company Accreditation.

Prior to this role, Dr. Unruh was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Renewable Power at the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Office of the US Department of Energy (DOE).  As the Deputy Assistant Secretary, Dr. Unruh managed the nation’s renewable power research, while also providing oversight to the Grid Modernization Initiative.

Also while at the DOE EERE, Dr. Unruh Directed the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP).  As FEMP Director, Dr. Unruh oversees the implementation of policy and actions that result in energy efficiency implementation, renewable energy adoption, and reductions in energy and water use in Federal government operations. Dr. Unruh coordinates with DOE national laboratories and other Federal agencies in this capacity. 

Dr. Unruh was formerly director of operations for ConEdison Solutions where he led a team of engineers and project managers to implement energy savings projects within government and private installations.  While in this role, Dr. Unruh worked to educate energy users about alternative finance methods to achieve energy-reduction goals. He was heavily involved in the measurement and verification of energy savings resulting from these projects. 

Earlier in his engineering career, Dr. Unruh built a program to provide energy services to major industrial clients. He trained and coordinated industrial clients on methods to produce energy savings while operating a short financial payback environment. Dr. Unruh is a licensed Professional Engineer in multiple states across the U.S. and is a Certified Energy Manager (CEM) as well as a Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP). 

During his career, Dr. Unruh has performed numerous assessments, project analyses, and energy engineering services for an array of facility types. He is involved in the development of electrical power quality standards with the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Power Quality Subcommittee. 

Dr. Unruh has doctorate, master’s, and bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering from Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas.

Sean Williamson

Program and Management Analyst, Office of State and Community Energy Programs, U.S. Department of Energy

Sean Williamson is a Program and Management Analyst supporting the Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund Capitalization Grant Program in DOE’s Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP). Since joining DOE in 2016, Sean has developed DOE’s Commercial PACE Working Group and led the first-of-its-kind study, Long-Term Performance of Energy Efficiency Loan Portfolios. Prior to joining DOE, Sean delivered technical assistance to communities in the Mid-Atlantic at the University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center. Sean is a graduate of Cornell University (BS) and the University of Maryland (MPP).

Emily Slusser

Program and Management Analyst, Office of State and Community Energy Programs, U.S. Department of Energy

Emily Slusser is a Management and Program Analyst supporting the Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund Capitalization Grant Program in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of State and Community Energy Programs. Prior to joining DOE, Emily developed tools for planning electric vehicle charging infrastructure for the General Services Administration and led project proposals for an engineering and energy consulting firm specializing in high performance building design. Emily holds a bachelor's in environmental studies from Walla Walla University and a master's in global environmental sustainability from the University of Denver.

Representative

Air Products

Kim Cheslak

Advisor, Building Energy Codes Program, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Kim is a building energy policy leader and content matter expert that guides the future of building energy policy throughout the United States. Her work includes assisting jurisdictions to improve their use of codes and energy policies to achieve their goals and assist in achieving national goals. Before joining PNNL, Kim led the codes and policy team at New Buildings Institute in development, implementation and thought leadership around energy codes and building performance standards to assist U.S. cities and states to meet their climate goals, with a   strong focus on building decarbonization and building-grid integration. Kim has over 10 years of experience focusing on the role of codes and standards to move the needle on the design and construction of high performance buildings. Her career has included commercial and residential code compliance studies, working with local governments to maximize savings through adoption of and compliance with code, and managing sustainability portfolios. Kim was instrumental in the formation of Washington DC’s Green Building Division.

Ashley Armstrong

IRA Management Expert and Senior Policy Advisor, U.S. Department of Energy

Ashley Armstrong is leading DOE’s efforts within the Office of Infrastructure on the strategy, program design, and implementation of Inflation Reduction Act Building Energy Codes provision.  In addition, she serves as a Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), where she leads DOE’s Appliance Standards Program.  Ashley has focused her career on energy efficiency and buildings, and most recently served as the Acting Director of Regulatory Building Programs at DOE and the Director of Regulatory and Technology Policy at A. O. Smith Corporation. Ashley holds a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Blake Shelide

Facilities Engineer, Oregon Department of Energy

Blake Shelide, PE is a Facilities Engineer with the Oregon Department of Energy, providing technical expertise for a number of ODOE programs.  Blake is a licensed mechanical engineer in Oregon, and his career has included work as a design engineer and consultant as well as serving as a corporate energy manager for a large industrial manufacturer which involved engineering and implementing energy efficiency projects, tracking energy consumption, and performing energy audits.  With ODOE, Blake is the lead for ODOE’s role with energy codes and standards and serves on the Construction Industry Energy Board, working together with stakeholders and the Building Codes Division on energy code issues. Blake has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame.

Jeff Morris

Senior Director, State Government Relations, Schneider Electric

Jeff Morris joined Schneider Electric North America in 2019 and is Senior Director of State Government Relations. Prior to that, Jeff worked in cleantech commercialization and policy through his own business, Energy Horizon Corporation, as Director of Northwest Energy Technology Collaborative, and 23 years as a Washington State Representative. He served six years as a USDOE OE Electricity Advisor,  is an Associate member of the Gridwise Architect Council and Chair of The Microgrid Resource Coalition.    While a legislator, he was named one of the most Tech Savvy Legislators in the United States by Governing Magazine, was Chair/President in several national and Regional legislative associations and his public/private energy policy work recognized by the Canadian Government.  Morris co-founded the Northwest Energy Angels now called Element 8 in 2005 & created the Legislative Energy Horizon Institute that has trained over 350 state and local policymakers in Energy 101.

Margaret Hoffmann

Oregon State Director, Rural Development, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Margaret, or Margi, Hoffmann grew up on a small family farm outside of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, a small community located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Hoffmann left Colorado and moved to Portland, Oregon, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature.

Hoffmann's professional career began working in natural resources management on federal lands. She has worked on public policy in the realms of public safety, health care, climate change, energy resilience and security, and land use. She has experience working for the public and private sector, as well as in non-profit management.

In 2012 and 2015, Oregon Governors John Kitzhaber and Kate Brown, respectively, appointed Hoffmann to serve as Energy Policy Advisor. In this position, Hoffmann developed the first-ever 10-Year Energy Action Plan for the State of Oregon and served as the Governor's office liaison to the Oregon Public Utility Commission and Oregon Department of Energy. In addition, she served as liaison to the Pacific Coast Collaborative, a partnership between the States of California, Oregon and Washington, and the Province of British Columbia. In 2022, her work served to assist in the development of a shared Statement of Collaboration to address climate change adaptation and mitigation for the world's fifth largest economy.

After leaving the Governor's office, Hoffmann served as a senior management team member for the Farmers Conservation Alliance, a non-profit focused on modernizing irrigation infrastructure in the Western United States to benefit agricultural security and the environment. During Hoffmann's tenure, the Alliance's irrigation modernization program grew from the pilot stage to implementation across five western states and created a $1B pipeline of shovel ready irrigation modernization projects.

In January 2022, Hoffmann received a Presidential appointment to continue public service as a state director for USDA Rural Development, serving the State of Oregon. She currently lives in Bend with the love of her life, Joshua Klaus, and their 4-year-old daughter, Liesl.

Kristen Cullen

Head of Public Affairs, Commonwealth Fusion Systems

Kristen Cullen is the Head of Public Affairs at Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) where she leads efforts related to policy, government relations, and public outreach. She previously led the siting process for CFS' new campus that will be home to the world’s first commercially relevant fusion energy prototype device in Devens, MA. Prior to CFS, she was a senior vice president for the public affairs practice at Rasky Partners. Kristen has also worked in the Massachusetts statehouse and as a campaign manager and communications director on federal, state and local political campaigns. She started her career as a television reporter working for local ABC and NBC affiliates. Kristen earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Wheaton College and a master’s degree in Journalism from Emerson College.

Melvin Weatherly

Radiation Health Physicist Lead, Fusion Energy and Radiation Therapy, Washington State Department of Health

Representative

NuScale

Brian Selinger

Director, Energy Office, Iowa Economic Development Authority

Brian Selinger is the Director of the Iowa Energy Office, a division of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA). The Energy Office manages a diverse mix of state, federal and utility-funded programs and initiatives that provide energy-economic benefits for Iowa’s citizens, businesses, and organizations. Brian led the daily activities in the development of the state’s most comprehensive, strategic energy roadmap, the Iowa Energy Plan.

Brian joined IEDA in 2015 after serving as the Deputy Director of Policy and Research for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Brian’s professional experience includes work with Lockheed Martin as part of an Energy Efficiency partnership with a utility.

Ben Brouwer

Bureau Chief, Energy Office, Montana Department of Environmental Quality

Joe Pater

Director, Office of Energy Innovation, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin

Eddy Trevino

Director, State Energy Conservation Office, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

Eddy Trevino is the Director of the Texas State Energy Conservation Office (SECO). Through energy efficiency, SECO helps public entities improve working and learning environments. Energy efficiency assistance is provided through a technical assistance program, emerging clean energy technology program, education and training program, and an energy-efficiency revolving loan program. Mr. Trevino’s professional designations include a registered Professional Engineer and a Certified Energy Manager. He has 35 years of engineering and management experience.  While attending the University of Texas at Austin, Mr. Trevino earned the following degrees: Bachelor’s in architectural engineering, an MBA, and a Master in Technology Commercialization.

Paul Heitmann

Program Manager, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities

Paul was brought in to NJ BPU Staff in 2021 to develop and lead its Grid Modernization proceeding. An enthusiastic strategic program designer, developer and team leader, he brings his extensive knowledge from the telecommunications, electric power, and electric vehicle industries into the development of leading-edge clean energy transformation strategies and projects. Paul is currently driving the Grid Mod proceeding through interconnection reform and toward a consensus-driven foundation for faster and more effective adoption, integration, participation, and coordination of diverse DERs such as distributed solar, Energy Storage, EV charging (and V2G discharging), Microgrid, and Hydrogen Fuel Cell.

Paul also contributes to innovation and change in the rapidly evolving distributed energy industry through various advisory roles, and has been deeply involved with the IEEE Standards Association (SA) development of IEEE1547 for interconnection of DER, as well as the IEEE Power and Energy Society (PES) group and the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) for advancing Transactive Energy constructs for DER participation.

Carlos Tejera Fernández

Director, Energy Policy Program, Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce

Carlos R. Tejera Fernandez is the director of the Energy Policy ProgramDepartment of Economic Development and Commerce of the Government of Puerto Rico. He has served for the past four years as the State Energy Program Manager and in the last 1 ½ year also as the State Energy Security Coordinator. Tejera-Fernandez has reached several goals, together with his team, achievements such as; updating the PR Energy Security Plan, coordinating and leading the first ESF-12 comprehensive response team, providing the project management for the Agrosolar project (Department of Agriculture) which resulted in a successful installation of 2.7 megawatts of solar energy on farms around the island, and coordinating the efforts for the installation of iconic photovoltaic systems in different critical facilities on the island. Tejera-Fernandez holds a B.S. in Business with a major in Organizational Innovation from the University of Phoenix, an M.S. in Organizational Leadership with a major in Change Management and Innovation from the Colorado State University and Energy Efficiency Practitioner™ Certification from the Association of Energy Engineers.

Jenny Wiedower

ORISE Science, Technology, and Policy Fellow, Building Technologies Office, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy

Jenny Wiedower is an ORISE Science, Technology, and Policy Fellow in the Building Technologies Office at DOE. Jenny supports BTO’s strategy to grow a skilled workforce and leads its work to make energy-efficient manufactured housing more affordable and accessible.

Previously, Jenny led the U.S. Green Building Council’s efforts to transform schools and their communities into healthy, efficient, inspiring environments that practice and teach sustainable thinking and behavior. As senior manager for K-12 education, she directed strategy, development and delivery of USGBC’s K-12 education offerings, including the Learning Lab online education platform and the Green Classroom Professional Certificate program, as well as development of mentorship and career connection opportunities to support green career pathways for students.

She has a bachelor’s degree in English from Rhodes College, and a master's of science in environmental studies from the College of Charleston.

Curtis Thayer

Executive Director, Alaska Energy Authority

Curtis W. Thayer is the executive director of the Alaska Energy Authority (AEA), the state's energy office and lead agency for statewide energy policy and program development. Prior to AEA, Thayer served as president and chief executive officer of the Alaska Chamber, the largest state trade association.

Previous to that position, he served as Commissioner for the Department of Administration and as a cabinet member for Governor Sean Parnell, with responsibility for 1,100 public employees and an annual budget of $350 million. Additionally, his public service includes time as the Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development and working in Washington, D.C. with Congressman Don Young and Senators Ted Stevens and Lisa Murkowski.

Before public service, Thayer worked on the management team of ENSTAR Natural Gas Company and for the Alaska Gas Producers Pipeline Team.

Thayer has served on boards at Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, Alaska Retirement Management Board, Alaska Royalty Oil and Gas Development Advisory Board, U.S. Chambers’ Committee of 100, and currently chairs the Alaska Board of Marine Pilots.

Josh Elliott

Director, Division of Policy and Programs, New Hampshire Department of Energy

Josh Elliott serves as the Director of the Division of Policy and Programs at the New Hampshire Department of Energy. The Division is responsible for a variety of assistance programs, sustainable energy programs, as well as the new federal funds made available from the IIJA and IRA. It is also tasked with drafting and updating the state’s State Energy Strategy. Prior to his work at the department, he worked for the New Hampshire State Senate in a variety of policy roles, including Deputy Chief of Staff. Josh graduated from Saint Anselm College with honors and earned a master’s degree from the University of Chicago. In addition to his work at the Department, he serves as Governor Chris Sununu's designee on the Drinking Water Groundwater Trust Fund Advisory Commission and on the Bureau of Energy Management’s Gulf of Maine Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force.

Rebecca Respicio

Director, Guam Energy Office

Dayna Cobb

Division of Climate, Coastal, and Energy, Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control

Autumn Proudlove

Associate Director, Policy and Markets, North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center

Autumn Proudlove is the Associate Director of Policy and Markets at the NC Clean Energy Technology Center, joining the Energy Policy team in January 2014. Autumn leads the Center’s Energy Policy team and its DSIRE Insight subscription services, including the 50 States of Solar, 50 States of Grid Modernization, and 50 States of Electric Vehicles quarterly reports. Autumn has presented at numerous conferences and events, including NARUC Policy Summits, Solar Power International, and Solar Canada. Autumn previously served as Principal Investigator for the Center’s work on the U.S. Department of Energy’s SunShot Solar Outreach Partnership. Autumn received her Master’s degree in Energy Regulation and Law, summa cum laude, from Vermont Law School and her Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies, with a minor in Economics, from Dartmouth College in 2012. She enjoys playing classical piano, painting, skiing, and playing with her two rescue dogs.

Eknath Vittal

Senior Principal Technical Leader, Electric Power Research Institute

Martha Duggan

Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association

Martha Duggan serves as Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (“NRECA”) where she is responsible for representing the nation’s 900 plus rural electric cooperatives before federal agencies involved in worker safety, emergency management, and transportation.

Ms. Duggan has 30 years of experience in the energy industry working for a variety of organizations and companies. She began her career working at a consulting firm that provided expert testimony in federal and state regulatory proceedings on behalf of cooperatives, municipalities and other intervener interests. She then worked for a regulated natural gas distribution company where she gained experience in finance and accounting, regulatory affairs and operations. Ms. Duggan also worked for an investor owned electric utility and two solar companies. She has extensive advocacy experience in market design and competition issues. Ms.

Duggan has worked on solar policy issues at the state and federal levels. Her peers elected her to serve on the PJM Finance Committee and the PJM Nominating Committee and she has been a member of both the Board of Directors of the Solar Energy Industries Association and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy. In 2010 she traveled to China as part of the Obama Administration’s first cabinet level trade mission.

Ms. Duggan is an instructor at the NRECA/NUTSEA Loss Control Seminar. She is also a Certified Loss Control Professional. Ms. Duggan is a member of Quad States Instructors, Inc., Southern Area Instructors Association, the National Utility Training, Safety and Education Association, the National Safety Council, and the National Emergency Management Association. In 2018, she was appointed to the Southern States’ Energy Board Blue Ribbon Task Force on Strategizing an Electric Policy and Regulatory Framework in Puerto Rico.

Ms. Duggan earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Georgetown University and her Masters degree in Business Administration from The George Washington University.

Matthias Kurwig

Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Enervee

Prior to founding Enervee, Matthias was global COO of Neo@Ogilvy, managing 700 staff across 30+ offices. At Neo@Ogilvy, he led development and implementation of the TEM Control Platform, a large scale social media tracking tool serving clients including American Express, Amazon, Cisco and IBM. Over the past 20 years, he has founded, built, and sold multiple web businesses, including one of Europe’s leading full-service digital agencies. As a German, the “greenest country by design” (Newsweek), he has a deep understanding of the environmentally conscious consumer.

Ram Narayanamurthy

Deputy Director, Building Technologies Office, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy

Ram Narayanamurthy is the deputy director of the Building Technologies Office. He joins DOE with more than two decades of experience in development and deployment of building technologies. Prior to DOE, he led the Buildings Program at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), where his team focused on strategies for decarbonization of the building stock in both existing and new construction, based on large-scale deployments. 

The team's notable accomplishments included development of the first production built zero energy community, decarbonized solutions for retrofits in affordable housing communities, and smart energy communities. It is key to identify technologies that overcome infrastructure and cost barriers to decarbonization retrofits, such as low power heat pumps and heat pump water heaters that can help scale deployments.

Ram has also worked extensively with state organizations such as the California Energy Commission, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, and cities to advance building decarbonization. He will bring experience in working with many large homebuilders, affordable housing developers, HVAC manufacturers, and utilities to assist in scaling emerging technologies. 

Prior to EPRI, Ram led teams focused on innovation and product development. As the director of product development for Ice Energy, his work led to the development of the Ice Bear, one of the first packaged thermal energy storage systems for light commercial buildings. The product was awarded ASHRAE product of the year in 2005 and 2010.

As chief science officer for EchoFirst, he worked on integrated home energy management systems, solar PV, and solar thermal technologies. His team developed and deployed some of the first smart thermostats and implemented integrated ventilation and HVAC strategies to reduce building energy use. He holds 27 patents across a breadth of building technologies, including HVAC, water heating, solar, and controls technologies. 

Ram holds a master's degree in mechanical engineering from the Pennsylvania State University and a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology.

Sarah Trent

Program Manager, Energy Security, National Association of State Energy Officials

Sarah Trent supports the NASEO’s energy security program, where she works with states on a number of resilience and energy security issues, including cybersecurity, energy emergency response, resilience funding, and energy emergency exercises. Prior to NASEO, Ms. Trent interned at the Federal Aviation Administration assisting in research and stakeholder engagement. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from James Madison University.

Bill Updike

Program Manager, Smart Surfaces Coalition

Prior to joining the Smart Surfaces Coalition, Bill served as a principal with the cutting-edge engineering and consulting firm Integral Group where he completed numerous climate action plans for cities and zero-carbon campus plans for colleges and universities. Before joining Integral, Bill served as the Chief of the Green Building and Climate Branch of Washington, DC's Department of Energy and Environment, where he was responsible for green building and climate policies and programs for the city. Bill chaired the group that led to the first city adoption of all the major chapters of the International Green Construction Code, and the first model net zero energy construction code for a city in the U.S. Among other activities, Bill also led efforts to create the first city-based Green Bank in the U.S. and helped introduce legislation that led to the first mandatory minimum energy performance standard for existing buildings as well as a requirement for 100% of the electricity purchased in Washington DC to come from renewable sources by 2032.

Bill also worked as a project manager for a renewable energy company, a green building construction manager for a design/build firm, and an outside sales representative for a green building supply company. In the early part of his career, Bill worked as an environmental journalist for two national magazines. Bill received one of the inaugural BOLD Awards from the U.S. Green Building Council in 2015 and a Living Building Challenge Hero Award from the International Living Future Institute also in 2015.

Maren Mahoney

Director, Office of Resiliency, Arizona Executive Office of the Governor

Maren Mahoney is an experienced attorney passionate about building an equitable, resilient future for all Arizonans. Trained in systems-level analysis, her expertise is in energy regulation, law, and policy development, analysis, and advocacy. Prior to joining the Hobbs Administration, she advocated for state-level energy efficiency and decarbonization policies around the country, served as a Policy Advisor at the Arizona Corporation Commission, managed an energy policy think tank at Arizona State University, and was a litigator in New York. She holds a J.D. from New York Law School, where she was a John Marshall Harlan Scholar and earned a Certificate for Public Service. Maren earned her M.A. in Sustainability from ASU, where she is a Senior Sustainability Scholar. Maren lives in Phoenix with her husband, two children, and their dog, Mr. Bunny.

Representative

City of Portland

Representative

Metro African Methodist Episcopal Church

Grady Bailey

Southwest Regional Manager, Smart-E Loan Program, Inclusive Prosperity Capital

Delaney Luna

Senior Economic Development Associate, International Economic Development Council

Emily Wilbur

Director, Division of Energy, Missouri Department of Natural Resources

Dr. Lauren Ross

Senior Technical Advisor, Multifamily Building Energy Efficiency, Office of State and Community Energy Programs, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Energy

Sandy Fazeli

Senior Managing Director, National Association of State Energy Officials

Sandy Fazeli leads NASEO policy and program priorities coordination; workforce development; equity, access, and inclusion; and state and local cooperation and coordination on energy, climate, and resilience planning. She oversees NASEO’s private sector Affiliates program, which connects state energy policy makers, companies, and non-profits, and helps lead the content development of NASEO’s major conferences and events. She serves as an Adjunct Fellow for the Center for Strategic and International Studies Wadhwani Chair in U.S. India Policy Studies; on the Advisory Board of the Energy Policy Institute at Boise State University; as the Vice-Chair of the City of Minneapolis's Community Environmental Advisory Commission; and on the National Academies' Committee on Accelerating Decarbonization in the United States. Prior to NASEO, Ms. Fazeli worked on energy efficiency and state policy issues at the Rocky Mountain Institute, the Colorado Energy Office, and the Alliance to Save Energy. She received a Bachelor of Science in foreign service from Georgetown University and a Master of Development Practice from the University of Denver.

Devashree Saha

Director, U.S. Clean Energy Economy Program, World Resources Institute

Devashree Saha is the Director of US Clean Energy Economy program. In this role, she supports policymakers and other stakeholders to ensure policies and strategies to advance the clean energy transition are fair and inclusive, with a focus on decent jobs, skills, economic development, equity, and putting people and communities at the center of the transition.

Prior to joining WRI, Devashree led the Council of State Government’s (CSG) energy and environmental policy work where she was responsible for directing research and providing policy analysis and technical assistance to state legislators and executive branch officials. Before joining CSG, Devashree worked at the Brookings Institution where her research focused on a wide array of clean energy topics, including examining clean energy innovation trends at the U.S. sub-national level, identifying promising clean energy financing mechanisms, and estimating the employment size, nature and spatial geography of the U.S. clean economy. Earlier in her career, she worked for the National Governors Association, providing governors and their staff with data and guidance on best practices affecting the energy sector.

Nick Burger

Deputy Director, Energy Administration, District Department of Energy and Environment

Representative

Guidehose

Joan Glickman

Senior Advisor, Office of State and Community Energy Programs, U.S. Department of Energy

Joan Glickman serves as the IRA Program Management Expert in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP). In this role, she is leading the development of program requirements for the forthcoming DOE Home Energy Rebate Programs, an $8.8 billion investment that will fund upgrades for U.S. homes. The home energy rebates will help American households save money on energy bills, upgrade to clean energy equipment and improve energy efficiency, and reduce indoor and outdoor air pollution.

Prior to joining the Home Energy Rebates Team at SCEP, Joan served as the Program Manager for the Residential Buildings Integration program in the DOE Building Technologies Office. In that leadership role, Joan oversaw DOE’s investments in research, development, and partnerships focused on decarbonizing residential buildings. Joan also previously led the DOE’s Advanced Building Construction Initiative (ABC), which makes transformative investments construction and renovation technologies that reduce the time and cost required to complete deep energy retrofits and build low-carbon new construction.

Joan has nearly 30 years of experience at DOE and has held various leadership positions, including leading the creation of the DOE Home Energy Score, developing a test program for biofuels, and serving as Deputy Director of the Federal Energy Management Program.

Juliet Ellis

Head of Utilities, Promise

Juliet Ellis is the Head of Utilities at PromisePay. Previously, Juliet was the Chief Strategy Officer and Assistant General Manager at San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. Juliet holds a Masters of Science in Business Administration from the San Francisco State University.

Rupa Deshmukh

Energy Efficiency Manager, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities

Rupa Deshmukh is Energy Efficiency Manager at the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, working on energy efficiency programs, buildings decarbonization and utilization of federal grants. Previously, Rupa was Supervisor of the Climate Change Section at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, where she managed the State’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) program, and led the analysis of economy-wide climate mitigation policies towards achieving the State’s climate and clean energy goals. Rupa has Masters degrees in Electrical Engineering from Penn State University and Environment Economics and Policy from Rutgers University.

Alex Scott

Vice President of Business Development, CLEAResult

Brian Kealoha

Chief Growth and Impact Officer, VEIC

As Chief Growth and Impact Officer, Brian leads the organization’s business development strategy and initiatives and oversees marketing and communications.

Involved in the energy sector for more than 25 years, Brian is a visionary leader with a passion for climate solutions and a strong record advancing clean and efficient energy programs.

Prior to joining VEIC, Brian served as executive director of Hawai’i Energy, the state’s energy efficiency utility. His work at Hawai’i Energy catalyzed the island’s clean energy economy and drove to include everyone in the transition, particularly rural and low-income residents across the state.

Josh Keeling

Senior Vice President, Market Development, UtilityAPI

Josh Keeling is the SVP of Market Development at UtilityAPI, where he leads a team focused on regulatory engagement, strategy, external affairs, and analytics. Josh previously held various leadership roles in product development, strategy, and planning at Generac, Portland General Electric, Cadeo, and LO3 Energy. He is a thought leader in DER integration, having developed several industry-leading programs in distributed flexibility and often being asked to speak on issues around topics like FERC Order 2222 implementation, interconnection reform, and integrated distribution planning. He received his BS in Economics and MS/PhD ABD in Systems Science at Portland State University where he is now adjunct faculty in their Energy Management Certificate program. He is a board member at Grid Forward, voting member of the Regional Technical Forum, , and an active contributor in various standard making bodies around grid integration and flexible loads.

Prerna Tomar

Director, Public Policy, Samsung

John Taylor

Executive Director, Consortium for Energy Efficiency

Chris Rice

Chief of Staff, Maryland Energy Administration

Chris Rice currently serves as the MEA Chief of Staff?. He has also served as Director of Programs at MEA, leading a team which implements more than 20 state wide programs and initiatives involving energy conservation and production. He brings over a decade of experience in the energy sector impacting all areas of Maryland's economy.  Chris Rice was appointed to the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Council and was a Clean Cities Coordinator for over 8 years.  He also sat on the North East Regional Biomass Steering Committee, ARC Energy Committee, Renewable Fuels Taskforce, LNG Taskforce and the Chesapeake Bay Commission’s study on cellulosic ethanol. Mr. Rice attended the University of Georgia, where he earned an undergraduate degree in Biology.  In 2017 Chris was awarded a certificate of completion for the Senior Executives in State & Local Government Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Steven Hershkowitz

Transportation Electrification Policy Lead, Energy Policy Office, Washington State Department of Commerce

Steven Hershkowitz is the Transportation Electrification Policy Lead in the Washington State Energy Office (housed within the Washington State Department of Commerce). He provides policy support to Washington’s Interagency Electric Vehicle Coordinating Council and is leading development of the state’s Transportation Electrification Strategy. He also helps develop policy elements for Commerce’s community charging and electric vehicle incentive programs, and advises the Governor’s Office and Legislature on actions to accelerate equitable electric vehicle adoption. Before coming to the Washington State Energy Office, he worked at the Washington State Department of Transportation on public engagement for highway preservation and fish passage projects. He lives in Seattle, WA.

Jeff Marootian

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy

Jeff Marootian is the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. He previously served as a Special Assistant to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, as Special Assistant to the President in the White House, and was a member of the Biden-Harris Transition Team.

Prior to joining the Biden-Harris Administration, Jeff was the Director of the District Department of Transportation, where he piloted sustainable transportation technologies and led the city’s early adoption of the Transportation and Climate Initiative. Mr. Marootian oversaw the modernization of hundreds of miles of roads and sidewalks and advanced critical infrastructure projects, such as the reconstruction of the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge, the DC Powerline Undergrounding Project and the expansion of dedicated bus and bike lanes.

Mr. Marootian previously served in the Obama-Biden Administration as the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Chief Sustainability Officer at the U.S. Department of Transportation. He is an alumnus of The George Washington University where he has also taught as an adjunct faculty member in the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Administration.

Maria Robinson

Director, Grid Deployment Office, U.S. Department of Energy

Maria Duaime Robinson was the first Korean-American elected to the Massachusetts General Court, where she served in the House of Representatives from 2019-2022. While in office, she led the bicameral Clean Energy Caucus, was the Massachusetts state lead for the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators where she also served on the board, and was the only state legislator on the U.S. EPA Clean Air Act Advisory Committee. She also served on faculty at Tufts University's School of Urban Planning and Environmental Policy, bringing her expertise in energy policy to graduate students. Prior to her election in 2018, Maria led Advanced Energy Economy's Wholesale Markets Program, including engagement at FERC and the regional transmission organizations. Previously, she focused on regulatory issues relating to energy and air, including a 27-state campaign with Governors' offices, legislatures, and energy and environmental regulators. She also managed AEE’s report development and data-driven analysis at both the state and national level. She worked for Navigant Consulting in the renewable energy practice, supporting the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in analyzing and procuring contractors for statewide renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. Maria is a proud lifetime Girl Scout. She holds an S.B. in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Masters of Jurisprudence in Energy Law from the University of Tulsa.

Alexa Voytek

Deputy Director, Programs, Innovation and Transportation, Communications, Office of Energy Programs, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

Alexa serves as the Principal Investigator for the U.S. DOE State Energy Program (SEP) in Tennessee, oversees TDEC OEP’s energy in transportation programming, and administers the State’s initial allocation under the VW Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust. Alexa also serves as the Coordinator for U.S. DOE’s Clean Cities Middle-West Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition, through which she acts as a technical resource for fleets and individuals evaluating alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies. Alexa serves on the leadership team for the National Association of State Energy Officials' Transportation Committee and is an Advisory Group member for the National Association of State Energy Officials' Energy Technology Innovation Project. She serves as the Governor’s designee to the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Regional Energy Resource Council, which provides guidance on how TVA manages its energy resources against competing objectives and values. Prior to joining TDEC, Alexa interned with the UN Division for Sustainable Development and the U.S. Consulate in St. Petersburg, Russia. Most recently, Alexa served as Asst. Account Executive for the public relations firm Ketchum, Inc., where she was assigned to energy and technology related projects. Alexa holds an M.A. from Columbia University in Russian, Eastern European, Balkan, and Eurasian Studies and graduated summa cum laude from Duke University, with a B.A. in History and Russian Language / Area Studies.

Jessica Reichers

Technology and Policy Manager, Oregon Department of Energy

Bret Stevens

Daimler Trucks North America

Greg Alderson

State Environmental Policy Manager, Portland General Electric

Representative

U.S. Department of Labor

Karen Zelmer

Home Energy Rebates Program Manager, Office of State and Community Energy Programs, U.S. Department of Energy

Jaime Jackson

Senior Advisor, Rural Utility Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Lily Li

Chief Executive Officer and Product Architect, Hancock Software

Responsible for the vision, innovation and growth of Hancock Software. In 2004 Lily created the company's first software system that helped energy efficiency programs service low income households. Under her leadership, the company has emerged as the top cloud and mobile software provider for the Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program and has expanded its reach to utilities and commercial and industrial energy efficiency providers. Lily is fluent in three languages and earned a MS and BS in optics from one of China's most prestigious universities, Zhejiang University.

Mark Glick

Chief Energy Officer, Hawaii State Energy Office

Lloyd Kass

Vice President of Market Development and Regulatory Strategy, Franklin Energy

Lloyd serves as Franklin Energy’s Vice President for Strategy & Market Development, steering company engagement with government, utilities, and a range of stakeholders to increase Franklin Energy’s impact through the acceleration of a climate-forward clean energy policy. Lloyd Kass has developed and implemented clean energy and building efficiency programs for utilities and government for 25 years.  Lloyd previously led strategy, business development, and program operations for Lime Energy. He also spearheaded an initiative at the New York Power Authority which was successful in reducing energy waste in state government buildings and operations. For more than a decade, Lloyd served at the New York City Housing Authority, leading infrastructure planning, finance, and energy management for a vast affordability multifamily property portfolio. Lloyd is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at Columbia University, where he instructs graduate students in public administration and environmental policy. Mr. Kass is active with several energy policy nonprofits and serves as Board President of the Energy Efficiency Alliance, which advances clean energy policy in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Ali Garrison

Senior Manager, HORNE

Ali Garrison serves as a senior manager for government services where she provides oversight, operations support and compliance support for state and local governments, including funds made available through the CARES Act and American Rescue Plan Act. She focuses on project management processes and procedures, and she collaborates with states to maximize and accelerate funding disbursement.

She joined HORNE in 2015 and started her career at HORNE as an assurance manager for public and middle market companies in the technology, distribution, manufacturing, and gaming industries. Ali leverages her extensive experience as an external auditor to help states and local governments ensure compliance.

Ali earned her Bachelor of Accountancy and Master of Business Administration with a concentration in accounting from Mississippi College.

Angie Ziech-Malek

Policy and Program Design Consultant, DNV

Devin Mussell

Health Physics Lead, Helion Energy

Starlette Hodge

State Energy Program Manager, State Energy Office, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality

Starlette (Star) Hodge is the Manager of the State Energy Program in the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality.  Ms. Hodge began her career with the State Energy Office in 1999 and has over 28 years of experience in the energy field.  She provides technical and administrative oversight for programs with activities in renewable energy and clean power, energy efficiency, and clean transportation.   Programmatic work includes technical assistance, energy policy, economic development, and clean energy workforce development.  

Ms. Hodge currently serves as the lead staff to the NC Energy Policy Council which advises the governor and the General Assembly on legislation and rulemaking that addresses domestic energy exploration, protects the environment, and encourages economic development. Prior to joining the State Energy Office, she managed energy and engineering projects for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the city of Rocky Mount Engineering Department.  Ms. Hodge holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University and an Energy Management Diploma also from North Carolina State University.

Quinn Antus

Program Manager, Emerging Markets and Carbon Management/CDR, Colorado Energy Office

Kara Saul Rinaldi

President and Chief Executive Officer, AnnDyl Policy Group, LLC

Kara has twenty-five years of experience in advocacy, policy strategy development, lobbying, and media relations. As one of the leading energy and climate policy experts, she has directed national policy, communications, and grassroots campaigns leading advocacy efforts with the Administration and Congress on tax, appropriations, authorization, and climate change policy for national and international NGOs and corporations.

Prior to starting AnnDyl Policy Group, she held positions as the Policy Expert on Energy and Climate Change for ERM, a multi-national environmental consultancy firm; the Director of Government and Public Affairs for Owens Corning, a Fortune 500 company that is a leader in insulation technologies; and, the Senior Director of Policy for the Alliance to Save Energy. Kara has been elected to the board of various energy and environmental groups and coalitions; and, has used her contacts with the non-profit community to assist industry in stakeholder engagement to advance clean and efficient energy policy. Kara has also worked on the Climate Change Campaign for the World Wildlife Fund as well as in the offices of Rep. Lynn C. Woolsey (D-Calif.) and Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.).

Kara has testified before congressional committees on energy policy and appeared in a variety of media, including: Fox News, The News Hour with Jim Lehrer, CNBC, Business Week, USA Today, and The New York Times. She also appears in podcasts and as a news guest for National Public Radio. She has authored numerous articles on energy policy for trade publications and provided many keynote and panel presentations on energy and climate policy. She has also led delegations and ran strategy efforts at numerous UNFCCC Conference of Parties (COP) meetings.

Kara holds a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, San Diego. She is fluent in English and French.

Christine Csizmadia

Senior Director, State Governmental Affairs and Advocacy, Nuclear Energy Institute

Christine is the Senior Director for State Governmental Affairs & Advocacy at the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) and has been with NEI for 17 years developing and managing state, local and grassroots programs. Christine also manages NEI’s advocacy arm, Nuclear Matters, a national coalition that seeks to inform and educate policymakers and the public on the value of nuclear energy.

Christine serves as the Vice President of the Foundation Board for the National Conference of State Legislatures and is an officer of the Board for the National Foundation of Women Legislators. She is also a graduate of the Women in Nuclear NEXT Executive program.

Christine received her undergraduate degree from George Mason University and completed graduate studies at Johns Hopkins University in Political Communication.

Darnell Johnson

Chief Executive Officer and President, Urban Efficiency Group

Darnell Johnson is a spiritual and social architect committed to engineering solutions that humanizes the socio-economic existence of disadvantaged communities. With over two decades of entrepreneurial experience and a fixation on advancing energy equity, his emergence as an “ecopreneur” is evolutionary. Darnell is the CEO and President of Urban Efficiency Group, a utility implementation contractor and community sustainability design firm. His industry-specific credentials include, but are not limited to, BPI-Building Analyst, Building Envelope, Infiltration Duct Leakage, Energy Auditor, Quality Control Inspector, Healthy Homes Evaluator, RESNET Rater, and EcoDistrict Accredited Professional. He believes that diversity brings strength, inclusion is indicative of an acceptance that is essential to growth, and equity is a human right that should be embraced as the standard and not an exception. By pragmatically implementing these beliefs, systemic change would be the resolve and “Stronger Together” would become a reality.

Art Christianson

Senior Manager, Utility and Government Rebates, The Home Depot

Heather Elias

Vice President of Real Estate, Pearl Certification