Full Agenda

Adam Agalloco

Director, Decarbonization, ICF

Adam Agalloco, Director for Decarbonization, helps organizations strategically plan for and implement energy, emissions, and sustainability strategies via comprehensive planning, financing strategies, policy, and programs. He is a Certified Energy Manager and a LEED Accredited Professional, with prior roles in municipal energy management, wind energy development, and mechanical design.

Jennifer Aiosa

Chief of Staff, Maryland Energy Administration

Kristofor Anderson

Director, Energy Resources Division, Georgia Environmental Finance Authority

Kristofor Anderson is the Director of Energy Resources with the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA), which is the state’s energy office. Kris leads the state energy office programs, including the Weatherization Assistance Program, the State Energy Program, and the Fuel Storage Tank Program. Kris joined GEFA as a program manager in 2010 and prior to that was a planning consultant and worked on a range of planning and management programs for federal and energy industry clients. At GEFA, Kris has managed millions of dollars of federal grants for energy efficiency, energy emergency planning, renewable energy, and weatherization.

Kris has a master’s of city and regional planning degree from Georgia Tech and a Bachelor of Science in geography from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Nancy Bagot

Senior Vice President, Electric Power Supply Association

Nancy Bagot serves as senior vice president, assisting the management of the association and leading the association’s regulatory team which develops and advocates federal and state policy issues affecting the development and evolution of competitive wholesale power markets. Issues include the refinement of RTOs and related market rules, ensuring fair and open access for all market participants to wholesale markets, and the development of mutually reinforcing reliability standards and competitive market operations. Prior to joining EPSA in 2002, Bagot served as the Washington, D.C., government affairs manager for five major interstate natural gas pipelines: Northern Natural Gas, Florida Gas Transmission, Transwestern Pipeline, Northern Border Pipeline and Midwestern Transmission. From 1990 – 1999, Bagot worked in TransCanada Pipelines’ Washington, D.C. office as a regulatory representative and analyst. She has served as Chair and member of committees of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, as a member of the Keystone Dialogue on Natural Gas and Cleaner Power, and as a Board member of the Interstate Pipeline Regulatory Committee. She is currently a non-attorney professional member of the Energy Bar Association. Bagot received a B.A. degree from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Ed Barbour

Partner, Communities, Energy and Infrastructure, Guidehouse

Edward Barbour is a Partner in Guidehouse’s Communities, Energy & Infrastructure segment, where he advises and collaborates with building product manufacturers, private gas and electric utilities, energy and manufacturer trade associations, and state and federal governments. With over 30 years of experience in the field of energy efficiency, Mr. Barbour's work focuses on technology management and market assessment, with particular interests in linking business and technology strategies, accelerating the product adoption process, and the effective management and commercial exploitation of research and development.  Mr. Barbour holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Virginia, and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Maryland.

Sara Bazemore

Director, 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.

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.

Adam Berry

Advisor, Building Decarbonization, Colorado Energy Office

Adam Berry

Advisor, Building Decarbonization, Colorado Energy Office

Lexi Bolinski

Director of Operations, Habitat for Humanity Williamson-Maury

Lexi joined Habitat for Humanity Williamson-Maury in 2021 as Volunteer Manager and quickly expanded her role to include construction project management in 2022. Today, as Director of Operations, she leads the affiliate’s homebuilding and energy efficiency initiatives, focusing on practical, cost-effective ways to meet evolving building codes while keeping homes affordable for working families.

Lexi helped oversee their affiliate’s first Zero Net Energy Habitat home build, developed in partnership with Atmos Energy and Cornerstone Building Brands, and managed the installation of solar systems that have reduced several homeowners’ grid reliance by more than 40%. Her collaborative, solutions-driven approach demonstrates how energy performance and affordability can go hand in hand in nonprofit homebuilding.

Ben Bolton

Assistant Director, Energy Security, Emergency Preparedness and Resilience, Office of Energy Programs, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation

Ben Bolton is the Assistant Director for Energy Security, Emergency Preparedness, and Resilience, at the Office of Energy Programs in the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. He serves as the state's lead Emergency Services Coordinator for Energy as well as the Infrastructure Branch Manager embedded at the State Emergency Operations Center. Since 2018, Bolton serves as co-chair of NASEO’s Energy Security Committee & was appointed to FEMA's Mitigation Framework Leadership Group (MitFLG), advising the agency on national mitigation strategies. He holds a B.S. in biology and B.A in English from Birmingham-Southern College. He lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with hundreds of Japanese Maples and antique books cluttering his yard and home.

Ben Brouwer

Bureau Chief, Energy Office, Montana Department of Environmental Quality

Ben Brouwer has served in the Montana Energy Office at the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) since 2016, stepping into leadership of the office in 2023. The Energy Office delivers programs including energy emergency response, clean energy finance, and electric vehicle planning and deployment. Prior to joining DEQ, Ben spent nearly a decade working in local government and public interest organizations with a focus on Montana energy policy. Ben received a degree in Geography and Environmental Studies from Middlebury College.

Matthew Brown

Co-Chair and Managing Member, National Energy Improvement Fund

Matthew has worked in the energy finance and policy field for more than 25 years, beginning his work with the accounting and consulting firm of KPMG in New York. He subsequently worked with an environmental, energy and finance consulting firm conducting research on viability of clean coal companies in the late 1980s. He went on to work with the City of New York, where he was in charge of establishing public-private partnerships for the financing of natural gas fueling stations, among other related activities.

In 1994, he moved to Denver where he headed the National Conference of State Legislatures energy program for 11 years. In this role, he directed a program that provided non-partisan advice on a wide variety of state clean energy policies, including renewable energy standards, tax policy, and establishment of public benefit funds, among numerous other roles. During this time, he testified in more than 35 state legislatures, as well as in front of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. In 2005, Matthew moved to Paris, France to begin consulting work with the International Energy Agency, focusing on renewable energy and energy efficiency. Upon his return to Colorado, Matthew built upon his background in a combination of clean energy policy and finance to develop an extensive practice that involves assisting state governments, utilities, lenders, the U.S. Department of Energy, national associations, and others in the area of clean energy finance.

As Co-Chair and Founder of the National Energy Improvement Fund (NEIF) he provides strategic direction for the overall activities of the firm, co-leads all capital raise activities to satisfy loan and other capital needs, and leads implementation of the firm’s commercial and rebate advance product activities. Prior to the founding of NEIF, Matthew was principal with Harcourt Brown and Carey, a clean energy finance consulting firm. In that role, among many other activities, he led HB&C’s engagement with the four California investor-owned utilities to develop and implement energy efficiency financing programs as well as a similar engagement to develop a third-party financing program with utility bill collections for utilities, utility commissions, energy offices or others in many other locations including Michigan, Colorado, New York, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Wisconsin, and elsewhere. Matthew has worked extensively with financial institutions to advise on deployment of capital through loans and leases for clean energy in the western United States as well as nationally. Matthew’s expertise in advising governments that are looking to support financing program development and has developed multiple public-private partnerships between state governments and private capital providers and lenders.

Matthew holds a BA from Brown University and an MBA from New York University’s Stern School.

Nick Burger

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

Nick Burger is the Deputy Director of the Energy Administration. He was previously a Senior Economist at the RAND Corporation and the director of RAND’s Washington office. He holds a PhD in economics from the University of California at Santa Barbara, and his research has focused on energy, climate, and resilience issues. At DOEE, Nick leads a team that is working to improve the District’s building energy efficiency, access to renewable energy, and clean transportation options. His team designs and implements a range of programs that make energy cleaner and more accessible for District residents.

Nick was a Lead Author on the Fourth Assessment Report produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and is the author of two dozen academic papers and reports. Nick has worked with Habitat for Humanity of DC for ten years, helping them construct eight Passive homes for District residents. He served as an ANC Commissioner in ANC 6B for four years and has worked extensively on zoning and housing expansion. Most recently he served on the District’s Green Building Advisory Council.

Dan Burgess

Acting Commissioner, Maine Department of Energy Resources

Dan Burgess, was appointed as the Acting Commissioner of the Maine Department of Energy Resources 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.

Richard Caperton

Vice President for Public Policy, SPAN

Richard W. Caperton is the Vice President for Public Policy at SPAN.  In this role, he leads the company’s regulatory and policy functions, where his job is making sure that energy markets work well for the company’s products.  Prior to this, Richard built an industry-leading market development team at Arcadia and led national policy development and ran the regulatory team covering the eastern United States for Opower, which was acquired by Oracle.  Earlier in his career, he did research and advocacy on energy finance policy at the Center for American Progress and political organizing at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.  Richard received his MBA from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University and his BA from Pomona College in Claremont, California.  He and his wife live in Washington, DC.

Amanda Corrado

Manager, Federal Government Relations, Schneider Electric

Amanda is a Government Relations Advisor with a background in energy and environmental policy analysis. In her role, she leads state engagement efforts within the Mid-Atlantic region and works with stakeholders at the state and federal levels to understand the evolving legislative and regulatory landscapes surrounding resiliency, electrification, digitalization, and other initiatives that impact climate and sustainability goals. Prior to joining Schneider Electric, Amanda worked in both chambers of Congress and in Government Affairs at the Council on Foreign Relations and the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Amanda holds a B.A. in Political Science and Economics from the University of South Carolina and a master’s degree in Public Policy with a concentration in domestic policy analysis from Georgetown University.

Page Crahan

General Manager, Tapestry at X, The Moonshot Factory

Page Crahan is general manager of Tapestry, X’s moonshot for the electric grid. Tapestry is focused on creating highly accurate simulations of the grid to forecast how it will behave from nanoseconds to decades ahead. Tapestry is also creating tools for governments, utilities, energy developers and major energy users to help them build, manage and operate grids dominated by renewable and other clean energy technologies.

Before joining X, Page held roles as a go-to-market and commercial leader and advisor at several start-ups, two of which attained ‘unicorn’ status: Sunrun in rooftop solar energy in the U.S., and Konfio in financial services in Mexico. She was previously co-CEO and founder of Clarus Power, a venture-backed residential solar customer acquisition platform.

Page is an expert in business model innovation, customer acquisition, product design, and scaling hyper-growth teams. She was recognized as one of the top 50 Climate Tech Operators in the 2021 Climate Draft. She is an advisor and angel investor with her firm Persistent Ventures and she is a limited partner in Powerhouse Ventures. Page is a co-inventor of several U.S. Patents in the energy domain. She earned a certificate from the Stanford GSB Summer Institute for General Management and holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Santa Clara University.

Molly Cripps

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

Molly is the Director of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s (TDEC) Office of Energy Programs (OEP). In addition to Molly’s energy-related work, she serves as the Director of Operations for the Bureau of Environment, including emergency and environmental response efforts.

Molly leads teams that focus on the design and implementation of clean energy and sustainable transportation programs and projects, including those funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Inflation Reduction Act, and Tennessee’s allocation under the Volkswagen Diesel Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust.  She has served on the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) Board of Directors since 2014 and is currently serving as the Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee.  She also serves as the Co-chair of the NASEO & National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners Advanced Nuclear State Collaborative and supports Governor Lee’s Nuclear Energy Advisory Council.  Molly is a member of the Executive Committee for the Drive Electric TN Consortium and represents TDEC on the Energy Efficient Schools Council and various TVA information exchanges and working groups.

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.

Celina Cunningham

Deputy Commissioner, Maine Department of Energy Resources

Celina Cunningham is the Deputy Commissioner of the Maine Department of Energy Resources, where she leads the renewable energy and markets team. She has extensive experience leading energy, climate, and natural resource issues in the public and private sector, including at the U.S. Department of the Interior and as staff at the U.S. House of Representatives. She earned her B.A. from the Colorado College and is pursuing a Master in Business Administration from the University of Maine.

Jeff Davidman

Vice President of Government Affairs, Delta Airlines

Jeff Davidman is the Vice President – State and Local Government Affairs at Delta Air Lines. In this position, Jeff oversees the team that represents Delta before state and local units of government across the United States.

During Jeff’s tenure representing Delta, he has assisted with securing the necessary government support for the successful merger of Northwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines. He led Delta’s state and local government affairs efforts in securing State support and resources from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania which helped enable Delta to be the first airline in the world to purchase an oil refinery and to produce its own jet fuel. Jeff has also successfully led the efforts to pass legislation in multiple states that has provided more scheduling flexibility for Delta employees. 

Prior to his tenure at Delta, Jeff was an associate at the Minneapolis Law Firm Best and Flanagan, LLP as well as a Director of Government Affairs at Northwest Airlines. Before moving to the private sector, Jeff worked for nearly a decade in Minnesota Government, including as a Senior Policy Advisor to Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty.

Jeff is a graduate of Miami University and William Mitchell College of Law. He was named a “40 Under 40” by the Minneapolis Business Journal in 2013.

Glenn Davis

Director, Virginia Department of Energy

Prior to being appointed by Governor Glenn Youngkin as Director of the Virginia Department of Energy, Glenn Davis represented Virginia’s 84th District in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2014-2023 where he served as Chairman of the House Education Committee and Subcommittee Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. Glenn also served as Vice Chairman of the Joint Commission on Technology and Science where he chaired the cyber security and blockchain subcommittees.

Prior to his service in the Virginia General Assembly, Glenn served on the Virginia Beach City Council from 2008-2014.

Professionally, Glenn began his entrepreneurial career out of a one-bedroom apartment when he was 26. In 2007, his telecommunications management firm was named by the Inc. 5000 as one of the 100 fastest growing IT companies in America. After the acquisition of a publicly traded national IT company, Glenn’s company became a national provider of IT and telecom solutions.

Glenn has served as Chairman of Junior Achievement of Greater Hampton Roads, was a founding board member of Green Run Collegiate, a charter school connected to the Green Run community where he grew up and is a past president of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization of Southeast Virginia.

Glenn attended George Mason University, is a graduate of the EO/MIT Entrepreneurial master’s program and the University of Virginia's Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership, and received the Entrepreneurial Excellence Award from the Regent University School of Global Leadership and Entrepreneurship

Shaylyn Dean

Director of External Affairs, Spire

Shaylyn Dean serves as director of external affairs for Spire Missouri, which serves approximately 1.2 million customers throughout the state of Missouri. In this role, Dean leads a team of professionals responsible for maintaining regulatory and utility relationships with Spire’s statewide and nationwide networks. Together, they lead efforts related to Spire’s Natural Gas Contractor Network, homebuilders, commercial customers, on-bill financing offerings, weatherization and residential rebate programs. 

Dean earned his bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from the University of Iowa and a master’s in public administration from the University of Missouri – Kansas City. Dean’s professional experience includes leadership roles in community services, business development and regulatory and service on several boards throughout the greater Kansas City area. Dean is also actively engaged in energy policy and the benefits of fuel diversity, representing the energy industry at the regional, state and national level.

Jeff Dennis

Executive Director, Electricity Consumer Alliance; Senior Counsel, CO2EFFICIENT

Jeff Dennis is a nationally recognized expert in energy and climate policy and law with over 20 years of experience in the public and private sectors. Throughout his career, Jeff has developed and led the execution of effective regulatory, legislative, and legal strategies to improve competition in wholesale electricity markets, lower costs and improve market access for customers and suppliers of energy, and drive the deployment of critical grid infrastructure. He brings a deep understanding of the electricity industry across the country to his work.

At CO2EFFICIENT, Jeff serves as Executive Director of the Electricity Customer Alliance, a coalition of large electricity customers dedicated to advancing customer-centric solutions to modernize the grid, support digital infrastructure and manufacturing, and grow the economy. He is also Senior Counsel to the firm. Jeff helps clients find opportunities and address challenges at the intersection of federal and state regulation of the electricity sector, navigate the complexities of wholesale electricity market rules and governance processes, and develop strategies to accelerate the planning, permitting, and development of electric transmission infrastructure.

Jeff has held senior positions in the federal government at both the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Prior to joining CO2EFFICIENT, he was the first Deputy Director for Transmission in DOE’s Grid Deployment Office, where he spearheaded all of DOE’s transmission deployment initiatives and led the implementation of bipartisan, first-of-their kind, public-private partnerships that facilitated over $8 billion in private sector transmission investment. Jeff also led the design and implementation of new policies to streamline and reduce the lengthy federal permitting process for new transmission projects. During his over 10 years at FERC, Jeff served in a variety of positions, including Director of Policy Development, Legal Advisor to a Commissioner, and Appellate Attorney. In these roles, he led the development of landmark FERC orders and rulemakings that laid the foundation for today’s competitive wholesale electricity market structures and governance, reformed regional transmission planning and cost allocation, and addressed emerging electricity reliability challenges. He also defended FERC in the courts, arguing nearly a dozen cases in federal courts.

Outside of government, Jeff was General Counsel and Managing Director at Advanced Energy Economy (now Advanced Energy United), where he grew the organization’s wholesale markets education and advocacy program and frequently appeared before Congress, FERC, state legislatures, and state public utility commissions. He has also been a lawyer in private practice, representing large electricity customers, power generators, advanced energy developers, utilities, and investors in proceedings before FERC, state public utility commissions, and in the courts.

Jeff received his Juris Doctor from the University of New Mexico School of Law, graduating third in his class, and his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Marymount University, graduating summa cum laude. He recently served as Chair of the American Bar Association’s Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources (SEER), and is a frequent speaker and author on topics in energy law and policy.

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.

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.

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, a state funded community solar program, as well as the new federal funds made available from the BIL and IRA, including Solar for All. It is also tasked with drafting and updating the state’s State Energy Strategy. 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 the Governor’s designee on the Drinking Water Groundwater Trust Fund Advisory Commission, which awards grants and loans for drinking water infrastructure projects across the state.

William Ellis

Director, External Affairs, Pepco Holdings

William is a nationally recognized leader in energy policy, grid modernization and climate change. In 2015, he was first recognized by Association of Energy Service Professional (AESP) as the “One to Watch” for his contribution related to energy efficiency and sustainability. William was awarded Modern Day Technology Leader at the 2017 Black Engineer of the Year Awards. As recent as 2021, William was recognized by Energy + Environment as the Nation’s Top 100 Leaders, for his work related to decarbonization and electrification transportation.

In his current role as Director of Governmental and External Affairs, William is responsible for engaging in stakeholder relations with state and local officials, community leaders and businesses, consumer and nonprofit organizations within the Pepco Maryland region. Advocating, shaping policy and managing issues to deliver value to our customers and key stakeholders.

His previous role as Senior Portfolio Manager of Energy Efficiency, William was responsible for developing and implementing the strategic vision for increasing Demand Side Management programs across Atlantic City Electric, Delmarva Power and Pepco for over two million customers. Work included increasing adoption of behind the meter technology and programs to help customers better manage their energy usage, while leveraging these assets to maximize grid utilization.

Mark Finlay

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

As a Senior Energy Analyst for TDEC OEP, Mark contributes to a number of OEP’s sustainable transportation programming efforts, including activities under the Middle-West Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition and administration of the VW Settlement EMT. Mark also assists in the development and distribution of several OEP communications deliverables, including OEP’s monthly newsletters. Mark joined TDEC in 2019 after earning both an M.P.A. from Syracuse University with a focus on Environmental Policy and Administration as well as an M.P.S. in Sustainable Energy from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. In Syracuse, Mark worked with the Central New York Clean Cities Coalition to promote the use of alternative fuels in the region. Mark graduated with distinction from the University of Michigan with a B.S. in Earth and Environmental Sciences.

Alex Fitzsimmons

Director, Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response, U.S. Department of Energy

Alex Fitzsimmons is the Director of the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER) at U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Fitzsimmons has held several key positions within DOE, with more than a decade of experience in energy policy and government leadership. Most recently, he served as DOE’s Chief of Staff, guiding the Department through its initial 100 days under the Trump Administration. Prior to that, he was Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), where he also served as Chief of Staff to the Assistant Secretary. Before rejoining DOE, Fitzsimmons led government affairs at Sila Nanotechnologies, a next-generation energy storage company, and served as Senior Director at ClearPath, focusing on energy storage and critical mineral supply chains. Earlier in his career, he managed policy and public affairs at the Institute for Energy Research and its advocacy arm, the American Energy Alliance.

Fitzsimmons holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from The George Washington University and a Master of Science in Cybersecurity from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Rebecca Foster

Chief Executive Officer, VEIC

Rebecca Foster is VEIC’s CEO. Heading up the leadership team, Rebecca guides the organization’s strategic planning, corporate goal setting, business development and performance.

With more than two decades of experience in the clean energy industry, and 10 years at VEIC, Rebecca is a trusted leader, dedicated to the organization’s success. Throughout her career she has focused on fostering collaboration and engaging tough challenges head-on. She encourages creativity and innovative thinking at all levels of VEIC.

Rebecca is a true convener, cultivating strong partnerships and making sure every stakeholder is heard. Her vision is for VEIC to become the leader in decarbonization while centering equity and accessibility.

Brandi Frazier Bestpitch

Director, Reliability, Virginia Department of Energy

Brandi Frazier Bestpitch serves as Director of Reliability at Virginia Energy's State Energy Office (SEO). With 27 years of experience spanning international trade, supply chain logistics, hazardous materials regulation, and emergency response, she has built her career on data-driven decision-making and operational excellence.

At Virginia Energy, Brandi leads an innovative team focused on enhancing grid security and reliability across the Commonwealth. Her team's work in energy modeling, data analytics, energy security, performance contracting, and demand response initiatives directly informs Virginia's state energy plan development and advances the state's resilience, efficiency, and long-term sustainability goals.

A champion of data-driven leadership, Brandi oversees comprehensive tracking and benchmarking of energy consumption in public buildings, ensuring continuous improvement through measurable outcomes. Her "lead-by-example" approach emphasizes collaboration and clear communication, equipping decision-makers with practical insights to evaluate critical options for grid reliability, resource adequacy, and clean energy integration.

Shannon Frede

Energy Policy Manager, Maryland Energy Administration

Shannon Frede, Esq. is the Energy Policy Manager for federal and regional issues at the Maryland Energy Administration. Prior to MEA, Shannon was Environmental Policy Counsel to former U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.), who as Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure held a lead role in shaping major infrastructure legislation enacted in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Shannon received a B.A. degree in Ecosystem Science and Policy from the University of Miami and a J.D. from the University of Maryland Carey School of Law with a certificate of Concentration in Environmental Law.

Jeffrey Genzer

General Counsel, National Association of State Energy Officials

Jeffrey C. Genzer joined Duncan, Weinberg, Genzer & Pembroke, P.C. in 1985. His practice has concentrated on energy and environmental counseling and litigation. He has worked on electric and natural gas ratemaking, energy project development, bulk power supply, transmission system issues, contract negotiation, franchise and municipalization issues, alternative energy sources, conservation and energy efficiency programs, including demand-side management and integrated resource planning programs.

In the environment area he has been involved especially in Clean Air Act and Toxic Substances Control Act issues and all phases of environmental reviews for energy projects.

He has appeared before a variety of federal agencies and state and federal courts, including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and a variety of state commissions, agencies and courts. He also has an active federal legislative practice. He has worked with a number of local and state governments throughout the United States from New York to Hawaii. Mr. Genzer presently serves as General Counsel to the National Association of State Energy Officials, the National Association of Energy Service Companies, the National Energy Assistance Directors' Association and the Energy Programs Consortium. He has spoken on numerous occasions, especially on federal legislative activities, energy, environmental and utility issues.

Prior to entering law school, Mr. Genzer served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Micronesia. He worked on a number of development projects and served as the first energy planner in the region. Mr. Genzer supervised, planned, and constructed numerous water systems and other construction projects. He also prepared legislation and successful grant proposals. While in law school, Mr. Genzer was employed at the National Consumer Law Center.

He monitored legislative and regulatory activities and wrote legal and policy memoranda in the field of energy law. After his second year of law school, Mr. Genzer clerked for Duncan, Weinberg, Genzer & Pembroke, P.C. Prior to returning to the firm, he served as Staff Counsel to the Committee on Energy and Environment of the National Governors' Association. In that role he drafted legislation in the energy and environmental area, and served as the chief energy lobbyist for the Association. He provided legal analysis for the Governors on such issues as electric utility regulation, nuclear waste, oil overcharge refunds, toxic victims compensation, and natural gas regulation and a variety of environmental issues. Mr. Genzer also coordinated the activities of the state energy offices. His practice is focused on energy, environmental, utility and legislative matters.

Brandon Gibson

Chief Operating Officer, Office of Tennessee Governor Bill Lee

Brandon O. Gibson is Chief Operating Officer in Governor Bill Lee’s office. In that role, Brandon manages the operations of the State’s twenty-three departments, driving cross-department collaboration to best serve Tennessee’s citizens. Prior to serving as COO, she served as Governor Lee’s Senior Advisor.

A native of West Tennessee, Brandon graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Science degree and Master’s degree in Agribusiness Management. She graduated from Southern Methodist University School of Law in 2000, practiced law in Texas for a year, and felt the pull back to West Tennessee, where she began practicing law in Jackson.  In 2013, Brandon was appointed by then-Governor Bill Haslam to the Tennessee Court of Appeals, where she served for over four years before joining Governor Lee’s cabinet in January 2019. 

She serves on the Board of Directors of Leadership Tennessee and the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation.

Amelia Godfrey

Program Director, EarthCraft and Education, Southface

Amelia manages the EarthCraft green building program at Southface and keeps her finger on the pulse of the market drivers and construction strategies for all five of EarthCraft’s certification programs. Additionally, Amelia has a wealth of technical and workforce development knowledge and experience in the construction of high-performance single and multi-family residences.

Benjamin Gress

Energy Program Manager, Division of Community Services, North Dakota Department of Commerce

P. Wells Griffith III

Under Secretary for Energy, U.S. Department of Energy

Skye Gruen

Senior Manager, Buildings, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy; Director, National Energy Codes Collaborative; Deputy Director, National Energy Codes Collaborative

Skye Gruen is Deputy Director of the National Energy Codes Collaborative, leading a new initiative empowering states to effectively and sustainably implement updated building energy codes. She works to advance codes and standards and promote energy transformation and resource equity through interdisciplinary collaboration, technical assistance, and implementation support for states and cities. Skye also contributes to ACEEE research on energy efficiency and decarbonization in the buildings sector, including commercial, residential, and multi-family buildings. She joined ACEEE in 2023.

Prior to joining ACEEE, Skye was vice president of new construction and on-site generation at Bright Power, working to design, implement, and commission solar, resiliency, and energy efficiency projects in new and existing buildings.

Skye earned a master of science in mechanical engineering from the University of Washington and a bachelor of science in chemical engineering from Yale University.

J. Brady Gutta

Director, Center for Sustainable Mine Lands; Interim Co-Director, West Virginia Water Research Institute West Virginia University Institute for Sustainability and Energy Research

J. Brady Gutta is the Director of the Center for Sustainable Mine Lands at West Virginia University, where he has served since March 2023. In August of 2025, he was named Co-Interim Director of the West Virginia Water Research Institute. In these roles, he provides day-to-day leadership, coordinating with faculty, staff, and local stakeholders to identify potential opportunities for legacy mine lands sites across West Virginia. In his WVWRI Interim Director role, Brady works to bring together the best available expertise to explore and implement solutions that improve and protect the quality of West Virginia's water resources.

Before joining WVU, Brady spent nearly a decade with Antero Resources, serving as Regulatory Reclamation Supervisor and Environmental Field Coordinator. There, he managed environmental compliance, coordinated with federal and state agencies, and supervised site reclamation projects. He also developed and delivered training on regulatory compliance and environmental best practices.

Brady's earlier career includes over a decade at the West Virginia Water Research Institute, where he managed the National Mine Land Reclamation Center. He led technical projects, developed mine water treatment systems, and secured funding for mine reclamation projects. Brady holds a B.S. in Geology from West Virginia University, is working to complete his Master's, and has extensive training in wetland delineation, stream evaluation, and environmental safety.

He is recognized for his expertise in mine land redevelopment, environmental compliance, and his ability to manage large-scale environmental projects.

Joe Hagerman

Director, Energy and Natural Resources Division, Mississippi Development Authority

Kristin Hanks-Bents

Energy Division Administrator, Iowa Economic Development Authority

Lawrence Heath

Associate Partner, McKinsey and Company

Lawrence Heath is a core leader in McKinsey's Global Energy and Geopolitics Practices where he focuses on renewables development and manufacturing.

Previously Mr. Heath worked in foreign policy as an Energy policy Senior Advisor with Tony Blair Associates and the G20.

He has experience across the United States, China, the Middle East, Europe, India, East Africa, Mexico, and Canada.

Mr. Heath has a BA in Economics and International Relations from the State University of New York and Fudan University

Jason Heron

Head of Clean Fuels, Strategy, Sustainability and Transformation, Airbus Americas, Inc.; U.S. Ambassador, Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Jason Heron joined Airbus in November 2022 and currently serves as the Head of Clean Fuels and holds the title of US SAF Ambassador. In these roles he is responsible for coordinating sustainable and clean aviation fuel activities for Airbus in the Americas.
With more than 25 years of experience in sustainability, including renewables, energy storage and water conservation, Jason brings a wealth of knowledge to the team. Within Airbus he leads the Clean Fuels Task Force and is the U.S. SAF Ambassador tasked with enabling the SAF ecosystem across stakeholders within demand, production and regulation.

Jason holds a Masters in Business Administration from the Cranfield School of Management, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Reliability and Quality Management and a Bachelor of Science in Electronic Engineering from the University of Abertay, Dundee, Scotland.
In his spare time Jason serves on several non-profit boards and is an advisory board member to a green supercar manufacturer.

Utopia Hill

Chief Executive Officer, Reactivate

Utopia Hill is the Chief Executive Officer at Reactivate. Utopia provides leadership and strategic direction to a diverse, rapidly growing, innovative team. In her role, she manages and fosters relationships with industry partners, businesses, and communities, while also growing the company to ensure positive environmental and social impacts to the communities served by Reactivate projects.

Utopia previously served as Head of Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) at Reactivate and as Vice President of Renewables Construction for Invenergy. After beginning her career at General Electric, Utopia spent nearly two decades at Invenergy in roles within engineering, procurement, and construction. She has been involved in over 10,000 MW of renewables projects including wind, solar and energy storage. Utopia has been recognized for her sharp intellect, detailed dedication to project execution, and ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams.
‍
She currently serves as an advisory board member for The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Distributed Energy Resources Advisory Council, a group dedicated to advancing renewable energy adoption through research and policy solutions. Additionally, she serves on the advisory board for Vote Solar and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Electricity Forum. She previously served as Board Vice-President for the Boys & Girls Club of West Cook County, where she championed STEM programming for youth from low-income and underrepresented communities. Utopia holds a degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has completed Executive Education coursework at Harvard Business School.

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.

Anna Holmstead

Program Director, Utah Office of Energy Development

Dr. Piljae Im

Senior Research and Development Staff and Group Leader, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Dr. Piljae Im is a group leader for the Integrated Building Deployment and Analysis Group, and subprogram manager for the Building Energy Modeling program at the US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). He received his PhD and MS in architecture from Texas A&M University. Since he joined ORNL in 2009, Dr. Im has served as principal investigator and co–principal investigator for numerous research projects sponsored by DOE’s Building Technologies Office, US Department of Defense, and domestic and international industry partners. Dr. Im’s research has focused on detailed calibration of building energy simulation models based on field-measured data, development of prototype building models, validation and uncertainty characterization for energy simulations, advanced controls such as model predictive control, and automated fault detection and diagnosis. He also has been leading numerous projects for the deployment and demonstration of various energy efficiency measures (EEMs), measurement and verification (M&V), and data analysis. Dr. Im has more than 20 years of experience in building energy simulation modeling and is a user of numerous building energy and daylighting simulation software, such as EnergyPlus, OpenStudio, eQuest, Radiance, and DOE-2.1e. He has authored and coauthored more than a hundred peer-reviewed conference and journal papers. Dr. Im is an active member of the International Building Performance Simulation Association (IBPSA) and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and is a voting member of technical committees, including ASHRAE Standing Standard Project Committee (SSPC) 140 and Guideline Project Committee 45P.

James Jackson

Head of Flexibility for North America, Kraken Technologies

William Jackson, Jr.

State Geologist, Tennessee Geological Survey, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conversation

Wendy Jaglom-Kurtz

Manager, US Program, Rocky Mountain Institute

Wendy is a manager with the States team within RMI’s US Program. Since joining RMI, she has focused on accelerating nonfederal climate action, first through the America’s Pledge and America Is All In initiatives and now through support for climate-aligned state action. Wendy leads the team’s work in Colorado and supports state-level action across the country.

Wendy joined RMI after ten years at ICF, where she supported dozens of projects related to greenhouse gas mitigation, climate change adaptation, and related topics through project management and coordination, communications plan and materials development, stakeholder engagement, website development, report and summary writing, and workshop support and facilitation.

Key projects at ICF included supporting implementation of the Clean Power Plan, leading report development for Pennsylvania’s Climate Action Plan, managing communications and technical support to EPA’s State and Local Energy and Environment Program, leading stakeholder engagement for Fort Collins’s Electric Vehicle Readiness Roadmap, and guiding development of an electronic system to support submittal, tracking, and review of State Implementation Plans under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

Philip Jordan

Vice President, Principal Researcher, BW Research Partnership; Senior Fellow, Harvard University

Philip Jordan is the Vice President of BW Research and manages the firm's Massachusetts office. He has worked in research, law, and policy for more than two decades in the private sector, government, and academia. Phil is an adept problem-solver who is intensely focused on building systems that are more equitable and effective.

Phil leads the firm's energy practice and his research is focused on the intersection of the human age and the digital, especially with regards to inclusive economic and talent development that lead to increased mobility. He is a Luma Certified Practitioner of Human Centered Design and is credited for using data and communications to create change.

Phil is a Senior Fellow at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, where he focuses his teaching and research on comparative talent and labor practices in the U.S. and Asia, and is an attorney and member of the Massachusetts Bar. He has his J.D. and Certificate in Environment and Land Law from Boston College and his B.A. in Psychology from the University of Connecticut. When not working, you can find Phil outside with his family, on the water, in the woods, or in the garden.

Lloyd Kass

Vice President of Strategy and Market Development, Franklin Energy

Lloyd Kass has developed and implemented clean energy, buildings efficiency, and affordable housing programs for utilities and government for 30 years. At Franklin Energy, Lloyd is responsible for leading engagement with government, utilities, and other stakeholders to grow the business through the acceleration of climate-forward clean energy policy. Lloyd is also a part-time educator and has served as adjunct associate professor at Columbia University for 13 years. He is active with several energy policy nonprofit groups as well and serves as board president for the Energy Efficiency Alliance, which advocates for clean energy policy in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Lloyd holds a Bachelor of Arts from Brandeis University and a Master of Public Administration degree from Columbia University.

Julie Kempf

Chief of Staff, Indiana Office of Energy Development

Hyeonsoo Kim

Director, Doosan

Robin LeBaron

President and Co-Founder, Pearl

Robin LeBaron is the president, and co-founder of Pearl, a national firm that is transforming the way homes are bought and sold in the U.S. by certifying high-performing homes and creating a platform that connects homeowners with the professionals who build, improve, sell, and finance high-performing homes. Prior to co-founding Pearl, Robin served as the Managing Director of the National Home Performance Council, a national non-profit organization created to promote energy efficiency upgrades in U.S. homes, where he led national efforts that developed energy efficiency, real estate home data, and certification standards, and authored guides on best practices in energy efficiency for the U.S. Department of Energy and other stakeholders. He previously served as the executive director of Hope Community, Inc., a non-profit based in East Harlem, New York, that built and managed 1,200 units of affordable housing, including the first affordable LEED Silver multi-family buildings in New York City.

Amanda LeMaster

Energy Assurance and Efficiency Coordinator, Office of Energy Policy, Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet

Amanda LeMaster is the Energy Assurance Coordinator for the Kentucky Office of Energy Policy within the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet. Amanda is responsible for Enhancing the energy resilience and security of the Commonwealth by identifying opportunities to increase our ability to respond effectively to an energy disruption and to recover quickly. Previously she worked with KY emergency management where she provided technical assistance and programmatic oversight in the development and implementation of hazard mitigation grants throughout the commonwealth.

Suzanne Lemieux

Director, Operations Security and Emergency Response Policy, American Petroleum Institute

Ms. Suzanne Lemieux started at the American Petroleum Institute in 2013 and now serves as the Manager for Operations Security & Emergency Response Policy within the Corporate Policy group of API’s Policy, Economics, and Regulatory Affairs division. Her primary areas of responsibility are cyber and physical security policy, emergency preparedness and response, UAS policy, and stakeholder engagement, both public and private.  Oil spill preparedness and response policy also fall within her management portfolio. Ms. Lemieux previously served as a manager in API’s Midstream and Industry Affairs group, where her portfolio included maritime policy, energy infrastructure advocacy and education, rail policy, and natural gas policy. Previous to API, Ms. Lemieux worked for more than 5 years for BCS Incorporated as the manager of their Emergency Response and Risk Management team and as a senior analyst in the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability. Ms. Lemieux directly supported DOE’s efforts to build public-private partnerships with the oil and natural gas and electricity sectors, specifically in areas of preparedness, emergency response, and both physical and cyber security. She provided technical and policy analysis, as well as communications support to senior leadership within the Department. Ms. Lemieux is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), has a Security+ certification from CompTIA, and is a graduate of the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative Executive Education Program at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for Public Leadership and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Prior experience includes over 6 years at MCI Worldcom as a senior network engineer and supervisor. Ms. Lemieux has a Masters of Public and International Affairs from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and a Bachelors of Business Administration in Marketing Management from Radford University.

Megan Levy

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

A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Madison; Megan has spent two decades in energy both with the low-income weatherization program and with the Wisconsin State Energy Office as a Resilience Strategist and Energy Emergency Assurance Coordinator.   From 2017 through 2022, Megan served as the Co-Chair of the National Association of State Energy Officials Energy Security Committee.  Megan joined CESER’s SLTT team in September of 2022.

Dr. Jack Lewnard

Senior Advisor, The Future of Heat Initiative

Dr. Jack Lewnard is an independent consultant and senior advisor to the Future of Heat Initiative. He most recently served as a Program Director at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E), where he focused on methane production, distribution, and use. There, he created and led the $38 million REPAIR program, which aims to dramatically reduce the cost of gas pipeline rehabilitation by enabling advanced, non-invasive repair technologies.

Prior to ARPA-E, Dr. Lewnard was Vice President of Business Development at Chesapeake Utilities Corporation, where he led new initiatives in natural gas, alternative fuels, combined heat and power, and renewable energy. Earlier in his career, he served as Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at the Gas Technology Institute (GTI), directing the Office of Technology and Innovation and overseeing the organization’s internal R&D program.

A recognized leader in pipeline technology and system safety, Dr. Lewnard’s work spans pipeline rehabilitation, methane mitigation, and advanced materials. He holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.

Seth Little

Market Development Director, CLEAResult

Seth Little leads Market Development for CLEAResult. In this role he seeks ways in which decades of developed best practices in utility energy programs may be applied in new markets to accelerate the energy transition. Seth has been part of the energy industry since 2010 with expertise in residential energy efficiency program design, digital engagement, equity, and program delivery across residential, C&I and Higher Ed. In addition to supporting best practice identification and innovation for CLEAResult’s EE portfolio, Seth serves as a subject matter expert for virtual operations, home energy assessments, electrification, and energy advising. Seth Lives in Asheville, North Carolina with his wife and son who share his passions for good food, community and the Appalachian Mountains they call home.

Noah Long

Director, State and Regulatory Affairs, Antora Energy

Noah Long is Director, State and Regulatory Affairs at Antora Energy. Antora builds and deploys American-made thermal batteries to power always-on industrial operations with low-cost energy. Noah leads Antora’s state and energy regulatory efforts to ensure Antora’s thermal batteries have fair market access. Previously, Noah Long worked with EDF Renewables, where he managed western state legislative and regulatory engagement, and advanced energy siting policies for federal public lands. Prior, Noah managed NRDC’s western climate and clean energy work. Noah has served on multiple boards, including Conservation Voters New Mexico, Interwest Energy Alliance, Renewable Northwest, the Western Clean Energy Campaign and the New Mexico Renewable Energy Transmission Authority. Noah holds a J.D. from Stanford Law School, a Master of Science in International Development and Environmental Policy from the London School of Economics, and a BA from Bowdoin College.

Matt MacVicar

Vice President, Government Relations, Rolls-Royce

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.

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.

Vince Maiden

Managing Director, State Energy Office, Virginia Department of Energy

Vince Maiden currently serves as the Director of the State Energy Office at Virginia Energy. Mr. Maiden previously served as the Transportation Program Manager and Grid Resilience Lead.

He formerly worked the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality in Richmond, VA and has 6 years of experience managing petroleum remediation cases and 6 years experience managing groundwater remediation projects for the Solid Waste Division, and 5 years experience in RCRA Corrective Action. Mr. Maiden also served as the Brownfields Program Coordinator for nearly 6 years.

Tyler Mauldin

Lead, Energy Policy and Market Development, Global Energy and Infrastructure Team, Google

Tyler Mauldin is a Lead on Google's Energy Policy & Market Development team where he leads energy regulatory and policy affairs efforts in key markets. Tyler brings a decade of experience in the tech and utility industry to this role. Most recently, he was the Senior Regional Manager of Microsoft's Commercial Energy Markets in the Southeast where he led negotiation and procurement of power capacity for new AI and cloud data centers. Prior to that, he held various roles for NextEra Energy subsidiary Florida Power & Light Company. He has been seen on CNN, The Weather Channel and various local television stations. A self-proclaimed weather geek, Tyler got his undergrad in meteorology from the University of Georgia, and holds a Master of Science in Applied Economics and an MBA from Georgia Tech.

SJ Maxted

Energy, Environment, and Resilience Leader, Deloitte

Dr. Andrew McAllister

Commissioner, California Energy Commission

Andrew McAllister was first appointed to the California Energy Commission in 2012, and in 2022 was reappointed by Governor Newsom to a third term. Commissioner McAllister leads the areas of building decarbonization, energy efficiency and load flexibility. He has worked on the clean energy transition for more than three decades, in more than a dozen countries partnering with counterparts ranging from tiny remote communities to large utilities. Commissioner McAllister serves in numerous leadership roles including on the boards of Western Interstate Energy Board, the National Association of State energy Officials, the Smart Electric Power Alliance, the Dartmouth Irving Institute for Energy and Society and Camp Kesem at UC Davis. He holds M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the Energy and Resources Group at the University of California, Berkeley, and B.A. from Dartmouth College. He served as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer.

Amanda McClinton

Executive Director, Office of Energy, Louisiana Department of Conservation and Energy

Amanda McClinton serves as the Executive Director of the Office of Energy within Louisiana’s Department of Conservation and Energy, bringing over 17 years of experience in state government. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Louisiana State University and a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification from Villanova University. Amanda has been instrumental in advancing federal energy grant programs, driving grant management and strategic planning efforts, and fostering key partnerships across sectors. Leveraging her expertise in business analytics and personnel management, she focuses on enhancing resource efficiency and promoting sustainable energy initiatives.

Dwayne McClinton

Director, Nevada Governor’s Office of Energy

Dwayne McClinton – a proud United States Marine Corps veteran – has spent the past two decades working in renewables, utilities, and government affairs, amassing a wealth of multi-industry experience in the energy sector. In February 2023, his work ethic and knowledge of energy policy resulted in his appointment as Director of the Nevada Governor's Office of Energy by Gov. Joe Lombardo.

Prior to his appointment, he served as the Sr. Legislative Advisor for Southwest Gas Corporation, where he advised the company on federal, state, and local policies for the state of Nevada and California. McClinton was also Staff Project Manager and Manager of Operations for Granite Services, where he planned and executed all O&M and warranty activities and Regional Operations Manager for Gamesa North America, where he was responsible for the wind farm activity of over 500 megawatts and a multi-million-dollar annual budget. 

In 2017, McClinton was appointed by former Governor Brian Sandoval to the Nevada Commission on Mentoring, and he currently serves on the board of the Committee on Regional Electric Power Cooperation (CREPC), Western Interstate Energy Board (WEIB), Western Regional Partnership (WRP), Western Interconnection Regional Advisory Body (WIRAB), and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). He is also a member of the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE) and 100 Black Men of Las Vegas.

Edward McGlone

Senior Director of Government Affairs, Peak Energy

Edward McGlone is the Senior Director of Government Affairs at Peak Energy, a California-based scale-up deploying sodium-ion battery energy storage systems for the grid. He has spent his career at the intersection of innovation and public policy, driving high-impact projects to bring next-generation products to market, improve public policy, and deliver better, safer and more reliable infrastructure across the country.

Prior to Peak Energy, Edward led North American government affairs for an autonomous freight truck developer where he spearheaded efforts to authorize commercial operations for America’s first fully driverless heavy duty truck. Edward also served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Congressional Affairs under Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, where he helped pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Edward lives in Washington, D.C. where he enjoys riding his bike, watching soccer, and hosting dinner parties with friends.

The Honorable Jeffrey Merrifield

Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

The Honorable Jeffrey S. Merrifield, a former presidential appointee to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, is leader of Pillsbury’s Nuclear Energy Team and co-Leader of the firm’s Energy Transition practice. He is widely recognized as an international thought leader on nuclear power and the deployment of complex energy systems for the avoidance of carbon generation.

During his three decades of involvement in the energy industry, Jeff has developed wide-ranging relationships throughout the international nuclear community that allow him to identify strategic and legal solutions for major energy and environmental matters. He is considered a leader in advanced nuclear and fusion deployment and has assisted large and developing nuclear utilities, suppliers and governments in effectively meeting their regulatory requirements and strategic objectives regarding the deployment of complex energy systems. Jeff’s well-received corporate executive experience, as well as media and public speaking capabilities, also provide a significant resource for the advocacy of common-sense and cost-effective solutions.

Brandon Mooney

Executive Director, Natural Gas Innovation Network; Vice President, CO2EFFICIENT

Brandon Mooney is Vice President at COEFFICIENT and Executive Director of the Natural Gas Innovation Network. A trusted advisor in Washington, D.C., Brandon guides clients, Administration officials, and Members of Congress through complex challenges at the intersection of energy, electricity, and AI infrastructure. He also leads a coalition of companies dedicated to increasing transparency across the natural gas value chain, advancing innovation, and reducing emissions.

Prior to joining CO2EFFICIENT, Brandon served as Deputy Chief Counsel for the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Over nearly 14 years on Capitol Hill, he served under four Committee Chairs and played a key role in shaping and overseeing major energy and environmental legislation.

Earlier in his career, Brandon worked in environmental consulting, performing emissions testing for petrochemical and power generation clients. He also served as an advisor to a member of the Texas Legislature and conducted graduate research on advanced drilling technologies.

Brandon holds a B.A. from Austin College, where he was a collegiate football player, and an M.S. from Rice University.

Ruby Nahan

Researcher, Community Energy Transitions, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Ruby Theresa Nahan is a Researcher on the Community Energy Transitions team at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. She has 20+ years of experience working on distributed solar energy programs and projects in both the public and private sectors. Ruby's experience includes managing solar program communications and outreach for DOE, NREL and private-sector organizations. She has also worked in solar C&I sales and project development. Ruby is currently focusing her professional efforts on the Community Power Accelorator and other community benefiting distributed solar programs.

Brandy O’Quinn

Program Director, Interstate Renewable Energy Council

Brandy O’Quinn serves as the Program Director of the SolSmart program for the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), a 9-year program previously funded by Department of Energy. The program has successfully trained 1000s of local government staff on solar and storage and provided free technical assistance to close to 600 local governments, to help local jurisdictions increase solar deployment and offer energy options to their residents and businesses. An accomplished public affairs professional, Ms. O’Quinn is widely viewed as an authority on the myriad complex municipal networks across the United States and has decades of experience successfully delivering results through effective engagement with stakeholders across all platforms.

Ms. O’Quinn launched a consulting firm, Urban Strategies of Texas, to advance policy work for her clients. Collaborating with public and private companies, as well as municipal entities, Urban Strategies spearheaded the grass roots effort to bolster public transit ridership by launching a new electric circulator, The Dash, which connects downtown Fort Worth to the Cultural District. In addition to securing $4.2 million in funding for electric buses, Urban Strategies formed a public/private partnership to validate the untapped transit market and secured private funding.

As the Public Affairs Senior Manager for Blue Zones Project, a national community-wide well-being initiative in Fort Worth, she collaborated with community partners to improve access to healthy food and worked closely with Fort Worth city staff to establish a policy framework that made Fort Worth a more walkable and bike-friendly community.

Ms. O’Quinn is a Certified Economic Development and is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a political science degree, received her Masters in Real Estate with the focus on Sustainability from University of Texas at Arlington and was listed in the FW Inc. magazine 400 Top Influencers under Economic Development for two consecutive years. She is married and has one adult daughter, two dogs and a mean old cat.

Véronique Oomen

Director, Division of Clean Energy, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities

Theodore Paradise

Chief Policy and Grid Strategy Officer, CTC Global

Theodore Paradise serves as the Chief Policy and Grid Strategy Officer at CTC Global. Theodore has over two decades of experience in the energy sector and is a recognized thought leader in transmission policy, as well as the development and operation of power generation, transmission, and distribution systems. Prior to joining CTC Global, he served as a partner at K&L Gates, advising on energy policy issues, and held executive roles with a generation and transmission developer and oversaw planning, interconnection, and operations regulatory issues at a Regional Transmission Organization. His extensive expertise in transmission planning and energy project development is instrumental in advancing CTC Global’ s mission to expand transmission capacity quickly and cost effectively.

Joe Pater

Director, Office of Energy Innovation, Wisconsin Public Service Commission

Lissa Pawlisch

Assistant Commissioner, Federal and State Initiatives, Division of Energy Resources, Minnesota Department of Commerce

Tucker Perkins

President and Chief Executive Officer, Propane Education and Research Council

Tucker Perkins is the President and CEO for the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC). He is an energy expert with four decades of experience in the liquid and renewable energy industry. Tucker is a frequent keynote speaker to national and international audiences on energy topics and a commentator for major media outlets, such as the Schwab Network.  He is the author of Path to Zero: 12 Climate Conversations that Changed the World.

Tucker also hosts the Path to Zero podcast, in which he has interviewed over 100 experts and thought leaders in provocative discussions regarding energy and climate change.

A Virginia Tech graduate with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, Perkins earned his MBA from the University of Richmond.

Nicholas Preservati

Director, West Virginia Office of Energy; Deputy Secretary, West Virginia Department of Commerce

Mr. Preservati has over 25 years of experience in the energy industry as a C-suite executive, general counsel, and litigator.  He has received an AV Preeminent Peer-Review rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which is given to attorneys who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards by their peers.  He has also been nominated by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Energy Law and Natural Resources Law and has been recognized by Chambers USA for Energy & Natural Resources Law.

Phil Radford

President and Chief Executive Officer, Consumer Reports

Phil Radford is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Consumer Reports, an independent, nonprofit member organization that works with consumers to foster truth, transparency, and fairness in the marketplace. He has built a career focused on finding innovative solutions to create change, helping improve communities, working with leaders at every level of government, and engaging the heads of major companies to develop solutions.

Originally from Illinois, Phil holds a B.A. in Political Science from Washington University in St. Louis.

Matt Rasmussen

Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer, Tennessee Valley Authority

Matt Rasmussen, senior vice president and chief nuclear officer, leads TVA’s robust nuclear organization, and is responsible for oversight of seven reactors at three nuclear sites: Watts Bar, Sequoyah and Browns Ferry, which together generate enough carbon-free power for more than 4.5 million Tennessee Valley homes and businesses. TVA operates the third largest nuclear fleet in the nation.

Matt began his 20-plus year TVA career at Browns Ferry as a maintenance engineer. He has held several leadership positions at both Browns Ferry and Sequoyah Nuclear Plants. He obtained his Senior Reactor Operator License at Browns Ferry, before serving as shift manager, Operations superintendent and Work Management director. Matt moved to Sequoyah Nuclear Plant where he led the Maintenance organization prior to being promoted to plant manager and then site vice president.

In 2020, Matt returned to Browns Ferry as site vice president where he helped lead the station to its first INPO exemplary rating in almost 2 decades before transferring to the Fleet Center in 2022 as Senior Vice President, Engineering and Operations Support.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Auburn University in Alabama and is a graduate of TVA’s Advanced Leadership Program and INPO’s Senior Nuclear Plant Management Program and Senior Executive Leadership Program.

Laura Rennick

Executive Director, Western Interstate Energy Board

Laura Rennick is the Executive Director of the Western Interstate Energy Board (WIEB), where she leads collaborative energy policy initiatives across the Western United States and Canada. Before becoming Executive Director, she served as WIEB’s Director of State, Federal, and International Affairs, strengthening partnerships with the U.S. Department of Energy, FERC, and Western states. Prior to joining WIEB in 2022, Laura held leadership roles with the State of Montana, including as the Deputy Administrator for the Water Resources Division, and as the Director of the Montana Energy Office. She holds a Master of Science in Engineering Management from Montana State University, dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Environmental Studies and French from Carroll College, and an Associate of Science in Business Technologies from the University of Montana–Helena. Laura lives in Montana with her family.

Wilson Rickerson

President and Co-Founder, Converge Strategies, LLC

Wilson Rickerson is President and co-founder of Converge Strategies, LLC (CSL), a company focused on forging an energy future that strengthens American security and prosperity. He has helped pioneer new models for energy resilience with civilian and military partners across the country. Wilson currently advises the Department of Defense on grid resilience and led the Unleashing the Grid study in 2025 with the Association of Defense Communities. He has worked with states on energy resilience and military energy partnerships and has supported NASEO with microgrid and energy emergency planning. In partnership with NARUC, he led a multi-year initiative focused on defense critical electric infrastructure for the Presidential Task Force on Emergency Preparedness, Recovery and Resiliency. Prior to founding CSL he served as CEO of Meister Consultants Group, where he advised partners across the U.S. and internationally on energy strategy. He holds a Masters in Energy Policy from the University of Delaware and a B.A. from the College of William and Mary.

Kara Saul Rinaldi

President and Chief Executive Officer, AnnDyl Policy Group, LLC

Kara Saul Rinaldi has twenty years of experience in advocacy 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 different 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 also has worked on the Climate Change Campaign for the World Wildlife Fund and in the offices of Rep. Lynn C. Woolsey (D-Calif.) and Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.).

She 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 UN FCCC Conference of Parties (COP) meetings.

She holds a master's degree from the London School of Economics and a bachelor's degree from the University of California, San Diego.

Brooks Rumenik

Director, Office of Energy, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Brooks Rumenik is the Director of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS)’ Office of Energy (OOE) and is a proud graduate of Florida State University. She has been with the OOE since February of 2023 and leads the OOE in developing energy policy and implementation of energy efficiency programs for the State of Florida. Her responsibilities include providing recommendations to the Governor and Legislature on energy policies and programs that will move Florida toward more diverse, stable, and reliable energy options.

Prior to joining the FDACS, Brooks served as the Deputy Director within the Florida Department of Education’s Office of Safe Schools for 21 years. In this role, she was responsible for overseeing all aspects of training, compliance, and policy recommendations for matters of safety and security within the approximately 4,000 public and public charter schools in Florida.

Sean Schaub

Nuclear Industry Coordinator, Wyoming Energy Authority

Sean Schaub is the Nuclear Industry Coordinator at the Wyoming Energy Authority. Sean brings a diverse background and range of experiences to this role, including planning, evaluating and developing in-situ uranium mines for Wyoming’s largest uranium mining company, consulting with Wyoming’s manufacturing companies to provide a wide range of growth and cost reduction solutions, and deployment of novel vertical farming technology worldwide. Through this dynamic career path, Sean has gained experience in technical sales support, supply chain and logistics management, purchasing and procurement, project management, relationship building and cross-functional collaboration. Sean is a native of Riverton and holds a geology degree from the University of Wyoming. In addition, he serves as treasurer on the board of directors for the Big Hollow Food Coop in Laramie, Wyoming.

Maria Scheller

Vice President, Energy Markets, ICF

Maria has more than 30 years of experience in the energy sector. She is a recognized expert in electricity market fundamentals, specializing in economic evaluation, power price forecasting, cost-benefit analysis, long-term planning, valuation, policy and regulatory analysis, competitive procurement, and integrated resource planning. Maria advises clients on investment decisions, procurement strategies, and risk mitigation related to market exposure, regulatory requirements, environmental policies, and technology uncertainty. Her expertise includes developing long-term plans that optimize resource combinations amid uncertainty, incorporating non-traditional solutions such as flexible load, grid-enhancing technologies, and storage options.?

Maria has also provided technical assistance to developing countries, training staff to apply techno-economic tools and principles in decision making.?

She has testified in multiple jurisdictions on key energy topics, including avoided costs, pipeline expansion, transmission investment, grid modernization, capacity needs, forward energy commodity value, and energy market outlooks.?

Joe Shea

Senior Advisor, Clinch River Project, Tennessee Valley Authority

Julia Silvis

Managing Director, Minnesota SAF HUB, GREATER MSP Partnership

Julia Silvis is the Managing Director of Research and Intelligence at GREATER MSP. In this role, she shapes regional strategy and supports the business investment team. In addition, Julia runs the Minnesota Sustainable Aviation Hub. Prior to GREATER MSP, Julia was at McKinsey & Company and ran the Itasca Project.

Julia earned a Ph.D. in Transportation, Technology and Policy from the University of California-Davis.

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.

Nikki Sizemore

Government Affairs Manager, Kairos Power

Tracy Smetana

Energy Affordability Office Director, Energy Division, Minnesota Department of Commerce

Tracy Smetana oversees several federal and state residential programs including Minnesota’s Weatherization Assistance Program, Energy Assistance Program, Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) rebate programs, and Strengthen Minnesota Homes. In addition, she teaches Public Administration Foundations at Metro State University in Saint Paul. Tracy has extensive experience working with public programs, including Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule, Telephone Discount Program, utility regulation, and employment and training programs for public assistance recipients. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Saint Thomas and a master’s degree in public administration from Metro State University. In her free time, Tracy enjoys traveling, scrapbooking, and gardening.

Rebecca "Puck" Stair

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

As the Director of the Energy Conservation and Division, Rebecca “Puck” Stair oversees dozens of grant, loan, and other funds and programs to advance New Mexico’s transition to a renewable future. She came to EMNRD after nearly two decades in the New Mexico film industry, where she worked as a producer and location manager on numerous films, television shows, commercials and other media projects, including podcasts and conferences for the Franciscan monk Father Richard Rohr. For two years, Stair served as president of the local film crew union. In 2020, she ran for State Senate, and subsequently served as a policy analyst for our House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee. Stair graduated Cum Laude from Amherst College with a BA in English Literature, and did some graduate study in Linguistics at Georgetown University.

On all the projects she has spearheaded, she loves building great teams and championing clean-energy practices. When not working, she rides horses, skis, races triathlons, and other questionable activities that require helmets.

Julie Staveland

State Energy Office Director and the Assistant Division Director, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

Julie is the Assistant Division Director for the Materials Management Division (MMD) within the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), and Director of the State Energy Program. She is responsible for overseeing energy, pollution prevention, and recycling grant and technical assistance programs. Programs range from energy efficiency and renewable energy, food waste reduction, recycling infrastructure, the electrification of medium and heavy-duty vehicles, to installing electric vehicle charging infrastructure throughout the state and includes establishing program objectives, goals, and priorities, and determining operating policies and implementing methods within the context of federal, EGLE, and MMD policies, procedures, and guidelines. Julie also coordinates the Catalyst Communities Initiative.

Born and raised in Michigan, Julie lived in Alaska for 18 years where she received a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Alaska Southeast. She and her husband have 4 children, and spend as much time as possible outdoors hiking, camping, skiing, gardening, and raising chickens on their fledgling homestead. Julie is passionate about working with communities and businesses to meet them where they are on their decarbonization journey and to help them prepare for a sustainable future.

Sue Stocker

Chief Financial Officer, National Association of State Energy Officials

Susan Stocker is responsible for oversight of the financial and accounting functions of NASEO.  She leads budget planning and execution and oversees compliance with federal cost allocation and related regulations. Ms. Stocker has over 30 years of accounting experience. Prior to NASEO, Ms. Stocker was the Senior Accounting Manager at Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, Inc. She reports to NASEO’s President.

Kenya Stump

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

Kenya Stump was appointed as the Executive Director of the Kentucky Office of Energy Policy in March of 2020. Prior to that, Kenya served Assistant Director for the Division of Energy Assistance within the Office of Energy Policy. Before her work in energy, Kenya managed the environmental assistance programs at the Cabinet including environmental leadership, brownfields, and compliance assistance with the Division of Compliance Assistance. She also served as environmental scientist and policy advisor for the Director’s Office at the Division for Air Quality.  Prior to moving to state government in Frankfort, she served as an environmental consultant with the Kentucky Business Environmental Assistance Program at the University of Kentucky.  Kenya has master’s degrees in Environmental Science and Public Administration from Indiana University and the University of Kentucky, respectively.  She also holds a post-graduate certificate in Environmental Systems and graduated from Western Kentucky University with a Bachelors degree in Chemistry.

Alexander Summe

Director, Electrification and Customer Solutions, Electric Power Research Institute

Alexander Summe currently serves as the Director of Electrification & Customer Solutions at EPRI, a position held since August 2011. Prior roles at EPRI include Chief Of Staff, Regional Executive, Sr. Manager of Member & Technical Services, Account Manager, and Project Manager. Prior to EPRI, Alexander Summe worked at GE Nuclear Energy from July 2007 to July 2011 as a Materials Engineer and participated in the Edison Engineering Development Program. Alexander Summe holds a Master of Science in Materials Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering, both from North Carolina State University.

John Szoka

Chief Executive Officer, Conservative Energy Network

John Szoka became an advocate for clean energy during his ten years of service (2013-2022) in the North Carolina House of Representatives. During his legislative tenure, he served as the House Republican Conference Leader, Senior Chairman of the Finance Committee, Chairman of the Energy and Public Utilities Committee, and Chairman of the Joint Legislative Commission on Energy Policy. John sponsored major pieces of legislation that modernized North Carolina’s energy policy to take full advantage of the benefits of low-cost clean energy and protect ratepayers. In 2017, he sponsored HB589 which saved ratepayers over $350M in energy costs by 2021. He was widely recognized as the leading advocate for free market solutions to a clean energy future and has spoken frequently on the topic at conferences across the nation.

John graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and served as an Infantry Officer, Ranger and Airborne qualified, in a variety of command and staff positions. He retired from active duty at Fort Bragg as a Lieutenant Colonel after 20 years of service. While in the Army, he earned his master’s degree in operations research from the University of Texas at Austin.

Since his retirement from the Army, John has owned several successful small businesses. He owns a manufacturing business and holds two US Patents for one of the products they produce.

John and his wife, Laurie, also a retired Army officer and a Nurse Practitioner, reside in Fayetteville, North Carolina and have two grown children, Hunter and Morgan. When not working, they relax with their three dogs, Szolar (solar), Wzynd (wind) and Fuzion (fusion) at home.

David Terry

President, National Association of State Energy Officials

David Terry is the President of NASEO. 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 U.S. Department of Energy. Prior to working in the energy area, Mr. Terry was researcher at the National Academy of Sciences and an analyst for a federal advisory committee focused on U.S.  energy technology innovation and global competitiveness.

Curtis Thayer

Executive Director, Alaska Energy Authority

Curtis W. Thayer is the executive director at the Alaska Energy Authority, the state's energy office and lead agency for statewide energy policy and program development. His past roles include president and CEO for the Alaska Chamber, commissioner of the Department of Administration and cabinet member for Governor Parnell, deputy commissioner of the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development, and working with Alaska’s Congressional Delegation. He also held roles at ENSTAR Natural Gas Company and the Alaska Gas Producers Pipeline Team. His board experience includes Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, Alaska Gasline Development Corporation, Alaska Retirement Management Board, Alaska Royalty Oil and Gas Development Advisory Board, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100 and current Chair of Alaska's Board of Marine Pilots. He is a graduate of the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory Executive Energy Leadership Academy and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

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.

David Townley

Director of Public Policy, CTC Global Corporation

David works with CTC Global Corporation as Director of Public Policy where he communicates with Federal and State policy makers about the benefits of using high performance transmission conductors to increase electric grid efficiency, capacity, and resilience. With over 40 years of experience in energy service and technology companies, his experience has been in both the regulated electric utility industry as well as the fast-paced electric technology development world. He is an executive with S&P 100 managerial experience, has been an adviser to multiple electric technology startup companies, and participated in the White House Executive Exchange Program. David has a Bachelor of Nuclear Engineering (Georgia Tech); Bachelor of Arts – Religion, Psychology (Lee University); MBA Studies at Georgia State University; and International Business Studies at Harvard University.

Eddy Trevino

Director, State Energ 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.

Neal Ullman

Energy Resources Professional, Montana Department of Environmental Quality

Neal Ullman is an Energy Resource Professional in the Montana Department of Environmental Quality’s Energy Office focusing on Clean Transportation. Working with the State’s portion of the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust and federal funding sources, the Energy Office works with public and private entities to deploy clean transportation alternatives as well as electric vehicle charging stations.

Kirsten Verclas

Senior Managing Director, National Association of State Energy Officials

Kirsten Verclas leads NASEO’s electricity program, which informs and educates the states on issues related to generation, transmission, and distribution. She also leads NASEO’s work on grid resilience. She serves as a member of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity’s Electricity Advisory Committee, where she is the Vice Chair of the Smart Grid Subcommittee. Prior to NASEO, Ms. Verclas was an ORISE Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the U.S. Department of Energy, where she worked on clean energy, state and local energy policy, cybersecurity issues and emergency response. She also served as a Program Manager in the International Department of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) working on regulatory partnerships in Africa, as well as a Senior Program Manager at the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies (AICGS) at Johns Hopkins University. Ms. Verclas has written extensively on energy and climate as well as security policy in the transatlantic context. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Franklin and Marshall College, a Master of Arts in International Relations from The George Washington University, and a Master of Science in Energy Policy and Climate from Johns Hopkins University.

Alexa Voytek

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

Alexa is TDEC OEP's Deputy Director of Programs, Innovation and Transportation, and Communications. Alexa serves as the Principal Investigator for the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) State Energy Program, oversees OEP’s sustainable transportation and alternative fuels programming, and assists with the administration of a variety of funding sources, including the State of Tennessee’s initial allocation under the Volkswagen Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust, the State’s annual allocation under the Environmental Protection Agency’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Act Program, and the implementation of formula funding under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program. Alexa also serves as the Coalition Director 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 is Co-Chair of the National Association for State Energy Officials’ (NASEO) Transportation Committee and also 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. Alexa is also the Principal Investigator for the U.S. DOE Grid Resilience Formula Grant Program in Tennessee, funded under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The objective of this Program is to maintain and enhance the reliability and resilience of the electric grid, with the goal of minimizing the frequency and duration of power outages resulting from natural hazards. Since the passage of the IIJA and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), she has supported TDEC OEP with program design tied to the implementation of additional funding programs (e.g., Home Energy Rebate Programs, Solar for All, Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant Program, Revolving Loan Fund Capitalizations Grant Program, Training for Residential Energy Contractors, etc.). 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.

Christina Walrond

Director, State Government Relations, X-energy

Emily Wilbur

Director, Division of Energy, Missouri Department of Natural Resources

John Williams

Chief Policy Officer, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

John Williams was appointed Chief Policy Officer for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) on June 24, 2025.

In this position, Mr. Williams is responsible for providing guidance for energy policy development for New York State, which includes work with NYSERDA's Government and Regulatory Affairs unit, as well as supporting statewide policy activities including the Energy Planning Board, the Climate Action Council, and the multi-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. He oversees the Policy, Analysis, & Research team, providing economic analysis and scientific research to best inform policymakers in energy and environmental issues as well as the Business Performance Management unit, which provides market characterization and evaluation, markets and statistical insights, and metrics and performance analysis, all of which guide effective clean energy strategies. In addition, Mr. Williams’ responsibilities include the reporting and performance of NYSERDA’s West Valley Site Management Program.

Mr. Williams serves as NYSERDA’s designee on the New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment. Mr. Williams currently serves as Past Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Association of State Energy Officials. Mr. Williams is the recipient in 2021 of a Public Service Excellence Award from the State Academy for Public Administration.

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.

Julie Woosley

Director, State Energy Office, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality

Julie Woosley is the Director of the State Energy Office. She first joined the Department in 1993 and has worked for the agency for more than 26 years in water quality, air quality, pollution prevention, water infrastructure, waste management and energy. Julie has served in many roles at DEQ, including Deputy Director in the Division of Waste Management, Interim Deputy Director of the Division of Water Infrastructure, Hazardous Waste Section Chief, Industrial Assistance Section Chief, and Chair of the DEQ Leadership Forum. She also has professional experience outside of DEQ in toxicology research, transportation management and social marketing.

Julie holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the College of Wooster and a master’s degree in management and community practice from UNC Chapel Hill. She is a graduate of the Leadership Triangle program (2005) and the Certified Public Managers Program (2011). Julie is also the Board Chair of NC GreenPower, where she has volunteered on the Board of Directors for more than nineteen years.

James Wyble, III

Vice President, AP1000 Project Development - North America, Westinghouse

Dr. Pete Wyckoff

Deputy Commissioner of Energy Resources, Minnesota Department of Commerce

Pete Wyckoff leads the Energy Resources Division at the Minnesota Department of Commerce, including the Offices of Energy Affordability, Energy Development, Regulatory Affairs, and Energy Modernization.  He has worked closely with the Governor’s Office and Legislature to coordinate efforts to bring millions in federal clean energy funds to Minnesota. Prior to joining Commerce, Wyckoff served as Senior Policy Advisor for Energy for U.S. Senator Tina Smith. He also worked for former U.S. Senator Al Franken and at the U.S. Department of Energy during his time in Washington, DC. Wyckoff is an environmental scientist by training and an emeritus professor of the University of Minnesota Morris.

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.