Full Agenda

Kristofor Anderson

Director, Energy Resources Division, Georgia Environmental Finance Authority

Kristofor Anderson is the director of energy resources for the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA). This division serves as the state of Georgia’s energy office, where Anderson manages millions of dollars in federal grants for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and energy resiliency. Anderson also manages the state energy office programs including the Weatherization Assistance Program, the State Energy Program, the Fuel Storage Tank Program, and multiple newly created programs by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.

Prior to joining GEFA, Anderson was a planning consultant and worked on a range of planning and management programs for federal and energy industry clients.

Anderson received a bachelor’s degree in geography from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and received a master’s degree in city and regional planning from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Eduardo Andujar

Fellow, Energy and Natural Resources Division, Mississippi Development Authority

Mark Ardire

Director, Data Center Solutions, LG HVAC Solutions Global

Mark Ardire is a senior leader with over 20 years of experience in technology and HVAC. Leveraging his experience with product launches and market introduction, he spearheads the efforts at LG to roll out their HVAC solutions for the mission critical sector in North America. Building on LG's many successful deployments of these thermal management solutions for data centers throughout EMEA, Mark leads a team to deliver and further develop these advanced solutions to LG’s hyperscale and colocation clients.

Melissa Bailey

Director, State Energy Office, Vermont Department of Public Service

Melissa Bailey is the Director of the State Energy Office at the Vermont Department of Public Service. In this role she oversees Vermont’s portfolio of federally funded energy initiatives. She also leads the Department’s interagency coordination on energy and climate initiatives, serving as one of two Governor’s designees to the U.S. Climate Alliance. Prior to this role, Bailey served as the Director of Efficiency and Energy Resources at the Department.

Before joining state government, Bailey held positions managing regulatory affairs at a joint action agency, coordinating state efforts on to nuclear waste transportation for the Council of State Governments, and developing residential energy efficiency programs at Vermont Energy Investment Corporation.

She holds a bachelor’s degree from Bowdoin College and a Master of Public Administration with a certificate in Ecological Economics from the University of Vermont. She resides with her family in Montpelier, VT.

Bridget Bartol

Executive Director, Industry and Regulatory Affairs, Grid, National Electrical Manufacturers Association

Bridget Bartol serves as National Electrical Manufacturers Association’s Executive Director of Industry and Regulatory Affairs for the Grid. She was previously Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Energy, as well as Deputy Director for DOE’s Office of Public Affairs, where she helped shape national energy policy and communications. Her nearly two decades of deep public and private sector expertise in grid policy, regulatory and market strategy, as well as energy leadership across two presidential administrations strengthens NEMA’s work to advance grid reliability and the deployment of next-generation electrical technologies to improve safety, reliability and affordability. She is a graduate of the University of Florida.

Sara Bazemore

Director, Energy Office, South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff

Sara Pendarvis Bazemore serves as Director of the South Carolina Energy Office (SCEO), where she leads a team dedicated to advancing energy initiatives through strong partnerships across the state. Since joining SCEO in 2021, her work has included statewide energy planning, program development, and managing federal funding amid an evolving policy landscape and the complexities of state government. Current initiatives include the development of South Carolina’s 2027 State Energy Strategy, a collaborative effort to inform future energy planning and policy.

Before joining SCEO, Sara spent more than 15 years practicing environmental and regulatory law in both the public and private sectors, including with the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control, Nelson Mullins, and D’Alberto Graham & Grimsley.

A South Carolina native, Sara earned her Juris Doctor and Master of Earth and Environmental Resources Management from the University of South Carolina in 2005. She also serves as an adjunct professor at USC School of Law, teaching environmental and energy law.

Shauna Beland

Director of Energy Programs and Policy, Solar, Workforce Development, Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources

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.

Bettina Bergoo

Deputy Director, Virginia Department of Energy

Captain Richard Birt (Retired)

Founder, Solar And Fire Education

Captain Richard Birt brings more than 30 years of fire service experience to the Global Energy Resilience Training & Mitigation Foundation, including distinguished leadership with Las Vegas Fire & Rescue. As founder of Solar And Fire Education (S.A.F.E.), he has provided free training to firefighters worldwide, advancing preparedness for lithium-ion batteries, solar energy systems, and other emerging fire hazards. His work following Hurricane Maria helped establish resilient emergency response infrastructure through solar microgrids, reflecting his commitment to innovative public safety solutions. A strong advocate for firefighter health and PFAS-free practices, Captain Birt helps lead our extensive training and education initiatives, equipping responders with the knowledge and strategies needed to safely address today’s evolving fire service challenges.

Kelly Blynn

Senior Policy Advisor, Land Use and Transportation, Colorado Energy Office

Dr. Tammie Borders

Associate Laboratory Director, Critical Minerals and Advanced Alloys, National Energy Technology Laboratory

Tammie Borders serves as the Associate Laboratory Director for Critical Minerals & Advanced Alloys at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). In this role, she leads a team dedicated to driving innovation and commercialization across the critical minerals supply chain, from extraction to manufactured products. 

Before joining NETL, Dr. Borders was a senior member of the technical staff in the Proliferation Signature & Data Exploitation department at Sandia National Laboratories. She earned her doctorate in computational physical chemistry at the University of North Texas. Throughout her career, Dr. Borders has led multiple programs in both national security and energy systems. Her areas of expertise span next-generation AI, advanced materials, chemical dynamics, and digital engineering. 

Ben Brouwer

Bureau Chief, Energy Bureau, Montana Department of Environmental Quality

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.

Michelle Butler

Senior Manager, Workforce Development, Colorado Energy Office

As a Senior Manager at the Colorado Energy Office (CEO), Michelle Butler directs the Climate Workforce team in driving initiatives to expand and develop the skilled workforce needed to meet the state's climate goals. Her team supports educators and organizations to integrate climate technologies into technical training curricula and as a Qualified Apprenticeship Intermediary, connects Colorado’s clean energy industry with practical, high-quality career pathways. 

Previously, Michelle served as the Senior Engagement Manager for the CEO Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), where she managed stakeholder relations, contractor development, and policy streamlining to improve program accessibility. Dedicated to establishing equitable pathways to quality climate jobs, she collaborates with government, industry, and community partners to deliver high-impact workforce programs. Michelle has a BA and MA in Anthropology from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a PhD in Anthropology from the University of California, Riverside. 

Josh Carlisle

Senior Director, Environmental, Health, Safety, Regulatory and Sustainability, BKV Corporation

Blaise Caudill

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

Blaise Caudill is a third generation Arizonan with family roots in Bisbee and a contagious passion for his beloved state. Through his past work with nonprofits, government, and within the energy industry, Blaise finds joy in building consensus and activating solutions to complex community issues. Most recently, Blaise served as a Senior Analyst with Southwest Gas, advancing sustainable molecular energy solutions within the State’s energy portfolio. A graduate of Northern Arizona University (2013) and Arizona State University (MPA, 2017), Blaise is excited to bring a collaborative spirit to partnerships throughout the state he loves so much.

Steven Chybowski

Director, Energy Efficiency Policy and Programs, Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources

John Clinger

Senior Director, Energy and Data Center Solutions, ICF

John Clinger coordinates data center strategy across ICF, supporting developers, investors, utilities, and public sector clients worldwide. His technical focus covers renewable energy integration, large-load grid challenges, on-site power, and efficiency best practices for both data center facilities and IT infrastructure.

John led technical and marketing strategy for the U.S. EPA’s ENERGY STAR data center initiatives for over a decade, co-designed and managed the U.S. DOE’s Better Buildings Data Center program, and remains an advisor to both agencies on data center strategy. His regulatory experience includes supporting the European Commission on environmental policy for data centers, as well as equipping utilities, state agencies, and municipalities with frameworks for sustainable, long-term market growth.

John also oversees a wide range of broader energy initiatives focused on grid decarbonization, energy efficiency, and emerging technologies. He holds an M.S. in Electrical Engineering and a B.C.E. in Computer Engineering from the University of Delaware.

Dr. Myles Collins

Policy Researcher, Energy Markets and Policy Department, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Myles Collins is a Researcher in the Energy Markets and Planning Department at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He conducts research on resilience planning and valuation and benefit-cost analysis for innovative utility programs. He has 20 years of experience in energy policy, strategy, and analytics, including 15 years in the utility industry. He served as the Energy Services and Utility Rates Manager at Burbank Water and Power, Principal Consultant at Nexant (now Resource Innovations), and Senior Project Manager at Southern California Edison. He holds a Ph.D. in Policy Analysis from the RAND Graduate School, a Master of Public Policy from UCLA, and a B.S. in Environmental Engineering from Northwestern University.

Brad Crabtree

Senior Director and Global Head of Commercial Policy, ExxonMobil Low Carbon Solutions

Brad Crabtree is Global Head of Commercial Policy for ExxonMobil Low Carbon Solutions with responsibility for carbon capture and storage, low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia, low-carbon power, and critical minerals. He brings three decades of experience working with industry, governments and stakeholders to advance technology and policy solutions for reducing carbon emissions in the U.S. and globally.

Brad recently served as Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy and Carbon Management at the U.S. Department of Energy. He led over 2,000 federal employees and contractors and oversaw a domestic and international portfolio spanning oil and gas, methane mitigation, natural gas exports, carbon management, hydrogen, and critical minerals.

Prior to DOE, Brad was Vice President for Carbon Management at the Great Plains Institute. There, he co-founded and directed the Carbon Capture Coalition, bringing together over 80 companies, labor unions, and environmental organizations in a successful decade-long campaign to reform and expand the U.S. federal 45Q tax credit for carbon capture and storage.

Brad has lived, studied and worked in Europe, Southeast Asia and Latin America and holds a bachelor’s degree from the Georgetown School of Foreign Service and a master’s in history from Johns Hopkins 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

Acting Commissioner, Maine Department of Energy Resources

Acting Commissioner Cunningham advises the Governor on energy issues, leads the Maine Department of Energy Resources (DOER), represents Maine in regional and national forums, and serves on the boards of the Efficiency Maine Trust and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.  Prior to her appointment, she served as Deputy Director for the Governor's Energy Office since 2020, and then as Deputy Commissioner of DOER.

Robert Curis

Director, Government Affairs, Lowe’s Companies Inc.

Robert "Rob" Curis, is a government affairs professional with over a decade of experience in government, politics, and public policy across both the public and private sectors. He currently serves as Senior Manager for Government Affairs at Lowe’s, where he manages a wide range of responsibilities, including legislative advocacy, tracking regulatory implementation, and reputation management.

Before joining Lowe’s, Rob held several roles under U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), culminating in his role as a Policy Advisor supporting her work as Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Democratic Policy and Communications Committee. In these roles, he covered a diverse policy portfolio across multiple issue areas. Prior to serving in the Senate, he worked for the Michigan Democratic Party as a Volunteer Coordinator, managing several field offices in Detroit and its metro area.

As an advocate for LGBTQ equality, Rob currently serves on the board of Q Street, the professional association for LGBTQ lobbyists and public policy advocates. While serving in the U.S. Senate, he co-chaired the Steering Committee of the Senate GLASS Caucus, the chamber’s LGBTQ staff association

Originally from Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, Rob’s upbringing in his family’s restaurant instilled in him a deep appreciation for the restaurant industry and the importance of incorporating customer service, community, and inclusion into all of his work. In his free time, he enjoys maintaining an active lifestyle, large dinner parties with friends, soaking up some sun near the water, and playing video games.

Rob holds a B.A. in Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy with a specialization in Political Economy from Michigan State University’s James Madison College. He currently lives in Washington, DC.

Campbell Delahoyde

Director, National Association of State Energy Officials

Campbell Delahoyde leads NASEO's Energy Security and Resilience program, where he supports states with State Energy Security Planning, which includes energy emergency planning, preparedness, and response; climate change, adaptation, and hazard mitigation; grid resilience; and cybersecurity. He has been directly involved in multiple state and federal responses to federally declared disasters and numerous energy emergencies. Mr. Delahoyde served as an Energy Security Fellow with Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE), and participated as a member of the Energy Security Cohort of the EU-US Emerging Leaders Program sponsored by the European Union Delegation to the United States. Prior to his current role, he worked as a consultant supporting comprehensive electric utility emergency management; worked within the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response; and served as a FEMA Corps Field Team Leader with AmeriCorps NCCC. He has a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Rhodes College.

Rupa Deshmukh

Senior Strategist, State Programs, Division of Clean Energy, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities

Rupa Deshmukh is currently an Senior Strategist at New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. She is a driven leader with deep experience in climate change mitigation, resilience, and sustainability. She is leading key initiatives prioritized by the New Jersey Governor’s Executive Orders on energy efficiency, beneficial electrification, workforce development, and RGGI, as well as spearheading utilization of federal IRA+BIL funds across programs in collaboration with State agencies and stakeholders. She brings experience from previous roles at the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, Sustainable Jersey, and Rutgers University. Rupa Deshmukh holds a 2006 – 2008 Master of Science in Economics from Rutgers University.

Jillian DiMedio

Senior Policy Analyst, Transportation Electrification and Hydrogen, Oregon Department of Energy

Lucie Drummond

Senior Director, Market Policy, Voltus

Lucie Drummond is the Senior Director of Market Policy at Voltus. She brings over 20 years of energy systems experience to her work modernizing US policy frameworks for grid flexibility. With a background spanning executive leadership, strategy, law, and corporate sustainability at organizations like Mercury NZ, Lucie advances market design initiatives that ensure large-scale load growth strengthens the grid. Her current focus centers on wholesale market reforms, including PJM interim resource adequacy service proposals and responses to FERC show cause orders. In both areas, she works to ensure that policies related to data centers unlock flexible, distributed capacity solutions.

Brian Dudeck

Director, Development, Grid United

Brian Dudeck is a Director of Development at Grid United leading the Wyoming Intertie transmission project.

Prior to Wyoming Intertie, Brian worked on the North Plains Connector (NPC) project in Montana and North Dakota. In this role, he assisted in right-of-way and permit acquisition and led the development and implementation of the NPC Community Investment Program. On behalf of NPC, Brian supported successful grant applications with the U.S. Department of Energy, including $700 million for the Montana Department of Commerce through the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships program and $48 million for NPC communities in Rosebud, Custer, and Fallon County, Montana through the Transmission Siting and Economic Development program.

Before joining Grid United, Brian served as an Infantry Officer in the United States Army. During his time in the military, he was a Rifle Platoon Leader and a Battalion Operations Officer. Brian holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from La Salle University, where he was a member of the baseball team.

Bryan Early

Chief of Staff, California Energy Commission

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

Deputy Commissioner, New Hampshire Department of Energy

Josh Elliott serves as the Deputy Commissioner at the New Hampshire Department of Energy. He previously led the Division of Policy and Programs, which 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. 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.

Dr. Ben Fitch-Fleischmann

Director, Markets and Transmission, Interwest Energy Alliance

Ben Fitch-Fleischmann, Ph.D., is the Markets and Transmission Director at the Interwest Energy Alliance, where he leads engagement in regional electricity market development and transmission planning across the West. His work combines rigorous economic analysis with clear communication to support collaboration among technical experts, policymakers, and industry stakeholders. Previously, Ben managed the markets and analytics team at NorthWestern Energy Transmission, representing the utility in regional transmission planning and the EDAM and Markets+ initiatives. He also led NorthWestern’s integrated resource planning team for three years. His experience includes consulting for state regulatory commissions, investor-owned utilities, generation developers, and consumer advocates, as well as serving as a staff economist at the Oregon Public Utility Commission. Ben holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Oregon and is based in Missoula, Montana.

Kyle Fleming

Director, Virgin Islands Energy Office

Kyle Fleming is the Director of the Virgin Islands Energy Office (VIEO), where he has emerged as a leading advocate for distributed energy as a pathway to greater affordability, resilience, and grid reliability in island power systems. Since 2019, he has led the development of customer-focused solar, battery storage, microgrid, electric vehicle, and financing programs designed to move energy resources closer to the communities they serve.

As VIEO Director, he has championed the evolution of distributed energy from individual customer assets into coordinated grid resources. His work includes launching battery incentive programs, deploying resilient microgrids at critical facilities, expanding transportation electrification, and developing the territory’s Virtual Power Plant in partnership with Tesla Energy to aggregate residential batteries into a dispatchable grid resource.

Through his leadership at the Energy Office and service on the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority Governing Board, Kyle has worked to bridge utility operations, public policy, private investment, and emerging grid-edge technologies, helping position the Virgin Islands as a proving ground for distributed energy solutions that can address the challenges of remote and islanded electric systems.

Craig Foley

Chief Sustainability Officer,, LAER Realty Partners; Sustainability Subject Matter Expert, National Association of REALTORS Executive Committee

Craig Foley is the founder of Sustainable Real Estate Consulting Services, a LEED Green Associate and chief sustainability officer for LAER Realty Partners. Craig’s combination of real estate and energy management skills give him a unique perspective about sustainable energy solutions and subject matter expertise on greening the MLS and high-performance home valuation and marketing. As a real estate broker, he has sold several high-performance projects in and around Greater Boston. He is the team leader of REthink39 Group. REthink39 is devoted to lowering the 39% of U.S. energy consumption attributed to the built environment and believes they can be part of a solution with every transaction closed.

As a real estate consultant, he has partnered with a broad range of companies including Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories, Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, Elevate Energy, and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. Craig was one of five people in the U.S. to receive the EverGreen Award by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) in 2013. He also serves as an advisory board member for the NAR Green Resource Council and is a certified instructor of the NAR Green Designation. His committee work at NAR includes chairing the Sustainability Advisory Group in 2019. He also serves on the Energy Advisory Council for Fannie Mae

Matt Frommer

Smart Growth Program Director, Southwest Energy Efficiency Project

Matt Frommer is Smart Growth Program Director at the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) and works to advance policies that cut transportation pollution, accelerate vehicle electrification, and build more healthy, walkable, and equitable communities. He works closely with policymakers and transportation planners to increase funding for multimodal transportation options like transit, biking, and walking, and support more efficient, compact land use. Matt’s goal is to make our communities less car-dependent and in the process, improve access to opportunity, lower emissions, and save people money on housing and transportation.

Prior to working on climate and transportation policy, Matt was an architect working on mixed-use and residential development in New York City and Abu Dhabi. Throughout his work in architecture, he gravitated toward projects that support sustainability and affordability, sparking an interest in climate, transportation, and land use that eventually brought him to SWEEP.

Dr. Sam Gage

Program Manager of Industrial Transformation, CLEAResult Energetics LLC

Sam Gage, Ph.D., is Program Manager of Industrial Transformation at CLEAResult Energetics. His team has expertise in development and commercialization of emerging technologies for industry and heavy manufacturing. Leveraging strategic technical analysis and modeling approaches, he quantifies the energy, emissions, and cost impacts of innovation within the industrial sector and supports clients in making strategic investment and policy decisions that enable market deployment of technology and make key economic sectors more resilient, productive, and efficient.
Sam has been with CLEAResult Energetics for almost 6 years designing and implementing programs for the U.S. Department of Energy, State governments, national laboratories, and utilities. Before joining CLEAResult Energetics, he was a researcher at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (now National Laboratory of the Rockies), developing next-generation thermal energy storage technologies. Sam holds a Ph.D. in Applied Chemistry from the Colorado School of Mines with additional work and education experience both in the United States and Germany.

Lauren Garibay

Director of Energy, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Department of Public Works

Lauren Garibay is an international relations and energy policy professional with expertise in energy infrastructure development, trade, and U.S. engagement with Asia and the Pacific Islands. She earned her B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), followed by a Master’s degree in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), where she focused on development, climate, and sustainability, with a regional concentration in Asia, particularly Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands.

Her experience spans government, international affairs, and private-sector collaboration. She currently serves as Energy Director within the Division of Energy at the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Department of Public Works, where she oversees the division’s energy programs and works to advance energy policy, infrastructure, and initiatives shaping the Northern Mariana Islands’ energy future.

Previously, Lauren served as a Research Analyst at the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, where she supported the agency’s Indo-Pacific portfolio, with a focus on energy and critical minerals projects. She also served as a Staff Assistant with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs and has worked with the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council. She was a former Junior Fellow with the U.S.-Pacific Institute of Rising Leaders, a State Department–White House initiative focused on developing the next generation of Pacific leaders. She speaks English, Spanish, and Indonesian and enjoys traveling with her partner, CJ.

Matthew Garlick

Chief Executive Officer, The Grey Edge Group, LLC

Matt Garlick is a man who loves what he does! Leading The GreyEdge Group as CEO gives him a chance to use his superpower- communicating technical information to people who don't currently speak "geothermal". Bridging the gap between GreyEdge's incredible experience in Thermal Energy Networks and town, campus, and utility customers, Matt pushes forward the concept of TENs as the most efficient and lowest carbon alternative to standard heating and cooling systems.

Matt holds a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Utah and is a Building Energy Modeling Professional (BEMP, ASHRAE), a Certified Energy Manager (CEM, AEE) and a Certified Commissioning Professional (CCP, BCxA). Matt is an advocate for high performance design and regularly speaks to professional organizations across the nation on the benefits and potential for TENs. In an industry filled with engineers, Matt’s combination of a broad understanding and technical expertise allows him to reduce complicated ideas into simpler forms. This helps bridge the worlds of owners, architects, engineers and contractors and encourages efficient systems that deliver in the real world.

Matt’s career has led to working on building typologies that have the most to gain from energy efficiency. He has developed energy models and provided design teams with actionable recommendations on over 12,000,000sf of projects from China to Canada and California to New York. He has led teams on dozens of commissioning and retrocommissioning projects over the past ten years. This broad mastery of conceptual and practical concepts elevates his work at the GreyEdge Group developing real world applications for Ambient Temperature Loops.

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.

Ray Gifford

Launch Team, The Western Transmission Consortium

Ray Gifford counsels energy, communications and other utility-sector companies on matters related to regulation, litigation and policy development. He represents parties before federal and state agencies, in state and federal courts, before legislative bodies, and as an expert witness on utility regulation.

He is prone to periodic enthusiasms to help conceive and form institutions. The current enthusiasm is to build interregional electric transmission in the Western United States. The Western Transmission Consortium (TWTC) evolved from a recognition that layers of collective action problems have made building network transmission projects in the West difficult. Politics, regulation and finance have meant there was no institutional impetus for the West to build interregional projects at scale. TWTC attempts to solve that with a bottom-up approach that is responsive to the needs of customers, accountable to state regulators and political leaders, and allocates costs to those who benefit from the transmission.

Earlier forays into institution-building include helping organize the Broadband Internet Technical Advisory Group (BITAG), a multi-stakeholder body of engineers and technologists addressing issues around communications network management during peak “net neutrality.” He also co-founded the Institute for Regulatory Law & Economics (IRLE), an annual seminar for state regulators and staff on the law and economics of network industry regulation.

During a naive phase of his career when he thought legislation mattered, he helped conceive and publish The Digital Age Communications Act, a bi-partisan, consensus legislative proposal for communications law reform published by The Progress & Freedom Foundation. He continues to remain active on policy issues relating to: performance-based regulation for electric and gas utilities, electric transmission policy, organized and less-organized electric and gas markets, and — his old standbys — Internet, broadband, telecommunications, and universal service regulation.

He has served as adjunct faculty at University of Colorado Law School, teaching a seminar focusing on the law and economics of utility regulation, and served as Chairman of the Advisory Board to the Silicon Flatirons Center for Law, Technology and Entrepreneurship at CU.

Ray served as Chairman of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission from 2000-2004.  He followed that by serving as President of the Progress & Freedom Foundation, a Washington, DC-based think tank focusing on the law and economics of the digital revolution.

Sydney Gilliam

Program Executive, Home Energy Rebate Programs, IEM

Sydney Gilliam is IEM's Practice Lead for Energy, Policy & Program Development. She has been working with federal officials, state agencies, non-profits, and private entities to optimize federal funds and tax credits for energy programs, including home energy rebates and solar for all. Leveraging her diverse educational background and extensive experience, Ms. Gilliam plays a pivotal role in guiding states and jurisdictions through the complexities of program design and implementation, ensuring their initiatives are well-positioned for success. Her legal expertise and deep understanding of policy are instrumental in helping IEM clients navigate compliance with federal, state, territorial, and local regulations.

With a decade of legal experience focused on environmental science, energy policy, and climate change, Ms. Gilliam has spent the last five years specializing in energy and federal program management and ten years focusing on environmental science, policy, energy efficiency, and climate change. Her expertise spans strategic planning, needs assessments, energy efficiency, climate resiliency, policy analysis, legal compliance, audit preparation, operations management, grants administration, technical writing, and project management. Ms. Gilliam has worked for various federal and state agencies and has an expansive knowledge of the law; this, coupled with her experience and education in environmental science, energy, and climate change, ensures IEM's clients have the right person to guide the big picture of their energy efficiency goals.

Jennifer Gimbel

Senior Water Policy Scholar, Colorado Water Center, Colorado State University

Jennifer Gimbel has a Juris Doctor from the University of Wyoming, a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Delaware and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wyoming. She currently is the senior water policy scholar for the Colorado Water Center, based at Colorado State University. In this position she teaches graduate and undergraduates interested in water policy issues and develops published articles on the Colorado River and water issues facing Colorado. Before that, she served as the principal deputy assistant secretary for water and science in the Department of the Interior and was deputy commissioner for external and intergovernmental affairs for the Bureau of Reclamation. 

From 2008 to 2013, Gimbel was the director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board, a group within the Department of Natural Resources that works to protect and develop the state’s water resources. She has worked for both the Colorado and Wyoming Attorneys General.

In 2022 Gimbel was presented as the 2022 winner of the Aspinall Award by the Colorado Water Congress, a lifetime achievement award for work in Colorado water.

Mark Glick

Chief Energy Officer, Hawaii State Energy Office

Mark serves as the Chief Energy Officer for the State of Hawai‘i, leading the Hawai‘i State Energy Office (HSEO) in its mission to promote energy efficiency, renewable energy, and clean transportation to help achieve a resilient, clean energy, decarbonized economy.

Dominique Gómez

Deputy Director, Colorado Energy Office

Dominique Gómez is the Deputy Director of the Colorado Energy Office where she oversees the office's 100 staff and $400M budget. Dominique has previous experience in venture-backed startups, consulting, and government. Dominique sits on several boards and commissions including the Denver Water Board of Commissioners, Cascadia Consulting and the Colorado Clean Energy Fund. Dominique has a BA from Yale University, an MBA from Stanford University and a MPP from the Kennedy School of Government. She is an avid reader, a fast walker, and enjoys gluten in all its forms. She lives in Denver with her partner and two young daughters.

Jennifer Grove

Assistant Director, Energy Division, State Energy Office, Washington State Department of Commerce

Jennifer Grove serves as Director of the Washington State Energy Office within the Department of Commerce, where she leads the state’s transition to a clean and equitable energy future. With more than 20 years of experience in clean energy leadership, she oversees strategic policy development, clean technology investments, and decarbonization initiatives throughout Washington.

A Washington native and University of Washington business graduate, Grove previously served as Executive Director of Spark Northwest, a regional nonprofit organization. Her work has centered on addressing energy inequities by lowering energy costs for low-income households, expanding access to clean energy benefits, and strengthening Washington’s position as a national leader in inclusive clean energy transformation.

Joe Hagerman

Director, Energy and Natural Resources Division, Mississippi Development Authority

Zeryai Hagos

Regional Vice President, Integrated System Planning, Xcel Energy

Zeryai Hagos is a clean energy executive with more than two decades of experience in government and the private sector. He has a proven track record as a leader of regulatory, policy, and business initiatives in the utility and clean energy industries.

As the Regional Vice President of Integrated System Planning for Public Service Company of Colorado, Zeryai oversees the resource planning, transmission planning and long-term gas & electric distribution planning work for Xcel’s operating company in Colorado.

Mr. Hagos previously served the State of New York, as the Executive Director of the NYS Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission or “ORES”, where he oversaw the most comprehensive permitting reform for electric transmission since 1970.  During his seven years as a state regulator in NY, Mr. Hagos also oversaw the clean energy policy, RTO and retail market policy for the investor-owned utilities, transportation electrification policies including creating a $1.2B EV make-ready program and advanced a major reform to the long-term grid planning process, creating New York’s Coordinated Grid Planning Process.

Before his time in state government, Mr. Hagos was the Senior Director of Business Development at Tendril (now Uplight), where he helped grow a new distributed energy resources platform called Orchestrated Energy.

Mr. Hagos began his career at General Electric, where he most recently served as the Growth & Strategy Director for GE’s Power business in the US. his responsibilities at GE included leading cross-business growth initiatives in the electric power sector, managing GE's long-term power market forecast in North America and serving as a subject matter expert for the US power markets in support of corporate strategy.

Mr. Hagos holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science and political science from Bucknell University and a master’s degree in economic forecasting at the State University of New York in Albany. He lives in Denver, CO, with his wife and two daughters.

Kristin Hanks-Bents

Energy Division Administrator, Iowa Economic Development Authority

Christina Hayes

Head of Government and Regulatory Affairs, GridCARE

Christina Hayes is Head of Government and Regulatory Affairs for GridCARE, a company that accelerates power for critical infrastructure by finding capacity on the existing grid. She previously served as Executive Director of Americans for a Clean Energy Grid, a diverse nonprofit coalition in support the development of high-capacity regional and interregional transmission to most cost effectively and reliably build out the grid. An energy attorney for more than 20 years, she previously served as Vice President for Federal Regulatory Affairs for Berkshire Hathaway Energy, as well as an attorney with FERC, where she was an advisor to Chairman Jon Wellinghoff. A native Oregonian, Christina has also served as an administrative law judge at the Public Utility Commission of Oregon.

Christina earned a law degree from the University of Oregon and a bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary.

Michael Helmer

Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation, U.S. Department of Energy

Michael Helmer brings nearly a decade of Capitol Hill experience to his role as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI). Most recently, Helmer served as legislative assistant to Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, where he advised the Senator on energy, environmental, and trade issues. His congressional tenure also includes roles as a legislative director and professional committee staffer on the House Committee on Rules.

Helmer previously served at the U.S. Department of Energy from 2019 to 2021 in the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs. In his current capacity, he is responsible for providing executive leadership to advance CMEI’s strategic objectives, streamline internal operations, and ensure alignment with the administration’s policy goals and priorities.

Sydney Henry

Western Energy Policy Lead, Energy and Location Strategy, Google

Sydney Henry spearheads legislative strategy and regulatory advocacy across the Western United States. Her work has helped make Google’s data centers the cleanest and most efficient industrial fleet in the world and advance the company’s initiatives to lower barriers to an equitable clean energy transition. Previously, Sydney worked at Deloitte Consulting, where she led site selection for multi-billion dollar manufacturing projects. She holds a dual B.S. in Finance and Marketing from Kansas State University.

Anna Holland

Senior Manager, Deloitte

Anna Holland is a Senior Manager in Deloitte’s public sector Infrastructure & Resilience practice where she helps state governments design and implement energy transition strategies. With 15+ years of experience spanning public policy, program design, and data-driven decision-making, she brings a practitioner's perspective to the operational and equity challenges states face as they modernize energy infrastructure and regulatory processes. Anna's work has focused on building the data and governance foundations states need to act on complex energy and environmental goals — and how new tools (including AI) get adopted inside state environmental and energy agencies to accelerate outcomes like permitting and interconnection.

Mitchell Horrie

Energy Incentives and Rebates Supervisor, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin

Morgan Hoy

Senior Manager, Policy, Strategy, Energy Market Analysis and Standards, American Gas Association

Morgan is the Senior Manager of Policy and Strategy with the American Gas Association. She manages a portfolio at the nexus of emissions reduction strategies and regulatory frameworks, including a specific focus on energy efficiency and renewable natural gas. Morgan is an engaging public speaker and a dedicated subject matter expert for the energy industry as well as media inquiries. Prior to joining AGA Morgan was an Advisor to the Commissioners of the Maryland Public Service Commission. Supplementing her experience in the energy sector, she has a Bachelors of Science in Environmental Science from the University of North Carolina Wilmington and a Masters of Science in Natural Resource Policy from North Carolina State University, as well as being published in a variety of academic journals.

Mary Hubbard

Pillar Lead, State and Community Energy Programs, State and Home Energy Rebates Program, Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation, U.S. Department of Energy

Robert Jackson

Executive Director, RESTART Institute

Robert Jackson is the executive director of the Retired Engineers, Scientists, Technicians, Administrators, Researchers, and Teachers (RESTART) Program at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan, and the president of the RESTART Institute, a nonprofit that helps the private and public sectors decarbonize.

Before RESTART, Jackson directed the Michigan Energy Office, managing the State Energy Program, Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Programs, and the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Revolving Loan Fund. Jackson also served as the Energy Ombudsman for Michigan, responsible for resolving public and private sector energy disputes and monitoring utility compliance with the Michigan Public Service Commission’s code of conduct.

Jackson sits on the board of directors for the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), is the past chair of the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) and the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable, and former vice-chair of the Department of Energy’s State Energy Advisory Board. Jackson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Wayne State University.

William Jenkins

Vice President of Sustainability, Clayton

William serves as Vice President of Sustainability at Clayton Homes, a leading builder of attainable housing.

Since joining Clayton in 2021, William has headed the company’s national sustainability initiatives, including supporting the expansion of ENERGY STAR® and DOE's Energy Efficient New Homes™ programs across Clayton’s manufactured and site-built home portfolio.

William’s vision centers on building homes that are not only energy-efficient but also affordable and environmentally responsible. His work aligns with Clayton’s mission to “open doors to a better life” by delivering innovative housing solutions that benefit the homeowners and communities that Clayton serves. This requires leading enterprise-wide efforts to help drive building innovations, advance home energy efficiency, reduce construction waste, and embed responsible practices throughout Clayton’s operations.

The Honorable Catherine Jereza

Assistant Secretary, Office of Electricity, U.S. Department of Energy

Catherine (Katie) Jereza serves as Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Electricity (OE). She leads the Department's research, development and demonstration programs to strengthen and modernize our nation’s power grid.

She returns to OE in 2025 after serving as OE’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transmission Permitting and Technical Assistance from 2017-2019. During that time, she led Department efforts to promote the reliability, security and affordability of electricity infrastructure. In between her positions at OE, she served as a Corporate Vice President for the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), providing strategic leadership for government and external engagement.

Ms. Jereza has more than 30 years of experience in the energy, water, and manufacturing industries, where she led multiple startups, turnaround and major problem-solving initiatives. Specifically, she was the Director for Infrastructure Resilience at the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), Program Director at Energetics Incorporated, and Environmental Specialist at the Maryland Department of the Environment’s Water Supply Program. She also worked as a sales engineer for GE Water and Process Technologies and the Lincoln Electric Company.

Ms. Jereza was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on October 7, 2025. She holds an MBA from the Loyola University Maryland and a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Brant Johnson

Senior Vice President, Development, Grid United

Brant Johnson is a Senior VP of Development at Grid United, and independent electric transmission development company. Brant provides strategic leadership for several of Grid United’s US development projects, employing an inclusive approach with project stakeholders to solicit meaningful feedback during project development. With more than 20 years of experience as an energy professional, Brant has supported the development of major linear infrastructure projects across the U.S. providing strategic leadership managing regulatory, environmental, tribal, and landowner issues.

Prior to joining Grid United, Brant led legal and technical teams at large companies supporting the development of major energy projects.  He is active in environmental and land industry associations and has been an adjunct law professor teaching a course on energy regulation and NEPA. He is a licensed attorney in Texas and Montana.

Tanner Jones

Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Vulcan Technologies

Tanner Jones is founder and CEO of Vulcan Technologies, the fastest growing govtech company since its founding in 2025. Held to FedRAMP High controls and integrated with proprietary government data, Vulcan's agent, Justinian, transforms government across permitting, licensing, regulatory, legal, auditing, and claims workflows. Justinian’s multiagent architecture is deployed currently in 15 states, on average speeding permit and licensing processes by 90% across agencies.

Philip Jordan

Vice President, Principal Researcher, BW Research Partnership

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.

Sione Kava

Director, Territorial Energy Office, American Samoa Government

Zach Keith

Director, Business Development and Sustainability, Low Carbon Products, Williams

Zach Keith is the Director of Business Development and Sustainability, working within Williams’ Investor Relations & Sustainability and New Energy Ventures organizations.  He facilitates the development of Williams’ Sustainability strategy, champions the operationalization of sustainability activities, and leads the reporting of their sustainability disclosures. He and his team are responsible for strategic projects and initiatives including meaningful sustainability reporting, enhancing shareholder and other stakeholder engagement, supporting project development and execution, and contributing to clean energy technology and corporate strategy.  Further, the team works to catalyze and commercialize efficient market solutions for clean, affordable, and reliable energy such as end-to-end certified, low-carbon natural gas, NGLs, and power.  His team aims to enhance sustainability performance, operationalize Williams’ Climate Commitment, and advance low-carbon product opportunities.  Zach serves as a Board member for Encino Environmental Services, a Williams investment. Zach attended Oklahoma State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and is a licensed Professional Engineer.  He has been with Williams for ~13 years and served in a variety of roles including facility design, field engineering, and several roles within the environmental and Project Execution organization.  His experience expands across multiple segments of the midstream sector and geographic areas. Zach lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with his wife, two children, and golden retriever.  He enjoys spending his free time outside, hiking, running, and doing activities with his family.

Julie Kempf

Chief of Staff, Indiana Office of Energy Development

Dan King

Chief Geoscience and Policy Officer, Darcy Solutions

Christine Knapp

Director, Energy Programs Office, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

Christine Knapp

Director, Energy Programs Office, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

Jared Leader

Senior Director, Research and Industry Strategy, Resilience, Smart Electric Power Alliance

Jared Leader leads research, industry engagement, and strategic initiatives at the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA), focused on strengthening grid resilience, integrating distributed energy resources, and advancing clean energy innovation. He works closely with utilities, regulators, and industry stakeholders to translate emerging technical, policy, and market developments into practical insights that support planning and implementation. Jared also supports SEPA’s international engagement efforts, helping connect U.S. utilities with global best practices.

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.

Matt Lerman

Senior Program Manager, Infrastructure, Colorado Energy Office

Matt Lerman is a Senior Infrastructure Program Manager on the Transportation team at the Colorado Energy Office (CEO), where he advances the goals of the Colorado Electric Vehicle (EV) Plan and guides the agency's implementation of the state's Clean Truck Strategy. In his role, Matt supports the development and administration of Colorado's EV charging incentive programs, advises on zero-emission transportation legislation, and leads strategic planning for the buildout of a future statewide freight charging network. He leverages deep expertise in program and project management, policy, stakeholder engagement, and data-driven analysis to accelerate zero-emission vehicle adoption and infrastructure deployment. Prior to joining CEO, Matt served as a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Clean Cities Coordinator and ReCharge Coach at Drive Clean Colorado, worked in utility consulting, and co-founded a real estate management and investment firm. Combining technical expertise with business acumen, Matt holds a master's degree in renewable energy from the University of Colorado Boulder and a bachelor's in entrepreneurship from the University of Miami.  

Emy Lesofski

Energy Advisor and Director, Utah Office of Energy Development

Lesofski joins the Office of Energy Development from the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. She has built her career in public service as a staff director and policy advisor in both houses of Congress. Lesofski studied Political Science at Brigham Young University.

Megan Levy

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

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

Director, Virginia Department of Energy

Vince Maiden currently serves as the Director of the Virginia Department of 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.

The Honorable Matthew Marzano

Commissioner, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

The Honorable Matthew J. Marzano was appointed by President Joe Biden and sworn in as a Commissioner of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on January 6, 2025 to a term ending June 30, 2028.

Commissioner Marzano has served as staff on the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and brings over a decade of experience in the nuclear industry to the Commission, including his time as a licensed Senior Reactor Operator.

Lindsey Mayer

Special Assistant to the Director, Utah Office of Energy Development

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.

Dr. Jeremy Mehta

Chief of Staff Critical Minerals, Materials, and Manufacturing, Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation, U.S. Department of Energy

Dr. Jeremy Mehta works as a Chief of Staff, Critical Minerals, Materials, and Manufacturing
for the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). In this role, Jeremy is responsible for the Critical Minerals and Materials portfolio, including technology development and derisking, recycling and reuse strategies, and education and workforce development. Previously, Jeremy has worked on Industrial Strategy at the White House’s Made in America Office and advanced manufacturing strategy and technology development as a AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow including the 2021 DOE Critical Materials Strategy and the 2022 National Strategy for Advanced Manufacturing. His expertise includes semiconductors and critical minerals with a focus on material security and sustainability.

Elisabet Metcalfe

External Affairs Director, Office of Geothermal, U.S. Department of Energy

Yaron Miller

Project Director, The Pew Charitable Trusts

Yaron Miller leads the state policy and campaigns portfolio of Pew’s energy modernization project, which works with state and federal policymakers to modernize the grid to meet increasing energy demand.

Miller previously worked on Pew’s efforts to address the National Park Service’s deferred maintenance, where he developed support among businesses and gateway communities throughout the country and secured bipartisan congressional backing for the Great American Outdoors Act. He has also worked on the flood-prepared communities project, where he oversaw the development, passage, and implementation of policies to help states and communities mitigate flood risk and reduce recovery costs. This work included advocacy at the state legislative and executive levels and resulted in more than $1.7 billion in new funding for nature-based mitigation programs and commitments from state policymakers for comprehensive resilience planning to reduce flood risk.

Before coming to Pew, Miller served as the director of national outreach for a conservation nonprofit group and worked on electoral campaigns throughout the country.

Miller holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and environmental studies from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and a master’s in environmental management from Duke University.

Brandon Mooney

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

Brandon Mooney is Vice President at CO2EFFICIENT 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 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.

Landon Mossburg

Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Peak Energy

Landon is Co-Founder and CEO of Peak. He previously spent five years at Northvolt as President of North America and Chief Automation Officer, where he developed next-generation battery manufacturing technologies and led the company’s U.S. expansion. He has also served as COO at Einride, helping scale the autonomous trucking company, and held leadership roles at Tesla, where he built global teams in software engineering, supply chain automation, and vehicle connectivity. He began his career in strategy consulting with Accenture and KPMG. Landon holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Economics and East Asian Studies from Wake Forest University.

Katie Ottenweller

Head of Community Power, North America and Southeast Regional Lead, Energy Market Development, Google

Katie Ottenweller is responsible for the development of cutting-edge partnerships, market reform and policy frameworks designed to accelerate the decarbonization of electricity systems and promote energy affordability for all, to support Google's community investment and operations. Her work has helped make Google’s data centers the cleanest and most efficient industrial fleet in the world and develop the company’s initiatives to lower barriers to an equitable clean energy transition. 

Prior to Google, Katie focused on equitable decarbonization as the Southeast Policy Director at the Energy Foundation, where she supported grantees across a 13-state region. She has also held positions at Vote Solar and the Southern Environmental Law Center. Katie is originally from Tallahassee, Florida, and is a graduate of the University of Georgia and Columbia University School of Law. She is licensed to practice law in Georgia. Katie lives in Atlanta with her husband and two completely wild children.

Umed Paliwal

Senior Scientist, University of California, Berkeley

Umed Paliwal, Senior Scientist, conducts research on ways to integrate high share of renewables on the grid and its impact on reliability and electricity prices. He holds a Master of Public Policy from UC Berkeley where he focused on energy markets, regulation, power systems modeling and data analytics. Prior to coming to Berkeley, he was an Analytics Consultant at a financial services firm.  Umed did his undergraduate studies in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (India) where he worked for two years on a project to develop emission inventory of Black Carbon and modeling its concentration in India.

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

Pawlisch joined Commerce in March 2023 as the Energy Development Office Director in the Division of Energy Resources and became Assistant Commissioner of Federal and State Initiatives in September 2024. Since joining Commerce, she has worked to expand the Energy Development team to respond to the influx of Minnesota clean energy opportunities. With her team, she has worked to secure additional federal funding, to stand up and implement an array of new state and federally funded programs, and to continue the technical assistance, environmental review, and education and outreach activities Commerce has done for many years. She has worked on advancing clean energy – conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy - for over 20 years. She previously led the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) partnership working to support and center community engagement clean energy project development. Pawlisch received her bachelor’s degree from Macalester College and M.S. degree in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.

Alicia Polo y La Borda Cavero

Executive Director, Critical Minerals Strategy and Advancement, Colorado School of Mines

Alicia Polo y La Borda Cavero is the Executive Director of Critical Minerals Strategy and Advancement at Colorado School of Mines. She has 20 years of experience in the mining industry analyzing mine projects, asset portfolios, business strategies, mining policy and mineral and metal markets. She holds a bachelor degree in Economics from the Universidad del Pacifico in Peru, and a graduate degree in Master of Laws (LLM) in Mineral Law & Policy from the Centre of Energy, Petroleum, Minerals, Law & Policy (Cepmlp) – University of Dundee in Scotland.

Cassie Powers

Chief of Staff, National Association of State Energy Officials

Cassie Powers  leads coordination between NASEO's policy, program, and operations priorities, and works closely with NASEO's President and leadership to develop and implement strategies that best serve the State and Territory Energy Offices. She oversees communications and member engagement; informs NASEO's energy policy positions; provides guidance across NASEO's Committees, associated publications and resources, and events; leads fundraising across various NASEO programs; and represents State and Territory Energy Offices' interests to the U.S. Department of Energy, key federal and private sector partners, and outside audiences. In previous roles, Cassie led NASEO's state energy planning program, regional initiatives, and clean transportation program, supporting State Energy Offices as they developed and implemented transportation electrification and other clean transportation policies and initiatives. Prior to NASEO, Cassie worked as the EV Program Coordinator at Georgetown Climate Center, and in other clean energy roles at the American Wind Energy Association, and the League of Conservation Voters. She has a Bachelor of Arts in environmental policy and government from the College of William and Mary, and a Master of Urban and Environmental Planning from University of Virginia.

Nicholas Preservati

Director, West Virginia Office of Energy

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.

Lauren Quillian

Senior Director, External Affairs and Policy, Xcel Energy

Lauren is a strategic energy leader shaping the policies and partnerships that drive Xcel Energy’s clean energy transition across its eight state footprint and at the federal level. As Senior Director of External Affairs and Policy within the Customer and Utility Innovation organization, she leads a team responsible for designing and executing forward leaning policy strategies that accelerate sustainability and greenhouse gas reductions, modernize utility operations, and support customers through the energy transition.

Lauren works collaboratively with external partners to design durable, pragmatic policy frameworks to drive the clean energy transition, reliably and affordably. Lauren also oversees Xcel Energy’s sustainability and disclosure strategy, guiding the company’s carbon-free vision for electricity and net zero vision for natural gas and advancing transparent, credible reporting that aligns with national and global standards.

Her perspective is shaped by experience in global public service and development. Before entering the energy sector, Lauren spent four years supporting U.S. Agency for International Development programs in Africa and Latin America, including running an office in Equatorial Guinea to help establish a national Social Needs Fund aimed at expanding essential services for citizens.

Lauren has a master’s in public administration from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and a bachelor’s in foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia. Her commitment to community and infrastructure development was sparked during a 10 week cross country ride with Bike & Build, where she biked from Annapolis, MD to San Francisco, CA, while helping build affordable housing with Habitat for Humanity. That journey sparked her connection to Colorado, ultimately bringing her back to Denver to launch a career dedicated to shaping a cleaner, more resilient energy future. She’s also a mother to a similarly adventuresome daughter.

Rebecca Respicio

Director, Guam Energy Office

As the Director of the Guam Energy Office (GEO) since 2019, Respicio has been a driving force in advocating for affordable, reliable, and resilient energy in Guam, primarily providing solutions for low-income families through the various energy efficiency programs at GEO. In her tenure, she has grown the financial footprint of the agency resulting in millions of dollars in federal grant awards providing additional resources to accomplish Guam’s path to 100% renewables by 2045.

Respicio just completed the first official  term as the territory representative on the NASEO Board of Directors, propelling the island’s energy initiatives into the national spotlight. She is committed to ensuring that all U.S. Territories are included in all opportunities that will aide in the creation of policies for a sustainable and resilient energy future.

She is also the first pacific territory graduate from the Legislative Energy Horizon Institute, an energy policy planning certificate program from the University of Idaho.

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 serves as the Executive Director for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Office of Energy. The office is responsible for the development of energy policy and programs for the state as well as promoting the use of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies. Mrs. Rumenik’s responsibilities include supervision and oversight of policy development, program and grant design, and legislative tracking.

Prior to her work with the Office of Energy, Mrs. Rumenik served as Deputy Director with the Florida Department of Education’s Office of Safe Schools. In this role, Mrs. Rumenik oversaw efforts to support schools and school districts across Florida, verifying compliance with legislative requirements under the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, implementing best practices to ensure safe and secure learning environments across Florida, and focusing on prevention, intervention, and emergency preparedness planning.

Mrs. Rumenik holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Florida State University and has 31 years experience in education at both the local and state levels.

Madeline Salzman

Associate Director of Market Solutions, Earth Advantage

Madeline Salzman serves as the Associate Director of Market Solutions for Earth Advantage, a national nonprofit focused on equitable access to home energy upgrades. Earth Advantage works to provide key energy information to construction professionals, homeowners, buyers, and renters through green certifications, data standards, workforce training, and technology services. In her role, Madeline focuses on scaling policies, standards, and programs that drive funding and financing toward home energy upgrades. Prior to joining Earth Advantage, Madeline served as a Management and Programs Analyst for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) Office and Building Technologies Office (BTO). While at DOE, Madeline managed the Home Energy Score program, oversaw Green Buildings Workforce initiatives, and advised on rollout of the Inflation Reduction Act Home Energy Rebates.

Michael Sangaline

Senior Advisor, Office of Innovation, Affordability and Consumer Choice, U.S. Department of Energy

Chris Schinnerer

Secretary of Energy and Environment, Oklahoma Secretary of Energy and Environment

Chris Schinnerer most recently served as Deputy Secretary of Energy and Environment for the State of Oklahoma. Prior to this appointment, he was Vice President of Business Development at Lagoon Water Midstream, where he led corporate and business development efforts. Before joining Lagoon in 2019, Chris held leadership roles in marketing and strategic planning at Devon Energy, most recently directing natural gas marketing efforts for the Permian and Powder River Basins. Earlier in his career, he worked at Goldman Sachs supporting the Special Situations Group in New York, served on the National Security Council (Office of Asian Affairs) at the White House during the George W. Bush administration, and held positions in the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency.

In 2025, Governor Stitt appointed Chris to the governing board of the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST). He also serves on an Industrial Advisory Board for the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Oklahoma State University. Chris holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Oklahoma State University and a Master’s degree in Energy Finance and Policy from Columbia University.

Del Shannon

Dams and Hydropower Lead, Knight Piésold Consulting

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.

Krish Sivakumar

Head of Product, Verrus

Krish is a passionate builder with 20 years of experience developing, and scaling data center products. His expertise spans a wide range of technologies, from physical data centers and servers to cutting-edge virtualization solutions.

Before joining Verrus, Krish led product for Google Cloud's Compute Engine software layer and AI workload management solutions. He also spearheaded the creation of VMware Cloud Foundation, VMware's comprehensive software-defined private cloud offering. Earlier in his career, Krish played a key role in Cisco's Unified Computing System (UCS), leading the development of its management software. Krish has extensive background in both datacenter and end use infrastructure management and operations at scale.

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.

Holly Rachel Smith

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Electricity, U.S. Department of Energy

Holly Rachel Smith is Deputy Assistant Secretary for Permitting and Planning for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Electricity (OE). Previously, she served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Electricity with OE. Before joining OE, she served as Deputy General Counsel of Regulatory at Invenergy, a large privately held generation and transmission developer. 

She also served as Walmart’s Director of Markets and Compliance, responsible for wholesale electric supply operations, Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) stakeholder participation, and all licensing and regulatory before legislatures and commissions for Walmart’s then retail electricity subsidiaries in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Her career also includes five years as Assistant General Counsel to Exelon, where she managed retail regulatory compliance for the Mid-Atlantic and represented the Exelon Companies in grid modernization and wholesale supply proceedings before state public utility commissions.

Holly Rachel is most proud of her service as Energy Policy Lead and Assistant General Counsel of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners between 2012 and 2015, where she represented the interests of state public utility commissioners before Congressional committees, Federal agencies, the United States Courts of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.

For more than 10 years, Holly Rachel was in private practice as both an associate of several large D.C. law firms and as the owner of a boutique energy law firm that represented utility customers before state public utility commissions. While in private practice, she appeared before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, and more than 26 state utility commissions. In 2020, Holly Rachel received the Energy Bar Association’s State Regulatory Practitioner of the Year Award, which is a national award recognizing innovation and superior advocacy in state utility law practice.

She has served as an officer and member of many industry boards and committees, including the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s Membership Representative Committee and Southwest Power Pool’s Corporate Governance Committee.

Holly Rachel began her energy career in 1997, as a law clerk to the Administrative Hearings Division of the Oregon Public Utilities Commission. She also served as Senior Legal and Policy Advisor to the Director of the Tennessee Regulatory Authority in 2005.

She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado, her Master of Public Policy from the College of William & Mary, and her juris doctorate from the University of Oregon. In her spare time, Holly Rachel has enjoyed teaching as an adjunct law professor of energy policy at both the William & Mary and Washington & Lee University law schools, and competing her horses at the national level.

Kelley Smith Burk

State Energy Office Growth Lead, ICF

Kelley Smith Burk is the State Energy Office Growth Lead at ICF, where she works with State Energy Offices to understand their priorities and connect them with ICF’s expertise and capabilities. She collaborates across ICF to develop strategies and solutions that help states advance their energy goals.

Prior to joining ICF, Kelley spent more than a decade with the Florida Office of Energy, including eight years as Director. During her tenure, she led the development and implementation of state and federal energy policy and programs and oversaw more than $175 million in federal funding. Her work spanned energy efficiency, renewable energy, alternative fuels, energy resilience, and electric vehicle infrastructure, including state implementation of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program.

Throughout her career in state energy, Kelley has also had the privilege of serving the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) in several capacities, including as Chair from 2020 to 2023, Vice Chair, and a member of the Board of Directors.

She holds a Master of Public Policy from Pepperdine University and a Bachelor of Arts from Florida State University.

Kelly Speakes-Backman

Director, Maryland Energy Administration

elly Speakes-Backman is the Director of the Maryland Energy Administration under the Moore-Miller administration. A nationally recognized energy executive with over 25 years of experience in energy and environmental issues, her experience spans public, NGO and private sectors, including most recently building and managing a public affairs organization at Invenergy, an American-based multinational power generation development and operations company.

Prior to this, Kelly served as Acting Assistant Secretary and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy. She was the first CEO of the Energy Storage Association, where she led policy, external relations, and industry leadership efforts for the organization. She was also a commissioner of the Maryland Public Service Commission in the O'Malley-Brown administration, where, as an adjunct to the commission, she served as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, Co-Vice Chair of the NARUC (National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners) Committee on Energy Resources and the Environment, and member of the EPRI Energy Efficiency & Grid Modernization Public Advisory Group. Kelly has held leadership positions in the private sector at United Technologies, Wärtsilä, SunEdison, and The Alliance to Save Energy.

Robert Spotts

Manager, Power Ahead Colorado, Denver Regional Council of Governments

Robert Spotts leads Power Ahead Colorado, a $200 million initiative at the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) advancing heat pump adoption, building efficiency, workforce development, and cleaner air across the region. He has worked at DRCOG since 2007 and has led its climate and air quality initiatives since 2013, including leading the development of the region’s first Climate Action Plan and successful application for federal implementation funding.

A longtime leader in transportation electrification, Robert is the longest-serving board member of Drive Clean Colorado and served four years as president. He holds a BA in Geography and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Colorado Denver.

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.

Clayburne Stevens

Program Manager, West Virginia Office of Energy

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.

Eric Stoutenburg

Chief Development Officer, Eolian Energy

Eric Stoutenburg leads strategy and execution for Eolian’s portfolio of development projects including energy storage, thermal generation, geothermal, and powered industrial sites. Before that, he was Chief Development Officer at Able Grid Energy Solutions managing investment and development activities for a 10 GW portfolio of energy storage projects. He holds a Doctorate in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Stanford University and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point.

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.

Jay Sugnet

Housing Senior Manager, City of Boulder

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.

Carol Sue Tombari

Principal, Carol Tombari Consultation; NASEO Founding Board Member (Texas)

Carol Tombari has worked on energy efficiency and renewable energy issues for more than 30 years.  Most recently she was employed at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado, where she specialized in electric utility and local economic development issues related to deployment of renewable energy technologies.  Previously she was president of Mountain Energy Consultation, a small firm whose practice regarded policies and programs to facilitate deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy.  In this capacity, she led three delegations of State Energy Officials to the People’s Republic of China. 

As a gubernatorial appointee, Ms. Tombari directed the energy efficiency and renewable energy programs of the State of Texas for a dozen years, working for two governors and serving as an electric utility regulator.  She also was natural resources advisor to the Texas Lieutenant Governor and was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Energy to DOE’s State Energy Advisory Board.  In addition, she was appointed by DOE’s Assistant Secretary of Energy to chair a Congressional advisory committee assessing potential roles of public-private partnerships in capitalizing renewable energy ventures.  She was a founder of the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) and served in several capacities in that organization.

Ms. Tombari is the author of Power of the People: America’s New Electricity Choices and has received recognition for her achievements, including as the 2009 recipient of the Colorado Renewable Energy Society’s Larson-Notari Award and a recipient of special recognition by the National Association of State Energy Officials in 2011.  She was elected to two terms on the Board  of the Texas Renewable Energy Industries Alliance, and served as vice president of the Board of Texas ROSE (Ratepayers’ Organization to Save Energy).

Ms. Tombari holds degrees in Geography (Middlebury College) and Public Affairs (University of Texas).  She worked in case analysis at the Harvard Graduate School of Business and served in Ethiopia in the U.S. Peace Corps.  

Clarence Tong

Head, US Federal Government Relations, Carrier Corporation

Clarence Tong is the Head of US Federal Government Relations for Carrier in Washington DC. Carrier is the largest American HVAC manufacturer and a global leader in intelligent climate and energy solutions. In his position, Clarence oversees Executive Branch, congressional, and trade association engagement. 

During his career, Clarence has served in government, advocacy, and industry roles. This has included serving as a senior advisor and congressional liaison at the US Department of Energy (DOE), where he oversaw federal budget and appropriations matters. At the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Clarence developed and executed bipartisan advocacy strategies to advance cleaner energy and transportation policy. In more recent years, Clarence led US government affairs for a new EV manufacturer, Arrival, before joining Carrier in 2023. He has a BA in Economics & Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania and holds a Master of Science from the London School of Economics (LSE) and MPP from the Harvard Kennedy School. 

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.

Ethan Tremblay

Deputy Commissioner, Maine Department of Energy Resources

Jonah Ury

Principal, Nuclear Investment and Strategy, Office of Energy Dominance Financing, U.S. Department of Energy

Jonah Ury is a Principal of Nuclear Investment & Strategy (contractor) at the US Department of Energy, Office of Energy Dominance Financing (EDF). Jonah sits in the nuclear vertical within EDF, leading transactions and commercial strategy across the EDF nuclear pipeline. Most recently he served as co-deal lead on the $17.5B American Nuclear Supply Chain Loans announced in June, a program to finance the long lead items for ten AP1000 reactors. Prior to joining DOE in 2023, Jonah was a transaction consultant for large scale energy projects. He has a B.S. in political economics and environmental biology from Yale University.

Aroon Vijaykar

Chief Commercial Officer, Emerald AI

Aroon Vijaykar is the Chief Commercial Officer at Emerald AI, leading the commercialization of Emerald AI’s power flexibility and AI workload orchestration software platform that helps data centers unlock a range of value propositions such as accelerating or upsizing grid interconnections.

Aroon is an early member of the Emerald team and previously held a series of commercial leadership roles at Sunrun (NASDAQ: RUN), leading and growing Sunrun’s distribution, manufacturing and virtual power plant businesses over a six year period. Aroon was the Head of Corporate Development for Sunrun, General Manager of AEE Solar and CFO for Snapnrack, one of the largest American solar racking & mounting manufacturers. Prior to Sunrun, Aroon was a private equity investor, investing in power infrastructure & real estate at Partners Group (SWX: PGHN), based in Singapore, Mumbai and Switzerland. Aroon began his career as a management consultant at Monitor Deloitte.

Aroon holds an MA/MBA from the Wharton School and Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania and a BA from the University of California at Berkeley.

Jud Virden

Laboratory Director, National Laboratory of the Rockies; President, Alliance for Energy Innovation

Jud Virden has served as director of the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) since October 2025, overseeing more than 3,000 staff in support of the U.S. Department of Energy’s mission priorities.

Virden joined NLR after more than 30 years at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), where he most recently served as associate laboratory director for the Energy and Environment Directorate. He oversaw a $500 million budget and led more than 1,700 scientists, engineers, and staff in support of the Department of Energy’s applied energy priorities, including modernizing the nation’s power grid; improving the reliability, resilience, security, and affordability of the energy system; and addressing complex issues in nuclear science and environmental management.

Virden’s career is marked by a strong record in forging public-private partnerships. He co-chaired the 21st Century Truck Initiative with U.S. trucking companies, as well as the Energy Storage Grand Challenge, and intiated DOE’s Grid Modernization Intiative and Grid Modernization Laboratory Consortium.

He will build on NLR’s scientific excellence and drive meaningful, lasting transformation, advancing DOE’s priorities, and building collaborations with industry, academia, and the national labs to accelerate energy innovation and impact.

Among numerous honors, Virden has been elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and to the Washington State Academy of Sciences.

Virden received his B.S. and Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Washington, which has honored him with the Moulton Distinguished Alumnus Award and College of Engineering Diamond Award.

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.

Francesca Wahl

Director, Global Charging Policy, Tesla

Francesca leads the global EV charging policy team at Tesla covering North America, LATAM, EMEA and APAC. She manages key strategic priorities for the company to increase broad access to affordable, convenient and reliable EV charging. Francesca has been with Tesla for over eleven years and has held various roles including policy positions advancing the companies solar and storage priorities.

Previously, she was the Senior Associate for Energy and Environmental Policy at the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, a public policy trade association representing more than 390 companies in Silicon Valley. Francesca has also worked on federal energy efficiency policy at the Alliance to Save Energy in DC, analyzed state recycling regulation and legislation, assisted governments and small businesses with implementing sustainability principles in their management plans, and served in the White House Liaison Office at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Francesca has a B.A. in Economics and Foreign Affairs with Distinction from the University of Virginia.

Ryan Westphal

Director, Resource Utilization, Midcontinent Independent System Operator

Ryan Henry Westphal has been an employee of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) for over 20 years. He received a B.S. degree in Electrical engineering from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Currently, he is a Director of Resource Utilization for the system planning team at MISO where his responsibilities include managing the integration of new generation resources into the MISO transmission system. Ryan started his career at MISO in the system planning group as an economic transmission planning engineer and has held several planning and policy roles of increasing responsibility over his career at MISO. He earned the Eagle Scout award in 2002. He enjoys downhill skiing, fishing and participating/coaching in his kid’s activities.

Emily Wilbur

Director, Division of Energy, Missouri Department of Natural Resources

Henry Wilhelmus

Electricity Program Manager, Indiana Office of Energy Development

Henry Wilhelmus serves as the Electricity Program Manager for the Indiana Office of Energy Development (OED), where he assists the agency's work on electric system planning, grid reliability, and electricity policy. In this role, he analyzes utility resource plans across the PJM and MISO regions, supports nuclear and small modular reactor policy efforts, and works with state and federal partners on incentive programs and DOE opportunities, including leading the SPARK grant program. Prior to joining OED, Mr. Wilhelmus served as a Senior Consumer Affairs Analyst at the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, resolving disputes between consumers and regulated utilities and helping ensure fair and reliable service. Mr. Wilhelmus holds a Master of Science in Quantitative Psychology from Ball State University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Purdue University.

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.

Travis Wright

Vice President, Utility Engagement, QTS Data Centers

Travis Wright is Vice President, Utility Engagement at QTS Data Centers, where he leads utility strategy, regulatory and policy engagement, and infrastructure collaboration to support the company’s expanding data center footprint. Since joining QTS in 2014, he has helped shape enterprise energy and sustainability initiatives and strengthen QTS’ position as an industry leader in responsible growth.

Travis partners with utilities, regulators, and industry stakeholders to develop solutions that enable timely, reliable, and cost-effective power for large-scale digital infrastructure. His work spans tariff and legislative engagement, interconnection and infrastructure planning, and negotiations supporting site selection and development, and he regularly represents QTS in industry coalitions addressing power supplier tariffs and other regulatory matters.

William Xia

Director, Program Operations and Partnerships, Clean and Resilient Buildings, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

Chris Yunker

Director, Resilient Analytics, A Stanley Consultants Company