Advisory Council

Alaric J. Babej is the Principal of Customer Energy Solutions at the Public Service Company of New Mexico, where he oversees utility programs focused on electrification, energy efficiency, and renewable energy to help customers achieve their sustainability goals. At PNM, Mr. Babej designed and launched an online interconnection process that reduced the time required to evaluate customer solar applications by 80%. He also designed and launched PNM’s inaugural Transportation Electrification Program and company initiatives to accelerate electric vehicle adoption and infrastructure deployment in New Mexico.

Mr. Babej earned a Masters in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington and an MBA from the Anderson School at the University of New Mexico. When not thinking about the best classic car to convert to an EV, Mr. Babej continuously proves that lack of natural talent is no reason to give up playing hockey.

Alex Keros currently leads GM’s electric vehicle public charging infrastructure and consumer experience through GM Energy. With extensive experience deploying infrastructure solutions, Alex’s team is building an extensive public charging network via collaborations with EVgo, Pilot Company and GM’s dealer network. His team also works to create a seamless charging experience for GM EV customers through the company’s family of vehicle brand apps. Alex collaborates with multiple partners – including charging station operators, utility companies and public-private partnerships – to create mobility solutions.

Alex earned a B.S. in Natural Resource Management and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Michigan.

Chair

Ms. Jackson leads the System Strategy and Planning organization for Xcel Energy. This is a new organization that focuses on integrated system planning, including strategically planning generation, transmission and distribution of Xcel’s electric and natural gas systems. Since joining Xcel Energy in 2011, Alice has held various positions of increasing responsibility. Directly prior to her role as Senior Vice President, Ms. Jackson led the Operating Company team for Public Service Company of Colorado as President. In this role she was responsible for the community, legislative, regulatory activities and held responsibility for delivering on corporate financial outcomes and objectives for Xcel Energy – Colorado. Prior to her executive leadership roles within Xcel Energy, Alice held various regulatory positions with Southwestern Public Service Company in Texas and with Public Service Company of Colorado.

Before her time with Xcel Energy, Alice spent nearly 10 years with Occidental Petroleum Corporation (Oxy) managing the nationwide energy needs of this large industrial consumer. In Alice’s early roles with Oxy, she utilized her information technology background and technical acumen to provide software development and systems support to various trading activities as well as electric market deregulation. Through her involvement in the federal and state electric markets, multiple rate cases, and interaction with customers, large and small, Alice developed a unique perspective for utilities and their contributions to society.

As if having a full-time career, being married to her high school sweetheart and having four sons is not enough of an adventure in life, in 2017 Alice completed the Program for Leadership Development at Harvard University. Alice earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management Information Systems from Texas A&M University.

Commissioner Andrew McAllister was first appointed to the Economist seat at the California Energy Commission in 2012, and in 2022 was reappointed to a third term by Governor Gavin Newsom. Commissioner McAllister’s priorities include: decarbonization of buildings and industry; energy efficiency; load flexibility as a tool for grid optimization; improved access to data and analytical tools that enable innovation at the grid edge; ensuring alignment of energy policy; programs with the state’s housing needs; and extending California’s national leadership on critical state-level energy policy matters.

Commissioner McAllister has worked in both the efficiency and renewables spaces for more than three decades. Prior to the CEC his professional trajectory traversed multiple sectors: managing director of the non-profit California Center for Sustainable Energy; efficiency and renewables specialist at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association International, Ltd.; utility energy efficiency program consultant; and a researcher at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He has worked across the world to deploy clean, cost-effective energy solutions partnering with counterparts ranging from tiny remote communities to the largest of utilities. Commissioner McAllister holds M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the Energy and Resources Group at the University of California, Berkeley, and dual B.A.s from Dartmouth College. He is a returned U.S. Peace Corps volunteer.

Bryan Hannegan is President and CEO of Holy Cross Energy, a not-for-profit, member-owned electric cooperative utility providing electricity and energy products and services to more than 42,000 customers in Western Colorado. Prior to joining Holy Cross in July 2017, Bryan was an Associate Laboratory Director at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), where he co-founded the US Department of Energy’s Grid Modernization Initiative and started up the Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF), a unique “distribution grid in a box” enabling utilities, entrepreneurs and consumers to work together on cleaner, more affordable and more reliable energy systems. Earlier in his career, Bryan held senior leadership roles at the Electric Power Research Institute, the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Caroline Choi is senior vice president of Corporate Affairs and Public Policy at Southern California Edison and its parent company, Edison International. Choi oversees Corporate Communications, Corporate Philanthropy, Government Relations and Public Affairs at the national, state and local levels.

Previously, Choi served as senior vice president of Regulatory Affairs at SCE and was responsible for the company’s regulatory engagement, policy and strategy.

Choi also served as SCE vice president of Energy and Environmental Policy and oversaw the analysis and development of energy and environmental policies and strategies, as well as engagement at energy and environmental regulatory agencies.

Before joining SCE in 2012, Choi was executive director of Environmental Services & Strategy at Progress Energy (now Duke Energy), where she led environmental permitting, compliance and policy.

Choi is active in national policy and community engagement. She serves on the board of Smart Electric Power Alliance, a nationwide organization that supports the implementation and deployment of clean energy and distributed resources. She also chairs the board of Veloz, a nonprofit dedicated to accelerating the shift to electric transportation through public-private collaboration and public engagement. In addition, she is a member of the Electric Transportation Community Development Corporation, National Forest Foundation and Public Policy Institute of California’s Statewide Leadership Council.

Choi holds a bachelor’s degree in government from Dartmouth College.

Chris leads strategy and execution of Amazon’s commitment to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2025 and net zero carbon throughout the company’s real estate portfolio by 2040. This commitment is part of The Climate Pledge, a commitment by Amazon to meet the Paris Agreement 10 years early. Prior to Amazon, Chris led energy, water, and sustainable building initiatives within Boeing’s real estate operations, and has 15 years’ experience driving initiatives in corporate energy and sustainability. Chris has a Master’s degree in Engineering from Cambridge University, a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington, and is also on the board of the Smart Building Center in Seattle.

Darryl Willis leads a global team, driving digital transformation across the energy sector through the power of Microsoft’s cloud and AI technology. With a deep knowledge of the global energy sector, Willis leads this cross-functional team in building strategic partnerships and helping enable the energy transition, reduce carbon emissions, and fulfill growing global energy demand with low- and no-carbon sources. He is an advocate for startups and diverse talent, supporting and fostering innovation in the field to develop next generation leaders and solutions.

Willis is passionate about empowering customers, partners and communities on the journey to a more secure, reliable, equitable and sustainable energy future for all. Prior to joining Microsoft, Willis held leadership positions at Google Cloud and bp. He is a member of several councils and boards including American Bureau of Shipping, INROADS Inc. National Board of Directors and University of Houston Energy Transition Institute. Willis holds an M.S. in Business from Stanford University, an M.S. in Geology and Geophysics from the University of New Orleans, and a B.S. in Chemistry and Literature from Northwestern State University of Louisiana.

David is a Senior Consultant with Utilicast who works across the Generation, Transmission and Distribution, Central markets, and Regional Reliability and Enterprise solution areas.  He leads the Grid Architecture and ITSM solution offerings. He has more than 25 years of experience in the industry and began his career at Austin Energy, where he ultimately served in the CIO role.

David has been a Gridwise Architecture Council member since 2013 and has served as the Chair from 2015 to 2021. He is a frequent conference presenter on the Council’s behalf.

David and his co-authors were 2021 Cleanie Gold Award winners for their publications on Energy Central.

Before joining Utilicast, David held multiple positions at the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, including Senior Director of IT and Director of Enterprise Architecture and IT Transformation and Infrastructure Program Manager on the Texas Nodal implementation.

David has served as a member and Chair of SGIP, was a member of the SEPA Board of Directors, and Chair of SEPA’s Technical Advisory Council.

He has a BBA from the University of Texas and an MBA from St. Edward’s University, both in Austin.

Marion Gold is a Senior Advisor with the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) and also serves as a Senior Advisor with the Ad Hoc Group, an advisory firm which helps climate tech start-ups navigate and shape policy. She is the President of the Board of the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnership (NEEP).

A former regulatory commissioner, Marion was appointed to the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission by Governor Gina Raimondo in 2016. She served a five-year term with a focus on clean energy and power sector transformation.

Previously, Marion was the Commissioner of the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources. She also served on the Executive Board of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and was a managing director of the New England State Committee on Electricity (NESCOE).

Prior to serving as State Energy Commissioner, Marion was the Director of the Mallon Center at the University of Rhode Island, where she established the URI Partnership for Energy, initiated efficiency programs for public sector buildings, and launched the Energy Fellows Program, which has placed over 100 students in energy-related employment with the private and public sector.

Marion holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from the University of Rhode Island. She received her BS and MS from the University of Michigan and Michigan State University, respectively.

Elaina Ball leads strategic planning for CPS Energy. In this role, she is responsible for the oversight and execution of CPS Energy’s Vision 2027. Elaina has over 17 years of experience working with both investor-owned and public power utility companies. She has provided effective leadership in power generation, transmission & distribution, market operations, technology, and business development functions.

She has previously served as CEO for Fayetteville PWC in Fayetteville, NC, as Chief Operating Officer for El Paso Electric and Austin Energy, as Senior Vice President of Power Delivery at Entergy, and is a CPS Energy alumnus serving as Vice President of Technical Services & Energy Solutions in 2012. She also has extensive leadership experience with the South Texas Project (STP), having served on their Board of Directors, Owners’ Committee, and Benefits Committee.

Elaina has been actively engaged with multiple utility organizations, including the Rocky Mountain Electrical League and the Association of Women in Energy, in addition to community non-profits such as the Austin Science Education Foundation, El Pasoans Fighting Hunger, and Fayetteville Tech Community College.

Elaina holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. She is also a graduate of the University of Idaho Utility Energy Executive program and a certified Six Sigma Black Belt.

Frank J. Greco, Jr. (Frankie Greco) is Director of the Grid Integration Engineering (GRIT) team at Nexamp. The GRIT team is a multi-level national team comprised of interconnection engineers and program managers responsible for designing and managing a portfolio of utility interconnection applications from initial submission through project closeout across multiple states and markets. Frankie has worked in the industry for over 22 years in the areas of distribution construction, operations, project management and interconnection.

Frankie made significant contributions to the industry as both a SME and Leader including Interconnection processes, rules/requirements and systems and has been focused on Customer/Client relationships along with ensuring safety and reliability for the systems installed such as NWS, Microgreids, Solar+BESS Power Plants, and distribution feeders/circuits.

Frankie received a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University and is also a Registered Professional Electrical Engineer within the State of Arizona.

Hannah serves as the Chief Market Innovation Officer at Uplight, where she leads policy, market development, and partnerships to enable residential electrification and a more flexible and resilient grid.

Previously, Hannah was the Head of Energy Partnerships at Google Nest. She joined Nest in 2014, growing the energy business from the ground up – delivering energy savings, demand response, and customer engagement that set the foundation for the future of the grid. After Nest’s integration with Google, Hannah focused on product and service partnerships for Nest Renew, setting the stage for new offerings across the energy ecosystem, including with third-party OEMs.

Prior to joining Nest, Hannah spent time at PG&E, consulting, and in the nonprofit space. She holds an MBA from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business, and a BA with Honors from Brown University.

Hilal Katmale is a Senior Manager in the Power, Utilities and Renewables practice of Deloitte Consulting LLP, focused on transforming the client’s core business operations. He brings more than 20 years of experience working with power and utility companies across the value chain, from transmission & distribution systems to utility services behind the meter. Hilal has overseen the delivery of business and operational technology transformation programs for clients with a focus on next-generation grid modernization technologies, distributed energy resource management, microgrids, fire risk mitigation, and customer-focused products and services enablement.

Hilal holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from VJTI, University of Mumbai and Master’s degree in Engineering Management from University of Minnesota. A family man to the wife, kids and parents; a cricket enthusiast, who is always happy to chat over a cup of tea.

Jason Handley, P.E. is the General Manager of the Distributed Energy Group at Duke Energy. He is a respected utility industry professional based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Jason has over 27 years of utility experience specializing in the smart grid, distributed intelligence, and operations management. Jason excels at understanding the increasingly complex utility environment, managing the new digital utility workforce, and delivering on the execution and financials of technology and renewable projects.

In his current role, Jason leads a team that engineers, deploys, operates, and maintains regulated distribution, distributed energy resources and microgrids. In his previous role, as Director of the Emerging Technology Office, he managed a team that identified and developed new technologies impacting the electrical grid and oversaw all the ongoing operational aspects on new technology pilot projects.

Jason is a past Chairman of EPRI’s IntelligGrid Program Advisory Committee P161, served on the Board of Directors for the Smart Grid Interoperability Panel, and served on the National Institute of Standards Technology’s Smart Grid Advisory Committee. Currently, Jason serves on the IEEE Industry Support Leadership Council, the DistribuTECH Advisory Committee, and the Smart Electric Power Alliance Research Advisory Council, and is Co-Chair of the SEPA Microgrids Working Group. He holds five patents and has won Duke Energy’s highest award, the James B. Duke Award. Jason received his electrical engineering degree from Auburn University and his MBA at Wake Forest University. He has been a registered professional engineer since 2002 and received his electrical contractor’s unlimited license in 2009.

Jeanette Pablo is the CEO of the Climate Equity Foundation. Previously, she was the Director of the Climate Equity Initiative at Clean Air Task Force where she focused on barriers, challenges, and solutions through research and engagement with environmental justice communities.

Prior to joining CATF, Ms. Pablo was General Counsel at the Energy Futures Initiative, a clean energy think tank founded by Ernest Moniz, the 13th Secretary of Energy.

Ms. Pablo served as Senior Advisor and Acting Deputy Director for Energy Systems in the Office of Energy Policy and Systems Analysis at the U.S. Department of Energy. At DOE she oversaw analysis and policy related to energy systems and infrastructure, the electricity sector, North America energy policy and security, and critical materials. Ms. Pablo was Director of Federal Affairs & Senior Climate Advisor for PNM Resources from 2005-2015. Earlier in her career, she represented the Tennessee Valley Authority before Congress and the Executive Branch on energy and climate policy. Before TVA, she was an energy associate at the law firm of Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson and Hand. And she jump-started her career as an Intern at Mother Jones Magazine.

Ms. Pablo holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, an M.A. in Liberal Studies from Georgetown University, and a B.A. from the University of Virginia, where she focused on Soviet and East European Affairs.

Jeff Guldner leads Pinnacle West Capital Corporation and its primary subsidiary, Arizona Public Service Company (APS). The companies are headquartered in Phoenix. Guldner was promoted to his current position in November 2019 from his dual roles as president of APS and executive vice president, public policy of Pinnacle West. Since joining APS in 2004, Guldner has held a number of leadership positions responsible for areas including legal, rates and regulation, government affairs and customer service. He is also on the Board of Directors for Nuclear Energy Institute, Edison Electric Institute, and Institute of Nuclear Operations.

Jeff Loiter is a Technical Director in the Center for Partnerships & Innovation at NARUC where he oversees CPI’s energy distribution research portfolio, including smart grid and grid modernization, distributed energy resources integration and interconnection, virtual power plants, and related issues in ratemaking and utility business models.

Prior to joining NARUC Jeff held positions as a Principal Researcher at the National Regulatory Research Institute and as a Partner at Optimal Energy, Inc. (now NV5), providing utility and public sector customers with DSM program design and implementation guidance. In total, he has 25 years of experience in energy, environmental, and economic consulting for both private and public sector clients. Jeff holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Cornell and a Master’s of Technology and Policy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

B.S. Chemistry, Southern Utah University
M.S. and Ph.D. Physical Chemistry, Washington State University

Dr. Joe Hoagland is vice president of Innovation and Research for the Tennessee Valley Authority, a corporate agency of the United States government and the largest public power provider in the country. With 30 years of experience shaping the direction of the power sector, Dr. Hoagland is an industry thought leader with extensive experience in strategy, research and development, implementation, and the evolving energy marketplace.

He currently leads and guides a team of technology professionals who conduct transformational research and manage innovation projects for TVA’s Power System of the Future – an effort that helps diverse power systems to meet shifting consumer and business power demands without compromising reliability, resiliency, or customer experience. At the same time, Dr. Hoagland and his team are exploring cost-effective carbon reductions with new forms of generation and the electrification of the broader economy that includes advances in electric transportation, solar power/battery storage, and advanced nuclear generation technologies.

Dr. Hoagland has extensive experience with strategic utility planning and stakeholder engagement, leading from inception to publication of TVA’s three recent Integrated Resources Plans – a comprehensive study that provides direction on how TVA can best meet future electricity demand over the next 20 years. Previous leadership roles include development of environmental policies, research and development strategies, retail regulation and utility policies, directing energy efficiency and demand response programs, and building effective stakeholder and customer relations.

Dr. Hoagland is a Fellow for Energy Policy at the University of Tennessee’s Howard H. Baker, Jr. Center for Public Policy; Chair for the state of Tennessee’s Energy Policy Council; and a member of the board of directors of the Smart Electric Power Association. He recently was Chair of the Electric Power Research Institute‘s Executive Resource Advisory Committee.

Dr. Hoagland also has served on boards and committees for various industry and related organizations that include the Edison Electric Institute, Electricity Storage Association, and the Department of Energy.

Joe Beer is the VP of Product Management and Customer Success at Clean Power Research (CPR). He is a technology industry veteran with 30+ years of leadership experience in product development, solution architecture, solution delivery, IT management, and consulting across multiple industries, both domestically and internationally.

In his current role, Joe directs the product teams for CPR’s 3 product lines; PowerClerk, WattPlan and SolarAnywhere and the Customer Success team which provides Professional Services and ongoing support for customers.

Prior to CPR, Joe was the AWS Worldwide Technology Leader for the Power and Utilities (P&U) vertical, responsible for business development and solution development. Joe advised energy customers and partners on how AWS cloud services could enable their decarbonization and digital transformation strategies to achieve their business goals. He also led a virtual global team of 24 solution architects in the development of reusable IT, OT, customer engagement, data, and asset management solutions for P&U customers.

Prior to AWS, Joe was the Chief Architect/CTO for Puget Sound Energy and was responsible for directing IT strategy, architecture, and design work for both traditional IT and “Operations” IT, and leading PSE digital transformation work and initiating their move into the AWS cloud.

Previously, Joe held significant technology leadership roles at firms such as Washington Mutual, Group Health Coop (now Kaiser), Ernst, Young, and ARCO. Joe holds an MBA in Technology Management from USC and BS in Business Admin from CSULA. He is also a Stanford Certified Program Manager and held PMI’s PMP certification for two decades.

Justin Felt is Director of Policy Analysis and Development at Exelon. In this role, he supports Exelon in leading the coordination and development of policy strategy for Exelon and its member utilities, including BGE, ComEd, PECO, Pepco, DPL, and ACE. He manages an analyst team that focuses on state-level regulation and legislation.

Justin has 16 years of clean energy experience. Prior to his current role, Justin acted as Sr Manager of Strategic Planning at BGE’s Utility of the Future Team, where he supported the development and sustainment of distributed energy resource policy and pilot programs, such as the MD Storage and Community Solar Pilot Programs. Before he joined BGE/Exelon in 2018, Justin advised the Department of Defense on the development of resilient and renewable on-site power systems, as part of the Army’s Office of Energy Initiatives and Air Force’s Office of Energy Assurance.

Justin serves as Chair on the Anne Arundel County Community Leadership Board of the YMCA of Central Maryland.

Justin earned MBA and MS (Environmental Science) degrees from the University of Michigan, and a BA degree in Economics from the University of Virginia.

A high-performing senior energy executive and successful tech startup founder, Kerrick Johnson is Vermont Electric Power Company’s (VELCO) Chief Innovation and Communications Officer. Kerrick’s role is to identify, develop and collaboratively execute strategic development initiatives, build effective advocacy relationships and secure stakeholder alignment through imaginative messaging.

Kerrick co-conceived, developed and launched Vermont Clean and Resilient Energy Consortium created to secure funding for work to accelerate grid transformation. He also secured $20 million in congressional authorization for 2021-24 renewables integration/grid flexibility work through a collaborative project with three national labs. Kerrick advances the Company’s trusted partner mission through print, digital and social media, community engagement and advocacy work. He previously served as a Co-Founder and Chief Ecosystem Officer for Utopus Insights, a New York- based energy analytics company formed by IBM, Boston Consulting Group and VELCO. Having served in key leadership roles over the past decade of energy sector transformation, Mr. Johnson is recognized as a seasoned, frequently provocative, public speaker, and thought leader who has catalyzed many creative energy sector conversations at diverse conferences, workshops, symposiums, and executive gatherings.

Kerrick attended Vermont’s Johnson State College and served four years in the US Air Force as an airborne Russian linguist.

Executive Committee

Linda is the Chief Customer Officer for the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC), the 14th largest public power utility in the United States. As a member of OUC’s Executive Team, Linda is focused on achieving OUC’s goal of being the “Best Utility in the Nation” and Orlando’s recognition as the “Greenest City in the Southeast” through envisioning and delivering excellence in customer experience for today and tomorrow, balanced with weaving sustainability into everything OUC does, and delivering innovative products and services that benefit our customers and community. In this role, Linda leads the Customer Service, enterprise-wide Strategy, Sustainability & Conservation, Emerging Technologies, Marketing, Communication, & Community Relations organizations.

Linda previously served as President and Commissioner on the Orlando Utilities Commission board. Ferrone was Vice President and Market Leader for the Florida offices of The North Highland Company, a global, employee-owned consulting firm that delivers strategic business solutions to Fortune 1000 clients, government agencies and non-profits. Before that, she served in leadership positions with Ernst & Young, Pepsico, and Radiant Systems.

Linda is an active speaker on sustainability, innovation, leadership, and women in business topics and a recognized business leader with more than 25 years of experience working with utilities, entertainment, hospitality, and consumer products companies. Linda has been recognized with numerous national and local awards. She is passionate about serving her community and has extensive board leadership experience with organizations including the Orlando Science Center, the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), the Mennello Museum of American Art, United Arts of Central Florida, and YMCA. Ferrone earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from The Ohio State University.