SEPA Virtual Member Meeting

Brad joined SEPA in 2015 as Manager of Executive Affairs and moved to the Membership Team in 2016. In this role, Brad recruits new organizations into SEPA’s community and ensures that current members are getting value from their membership with SEPA.

Prior to joining SEPA, Brad worked at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston and for Rep. Emanuel Cleaver from Missouri on Capitol Hill. Brad has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Dickinson College in Pennsylvania.

In his spare time, Brad is an avid traveler and photographer. He lives with his wife in Arlington.

Julia has served as SEPA’s President & CEO since 2004, providing leadership and strategic direction for the organization. She is responsible for guiding and overseeing all of SEPA’s research, education, and collaboration activities for its 1,100 member companies and the broader energy industry.

Julia is a visionary non-profit leader at the center of the transformation underway in the electric power sector to a clean and modern energy future. For the past 20 years she has been advising and collaborating with utilities, solution providers and government agencies on business models, grid modernization, and clean energy policies, strategies and programs.

She has led SEPA through significant expansion in recent years, including rebranding from the Solar Electric Power Association to the Smart Electric Power Alliance, and merging with both the Association for Demand Response and Smart Grid (ADS) and Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP).

Prior to joining SEPA, Julia worked for ICF International where she supported EPA’s implementation of the ENERGY STAR program. Julia – a graduate of Cornell University – walks the talk, driving an EV and living in a PV-powered home in Northern Virginia with her husband, two children, and dog.

Garrett joined SEPA in 2021 as Principal, Electrification. He leads SEPAs work focused on the beneficial electrification of transportation and buildings. Garrett collaborates with the other SEPA focus area teams to help utilities and other stakeholders navigate a smooth transition to a highly electrified and low-carbon future.

Prior to joining SEPA, Garrett spent 8 years working at Rocky Mountain Institute. While at RMI, he built and led the electricity program in India that works to accelerate the integration of electric vehicles and clean energy portfolios. During his tenure at RMI, Garrett managed the Fleet Electrification program, co-led the EV-Grid initiative, and was deeply engaged in work related to energy storage, distributed solar, and load flexibility. He has extensive expertise in technical and business model aspects of EV charging infrastructure, EV-specific tariff design, energy storage, and demand side flexibility.

Garrett holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Santa Clara University and a MS and Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Engineering from Columbia University.

Garrett is passionate about the environment and is an enthusiastic snowboarder, mountain biker, and general lover of the outdoors. He resides in the small town of Carbondale, Colorado with his wife Amy and his toddler son Noah.

As Vice President of Regulatory and Business Innovation, Janet Gail Besser leads SEPA’s Regulatory and Business Innovation related work.  She brings to this role broad energy industry experience as a regulator, clean energy business association leader, utility executive, developer, consultant, and consumer advocate.  Previously, she was Executive Vice President of the Northeast Clean Energy Council (NECEC), Vice President, Regulatory Strategy and Policy at National Grid, Chair and Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, where she led electric industry restructuring, and an executive and expert consultant at Analysis Group and Lexecon.  She also held senior staff roles at the Massachusetts Energy Office and New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission, served as policy director for a DC-based national independent power association, and began her career as a small hydro developer and low-income consumer advocate.  Janet is a nationally recognized expert on a wide range of energy policy issues with deep relationships across the industry.  She earned a Master in Public Policy degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University and a B.A., magna cum laude, from Williams College.

Adam Wasserman joined SEPA in 2014 and is driven by a relentless pursuit of value for SEPA members. His team led an organizational rebranding, two successful mergers and a mission that grows membership, engagement and retention each year.

At the intersection of marketing, membership and communications, the team oversees SEPA brand strategy and market awareness. They play a critical role in new products, services and initiatives, as well as creating the messaging to engage members, convert non-members and capture the attention of the industry.

Prior to SEPA, Adam worked with non-profits, technology companies, film and TV productions and advertising firms. A native of Washington DC, he earned his degree from the University of Arizona.