Speakers
You'll find a diverse range of speakers from IOUs, to cooperatives, to public power utilities.
Check out our 2023 speakers
Sheri Givens
President & CEO, Smart Electric Power Alliance
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Sheri Givens
Sheri Givens joined Smart Electric Power Alliance as president and CEO in November 2022, leading SEPA’s work to address the most pressing issues encountered in the transformation to a carbon-free electricity sector. Her professional experience includes nearly twenty years in legal, regulatory, legislative, and external affairs in both the public and private sectors.
Courtney Galatioto
Vice President, Strategic Partnerships & Chief of Staff, Smart Electric Power Alliance
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Courtney Galatioto
Courtney V. Galatioto joined SEPA in 2019. As the Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Chief of Staff, she works to align SEPA’s mission and goals with high-quality execution, fosters inclusive and productive relationships throughout the organization and externally, evaluates and manages risks, and facilitates timely decision-making to ensure a productive balance between short- and long-term priorities. She serves as an advisor to the President & CEO and is the principal liaison for SEPA’s Board of Directors and strategic partnerships.
Courtney serves on the boards of the National Energy Foundation and Women’s Energy Network DC Chapter.
Courtney came to SEPA with a decade of experience in the energy industry, and previously oversaw business development and corporate relations at the Alliance to Save Energy and served as a policy fellow for the state of North Carolina. She has a master’s degree in government from Johns Hopkins University with a focus on energy, climate change, and security. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Asheville.
Jenna Weatherred
Vice President, Member & Community Relations, Holy Cross Energy
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Jenna Weatherred
Jenna Weatherred is the Vice President of Member and Community Relations at Holy Cross Energy, located in Colorado’s intermountain region. Since 2017, she has spearheaded the cooperative’s member services, communications, community outreach, and community energy systems departments, all external-facing individuals who assist HCE’s more than 45,000 members with their energy needs. Over the past several years, that need has become increasingly greater as the clean energy goals of the region have increased. As a result, HCE announced its 100x30 goal of providing 100% clean energy to its members by 2030. Due to the ambitious nature of that goal, many members have expressed their interest in joining HCE’s Board of Directors, and upwards of ten individuals have applied in an election cycle. Ms. Weatherred works to educate members on the co-op story and sits on several regional boards, including Garfield Clean Energy and Energy Smart Colorado. Prior to joining Holy Cross Energy, Ms. Weatherred was the President of the Children’s Health Foundation and the publisher of local newspapers, including the Aspen Times and the Glenwood Springs Post Independent.
Seth Frader-Thompson
SEPA Board Member | President, EnergyHub
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Seth Frader-Thompson
Seth co-founded EnergyHub in 2007 and continues to serve as its President. Under his leadership, EnergyHub has become a leading Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS) provider used by more than 60 utilities. As the creator and forerunner of the Bring Your Own Thermostat® (BYOT) model, EnergyHub offers utilities end-to-end demand response program management, including program design, marketing, and customer support services.
EnergyHub's Mercury DERMS platform for distributed energy resource (DER) management enables utilities and consumers to benefit from participation in demand response programs. Seth is a frequent speaker on DERs, demand response, connected home issues, and he serves on the Executive Committee as a member of the Board of Directors of the Smart Electric Power Alliance.
Prior to founding EnergyHub, Seth served in several managerial and technical roles at Honeybee Robotics. During his tenure at Honeybee Robotics, he worked on robotics projects for NASA and developed bomb-disposal robots for the military. He was the principal investigator for a DARPA research effort to build a miniature laser vision system for search and rescue robots.
Seth has an MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado, where his research focused on Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) for Ultracold Atom Optics.
Gary Rackliffe
SEPA Board Member | Vice President, Market Development & Innovation, Hitachi Energy
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Yok Potts
Director, Regulatory & Business Innovation, Smart Electric Power Alliance
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Yok Potts
Yok joined SEPA in 2022 and leads the Smart Electric Power Alliance’s Regulatory & Business Innovation pathway to help accelerate the transition to a clean energy future. In this role, her focus is on thought leadership, oversight, and facilitation of regulatory affairs and strategic and innovative initiatives.
With over 18 years of industry experience, Yok has held various leadership and engineering roles at the Grid Operator level in Reliability and Market Operations. Leadership roles included the management of MISO’s (Midcontinent Independent System Operator) $1.5B Financial Transmission Rights (FTR) Market and in Operational Forecasting where she developed international collaborative partnerships across the energy industry. Engineering roles included NERC (North American Electric Reliability Corporation) system operator-certified real-time control room operations as well as electricity market design, testing, and systems integration.
Yok holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Indianapolis and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) from Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis.
Bryan Hannegan
SEPA Board Member | President & Chief Executive Officer, Holy Cross Energy
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Lon Huber
Senior Vice President, Pricing and Customer Solutions, Duke Energy
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Lon Huber
Lon Huber serves as the senior vice president to the Pricing & Customer solutions team. His focus is leading the strategy and delivery of product and service portfolios spanning all customer types, with a focus on revenue generation and carbon savings. To further meet evolving customer needs, he also oversees the development and implementation of innovative rate designs and creative regulated solutions across eight of Duke Energy’s service areas.
The scope of Lon’s day-to-day activities includes overseeing distributed energy resources work, leading demand side management initiatives, advocating for and developing clean transportation programs, and evolving customer-linked renewables.
Linda Ferrone
SEPA Board Member | Chief Customer & Marketing Officer, Orlando Utilities Comission
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Linda Ferrone
Linda is the Chief Customer and Marketing Officer for the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC), the 14th largest public power utility in the United States with a vision of being the innovative solutions leader and partner of choice. Linda is focused on delivering excellence in customer experience, weaving sustainability into everything OUC does, and providing innovative products, services, and programs that benefit our customers, community, and the environment. In this role, Linda leads the New Product Development, Emerging Technologies, Marketing, Sales, Economic Development, Sustainability, Conservation, Communications and Media Relations, Community Engagement and Customer Service.
Linda is an active speaker on sustainability and net zero, transportation electrification, energy and water conservation, new product innovation, customer trends, community impact, leadership practices, and women in business topics. She is 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 Smart Electric Power Alliance executive committee, Florida Solar Energy Center, United Arts of Central Florida executive committee, Orlando Economic Partnership executive committee, Orlando Science Center, the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), the Mennello Museum of American Art, and YMCA. Ferrone earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from The Ohio State University.
Quinn Parker
Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Encolor
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Quinn Parker
Quinn has over 15 years of professional experience working with utilities, non-profits, and public organizations. With a depth of experience in researching, designing, planning, and implementing products and solutions, she supports clients in strategically addressing their most pressing challenges through an equity lens. Quinn helps companies develop and implement diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives with impact.
Quinn is a Certified Diversity Professional (CDP), a qualified administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) and a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. She holds an M.B.A from California State University, Dominguez Hills and a B.A. from Loyola Marymount University. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Energy Services Professionals (AESP) and a member of the DEI Council.
Jared Leader
Director, Resilience, Smart Electric Power Alliance
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Lakin Garth
Director, Research and Industry Strategy, Smart Electric Power Alliance
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Margaret Oloriz
Senior Manager, Energy & Utilities, West Monroe
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Margaret Oloriz
Margaret Oloriz, PE, has 10+ years of experience working with utilities on their decarbonization and resiliency programs. Margaret helps utilities develop strategies and program designs through tailored business case analysis, market knowledge, and in-depth research. Margaret also serves as a lead within West Monroe's Federal Grant Funding Team, securing funding that supports clean energy and other infrastructure projects. Prior to West Monroe, she worked as an engineer, designing urban resiliency solutions, ensuring cities are prepared for the impacts of climate change. She holds a B.S. and an M.S. in Civil Engineering.
Garrett Fitzgerald
Senior Director, Electrification, Smart Electric Power Alliance
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Garrett Fitzgerald
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 pathway 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.
Megan Truman (Harju)
Business Development Manager, Transportation Electrification, Burns & McDonnell
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Megan Truman (Harju)
Megan is a Business Development Manager for the Transportation Electrification Group at Burns & McDonnell, where she plays an instrumental role in driving the transition to net zero by supporting utilities and commercial fleets in their electrification journey. With her extensive technical background and industry insight, Megan bridges the gap between utilities and commercial fleets to effectively plan and execute electrification strategies. Before taking on this role, Megan served as a technical lead for charging infrastructure projects. She earned her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Oklahoma. Beyond her career, Megan is passionate about giving back to the community and volunteers at local nonprofit organizations.
Tim Jarrell
Vice President, Power Supply Rates & DER Strategy, Cobb EMC
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Hannah Bascom
Board Member, Smart Electric Power Alliance
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Aaron Smallwood
Vice President, Research and Industry Strategy, Smart Electric Power Alliance
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Kate Strickland
Manager, Utility and Regulatory Strategy, Smart Electric Power Alliance
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Malinda Broussard-Briscoe
Manager, Distribution Planning Engineering, Evergy
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Malinda Broussard-Briscoe
Malinda leads Evergy's Distribution Planning Engineering team and is responsible for ensuring the distribution power system is economically designed to operate at optimum performance. She has 20 years of utility engineering experience in distribution system automation, problem solving, design, standards, and system analysis. She is currently focused on assisting her company navigate through the viability, economics and increased complexity of DER interconnections, battery storage, EV adoption and system automation efforts on Evergy’s distribution system.
Paul Lau
SEPA Board Member | Chief Executive Officer & General Manager, Sacramento Municipal Utility District
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Colin Lamb
Vice President, Client Success, Virtual Peaker
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Colin Lamb
Colin Lamb leads client program implementation, technical and customer support, and account management at Virtual Peaker; he is also responsible for technology partnerships. Colin previously guided product and go-to-market strategy for grid edge software startup Utilidata, and while at Xcel Energy, he led product development of new customer solutions, including load management programs across the Xcel Energy footprint. Colin and his family live in the Colorado foothills.
Kirstin Pinit
Senior Program Manager, Energy Trust of Oregon
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Kirstin Pinit
Kirstin Pinit is a Senior Program Manager for Energy Trust of Oregon's Production Efficiency program. Ms. Pinit has 15+ years of experience in energy efficiency programs for commercial and industrial customers. She is motivated by the many ways energy efficiency results in lasting change in organizations and communities.
Carolyn Dougherty
Analyst, Research and Industry Strategy, Smart Electric Power Alliance
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David Batz
Managing Director, Cyber & Infrastructure Security, Edison Electric Institute
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David Batz
Leveraging over 20 years of electric company experience, David Batz brings significant industry knowledge in understanding and applying appropriate security solutions to address emerging threats and issues. In addition, he brings a decade of energy regulatory compliance as well as physical and cyber security policy experience and engagement with multiple federal agencies, including the Department of Energy (DoE), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
David has been with the Edison Electric Institute for over 12 years and has played a central role in developing new programs that aid the EEI membership, and more broadly, has been instrumental in the development and expansion of an industry-wide program called Cyber Mutual Assistance.
He is a member of InfraGard and serves on the SANS Institute Advisory Board. He has authored various articles and presented at numerous events domestically and internationally on securing critical infrastructure, industrial systems as well as security baseline and standards topics for prominent industry associations including NIST, the National Academies of Sciences, United States Energy Association and the World Economic Forum to name a few.
David is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and holds multiple SANS GIAC security certifications.
Emily Hyland
Power Strategic Communications Director, HDR
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Emily Hyland
Emily is the Power Strategic Communications Director supporting cross-sector projects across North America. As an experienced facilitator and program building, Emily's focused on growing creating connections between people and the projects and services that move communities forward. She is part of a HDR's Strategic Communications practice which is a full-service community engagement and creative practice helping build more connected, equitable, and sustainable communities.
Her 16-year career at HDR includes strategy and execution of stakeholder outreach, agency coordination and community engagement for most high voltage transmission line projects in the upper Midwest over the past 10 years, supporting utilities through integrated planning and rolling out program-wide community and customer engagement strategies for utility-wide upgrades.
She holds a MA in Strategic Communications and a BA in Environmental Studies.
Tanuj Deora
Director, Clean Energy, White House Council on Environmental Quality
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Joe Hoagland
SEPA Board Member | Vice President, Innovation and Research, TVA
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KJ Feder
VP Community Engagement & Corporate Responsibility, CPS Energy
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KJ Feder
KJ Feder is responsible for the Equity and Casa Verde SA weatherization programs, Customer Response Unit (CRU), Community Outreach, Energy 2 Business and Public Safety & Education teams. She also has oversight of the Corporate Responsibility team which coordinates the fundraising, volunteerism, sponsorship & Smart Energy Education programs.
Previously, KJ served as the Chief of Staff to the President & CEO of CPS Energy, the nation’s largest municipally owned energy utility providing both natural gas and electric service. KJ carried out this role while concurrently serving as the Director of Board Relations. She served as a strategic partner and trusted advisor for the President & CEO, strategically led the Board of Trustees’ alignment activities and facilitated communication between the Board of Trustees and the CPS Energy Leadership Team.
Prior to joining CPS Energy, KJ was the Executive Director of the San Antonio March of Dimes where she was responsible for overseeing the administration, programs and strategic plan of the organization. She also spearheaded the foundation’s fundraising efforts to achieve the best annual financial outcome on record for the division.
KJ holds a bachelor’s degree in corporate communications from Bellevue University. She is a graduate of Leadership San Antonio (LSA), Alexander Briseño Leadership Development Program (ABLDP), and the Latina Leadership Institute (LLI). KJ serves on the Board of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (SAHCC) and San Antonio for Growth on the Eastside (SAGE). She has served as a volunteer for community and non-profit organizations including, Autism Speaks, City Year, MS Society, The SAHCC’s Leadership Committee, ABLDP Chair, and LSA Steering Committee and the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce’s Operating Council, Woman to Woman, Leader to Leader Committee & Ambassador Committee Chair. She is passionate about developing others and has served as a mentor to many young professionals.
Craig Smith
Chief Customer Officer, Seattle City Light
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Craig Smith
Craig Smith is an accomplished executive with decades of experience in customer care,
and clean energy policy and program management. He currently serves as the Chief
Customer Officer at Seattle City Light where he is working toward delivering affordable
electric services and clean energy solutions to a million Seattle-area businesses and
residents.
He previously served as the Chief Executive Officer of Richard Heath and Associates
(RHA), an equity centered program management and consulting firm serving the utility
and healthcare sectors. During Craig’s tenure, RHA designed and managed programs
and outreach campaigns for California’s energy, water and telecommunications utilities,
the state public utility commission, and the California Health Benefits Exchange that
helped over a million of households and businesses reduce their energy costs,
conserve energy and water resources and advance equitable access to affordable
healthcare and telecommunications services. While at RHA, Craig also served as Vice
chair of the California Energy Efficiency Industry Council.
Prior to his time at RHA, he was the Assistant General Manager for Customer and
Corporate Services at Snohomish County Public Utility District, the second largest
public electric utility in the Pacific Northwest. During his time at Snohomish, Craig also
served as Board Chair of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance leading the region’s
utilities to double their five-year investment in regional market transformation programs.
Before Snohomish, Craig served in various leadership roles with the Tennessee Valley
Authority, the Michigan Public Service Commission and Pacific Gas and Electric
Company.
Craig holds a bachelor’s degree in urban planning from Antioch College.
Stephanie Crocker Ross
Data Scientist, EnergyHub
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Stephanie Crocker Ross
Stephanie Ross is a Data Scientist at EnergyHub, where she develops advanced algorithms for EnergyHub's DERMS platform. Before coming to EnergyHub, Stephanie led Green Mountain Power's strategy for DER management and developed pilots for emerging technologies. Prior to GMP, Stephanie was a consultant at the Brattle Group where she conducted resource planning studies focused on decarbonization for a wide range of clients, including the New York ISO, utilities, EPRI, and the DOE.
Stephanie holds a BA and BE in Electrical Engineering from Dartmouth College and a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan where her research focused on advanced control algorithms for DER management.
Lance Haman
Resiliency Manager, Georgia Power Company
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Lance Haman
Lance has worked for the Southern Company and its affiliates for 23 years. He holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from the Missouri University of Science & Technology and an MBA from William Carey University. His career has spanned across Mississippi Power, Southern Power, Southern Company Services, and Georgia Power in organizations where he has led the company’s efforts in many different functions including Generation Development, Business Development, Asset Management, and Regulatory Affairs. This past summer, Lance began his latest role as Georgia Power’s Resiliency Manager where he is responsible for implementing Georgia Power’s new Distributed Energy Resource (DER) Customer Program as well as provide leadership and direction in support of the company’s evolving strategy to deliver resiliency solutions to customers utilizing DER.
Rick Sheer
Director, Energy & Utilities, CGI
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Fouad Dagher
Director, Clean Energy Development, National Grid
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Fouad Dagher
Fouad Dagher, P.E.
Director, Clean Energy Development at National Grid USA. Responsibilities consist of identifying and developing clean and innovative energy solutions for National Grid customers. Area of focus includes renewables and energy storage, micro-grids, electrification of transportation, and energy efficiency. Previous positions assumed: Director of Innovation for National Grid Partners focusing on distributive innovation; lead developer of National Grid’s REV demonstration in NY, National Grid’s program developer for renewable and storage in Massachusetts, deployment of National Grid’s first network of electric vehicles charging stations in MA, NY, and RI, and various other managerial and engineering positions.
Education: MIT’s Advanced Certificate for Executives in Strategy, Innovation and Management; Design Thinking Certificate-Stanford University Executive Education; BS, MS, and post graduate education in engineering and management. Appointed by MA Governor to the MA Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Commission, elected to the New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium Board of Directors. Adjunct Professor at Lasell University in Newton, MA. Registered Professional Engineer in multiple states. Passionate about creating innovative approaches for clean and sustainable energy programs for customers.
Elliot Stein
Engineer, PXiSE Energy Solutions
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Elliot Stein
With PXiSE since 2021, Elliot Stein leverages his background in both renewable and electric utility industries to find solutions for clients’ energy management and control challenges. Before joining PXiSE, Elliot held engineering and technical roles for the development and construction of solar, wind, and storage projects at Sempra Renewables, Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses, and Matrix Renewables. He also spent five years in transmission and distribution system protection and substation operations and commissioning at the electric utility Pepco Holdings. Elliot has a wide-ranging technical background and is focused on using it to accelerate the implementation and deployment of advanced grid control solutions.
Alaric J. Babej
Principal, Customer Energy Solutions, PNM
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Alaric J. Babej
Alaric J. Babej is the Manager 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 Master's 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.
Shinjini Menon
VP, Asset Management and Wildfire Safety, Southern CA Edison
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Shinjini Menon
Shinjini Menon
Vice President, Asset Management and Wildfire Safety
Southern California Edison
Shinjini Menon is vice president, Asset Management and Wildfire Safety,
at Southern California Edison. She is responsible for the development
and execution of SCE’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan, PSPS Readiness and
oversees the asset management work across the company to optimize
investments and ensure safe and reliable operation of the system.
With 25 years of engineering, regulatory and business planning
knowledge, she brings extensive experience representing the company
during complex public proceedings.
Menon joined SCE in 2004. She was previously managing director of
State Regulatory Operations in Regulatory Affairs where she was
responsible for all cost recovery-related regulatory matters and the
utility’s regulatory policies concerning grid resilience and modernization.
In previous roles, she also led Transmission & Distribution operational
planning.
Before joining SCE, Menon worked for Corning Incorporated leading
aspects of product development for photonics and environmental
technologies.
Menon holds a bachelor’s degree in electronics engineering from Indian
Institute of Technology (BHU) and master’s degrees in electrical
engineering and statistics from Purdue University
Ted Burhans
Director, Distributed Energy Resource Technology, Smart Electric Power Alliance
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Ted Burhans
Ted joined SEPA in June 2022, overseeing the growing body of work focused on the analytics of grid conditions and control of distributed energy resources whether in front of the meter or behind the meter. Ted has 15+ years of experience working for a vertically integrated utility, most recently directing renewable energy, energy efficiency, and electric vehicle programs.
He has a bachelor of science degree in Engineering Management from the University of Arizona, and a master’s in business administration from the University of Arizona Global Campus.
Meghan Jennings
Distributed Energy Resources Specialist, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative
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Meghan Jennings
Meghan Jennings is a Distributed Energy Resources Specialist for Rappahannock Electric Cooperative’s (REC) Energy Solutions and Clean Energy Department. Meghan serves as REC’s main point of contact for Net Metering projects. She helps coordinate and manage the Cooperative’s Electric Vehicle Pilot Program and Demand Response initiatives. Meghan serves REC’s membership by supporting the development and administration of Clean Energy Programs at REC. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Integrated Science and Technology with a focus on Renewable Energy Development and Environmental Information Systems.
Alan Saunders
VP, Sales and Business Development, Clean Power Research
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Alan Saunders
Alan is Vice President of Sales and Business Development for Clean Power Research, where he is responsible for sales and account management for the company's 75+ utility and agency customers. Alan has more than 30 years experience in the energy and utility industry, leading renewable energy, energy efficiency, and operational teams.
Jose Bodipo-Memba
Chief Diversity Officer, Sacramento Municipal Utility District
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Jose Bodipo-Memba
Jose Bodipo-Memba
Chief Diversity Officer
As Chief Diversity Officer, Jose oversees SMUD’s People Services & Strategies, Sustainable Communities, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) and Workforce Business Planning departments. In this role, his focus is on implementing SMUD’s Clean Energy Vision Community Impact Strategy and inspiring an inclusive employee culture based on trust and respect and creating belonging and connection among our employees, customers, and communities, which ultimately results in positive, equitable outcomes for all. In addition, Jose is responsible for building strategies to move SMUD closer to our 2030 Clean Energy Vision goals as a diverse, equitable and inclusive employer and community organization.
Jose previously served as the Director of the Sustainable Communities program in 2018, which aims to bring environmental equity and economic vitality to all communities in SMUD’s service area through partnership alignment. The program manages over 130 community partnership and is focused on enhancing an inclusive regional workforce pipeline through key public and private partnerships. Jose has over 20 years of environmental, sustainability, and urban planning experience throughout California, covering a range of project and community types.
Jose currently serves as a member of the ULI National Public Development Infrastructure Council; Board Member of the Sacramento Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Board Member of the Crocker Art Museum; Member of the American Clean Power Diversity Equity and Inclusion council; Board Member of the Center for Fathers and Families; Board Member for Capital Area Development Authority (CADA); and the Executive Committee for the Regional K-16 Collaboratives Grant Program.
Jose was a recipient of the Sacramento Business Journal 40 under 40 award in 2010, the 2012 Drexel University Oxholm Community Leadership Award, the 2021 UC Davis Inspirational Leadership in Diversity Award, a proud graduate of the Nehemiah Emerging Leaders Program, and the 2015 Drexel University 40 under 40 Distinguished Alumni award. Jose holds a BA in History from UC Berkeley and an MBA from Drexel University.
Mike Corso
Senior VP of Operations, McCarthy Building Companies, Inc.
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Mike Corso
Career Summary: With McCarthy since 2003
Education: Bachelor’s degree, Electrical Engineering, Syracuse University
Mike Corso has been with McCarthy since 2003 and has led the construction operations for over 8+ Gigawatts of utility scale PV solar and over 1033 MW of energy storage projects throughout the United States. As Sr. Vice President of Operations, Mike provides executive oversight for all renewable energy and storage projects nationally, ensuring project teams have adequate resources to manage safety, quality, schedule and construction efficiency solutions. He is committed to partnering with local communities on workforce development and has an established background in both union and non-union environments across the country.
Prior to joining McCarthy, Mike spent 8 years working with a national electrical contracting company where he managed electrical operations for various product types, ranging from transmission and distribution to water/wastewater, healthcare, detention facilities and commercial projects. In this role, Mike worked with several municipalities and federal agencies in the deployment of proprietary technology and custom instrumentation and controls.
Family and Community
Mike lives in Phoenix with his wife, two daughters, and son. He and his family are active members of McCarthy’s Heart Hats community outreach program, which is dedicated to ensuring real community needs are being met through hands-on activities and financial support to a variety of nonprofit causes.
Mary C Palmer
Manager, Event Content Strategy and Programming, Smart Electric Power Alliance
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Mary C Palmer
Mary joined the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) in June 2022. As the Manager of Event Content Strategy and Programming, she collaborates with utilities, corporations, and industry partners to develop and deliver high-quality education and engagement for the industry. An Austin Energy alum, she has over 5 years of experience working at a municipal utility where she focused on strategic planning, process optimization, emerging technology implementation, and community engagement to grow the City of Austin’s renewable energy programs. Mary loves to travel and get lost in the outdoors, especially on a long hike or on a boat in the ocean. Her proudest achievement is working with local communities and volunteers from all over the world to install rainwater harvesting systems; a total capacity of 82,900 liters of potable, accessible water to residents of Fiji.
Bill Comeau
VP, Customer Experience & Innovation, Rocky Mountain Power
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Bill Comeau
Bill Comeau is the Vice President of Customer Experience and Innovations for Rocky Mountain Power. His portfolio includes large customer management, customer service and program options such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, electric vehicles and battery demand response.
A 23-year veteran of the electric utility industry, Bill is helping customers innovate to achieve their sustainability goals and use electricity more efficiently. These benefits contribute to a reduction in customers’ impact on the environment while also helping businesses improve their competitiveness by operating more effectively. He previously managed the company’s partnerships with state and local government economic development organizations to improve local economies and help existing businesses grow.
Nic Evans
VP, Commercial, ES Solar
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Nic Evans
Nic Evans is the Vice President of Commercial at ES Solar. He manages sales and operations of large-scale commercial VPP projects and programs for the company, including the Wattsmart Battery Program with Rocky Mountain Power. With over 10-years of clean energy experience, Nic is a leader in innovative solar plus battery project sales and implementation. He partners with business, utility, and technology providers such as Wasatch, Rocky Mountain Power and sonnen to design and engineer next-level renewable projects that support a sustainable energy future, like The Soleil Lofts apartment community in Herriman, Utah, that served as the pilot for the Wattsmart Program. Nic’s success in building partnership and scaling commercial solar energy storage solutions is critical to going beyond solar alone and provide manageable renewable resources that support both customer’s energy goals and the overall management of the electric grid.
Audrey Burkhardt
Resilience & Energy Storage Portfolio Manager, Portland General Electric
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Audrey Burkhardt
Audrey Burkhardt serves as Resilience and Energy Storage Portfolio Manager for Portland General Electric (PGE). Audrey's team develops and manages customer programs that tackle the twin imperatives of electric sector decarbonization and increasing resilience for Oregonians grappling with the impacts of climate change. Audrey has 15 years’ experience in energy utility program development in both electricity and natural gas. Audrey holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Marketing from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and two young children, and enjoys baking cakes and biking everywhere.
Farah Mandich
Director, Resource Planning and Bidding, Xcel Energy
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Farah Mandich
Farah Mandich is Director of Resource Planning and Bidding in Xcel Energy's Integrated System Planning team. She and her team lead development of integrated resource plans and competitive generation resource acquisitions for the Company’s five-state Upper Midwest service area. Prior to this role, Farah worked in Regulatory Affairs at Xcel Energy and Southern California Edison, drafting regulatory documents and advising on electric market policy and regulation in Minnesota and California, respectively. Before working at utilities, she was a Knowlege Specialist at global consultancy McKinsey and Company's Electric Power and Natural Gas practice, where she advised clients on large-scale renewables and distributed energy resource markets. Farah earned her Bachelor of Science in Economics from Texas Christian University and her Master of Public Policy from the University of Michigan's Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.
Justin Kramer
Manager, Emerging Technologies, Orlando Utilities Commission
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Justin Kramer
Justin Kramer is the Manager of Emerging Technologies for the Orlando Utilities Commission. He has a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering with a specialty in Sustainable Energy Engineering from Florida State University. While at FSU, he was the project manager for the Energy and Sustainability Center and has experience in Hydrogen Combustion, Building Efficiency, Solar Thermal energy, Fuel Cells, Electrolysis, Electric Vehicles, Microgrids and PV technologies. At OUC he leads a team of engineers working on projects including Vehicle-to-Grid demonstrations, Hydrogen technologies, Microgrid controls, flow batteries, Fleet Electrification and more. His current focus is developing the tools that will be needed for the Utility of the Future.
Kenneth Shiver
Chief Economist, Southern Company
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Kenneth Shiver
Mr. Shiver is the Chief Economist and Director of Planning, Regulatory & Strategy Support for the Atlanta-based Southern Company. In this role he oversees the demand planning functions of the company, represents the company as a witness in its regulatory filings, and engages with the industry on current issues such as electrification, electric transportation, forecasting, pricing, energy efficiency, the economy, and utility planning. He is a graduate of the University of West Georgia (BBA-Economics) and Georgia State University (MS-Economics) and has over 30 years of experience within the industry
Abby Hopper
President & Chief Executive Officer, Solar Energy Industries Association
Speaker
Chandra Farley
Chief Sustainability Officer, City of Atlanta
Speaker
Chris Ayers
Executive Director, North Carolina Utilities Commission Public Staff
Speaker