Past Speakers

Elody Samuelson

Program Manager, Consumers Energy

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Hannon Rasool

Transformative Initiatives Manager, San Diego Gas & Electric

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Andy Satchwell

Principal Scientific Engineering Associate, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

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Galen Barbose

Research Scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

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Joachim Seel

Scientific Engineering Associate, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

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Marie Schnitzer

Lead Project Manager, National Grid

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Julia Eagles

Public Policy and Strategy Manager, Xcel Energy

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Damei Jack

Manager, Customer Energy Solutions, Con Edison

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Emilie Bolduc

VP, New York Energy Manager, NYPA

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Fernando Valero

Advanced Technologies Integration Manager, Energy Storage, SDG&E

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Guy Sliker

Director, Product Development, NYPA

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Joy Fryer

Product Manager, Avista

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Taylor Patricia

Regulatory Policy and Business Programs, American Public Power Association

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Sangeeta Ranade

VP, Clean Energy Business & Market Development, New York Power Authority

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Tom Bialek

Chief Engineer, SDG&E

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Luis Reyes

CEO, Kit Carson Electric Cooperative

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Patricia Taylor

Manager, Regulatory Policy and Business Programs, American Public Power Association

Speaker

Kevin McGrath

Senior Manager, Development, SEPA

Moderator

Adam Wasserman

Vice President, Development and Engagement, SEPA

Moderator

Kate Strickland

​Manager, Utility and Regulatory Strategy, SEPA

Moderator

Brad Benton

Senior Manager, Membership, SEPA

Moderator

Aaron Smallwood

Vice President, Technical Services, SEPA

Moderator

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Aaron Smallwood Aaron has been in Information Technology for 20 years and in the utility industry for the last 15 years. As Director of IT Operations at the Electric Reliability of Council of Texas (ERCOT), Aaron was responsible for the multi-data center IT operations of ERCOT’s real-time grid and market systems, deregulated retail market systems, Enterprise Data Warehouse, systems integration, and market settlement systems. In other roles at ERCOT he led business/technology alignment, IT strategy development, program financial management for the Texas Nodal Market Implementation, IT stakeholder relationship management, and the IT divisional project office. Prior to ERCOT, Aaron was responsible for managing the relationship between IT and utility business units at Aquila, Inc., working with utility and IT leaders to ensure that IT services were aligned with business objectives and that IT was positioned to support their needs.

Adam Ward

VP Environmental Affairs, Sustainability & Energy Policy, American Municipal Power

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Bill LeBlanc

Chief Instigation Agent, ESource

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Brenda Chew

Senior Manager, Research, SEPA

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Brenda Chew Brenda joined SEPA in 2017. She manages SEPA’s Annual Utility Survey and Snapshot Series, and supports a range of research efforts on the integration of distributed energy resources. Prior to SEPA, Brenda worked as a consultant at ICF, focusing on distributed energy resources, Utility of the Future and grid modernization efforts. She holds a master’s degree in sustainable development from the University of St. Andrews, and a bachelor’s degree in economics and environmental studies from Emory University.

Bryan Hannegan

President & CEO, Holy Cross Energy

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Chris Schroeder

Vice President, Advisory Services, SEPA

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Chris Schroeder Chris Schroeder joined SEPA in July of 2017 as a Senior Director of Advisory Services. In this role, he is responsible for helping SEPA members define a variety of programs, strategies, and solutions for distributed energy resources supporting the advancement of clean energy and grid modernization. Chris has over 20 years of consulting experience in the electric, gas, and renewable energy industries. Prior to joining SEPA, Chris served as a Senior Vice President at Nexant, Inc. where he led their Energy Delivery and Management division providing over 100 pilot and full-scale utility distributed energy resource programs, including energy efficiency, demand response, and renewable energy offerings. Chris has also provided strategic consulting services for state regulatory proceedings, stakeholder facilitation, utility tariff review and energy storage initiatives for utilities and groups throughout North America. Chris has a Bachelor of Science in Physics and Mathematics from Willamette University and a Master of Science in Building Systems Engineering from the University of Colorado.

Christine Stearn

Senior Manager, SEPA

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Christine Stearn Christine joined SEPA in 2015. She has advised utilities on strategic and operational plans for programs, products and services that will drive integration of clean energy resources into utility resource portfolios and business operations. Currently, she manages SEPA’s 51st State Initiative (http://sepa51.org), a collaborative platform that is an alternative to the contentious debates surrounding market and rate reform occurring in many jurisdictions. The initiative creates an ongoing, safe forum for experts and industry leaders to shape the evolution of the utility sector. Prior to SEPA, Christine has had a variety of rewarding work experiences ranging from startups to working at a global sustainability think tank, to building an analytic program for a $3 billion operating organization. Christine presents on energy, sustainability, technology, climate and risk topics. Christine earned both a MBA and a M.Sc. from Columbia University and her BS from Babson College where she majored in Management Information Systems. Christine has a love of travel, a taste for pancakes, an aptitude for technology, an itch to run and a desire to connect with others.

Ellyse Mazzi

Program Manager DER Strategy & Policy, Hawaiian Electric

Speaker

Erika Myers

Principal, Transportation Electrification, SEPA

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Erika Myers Erika Myers joined SEPA in July 2015. In her role, Erika directs research team activities, oversees research collaborations with key partners, and manages the development of content. She specializes in renewable energy and electric vehicle infrastructure and staffs SEPA’s Electric Vehicle Working Group. She has authored and co-authored numerous reports, briefs, articles, and blogs while at SEPA and regularly speaks at trade events around the country. Prior to joining SEPA, Erika spent nearly four years as a consultant with ICF International and five years with the South Carolina Energy Office with a focus on renewable energy and alternative transportation fuel policy and regulatory planning and development. She also had a short stint as a supervisor at a solar installation firm in the southeast, before deciding she much preferred being behind a desk and not on top of a roof. Erika has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Clemson University and a master’s degree in earth and environmental resources from the University of South Carolina.

Gary Brinkworth

Director of Enterprise Research & Technology Innovation, TVA

Speaker

Gregg Kresge

Manager of Renewable Energy Projects, Maui Electric Company

Speaker

Jared Leader

Manager, Advisory Services, SEPA

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Jared Leader Jared Leader joined SEPA in June 2017, where he joins SEPA’s Advisory Services team of experts consulting with multiple utility clients researching, designing and implementing renewable energy programs and business models. Engagements involve community solar and green tariff program design, facilitating industry stakeholder engagement workshops and microgrid planning and preliminary economic analysis. Jared is the staff lead for SEPA’s Microgrid Working Group and co-leads SEPA’s consulting engagement with the D.C. Public Service Commission facilitating the grid modernization (MEDSIS) working group process in the District. Prior to joining SEPA, Jared spent three years as a consultant at Arcadis US. Jared was responsible for the design, implementation, and management of several environmental programs for both municipal and commercial clients in the energy and water sectors. Jared holds a bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Virginia, where he conducted research on algae-based bio-fuels and focused in sustainable practice. He is currently earning his MS in Energy Policy and Climate from Johns Hopkins University in Washington, DC.

Jennifer Szaro

Vice President, Research and Education, SEPA

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Jennifer Szaro Jennifer Szaro joined SEPA in 2015 as Senior Director of Programs and currently manages SEPA’s extensive portfolio of educational offerings, including joint venture events such as Solar Power International (SPI) and targeted events like the Utility Solar Conference and annual Fact Finding Missions. Prior to this, she spent nearly nine years as Renewable Energy Manager for the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) leading their solar energy, corporate sustainability and electric vehicle programs. She also conducted applied photovoltaic systems research for eight years as Senior Energy Analyst for the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), a research institute of the University of Central Florida (UCF). Jennifer received her Bachelor of Science Degrees in Environmental Science and Chemistry from Florida International University in 1997 and holds an MBA from UCF. She has served on the board of directors for several nonprofit organizations, including: SEPA, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), the Florida Renewable Energy Association (FREA), Project Get Ready Central Florida and Drive Electric Florida. She is a LEED Accredited Professional and currently sits on the Dean’s Advisory Board for the UCF College of Engineering and Computer Sciences and the board of the Electric Vehicle Transportation Center.

Jim Alberts

Senior Vice President, Business Development and Strategy, Hawaiian Electric Company

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Julia Hamm

President & CEO, SEPA

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Julia Hamm 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. Julia guides and oversees all of SEPA’s research, education, and collaboration activities for its 1,100 member companies. She has led the organization 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, living in a PV powered energy efficient home in Northern Virginia.

Kevin Johnson

Lead Program Manager, National Grid

Speaker

Medha Surampudy

Senior Associate, Research, SEPA

Moderator

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Medha Surampudy Medha joined SEPA as a Research Associate in 2017. Her research areas include clean energy deployment, policy, utility customer programs, state and local incentives, and overall grid security. She regularly administers and conducts research data collection and audits. Medha also supports a range of research reports, SEPA working groups, and member research requests. Prior to SEPA, Medha worked as a Research Assistant at Bloomberg BNA and the University of Chicago. She holds a master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Chicago, and a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from North Carolina State University.

Natalia Mathura

Manager, Utility of the Future, Pepco Holdings

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Nick Esch

Manager, Research, SEPA

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Nick Esch Nick Esch joined SEPA as a Research Associate in August 2015 after interning with the research team since January 2015. Nick is the lead on SEPA’s annual Utility Data Collection effort, leads SEPA’s Energy Storage Working Group and as of late his research is focused on the topic of energy storage. Nick was a Fall 2016 Fellow in the Clean Energy Leadership Institute (CELI) in Washington D.C., a leadership development organization dedicated to building a diverse community of professionals to advance innovative clean energy solutions. Nick holds a bachelor’s degree in climate science from the University at Albany and master’s degree in solar energy engineering and commercialization from Arizona State University.

Paul Halstead

Business Development Strategy Manager, Duke Energy

Speaker

Ricardo Luna

Senior Manager, Product Development, CPS

Speaker

Susan Mora

Director, Utility Initiatives, Exelon Corporation

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Louise Bick

Advanced Technology Policy Manager, SDG&E

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Tim Harvey

Environmental Program Coordinator, Austin Energy

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Mark Haughn

Manager of Technology Assessment, Arizona Public Service

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Kevin Sagara

Chairman & CEO, San Diego Gas & Electric

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David Lawrence

Manager, Technology Development, Duke Energy

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Val Jensen

Senior Vice President, Strategy & Policy, Exelon Corporation

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Joy Fryer

Product and Services Manager, Renewables, Avista Utilities

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Sam Choi

Manager, Emerging Technologies, Orlando Utilities Commission

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Danielle Murray

Manager, Customer Renewable Energy Solutions, Austin Energy

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Rachel Huang

Director, Distributed Energy Strategy, Sacramento Municipal Utility District

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John Pinho

Energy Innovation Advisory, Arizona Public Service

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Ted Davidovich

Manager, Utility Planning, SEPA

Moderator

Adrienne Lalle

Manager, Utility of the Future, Con Edison

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Robert Thomas

Manager of Pricing Design, Regulatory Operations, Southern California Edison

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Carla Frieh

Director of Engineering, Commonwealth Edison

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Rachel Lupo

Senior Project Manager, Southern California Edison

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Russell Lieu

Senior Project Manager, Southern California Edison

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Kelly O'Donnell

Billing and Smart Solutions, Entergy Corporation

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Eva Reyes

Senior Engineer, Orlando Utilities Commission

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