Speakers

Rosanna Kallio

Senior Engineer II, Grid Modernization, Consumers Energy

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Rosanna Kallio Rosanna Kallio is a Senior Engineer II in the Grid Modernization department at Consumers Energy. She is leading grid modernization projects related to Distributed Energy Resource (DER) integration including DER Management System (DERMS), substation modernization and the development of a Grid Modernization Incubator test and training facility. She is the Consumers Energy advisor for the EPRI Program 174 for DER integration and is active in several industry groups involving interoperability including SEPA, IEEE and UCA OpenFMB.

Stacy Noblet

Sr Director, Transportation Electrification, ICF

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Stacy Noblet

With more than 15 years of experience, Stacy is a transportation electrification specialist helping federal agencies, state and local governments, and utilities plan, design, and implement clean transportation strategies and programs. She has contributed to nationwide and local efforts to increase EV adoption through supportive infrastructure and policy development since modern-day EVs hit the roads a decade ago. Stacy leads EV readiness plans, utility EV charging program design and execution, regulatory and policy tracking, and outreach and engagement. 

Gaurav Behal

Manager, Utility Partnerships, ChargePoint

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Gaurav Behal

Gaurav Behal manages utility partnerships at ChargePoint where he spends much of his time working with North American utilities in driving strategic decisions, designing & implementing customer-facing EV charging programs and business models with the aim to benefit the driver, site host, and the grid. Prior to ChargePoint, Gaurav worked at two of Canada’s largest utilities where he led the development of Transportation Electrification strategy at Alectra Utilities and held multiple progressive roles in Asset Management, Investment planning, Regulatory, and DER Integration at Hydro One Networks Inc. He holds a Bachelors's degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Windsor and is pursuing a Business Management program at the University of Toronto. Contact info: www.linkedin.com/in/gbehal. 

Karl Popham

Manager, EVs and Emerging Technology, Austin Energy

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Garrett Fitzgerald

Principal, Electrification, Smart Electric Power Alliance

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David Holmberg

Mechanical Engineer, Building, Energy and Environment Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology

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Raymond Kaiser

CIO, EVoke Systems

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Raymond Kaiser

Raymond Kaiser is the CIO of Evoke Systems, an EV network charging provider. Raymond is co-chair of the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) Energy Services Interface (ESI) Task Force. Raymond has been involved in the design, development, and deployment of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) for 20+ years.  He is a frequent speaker on DER standards and protocols at energy conferences and workshops including SEPA Grid Evolution Summit, EPRI, GMLC, North America Smart Energy Week, and IEEE PES. Raymond, along with his co-chair, David Holmberg of NIST recently co-authored SEPA’s EV Managed Charging Framework, a guide to integrate EV charging into utility planning and operations. 

Mark Knight

Senior Managing Consultant, Burns & McDonnell Engineering

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Mark Knight Mark Knight is a Principal Consultant at 1898 & Co., part of Burns & McDonnell. Prior to joining Burns & McDonnell, Mark was Chief Engineer in the Electricity Infrastructure Systems group at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory leading work on microgrid resilience, interoperability and transactive systems. Bringing more than 30 years of experience, he is a thought leader and advisor to the industry. Mark is emeritus chair of the GridWise Architecture Council, was chair of SEPA's Transactive Energy Working Group for the last few years, and is the Director of Projects for the Institute of Asset Management's USA Chapter.

Trevor Hardy

Research Engineer, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

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Trevor Hardy Trevor Hardy is a Power System Research Engineer for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, where his core research areas are co-simulation tool development and analysis along with transactive energy simulation and analysis. Trevor is currently leading the development of the Transactive Energy Simulation Platform, a foundational software suite that enables users to more easily tie together the multi-domain models (transmission, generation, distribution, communication, load) to simulate and analyze a variety of transactive mechanisms. He has been heavily involved in the Distribution System Operation and Transmission (DSO+T) project that performed analysis on a day-ahead and real-time transactive system implemented in an ERCOT-scale power system to show the value potential of transactive systems.

Andy Kruse

Business Development Manager, Advisory Services, Underwriters Laboratory

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Andy Kruse A 30-year veteran of the renewable energy industry, Mr. Kruse is the Business Development Manager for Microgrids and DER at UL. He manages all new business opportunities for the HOMER Group. Before the sale to UL at HOMER, he expanded the company’s user base to cover 193 countries. Early in his career, he co-founded Southwest Windpower and grew it to the largest distributed-scale wind turbine manufacturer worldwide. He later joined Endurance Wind and established the first leasing programs, which became the leading method for selling medium-scale wind within the U.S. He also championed the distributed wind tax credit of 2007. Andy studied political science at Northern Arizona University.

Dustin Rogge

Microgrid Solutions Manager, Black & Veatch

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Dustin Rogge Dustin J. Rogge is the Microgrid Solutions Manager within Black & Veatch's global power business unit and provides technology development for the distributed energy and renewable energy groups. He currently works with utility and industrial sector clients to find solutions deploying a variety of technologies that address power needs with complex project goals, including integrating solar, battery storage, other generation sources with varying grid considerations. Recent projects include: Shell's Technology Center Houston Microgrid, a multifaceted demonstration project that includes multiple energy sources with advanced technological aspects such as EV V2G, multiple BESS chemistries and extensive metering; the Panguitch Solar and BESS NWA project that's focused on peak reduction and capital deferrment; the MCAS Miramar Microgrid which requires solutions to improve reliability; and multiple other military microgrids and feasibility studies. Dustin Rogge's 25+ years of experience includes technical competencies with microgrid controls, power generation instrumentation and controls, industrial automation, auxiliary power systems analysis and design, as well as significant arc flash analysis, mitigation design, and freeze protection expertise.

Gary Brinkworth

Senior Advisor - Special Projects, Innovation and Research, Tennessee Valley Authority

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Gary Brinkworth Gary Brinkworth has over 39 years of utility industry experience in system planning, forecasting, modeling and analysis. He holds a B.S. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Auburn University. After working for Southern Company and the City of Tallahassee, FL municipal utility he joined TVA where he managed the company’s 2011 and 2015 Integrated Resource Plans. Gary then led the team responsible for coordinating R&D efforts and identifying innovation opportunities for TVA and its distribution utility partners. He’s now a strategic advisor to the VP of Innovation & Research working on special projects advancing the transformation of the TVA regional power grid into the energy system of the future.

Nelson Hastings

Group Leader, Applied Cybersecurity Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology

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Nelson Hastings

Nelson Hastings leads the Cybersecurity and Privacy Applications Group of Applied Cybersecurity Division within Information Technology Laboratory at National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and previously chaired SEPA’s Cybersecurity Working Group.  His team supports the cybersecurity aspects of NIST’s Smart Grid program as well as other NIST efforts including privacy engineering, public safety communications, voting systems, and industrial control systems. Nelson holds a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering from Iowa State University, M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Western Michigan University, and B.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Aaron Smallwood

VP Industry Solutions, Smart Electric Power Alliance

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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.


Ahmed Mousa

Manager, Utility of the Future, PSEG

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Ahmed Mousa

Ahmed Mousa is the Utility of the Future manager at PSE&G, working towards a 100% renewable system in a reliable, innovative, and cost-effective manner. Ahmed is the technical leader for PSE&G’s Clean Energy Future, NJ Energy Masterplan 600/2,000 MW energy storage mandates, 3,500/7,500 MW wind mandates, climate change, intelligent touchless substations, microgrids, non-wire alternatives, electric vehicles, smart home, voltage VAR optimization, net-zero/near-net zero buildings. Ahmed developed the DER interconnection guide and is responsible for preparing the Integrated Distribution Plan. He has over 16 years of utility experience @ PSE&G, Con Edison, First Energy & PEPCO.


James Mater

General Manager, Smart Grid, QualityLogic, Inc.

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James Mater James Mater is one of the industry-leading experts on smart grid standards, interoperability, and the maturity of eco-systems of products based on these standards. James has given dozens of presentations and authored multiple papers on interoperability in the smart grid. He is a member of both the IEEE 1547.1 and 1547.2 Work Groups.

Gustavo Aguilar-Perez

Founder / Principal Consultant, Green Planet Lab

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Gustavo Aguilar-Perez Gustavo Aguilar is the Founder and Principal Consultant at Green Planet Lab, a firm that provides business and software development consulting for the green mobility and clean tech sectors. A former consultant for one of the most well-known technology consulting firms in Europe, Gustavo held senior roles and led numerous digital transformation projects at international groups such as Ingram Micro, Capgemini and Renault in the United States, France and Mexico. He is an expert at designing business processes and systems to improve companies’ operational performance.

Cuong Nguyen

Lead, Smart Grid Testing and Certification, National Institute of Standards and Technology

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Jason Delaney

Program Consultant, Arizona Public Service

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Mariko McDonagh Meier

CSO, Convergent

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Mariko McDonagh Meier

Mariko McDonagh Meier is the Chief Strategy Officer at Convergent Energy + Power, and is responsible for identifying and commercializing new products and markets as well as coordinating commercial opportunities across Convergent’s business.

Prior to joining Convergent, Mariko spent a decade at Enel X (previously EnerNOC), at which she held several senior management positions across marketing, regulatory affairs and operations. Mariko began her career at McKinsey and Company, a consultancy, where she focused on cleantech clients.  Mariko holds a BA from Stanford University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She lives in Boston with her husband, two daughters, and three-legged cat.


Chris Johnson

CEO, Blue Planet Energy

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Chris Johnson A social enterprise leader with international experience, Christopher got his entrepreneurial start in 2004 running the first B Corporation in Georgia, a technology consulting company building software to improve communication and collaboration across the most innovative, fast growing nonprofits and businesses. He led a partnership-based approach to client engagements for customers across industries of finance, renewable energy, education, retail sales and logistics. Over 20 years, he has built an extensive background in both science and sustainability, which fuels his passion to lead teams to create a positive impact on the world. With the urgent need to address climate change, Christopher shifted from consulting to focus on product solutions to the climate crisis. He started working with Blue Planet Energy in January 2017 and has led the team’s expansion and rapid growth of the company alongside the visionary founder, Henk Rogers.

Josh Brown

Business Support Specialist, PSEG

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Robert Tucker

Director, Industry Strategy, Smart Electric Power Alliance

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Robert Tucker Robert Tucker is an energy industry professional with 25 years of experience working with utilities across the US. Robert has helped utilities with a wide range of business and technology solutions to solve complex business problems or changing regulatory requirements. Robert has worked with utilities and regulators to address the challenges and opportunities of grid modernization and the growth of DERs. Prior to SEPA Robert worked for both consulting firms and technology/ service providers to the utility industry.

Jennifer Schaffer

Director, Development, Florida Power & Light

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Jennifer Schaffer

Jennifer Schaffer serves the newly created role of Director, Clean Energy Solutions at Florida Power & Light Company. She focuses on understanding the customers’ sustainability goals and offering a portfolio of clean energy solutions through renewable energy, electrification, and energy efficiency programs. She also works to develop new program offerings based on emerging industry trends, technologies, and policies that will help continue the advancement of clean energy throughout Florida.

Ms. Schaffer has been with FPL for 13 years, most recently in FPL Development, where she was responsible for new and innovative renewable energy programs, which included leading the FPL SolarNow™ program to success with more than 50,000 customers enrolled, and the largest community solar program in the country called FPL SolarTogether.

Katie Chiles Ottenweller

Southeast Director, Vote Solar

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Katie Chiles Ottenweller Katie Chiles Ottenweller serves as Vote Solar’s Southeast Director, focusing on advancing solar policy in Florida, Georgia and the Gulf States. Katie first got hooked on solar as an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, where she led their regional Solar Initiative for five years. Prior to that, she spent a year working on environmental justice issues in Philadelphia.

Leigh Yeatts

Manager, Program Design, Smart Electric Power Alliance

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Leigh Yeatts Leigh Yeatts helps shape the educational content for the flagship event, Solar Power International, Energy Storage International & North America Smart Energy Week, as well as regional solar and energy storage events co-owned by SEPA and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). Leigh came to SEPA from the regional solar energy trade group, MDV-SEIA, where she managed operations, including planning of the annual conference, and assisted with policy efforts by leading the Washington D.C. policy committee. She is a Fellow of the Clean Energy Leadership Institute (CELI).

Eamonn McCormick

Architecture Solution Lead, Utilicast

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Eamonn McCormick Eamonn McCormick is the solution architecture services Lead for Utlicast, a leading energy and utility consulting company. Eamonn’s is primarily focused on digital transformation and grid modernization in the energy and utility industries. Eamonn has worked as an enterprise and solution architect on strategic projects and programs at key US utilities and ISOs for over 20 years.

Seemita Pal

Team Lead, Architecture, Distributed Systems Group, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

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Seemita Pal Dr. Seemita Pal is a Senior Research Engineer and the Team Leader of the Architecture Team in the Distributed Systems Group at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). She is leading multiple research projects funded by the Department of Energy, and her areas of focus include grid architecture, grid cybersecurity, synchrophasor technologies and power systems. Dr. Pal is a member of the PNNL Grid Architecture team, and a member of both SEPA Grid Architecture and Cybersecurity Working Groups. She was recognized with the IEEE Member and Geographic Activities (MGA) Achievement Award in 2019, and profile has been featured in the DOE Women @ Energy : STEM Rising series.

Ron Cunningham

IT Enterprise Architect, Enterprise Architecture and Strategy, American Electric Power

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Ron Cunningham Ron Cunningham has 47 years career with investor-owned utilities and is an IT Enterprise Architect in the Technology Enterprise Architecture group at American Electric Power (AEP), focusing on: grid modernization architecture; IT/OT interoperability industry standards development and use; use of enterprise architecture frameworks, development and refinement of grid and IT architectural metamodels, system modeling, formal ontologies; and enhancing cybersecurity and grid-related telecommunication technologies and architectures.

Ron Melton

Group Leader, Distributed Systems Group, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

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Ron Melton

Dr. Ron Melton is the Group Leader for the Distributed Systems Group in the Electricity Infrastructure and Buildings Division at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). He is the Principal Investigator for the DOE Advanced Grid Research project for an ADMS Open Source Platform, a member of the core team for the DOE Grid Architecture project, and Administrator of the GridWise® Architecture Council. He was the Project Director of the Pacific Northwest Smart Grid Demonstration that concluded in June 2015. Dr. Melton is a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and a Senior Member of the Association for Computing Machinery. He chairs the IEEE Power and Energy Society Smart Buildings, Loads, and Customer Systems Technical Committee and the Smart Electric Power Alliance Grid Architecture Working Group. Dr. Melton received his BSEE from the University of Washington and his MS and Ph.D. in Engineering Science from the California Institute of Technology.