WRISE Leadership Forum

REGISTER Sponsors Speakers Coaching Program Event Details About

Can You Hear Me know? Symphony of Voices | Women in Construction, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Thursday, October 12, Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403. Sponsored by Mortenson.

2023 Forum Program

The WRISE Leadership Forum program delivers annual impact and value by providing content and expert speakers that will share professional development tools to advance renewable energy and the latest in renewable energy trends and policy issues to enhance your career and build value into your company and organization.

Take a look at our FAQ page for additional information on the event and virtual platform.

Time (CDT)

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

12:00 PM

Registration Opens

1:00 -
4:00 PM

Workshops ▾

Identity to Personal Brand Statement: A Workshop to Articulate You

Identity is as individual as a fingerprint. Discovering and articulating your unique identity can be a joyful journey. It is also key to crafting a strong professional brand, and from that foundation, an elevator or quick description. What are the blueprint elements? The why, how and what of you. The core of who you is articulated in a statement true to you and provides a base of empowerment to your professional and life expression.

In this interactive workshop you will use established models to identify what is true of your unique identity. Through individual and group breakouts you will explore the aspects of your brand, and how you can express it in a succinct and motivating statement. You will get encouragement from your peers and energy from that within you wholly unique to you.

1:00 - 3:00 PM

Empowering Executive Women Leaders: Infusing Intersectionality into Your Leadership Strategies ▾

In today’s dynamic business landscape, effective leadership requires more than conventional approaches. Equip yourself with the knowledge and skills to harness the power of Intersectionality in your leadership journey. This transformative session delves into the nuanced concept of intersectionality, explores how various aspects of identity-such as race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and more-intersect to shape individual experiences.

Through insightful discussions, activities, and reflection you will learn how to integrate intersectionality into your leadership strategies, how to foster a more inclusive and equitable work environment. You will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges different groups face and how these challenges can impact their professional journey.

Objectives:

-Understand Intersectionality: Explore the foundational concepts of intersectionality, recognize the multi-dimensional nature of individuals’ identities and the unique challenges they face.

-Inclusive Leadership Model: Discover how to lead in a way that emphasizes empathy, active listening, and empowerment to create a supportive workplace for everyone.

-Strategic Implementation: Gain insights into integrating intersectional perspectives into organizational strategies.

1:00 - 3:00 PM

Demetria Miles-McDonald | Founder and CEO, Decide Diversity

Jade Scheele |
Senior Director of Project Development, Execution Team Lead, Steelhead Americas

Improving Tribal Engagement: The Hows and Whys of Partnering with Tribal Nations and Native Communities on Renewable Projects ▾

Successful engagement with Tribal Nations and Native communities is rooted in a strong understanding of Tribal laws, histories, and cultures. But finding a starting point can be difficult…Do you say Native American or American Indian? Should you engage first or wait for Federal consultation to be initiated? How do you know if your project impacts treaty resources? Do Tribal laws apply outside of the reservation? And why are Tribal lands held in trust anyway?

Learn the answers to these questions and more at a special WRISE workshop on Improving Tribal Engagement. The workshop will cover Tribal histories, the basics of Federal Indian law, and cultural competencies to give attendees a better framework for Tribal outreach and partnership. The workshop will also feature interactive discussions to address frequent issues, as well as new funding and partnership opportunities for your organization or project.

Maranda Compton |
Founder and President, Lepwe

We're All Storytellers: Finding Great Stories in the Mundane ▾

Storytelling is easily one of the most effective ways to reach an audience, be it in business communications or everyday interactions. That’s because compelling stories resonate more strongly than data or features of a PowerPoint presentation. Many successful brands today have caught on to this fact and created senior job titles like Chief Storyteller.

Storytelling however, isn’t necessarily a skill. It’s how we communicate from the time we learn how to speak. In this interactive workshop you will learn the art of “effective” storytelling and how to craft compelling narratives that enhance your personal or professional brand. Participants will engage in role playing exercises and should come prepared to unleash the storytellers within!

2:00 - 4:00 PM

Adaobi Oniwinde |
Founder, Syntax Ink

WRISE 101 Workshop

1:00 - 2:00 PM

Alyssa Ingelido | Chapters and Membership Manager, WRISE

Doseke Akporiaye | Executive Director, WRISE

VIRTUAL: Leading Great Decision Making ▾

We know, from research and experience, that decision making directly impacts your organization’s speed, innovation, employee engagement, and success. Too often, decision making is slow, disempowering, and ineffective. But it doesn’t have to be! This session will help executives and team leaders to improve their decision-making with three simple practices that will help you to drive speed even in uncertainty, reduce bureaucracy, empower frontline team members, and enable equity and inclusion.

3:00 - 4:00 PM

Alexis Gonzales-Black | Empowered Decision Practice Lead, August Public Inc.

1:00 -
4:30 PM

Tours ▾

Tour of MISO North ▾[FULL]

Come tour the Mid-Intercontinental System Operator (MISO) control room, overlook and observation area in an effort to understand the primary objective of MISO business functions which is to ensure we keep the lights on for more over 45 million customers, operate the power grid and assist with purchasing and selling of electricity.

Foreign Nationals: Due to the sensitivity of the nature of MISO operations, all Foreign Nationals visiting any of MISO’s tour facilities must have a current United States Visa along with the following:

• Name
• Country of Origin
• Date of Birth
• Photocopy of the picture in the passport and copy of a U.S. Visa

MISO must have this information at least two weeks before the scheduled tour to proceed with background checks.

Accessibility: MISO is wheelchair accessibility friendly. We have specific doors for our handicapped guests and staff, but I’m not sure if ramps are in the buildings.

Learn more here.

2:00 - 3:00 PM

Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory at the University of Minnesota ▾

From its perch on Hennepin Island and straddling the Mississippi River, St. Anthony Falls Laboratory (SAFL) is a unique and world-class research space for all things water… and then some. Since 1938, this aesthetically challenged building nearly adjacent to the Saint Anthony Falls has taken advantage of the natural 50-foot drop in the river to research and teach all things fluid mechanics, with a special emphasis on the environment, energy, and renewable energy. “The scope of the research in the lab is very wide and includes atmosphere, oceans, lakes, rivers, and groundwater,” says Lian Shen, director of SAFL and professor in mechanical engineering. “We are looking at environmental issues including pollution, plus renewable energy—wind energy and hydrokinetic energy—and more. There are a lot of processes in the Earth’s surface related to fluid flows, and that is what we try to address.” SAFL is an interdisciplinary fluid mechanics research lab and educational facility under the College of Science and Engineering at the University of Minnesota.

Learn more here.

2:00 - 3:00 PM

Capitol Region Watershed District Sustainable Campus Tour ▾

Come tour the Captiol Region Watershed District's new LEED Gold-certified headquarters. The new office facility uses green building principles, including rooftop solar and energy-saving practices, to conserve natural resources and create a healthy workplace. The building includes a state-of-the-art rainwater harvest and reuse system. All the roof water is collected and directed to a 3,000-gallon cistern in CRWD’s lobby and re-used for toilet flushing and irrigation. Numerous clean water features define the site such as rain gardens, stormwater tree trenches, permeable pavements, and underground infiltration. These, in combination, reduce urban runoff and contribute to cleaner water in the Mississippi River while adding habitat and greenspace to this formerly industrial site. In addition, a new pocket park with a water feature, native plantings and an interactive educational exhibit were added to the corner of Thomas Avenue and Aldine Street to create a green oasis in the city.

Learn more here.

3:00 - 4:00 PM

Using Solar to Restore Land Hydrology & Eco-habitat at the Corcoran Community Solar Garden ▾

Constructed on land previously used for livestock enclosures and row crop agricultural production, the Corcoran Community Solar Garden restores the site's natural hydrology and ecological function. Environmental scientists and engineers applied low-impact design strategies to address both site restoration and energy production goals. The design included sustainable stormwater practices like vegetated swales, native grasses, and pollinator friendly seeding. Landscape architects designed a visual screening plan that provides an aesthetic buffer for adjacent residential homes and public roadways.

Learn more here.

Sponsored by Norton Rose Fulbright Logo

2:45 -
3:00 PM

Transition Break

3:00 -
4:00 PM

Breakout Sessions

Ensuring Equity in the Business & Development Opportunities from the IRA ▾

The Inflation Reduction Act provides various economic opportunities for existing and potential players within the renewable energy industry, especially for small to medium sized businesses to grow and provide good-paying jobs. From R&D tax credits to supply-chain incentives and clean energy accelerator funds, there are opportunities for businesses to leverage on, as new entrants or existing players.

From founders and C-suite positions to entrepreneurs and skilled labor, women comprise only 25% of workers in the energy sector and 32% of the renewable energy workforce, despite representing 46.8% of the U.S. workforce overall. At the same time, the clean energy sector is exploding due to massive investment from both the public sector (IRA, etc.) and private sector.

The case for women founders and business owners is even more challenging. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), only about 11% of energy sector company founders are female, with only 2% of venture capital going to women-led companies. This is despite the fact (PEW Research) that women are more likely to consider climate change as a serious threat compared to men and act on it!. The National Cleantech Survey showed that only 10% of cleantech founders were women and that 19% of companies had at least one-woman founder.

Here are some additional stats that make it pertinent for us to act now!

According to DigitalUndivided's biennial Project Diane study, which looked at the state of black women founders in the United States, since 2009, businesses led by this cohort have raised $289 million of the total $424.7 billion raised during this period -- or just .0006 percent of the pie. “Out of $85 Billion in VC Funding Last Year, Only 2.2 Percent Went to Female Founders. And Every Year, Women of Color Get Less Than 1 Percent of Total Funding. Not only that, under 3% investment professionals at VC firms are black or Latinx.” “A Stanford University survey in 2016 found that roughly 1 percent of all Latinx-owned businesses launched between 2007 and 2012 in the United States fundraised with venture capital or angel investments.” “A 2016 study conducted by Deloitte and the National Venture Capital Association found that just 2 percent of investment professionals are black, 1 percent are Latinx and 15 percent are Asian/Pacific Islander.”

While we are seeing some traction in the representation of ALL women within the renewable energy and sustainability industries, we are still a far cry from where we should be. WRISE has always and will continue to push for a more equitable renewable energy industry through creating access and opportunity for ALL women; including BIPOC and excluded genders, by Creating Opportunities that increase representation, Building Community through fostering Networking Opportunities and Promoting various Forums for the exchange of Ideas.

This panel discussion therefore aims to explore: How we can change the systems and culture in the industry to ensure women of color and excluded genders are set up to thrive, particularly in light of the above statistics.

The opportunities within the Renewable Energy Industry which women can explore?

What specific opportunities does the IRA create for women and people from income qualified communities?

How can we increase the number of women founders entering the renewable energy industry?

How can women transition to founders from being employees within the renewable energy industry? Why is it important to have more women founders within the renewable energy industry?

What are some of the specific barriers for women founders in the clean energy industry and how can these be overcome?

Moderator:
Dana Clare Redden |
Founder, Solar Stewards

Sarah Steiner |
Vice President Investment Banking, Lazard

Chéri Smith |
President & CEO, Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy; MIT Indigenous Communities Fellow

Growing the Renewable Energy Workforce Quickly and Equitably ▾

The number of jobs required for the US to reach its decarbonization goals by 2035 is staggering. Yet simply adding jobs isn’t enough. Creating a just energy transition will require our industry to approach job growth in a new way. Join us for this panel discussion on how clean energy employers can work with established groups, such as trade unions, to establish workforce development paths. The panel will discuss how taking lessons learned from workforce development in other industries will help scale at speed. And modifying these same lessons will create a more inclusive talent pool.

Aubrey Newton |
Director, Northwest Laborers’-Employers Cooperation and Education Team (NW LECET)

Pagan Poggione |
Program Director, Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC)

Heidi Bergin |
Head of Talent Acquisition, Americas Region, Global Talent Acquisition, People & Culture, Vestas

Chante Condit-Pottol | Business Development Executive, Wind Energy, Mortenson

Offshore Wind Trends ▾

Offshore wind will transform the renewables landscape in the U.S. over the next two decades. Join us for a discussion with leaders on the forefront of the U.S. offshore wind industry to reflect on accomplishments, challenges and opportunities to scale the industry.

Kelly Kneeland |
Development Manager, Vineyard Offshore

Jocelyn Brown-Saracino |
Offshore Wind Energy Lead, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

Lisa Magged |
Senior Associate, Orrick

Tershara Matthews |
Offshore Wind Policy Leader, WSP USA

Beyond the Megawatt-- impact projects ▾

Thanks to ESG goals, more corporations are measuring their impact on the planet and the communities they touch through their operations and across their supply chains. Corporate energy customers have begun to give preference to renewable energy projects that do more than save money or carbon. This session explores the trends in purpose-driven project development and showcases the ways in which projects can invest in social equity, resilience, and environmental sustainability to make a tangible difference in the geographies where they are located and beyond.

Ornella Nicolacci |
Director, Transaction Acceleration Group, Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA)

Let's Talk Minnesota ▾

With the Annual Leadership Forum being held in Minneapolis, let’s talk Minnesota - a state brimming with natural resources and a rich history of its land and tribal settlement. Join WRISE and fellow speakers to cover topics such as Minnesota’s land history and land rights, controversies around various energy projects and the role of indigenous knowledge and climate activism in protecting Minnesota’s natural environment. We will also be discussing the pathway of Minnesota’s own energy transition from fossil fuels to renewables, and how natives of the area and indigenous peoples are facilitating that transition.

Moderator:
Meg Nyberg |
Principal, Amurleo Energy

Angela Piner |
Sr. Vice President, Power Business Development Director, HDR

Ellen Anderson |
Climate Program Director, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy

VIRTUAL: Renewable Energy Education in Schools and Communities ▾

We're all here because we're excited about the future of renewable energy, but how do we bring more people into the movement? Education remains a powerful tool at all levels of the industry as well combat disinformation, move constituents to political action, and inspire careers. In this session, we'll hear from three organizations brining renewable energy into K-12 classrooms, collegiate fellowships, and community adult education. Learn how these groups are turning academic interests into clean energy career pathways and climate anxiety into collective action.

Rozina Kanchwala |
Eco.Logic

Lauren Friedman |
Solar Ambassador Program Manager, RE-volv

Remy Pangle |
Executive Director, REpowering Schools

4:00 -
4:30 PM

Break

4:30 -
5:30 PM

Breakout Sessions

Clean Energy Wins and Momentum in the Biden-Harris Administration ▾

The current federal administration has enacted some of the most progressive climate policy in the nation's history. In this session we'll cover what the major milestones for clean energy have been (including and beyond the IRA), what the industry can do to sustain momentum, and where to turn if there are to be changes after the 2024 election.

Jessica Lawrence-Vaca
| Vice President, Government Affairs, SOLV Energy

Meghan Nutting |
EVP of Government & Regulatory Affairs, Sunnova Energy Corporation

Maggie Kristian |
Regulatory Policy Manager, National Grid Renewables

Alyssa Edwards |
Senior Vice President, Government Relations and Environmental Affairs, Lightsource bp

Indigenous Roundtable: Resources, Ecology and Land Development ▾

Join us for a round robin to collaborate on what is most pressing within project development & sovereignty and regulations on native land.

Chéri Smith |
President & CEO, Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy; MIT Indigenous Communities Fellow

Katrina Mora |
Member of the Oglala Lakota Sioux Nation

H Trostle |
Senior Policy Analyst, Center for Indian Country Development, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

Penina Sara-Lynn Harding |
Instructor & Indigenous Researcher, University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC)

Tressa Lange |
Environmental Consultant, Merjent

Maranda Compton |
Founder and President, Lepwe

Combatting Imposter Syndrome ▾

As we climb the corporate ladder or take on new responsibilities at work, sometimes we're faced with a small voice convincing us that we're over our heads. "It's just a matter of time before someone finds out that you don't belong here," it may say. In this session, we address how can we combat feelings of inadequacy and thrive as competent, confident professionals.

Moderator:
Chelsea Stone |
Vice President, Service Commercial, North America, Vestas

Angela Piner |
Sr. Vice President, Power Business Development Director, HDR

Elizabeth Kaiga |
Chief Commercial Officer, North America, DNV

Tasha McCarter |
Vice President of Project Engineering, RWE Clean Energy

Leanne Russell Fate |
Director Origination, Ambient Fuels, LLC

Building Local Power and Resilience with Microgrids/DERS ▾

Across the country, examples are popping up where thinking creatively in decentralized approaches like solar-plus-storage and microgrids is translating into savings for ratepayers, increased reliability, and enhanced resilience in the face of extreme weather conditions. Microgrids are supporting military installations and first responders, schools and hospitals, emergency shelters and wastewater treatment plants. This panel will illustrate DG/microgrid stories from all across the country showing ways in which these systems have—and increasingly will—serve to bring power back to the people.

Moderator:
Paula Garcia |
Senior Bilingual Energy Analyst & Energy Justice Lead, Climate and Energy Program, Union of Concerned Scientists

Samantha Reifer |
Director, Strategic Alliances, Scale Microgrid Solutions, LLC

Nicole Bloom |
Project Manager - Strategic Initiatives, GRID Alternatives Headquarters

Battling Climate Fatigue: Cultivating Optimism and Mental Wellbeing, Overcoming the Doom+Gloom of it All ▾

Working in the climate space can be exciting, challenging, and exhausting! If you’re having a hard time finding the right balance between being realistic about our planet and overwhelmed by the problems, you’re not alone. This session will help you recharge your batteries, shift your perspective, and find ways to stay hopeful. Join us as we swap ideas on how to stay grounded, sane, and dare we say, excited, about the future.

Diana Rhoten |
Managing Director, Purpose Venture

Ankita Ajith |
Associate, Purpose Venture Group

VIRTUAL: Achieving Climate Justice and Profitability: Moving from Either/or to Both/and

Alissa Jean Schafer |
Managing Owner & Director, Copper Stamp Strategy LLC

Maria Reyes |
Deputy Director, Commission Shift

Victoria Johnson |
Global Equity Director, HDR

6:00 -
9:00 PM

Offsite Reception

Orchestra Hall - 1111 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403

Sponsored by Norton Rose Fulbright Logo

9:00 -
9:15 AM

Welcome Remarks and WRISE Lifetime Impact Award honoring Kacie Peters

9:15 -
10:15 AM

Keynote

Peggy Shepard | Executive Director, WE ACT for Environmental Justice

10:15 -
10:20 AM

Transition Break

Break sponsored by Longroad Energy Logo

10:20 -
10:55 AM

Small Group Activities

Brave Space - LatinX

Brave Space - Parent/Caregiver

Brave Space - AAPI

Vision Board Party ▾

Brave Space - Black

No Dumb Questions ▾

University of Minnesota Campus Walk ▾

10:55 -
11:00 AM

Transition Break

11:00 AM-
12:00 PM

Breakout Sessions

Accelerating Climate Finance ▾

As renewable energy technologies cheapen and project proposals increase, let’s talk project and climate finance! How do we ensure that projects are adequately funded with enough capital to support long-term operations and genuine community well-being? From intergovernmental banks, grants, blended finance models, cost-sharing methods, asset managers and IPPs, aggregation models, and RECS and carbon offsets - join WRISE to discuss various parts of and methods to accelerate project financing as well as financing trends in the renewable energy, DER, and grid resiliency sector. Women are innovative leaders who can reinvent the wheel to guarantee more streamlined access to adequate capital for both developers and communities.

Moderator:
Bari Wien |
Director, Renewable Energy & Environmental Finance, Wells Fargo

Erica Reidy |
Director of Investments, Leyline Renewable Capital, LLC

Zoe Berkery |
Chief Operating Officer, CleanCapital

Lydia Li |
Senior Vice President, Investments, Arevon Energy

Responsible Siting of Energy Infrastructure ▾

Swift and bold action is necessary to both efficiently and equitably build out clean energy infrastructure. In this process, tools like the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other permitting laws are critical to assess the health, economic, and environmental impacts of decisions, and to ensure that infrastructure built addresses climate change by reducing emissions and is climate resilient. However, some legislative proposal at federal and state level could enable the built out of dirty fossil fuel infrastructure, hinder government transparency and accountability, and replicate the same failures of our current energy system overburdening already vulnerable populations. This panel will explore key components that a permitting reform should include to enable the responsible siting of new clean energy infrastructure.

Moderator:
Paula Garcia |
Senior Bilingual Energy Analyst & Energy Justice Lead, Climate and Energy Program, Union of Concerned Scientists

Dana Harmon |
Owner and Principal, Juniper Advisory Group

Alicia Oller |
Vice President, Director of Onshore Wind, Tetra Tech, Inc.

María Belén Power |
Undersecretary of Environmental Justice & Equity, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

Annika Colston |
Founder and CEO, AC Power

Building a More Diverse and Inclusive Renewables Workforce▾

Emerging and existing organizational leaders, join us for a session where we will discuss:

-The importance of building diverse and inclusive organizations
-Industry statistics on diversity
-Practical guidance on how others have built diverse and inclusive teams
-Specific examples about how building diversity and inclusivity changes organizations
The repeal of affirmative action for college admissions over the summer has put the DEI conversation back into the spotlight. We look forward to a lively discussion and Q&A on this important topic.

Wanda Lee Florestine | Director, Outreach, GRID Alternatives

Esther Morales | Executive Director, CELI (Clean Energy Leadership Institute)

AnneMarie Graves | Senior Director, Head of Midwest Region, Vestas-American Wind Technology, Inc.

Lauren Haller | Senior Legal Counsel, Pattern Energy

Laura Phelan | Vice President, Strategy and Leadership, American Clean Power Association (ACP)

Making the Move to Manager: How to Know You're Ready and Navigate the Shift ▾

Mangement is one of the most critical factors for employee satisfaction, moving into leadership roles often requires people management, not every company devotes extensive training for people managers - so maybe it's a management 101, or maybe it's a session to encourage management training at your company?

Moderator:
Kathryn Meyer |
VP of Development, GridStor

Maureen Ochola-Hill | Director of Transmission, Lightsource bp

Jennifer Lee | Associate General Counsel, First Solar

Melissa Elkinton | Vice President, Development, Belltown Power USA

How Can You be a Voice to Advocate for Renewables at State and Local Levels

Interested in advocating for renewable energy in your community? If yes, then this is the session for you. Join us as we share best practices around advocating for solar on the state and local levels. From coalition building to applying legislative and regulatory tactics, this session will outline foundational steps you, your community and/or your organization can advocate for renewable energy.

Brandy Hyatt |
Education Manager, Access + Equity, Vote Solar

VIRTUAL: Changing Realities at Work: Leading a Diverse Workforce in Turbulent Times ▾

In recent years, the pandemic, sweeping changes in legislation, and other world events have deeply impacted the lives of all employees, but especially those who identify as BIPOC, women, non-binary, and transgender. This panel will discuss how HR professionals and people managers are partnering within their organizations to support employees in a fair and inclusive way while navigating a rapidly changing landscape.

Michelle Gessaro |
V.P. People & Culture, Vestas

Carousel Gore |
EEO Officer, CEC to the session

Taylore Jarvis

12:00 -
1:00 PM

Lunch

Sponsored by Califonia Energy Commission Logo

1:00 -
2:00 PM

Peer Advice Roundtable

Need some objective advice for your career or work challenge? Join a roundtable of participants where you will give and receive advice from fellow WRISE leadership conference attendees! The Peer Advice Roundtable is intended to support you with diverse and objective solution options so you may go out and be your best!

2:00 -
2:05 PM

Transition Break

2:05 -
2:40 PM

Small Group Activities

Brave Space - LatinX

Brave Space - LGBTQIA+

Networking for Solutions ▾

Join us for a fun, interactive networking event that fosters solutions-finding in a networking setting. There’s an opportunity to continue discussion points from the previous large networking session or you can start fresh with new topics!

Brave Space - Parent/Caregiver

University of Minnesota Campus Walk ▾

2:40 -
2:45 PM

Transition Break

2:45 -
3:45 PM

Breakout Sessions

The Challenges and Triumphs of Women in Development ▾

Project Development is a unique field of work within the energy industry. Developers are typically found on the road, sitting at dinner tables, meeting with County supervisors, and hosting community open houses. Life on the road interfacing with the public is a difficult job but can have unique challenges for women, especially if they decide to have a family. This conversation is intended to provide a space to discuss those challenges, suggest support that organizations can provide to women in the Development role, and celebrate the triumphs of women in industry broadly.

Moderator:
Kathryn Meyer |
VP of Development, GridStor

Shanelle Montana |
Vice President of Development, Lightsource BP

Claire Dittrich |
Project Developer, Nova Clean Energy

Sarah Oblon |
Associate Director of Development, EDP Renewables North America

Jade Scheele |
Senior Director of Project Development, Execution Team Lead, Steelhead Americas

Reaching Income Qualified Communities with Dignity ▾

Recent developments in project finance, demand from state policymakers, and incentives in the IRA have expanded opportunities for energy equity in renewables. But how can developers reach previously overlooked communities with dignity and respect? This session explores the best practices for outreach, messaging, and engagement so that everyone is part of the transition to a clean energy future.

Download the One Pager.

Utopia Hill |
Chief Executive Officer, Reactivate

Anna Toenjes |
Senior Director of Business Development, Sol Systems, LLC

Crystal Pruitt |
External Affairs Lead, Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind

Out with the Old, In with the New: Making Sense of the IRA ▾

Now that the Inflation Reduction Act has been signed into law for over a year, join us to build on WRISE’s previous webinar discussions and highlight what’s next for developers, projects, and communities with the IRA moving into the rest of 2023, 2024, and beyond. This webinar will cover guidance received from the IRS, such as domestic content adders, requirements for energy and LMI communities, apprenticeship rules, energy storage, comparing the Production Tax Credit (PTC) and Investment Tax Credit (ITC), tax credit transferability, and other related topics. Bring your questions!

Moderator:
Sierra Jackovics |
UN, Energy Policy, and Project Manager, Mana Pacific Inc.

Abigail Campbell Singer | Senior Director and Head of Climate and Infrastructure Policy, Siemens

Elizabeth Crouse |
Partner, Perkins Coie LLP

Sage Briscoe |
Director of Federal Policy, Rewiring America

Climate Resiliency – Current Challenges and Future Solutions

Becoming more resilient to climate threats is becoming top of mind for developers and owner/operators of utility-scale renewable energy facilities. The increase in extreme weather events is affecting how operators are needing to adapt to these events over the anticipated 30+ year lifespan of these projects. As a result, renewable energy developers today are thinking about climate risk during the development phase and are making difficult decisions on how and whether to proceed with investments due to these risks. This session will not only speak to climate risk during the development to operational life cycle but will also explore new technological solutions that are being studied to help make our facilities more resilient to weather extremes.

Moderator:
Angela Piner |
Sr. Vice President, Power Business Development Director, HDR

Anne-Marie Griger |
Permitting Manager, RES

Rachel Petry |
O&M Strategy & Support Manager, Southern Power

VIRTUAL: Leadership in the Field: Pathways to Leadership Roles in Construction ▾

Women make up roughly a third of renewable energy workers globally (IRENA) - siginificantly more than in the oil and gas industry - but representation varies by sector and position. In the US only 4.7% of wind technicians are women (Zippia) and gender diversity in construction roles is similarly low in solar and other technologies. Consequently, women are even further underrepresented in in-the-field construction leadership roles. This summer, WRISE hosted a webinar in partnership with National Women in Roofing to discuss the joys and challenges of being a women in the male-dominated construction space. During this session we'll take that conversation further to focus on the experiences of women in construction leadership roles, their professional pathways, and what companies can do to foster more inclusive leadership.

Moderator:
Amanda Bybee |
CEO, Amicus O&M Cooperative

Molly Williams |
Director of Residential Operations, Co-Owner, Namaste Solar Electric, Inc.

Tonya Hicks |
President and CEO, Power Solutions Intl

Anna Bautista |
Vice President, Construction, GRID Alternatives

Sara Hambleton

3:45 -
4:30 PM

Conference Closing and Letters to Self

4:30 -
6:00 PM

Onsite Reception