WRISE Leadership Forum

Colette Pichon Battle | Executive Director, Gulf Coast Center for Law & Policy
Colette Pichon Battle is a generational native of Bayou Liberty, Louisiana. As founder and Executive Director of the Gulf Coast Center for Law & Policy (GCCLP), she develops programming focused on equitable disaster recovery, global migration, community economic development, climate justice, and energy democracy. Colette worked with local communities, national funders, and elected officials in the post-Katrina and post-Deepwater Horizon disaster recovery. She was a lead coordinator for Gulf South Rising 2015, a regional initiative around climate justice and just transition in the South. In 2015 Colette was selected as an Echoing Green Climate Fellow, in 2016 she was named a White House Champion of Change for Climate Equity, and in 2018 Kenyon College awarded her an Honorary Doctorate. ▾

Vanessa Roanhorse | CEO, Roanhorse Consulting LLC
Vanessa Roanhorse (Diné) is the CEO of Roanhorse Consulting, a Indigenous woman-owned company that co-designs wealth and power building efforts that invests in thoughtful community-led efforts that put people back in the center. Vanessa is a co-founder of Native Women Lead, a national organization that lifts Indigenous women in business. She sits on the boards of Groundworks NM, Delta Institute, Zebras Unite and is an advisor to Angels of Impact Fund. She is a 2021 Paypal Maggie Lena Walker's Emerging Leader Awardee and a 2020 Conscious Company Media's World Changing Woman in Sustainable Business Awardee. She is a 2021 Purpose Fund Building Fellow and a 2020 Boston Impact Initiative Fund-Building fellow.

Jessica J Williams, PhD. | CEO, Golden Peaches LLC
Jessica Jamese Williams,PhD is a Black feminist artist and educator dedicated to authentic connection as a means to empowerment. Following a decade-long career in higher education, Dr. Williams now works as a client-proclaimed Discomfort Doula helping individuals and organizations process uncomfortable elements that are often barriers to connection, engagement, belonging and inclusion. Her work focuses on processing grief, resolving somatic and sexual traumas, and centering the marginalized to build and sustain empowered, inclusive and compassionate communities. Dr. Williams is CEO and co-owner of Golden Peaches an empowerment centered wellness resource created to provide coaching interventions for individuals and organizations to become more authentic and aligned through identity work, comprehensive wellness, and creative expression. ▾

Sarah Augustine | Founder & Co-chair, Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery Coalition and Executive Director, Dispute Resolution Center of Yakima and Kittitas Counties
Sarah Augustine, who is a Pueblo (Tewa) descendant, is founder and cochair of the Dismantling the Doctrine of Discovery Coalition and Executive Director of a dispute resolution center in central Washington State. She is also the co-founder of Suriname Indigenous Health Fund (SIHF), where she has advocated for vulnerable Indigenous Peoples since 2004. She has represented the interests of Indigenous community partners to their own governments, the Inter-American development bank, the United Nations, the Organization of American States Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the World Health Organization, and a host of other international actors including corporate interests. ▾

Stefanie Auld | Vice President, People and Recruiting, 8minute Solar Energy
At 8minute Solar Energy, Stef leads the Human Resources team to recruit and empower the people who will enact transformational change for our climate. Stef is based in the San Francisco Bay Area and has 15 years of experience in high growth, tech and clean energy. Her educational background is in Psychology, focused in Stigma and Prejudice Psychology at University of California at Berkeley; and she's currently pursuing an MBA at the University of California at Davis. Stef is the proud mother of two children, ages 6 and 9. She is also an advocate for military spouses, having been one herself during her children's early years.

Olgica Bakajin | CEO & Co-Founder, Porifera Inc.
Olgica Bakajin brings a wealth of technical knowledge and entrepreneurial expertise to her role as CEO, Co-Founder, and Board Member of Porifera, Inc. Since founding the company in 2009, Dr. Bakajin has led Porifera to through the development and commercialization of its novel, environmentally-friendly concentration technology to solve challenges in the management of water across global industries. After developing the first aligned carbon nanotubes for desalination on a team at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, she co-founded Porifera with the vision of creating advanced membrane systems for water treatment. Dr. Bakajin has led the company's strategic direction, developing the team and technology from early-stage R&D to international commercial sales by Global Fortune 500 brands. ▾

Jessica Bascom | Electrical Engineer, DNV
Jessica (Jessie) Bascom is an Electrical Engineer at DNV on the North Americas Renewable Advisory team currently residing in Austin, TX. In her role, she supports consulting projects by performing owner's engineering, technical due diligence for new construction and repowering through independent engineering, interconnection studies, and construction monitoring for the wind, solar PV, and energy storage industries. She has extensive experience in substation design within the EPC industry from her previous company where she initially worked after graduating with a BS in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University.

Julie Blunden | Board Member, New Energy Nexus Catalyst and Ventures; and Co-Founder, Green Mountain Energy Company
For 35 years, Julie Blunden has rapidly grown small energy companies to leaders in their sectors from power plants to retail power, solar and EV charging. Julie is now focused on Board work related to batteries for both mobile and stationary storage as well as their supply chains. Previously, Julie held executive roles at EVgo, SunPower, Green Mountain Energy, KEMA Xenergy and SunEdison. She served as Chief Executive Officer, President and Director of ClimateWorks Foundation and began her career with a decade at AES. Julie Blunden currently serves as Board Chair New Energy Nexus Catalyst and Board Member of New Energy Nexus Ventures, and Advisory Board Member at Plus Power. She works with boards, investors and allies to accelerate a clean energy future using her deep experience in strategy, product and service design, business operations, scaling, market design and development, financial markets and communications.

Jen Bristol | Senior Director of Communications, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)
Jen Bristol is the senior director of communications for the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), where she leads external communications and specializes in strategic communications. Jen oversees media engagement, announcement strategy, and message development and helps to create and implement communication campaigns for SEIA's research products and advocacy efforts. Jen leads the external communication team's day to day work and manages two communication professionals and a team of consultants. Before joining SEIA, Jen supported the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office's communication efforts for nearly four years. Jen is passionate about public service and was elected to be an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in the U St and Columbia Heights neighborhoods in Washington, DC in 2016 and again in 2018. Jen is originally from Stony Brook, NY and has a master's degree in public administration from the George Washington University and a bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia.

Crystal Cavalier-Keck | Co-founder, 7 Directions of Service
Crystal Cavalier-Keck is the co-founder of 7 Directions of Service with her husband. She is a citizen of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation in Burlington, NC. She is the Chair of the Environmental Justice Committee for the Alamance NAACP, a board member of the Haw River Assembly, and a member of the 2020 Fall Cohort of the Sierra Club's Gender Equity and Environment Program and Women's Earth Alliance (WEA) Accelerator for Grassroots Women Environmental Leaders. Crystal is currently working on her Doctorate at the University of Dayton and dissertation on Social Justice of Missing Murdered Indigenous Women and Gas/Oil Pipelines in frontline communities. Crystal is also an expert in her field of Strategic Intelligence, Political Campaigns, and Public Administration. She has conducted training along and around the East Coast on Coordinated Tribal/Community Response for emergency management, through natural, cyber, or man-made disasters.

Sandra Chavez | Director of Partnerships, Powerhouse
Sandra is a renewable energy engineer from Mexico. She has a decade of experience in clean energy, innovation and international development. Formerly with the World Bank's Energy Management Assistance Program, IRENA, and Tetra Tech. She is Powerhouse's Director of Partnerships, where she helps global corporations find, partner with, invest in, and acquire the most innovative startups in clean energy, mobility, and climate.

Valerie Choy | Renewable Energy and Carbon Advisory Lead, Southeast and East Asia, Schneider Electric
Valerie Choy leads Schneider Electric's Renewable Energy and Carbon Advisory services in Southeast and East Asia. Working with the global team, she creates effective solutions to help clients navigate challenging emerging markets in the region as they work to meet their and their suppliers' renewable energy goals. Valerie brings more than a decade of experience in the clean energy industry - cross-cutting business development, electricity market design and renewable energy PPAs in Asian markets. Since joining Schneider Electric, she has led multiple engagements for corporate RE buyers and their supply chain partners across the region on their renewable energy journey.

Kate Collardson | Senior Manager, Residential Operations, Omnidian
Kate Collardson has worked in the solar industry since 2006 as an installer, designer, project manager, trainer, and program manager. As Senior Manager of Residential Operations at Omnidian, she supports the Customer Service team. Kate holds a NABCEP PV Installation Professional credential and serves as Chair of the Longmont Sustainability Advisory Board. Kate channels their passion for creating change through reducing our society's impact on the planet into a thorough understanding of the process involved in a solar installation from manufacturing to commissioning to system maintenance. Kate has a B.A. in German from Colorado College and an MBA, with a Certificate in Sustainable Technology and Management, from Arizona State University.

Nakhia Crossley | Senior Manager of Public Policy, Sunrun
Nakhia Crossley is Senior Manager of Public Policy at Sunrun, the nation's leading home solar, battery storage, and energy services company. In her role, Nakhia leads regulatory policy strategy in the Midwest to energize more homes with solar power. Nakhia previously worked for the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the Illinois Commerce Commission, and in private practice at Schumacher Electric Corporation. Throughout her career, Nakhia has been passionate about the advancement and empowerment of minorities, women and youth in both legal and S.T.E.M. careers, She currently serves as President of the Board of Directors at The Black Women Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago, Inc. (BWLA), a Founding Associate Board Member of Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago/Northwest Indiana, and mentor and speaker for the Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE). ▾

Lee Davidson (they/them) | Artist
Born and raised in South Africa and Israel, Lee has had a multicultural upbringing in diverse communities. Today they identify as trans nonbinary artist representing queer culture and being a voice of marginalized populations. Lee has a degree is Graphic Design and Communications, and a background in Fine Arts from the University of Arts of London. One of the ways that they engage in their artistic expression is facilitating community art projects and events. ▾

Parul Dhall | Director of Low Carbon Technologies, NOV
Parul Dhall is the Director of Low Carbon Technologies at NOV Inc., an international energy service company. She is a creative and forward-thinking leader with more than 10 years of experience in developing and successfully executing strategies in the energy industry. In her current role, Parul is instrumental in driving NOV's global strategy on energy transition. She is well experienced in navigating through complexities of climate-tech, market, geo-politics, and economics for different low carbon technologies. Parul believes that energy transition is a generational opportunity to shape the futures of our economy, society, and planet. ▾

Erin Duncan | Vice President, Congressional Affairs, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)
Erin Duncan is SEIA’s Vice President Of Congressional Affairs where she leads SEIA’s congressional affairs team in their work to influence energy, tax, trade, appropriations and other policies in support of the solar industry. Prior to joining SEIA, Erin spent eleven years as a lobbyist with the National Education Association, the largest union and professional association in the United States. Erin began her Washington career as a staffer in the House of Representatives, including six years as Legislative Director for Congressman Tom Osborne (R-NE). Erin grew up in rural Nebraska and is a proud graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan University. She also holds a Masters degree from Iowa State University. Today, she lives on Capitol Hill with her husband and two young children.

Sherina Edwards | President and CEO INTREN, LLC
Sherina Maye Edwards, President and Chief Executive Officer of INTREN, joined the company in 2020 having originally served as a member of the board of directors. Edwards has led INTREN to a significant increase in operational efficiency, cost reductions, and safety excellence, resulting in record-breaking financial results. The company has also expanded its national reach and scale, entered new markets, and grown its personnel to nearly 2,000 dedicated employees located throughout 14 regional offices. Edwards has held a broad range of leadership roles that provide the breadth of experience and understanding required to lead innovative change. Prior to joining INTREN, she served as an energy and utilities regulatory Partner at Quarles & Brady LLP. ▾

Laila El-Ashmawy | Project Manager – Offshore Wind, NYSERDA.
As a Project Manager with NYSERDA, Laila is working on offshore wind procurements and is enthusiastic about reaching New York State's renewable energy goals. Laila has a diverse background across engineering, economics and energy. Laila's career path is an example of energy transition- prior to joining NYSERDA, her experiences ranged from managing 24/7 hazardous offshore oil rig operations to energy research at the International Energy Agency to oil market analysis at a geospatial asset monitoring start up. Laila has earned three diplomas in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Mineral and Energy Economics, and Petroleum Economics and Management from Arizona State University (USA), Colorado School of Mines (USA), and IFP-School (France), respectively.

Stephanie Eyocko | Electricity & Market Analyst
Stephanie Eyocko is an electricity analyst and writer. She is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University, where she received her Masters in Energy, Resources, & Environment; her undergraduate degree in International Studies & Mandarin. She is a former DOE Solar Fellow where she developed a benefit-cost analysis for DERs at the Maryland PSC. Previously, she supported mobility investment analysis informing investment decisions for $600 million across 8 countries at 57 Stars. She's a board member at Wangari Gardens in Washington D.C where she oversees the redevelopment of the space. She's a Truman National Security Project Fellow, fluent in Mandarin and French, well-versed in China's energy and environmental policy, and enjoys biking, birding, and baking.

Rinah Rachel Galper | Sole Proprietor, Joyoushout
Rinah Rachel Galper is the sole proprietor of Joyoushout, offering JEDI (Justice Equity, Diversity Inclusion) consulting for small white-led companies and organizations, life coaching for engaged women in transition, and enrichment classes for youth and adults engaged in the work of personal and collective transformation. Consulting includes professional development workshops, presentations, and retreats as well as facilitated work and study groups for those dedicated to cultivating responsive leadership and vibrant, inclusive workplace culture. Ms. Galper is the founder and director of Our Sacred Circles (OSC), building community at the intersection of justice, healing, spirituality, and creativity since 2018 and recently featured in the July issue of the INDY magazine. Current gatherings include Women Dismantling Racism, the OSC Writers' Circle, and the OSC Wisdom Council. ▾

Angie Hacker | CEO & Principal Consultant, Prosper Sustainably
Angie Hacker is the Principal Consultant and CEO of Prosper Sustainably, a woman-owned, California-based firm providing energy, climate, and environmental consulting services for communities and the organizations that serve them. Angie has 20 years of public, private and non-profit experience serving communities in the areas of sustainability, clean energy, and climate resilience. Her deep background working within and with local and tribal governments makes her uniquely qualified to engage with staff, decision-makers and other stakeholders to develop meaningful actions that address community needs, advance goals, and leverage assistance programs to help under-resourced communities prosper and thrive. ▾

Lauren Haller | Senior Director & Senior Counsel, Operations, Pattern Energy Group
Lauren Haller is Senior Director & Senior Legal Counsel - Operations at Pattern Energy, a renewable energy company focusing on the clean energies of wind, solar, transmission, storage and advanced energy technologies with Operations in the U.S., Canada, and Japan, as well as additional development projects in Mexico. At Pattern, Lauren supports the leadership of the public company by delivering strategic guidance on legal issues and risk mitigation strategies in the ownership, operation, acquisition and divestiture of wind and solar facilities. Lauren also handles pre-litigation and litigation matters, including matters before federal regulatory agencies, such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and state regulatory agencies. While at Pattern, Lauren created, formed and led Blacks in Renewable Energy, which was Pattern Energy's first racial/ethnic affinity group. ▾

Danielle Harris | Managing Director of Engagement & Innovation, Elemental Excelerator
Danielle is a passionate advocate for environmental and racial justice. As Managing Director of Engagement & Innovation, she expands Elemental's audience to scale climate solutions. She leads with a unique enthusiasm for collaboration, uplifting the voices often missing from the table. Danielle is a natural at finding and captivating audiences, her authenticity and humor engages people's hearts and minds and inspires accountability for the change we want to see. Danielle is a proud Oakland resident who serves on the city's I-BOND Committee, advises Elemental's mobility companies and serves on the Boards of Self-eSTEM, SUMC and TransForm.

Commissioner Darcie Houck | California Public Utilities Commission
Commissioner Darcie L. Houck was appointed to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) by Governor Gavin Newsom on Feb. 9, 2021. She formerly served as Chief Counsel for the California Energy Commission since 2019. Commissioner Houck was an Administrative Law Judge at the CPUC from 2016 to 2019, a Partner at Fredericks Peebles & Morgan from 2005 to 2016, and Staff Counsel and Policy Advisor at the California Energy Commission from 2000 to 2005. Commissioner Houck is an expert in nuclear decommissioning, environmental equity, and safety policy. She has an extensive background representing Native American tribes throughout the country on matters involving energy, natural resources, land claims, and water rights, among others. ▾

Ariane Hunter | Speaker, Coach, Author & Founder of My Mentors Circle
Ariane Hunter is an Author, Speaker, Coach & Founder of My Mentors Circle; an online community and mentoring service for Black women in business to gain access to leading Mentors of color. She brings over twenty years of career and business coaching expertise to help today's career changers and business builders navigate their careers and grow their businesses. Ariane's methodology centers around holistic, actionable insights to help individuals go farther, faster. Ariane's debut book Dreaming on Purpose: A Manifesto for Black Women on Taking the Leap & Building Her Business Baby with Indigo River Publishers is a business leadership book for Black women due out Fall 2022. ▾

Stephanie Green | Executive Division, California Public Utilities Commission
Stephanie Green is from the Executive Division of the California Public Utilities Commission, where she oversees the General Order 156 Supplier Diversity Program. She also has responsibility for a government & Community relations group. In this leadership role, she has had the opportunity to develop a strong rapport and working relationship with government officials, small businesses, community associations and Chambers of Commerce throughout the State of California. She came to the CPUC from the private sector industries of telecommunications and technology. Prior to joining the CPUC Stephanie was a Product Manager with AT&T and AT&T Wireless where she led a multi-disciplinary teams in preparing products for market. In addition, Stephanie also worked as a strategy and policy consultant for KPMG, specializing in the energy and communications sectors. Her experience includes positions at an internet music start-up and a digital multimedia firm.

Jenny Heeter | Senior Energy Analyst, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Jenny Heeter is a senior energy analyst at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado. She has spent more than 12 years at NREL researching equitable solar deployment and community solar deployment and cost, currently serving on a detail assignment with the Department of Energy's Office of Economic Impact and Diversity to support implementation of President Biden's Justice40 Executive Order. She has 5 years of experience managing solar technical assistance programs for local governments, higher education institutions, and community solar stakeholders. Before coming to NREL she was an analyst with the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Council focusing on energy efficiency and green power programs. She holds an M.P.A. in environmental policy from Indiana University-Bloomington's School of Public and Environmental Affairs and a B.A. in environmental studies and political science from Macalester College.

Karo-D'Vera Johnson | Account Manager, Carolina Solar Services
Karo-D'Vera Johnson (Karo) is the Account Manager at Carolina Solar Services LLC, an organization that specializes in solar operations and maintenance (O&M). Karo is an expert in successful warranty & contract management, documentation best practices, proposal creation, collections, mastering any CMMS software, and client relations. She created, project managed, and co-facilitated Solar Safety Week. She is a strong believer in the power of positive thinking with internal customer interactions within the workplace. She also participates in numerous Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion meetings and initiatives on and off the clock. Her participation in these programs assists organizations with reports, best practices, and effective techniques to implement. She is a professional member of Women Dismantling Racism, BOSS, Amicus O&M Cooperative, WRISE, North Carolina Central University's School of Library (NCCU) Information Sciences, and the National Notary Association. ▾

Mariella de Jong | Asset Manager, Pattern Energy Group
Mariella de Jong returned to her career after a break to focus on family, joining Pattern Energy’s Asset Management team in June of 2021. Mariella joined Pattern to work on the Western Spirit assets, comprised of four different project companies located in New Mexico and delivering power to the California markets, with a combined capacity of 1,050 MW. The Western Spirit projects represent the largest single-phase wind project in U.S. history and, prior to the transfer to PNM, also included a 155-mile 345 KV transmission line. Mariella led Pattern’s efforts to transfer the ownership of the Western Spirit transmission line under a build-transfer-agreement with PNM and played a key role in the transition of the assets from development to commercial operation, including leading efforts to reach commercial operation status under twelve power purchase agreements. Mariella’s focus has turned to the safe, reliable, and successful operation of the assets. ▾

Elizabeth Kaiga | Managing Director, Global Strategic Accounts, Renewables, DNV
Elizabeth Kaiga is an energy industry business leader who has, for nearly two decades, developed and implemented innovative growth and client development strategies for national and global professional service firms. Elizabeth is currently Managing Director, Global Strategic Accounts for Renewable Energy at DNV, where she manages customer relationships and quality assurance activities. Her work focuses on providing strategies and solutions to support the global transition to safer, cleaner, reliable, and sustainable energy. She also chairs DNV's Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Board. Prior to joining DNV, Elizabeth led business development efforts for the Renewable Energy Practice at CohnReznick LLP. Elizabeth held similar positions within the Energy & Utilities Practice at Marsh & McLennan, Arthur Andersen LLP, and ICF Consulting. ▾

Antoinette Klatzky | VP of Programs and Partnerships, Eileen Fisher Foundation
Antoinette Klatzky Vice President of Programs and Partnerships at Eileen Fisher. She is also Executive Director of the Eileen Fisher Leadership Institute and host and co-producer of Women Together, a series of interactive, live-stream gatherings. She facilitates leadership programming and empowerment workshops and was responsible for co-hosting and producing a global movement of 13,000 changemakers during COVID-19. In her role of Strategic Partner for Eileen Fisher, Ms. Klatzky developed an Emergency Relief Fund for employees affected by COVID-19, prior to which, she led the development of Choose Handloom, a human rights initiative in the Eileen Fisher supply chain and supported the launch of a recycled clothing initiative, now known as Eileen Fisher Renew. Ms. Klatzky has a certification in Advanced Facilitation from the Presencing Institute, where she also completed a two-year MasterClass and became co-faculty on their Ecosystem Leadership Program. She has been recognized by the YWCA’s Salute to Women and Racial Justice as a “Person to Watch” and continues to serve as an advisor to various networks on systemic and strategic action for racial equity and justice. She serves on the boards of Westchester Community Foundation, Presencing Institute, TIDES, and Women’s Funding Network.

Dr. Ann-Louise T. Lockhart | President/Owner, Pediatric Psychologist, Parent Coach, A New Day Pediatric Psychology
Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart is a business owner of A New Day Pediatric Psychology in San Antonio, TX. She is a pediatric psychologist, parent coach, wife of 23 years, a mom of 2 kids and has over 16 years of experience in her field. She serves as a parent coach for parents who have kids and teens with behavioral and emotional regulation concerns, those diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety, as well as kids who are highly sensitive. She focuses on helping parents adjust their mindset about parenting. Dr. Lockhart helps overwhelmed parents get on the same page and better understand their kids and teens.

LeeAnn Mallorie | CEO, Guts & Grace Leadership
LeeAnn Mallorie, MAPP, began her career as an executive coach in 2006, working with leaders and teams from around the globe. Yet she soon found something was missing - the body. This led her on a personal journey of physical, mental, and spiritual healing, to eventually embrace the feminine side of her own leadership. Committed to walking her talk, she brought these lessons back to her clients in the corporate sector, with surprisingly positive results. Today, LeeAnn explores how the introduction of more diverse values into business could be a keystone to solving some of our world's stickiest problems. As the CEO of Leading in Motion, LeeAnn now helps leaders creatively face bottom-line challenges while combating both meaning depletion and burnout. She does this using practical embodiment tools that bridge the gap between the hard-driving logical mind and the deeper wisdom of the soul.

Elizabeth Mayo | Vice President, Operations, Brookfield Renewable
As Vice President of Operations, Elizabeth Mayo oversees asset performance, customer care and health, safety, security and environmental matters. She is responsible for optimizing generation, identifying repowering opportunities and working with existing customers on new DER opportunities. Before joining Brookfield in 2020, Dr. Mayo was the Global Director of Solar Services at Underwriter's Laboratory, managing the Solar Consulting Practice for due diligence, energy services and asset management. Prior to that, she was Head of Department at DNV, where she managed the technical engineering teams and ran the operation of the PV Evolution Testing labs for modules, inverters and batteries. Dr. Mayo holds a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science Education degree from Florida State University, as well as a Ph.D. in Chemistry from California Institute of Technology.

Ann McCabe | U.S. Program Director and Principal, The Regulatory Assistance Project
Ann McCabe joined the Regulatory Assistance Project as US Program Director and Principal in January 2020. RAP assists state energy and environmental regulators in achieving their clean energy goals, including electrification of transportation and buildings, performance-based regulation, grid modernization, integrated planning and markets. As a Commissioner at the Illinois Commerce Commission from March 2012-January 2017, Ann focused on grid modernization, power transformation, regional transmission and nuclear issues. She was president of the Organization of PJM States, Inc. and of the MidAmerica Regulatory Conference of 14 states. She chaired NARUC's Nuclear Issues Subcommittee. ▾

Brionté McCorkle | Executive Director, Georgia Conservation Voters
Brionté believes in a healthier, more vibrant future for all people and the planet. She teaches people how to self-organize and builds strategic partnerships that protect the environment, advance racial equity, and grow civic engagement. Brionté earned a B.S. in Public Policy from Georgia State University and minored in Spanish. In 2014, she led the Georgia Sierra Club's involvement in the successful effort to expand MARTA to Clayton County. Brionté now serves as the Director of the Georgia Conservation Voters where she works to secure a more just and sustainable future by electing pro-environment candidates and holding elected officials accountable for their actions and votes.

Rose McKinney-James | Managing Principal, McKinney-James & Associates
Rose McKinney-James is a long term advocate for clean energy and climate policy. She is the former CEO for the Corporation for Solar Technology and Renewable Resources, (CSTRR) a former Commissioner with the Nevada Public Service Commission, and Nevada's first Director of the Department of Business and Industry. She is the Managing Principal of Energy Works LLC, McKinney-James & Associates and Advocacy BL/ACK. Her firms provide consulting services in legislative advocacy and strategy in public affairs, clean energy policy, sustainable development and diversity, equity and inclusion. She is a member of the Board of MGM Resorts International, CLEAResult, Ioneer, ACORE, and Toyota Financial Services Bank. Ms McKinney-James also serves as the Board Chair of the Energy Foundation, and is the immediate Past Chair of the American Association for Blacks in Energy (AABE).

Marija Milenkovic | Director of Strategic Initiatives, NOV
Marija Milenkovic-Jansson is the Director of Strategic Initiatives at NOV Inc. where she currently leads the development of low carbon processing portfolio. Marija has held several different roles at NOV Inc. in the past 8 years, and prior to joining NOV Inc. she was the Director of International Education at the MIT SCALE Center – Zaragoza Logistics Center in Spain. Marija grew up in Serbia, completed her Bachelor studies in Business Administration & Economics at the American University in Bulgaria. She also holds a Masters degree in Supply Chain Management from the MIT Zaragoza Program, University of Zaragoza. Today, she lives in Norway with her husband and two young children.

Therese Miranda-Blackney | Director, Buyer Solutions, LevelTen Energy
Therese Miranda-Blackney is an energy industry veteran who specializes in bringing new ideas to life. Currently with LevelTen Energy, her previous experience includes leading Puget Sound Energy's Product Development and Distributed Energy Resource Strategy teams and working on off-grid lighting solutions in Rwanda with Nuru Energy. She started her energy career in Washington, D.C., working on international climate policy and consulting to federal government clients about energy strategy and management. Therese holds an MBA and an MS in Sustainable Systems from the University of Michigan, and a Bachelors in Science, Technology, and International Affairs from Georgetown University.

Thu Nguyen | Asset Manager, Renewable Investment, The D. E. Shaw Group
Thu Nguyen is currently an Asset Manager for DE Shaw Renewable Investments. She has been in the energy industry for more than 15 years, started out on the realtime trading desk at Reliant Energy in Houston. Prior to joining DESRI, she assisted in managing the Canadian Portfolio for Pattern Energy, and currently manages solar farms in CA and AZ in the US. She had lead interdisciplinary teams, executing on opportunities and taking ownership of a wide variety of issue affecting the portfolio, and is passionate about renewable energy.

Paula Orezi | Author, Speaker & Coach
Paula Orezi is the author of a motivational poetry book, From Me to You, and co-author of the #1 International Best Selling book, Experts & Influencers: Women's Empowerment Edition. She has a passion for helping people be inspired to change, creating a positive and win-win outcome. Her experience includes mentoring others and leadership development. Paula's life motto is to be a Change Agent in everything she does. Her messages are for business-minded professionals or anyone wishing to start their own business and need help to overcome mindset beliefs, organize, and conduct sales through relationship-building. These are the ingredients that she believes others can benefit from to see results. Her why is to help people overcome destructive patterns regarding thinking habits and daily investment habits. Paula has been featured in podcasts that encourage others to live with purpose and dream big!

Elizabeth Perez | President & Founder, GC Green Inc.
Elizabeth Perez is a Navy Veteran and an enrolled tribal member of the North Fork Rancheria Mono Indians. She is the former deputy secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs & Tribal Liason, leads both a clean energy and healthcare firm based in San Diego and is a member of the San Diego chapter of the Truman National Security Project. She is a well-known advocate and leader that fights for inclusion, diversity, social, and economic justice issues within marginalized communities. This is especially true for the Native American population. She lives in Vista, California with her two children.

Neha Palmer | WRISE Board Member; CEO TeraWatt Infrastructure
Neha Palmer is the CEO of TeraWatt Infrastructure, which develops and owns large scale electric vehicle charging infrastructure for fleets of EVs. She has over two decades of leadership experience in the energy industry. Prior to TeraWatt, she led energy strategy for Google’s global data centers. At Google, Neha built out and led the team developing electric infrastructure and electricity procurement for the global fleet, covering dozens of sites over four continents. Key achievements include making Google the largest corporate buyer of renewable energy in the world, and the first company of its size to achieve 100% renewable energy for operations, which it has done since 2017. In addition, Neha has held leadership roles at Pacific Gas and Electric, and worked as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs. Neha also currently sits on the Board of Directors for Electriq Power, a provider of home battery solutions. She holds an MBA in Finance from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and a BS in Civil Engineering from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo.

Dr. Carol Parker Walsh | CEO and Chief Career & Brand Strategist, Carol Parker Walsh Consulting, LLC
Dr. Carol Parker Walsh is the founder of the Career Rebel Academy™ for high-achieving women at midlife ready to overcome the self-doubts and limiting beliefs that keep them designing an epic career and life they love. She's an award-winning certified career and personal brand strategist, life and executive coach, A TEDx presenter, author, international keynote and member of Forbes Coaches Council and Newsweek's Expert Forum, and local career expert on AM Northwest Morning Show. Serving as a catalyst for transformational growth, confidence, and career/life alignment, Carol leverages her J.D. and Ph.D. and multiple certifications, along with her experience as an attorney, in executive leadership, and psychology and organizational systems to help 6-7 figure successful driven female professionals and entrepreneurs amplify their visibility and do the meaningful work they're meant to do in the world without sacrificing their years of success, hard work, and income.

Krystal Persuad | Founder, Grouphug Solar
Krystal Persaud is a product designer based in Brooklyn. She is obsessed with developing products that fall in the intersection of education, technology, and society. Anything else is not worth designing. Krystal is the founder of Grouphug Solar, a company that designs and sells solar chargers that can hang inside your window. She's used design to showcase solar in new, exciting ways from designing a giant cat-shaped solar panel that meows to even a turtle shaped solar panel. She's also an adjunct instructor of interaction design at NJIT, SVA, and Parsons. She's spoken at numerous events, including the annual AIGA Design Conference and IDSA's International Design Conference, and won an investment from Mark Cuban on ABC's Shark Tank. She most recently launched a new venture called Wildgrid Solar, a solar marketplace dedicated to connecting and educating Millennials & Gen Zers to affordable renewable energy options.

Alexandra Rasch | CEO & Founder, Caban Systems
Alexandra Rasch is the Founder and CEO of Caban Systems, a leader in the design and manufacture of software-enabled energy storage systems for the telecommunications industry. Established in 2018, Caban Systems has quickly established itself as a leading innovator in energy solutions with deployments spanning across seven countries and two continents. Alexandra is a clean energy evangelist. Her proven track record for transforming energy solutions and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, demonstrates her commitment and dedication to a clean energy world. She holds a B.S. degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Rice University and received a Master of Science in Engineering, from University of California Berkeley. Alexandra was also a NCAA elite athlete.

Bree Raum | Head of Federal Affairs, American Clean Power Association (ACP)
Bree serves as the chief federal lobbyist, responsible for leading activities to shape legislative policies and develop, implement and manage federal affairs strategies to advance national energy policies and initiatives in support of clean energy. Her prior experience includes serving as Senior Director of Federal Affairs for the American Gas Association, the national trade association representing natural gas utilities. There she served as the organization's primary federal lobbyist for energy efficiency, environment, appropriations and energy tax issues. Earlier in her career, Bree was the Director of Grassroots Advocacy and WindPAC, for the American Wind Energy Association, where she directed the association's political activities and shaped the industry's national grassroots lobbying program. Bree received a Bachelor's degree in Political Science at Salisbury State University, and Master's degrees in Business Administration and in Energy Policy and Climate from The Johns Hopkins University. The Hill has named Bree as one of the top trade association lobbyists every year since 2018.

Alanna Russo | Director of Strategic Engagement, National Grid
Alanna is self-motivated, natural leader with excellent collaboration skills. She is currently the Director of Strategic Engagement and Business Development for National Grid Ventures. National Grid Ventures is the competitive division of National Grid plc, one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the world. It operates outside of National Grid's core regulated businesses in the UK and US where it develops, operates, and invests in energy projects, technologies and partnerships to accelerate the development of our clean energy future. ▾

Dana Clare Redden | Founder & CEO, Solar Stewards
Celebrating over a decade in the solar industry, Dana Clare Redden is a passionate solar professional dedicated to the development of distributed generation solar globally. Growing up in a small rust-belt town in western Pennsylvania, the environmental impacts of fossil fuels shaped her perspective, particularly for disenfranchised communities and those most vulnerable. Realizing this need for environmental justice and greater resources, Dana founded Solar Stewards, a social enterprise connecting corporate social responsibility initiatives with schools and universities, affordable and senior housing, places of worship, and nonprofits in marginalized communities. ▾

Jan Rippingale | Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Blu Banyan
Jan is the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at Blu Banyan, a NetSuite Solution Provider and SuiteApp Developer focused on software specifically optimized for solar installers to enable the efficiencies necessary to reduce soft costs. Jan has over 10 years of experience in the solar industry and over 20 years of experience in software development, as a system architect, data architect, web developer, ERP developer, and database developer, with extensive experience in both technical management and business systems analysis. Jan has also worked at NASA, has a BS in Chemical Engineering, holds several patents, has numerous professional and Oracle/NetSuite qualifications, is a frequent contributor to key energy policy initiatives, and has traveled and worked extensively abroad.

Alissa Jean Schafer | Managing Owner and Director, Copper Stamp Strategy
Alissa Jean Schafer is Managing Owner and Director of Copper Stamp Strategy, a strategic communications firm with a special focus on government, political candidates, non-profits, and advocacy. Alissa has a successful track record of working to effect positive change. She is a recipient of the Solutions Project ONE100 award, Southern Regional Director for Young Elected Officials Network, Local Progress Committee Member, weekly contributor to the Sun Sentinel, serves on the Broward Soil and Water Conservation District, is a research and communications manager at the Energy and Policy Institute, and is a former board member for the Broward County Ruth's List and Floridians for Lowered Energy Costs. ▾

Laura Schelhas | Research Scientist and Group Manager, Hybrid and Nanoscale Materials Chemistry, NREL
Laura Schelhas received her Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2013 where she studied the influence of nanoscale architecture on the materials properties in magnetic and magnetoelectric materials. In 2014, she accepted a postdoctoral position at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL) at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory using in-situ and operando methods to study both the formation and degradation of optoelectronic materials. She became staff at SLAC in the Applied Energy Division in 2016 and served as the deputy director of the division and the group leader for the Grid Integration, Systems & Mobility (GISMo) Lab. ▾

Sarah Skinner | Director of Wind Project Management, AES Clean Energy
Sarah is an accomplished renewable energy and project management leader with over 14 years of experience in various phases of utility-scale wind (on and offshore) projects. She has led projects around the globe and has worn multiple project management hats throughout her career. She has sat on all sides of the industry table - regardless, Sarah thoroughly enjoys the adrenaline that comes with seeing the turbine blades spin after months/years of hard work. With a personal commitment to getting future generations closer to a carbon-free planet, she is directly responsible for injecting more than 3GW of wind energy onto the grid worldwide. ▾

Teran Smith | Vice President, SunChase Power
Teran joined the renewable energy business in 2007, following a ten-year stint in conventional energy. Prior to joining SunChase, Teran worked in origination and power marketing roles in both EDPR and Scout Clean Energy, resulting in off-take arrangements for more than 1GW of renewable generation. Before moving into origination, Teran led late-stage development and project prospecting for many projects throughout the central region of the US while working for EDPR, including more than 800MW now operating. Teran has a BS in Chemical Engineering from Rice University.

Kae Takase | Associate Director, CDP Worldwide-Japan
Kae Takase received her Ph. D in environmental studies from graduate school of frontier science, University of Tokyo. She was an economist at Institute of Energy Economics, Japan, and her specialty was econometric modeling of energy supply and demand, and renewable policy. She has worked at Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth, Center for Low Carbon Society Strategy, Japan Science and Technology Agency, and University of Tokyo, and also a senior manager at the CDP Japan. She has been successful in engaging Japanese companies to join Science-based Target (SBT) initiative, and in engaging Japanese government to consider better corporate renewable sourcing environment, as a technical partner of RE100.

Rachael Terada | Director of Technical Projects, Center for Resource Solutions
Rachael Terada is the Director of Technical Projects for the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS), a nonprofit organization that promotes policy and market solutions to advance sustainable energy. Rachael manages technical projects and initiatives for CRS and brings over a decade of experience working in renewable energy markets. She leads the Green-e® Renewable Fuels certification program for biomethane. Rachael also leads technical paper development, international expert assistance to government agencies on renewable energy policy design, support for renewable energy certificate (REC) tracking system initiatives, as well as blockchain initiatives for renewable energy markets. Rachael oversees the annual Renewable Energy Markets conference and manages technical projects for the Green-e® certification programs. She received her M.S. and B.S. degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.

Diana Weis | Vice President, Assistant Director of Asset Management, Environmental Finance, U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation
Diana Weis is a Vice President and Assistant Director of Asset Management for the Environmental Finance team at U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corporation. Since 2008, she has overseen the asset management of USB's portfolio, specializing in Renewable Energy investments for the bank. Diana has been active in shaping the asset management division of the CDC to target Renewable Energy investments, specifically in the residential and C&I solar space. She leads a team who collectively manages a portfolio of over $2.5 billion in assets. Diana started her career working in development of sustainable LIHTC projects, and is a graduate of the University of Missouri - Columbia.

Dawn Weisz | CEO, MCE
As MCE's founding CEO, Dawn Weisz developed and launched MCE as the first Community Choice Aggregation program in California. Under her watch, MCE now serves over 540,000 customers in 37 communities, while doubling the amount of renewable energy purchased in the region, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and contributing to energy equity throughout the Bay Area and California. Ms. Weisz has 30 years of experience developing and managing renewable energy and energy efficiency programs. Before joining MCE Ms. Weisz managed energy and sustainability initiatives for the County of Marin, served as the Executive Director for Sustainable North Bay, and was a labor and environmental justice organizer in Los Angeles. ▾

Julianne Zimmerman | Managing Director and GP, Reinventure Capital
For over 25 years Julianne Zimmerman has been putting technology and capital to work for the greater good. She is currently Managing Director, Reinventure Capital, investing exclusively in US-based companies led and controlled by BIPOC and/or female founders, at breakeven and poised to grow profitably. She has been a change instigator across multiple sectors, including seed stage investing, clean/green/climate tech, spaceflight engineering services, and others; she and her co-conspirators have catalyzed industry shifts, won awards, and set new standards for performance. Julianne is an active participant in communities advancing racial / social / gender equity, including Racial Justice Investing, Browning the Green Space, and GenderSmart Investing. She mentors with MIT VMS, WPI, Majira Project, and others; teaches Innovative Social Enterprises at Tufts; speaks and writes for audiences such as TBLI, Impact Metropolis, EY Strategic Growth Forum, and the MIT Nuts & Bolts Course; and frequently serves as a reviewer, judge, and connectrix. ▾

Cathy Zoi | CEO, EVgo
Cathy Zoi joined EVgo as CEO in 2017 and has led the company's growth and its establishment as the preeminent public fast charging network in the US. Zoi came to EVgo as a distinguished executive with decades of experience in the clean energy, investing, and policy communities. She has held numerous CEO and senior executive positions in the energy industry, government, academia and non-profit sectors. She was President and co-founder of Odyssey Energy, a distributed generation software company she continues to chair. She was founding CEO of Frontier Power, a rural electrification company incubated by SunEdison. Zoi was an energy investor at Silver Lake and Bayard Capital, a board member for Ice Energy, SES, and Pacific Solar, and a management consultant at ICF and Next Energy. She served in the Obama Administration as Assistant Secretary and Acting Under Secretary at the Department of Energy, where she oversaw more than $30 billion in energy investments. ▾