WRISE Leadership Forum

Peggy Shepard | Executive Director, WE ACT for Environmental Justice
Peggy Shepard is co-founder and executive director of WE ACT for Environmental Justice and has a long history of organizing and engaging Northern Manhattan residents in community-based planning and campaigns to address environmental protection and environmental health policy locally and nationally. She has successfully combined grassroots organizing, environmental advocacy, and environmental health community-based participatory research to become a national leader in advancing environmental policy and the perspective of environmental justice in urban communities — to ensure that the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment extends to all. She has been named co-chair of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council as well as chair of the New York City Environmental Justice Advisory Board, and was the first female chair of the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. She also serves on the Executive Committee of the National Black Environmental Justice Network and the Board of Advisors of the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health. Her work has received broad recognition: the Jane Jacobs Medal from the Rockefeller Foundation for Lifetime Achievement, the 10th Annual Heinz Award For the Environment, the William K. Reilly Award for Environmental Leadership, the Knight of the National Order of Merit from the French Republic, the Damu Smith Power of One Award, the Dean’s Distinguished Service Award from the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, and Honorary Doctorates from Smith College and Lawrence University.

Abigail Ross Hopper | President and CEO, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) ▾
Abigail Ross Hopper is the President and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association, the national trade organization for America's solar energy industries. She oversees all of SEIA's activities, including government affairs, research, communications, and industry leadership, and is focused on creating a marketplace where solar will constitute a significant percentage of America’s energy generation. Before joining SEIA, Abby served as Director of the Department of Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the Director of the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA), Energy Advisor to Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, and Deputy General Counsel with the Maryland Public Service Commission. Before embarking on a career in public service, Abby spent nine years in private practice.

Donna M. Wilson | President, Strategic Intersections ▾
Donna Wilson has spent the majority of her career working for some of the most iconic Fortune 100 brands creating transformational business strategies and organizational shifts to increase market share. Leveraging her business expertise in financial services, Donna has advised corporate leaders at various key executive levels on building global and regional transformational business to maximize sales to increasingly diverse consumer markets. She has assisted business leaders in developing innovative marketing strategies, enhancing existing strategies, and implementing innovative approaches aligned with ethnicity and cultural characteristics of consumers and clients. Donna leveraged her extensive experience transforming under served communities by transitioning from community development to a business focus on global diversity equity and inclusion. In so doing, she reached across the globe to introduce strategies to increase representation of women and under-represented market segments, retain top diverse talent, to build a more inclusive workplace.

Ankita Ajith | Associate, Purpose Venture Group
Ankita is a sustainability and climate professional with experience in finance, government, and policy. Before joining PVG, Ankita worked for J.P. Morgan Chase in its firm-wide sustainability group, where she helped design the reporting framework for JPM’s inaugural $1B green bond, coordinated ESG reporting and stakeholder engagement, and supported the bank’s corporate sustainability and impact investing strategy. Prior to J.P. Morgan, Ankita worked for Chicago’s Deputy Mayor for Economic and Neighborhood Development as a policy analyst. At the Deputy Mayor’s office, Ankita served as project manager for the city’s COVID-19 recovery program for local businesses and developed corporate partnerships to support economic growth in underinvested communities. Ankita graduated from Northwestern University with a BS in Social Policy. At Northwestern, Ankita conducted funded research on women’s economic empowerment in Morocco and the U.S.

Ellen Anderson | Climate Program Director, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy ▾
After growing up in New Jersey, Ellen received her law degree from the University of Minnesota, and as a young lawyer clerked at the MN Court of Appeals and was a Public Defender. In 1992, she ran and was elected to the MN state Senate, where she served for 18 years. As Senator, she was a pioneer in leading environmental and clean energy laws included authoring the 25% Renewable Energy Standard, legislation for the CAPX2020 transmission project, the Next Generation Energy Act setting statewide greenhouse gas reduction targets, as well as well as social justice and family friendly legislation, passing the first law in the nation to ensure nursing mothers had time off and space to breast feed – and Ellen was the first woman ever to wear pants on the Senate floor.

Lynn Appollis-Laurent | Principal Engineer Natural Power, Energy Storage
As the Principal Engineer of energy storage technologies at Natural Power, a top renewable energy consultancy and service provider, Lynn provides technical advisory and due diligence services. With over 20 years of experience in power and renewables, Lynn has held various positions in EPC, power grid operations, and maintenance organizations. Before joining Natural Power, Lynn led the design and project delivery team for a global energy storage system integrator and energy management system platform provider. Lynn's previous roles involved turnkey project development, system integration, power grid operations, network resilience, and maintenance management. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cape Town in South Africa.

Heidi Bergin | Head of Talent Acquisition, Americas Region, Vestas
Heidi Bergin is a leader in global talent management within the renewable energy industry. She joined Vestas in 2021 and works as the Head of Talent Acquisition for the Americas region. She graduated with a degree in Human Resources Management from UW Milwaukee and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Learning and Organizational Change from Northwestern University. Her professional experience spans talent acquisition, onboarding, mobility, succession planning, and talent development. She and her team work relentlessly to bring talent into Vestas for a lifelong career in wind energy.

Zoe Berkery | Chief Operating Officer, CleanCapital
As COO at CleanCapital, Zoe oversees the management and optimization of CleanCapital’s growing fleet of clean energy assets and manages day to day operations for the company. Zoe and her team coordinate the full scope of asset management services for these projects to ensure optimal performance. Prior to CleanCapital, Zoe’s passion for clean energy took her to Washington, D.C. to focus on public policy. At the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE), Zoe managed the federal clean air program and assisted with the international programs at United Nations climate conferences. Prior to BCSE, Zoe worked at the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) in the Office of Federal Sustainability. She is a Clean Energy Leadership Institute (CELI) Fellow and a Co-Chair for WRISE. Zoe has lived and studied in Dakar, Senegal and is a graduate of the University of Michigan.

Michelle Bissonnette | President, Antler Bay Environmental Consulting, LLC
Michelle Bissonnette has over 33 years of consulting experience in the energy industry. Currently, she provides contract consulting services for the power industry, focusing on project support, including siting and routing, public engagement, tribal relations, and federal and state environmental compliance strategy. She provides support and specialized technical expertise to other cross-functional teams, including Development, Communication, Origination, Engineering, ROW, and Construction. Prior to retirement, Michelle served as a project manager, client development leader, and strategic services practice lead for the HDR national power sector. She managed teams that conducted environmental assessments and permitting for transmission lines, wind power, and energy projects.

Nicole Bloom | Project Manager - Strategic Initiatives, GRID Alternatives
Nicole manages Strategic Initiatives at GRID Alternatives that support community and tribal nation goals of resilience and sovereignty through renewable energy. For decades, Nicole has focused on health, justice and community by leveraging her interdisciplinary degrees and experience in Mechanical Engineering, Business and Theology. She has invented, designed and developed medical devices for IDEO and start-ups, practiced as a hospital chaplain, directed an integrative health international collaborative, and managed sexual and reproductive health research.

Kristen Bradford | Supervisor of Science at NextEra Energy Resources ▾
Kristen Bradford is a supervisor of science for NextEra Analytics, Inc. (NEA), a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun, a world leader in battery storage and a driving force in the development of the green hydrogen economy. In this role, she leads a team of research scientists to develop innovative forecasting and optimization solutions that enable low cost, reliable and sustainable power systems. Her team solves challenging problems for preconstruction and operational renewable assets by applying scientific and mathematical principles, R&D and advanced analytics. She was appointed to this role in February 2023.

Jocelyn Brown-Saracino | Offshore Wind Energy Lead, US Department of Energy
Jocelyn is the US Department of Energy’s Offshore Wind Lead and has been with the Department for over 13 years. Jocelyn contributed to the establishment of the joint agency 30 GW by 2030 goal and is leading DOE’s subsequent contributions to implementation. This includes leading the Department’s offshore wind strategic planning efforts, leading the establishment of new Floating Offshore Wind Shot, leading the initiation of the DOE and BOEM offshore wind transmission efforts, and contributing to the establishment and management of the White House-led Federal and State Offshore Wind Partnership. Prior to assuming her current role, Jocelyn served as program manager for DOE’s Wind Energy Environmental, Siting, Workforce Development and Grid portfolio, and managed the Department’s Wind, Ocean Energy, and Hydropower environmental research portfolios. She came to the US Department of Energy through the NOAA Sea Grant John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship program. She holds a master’s degree in marine science from the University of New England and a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from Smith College.

Sage Briscoe | Director of Federal Policy, Rewiring America
Sage Briscoe is the the Director of Federal Policy at Rewiring America, where she strategizes ways to optimize the development and implementation of federal policy to maximize electrification. Sage joins Rewiring after developing energy and climate policy as a Legislative Fellow on Senator Amy Klobuchar’s staff. Prior to her time on the Hill, she spent the first half of her career as a federal employee, including three years in England as a Senior Technical Liaison to the UK. Sage holds a bachelors in mathematics from Tulane University and a masters in mathematics from University of Michigan.

Jen Bristol | Senior Director of Communications, Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)
Jen Bristol is a strategic communications professional that has spent the last decade working in the U.S. solar and storage industry. Jen currently leads external communications at the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) where she supervises a team of communication professionals and orchestrates public affairs campaigns and announcements designed to expand the U.S. solar market. Jen is an expert in strategic communications, crisis communications, media strategy and engagement, brand and reputation management, and spokesperson development. With experience working in trade associations, nonprofits, and the federal government, she is able to work across departments, silos, and roles to empower teammates and drive results.

Amanda Bybee | CEO, Amicus O&M Cooperative
Ms. Bybee has worked in the solar industry since 2003. Over the course of her career, she has helped launch several cooperatives: employee-owned cooperative Namasté Solar, purchasing cooperative Amicus Solar, financial cooperative Clean Energy Credit Union, and shared-services cooperative Amicus O&M Cooperative. In recent years, she has contributed time and energy to several passion projects, including a Women’s Speakers Bureau with WRISE, an informational website on how to recycle solar equipment at www.SolarRecycle.org, and an industry coalition on diversity, equity, and inclusion called Renewables Forward. She obtained a BA in English and French from the University of Texas at Austin.

Abigail Campbell Singer | Head of Climate and Infrastructure Policy, Government Affairs, Siemens ▾
Abigail Campbell Singer is Head of Climate and Infrastructure Policy for Siemens USA. She is responsible for leading climate and infrastructure policy for Siemens USA and oversees congressional and administration advocacy for Siemens Smart Infrastructure where she focuses on buildings, renewables, grid resiliency, and electrification policy and regulation. She is passionate about the role of business to society and advancing emerging critical clean energy technologies, reducing emissions, supporting an equitable workforce, and developing executive level engagement strategies with political stakeholders to drive policy priorities.

Annika Colston | Founder and CEO, AC Power ▾
Annika Colston is the CEO and Founder of AC Power. AC Power was founded with the goal to bring unique vision to solar project development through development on landfill and brownfield sites. Annika passionately leads AC Power with the goal of improving the local environment for future generations by turning obstacles into opportunities. Ms. Colston has been developing alternative energy projects for over two decades and has experience across all aspects of project development.

Maranda Compton | Founder and President, Lepwe
Maranda Compton is a nationally recognized expert and frequent speaker on issues of Native American law and policy. She is the Founder and President of Lepwe, a strategic consulting firm that advises Tribal Nations and the non-tribal entities that seek to consult, engage, and partner with them. Lepwe focuses on building successful partnerships with Indian Country through education, engagement, and equity.Prior to Lepwe, Maranda chaired the Native American practice at a D.C.-based boutique law firm, advising clients throughout the country on issues of Federal Indian Law, Tribal law, and related areas of regulation and permitting.

Elizabeth Crouse | Partner, Perkins Coie LLP ▾
For more than a decade, Elizabeth Crouse has provided business-focused solutions for U.S. federal, state, and international tax problems in a variety of transactions and investment structures. Her clients include top-tier strategic and corporate investors, developers, and operators in the renewable energy and fuels, hydrogen, and carbon capture industries. Elizabeth advises clients on a range of U.S. federal income tax matters, including Investment Tax Credits (ITC) for renewable electricity and renewable natural gas (RNG), Production Tax Credits (PTC) for renewable electricity, hydrogen, sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), and clean fuels, and the Section 45Q tax credit for carbon capture and sequestration. She is also working with clients to obtain federal government funding for manufacturing facilities in the renewable and carbon capture industries.

Claire Dittrich | Project Developer, Nova Clean Energy
Claire Dittrich is a project developer at Nova Clean Energy with a yearning to work with farmers and ranchers across the Midwest to help them harvest double the commodity off their land. Growing up in Tilden, NE, Claire understands the powerful economic impacts wind and solar have to small communities like her own. Her background in farming and agriculture has given her the ability to empathize with landowners and ensure their needs and the project’s needs are met. Previously, Claire worked with a development team at Orsted on both early and late-stage project management in the Midwest. Prior to her renewable energy career, Claire was on the Division 1 Women’s Equestrian team at Texas Christian University and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Combined Science.

Steffanie Dohn | Director of State and Regulatory Affairs, SOLV Energy ▾
Steffanie serves as Director of State and Regulatory Affairs at SOLV Energy where she advises on the company’s regulatory, policy and advocacy strategies in key markets. Throughout her career, Steffanie has advanced policy priorities in renewable energy at the federal and state levels by leveraging her refined skillset in strategic advocacy. Her ability to manage key relationships, develop strategy, and obtain funding for critical issues goes hand in hand with her expertise in the energy and solar industries, particularly energy-specific economic and political issues.

Alyssa Ingelido | Chapters and Membership Manager, WRISE ▾
Alyssa is the Senior Vice President of Environmental Affairs and Government Relations at Lightsource bp, a global market leader in the development, financing, construction, and management of large-scale solar projects. With more than18 years of experience in the renewable energy sector, her expert knowledge of wildlife regulations, permitting and environmental sitting have helped advance more than 20GW of executed projects. In her role as Senior Vice President, Environmental Affairs and Government Relations, Alyssa leads Lightsource bp on environmental compliance and permitting for development, construction and operations for their U.S. portfolio. She has built a leading, innovative biodiversity program in the U.S. that supports the company’s global sustainability objectives through integration of biodiversity initiatives and agrivoltaics, changing the way solar projects are developed by adding a multitude of environmental benefits beyond clean, renewable energy.

Melissa Elkinton | Vice President, Development, Belltown Power USA
Melissa has more than 15 years of experience in renewable energy, leading people, and international management & coordination. Prior to joining Belltown Power USA, she led development and construction engineering, meteorology, and GIS at Avangrid Renewables and solar and wind energy assessments at DNV. In 2016, Melissa was awarded the AWEA Technical Achievement Award. She has an MS and BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Boise State University,

Wanda Lee Florestine | Director, Outreach, GRID Alternatives
Wanda is currently the Director of Outreach (People Development/DEI) for GRID Alternatives. Her career span includes 20+ years of recruiting, (formerly the Talent & Acquisition Director also at GRID), as well as many other HR hats including: management, performance management, training, and new hire program management. She has worked with small companies to multinational, high-growth organizations. Her industry experience includes: Renewable Energy/Solar, Biotech, Healthcare, IT/Tech, Professional Services, Publishing, Nonprofit, and Education.

Zoe Folsom | Public Affairs Associate, Encore Renewable Energy
Zoe Folsom is Public Affairs Associate for Encore Renewable Energy, a solar project developer headquartered in Burlington, Vermont that specializes in brownfield redevelopment and other innovative community-scale solar solutions. She comes to Encore after completing her master's degree in Sociology from the University of Connecticut. She has experience crafting environmental communications for both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors and is passionate about storytelling for a sustainable future.

Janette Freeman | Business Development Director, FabTech Solar Solutions
Janette Freeman is a Business Development Director at FabTech Solar Solutions, a company that provides refurbishing and recycling services for solar panels. She has over three years of experience in this role, and a PhD in Consciousness Studies from Emerson Theological Institute. She is passionate about saving the environment from the millions of solar panels that will reach their end-of-life in the coming years. She works with customers, partners, and stakeholders to offer them cost-effective and eco-friendly solutions that extend the lifespan of solar modules and prevent them from ending up in landfills. She also leverages her social media and coaching skills to raise awareness and educate the public about the benefits of solar energy and recycling.

Sam Frick | Community Engagement & Impact Manager, Pivot Energy
Sam Frick is the Community Engagement & Impact Manager at Pivot Energy, a Certified B-Corporation and national provider of comprehensive commercial and community solar services. Sam leads Pivot’s community engagement strategy to deliver meaningful positive social and environmental impacts in the places where the company operates. Sam has over a decade of experience in renewable energy, community engagement, and partnership development. She has extensive practical experience in the field developing and implementing a diverse range of socially impactful solar projects across the U.S. and internationally. She is passionate about helping build resilient communities, equitable societies, and healthy environments.

Lauren Friedman | Solar Ambassador Program Manager, RE-volv
Lauren is the Solar Ambassador Program Manager at RE-volv, managing a collegiate fellowship program that empowers students to bring solar to their community while preparing them for careers in renewable energy. She comes to the role with nearly a decade of workforce development experience, after most recently serving as the Senior Workforce Operations Manager for GRID Alternatives, where she oversaw the administration of national job training programs. Her work has emphasized the need for diversifying the industry with a focus on building accessible, equitable pathways with communities that have been historically underrepresented in solar. Lauren received both her Master’s in Public Administration and undergraduate degree from Florida State University. She lives in San Francisco, California with her husband and cat.

Paula Garcia | Senior Energy Analyst & Energy Justice Lead, Climate and Energy Program, Union of Concerned Scientists
Paula García is a Senior Energy Analyst and Energy Justice Lead in the Climate and Energy Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. She evaluates energy resource and climate solutions in the electricity sector and works to further public understanding of clean energy technologies, policies and markets. Paula is committed to advance energy justice and sustainable development through her work. Ms. García has broad experience as a researcher and analyst interacting with a variety of stakeholders, including government, community-based organizations, private sector and international nongovernmental organizations. Ms. García holds an MA in sustainable international development from Brandeis University and an industrial engineering degree from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Colombia, where she is originally from. She serves on the Boston Area Solar Energy Association’s Board of Directors.

Michelle Gessaro | Vice President, People & Culture, Vestas ▾
Michelle Gessaro joined Vestas in August 2019 and is currently Vice President, People & Culture for the Americas region. Prior to joining Vestas, Michelle worked for Schneider Electric, a leading company providing energy and automation digital solutions for efficiency and sustainability. Michelle has experience leading various functions within P&C including training and development, payroll and benefits, and systems implementations. Throughout her career, Michelle has supported various organizational change initiatives including mergers & acquisitions, divestitures and company restructuring.

Alexis Gonzales-Black | Empowered Decision Practice Lead, August Public Inc.
Alexis Gonzales-Black is the Empowered Decision Practice Lead for August Public Inc. She is an expert in org design, change management, and the future of work. She has worked with some of the world's most respected companies to design and implement new ways of working that are more agile and equitable. Before becoming a Partner at August Public, she was the Org Design Lead at Zappos.com and a Design Lead at IDEO's Design for Change Studio. Alexis has presented at conferences including SXSW, Culture First, and HR Transform.

Carousel Gore | Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, California Energy Commission
Carousel Gore is the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Officer for the California Energy Commission (CEC). She has worked in EEO since 2008. Carousel is one of the executive sponsors for the CEC’s Justice, Access, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Initiative with the goal of furthering a respectful, welcoming, and inclusive workplace for CEC employees. She is also the Co-Chair for the California Civil Rights Officers Council and the Co-Founder and Co-Chair for the Statewide Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.

AnneMarie Graves | Senior Director, Head of Midwest Region, Vestas-American Wind Technology, Inc. ▾
AnneMarie Graves is the Senior Director, Midwest Region for Vestas, where she leads an operations team of 400 wind turbine technicians operating 9 GW of wind farms in the American heartland. From 2018-2021, AnneMarie lived and worked in Europe, leading 300 Vestas engineers supporting global deployment and operation of 100 GW of Vestas, GE, Gamesa, Nordex and Siemens wind turbine and wind plant technology. As an early proponent of utility scale wind energy in the early 2000s, AnneMarie brings more than 20 years of engineering and management experience in wind energy. Prior to joining Vestas, she led a team at DNV GL specialized in assessing the performance and reliability of over 10 GW of operating wind projects, including predicting wind project production, analyzing and diagnosing performance, and modeling turbine life. AnneMarie started her career in 2003 with GE Wind Energy assessing the suitability of new wind project locations in North America.

Anne-Marie Griger | Director, Development , RES
Anne-Marie develops utility-scale renewable energy projects at RES. She has been in the renewable energy industry for 15 years, starting with managing environmental studies and permitting for the first several years, and currently leads a team of developers through prospecting, real estate negotiation, due diligence, permitting, and whatever is needed to get a project to construction.

Mary Grikas | Vice President, Head of Marketing & Communications, Americas, Lightsource bp
Mary leads Lightsource bp’s marketing, communications and community relations activities across the Americas. Since joining the company in 2019, Mary has helped bolster Lightsource bp’s exponential growth in the region. Over the last four years, $4 billion of projects were developed in the U.S. which are currently in operation or construction – represented by 3.2 gigawatts of solar capacity across 11 states. Mary started her career as an electrical and computer engineer working in nuclear power, and she’s held senior leadership roles in the semiconductor and telecommunications industries. As VP of product management at Vonage, she defined and launched products that over 3 million consumers enjoyed, and holds three patents related to that work. Thirteen years ago Mary joined the solar industry, in a marketing and communications global leadership role, to realize her passion for contributing to our planet’s sustainable future.

Hema Gupta | Director of Procurement, ONYX ▾
As Director of Procurement at Onyx, I develop comprehensive procurement strategies to support the company’s portfolio of investments in sustainable generation and innovative customer-centric solutions by collaborating with the Onyx team, our valued clients, suppliers, and contractors. I previously worked at Entergy where I was the Senior Supply Chain Lead in Customer Innovation for Key String Labs pilots and products. I am an expert in supply chain processes, a vendor relationship manager who managed key connections with companies that supply products and services for emerging technology such as public charging, efleet, emobility, power generation and green digital solutions.

Sara Hambleton | Director, Field Operations and Services, SolarEdge Technologies, LLC
Sara Hambleton is the Field Operations Director at SolarEdge Technologies, a global leader in smart energy technology. Sara has been in the solar industry for over 24 years, starting out as an Eco-prenuer that focused on global issues affecting access to energy. Over the years Sara’s expertise and passion brought her back to the US to focus on matters where she could make the greatest impact. Throughout her career, Sara has remained focused on developing a highly trained workforce to ensure the industry has the capacity and knowledge to service the industry for years to come. Sara’s current role includes directing and overseeing a team of field engineers that service the US, Canada, the Caribbean, and Central America.

Dana Harmon | Owner and Principal, Juniper Advisory Group
Dana Harmon is Principal of Juniper Advisory Group, where she works closely with industry, NGOs, and government to advance strategies for a sustainable and equitable energy future. She has more than 20 years of experience in management consulting, energy sector technology commercialization, social impact research, and non-profit leadership. She is a Marshall Memorial Fellow of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, an Energy Transition Fellow of the University of Texas at Austin’s Energy Institute. She has served on several local and national energy related boards and commissions currently including the Research Advisory Board of the American Council for An Energy Efficient Economy.

Penina Sara-Lynn Harding | Instructor & Indigenous Researcher, University of Northern British Columbia
Penína Sara-Lynn Harding is a 4th year PhD Candidate in Natural Resources & Environmental Studies, the Manager of Indigenous Student Empowerment, and the First Nations Centre, and a part-time instructor in Natural Resources & Environment Management (NREM) at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC). The primary UNBC campus is on the traditional territory of Lheidli T’enneh who belong to the Dakelh Nation of northern British Columbia. Penina is a Secwépemc Scholar and from the Esk’étemc First Nation located 48km southwest of Williams Lake, BC, Canada. She is a mother and recipient of the Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Doctoral Fellowship. Her dissertation title is “Documenting Esk’étemc Experience of Place to prepare for Generative Land-Use Planning”; her areas of research specialization are Indigenous Environmental Planning, Indigenous Research Methodologies, and Experience of Place.

Kara Herrnstein | Partner, Energy and Utilities, Bricker & Eckler LLP
Kara is an experienced energy attorney focusing on facilitating power generation in Ohio and the rest of Appalachia. She provides legal assistance and problem-solving to developers at every stage of their projects, from land access to permitting to operation. Her practice also includes litigation on behalf of a variety of energy companies including producers and midstream companies. In everything, she is passionate about helping her clients rebuild and reshape the Appalachian energy market.

Tonya Hicks | President/CEO, Power Solutions, Inc.; Managing Principal, Women Do Everything, LLC ▾
Tonya Hicks, an accomplished leader, and trailblazer in construction, energy, and promoting women's empowerment. As the President and CEO of Power Solutions, Inc., and the Managing Principal of Women Do Everything, LLC, Tonya has made significant contributions in several male-dominated industries. With a passion for excellence, Tonya's journey began as she broke barriers, becoming the first woman to become a Journeyman Inside Wireman Electrician in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local 917 and the first Black Woman to become an IBEW Journeyman Electrician in the State of Mississippi.

Utopia Hill | Chief Executive Officer, Reactivate ▾
Utopia Hill is the CEO at Reactivate. Reactivate is an impact focused developer, owner, and operator of renewable energy projects including, community solar, small utility scale solar, energy storage and EV charging. Utopia provides leadership and strategic direction to a diverse, rapidly growing, innovative team. In her role, she manages and fosters relationships with industry partners, businesses, and communities, while also growing the company to ensure positive environmental and social impacts to the communities served by Reactivate projects.

Brandy Hyatt | Education Manager, Access + Equity, Vote Solar
Brandy A. Hyatt is an equitable energy advocate and educator, currently serving as the Manager for the Access and Equity Program for Vote Solar (VS). In this role, Brandy supports VS staff in creating and cultivating authentic partnerships to support equity and access in the clean energy industry. Prior to their time at Vote Solar, Brandy worked in the education field where they expanded STEM-related education programs to historically underrepresented communities, led internal DEIJ initiatives for students and staff, and conducted research related to STEM learning, race and poverty. Brandy grew up in Brookly, NY and Minneapolis, MN, but now resides in Oakland, CA. They have a Master’s in Public Policy from Mills College and are an Americorps Alum.

Sierra Jackovics | UN, Energy Policy, and Project Manager, Mana Pacific Inc.
Sierra Jackovics is the UN, Energy Policy, and Project Manager for Mana Pacific Inc. Mana Pacific is a social impact company organized in Hawai’i as a sustainable business corporation that develops scalable resiliency and renewable energy projects in Hawai’i and the 22 Pacific Island Countries and Territories. Sierra began working for Mana Pacific while completing her degree in International Relations from the University of California Berkeley, where she specialized in energy policy and international project development. Her previous experience includes working in legislative policy and journalism to address systemic inequalities and promote resource equity. Sierra is now responsible for overall project management, documentation (RFPs, LOIs, PPAs), identifying key technological and community partners, and managing UN, government, and local relationships for a 150+MW pipeline of solar PV and 250+MW of battery storage projects in the Pacific region.

Taylore Jarvis | Assistant General Counsel, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Since November 2022, I’ve supported Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA and Zaffre Investments (a subsidiary of BCBCMA) in accelerating equity, innovation, and diverse leadership in health care through strategic partnerships and capital investment. I also support BCBSMA vendor contracting and other strategic initiatives. Prior to BCBSMA, I spent 13 years in the energy industry at DNV Energy Systems, where I held multiple legal and leadership positions. Most recently, I was the Deputy Head of the Global Contracting organization and played a critical role building and managing a culturally diverse, fully virtual team of legal professionals around the world.

Andrea Johnson | Executive Director, Green Empowerment
Since 2016, Andrea has combined her background in Oregon’s clean energy sector, international experience in conservation and community development, and academic studies to advance Green Empowerment’s mission and impact. As a working executive with two young children, she is committed to creating an organization where people can grow professionally, have a positive impact in the world and establish a healthy work-life integration. In 2023, Andrea was awarded Executive of the Year in Social Impact from the Portland Business Journal. In 2022, Andrea delivered a TEDx Talk Shifting Power For a More Equitable World in Fiesole, Italy. She is also a co-founder of GlobalPDX, and is the voice of their Speaking Change podcast showcasing Oregon’s global changemakers.

Victoria Johnson | Global Equity Director, HDR
Victoria Johnson is a transformative practice leader with 20 years of experience in infrastructure with a diverse portfolio of work throughout the US and abroad, including Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Africa and the Middle East. Victoria serves as a Global Equity Director at HDR Engineering, Inc., leading an Equity Advisory Services Practice providing management consulting expertise in large infrastructure programs across sectors, including water, energy, transportation, transit, aviation and the built environment. Victoria serves in leadership roles in several national professional societies, including the NCS Infrastructure Recovery Panel where she is advising the Biden-Harris Administration and 118th Congress on legislation, including the $1.2T Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA). Victoria is a published author on best practices in people-centered infrastructure, including a congressional article on Capitol Hill, Investing in people to power our infrastructure | The Hill.

Stephanie Judge | Head of Energy SaaS, NextEra Analytics
Stephanie Judge is Head of Energy SaaS at NextEra Analytics. In this role, she leads the commercial functions for NextEra 360, a comprehensive energy management software designed to track and report carbon, implement cost effective energy systems, and increase the operational efficiency of plants and buildings. Prior to joining NextEra, Stephanie spent 15 years in the OEM equipment space, leading global organizations in Oil & Gas, Hydropower and Industrial Power Generation (Resiliency, Microgrids). Her early career was with the U.S. Department of Defense.

Elizabeth Kaiga | Chief Commercial Officer, DNV North America
Elizabeth Kaiga is Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at DNV, North America. In this role she focuses on providing strategies and solutions to support an equitable global transition to safer, reliable, and sustainable energy. She also chaired DNV’s Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Board. In addition to her role as CCO at DNV, she serves on the Board of Directors for Women of Renewable Industries & Sustainable Energy (WRISE) and on the Board of Directors for Solar Sister, an organization that delivers clean energy solutions to off-grid rural communities in Sub-Saharan Africa, by leveraging a network of women entrepreneurs.

Rozina Kanchwala | Executive Director, Eco.Logic ▾
Rozina Kanchwala is a dedicated energy and environmental professional with a wealth of global academic and professional experience. As a Fulbright scholar, Rozina spent a year in India researching agrarian distress, and then completed her Masters in Environment and Sustainable Development at University College London, where she conducted field work in Accra, Ghana to better understand the challenges faced by urban farmers. Currently serving as the Director of the EDICT Partnership at the Clean Energy Leadership Institute (CELI), Rozina runs EDICT (Empowering Diverse Climate Talent), an internship program to increase diversity in the green sector and promote inclusivity in the industry. She is also the Founding Executive Director of Eco.Logic, an organization that uses arts, community-building, and education to inspire environmental action.

Kelly Kneeland | Development Manager, Vineyard Offshore
Kelly joined Vineyard Offshore as a Development Manager in November 2022. Her work focuses on project management for the company’s two east coast lease areas across all early-stage development milestones, prepping for monthly board meetings, and supporting the organization of a fast-growing team. Prior to joining Vineyard Offshore, Kelly worked with a small utility-scale solar developer for 2 years on all aspects of early-stage development and project management in New England. She has been studying offshore wind development since 2017, when she interned with Acadia Center’s Hartford, CT office while in graduate school, completing a capstone project on state-level offshore wind policies and provisions along the U.S. eastern seaboard. After supporting NYSERDA’s first offshore wind solicitation efforts in 2019 as a consultant, she grew hopeful about the reality for a growing industry in the U.S. Kelly has an undergraduate degree in Environmental Policy and Science, Technology and Society from Colby College, and a master’s degree in Environmental Management with a focus in Renewable Energy Development from the Yale School of the Environment.

Maggie Kristian | Regulatory Policy Manager, National Grid Renewables
Maggie is the Regulatory Policy Manager for National Grid Renewables. She works at both the Federal and RTO level to assess, promote, and implement strategies that optimize renewable development and grid integration. Maggie currently focuses on the MISO and SPP regions of the U.S. Prior to her time working in renewable development, Maggie has worked doing research on hybrid resource integration at the RTO level and for a sustainable biofuel distribution start-up. Maggie holds degrees from the University of Minnesota in Applied Economics and Environmental Policy.

Tressa Lange | Environmental Consultant, Merjent
Environmental Consultant for Merjent Inc working on various natural gas projects throughout the county. Passionate and experienced in Indigenous environmental issues along with overall community issues. Understands the importance of education and policy, continues to try to be a voice for the Indigenous communities in the Energy industry.

Jessica Lawrence-Vaca | Vice President, Government Affairs, SOLV Energy ▾
Jessica Lawrence-Vaca, is a senior government relations professional, strategist, and former Capitol Hill staffer with nearly two decades of experience in both the government and private sector. She is widely respected across the solar industry as a leader and trade expert, where she helps to develop and execute advocacy and communications strategies; interfaces with high-level government officials; builds coalitions of industry partners and third-party validators; and supports policy efforts to grow solar markets.

Lydia Li | Senior Vice President, Investments, Arevon Energy
Ms. Li serves as Senior Vice President of Investments at Arevon Energy. Arevon is a leading renewable energy investor, developer, and operator in North America with 160+ solar, wind and energy storage projects totaling over $12Bn of asset value. Ms. Li is responsible for originating, evaluating, and executing on investments across renewable power and energy transition sectors. Prior to Arevon, Ms. Li was an investor at Generate Capital, where she led sustainable infrastructure investments across solar, hydrogen and mobility. She also worked at Commonfund Capital as an energy investor and Macquarie Capital as an investment banker. Ms. Li earned a B.A. in Government and Economics from Claremont McKenna College and an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management.

Lisa Magged | Senior Associate, Energy & Infrastructure, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe
Lisa Magged is a Senior Associate with Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, based in San Francisco. She is an attorney advising major players in the renewable energy industry, including project sponsors, borrowers, lenders, and investors in connection with complex renewables project finance (including debt, tax equity and cash equity financing), M&A, joint ventures, and a broad range of corporate matters. Lisa’s breadth of experience extends to onshore and offshore wind, solar, storage and waste-to-biofuel projects. Lisa obtained her J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, M.A. from the University of Chicago and B.A. from Smith College.

Tershara Matthews | SVP, Offshore Wind Policy Lead, WSP USA
Tershara Matthews has been recently hired by WSP USA, as U.S. offshore wind policy lead for Earth and Environment. In this role, Tershara is developing a variety of offshore energy and other environmental projects with an emphasis on offshore wind and energy transition. She will serve as a leader for offshore wind initiatives in the Gulf Coast and support additional offshore wind efforts in other parts of the country and the world. With more than 14 years of regulatory experience, Tershara served as a supervisory program management specialist for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) office in New Orleans.

Anastasia Mayr | Vice President, Climate Finance, Enhanced Capital
Anastasia (‘Nastia’) is currently Vice President on Enhanced Capital’s Climate Finance team where she runs origination and deal structuring efforts in the clean energy and sustainable infrastructure space.. Her experience in the sustainable energy industry spans over a decade. Prior to Enhanced Capital, she served as Assistant Vice President on US Bank’s environmental finance team, where she helped close over $300M in renewable energy tax credit investments and earlier managed a portfolio encompassing $1.2B+ in committed tax equity funds in residential, community, commercial, and utility scale solar, wind, and energy storage projects across the US. In the years prior, Anastasia worked as a solar energy project developer at CS Energy, and an account/product manager at the energy management and analytics arm of the world’s largest environmental services firm Veolia. Anastasia earned a BS/BA from Stony Brook University and an MBA from the Yale School of Management.

Tasha McCarter | Vice President of Project Engineering, RWE Renewables ▾
Tasha is passionate about climate change and issues that impact women and people of color. Her life work includes investing over 10 years in the Renewable Energy industry with an emphasis in Power Systems. Prior to that she spent over 15 years in Business leadership and electrical engineering/technical roles. Tasha is currently the Vice President of Project Engineering at RWE Renewables, where her responsibilities include leading the technical execution of Utility Scale Solar, Battery Storage, Wind, and Green Hydrogen Projects. She is a licensed Professional Engineer in six US States and a certified Project Management Professional.

Kathryn Meyer | Vice President of Development, GridStor
Kathryn serves as Vice President of Development at Gridstor, a Goldman Sachs-backed standalone storage company. Kathryn leads the development and growth of Gridstor's pipeline, with over a decade of experience developing and constructing utility-scale wind, solar, and energy storage projects. She has had integral involvement with the development, construction, and financing of more than 5 GWs during her career. Prior to Gridstor, Kathryn held roles with Primergy Solar, EDP Renewables North America, and Apex Clean Energy.

Demetria Miles-McDonald | Founder and CEO, Decide Diversity
Demetria Miles-McDonald is the Founder and CEO of Decide Diversity, a training and consulting firm rooted in the science of DEI. Demetria specializes in developing sustainable practices that make it easy for everyone to contribute to and benefit from DEI. Demetria is the creator of the Table of Diversity, a globally used tool that helps people find belonging from an intersectional perspective. Demetria was a John R. Lewis Racial Justice Case Competition Judge at Emory University’s School of Business. In 2020, Demetria was awarded the Most Admired Business Woman from Today’s Woman Magazine. Demetria was recognized as the 2019 Young Leader of Louisville from Louisville Business First and the 2018 Member of the Year from the National Association of Women Business Owners Kentucky Chapter. Demetria is a Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award Nominee and a Trustee of Inclusion and Equity Nominee. Demetria is a wife and Mom to a 3 and 1 year old!

Shanelle Montana | Vice President of Development, Lightsource BP ▾
Shanelle Montana is a leading renewable development expert with experience across the United States. As a trusted industry professional, Shanelle manages project teams as they navigate increasingly difficult permitting, siting and market conditions. As the Vice President of Development, Lightsource bp expanded to be a marketshare leader of developed and constructed assets in the United States. Shanelle has taken a community-based approach to development with a focus on sustainable industry and company growth.

Katrina Mora | Member of the Oglala Lakota Sioux Nation
Katrina Mora (Cangleska luta wiyan), a local member of the Denver Native American Indian Community, is an enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota Sioux Nation from South Dakota and a relative of the Dine and Apache Nations from New Mexico. Katrina has 35 years of experience presenting Native Issues to diverse audiences. Her knowledge of traditional Lakota culture/way of life is informative and accessible to a variety of ages. She grew up in an environment where elders were always present, and she was raised in the many traditions & ceremonies. In keeping with her way of life and teachings to be grateful, diligent, respectful and to live the way of our people. Most of all to carry forward our traditions and language. Katrina Mora spent 14 years at the Native American Rights Fund (NARF).

Esther Morales | Executive Director, Clean Energy Leadership Institute (CELI)
Esther Morales brings over 25 years of cross sector, business-facing and public service leadership to advance economic, energy and racial justice through roles within nonprofits, government, philanthropy, and campaigns. Since January, 2021, she has served as the executive director of the Clean Energy Leadership Institute (CELI). Just prior, she was the Deputy Director of the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) in the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz). Esther spent the preceding years, 2009 - 2017, working on policy implementation at the national level on a range of issues in Washington, DC including at the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Women’s Business Council, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and at the White House in the Office of First Lady Mrs. Obama. Before moving to Washington, DC, she spent ten years managing issue and candidate campaigns, and working with nonprofits organizing around racial justice issues. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Princeton University

Aubrey Newton | Director, Northwest Laborers’-Employers Cooperation and Education Team (NW LECET)
Aubrey Newton is the Director for the Northwest Laborers Employers Cooperation and Education Trust (LECET) which is an affiliate of Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA). As a third-generation union member and the first woman to serve as the Director, Aubrey strives to work with both labor and management to build market share and job opportunities for members, their families and employers throughout not only the state of Washington, but the eight other states she covers in the Northwest Region. Aubrey and the team she works with, works to build partnerships with developers, utilities, agencies, investors, contractors and advocates for an all of the above energy policy with an equitable just transition for the future. In LIUNA’s Northwest Region, LIUNA members work in every area of the energy sector, helping to build natural gas and oil pipelines, LNG plants, solar, and wind farms, as well as being skilled in the maintenance of natural gas distribution pipes, and nuclear and coal power plant facilities.

Ornella Nicolacci | Director, Transaction Acceleration Group, Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA)
Ornella Nicolacci serves as Director for the Clean Energy Buyers Alliance, leading CEBA’s work to maximize the environmental, social, and resilience benefits of clean energy procurement. Prior to joining CEBA, Ornella worked for the World Economic Forum’s Platform for Accelerating Nature-Based Solutions, where she established the structure for three programs in several geographical regions and maximized impact through outcome-oriented stakeholder engagement. Her previous experience includes the Inter-American Development Bank, Business Monitor International, and the Los Angeles Tourism Board. Ornella holds an MPA from the London School of Economics and Science Po Paris, and speaks English, Spanish, French and Italian.

Meghan Nutting | EVP of Government & Regulatory Affairs, Sunnova Energy Corporation ▾
Meghan Nutting is the Executive Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs at Sunnova Energy Corporation, a leading U.S. residential solar and storage services provider. In this role, she works closely with company and industry leaders, nonprofits, state and federal policymakers, and regulators to craft and implement policies that provide a more stable and sustainable business environment for solar electricity generation. Prior to working at Sunnova, she served as the Director of Policy and Electricity Markets at SolarCity for nearly five years. She has also worked as a Legislative Director for New York State Assembly member Linda Rosenthal and as a Press Secretary for former U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe.

Sarah Oblon | Associate Director of Development, EDP Renewables North America
Sarah is passionate to create an ecological responsible, sustainable, reliable energy future for all humans. Sarah taught Earth Science, Chemistry and Physics in Malawi Africa and Houston, Texas for four years. Using and generating electricity in a thoughtful and sustainable way became Sarah’s motivation to join EDP Renewables over fifteen years ago. She has supported the development, construction, and operations of utility size wind farms, solar parks and battery storage projects throughout North America. Sarah is also a proud mom of two fascinating girls ages 9 and 11. She is so very grateful for all of the amazing people she has worked with and for all of the projects leading towards a more sustainable energy future globally. Sarah also cofounded and served as Vice President of the Indy Pickleball Club, because pickleball is the best sport ever!

Maureen Ochola-Hill | Director of Transmission, Lightsource bp
Maureen is a Director of Transmission and Interconnection at Lightsource BP. In this role she leads interconnection activities in the Southeast US markets and provides expertise on congestion and curtailment risk throughout the US market. Maureen is a dedicated, passionate professional with more than a decade of experience in the energy industry. She began her career as an Energy Consultant at GDS Associates where she provided guidance to clients on Day 2 Market Integration. She then joined E.ON Climates and Renewables and later 7X Energy where her areas of focus were forecasting LMP and binding constraints for planned and existing assets and creating congestion hedging strategies for over 3.8GWs of wind in ERCOT and MISO. Maureen holds an undergraduate degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and an MBA from Georgia State University.

Alicia Oller | Vice President, Director of Onshore Wind, Tetra Tech, Inc.
Alicia Oller is Vice President, Energy Programs and Wind Energy Lead at Tetra Tech, Inc., a leading global consulting services firm. Alicia partners with clients to support their clean and sustainable energy transition. She has over 30 years of global professional experience in environmental and sustainability consulting including 16 years focusing on renewable energy siting, permitting, and compliance for wind, solar, transmission, and storage projects. Alicia provides leadership, strategic vision, and technical expertise to facilitate successful renewable energy development. Recently, she has been focusing on the environmental and social intersections of sustainability and the energy transition. Alicia has supported diverse projects in most U.S. states, the Pacific Islands, and internationally.

Adaobi Oniwinde | Founder, Syntax Ink ▾
Adaobi K. Oniwinde retired from Shell in October 2022 and is the Founder of Syntax Ink, a US-based consulting firm specializing in strategic communications, content creation and advocacy that leverages on the power of storytelling to enhance brand reputation. Prior to that, she spent two and half years on secondment to All On, Shell’s renewable energy impact investing firm in Nigeria, as head of Policy & Partnerships. In that role, Adaobi’s personal passion and demonstrated delivery of self-funded social impact initiatives in needy communities directly led to the creation and launch of the company’s first CSR program, All On Social Solar.

Remy Pangle | Executive Director, REpowering Schools
Remy Pangle is Executive Director of REpowering Schools where she facilitates programming for support of national renewable energy education and workforce efforts. In addition, Remy also works at the Center for the Advancement of Sustainable Energy (CASE) at James Madison University as the Professional Development Manager where she helps in developing courses and curricula, trains teachers, and maintains a state-wide classroom kit lending library. She also coordinates the Virginia KidWind Challenges. Mrs. Pangle holds a B.S. in Integrated Science and Technology from JMU and an M.S. in Oceanography from the University of Maine.

Laura Phelan | Vice President, Strategy and Leadership, American Clean Power Association (ACP) ▾
Laura Wilson Phelan is the Vice President of Strategy & Leadership at the American Clean Power Association. In this role, she supports the CEO, as well as organizational strategy and management. Laura comes to ACP with extensive experience at grassroots’ and management levels across the non-profit and government sectors. She began her career as a teacher through Teach For America and the Peace Corps. She later applied her field experience to policy work at the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Department of State and U.S. House of Representatives before becoming a founding member of the leadership team at Teach For All and a senior advisor on social policy at Teach For America. She later led operations and national work for the Flamboyan Foundation. Most recently, Laura founded and led Kindred, a nonprofit focused on creating racially and educationally equitable schools. She served as an elected member of the DC State Board of Education from 2015-2019.

Angela Piner | Senior Vice President, Power Business Development Director, HDR
Angela works with clients to navigate the rapid evolution of the power industry by aligning HDR’s expertise with their needs. A learner and collaborator by nature, she’s knowledgeable on the latest technological advances impacting our clients, and continuously works with them to chart a path forward. She is acutely aware of the social and political impacts of the decisions involved in modernizing infrastructure. Her work is a testament to time spent listening carefully to client needs — it runs the gamut from traditional power generation and distribution to new and emerging technologies. Angela led some of the first permits approved for renewable energy projects in the Upper Midwest and Minnesota’s first 345 kV transmission line in 30 years. Now she’s at the forefront of developing electric vehicle infrastructure, bringing together utilities and transit agencies to build reliable systems and working with clients to revolutionize their grids for the energy transition. In her role as Business Development Director, she is responsible for growing HDR’s global Power program.

Pagan Poggione | Program Director, Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC)
Pagan Poggione is a Program Director at the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). She has over 25 years of experience in clean energy, spanning workforce development, community engagement, education, and marketing communications. In her current role, Pagan leads collaborative teams in the development and design of projects and programs that address existing and emerging needs in the clean energy workforce.

Kristen Priddy | Vice President, Environmental Finance, U.S. Bank
Kristen is a Vice President and Project Manager on the Environmental Finance team at U.S. Bancorp Impact Finance, where she negotiates, underwrites, and closes renewable energy tax equity investments. During her time at U.S. Bank, Kristen has closed >$1.2 billion in financing for utility, commercial, and residential solar projects as well as stand-alone battery energy storage systems. Kristen is based in San Francisco, CA and formerly held positions at Radian Generation, Ahana Renewables, and Green Lake Capital.

Crystal Pruitt | External Affairs Lead, Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind
Crystal Pruitt is the External Affairs Lead for Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, a 50:50 joint venture partnership between Shell New Energies US LLC and EDF-RE Offshore Development, LLC. Prior to her joining Atlantic Shores, Crystal was the Deputy Director in the Clean Energy Division of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and ran the Office of Clean Energy Equity. This office, created in 2020, was the first of its kind focusing on ensuring access to clean energy programming and technologies for all residents across New Jersey. A graduate of North Carolina State University and John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Crystal transitioned to government work in 2017 and has worked in both the Legislative and Executive Branches. Notably, prior to her work with the NJ Board of Public Utilities, she was Chief of Staff, for now, NJ State Senator Andrew Zwicker (LD-16), and worked as a legislative liaison for the NJ Department of Human Services. In addition to her state government experience, she is also a sitting councilwoman in her hometown of Franklin Township, NJ, located in Somerset County, NJ.

Violeta Rabanal | Senior Director – Head of Corporate Development, Mitsubishi Power
Violeta Rabanal is the Senior Director – Head of Corporate Development at Mitsubishi Power, where she leads capital raises and M&A across Mitsubishi Power’s energy transition and core businesses. Violeta has over 13 years of experience in M&A and investments with a focus on infrastructure and energy. Prior to Mitsubishi Power, she was part of the Infrastructure Credit team at Global Infrastructure Partners (“GIP”). Prior to GIP, Violeta was a Vice President in Evercore’s Corporate Advisory business with a focus on infrastructure, power, renewables, and transportation. Previously, she was an investment manager at Rimac, Peru’s largest insurance company, where she led the short-term fixed income strategy, and was also an Adjunct Professor of Finance at Universidad del Pacifico. Violeta holds an M.B.A with a concentration in Finance from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. in Economics, Summa Cum Laude, from Universidad del Pacifico. She is a CFA Charterholder.

Dana Clare Redden | Founder, Solar Stewards
Celebrating over a decade in the solar industry, Dana Clare Redden is a passionate solar energy professional dedicated to the development of distributed generation solar globally. She is the founder of Solar Stewards, a social enterprise connecting corporate social responsibility initiatives with historically excluded communities. Dana holds a Bachelors of Science degree from Drexel University as well as an Executive MBA from IE Business School and Brown University. She is among GRIST Magazine’s 2021 50 Fixers, a two-time judge at the DOE/NREL Solar District Cup, a co-founder of BOSS: Black Owners of Solar Services, an inaugural American Council of Renewable Energy (ACORE) Accelerate member, and serves on the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) board of directors.

Erica Reidy | Director of Investments, Leyline Renewable Capital, LLC
Erica Reidy is the Director of Investments at Leyline Renewable Capital, a lender of development capital to renewable projects. Erica leads the Investments team, which drives out execution of new deals and coordinates efforts and output across all of Leyline's underwriting and structuring teams. Erica joined Leyline after graduating with her MBA from MIT Sloan, where she worked for Silverpeak Partners, a private equity firm in NYC, on renewable finance and ESG policy. Prior to business school, Erica worked at Nautilus Solar, a solar developer, on the business development team, driving out greenfield origination efforts for C&I solar and acquisitions of partially developed projects. She began her time in the industry via internships at Enel Green Power North America and Sol Systems.

Samantha Reifer | Director, Strategic Alliances, Scale Microgrid Solutions, LLC
Samantha Reifer is the Director of Strategic Alliances where she works with partners to build more together. Since joining Scale Microgrids in 2018, she has advanced successful partnerships with solar developers, distributors, advisory firms, and more, has supported Scale's expansion into coastal markets, and has developed varied (in location, scope, and size) distributed energy projects across the country. Prior to Scale Microgrids, she led research at the Colorado Energy Office on deploying clean energy and related financing for Colorado's industrial customers. She earned a B.S.B.A from the University of Colorado Boulder and specialized in Operations Management.

Diana Rhoten | Managing Director, Purpose Venture Group ▾
Diana is a design and innovation strategist who specializes in human-centered, systems-level change. She has 20 years of experience leading for-profit and non-profit organizations through large-scale transitions and whole-scale transformations. Today, Diana is the Managing Director of the Purpose Venture Group, which is the only full-service strategy consulting firm that exclusively advises ventures advancing the health of our climate and our social compact. Before joining PVG, Diana was Associate Partner and Managing Director at IDEO, where she created the firm's Purposeful Brands portfolio and led its New York studio. Prior to consulting, Diana was CSO at Amplify, an ed-tech venture with more than $500M in current revenue, as well as the co-founder of Startl, the first start-up accelerator for digital learning innovation.

Leanne Russell Fate | Director of Origination, Ambient Fuels
Leanne unintentionally pivoted a career in real estate to a career in clean energy when she joined then enXco (now EDF Renewables or EDFR) in 2009 as a Land & Title Specialist in a hopeful temp-to-hire gig. She spent 12 years at EDFR holding a variety of roles, primarily focused on project development of utility-scale wind and solar projects in SPP and MISO and later supporting origination efforts for those projects and more across a range of US power markets. In January 2022, Leanne took a leap of faith into the world of startups, becoming the first employee at Ambient Fuels, a green hydrogen development company founded by former EDFR colleague Jacob Susman. Today Ambient Fuels is a team of 10 and growing, has the support of Generate Capital, and is leading the great green upgrade of industrial sectors requiring molecules rather than electrons to achieve their decarbonization goals. Leanne’s role with the company has adapted and flexed with the needs of the business, but her “primary hats” are focused on origination, marketing, and team culture.

Sarah Salem | Director of Community Engagement and Partnerships, GRID Alternatives
Sarah received a Bachelor of Architecture from Temple University and later her master’s from the Bren School of Environmental Management, specializing in Economics and Policy of the Environment alongside the communications focus. Upon graduating, Sarah joined GRID Alternatives, a non-profit organization that envisions a rapid, equitable transition to a world powered by renewable energy that benefits everyone. Sarah serves as the HQ Outreach Director of Community Engagement & Partnerships, focusing on community and tenant care for commercial solar and clean mobility programs and supporting the development of GRIDs community-based partnerships. She oversees tenant education and community-based-organization partnerships for the Solar on Multifamily Affordable Housing (SOMAH) Program, a ten-year clean energy program overseen by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). As an Egyptian-American, Sarah has seen firsthand how nations and communities of color are frequently left out of the conversations that impact them the most. In her role, she strives to amplify the voices and stories of those most affected by climate change and injustice and contribute to energy justice for all.

Alissa Jean Schafer | Managing Owner & Director, Copper Stamp Strategy LLC
Community leader, energy policy and utility watchdog, and owner of political and strategic communications consulting firm Copper Stamp Strategy, Alissa Jean Schafer is a research and communications manager at Energy and Policy Institute, an appointed member of the Broward County Climate Change Task Force, and a frequent media spokesperson on a wide range of topics and political issues. She is a recipient of the Solutions Project ONE100 award, Jordan-Huerta Women’s Leadership Program Fellow, Southern Regional Director for Young Elected Officials Network, Climate Power Florida Advisory Board Member, former local elected soil and water conservation district supervisor, and a Local Progress Florida Committee Member. Alissa holds an MS in Communications from Grand Valley State University in her home state of Michigan, along with her BA in Communications from Aquinas College. South Florida has been home since 2012, where Alissa is also a mom to one of the coolest kiddos around.

Jade Scheele | Senior Director of Project Development, Execution Team Lead, Steelhead Americas
Jade Scheele, Senior Director of Project Development, leads the Execution Team (Real Estate, Development and Public Engagement) for Steelhead Americas, Vestas' development arm in North America. Ms. Scheele joined Steelhead in early 2020 adding over 13 years of development experience in renewable energy. Starting as a residential solar, wind and small-hydro design technician, she began developing commercial-scale projects in 2010 and has brought over 1.3GW of projects online across multiple states. She holds a Bachelor of Science in environmental and natural resources and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Montana.

Juli Schroeger | Project Manager, Offshore Wind, VHB
Juli is a Project Manager on VHB’s offshore wind team. With a background in coastal science, policy, and planning, Juli is focused on the environmental and social intersections of offshore wind development. She works with cross-sector clients and multidisciplinary teams on environmental analysis, stakeholder engagement, and economic development strategy to support the burgeoning offshore wind industry in New York City and across the region. Juli is passionate about leveraging opportunities in offshore wind to create a more resilient and equitable future. She has worked with developers to create comprehensive community benefits programs for their offshore wind projects and aims to diversify the climate space at large. She is a chapter leader with WRISE- NYC and was a WRISE Wind Power Fellow. Juli holds a Master's in Environmental Management from Duke University, a Natural Hazards Resilience Certificate from UNC-Chapel Hill, and a Bachelor’s in Marine Biology from UNC-Wilmington. She is an active member of her local mutual aid network and a current participant in Coro’s Leadership New York fellowship program for civic engagement.

Chéri Smith | President & CEO, Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy; MIT Indigenous Communities Fellow
Chéri Smith is the founder, president, and CEO of the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy. She is a woman of Native American and European descent with 25+ years of senior leadership roles in the clean energy sector with public, private, and nonprofit organizations, including the American Council on Renewable Energy, Tesla, SolarCity, and senior advisory roles for the U.S. Department of Energy, Interstate Renewable Energy Council, and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

Lindsay Smith | Senior Director, Marketing & Communications, National Grid Renewables
Lindsay leads the Marketing & Communications team for National Grid Renewables, responsible for overseeing the company’s external communications, internal communications, brand, events/conferences, community engagement, and project charitable giving. She also leads key culture innovation projects and drives employee engagement initiatives. Prior to joining National Grid Renewables (formerly Geronimo Energy) in 2013, Lindsay served as the Marketing and Sales Programs Manager for Genus Technologies, a Minneapolis-based software developer and IBM/Kofax business partner. Previous positions include Group Sales Account Manager, Company Manager, and various marketing/sales roles for several New York League of Regional Theatres (LORT). Lindsay holds a Bachelors degree in French and a second Bachelors degree in Theater from Skidmore College, as well as a Masters in Business Administration from the University of New York.

Julia Song | Co-founder and CTO, ESS
Dr. Song is the Chief Technology Officer and co-founder of ESS Inc. In this position, she has spearheaded the commercialization of iron flow battery technology. Prior to joining ESS, Dr. Song was the Vice President of Research and Development at ClearEdge Power Inc., where she led over 20 cross-functional scientists and engineers on all corporate R&D projects and the commercialization of the 5 kW Combined Heat and Power Fuel Cell system. Dr. Song started her career at Milliken & Co. as an Industrial Research Chemist. Dr. Song has authored approximately 20 peer-reviewed publications and over 10 patents and patent applications. Dr. Song holds a B.S. in Chemistry from Peking University and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. She specializes in fuel cells, batteries, electrochemistry and the catalysis properties of nanoparticles.

Sarah Steiner | Vice President Investment Banking, Lazard
Sarah Steiner is a Vice President in Lazard’s Global Power, Energy & Infrastructure Group. Ms. Steiner has transaction experience serving clients in a range of sectors, with a focus on power & utilities. Her experience includes transactions involving mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, private placements and financings. Representative transactions include advising: AVANGRID on a potential sale of interests in AVANGRID Renewables (ongoing), energyRe on a potential $1 billion capital raise (ongoing), Allen & Overy on a combination with Shearman & Sterling (pending), EnCap Investments on the sale of Jupiter Power to BlackRock, Infrastructure & Energy Alternatives (“IEA”) on its sale to MasTec, Sempra on its minority sell-down of Sempra Infrastructure to KKR; Blackstone on the sale of GridLianceto NextEra; SunPower on its spin-off of Maxeon Solar Technologies; CVC Capital Partners and Messer on the acquisition financing for parts of Linde’s and Praxair’s American business.Prior to joining Lazard, Sarah was an Associate at Goldman Sachs in the Global Natural Resources Group.

Anna Toenjes | Senior Director of Business Development, Sol Systems, LLC ▾
Since 2011, she has cultivated relationships with a wide variety of corporate, municipal, and higher education customers, solar developers and EPC firms, sourced over 750 projects, and successfully closed over 150MW of solar and storage projects through direct customer origination, project acquisition and debt financing. In addition, she led an origination team that was responsible for over 200MW of on-site solar and storage projects originated, developed, and constructed over the last three years in markets across the country and a variety of customer types.

H Trostle | Senior Policy Analyst, Center for Indian Country Development, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
H. Trostle [They/Them] is a two-spirit citizen of the Cherokee Nation. They currently lead the work on tribal economic infrastructure at the Center for Indian Country Development in the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. H has previously worked at the American Indian Policy Institute of Arizona State University and at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance in Minneapolis, MN. For the past eight years, H has focused on broadband policy, and their work has been featured in High Country News and Ars Technica. H studied Indigenous planning and holds a Master’s in Urban and Environmental Planning from Arizona State University.

Bari Wien | Director, Renewable Energy & Environmental Finance, Wells Fargo
Bari Wien is a Director on the Renewable Energy and Environmental Finance (REEF) team at Wells Fargo and has over 12 years of experience in the renewables industry. She has been with Wells Fargo since 2014, where she works on the structuring and diligence of tax equity investments for renewable energy and other clean technology projects. Prior to Wells Fargo, Bari worked in business development for Yingli Solar. She holds a BA from Dartmouth College and an MBA from the Haas School of Business at U.C. Berkeley.

Molly Williams | Director of Residential Operations, Namaste Solar Electric, Inc. ▾
Molly Williams is the Director of Residential Operations at Namaste Solar, an employee-owned cooperative and Certified B Corporation based in Colorado. Her journey in the solar industry started in 2014 with Hudson Solar in New York. She joined Namaste Solar in 2016 and started as an installer. Finding her niche in the solar industry, she’s earned her NABCEP Professional Installer Certification and her Residential Wireman in Colorado. She has worked as an installer, service project manager, operations manager, and now supports Namaste Solar’s Residential Department including their project management, installation, and service teams.

Joo Yong | Director, Energy Infrastructure Independent Engineering, DNV
Joo Yong is a Director of Energy Infrastructure Independent Engineering at DNV. Energy Infrastructure Independent Engineers are responsible for conducting technical due diligence for utility scale projects (onshore and offshore wind, transmission line, and low carbon fuels) in support of project construction loan, debt, and tax equity financing for clients in the North America markets. Ms. Yong started her career as an energy engineer with focus in the implementation of commercial/industrial energy efficiency and peak demand response programs for electric utilities across the US. Ms. Yong earned her B.S. and M.S. in Industrial Engineering and Management from Oklahoma State University. Ms. Yong is also a LEED Accredited Professional (BD+C), Certified Energy Manager, and Certified Demand Side Manager.