WRISE Leadership Forum

Shalanda H. Baker | Vice Provost for Sustainability and Climate Action, University of Michigan ▾
Shalanda H. Baker is the inaugural Vice Provost for Sustainability and Climate Action at the University of Michigan and a globally recognized scholar of energy justice. Before joining the University of Michigan, Shalanda served as the Senate-confirmed Director of the Office of Energy Justice and Equity, Secretarial Advisor on Equity, and Chief Diversity Officer at the United States Department of Energy. At the Department, she served as the architect of the agency’s equity and justice efforts. Prior to that, she served in the Biden-Harris Administration as the nation’s first Deputy Director for Energy Justice.

Sandhya Ganapathy | Chief Executive Officer, EDP Renewables North America
Sandhya Ganapathy is the Chief Executive Officer for EDP Renewables North America (EDPR NA) and a member of the Management Team of EDP Renewables (EDPR), the fourth largest renewable energy producer in the world.Sandhya joined EDPR in 2012 as Head of Investments and M&A North America. From 2017 to her CEO appointment in early 2022, she served as Global Head of Investments and M&A, responsible for M&A, investment and capital allocation decisions, and asset rotation for EDPR across all of its geographies. She was also a member of EDPR’s investment committee. Sandhya has extensive experience in the evaluation of renewable energy acquisitions and investments.Prior to joining EDPR, Sandhya worked as an investment banker for more than a decade with regional and global banks across multiple geographies. She holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Carnegie Mellon and is a Chartered Accountant from India.

Barbara Humpton | President & CEO, Siemens USA ▾
Barbara Humpton is President and CEO of Siemens Corporation, where she guides the company’s strategy and engagement in serving the company’s largest market. Siemens USA employs approximately 45,000 people serving customers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico and generated $19.9 billion in revenue in fiscal year 2023. She views the true purpose of technology as expanding what’s humanly possible. She’s also passionate about diversity, STEM education and what she calls a work life blend that honors her priorities both at Siemens and as a grandmother. Most recently, Humpton served as president and CEO of Siemens Government Technologies, Inc. (SGT), a leading integrator of Siemens’ products and services for federal government agencies and departments. In this role, Humpton also served as an officer/director member of the board of directors of SGT.

Elizabeth Kaiga | Chief Commercial Officer for Energy Systems, DNV North America ▾
Elizabeth Kaiga is a transformational leader in the energy industry who has, for over two decades, developed and implemented innovative growth and client development strategies for national and global professional service firms. Elizabeth is currently Chief Commercial Officer for Energy Systems at DNV, North America. In this role she leads commercial activities and manages customer relationships & quality assurance. Her work focuses on providing our customers with strategies and solutions to navigate the complex transition to an equitable, safer, reliable, and sustainable energy future. 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. Elizabeth served on the Board of Directors for Women of Renewable Industries & Sustainable Energy (WRISE) from 2017-2023, a education, professional development, and advancement of women in the renewable national nonprofit that promotes the energy sector.

Doseke Akporiaye | Executive Director, WRISE ▾
Doseke Akporiaye has an extensive career and executive experience that spans over 20 years, in Strategy and Business Development, Strategic Human Resources, Performance Management, Organizational design and Operations Management. She also has worked with and sat on Boards, bringing these experiences to bear on, and delivering value to, wherever she has served. Her experience and knowledge working in Oil & Gas, Renewable Energy, Telecom, IT and Financial Services, are invaluable. Before joining WRISE, she was the Managing Director of the Nigerian subsidiary of Oolu LLC and a member of the Executive Committee of the group company. Together with her team, she grew the business’ geographic coverage from a single location to its nationwide presence in 3 years, deploying a national distribution and service delivery network.

Miriam Athmer | Director, Sustainability, RWE Clean Energy
Miriam is a sustainability leader in the renewable energy sector, with experience in the US and Europe. Having started her career in Germany, she moved to Austin, Texas, in 2022 to establish the corporate sustainability program at RWE Clean Energy. As the Director of Sustainability at RWE Clean Energy, she and her team are responsible for the company’s strategic programs on supply chain decarbonization, biodiversity impact, circular economy, social responsibility and sustainable finance.

Melinda Baglio | General Counsel & Chief Financial Officer, Clean Capital
Melinda oversees all aspects of CleanCapital’s legal affairs, including structuring, negotiating, and implementing the company’s investment strategies, as well as the structuring and execution of capital markets transactions. She began her career in the non-profit sector, advocating for clean energy legislation with the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG). In 2008, she switched gears to practice law; first as an attorney at Chadbourne & Parke and later at global law firm White & Case. Her extensive legal experience has centered on representing investors and developers in energy financing transactions, including several award-winning and innovative deals. Melinda is a graduate of Colgate University and Fordham Law School.

Kamaj Bailey | Founder & Managing Director, Apeiron Leadership
Kamaj is committed to helping sustainability professionals thrive. Her coaching and learning programs equip leaders with the tools they need to generate lasting results, effect positive change, build stronger relationships, and promote wellbeing. Her practical approach to leadership is rooted in the lessons learned during her time as a consultant at Willis Towers Watson providing actionable insights to Fortune 500 HR leaders as a Talent Engagement Leader, at Con Edison developing programs to attract and retain top talent, and as Director of Learning & Development at Generate Capital, empowering teams through leadership and DEIJ programs. Kamaj holds an MBA from the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota and a BBA in Accounting from the City University of New York – Baruch College.

Cameron Benton | Principal Recruitment Consultant, SolSearch Energy
Cameron is a Principal Recruitment Consultant for SolSearch Energy, a talent acquisition consultancy specializing in sourcing, representing, and placing talent within the renewable energy project development space. Cameron worked for Duffy Group Inc. as a general recruiter, supporting a variety of industries before making the jump to renewable energy. Phoenix, Arizona native now based in Brooklyn, New York, Cameron is a dedicated recruitment partner who facilitates important industry connections through transparent, empathic communication with an emphasis on amplifying and promoting diverse voices. Cameron sits on the Professional Development committee for WRISE and has hopes of starting an organization dedicated to supporting queer-identifying members of the renewable energy and sustainability space.

Stephanie Bosh | Vice President of Communications, Solar Energy Industries Association
Steph Bosh serves as Vice President of Communications at the Solar Energy Industries Association, the national trade organization for America’s solar energy industries. She oversees SEIA’s marketing and communications team dedicated to promoting the organization and its 1200+ members companies—working side by side to fight for policies that create jobs and promote the growth of reliable, low-cost, and renewable solar power. Prior to SEIA, Steph served as executive director of corporate communications at JPMorgan Chase and in other roles with the Pew Charitable Trusts, multiple political campaigns and on Capitol Hill before that. She lives in Kensington, MD with her husband, twin daughters and cat Jade.

Maryam Brown | President, Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) ▾
Maryam Brown is president of Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas), the United States’ largest gas distribution utility. SoCalGas’ 8,000 employees serve 21 million consumers in 500 communities from California’s Central Valley in the north to the San Diego County line in the south. As president, Brown develops and executes SoCalGas’ strategic vision with a focus on the company’s aspiration to achieve carbon neutral operations and delivery of energy by 2045. Brown has 25 years of experience in the energy industry across engineering, legal, policy, and regulatory roles, having started her career as an engineer in the petroleum refining sector. She joined SoCalGas in 2019 from SoCalGas’ corporate parent Sempra, a diversified energy services company based in San Diego, where she was vice president, federal government affairs.

Evelyn Chavez | Project Engineer, SOLV Energy
Evelyn Chavez is a project engineer at SOLV energy, one of the world's leading EPC companies in solar energy, where she works on-site to navigate and lead the construction of utility scale solar projects. She has seen the full completion of a project totaling over 500MW, is currently working on a project in production, and is set to work on another 450MW site in 2025. She has been working at the company for 2 years after graduating from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering. Prior to her industry experience, she was an outreach pioneer in her club, Society for Women Engineers, where she founded an online program outreaching to students while physically distancing that won the WELocal Outstanding Outreach Award in 2021.

Shirley Chin | Head of Tax Insurance, WTW ▾
Shirley Chin is the Head of Tax Insurance at WTW, one of the largest and most experienced global insurance brokerages in the world, with roots dating back to 1828. She is a tax attorney with more than 25 years of legal experience in the private, public, government and non-profit sectors. Her in-house experience includes nine years as an energy tax lawyer, first as the Vice President of Tax at Sunrun, a publicly traded solar, storage and energy services company, where she advised its C-Suite executives on the company's tax strategies, including tax controversy, tax policy, project finance, and tax operations.

Darleen DeRosa | Vice President, Policy & Regulatory Affairs, Stem
Darleen is an energy policy executive with 15+ years of leadership experience in the climate tech, renewables and utility industries. At Stem, she leads federal and state policy strategy for the company's AI-driven clean energy solutions that maximize the economic, environmental, and resiliency value across energy assets. Darleen also serves as a member of the Board of Directors at SEIA, the Solar Energy Industries Association.

Becky Diffen | Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP
Becky Diffen is a partner based in Norton Rose Fulbright's Austin office where she focuses her practice on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and project development of renewable energy, energy storage, power generation and transmission projects. Becky has over 20 years of experience in the renewable energy industry and previously worked as a utility-scale wind power developer. She has been recognized annually by Chambers Global and Chambers USA, was honored as a 2021 Law 360 Project Finance MVP, and in 2019 was named the C3E Law and Finance award winner by the U.S. Department of Energy. Becky serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of WRISE and is a member of the Advisory Board of the WRISE Austin Chapter.

Gretchen Dolson | Vice President, Renewables Practice Lead, HDR
Ms. Dolson is HDR's Renewables Director and a Professional Civil Engineer (NE) experienced in the design of renewable energy and industrial land development projects. Her alliances in the renewables world have led her to the development of more than 15 GW of renewable energy facilities globally. She currently leads business development and technology thought leadership efforts in the areas of solar, off-shore wind, wind, biogas and energy storage development at HDR. With HDR renewables staff working in more than 20 offices, Ms. Dolson and HDR’s focus is on utilizing national technical expertise and local presence to deliver sustainable facilities to HDR’s renewable energy clients. HDR is an Architectural, Engineering & Environmental Services firm with more than 13,000 Employee Owners at more than 220 office locations globally.

Alana Duerr | Principal Consultant, M&A Advisory Energy Systems
Dr. Duerr is a Principal Consultant in DNV’s M&A Advisory Team. Alana has worked in the offshore wind industry in the U.S. since 2013, with experience in both the public and private sectors. In her previous roles, she served as the Offshore Wind Lead for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies Office, where she led the offshore wind R&D portfolio, and was Director for DNV’s North American Offshore Wind team from 2019-2021. Most recently, she served as the President, Offshore Wind US, for Simply Blue Group (SBG), leading SBG’s floating offshore wind strategy, development, and execution within the U.S. and leading their JV with TotalEnergies in the US. She has a Ph.D. in ocean engineering, and a B.S. in naval architecture and marine engineering.

Kristin Dugas | Operations Engineering Manager, Scout Clean Energy
As the Operations Engineering Manager at Scout Clean Energy, Kristin draws upon her systems engineering background to promote data-driven solutions for Scout's operating wind and solar assets. Her expertise in operability and performance allows her to break down complex technical concepts for stakeholders. Kristin is passionate about leadership in the workplace and promoting the clean energy transformation.

Leslie Elder | Vice President of Policy & Regulatory Affairs, Summit Ridge Energy
Leslie Elder serves as Vice President of Policy and Regulatory Affairs for Summit Ridge Energy. In this role, Leslie drives the company’s strategic efforts to engage federal and state governments. With more than fifteen years of regulatory and campaign work, most recently as Director of the MidAtlantic Region for CCSA (Coalition for Community Solar Access), she educates leaders on the economic and social benefits of community solar energy and energy storage. She held prior leadership roles as Executive Director at the Pennsylvania Solar PAC and as Director at the Energy Foundation. Leslie holds an M.C. in Women in Leadership from Cornell University and an M.S. in Community Nutrition from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She has a B.S. from Metropolitan State University of Denver.

Pamela Fann | Founder & CEO, Integrated Solutions ▾
Pam, an award-winning diversity specialist, is the Founder and CEO of Integrated Solutions, an energy services company that focuses on energy efficiency project implementation, workforce development, and civic engagement. They develop frameworks to implement the cultural competency necessary for successful, equitable, and sustainable program implementation. Their mission is to promote an equitable energy economy that positively impacts lives and supports community advancement. Pam has a degree in Marketing, a Human Resource Management certification, and is a Certified Cultural Diversity Professional and Trainer (CDP, CDT). She also holds a certification in Understanding Diversity and Inclusion from Purdue University.

Amanda Flores | Project Development Director, Grid United
Amanda Flores is the Project Development Director at Grid United, where she manages the development of large-scale interregional electric transmission projects that will modernize the U.S. power grid. Prior to joining Grid United, Amanda was responsible for stakeholder relationships, land acquisition, permitting, and overall project management of 3,000 MW of wind, solar and battery storage projects at ConnectGen. Prior to that, Amanda worked at Clean Line Energy Partners where she supported the development of the 150-mile Western Spirit transmission line and associated 1,000 MW wind project.

Hema Gupta | Director of Procurement Operations, Onyx Renewable Partners
As Director of Procurement, I develop comprehensive procurement strategies to support the company’s portfolio of investments in sustainable generation as we aim to create innovative customer-centric solutions for our valued clients.

Bri Hamilton | Vice President, Human Resources and Marketing, Javelin Capital
Ms. Hamilton is the Vice President of Human Resources and Marketing at Javelin where she focuses on leading marketing efforts, managing the New York office headquarters and supporting the senior management team on strategic initiatives of the firm. Prior to Javelin, Bri worked for several firms in the mortgage services and real estate industry where she supported marketing and business development efforts. She is skilled in Strategic Marketing, Operations Management, Vendor Relations, Sales, Leadership and Client Experience. Ms. Hamilton holds a BS in International Relations and Affairs from the University of Southern California.

Kara Herrnstein | Partner and Solar Co-Chair, Bricker Graydon LLP
Kara is a partner and the co-chair of the solar practice at the law firm of Bricker Graydon LLP. As part of a full-service law firm and comprehensive energy practice, her team focuses on supporting every aspect of renewable development in Appalachia.

Tonya Hicks | President/CEO, PowerSolutions Int. and Founder/Managing Principal of Women Do Everything ▾
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, Reactive ▾
Utopia Hill is the Chief Executive Officer at Reactivate. 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. Utopia previously served as Head of Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) at Reactivate and as Vice President of Renewables Construction for Invenergy. After beginning her career at General Electric, Utopia spent nearly two decades at Invenergy in roles within engineering, procurement, and construction. She has been involved in over10,000 MW of renewables projects including wind, solar and energy storage.

Heather Holland | Founder & Chief HR / Diversity Consultant, The Holland Collective, LLC
Heather Holland, SPHR, Founder & Chief HR / Diversity Consultant of The Holland Collective, LLC, partners with clients to curate custom workplace experiences resulting in healthy workplace cultures where people and their talents thrive and flourish. Prior to independently consulting, Heather thrived in various human resources and global DE&I leadership roles with Fortune 500 companies traversing industries including consumer goods, energy, manufacturing and rail. Heather is a sports fan, appreciates the joy and adventure of domestic and international travel, and a lover of architecture and the art of live music.

Esther K. | Capital Management Analyst, 8 Rivers
At 8 Rivers, Esther spends her time building and evaluating financial models and project economics for her company's low-carbon technologies. Prior to 8 Rivers, Esther worked in Private Equity investing in infrastructure projects both within the U.S. and sub-Saharan Africa. She holds a bachelor's degree in finance and a master's degree in finance and data Analytics. Esther is an avid singer and runner.

Melanie C. Kelly | VP of Marketing and Client Partnerships, Pivot Energy
Melanie C. Kelly is an ESG-focused marketing and client experience executive who nurtures startups into industry-leading companies by developing unique human-centered brands and marketing strategies. With 10 years in the renewable energy industry, she’s supported organizations through high growth periods by leading acquisition and retention campaigns, developing strong company cultures, change management strategies, and operational processes that support teams and scale with growth. Melanie empowers teams and colleagues through mentorship and coaching, guiding them to reach their full potential both professionally and personally. Her approach to leadership is rooted in a commitment to helping individuals grow while driving organizational excellence and innovation.

Wanda Lee Florestine | Sr. Director, Outreach (People Development), GRID Alternatives, Inc. ▾
Wanda Lee Florestine (flor-ES-steen) is an HR Professional with 25+ years of HR, Recruiting, Management, and Training experience. She is currently the Sr. Director, Outreach (People Development) with GRID Alternatives, Inc., the nation’s leading nonprofit provider of community led renewable energy solutions, headquartered in Oakland, CA. Wanda has served in all functions of HR within the renewable energy, IT/Tech, biotech, healthcare, publishing, and finance industries. She has worked for startup and growth organizations, to multinational corporations including: GRID Alternatives, Solar Mosaic, Sungevity, Kaiser Permanente, Zonare Medical Systems, Sun Microsystems, and Ajilon Services, Inc., with a heavy career focus in recruiting, but also strong emphases in, career development, professional and executive coaching, and training, all within the lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Hilary Lefko | Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright, US LLP
Hilary Lefko is a Partner at Norton Rose Fulbright's Washington, DC office. She focuses her practice on all areas of federal income tax law, with a particular emphasis on renewable energy and project finance tax issues. She represents developers, lenders and investors in various energy and renewable energy projects, including transactions involving section 45 production tax credits, section 48 investment tax credits and other renewable energy incentives. Most recently, Hilary has been advising clients on the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Hilary regularly advises buyers, sellers, brokers and lenders on transferability.

Jillian Majka | Head of HR, CleanCapital
Jillian Majka is a seasoned human resources and organizational development professional with almost two-decades worth of experience. She has helped new companies develop their initial human capital recruitment, retention, training, and growth goals while aiding legacy organizations adapt to changing norms within the industry. In addition to her professional accomplishments Jillian is an active member in her community, helping lead the East Aurora chapter of the 4-H Club, has advocated for greater outdoor recreation opportunities with the national nonprofit KABOOM! in Washington, DC, and is active in her daughters’ sports and school activities.

Catherine McLean | CEO & Founder, Dylan Green
Catherine McLean is the CEO & Founder of Dylan Green, a strategic talent acquisition consultancy. After working for the U.N. developing relationships with governments on public-private partnerships, Catherine founded recruitment business McLean Ross in 2011, with a core focus on placing professionals within the energy & utility industry. In 2017, McLean Ross merged with global engineering recruitment business JDR Energy, creating JD Ross Energy. With a growing need for diversity in clean energy, Catherine launched Dylan Green in 2019.

Caitlin Mixter | Executive Vice President, Corporate Operations, Reactivate▾
Caitlin Mixter serves as Executive Vice President of Corporate Operations at Reactivate and is a member of the Executive Committee. In her role at Reactivate, Caitlin is responsible for business unit development and oversight as well as managing and overseeing core infrastructure and operational functions such as technology, legal, marketing and branding, human resources and corporate impact.Prior to joining Reactivate, Caitlin served as a Managing Director, Head of Investor Relations and member of the Operating Committee at Lafayette Square, an impact investment management firm. Caitlin was a day one employee at Lafayette Square in 2020 and played an integral role in building out the firm’s infrastructure and operations as well as developing and marketing the firm's credit products. Additionally, Caitlin built and managed the Investor Relations department from the firm’s inception until the summer of 2022 when she transitioned into her leadership role at Reactivate.

Jackie Murphy | Chief Legal & ESG Officer, Pivot Energy
Jackie Murphy serves as the Chief Legal and ESG Officer at Pivot Energy, Inc a leading national clean energy Independent Power Producer (IPP) and B Corp focused on the equitable clean energy transition. As an experienced lawyer and C-Suite executive, Jackie has a long demonstrable history of working in the renewables. Jackie's deep understanding of market policies, regulations, people management and industry best practices has elevated her as a thought leader in the industry. In recent years, Jackie has expanded upon and influenced Pivot’s ESG, B Corp and DEI commitments in her role as the ESG Officer. Jackie is passionate about corporate profitability rooted in ethical practices, equity and fairness.

Karen Nashiwa | Acting General Counsel, Triple Oak Power
Karen Nashiwa is the acting general counsel of Triple Oak Power LLC in Portland, Oregon. Prior to joining Triple Oak in 2022, Karen worked with Avangrid Renewables for seven years handling real estate and deal matters. Prior to her renewable energy work, Karen practiced commercial real estate, litigation, and tax. She graduated from Claremont McKenna College and the University of Washington School of Law and is a proud member of the Portland chapter’s board of directors.

Maureen Ochola | Director, Transmission & Interconnection, Lightsource BP
Maureen Ochola-Hill is a Director of Transmission and Interconnection at Lightsource BP where she leads interconnection activities in the Southeast US markets and provides expertise on congestion and curtailment risk throughout the US markets. She is a dedicated, passionate professional with more than a decade of experience in the energy industry. Maureen holds an undergraduate degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and an MBA from Georgia State University.

Sarah Orban Salati | Chief Commercial Officer, National Grid Ventures US Northeast▾
Sarah Orban Salati serves as Chief Commercial Officer for National Grid Ventures US NE, the competitive arm of National Grid in the US. She is responsible for commercial growth activities and partnerships for NGV’s generation on Long Island, competitive transmission, LNG and other clean energy technologies such as batteries and hydrogen. Sarah actively supports the growth of bulk transmission onshore and offshore in the Northeast through NGV’s membership in the New York Transco and other partnerships. Prior to her NGV role, Sarah served the state of New York as EVP and CCO of the New York Power Authority (NYPA) where she was responsible for wholesale and retail commercial operations including oversight of $2 billion in annual revenues from NYPA’s power generating assets, led NYPA’s grid scale transmission and storage development and its integrated customer solutions comprised of customer-sited distributed energy resources, turnkey energy efficiency projects and the build-out of EVolve – NYPA’s statewide electric vehicle charging network.

Quinn Parker | CEO, Encolor
Ms. Parker has over 16 years of professional experience including regulatory finance and analytics, as well as program research, design, planning, implementation, implementation and strategic planning. Ms. Parker is CEO of Encolor, a firm committed to supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Encolor provides inclusive strategies and thoughtful guidance, helping clients achieve their operational and equity goals. Ms. Parker is a Certified Diversity Professional (CDP) and a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. Ms. Parker holds an M.B.A from California State University, Dominguez Hills and a B.A. from Loyola Marymount University.

Noelle Paige | Vice President, Project Development at Aspen Power
With nearly a decade of experience in the sustainability space, Noelle Paige is passionate about working towards a future with more renewable energy deployment while supporting an inclusive atmosphere within the solar industry. She has worked on both development and finance teams for community solar, C&I, and utility scale solar energy projects. Noelle earned her BA in Urban Planning from the University of Illinois at Chicago and MPA from DePaul University.

Liane Randolph | Chair, California Air Resources Board
Liane Randolph has spent most of her career in public service, specializing in environmental law and policy, effective administration, and a commitment to transparency and public process. She was appointed Chair of the California Air Resources Board by Governor Gavin Newsom in December 2020. During her time as Chair, CARB has expanded its focus on equity issues and solutions, and the Board has adopted landmark climate and environmental policies, including the 2022 Scoping Plan laying out California’s path to carbon neutrality by 2045, and regulations that will accelerate the transition to a zero-emission transportation system. Prior to her work at CARB, Randolph served as a Commissioner at the California Public Utilities Commission, as Deputy Secretary and General Counsel at the California Natural Resources Agency, and as Chair of the California Fair Political Practices Commission. Randolph earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law.

Madeleine Ray | Project Manager, Permitting, AES Clean Energy
Madeleine is a permitting project manager at AES Clean Energy, a global energy company developing renewable and innovative energy solutions. She also founded the Charlottesville Chapter of WRISE (Women in Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy) in 2018 and has been a co-leader since. In her free time she enjoys gardening, painting, reading, and paddleboarding. She holds a BS in environmental science from Ohio University and an MSc in corporate social responsibility from the University of York, England.

Staci Schwartz | VP Human Resources, Primergy Solar
Staci’s title explains what she literally does for Primergy, but her passion lies in “how” by creating strong cultures where employees can thrive, bring their authentic selves to work and have some fun along the way. She has more than 20 years of human resources experience, with much of that career spent in the clean energy sector.

Nicole Sitaraman | Director, Office of Public Participation, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Nicole Sitaraman was appointed to serve as Director of the Office of Public Participation (OPP) at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in May 2024. Ms. Sitaraman joined the Commission as the inaugural Deputy Director of OPP in February 2022 and served as Acting Director of the office from March 2023 through April 2024. She has 20 years of experience in litigation, consumer and civil rights advocacy, energy policy and stakeholder engagement. Prior to joining FERC, she served in legal and policy advocacy roles such as Vice President of External Affairs and Policy at Sustainable Capital Advisors, Senior Manager of Public Policy at Sunrun, and Assistant People’s Counsel in the Office of the People’s Counsel for the District of Columbia. Ms. Sitaraman has received honors from We Act for Environmental Justice, Grist.org and Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE). Ms. Sitaraman serves on the Advisory Board of the Yale Center for Business and the Environment. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree at Yale University in 2000 and J.D. at Boston University School of Law in 2004.

Nicole Steele | Director of Climate Banking, Amalgamated Bank ▾
Nicole Steele is a nationally recognized leader and expert with over 20 years’ experience in clean energy, focusing on equitable deployment and workforce development. She recently joined Amalgamated Bank as the Director of Climate Banking where she will lead the bank’s efforts to execute on the potential of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF). Prior to joining Amalgamated, she was instrumental in the development of the GGRF programs including the National Clean Investment Fund (NCIF), Clean Communities Investment Accelerator (CCIA), and Solar for All (SFA) at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and worked in partnership with the U.S. Treasury on the Inflation Reduction Act’s solar tax credits including the Low-Income Communities Bonus Tax Credit.

Suzanne Swink | Vice President of Government Relations, KORE Power
Suzanne Swink is Vice President of Government Relations for KORE Power, the leading U.S.-based developer and manufacturer of battery cell technology for the clean energy industry. In this role, she is responsible for the company’s legislative and regulatory strategy for federal and state affairs, community engagement, and sustainability. Ms. Swink joined KORE Power from bp, where she spent over 11 years as a government affairs and strategic communications leader. She has nearly 20 years of government, advocacy, and policy communications expertise. Prior to joining bp, Suzanne was Senior Legislative Assistant to Congresswoman Susan A. Davis (D-CA) and served as the Congresswoman’s lead advisor on a broad domestic portfolio, including energy, environment, infrastructure, trade, tax and judiciary issues. She received her bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Southern Mississippi and her master’s in public relations and corporate communications from Georgetown University, where she also serves as adjunct faculty. Suzanne currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the American Council of Young Political Leaders and is a past president of Women in Government Relations.

Denise Tait | Chief Investment Officer, Arevon
Denise Tait is Chief Investment Officer at Arevon, overseeing the company’s project finance and investment activities. She brings more than 30 years of experience to this role and has a proven track record in managing billions of dollars of assets, executing financial transactions, and leading teams. Denise joins Arevon after serving as Co-President for Starwood Infrastructure Finance, a leading real estate and infrastructure finance company, and she also worked for more than 20 years at GE Capital, holding various senior financial roles in credit and origination lending, as well as serving as the Global Head of Project Finance Debt – Managing Director. Denise graduated from American University’s Kogod School of Business, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Finance. She is currently Board Chair of Earthplace and was previously the Finance Chair.

Kameale Terry | CEO & Co-Founder, ChargerHelp!
CEO of ChargerHelp!, Kameale Terry was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. The daughter of Belizean immigrants Kameale has always had a focus on environmental sustainability and community engagement. With over a decade of experience in CleanTech, Kameale formed ChargerHelp! with her co-founder Evette Ellis to create a reliable Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure. The CleanTech company, powered by technology, uses data to identify and provide maintenance and repair services for electric vehicle charging stations. Previously Kameale worked at EV Connect where she was the Director of Programs for the electric vehicle charging station network provider. In that role, she structured and led teams to execute infrastructure projects in the United States, Australia, and Canada for both commercial and government entities. Her notable projects include Electrify America - Phase One program, the Southern California Edison Charge Ready Pilot, and the New York Power Authority portfolio. Prior to that role, Kameale established the Customer Experience Department at EV Connect by partnering with the South Bay Workforce Investment Board employing candidates from the local community. She believes that an equitable green economy can be achieved through impactful development and realignment of existing workforces in conjunction with clean technology.

Becca Ward | Chief of Staff for the Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains, Department of Energy
Becca Ward is the Chief of Staff for the Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains. She has served in Department of Energy under the Biden Administration for nearly three years, most recently as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Senate Affairs, and as the Managing Director of the Clean Energy Leadership Institute, a national organization dedicated to creating new energy leadership for an equitable, resilient, and decarbonized energy ecosystem. Previously, she served as U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley's Legislative Assistant working on energy, climate, and transportation policy. Ward is from Portland, Oregon, and holds a B.A. in Public Policy and Energy Technologies from Duke University.

Sarah Watts Martin | Vice President, Tetra Tech, Inc.
Sarah Watts is a Vice President and Operations Manager for the New England Operations of Tetra Tech, managing and overseeing a staff of approximately 100 engineers, scientists, environmental planners, and permitters. Sarah is Tetra Tech’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Council Chair, and has led the Council through the development of eight Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) that support our thriving, global employee community. Sarah is responsible for convening the DEIA Council, understanding and translating Senior Corporate vison for DEIA into action, setting goals, ensuring accountability, and guiding the strategic direction of the DEIA Council.

Joan White | Director of Storage and Interconnection Policy, Solar Energy Industries Association
Joan White is the Director of Storage and Interconnection Policy. She advances the rapid deployment of storage and solar through advocacy and as an expert witness in state and federal proceedings. Prior to joining SEIA, Joan served as a Hearing Officer and Senior Analyst with the Vermont Public Utility Commission and the Vermont state energy office. She holds a Masters of Environmental Law and Policy, summa cum laude, and a Certificate in Energy Law from Vermont Law School and a Masters of Science in Natural Resources from the University of Vermont. She lives with her two sons in Montpelier where she enjoys hiking, back-country skiing, and paddleboarding.

Jetta Wong | Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, U.S. General Services Administration ▾
Jetta Wong is Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy at the U.S. General Services Administration. She took on this role in the summer of 2024, previously serving as the Senior Advisor on climate change to the Administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration. At GSA she provides advice and assistance on all elements of the agency’s climate, energy, and sustainability programs and participates in key policy decisions, affecting the operations of GSA. Prior to her work at GSA Jetta worked as a consultant developing clean energy policies and programs that help commercialize new technologies. She was a Senior Fellow at the Center for Clean Energy Innovation at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation where she focused on U.S. competitiveness and the commercialization of technologies that reduce carbon emissions.

Laura Zapata | CEO & Co-Founder, Clearloop
Laura Zapata is the CEO & Co-Founder of Clearloop, the climate solutions platform that helps organizations of all sizes—from small and medium sized-businesses to Fortune 50 companies to universities—tackle their carbon footprint and expand access to clean energy. Laura is a staunch advocate for accelerating grid decarbonization by investing in communities—like her own in the South—that can benefit the most from the environmental, health, and economic benefits of new solar projects. Laura built Clearloop, now a Silicon Ranch Company, to capture the broader purchasing power of organizations seeking to invest in tangible climate action and unlock innovative funding mechanisms to bring clean energy projects to life more equitably across the United States. Prior to starting Clearloop, Laura spent her career in Washington, DC working in Congress, in Silicon Valley at Uber, as well as across the country on political campaigns. Laura immigrated from Colombia with her family and grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. Laura graduated from Dartmouth College and lives in Nashville with her husband, Dylan, and their dog, Magnolia.