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Scott Allen joined CUB in February 2014 as the first downstate staff member, working first out of Hillsboro, then from Springfield, and now, Urbana. He focuses on outreach to Ameren customers and building relationships with downstate agencies and organizations. Scott also represents CUB at the downstate caucus of the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition and works on a range of energy and consumer-related legislative initiatives. His favorite aspect of working at CUB is not having to worry about whether or not his efforts have a negative impact on society. In his time off, Scott enjoys napping, exercising and eating.
Kiersten Sheets is a Project Development Manager for Trajectory Energy Partners, an Illinois based solar developer. She leads solar array development for community solar projects and utility scale solar projects in Central Illinois. Kiersten has been in the solar industry since 2016 when she started a solar division for a union electrical services company in Peoria, IL focusing on residential and small commercial behind the meter systems under FEJA. She joined the Trajectory team in 2021 to focus on building larger solar projects across the Illinois landscape. Her priority is community solar to serve all Illinoisans and to keep Illinois in lock step with its renewable energy production goals. Prior to her solar career, Kiersten worked in the Peoria legal community and then in the construction industry where she specialized in energy efficiency for commercial and government buildings by utilizing Ameren IL Energy Efficiency program incentives. She holds a NABCEP PV Technical Sales certification. She owns a behind the meter system on her farm and is also a community solar subscriber in the Ameren IL territory. Kiersten is active in her Central Illinois community serving on several Boards for other non-profits in Illinois including Illinois Solar Energy and Storage Association.
Sarah Finley is a seasoned Client Services Manager at Lochmueller Group, with a unique dual expertise in relationship building and archaeology. She holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Cultural Resources Management at New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) with her thesis focusing on the environmental factors that have contributed to the gaps in our understanding of the Early Woodland Time Period in the American Bottom region. Sarah brings 6 years of archaeological field experience across the Midwest, including extensive work in both precontact and historic Phase I, II, and III investigations. At Lochmueller, Sarah leverages this expertise to lead the expansion of the firm’s Cultural Resources division, identifying key opportunities in transportation, environmental studies, and infrastructure projects across Missouri and Illinois. Outside of her professional role, Sarah is an avid lover of history, art, music and creative performance.
Lucy Fogler is a Senior Recruiter at Rivian, specializing in hiring skilled tradespeople, particularly maintenance technicians. With a strong passion for process improvement and a commitment to making a positive impact on the world, Lucy is dedicated to fostering a culture of success for both candidates and the organization. A native of Bloomington/Normal, Illinois, she enjoys exploring local nature areas with her three dogs, blending a love for the outdoors with a drive for sustainability. Lucy is excited to connect with fellow professionals at the Renewable Energy Conference to share insights and collaborate on innovative solutions for a greener future.
Jeff Reikemeyer is Senior Director of Mid-Continent Renewables Development with Avangrid Renewables, LLC (Avangrid). He graduated from University of Missouri-Rolla (now Missouri S&T) in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, earned his MBA from Marylhurst University in December 2013, has been a licensed Professional Engineer since 1994, and a Certified Energy Manager since 2012. Prior to Avangrid, Jeff worked in the petrochemical and rubber industries in production, maintenance, and project engineering roles, worked as a consulting design engineer/construction manager, and later worked as a program manager for a company performing at risk design build construction in a variety of different industries including the energy industry. At Avangrid, Jeff has led development and completion of over 600 MW of renewable energy projects in the Midwest, with another planned 350 MW currently in construction and another ~360 MW of renewable energy projects planned for implementation in the coming 2-3 years. In addition to leading a growing staff of developers on expanding regional greenfield wind, solar, and storage projects and repowering of existing assets, Jeff has been involved in development and resolution of various state and federal energy policy initiatives and issues since 2010.
Retired Judge Tim Slavin has been running a private alternative dispute resolution practice for the past 16 years, conducting nearly 900 mediation or arbitration sessions. Prior to this, Tim served nearly 26 years on the bench as a trial court circuit judge. From family matters to medical malpractice and everything in between, Tim was called upon
to handle the entire spectrum of state court litigation. During his judicial tenure, he made some type of decision in well over 150,000 cases. He also systematized court logistics and procedures. Tim is also a team leader as evidenced by his election to the office of President of the Illinois Judges’ Association for the entire Illinois judiciary.
Maura Freeman is Rivian’s Public Policy Lead based at the manufacturing plant in Normal, IL. Originally from Danville, IL, Maura moved around the country before settling back into her home state, where she earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Illinois Springfield and her master’s degree from Illinois State University. Maura is deeply committed to the Ronald McDonald House mission, and cherishes the opportunity to give back and support families in need—in part because she and her family benefited directly from the Chicago House during a hospital stay in 2012. In her free time, Maura enjoys knitting, volunteering, and campaigning for social change in her community.
Ryan Libby is the Director of Subscriber Acquisition at PowerMarket, where he leverages his passion for community-focused initiatives to drive meaningful engagement around community solar, particularly in low-income communities. With over 10 years of experience in the climate industry, Ryan has successfully led renewable energy programs and building performance projects that promote sustainability and cost savings. His recent work focuses on building strong community partnerships that empower low-income residents in western Illinois to realize significant utility bill savings through community solar programs.
David Sapper has been actively involved in wholesale electricity industry restructuring for nearly 30 years.
For the past 17 years, David has been Director of Market Intelligence at Customized Energy Solutions (CES), where he provided MISO monitoring and analysis services for a wide range of clients and represented the interests of a group of transmission dependent utilities in MISO stakeholder discussions. Prior to joining CES, as a commissioner’s advisor at the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, he helped with the approval of the first high-voltage regional transmission line in decades while helping lead multi-sector stakeholder reviews of MISO’s energy market implementation as well as Wisconsin stakeholders’ MISO policy initiatives. In the early 2000s as a commissioner’s advisor at the (then-named) Tennessee Regulatory Authority, he served on a governor’s task force to create a transmission open access pilot program.
David is responsible for shaping and directing Clean Grid Alliance’s work to expand transmission, streamline generation interconnections, and facilitate new market opportunities for clean energy growth across the Midcontinent and with neighboring RTOs. As part of this work, he will draw on his experience to seek ways to collaborate productively with other stakeholders and policymakers for sustainable clean energy expansion.
David holds a BA in economics from Trinity University in Texas and a PhD in economics from Vanderbilt University.
As the Rural Energy Organizer, Anthony Henson works throughout the various central and southern Illinois electric cooperative footprints. He concentrates on increasing the capacity of rural grassroots groups to organize and support local climate leaders. Anthony also provides technical assistance to rural organizations in meeting their climate and energy-related goals.
Anthony joined Prairie Rivers Network in 2023. For over ten years, he worked as a community economic developer in multiple roles to include working for county government, a regional planning commission, and community-based organizations. He is also a veteran of the US Navy.
Anthony has an M.P.A. from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, B.A. in Government Studies from Georgetown University, and a proud graduate of Richland Community College. Anthony is also a Delta Leadership Institute Fellow.
Linda Larsen is the Associate Director of Research at the Climate Jobs Institute. She conducts applied research to support the state of Illinois’ clean energy transition, with a focus on creating quality jobs and ensuring equitable access to workforce opportunities.
Prior to joining the Climate Jobs Institute, she worked as the Communications and Education Program Director at the University of Illinois Smart Energy Design Assistance Center (SEDAC) where she conducted research, developed educational materials, and managed programs to grow the clean energy workforce. At SEDAC, she also assisted the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity in launching the CEJA workforce programs.
Linda has a particular interest in expanding opportunities for returning residents in the clean energy workforce. An advocate for people who have been incarcerated, she is one of the lead authors of the Education Justice Project reentry guide, Mapping Your Future, which is distributed to tens of thousands of returning residents annually.
Jozsef Raduly is a Trade Ally Manager in the Distributed Energy department at Energy Solutions, the Program Administrator of Illinois Shines. He provides sector strategy and Authorized Vendor support for the Public Schools project category and manages the project inspections team of Illinois Shines. Jozsef has technical experience in the residential solar industry. Before transitioning to renewables, he spent 15 years as a teacher in public and private schools in the US and Southeast Asia.
As the Vice President, Innovation at Cordelio, Erin Hazen leads the development of utility- scale battery energy storage projects throughout the U.S. , overseeing the origination and development of a 7 gigawatt pipeline of standalone battery energy storage in several US markets. Cordelio Power is a renewable power developer and IPP focused on wind, solar, and energy storage in the US and Canada, with over 1.2 GW of operating assets and a development pipeline totaling 22 GW. During her 17-year career in the energy sector, Erin Hazen has held leadership roles in wind turbine manufacturing and wind development at Acciona Energy; biomass energy and CHP operations at University of Iowa; and development and execution of battery energy storage at GlidePath Power Solutions and Greenleaf Power. Hazen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Gettysburg College, Pennsylvania.
Samarth Medakkar leads Advanced Energy United’s legislative campaigns in Illinois and Michigan and serves as the state lead in those states. Samarth engages and partners with policymakers, agencies, businesses, and advocates to accelerate the transition to an advanced energy economy. Prior to joining Advanced Energy United, Samarth promoted energy efficiency policies with the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, with a focus on improving access to energy efficiency, educating policymakers, and incorporation of efficiency in state energy plans.
Emily Asbury is an Illinois Shines Program Associate at the Illinois Power Agency (IPA). In this role, Emily facilitates and tracks projects, develops updates to Program requirements, oversees compliance by Program participants, among other duties.
Prior to joining the IPA, Emily served as the Environmental Programs Specialist for the City of Irving, Texas. Emily holds a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Ecology and Management, with a concentration in Conservation Biology, from Louisiana State University.
Abigail “Abby” Ramirez is the Data Analytics Manager at the Illinois Power Agency (IPA).
In this role, she combines her passion for data analysis and creative storytelling to drive key insights and solve problems. In this role, Abby works on strategic data projects, sets the standard for data communication and analysis across the agency, advancing the IPA’s use of Tableau and exploring innovative approaches to problem-solving.
Prior to this role, Abby served as a Program Associate for Illinois Solar for All (ILSFA) at the IPA, where she contributed to the continuous improvement of ILSFA initiatives through data-driven approaches. She has also held associate roles at Gail Borden Public Library District and Roosevelt University (RU), where she developed technology classes, managed budget and participation dashboards, conducted sustainability research, and represented RU in the international Resilience Studies Consortium. In addition, Abby worked on data collection for African Strigiformes research and specimen preparation at the Field Museum in Chicago.
Abby holds a bachelor’s degree in Sustainability and Political Science from Roosevelt University.
Tanvi Shah is the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer of the Illinois Power Agency (IPA).
In this role, she oversees the implementation of new diversity requirements and opportunities for the IPA’s renewable energy procurements and programs while also helping the Agency improve its internal commitments and goals for diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Prior to joining the IPA, Tanvi was Director of Capacity Building at the Chicago Jobs Council (CJC), where she led initiatives in learning and development, research and innovation, and systems change. She spearheaded the creation of capacity building resources and professional development trainings, prioritizing the integration of racial equity practices for workforce and human services professionals across the nation. Her dedication to equity is evident through her completion of an intensive, year-long Racial Equity Fellowship with Chicago United for Equity, where she actively collaborated with government and nonprofit leaders on projects aimed at improving equity and access for communities of color.
Tanvi holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Roosevelt University.
Megha Hamal is the Chief Strategy and Communications Officer of the Illinois Power Agency (IPA).
As the Chief Strategy and Communications Officer for the IPA, Megha is responsible for leading the development and execution of key strategic initiatives and priorities to engage stakeholders, spanning from making the Agency’s work more accessible to positioning the Agency as a thought leader to providing analysis informing public policy debates. In this role, Megha is also responsible for overseeing internal and external communications, legislative affairs, data analytics, thought leadership at the IPA.
Prior to joining the IPA, she was Director of Communications at one of the largest independent clinical laboratories in Chicago, where she led their strategic communications efforts (external and internal) during the height of the COVID pandemic. Before that role, she was an entrepreneur, who led a public relations and branding consulting firm in Chicago with a diverse portfolio of clients.
Early in her career, Megha held various communications roles at Adtalem Global Education, Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, and Illinois Department of Transportation. With more than 10+years of cross-sector public relations and strategic communications experience, Megha understands the importance of storytelling to drive innovation and success. Her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, Fox News, ABC7 Chicago, Crain’s Chicago Business, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, South Florida Caribbean News, WVON 1690AM, and numerous consumer trade publications.
Megha holds a bachelor’s degree in advertising from Minnesota State University and a master’s degree in mass media with a focus in Public Relations from University of Illinois.
My name is Kim-Brannon Sibley. I am currently the Participant Engagement Manager with the Knox County Housing Authority (KCHA) located in Galesburg, IL. Our portfolio includes 3 different programs including Public Housing, Affordable Housing, and the Housing Choice Voucher.
Peter D. Schwartzman, Professor of Environmental Studies, has taught at Knox College since 1998. He holds a PhD in Environmental Sciences (University of Virginia). His the co-author of the book, The Earth is Not For Sale (World Scientific Press, 2019). He is the Mayor of Galesburg (IL) and served as a City Councilor from 2011-2021. He has co-founded two locally-focused non-profits (Knox Prairie Community Kitchen and Growing Together, Inc.) and has served as a board member on many others. On his free time, he writes a blog (onehuman.org) and is an aficionado of Scrabble having played in a U.S. National Scrabble Championship/Cup seven times.
Nick Wallace is a Senior Associate Attorney at ELPC. His work focuses on building a cleaner energy system through advocacy before state and federal regulators. Before joining ELPC, Nick was an attorney at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in Washington, DC, where he advised the agency’s administrative law judges on electric transmission and natural gas rate cases. Prior to FERC, he graduated from Stanford Law School, earning a joint J.D.-M.S. with a specialty in energy policy.
Missy Batman is the Chief Operating Office for the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation (HICF). She has two decades of experience in leadership roles with HICF, overseeing operations, finance, grantmaking, and human resources functions. Missy is passionate about making her community a stronger, more vibrant place where everyone has a seat at the table. In her role at HICF she has the privilege of working with donors whose generosity provides funding solutions to education, workforce development, social services, racial equity, conservation, health, and the arts.
In addition to her work with donors she has managed governmental grants including a Federal Education Department grant, a Federal Housing and Urban Development grant, two previous Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) grants and is proud to be leading the Decatur area Energy Transition Navigator program through DCEO.
She has a BA degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix and holds multiple certifications in philanthropy and human resources. She has served in leadership for local organizations including the Decatur Jobs Council and Woodford Homes, a nonprofit supportive housing provider.
Tamika is a dedicated educator and community leader, serving as the Director of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) program at Richland Community College. In this capacity, she spearheads initiatives that advance sustainable practices and create equitable job opportunities, particularly in emerging green industries. Her leadership in the CEJA program focuses on bridging the gap between education and workforce development, ensuring that students and community members have access to the training and resources needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving job market.
Simultaneously, she contributes her expertise as an Adjunct Professor in the college’s business department, where she helps shape the next generation of business leaders by integrating sustainability and ethical practices into the curriculum. With a solid academic background, including an MBA and an ongoing pursuit of a Doctorate in Business Administration, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her administrative and teaching roles. Now in the second year of her doctoral studies, she continues to enhance her expertise in business strategies and leadership, particularly in sustainable development.
Beyond academics, she is deeply involved in community service and professional organizations. As a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc., she participates in various service projects and initiatives to improve the quality of life in her community.
Her commitment to public service extends to her role on Rep. Nikki Budzinski’s Veterans Council for the 13th district, where she contributes to addressing the needs and concerns of local veterans. This position underscores her dedication to supporting those who have served their country.
She exemplifies a commitment to lifelong learning, leadership, and positive societal impact by balancing multiple roles across education, environmental initiatives, and community service. Her diverse experiences and ongoing educational pursuits make her a valuable asset in driving progress in climate action, equitable education, and the Clean Technology Revolution.
Marcus Jordan is the DEI Outreach Coordinator at the Indiana, Illinois, Iowa Foundation for Fair Contracting (IIIFFC). In this role, Marcus leads the creation of comprehensive outreach programs aimed at promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the construction industry. He also collaborates closely with the ASIP Training Site to support the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 150.
Marcus brings a wealth of experience to his current role, drawn from his 8-year tenure with the City of Waukegan, where he held multiple positions, including Asphalt Maintenance, Operating Engineer, and Union Steward. In his role as Union Steward, he was instrumental in negotiating insurance contracts, advocating for fair and equitable terms for his colleagues.
Before his time with the City of Waukegan, Marcus gained valuable experience in supply chain and distribution, working in various capacities for KLOSS Distributing Company. His work there covered Lake County and the neighboring Chicagoland suburbs, where he honed his skills in logistics and operations.
Marcus is also an active member of several key committees and boards. He serves on the Lake County Workforce Board, where he contributes to workforce development initiatives. Additionally, he is a member of the Illinois Workforce Innovation Board’s DEI Committee and Continuous Improvement Committee, as well as the Illinois Commission on Environmental Justice. Through these roles, Marcus continues to drive efforts that promote equity, sustainability, and continuous improvement in workforce practices across Illinois.
Marc Keyser is MISO’s Director of External Affairs – Central Region, he is focused on delivering customer solutions both inside and outside the MISO footprint. Marc serves MISO by leveraging his extensive knowledge and understanding of MISO’s operations, planning functions, and the varying perspectives of MISO’s members and stakeholders. During his seventeen years with MISO, he has held a diverse series of roles, including market engineering support, software development, market design, project management, leadership of customer support and stakeholder affairs functions, and management of several entity-wide programs. Prior to joining MISO, he spent five years in electric sourcing and transaction roles with Consumers Energy, a Michigan investor-owned utility. He holds MSE and BSE degrees from the Nuclear Engineering Program at the University of Michigan.
Kyle Barber grew up in the Coal Mines of Southern Illinois and worked his first real job rehabilitating the grounds. He later graduated from Illinois College (in Jacksonville Illinois) with a B.A. in Mathematics and worked as a financial/insurance advisor for Country Financial. Kyle Started a solar company in 2010 called EFS energy and was bought out by his business partner in 2016. He began teaching solar at Illinois Central College under FEJA (Future Energy Jobs Act) as well as coordinating the graduates with employers. Currently Kyle is the instructor of workforce CEJA (climate and equitable jobs act) at Lewis and Clark Community College as well as part time coordinator and applied for the Contractor Incubator program for Alton and consult for other CEJA programs as needed.
Jay Rowell is the Executive Director of Chicago-based HIRE360, a unique partnership between developers, general contractors, the hospitality industry, and trade unions to connect underrepresented populations to opportunities. Rowell previously served as the Deputy Treasurer for Illinois, where he oversaw the state’s $31 billion portfolio. In that role, he helped to dramatically increase the number of minority- and women-owned firms that manage the State’s investments and re-envisioned the Illinois 529 College Savings programs, earning Morningstar’s highest ratings. Before joining the Illinois State Treasurer’s office, Rowell was the Director of the Illinois Department of Employment Security, where he helped to improve the process of connecting people with available jobs, created a no-cost HR recruiting program and launched a new job board to better match job seekers’ skill sets with the needs of potential employers. Rowell earned his law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law and a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Communication at American University.
Hilary Scott-Ogunrinde (O-goo-ren-day) is a cleantech leader and experienced professional in business development, operations management, grant administration, and organizational development. She is a vocal and productive community advocate for the growth and economic equality of small and minority owned businesses. She has a career committed to improving the quality of life of domestic and international communities through environmental and economic grassroots redevelopment.
Throughout her career, her knowledge and ability to facilitate stakeholder collaboration, maintain regulatory compliance, as well as develop and achieve financial and strategic goals has consistently led to promotions and increased levels of responsibilities. These rewards are a direct result of her creativity, communication skills, work ethic and commitment to personal and professional excellence.
Upon graduating from Xavier University of LA with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, she completed a Master of Health Administration from Saint Louis University School of Public Health. Hilary has led teams in both the healthcare and construction industries in a variety of corporate settings. She was featured in the Journal of Investigative Medicine as co-investigator in the report “Knowledge and attitudes toward obesity among patients at an inner-city clinic.” and featured in numerous media outlets for her leadership role in advocating for minority/women/disadvantage business enterprise contracting participation in the St. Louis Greater Metropolitan Area.
The latter half of her career has focused on champion environmental and economic opportunity in environmental justice and depressed communities in Illinois and Missouri. As a leader and advocate in the construction and energy industry, she has led and directed teams to design, develop, and finance cutting-edge projects that have an environmental, economic and social ROI. In 2022, Hilary was selected as a leader in cleantech to the Maria Telkes Fellowship. She now serves at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity as Deputy Director of Energy and Utility.
Hilary Scott-Ogunrinde is the proud mother of 2 boys, wife to Wale Ogunrinde and loving sister, daughter, cheerleader, and champion to those that call her friend and colleague.
Heather Osborn was a natural heritage resident from February of 2018-2019. She is from Hartsburg, IL (near Lincoln!) and graduated with her Ph.D. in Plant Biology from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 2019. Before attending Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Heather received an M.S. in Biology from Western Illinois University. Heather’s residency provided her with many opportunities for personal growth related to independence and confidence. She also values the land management experiences that she obtained learned from her residency that land management is not “one size fits all”. Currently, Heather is working for IDNR Heritage Division as the Incidental Take Authorization Coordinator. This means that she is responsible for permitting projects that are under construction in places where there are known endangered and/or threatened animal species populations and working with developers to find a compromise between the project and the protection of the population. A fun fact about Heather is that she visited the State Fair every summer as a child with Logan County 4-H to show, or to support her brother’s show, and each year would convince her family to walk through conservation world!
Eddie Creighton is an electrical engineer on Ameren Illinois’ Clean Energy Transition team. Eddie works with engineers around AIC and DER developers to facilitate DER interconnections on a daily basis. Much of this includes leading the efforts to update interconnection standards, policies, and procedures. Prior to this role, Eddie served almost five years as a distribution planning and operations engineer. Among other duties, he performed dozens of interconnection studies to facilitate the Illinois Renewable Energy Credit lottery, studied the impacts of parallel generation on load forecasts, and worked with customers and developers to commission several customer-owned solar fields. Eddie received a B.S. in electrical engineering from Clemson University in 2015.
Kate Shonk supports Advanced Energy United’s building decarbonization and natural gas transition work through legislative and regulatory engagement in Illinois, Michigan, and other key states. Previously, she worked to increase grassroots momentum for building electrification, clean energy legislation, and other utility-related issues at Citizens Utility Board of Illinois. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Michigan.
Curt Rendall is the Executive Director, Program Development and Innovation at Heartland Community College in Normal, Illinois where he works with industry partners, community organizations, and colleagues to develop and expand programming aligned to high-wage, high-skill, in-demand careers. During his time at Heartland, he has helped secure $17 million in funding to drive innovation in Career Technical Education through flexible programming and embedded, wrap-around student supports centered on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Notably, Heartland was awarded a $7.5 million capital investment to establish an Electric Vehicle – Energy Storage (EVES) Manufacturing Training Academy and launch the nation’s first Associate of Applied Science Degree in Electric Vehicle Technology.
Zolaikha Strong is the Senior Director Policy & Regulatory Affairs at Generac Power Systems supporting the Executive Leadership Team in the Energy Technology space. She advocates for the advancement of policies for go-to-market strategies advancing battery and inverter solutions, home energy management, virtual power plants, distributed energy resource management, demand response, wholesale market integration / ancillary services, energy trading among other emerging opportunities. She represents Generac before federal agencies and state public utility commissions, energy offices, legislatures, and other Eastern state administrative agencies, while collaborating with clean energy industry stakeholders, utilities, non-profit advocates and other energy policy thought leaders.
Previously she was the Head of US Government Affairs at Last Energy, as the lead contact with US government representatives, aligning opportunities with the company’s objectives both globally and domestically. Prior to Last Energy, Zolaikha was the Vice President of Legislative Affairs for the National Hydropower Association, driving political and policy strategies to implement the industry’s federal and state priorities for the waterpower industries hydropower, pumped storage and marine energy. Formerly, Zolaikha was with the global Copper Alliance where she led the North American Clean Energy Office. She also served on the Dept. of Commerce Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Advisory Committee and Chaired the Education and Outreach Sub-Committee. She focused a significant time in her career on grid related issues as the Manager of Federal Regulatory Affairs representing the electric utility industry in North America for Edison Electric Institute. She was also with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in an advisory position focused on the regulation of transmission.
Zolaikha received a graduate degree in Public Administration from Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs and a bachelor’s degree in business administration in Finance from Seton Hall University.
As Executive Director of Clean Grid Alliance, Beth Soholt brings more than 20 years experience working with the electric industry in various capacities. At CGA she directs work in the areas of technical/transmission planning, state regulatory proceedings, legislative education and outreach. She holds a seat on the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) Advisory Committee representing the Environmental Sector. She was also selected as one of three NGO representatives on the Stakeholder Steering Committee of the Eastern Interconnection Planning Collaborative.
Beth holds a law degree from Hamline University Law School, St. Paul, Minnesota, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Luther College, Decorah, Iowa.
Nate Keener is the Central Regional Administrator for the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) in the Office of Employment (OET) and Training at the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). He oversees CEJA workforce programming in Peoria, Champaign, Danville, and Decatur. He joined the Department in 2023 after 12 years as Director of Sustainability at Lewis and Clark Community College. There, he oversaw the execution of the college’s Climate Action Plan, which had a goal of campus carbon neutrality. During his tenure, energy consumption fell in 8 of 10 years and the college saved over $250,000 on utility bills despite rising energy prices. He oversaw the installation of over 100 kw of renewable energy construction and earned over $1 million in grants for sustainability projects. From 2021-2024 he served on Alton City Council. Now, as CEJA Regional Administrator, he has been working to establish the CEJA Workforce Training Programs: The Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program, the Climate Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program, the Energy Transition Navigators Program, the Returning Residents Clean Jobs Training Program, and the Clean Energy Contractor Incubator Program. As the programs roll out, Nate will work with grantees to ensure they remain in compliance with laws and regulations and are able to successfully train the workforce for the clean energy jobs of tomorrow. Nate moved to Morton in May with his wife, 2 daughters, and pup Rusty.
Christy Winer Wilson, EIT, PMP, is Associate Director of Development at Cypress Creek Renewables leading the Midwest community solar development efforts. During her 8-year career in distributed generation development, she has led the full lifecycle of hundreds of megawatts throughout multiple markets and now leads a team that does the same. With a background in biosystems engineering, she focuses on merging technical optimization and socially-driven initiatives to be at the forefront of strategic project development.
Chris Meister is the Executive Director of the Illinois Finance Authority (IFA) that Governor Pritzker designated as the Climate Bank in his nation-leading 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). Partnering closely with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity on CEJA electric vehicle and job creation goals, IFA/Climate Bank has provided conduit financing on behalf of Navistar (now Traton Group) and the CenterPoint Joliet Terminal Railroad project as well as work on loan financing with Gotion. On behalf of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, Chris served as Finance Committee Co-Chair of the Elgin-O’Hare Western Access/By-Pass Commission. In calendar years 2022 and 2023, IFA/Climate Bank mobilized, through federally tax-exempt conduit bonds and Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing, more than $600 million in private capital for climate finance projects with more than 50% of these projects were made in or benefitted disadvantaged or Justice40 communities. IFA/Climate Bank has received competitive federal funding awards through the USEPA Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and the USDOT Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Program.
Clients look to David Streicker for counsel on complex energy and infrastructure development matters throughout the country. David advises clients on issues ranging from project siting, permitting and regulatory approvals, to project acquisition and related due diligence, public/private partnerships, tax and project finance incentives, power purchase and off-take agreements, gas supply agreements, project operating agreements, environmental and natural resources regulation and related legislative drafting matters, as well as litigation support.
David’s energy sector clients include entities developing electric generation assets (waste- to-energy, gas, wind, solar, and CHP), multi-state transmission lines, battery storage, coal conversion projects (CTL and SNG), electric transmission/smart-grid, bio-refining campuses, chemical plants, and mining projects. His transportation related matters center around the development of intermodal and airport related projects. Prior to joining Polsinelli, David served as general counsel and ethics officer for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), which is the State of Illinois’ primary economic development agency. In this capacity, he was the state’s lead attorney for all major development projects, including energy related assets, transportation, brownfields/military base reuse, manufacturing expansion, and headquarters relocation. Among the many matters that David actively participated in while at DCEO was the opportunity to lead the state’s legal efforts to successfully land the FutureGen Project – the world’s first near zero emission coal fired power plant. This assignment included extensive legislative and project development work, as well as close interaction with various levels of federal, state, and local government. In addition to his project development experience, David is an experienced litigator, having tried many matters in both state and federal courts, along with administrative hearings, binding arbitrations, mediations, and significant matters before the Illinois Commerce Commission.
Amy is an environmental, energy, and ESG lawyer with broad experience in compliance counseling, due diligence in energy transactions, and administrative and enforcement-related issues. Amy advises energy clients by reviewing siting and operating requirements for wind, solar, and waste-to-energy facilities, performing due diligence for energy transactions, and advising on day-to-day compliance issues. She regularly represents clients in administrative proceedings in the environmental and energy space, including before the Illinois Pollution Control Board, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), and local government permitting and siting hearings. She also advises clients on zoning and land use issues, assists with property remediation projects, as well as compliance with the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, RCRA, CERCLA, and the Illinois Environmental Protection Act.
Amy is also the co-leader of ArentFox Schiff’s growing ESG practice where she counsels clients on ESG-related regulatory and public disclosure matters, setting and meeting greenhouse gas reduction goals, and ESG compliance strategies.
Ethan Loomis manages Strategic Economic Research’s marketing strategy, sales process, and branding/graphic design. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from Illinois State University and has over ten years of professional experience in visual communications and marketing.
Joshua Williams serves as the Senior Midwest Regional Manager of Market Development for Highland Electric Fleets. In his role, Joshua collaborates with policymakers, community leaders and advocacy organizations to promote the health, environmental, and economic benefits of electric school buses. Prior to joining Highland, Joshua worked for the Swedish Government where he helped clean transportation companies expand internationally. He began his career in the transportation industry working for the British Consulate-General in Chicago where he helped facilitate partnerships between American and British electric vehicle companies. As the father of young children and husband of a pediatric nurse, he is passionate about improving air quality for students and their communities.
Raj Rajan is currently Vice President of Project Development for SOO Green, building a rail co-located, weather-resilient, inter-RTO, HVDC power transmission link. Raj has four decades of experience in environmental stewardship related to production infrastructure and supply chains of utility, transportation, energetics, chemical, petroleum, tourism, food, beverage, and paper industries. He most recently served as the global technical lead for corporate sustainability strategy at Ecolab. He was appointed by two Minnesota Governors as state-wide business representative to the Clean Water Council, where he served for eight years advising the Legislature.
Raj is a licensed Professional Engineer in multiple states, holds a master’s degree in environmental engineering from Southern Illinois University and a PhD in Environmental Engineering from the University of Massachusetts, and is a Fellow of the Institute on the Environment at the University of Minnesota. He currently serves on these non-profit boards: Climate Generation, Environmental Initiative, and Fresh Energy.
As a first-generation Nigerian/English-American, Ky has lived on the African, European and American continents. Ky’s previous work experience includes academia and technology consulting. Since 2019, Ky has worked at StraightUp Solar as a Project Developer. At StraightUp Solar, Ky oversees the company’s submissions to the ILSFA program where he has been able to, as he says, “work to save the world, one solar panel at a time.” Ky has served his local church as a Trustee and as a Steward and is also a member of the Bloomington Human Relations Commission, having been appointed to the role by the Mayor of Bloomington, IL.
Philip Dick, AICP has been the Director of the McLean County Department of Building and Zoning in Bloomington, IL since August 2001; he was the County Planner for McLean County from 1993 – 2001. Prior to that, he had been a planner for Palm Beach County, Florida for 3½ years. Mr. Dick holds a B.S. in Economics from Illinois State University and completed graduate course work in Geography, Economic Development and Planning at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida. Mr. Dick has been a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) since 1994, was the Director of the Illinois State Section of the American Planning Association from 2010 – 2014, received the 2014 Distinguished Service Award from the Illinois Chapter of the American Planning Association, was President of the Heartland of Illinois Resource Conservation and Development Council from 2018 – 2019 and was President of the Illinois Association of County Zoning Officials from 2018 – 2022. The McLean County Department of Building and Zoning has supervised the construction of 555 wind turbines in the county; the last 64 of which were activated on February 2, 2023.
As host of the popular Clean Power Hour podcast, Tim Montague brings invaluable industry insights to solar and storage professionals. He also serves as President of Clean Power Consulting Group, advising solar companies on strategies for accelerated growth and success. With deep solar expertise cultivated over his extensive career, Tim is a trusted advisor to entrepreneurs and executives seeking to expand their reach and improve operations. His comprehensive guidance at both the strategic and project levels empowers clients to capitalize on opportunities in the energy transition. Tim readily shares his wealth of solar knowledge and passion for the industry with his podcast audience and consulting clients alike. His dual roles as advisor and educator make him an influential force for growth and innovation across the solar sector. Tim enables professionals to maximize their potential and make a greater impact in the renewable energy field.
Terry VanDeWalle is a Senior Principal Biologist at Stantec Consulting Services Inc. with over 30 years of experience specializing in animal and natural areas surveys, herpetology, threatened and endangered species surveys, Endangered Species Act Consultation, wetland delineation and permitting, wetland mitigation design and monitoring, and coordination of environmental impact statements and assessments under the National Environmental Policy Act. He has been conducting pre- and post-construction wildlife surveys and permitting at wind farms for 18 years, including preparation of Habitat Conservation Plans in support of Endangered Species Act Incidental Take Permits and Illinois Incidental Take Authorizations. In addition, he is an Adjunct Professor at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, Iowa where he teaches Wildlife Ecology.
Matt Aldeman is the Associate Dean of the newly-founded College of Engineering at Illinois State University. Prior to joining the College of Engineering, Matt was a faculty member in the Department of Technology at ISU, where he taught in the Sustainable & Renewable Energy and Engineering Technology programs. Previously, he worked at the ISU Center for Renewable Energy, and at General Electric as a wind site manager. Matt’s experience also includes service in the U.S. Navy as a nuclear propulsion officer and leader of the Reactor Electrical division on the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis. Matt is an honors graduate of the U.S. Naval Nuclear Power School and holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University, a Master of Engineering Management from Old Dominion University, and a Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology.
2003 Graduate of Eureka College, 22 year member of Laborers Local 996, Past President of LiUNA 996 2006-2019, 2020 Mclean County Chamber of Commerce Leaders of Distinction 20 Under 40, Recording Secretary of the Illinois Prevailing Wage Council, Recording Secretary of the Transportation for Illinois Coalition, Bloomington & Normal Trades & Labor Assembly Delegate, Workforce Investment Board of Western Illinois, Power Up Illinois, Illinois State University Construction Management Steering Committee, Illinois Department of Transportation Safety Council, Knox County Area Partnership, Building Owners & Managers Association, Central Illinois Chapter Healthcare Engineers, Illinois Underground Contractors Association, Climate Jobs Illinois
Callie Heidbreder is a Business Programs Specialist at USDA Rural Development. She also serves as the Energy Coordinator for Illinois where she specializes in the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP).
Callie earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Agribusiness Markets & Management. Prior to joining Rural Development in 2020, Callie worked in the private sector for a financial institution.
Dr. David G. Loomis is also Emeritus Professor of Economics at Illinois State University, Former Executive Director of the Institute for Regulatory Policy Studies and Co-Founder of the Center for Renewable Energy. He has over 20 years of experience in energy analysis and has performed economic development analyses at the county, region, state and national levels for many different energy projects and associated supply chains.
In particular, he has performed economic impact analyses for renewable energy projects in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and South Dakota. He has served as a consultant for Apex, Clean Line Energy Partners, EDF Renewables, EO.N, Geronimo Energy, Invenergy, J-Power, the National Renewable Energy Laboratories, Ranger Power, State of Illinois, Tradewind, and others. He has testified before the Illinois Senate Energy and Environment Committee, the Illinois Commerce Commission, the Missouri Public Service Commission, New Mexico Public Regulation Commission and numerous County Boards. Dr. Loomis is a widely recognized expert and has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes Magazine, Associated Press, and Chicago Tribune as well as appearing on CNN.
Dr. Loomis has published over 30 peer-reviewed articles in leading energy policy and economics journals. He has raised and managed over $8 million in grant and contracts from government, corporate and foundation sources. Dr. Loomis received his Ph.D. in economics from Temple University in 1995.
Chairman Scott is an accomplished, well-respected attorney with an extensive public service background at both the state and local levels. Scott most recently served as the Vice President for Energy Systems at the Great Plains Institute, where he addressed climate strategy, regulatory response, and issues involving the changing utility business model.
Prior to joining the Great Plains Institute, Scott previously served as Chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission from 2011 to 2015, during which he helped Illinois expand its renewable energy usage and saved consumers hundreds of millions of dollars on their utility bills. Prior to being appointed to the ICC, Scott worked to protect consumers and significantly reduce emissions from the state’s power plants as Director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Scott’s public service also includes a term as Mayor of Rockford, Illinois, three terms as an Illinois State Representative, and ten years as an attorney for the City of Rockford.
Chairman Scott holds a Juris Doctorate with honors from Marquette University and a Bachelor of Arts with honors from the University of Tulsa.
Erika Kowall is from the Detroit metropolitan area and graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in cellular and developmental biology. After college, Kowall gained experience in a wide array of fields including industrial chemistry, sales, public affairs, and solar energy consulting. She now utilizes this diverse skillset as the Director of Midwestern State Affairs at American Clean Power (ACP) where she facilitates collaboration between ACP members, industry stakeholders, and elected officials during policy development.
Anthony Star served as Director of the Illinois Power Agency from March 2013 through September 2022 and has moved into a new role as Senior Advisor and Interim Chief of the Planning and Procurement Bureau. Anthony’s work at the IPA has included overseeing the development and implementation of plans to procure electricity and clean energy resources for customers of Ameren Illinois, ComEd, and MidAmerican. This includes the Agency’s annual electricity plans for energy and capacity for default service customers, plans for Zero Emissions Credits and Carbon Mitigation Credits, and the Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan which guides the Agency’s renewable resources activities including procurements for utility-scale wind and solar, the Adjustable Block Program to support photovoltaic distributed generation and community solar, and the Illinois Solar for All Program to support low-income photovoltaic projects. These efforts have saved default service customers hundreds of millions of dollars and are supporting the development of thousands of megawatts of new wind and solar resources.
Anthony previously served as a Policy Advisor to two Chairmen of the Illinois Commerce Commission, and before entering government service spent thirteen years at the Center for Neighborhood Technology in a variety of roles working on energy policy and environmental sustainability, culminating in the position of Director of Policy and Evaluation for CNT Energy. He helped start the nation’s first residential real-time pricing program as well as community-based energy efficiency and demand response programs. Anthony holds a BA in History and an MA in Social Sciences from the University of Chicago.