ENERGY SYSTEMS NETWORK - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Member Emeritus of the Board

Amory B. Lovins is the Rocky Mountain Institute's Cofounder, Chairman, and Chief Scientist. RMI is an independent, entrepreneurial, nonprofit organization that fosters the efficient and restorative use of resources to make the world secure, just, prosperous, and life-sustaining. The Institute's staff shows businesses, communities, individuals, and governments how to create more wealth and employment, protect and enhance natural and human capital, increase profit and competitive advantage, and enjoy many other benefits - largely by doing what they do far more efficiently. Lovins is a consultant experimental physicist educated at Harvard and Oxford. He has received an Oxford MA (by virtue of being a don), ten honorary doctorates, a MacArthur Fellowship, the Blue Planet, Volvo, Heinz, Lindbergh, Right Livelihood ("Alternative Nobel"), World Technology, and Time Hero for the Planet awards, the Benjamin Franklin and Happold Medals, and the Nissan, Shingo, Mitchell, Jean Meyer, and Onassis Prizes. He is an honorary member of the American Institute of Architects, Foreign Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences, Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and Honorary Senior Fellow of the Design Futures Council. He has lately led the redesign of over $30 billion worth of facilities in 29 sectors for radical energy and resource efficiency. He has briefed 19 heads of state, held several visiting academic chairs (most recently the 2007 MAP/Ming Professorship at Stanford), written 29 books and hundreds of papers, and consulted for scores of industries and governments worldwide. The Wall Street Journal named Mr. Lovins one of 39 people worldwide "most likely to change the course of business in the '90s"; Newsweek has praised him as "one of the Western world's most influential energy thinkers"; and Car magazine ranked him the 22nd most powerful person in the global automotive industry. Amory B. Lovins is the Rocky Mountain Institute's Cofounder, Chairman, and Chief Scientist. RMI is an independent, entrepreneurial, nonprofit organization that fosters the efficient and restorative use of resources to make the world secure, just, prosperous, and life-sustaining. The Institute's staff shows businesses, communities, individuals, and governments how to create more wealth and employment, protect …

Job Titles:

• ESN As a Managing Director
• Managing Director - Energy INsights

Becca Gillespie joined ESN as a Managing Director in January of 2023. Prior to that, she worked as the New Products and Services Lead at Duquesne Light Company, the electric utility in Pittsburgh, PA. Before that, she was a Sales Director and Product Engineer at UniEnergy Technologies, a flow battery start-up company in Mukilteo, Washington. She has also worked at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as an energy analyst and as a Propulsion Engineer at NASA. Becca has a BSE in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University and a Masters' of Science in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University. Becca Gillespie joined ESN as a Managing Director in January of 2023. Prior to that, she worked as the New Products and Services Lead at Duquesne Light Company, the electric utility in Pittsburgh, PA. Before that, she was a Sales Director and Product Engineer at UniEnergy Technologies, a flow battery start-up company in Mukilteo, Washington. …

Job Titles:

• Vice President, US, Low Carbon Ventures for BP

Damian began his 25-year energy career with BP's North America Gas Performance Unit in Houston in 1998. Since then, he has held various positions of increasing responsibility in the areas of economics, planning, performance management and business development with BP, in Houston, Moscow, Jakarta, Anchorage and Denver. His current responsibilities include representing bp's wide portfolio of low-carbon businesses in the United States, including renewable power, biofuels, hydrogen, and mobility. Damian earned his undergraduate degree in economics, and a law degree from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. He also earned an MBA in Finance from the University of St. Thomas in Houston. Damian began his 25-year energy career with BP's North America Gas Performance Unit in Houston in 1998. Since then, he has held various positions of increasing responsibility in the areas of economics, planning, performance management and business development with BP, in Houston, Moscow, Jakarta, Anchorage and Denver. His current responsibilities include representing bp's wide portfolio …

Job Titles:

• President and Chief Executive Officer of Hoosier Energy

Donna Walker is President and Chief Executive Officer of Hoosier Energy, a non-profit generation and transmission cooperative providing wholesale electric service to 18-member distribution cooperatives in central and southern Indiana and southeastern Illinois. Collectively member cooperatives serve nearly 650,000 consumers across 50 counties. Since joining the organization in 1995, Walker has progressively advanced to a senior level as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer prior to her role as President and Chief Executive Officer. She is responsible for leading the organization in accomplishing eight strategic priorities - rates; cost management and performance culture; supply portfolio; operational excellence; emerging technologies; member focus; risk management; and governance. Prior to joining Hoosier Energy, Walker was a Business Assurance Manager with Coopers & Lybrand LLP in Indianapolis where she was responsible for financial statement and compliance audits of public and non-public clients in a variety of industries including: state and local government, telecommunications, environmental engineering and consulting, real estate, retail and non-profit. Donna Walker is a life-long Indiana resident, received her Bachelor of Science in Business with High Distinction from Indiana University, and is a Certified Public Accountant. She resides in Bloomington with her husband Ron. Donna Walker is President and Chief Executive Officer of Hoosier Energy, a non-profit generation and transmission cooperative providing wholesale electric service to 18-member distribution cooperatives in central and southern Indiana and southeastern Illinois. Collectively member cooperatives serve nearly 650,000 consumers across 50 counties. Since joining the organization in 1995, Walker has progressively advanced to a …

Job Titles:

• Manager - Operations & Design / UX

Elizabeth joined the team in February 2023, moving from Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), where she served as the Graphic Designer and Communications Manager. Previously, she served as the Manager of Administration and Compliance for CICP and as a Marketing and Communications Coordinator with Ascend Indiana through the AmeriCorps VISTA program. Anderson earned a B.A. in Business Administration and Marketing from the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga. She also earned a B.F.A. from the Herron School of Art + Design at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). She has recently completed her M.S. in Human-Computer Interaction at the Luddy School of Informatics at IUPUI. Elizabeth joined the team in February 2023, moving from Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), where she served as the Graphic Designer and Communications Manager. Previously, she served as the Manager of Administration and Compliance for CICP and as a Marketing and Communications Coordinator with Ascend Indiana through the AmeriCorps VISTA program. Anderson earned a B.A. …

Job Titles:

• Board Member Emeritus / Commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and US Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado

Retired July 1, 2010. Gen. Victor E. Renuart Jr. served as the Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. The Gen. Renuart entered the Air Force in 1971 following graduation from Indiana University. He was commissioned through the Officer Training School in 1972. He has commanded a NATO support group and two fighter wings. He served as Commander of the 76th Fighter Squadron during operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and supported Operation Deny Flight as Director of Plans for the NATO Combined Air Operations Center at Headquarters 5th Allied Tactical Air Force. In addition, he commanded Joint Task Force-Southwest Asia and 9th Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force-Southwest Asia, responsible for control of Operation Southern Watch. The general has served as the U.S. Central Command Director of Operations, wherein he oversaw the planning and execution of all joint and allied combat, humanitarian assistance and reconstruction operations for operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He also served as Vice Commander, Pacific Air Forces, where he was responsible for Air Force and Air Component Command activities for the Commander, U.S. Pacific Command. The general has flown combat missions in operations Desert Storm, Deny Flight, Northern Watch and Southern Watch. Prior to assuming his current position, General Renuart was the Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, Washington, D.C. He served as the principal immediate office adviser to the Secretary in all matters pertaining to the department.

Job Titles:

• Mayor

Mayor Greg Ballard explains the benefits of Indy's new EV car sharing program

Job Titles:

• President, CEO, Director, Chairman, Alliance Resource Partners

Joseph W. Craft III has been President, Chief Executive Officer ("CEO"), and Director of Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. since August 1999, and Chairman of the Board of Directors since January 1, 2019. Previously, Mr. Craft served as President of MAPCO Coal Inc. since 1986. During that period, he also was Senior Vice President of MAPCO Inc. and had previously been that company's General Counsel and Chief Financial Officer. He is a Director of the National Mining Association and a Director and former Chairman of America's Power. Mr. Craft is a Director and former Chairman of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. He has been a Director of BOK Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: BOKF) since 2007 and Chairman of its compensation committee since 2014. Mr. Craft holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Kentucky. Mr. Craft also is a graduate of the Senior Executive Program of the Alfred P. Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Joseph W. Craft III has been President, Chief Executive Officer ("CEO"), and Director of Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. since August 1999, and Chairman of the Board of Directors since January 1, 2019. Previously, Mr. Craft served as President of MAPCO Coal Inc. since 1986. During that period, he also was Senior Vice President of MAPCO Inc. and had …

Job Titles:

• ESN Board Chairman

John Bear was named President and Chief Executive Officer of MISO (Midwest ISO) on Jan. 16, 2009, after serving as President and Chief Operating Officer since January 2006. Mr. Bear has more than 20 years of executive leadership in the utility industry and is a strong proponent of market transparency and efficiency. As CEO he is leading the MISO's efforts to create added value for all customers through reliable market operations that meet the region's resource adequacy needs, expand transmission planning activities and foster innovation in the exploration of the region's demand response and energy efficiency capabilities. Prior to becoming Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bear was President and Chief Operating Officer of the MISO, overseeing the ongoing success of Midwest ISO's market operations. He oversaw the design, construction and implementation of the Day-Ahead, Real-Time and Ancillary Services markets. Prior to joining MISO, Mr. Bear was President of the Houston-based energy Reliant Resources, where he directed all operations and commercial activity for their mid-Atlantic and mid-Continent regions. Mr. Bear served as Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of Reliant's European operations, where he made significant contributions to the restructuring and development of the Netherlands wholesale electricity market as a board member of the Amsterdam Power Exchange (APX). Mr. Bear also is Vice President of the Very Large Power Grid Operators, an association of the 12 largest international power grid operators. He is a former member of the ReliabilityFirst Board of Directors. ReliabilityFirst is one of the eight approved Regional Entities in North America under the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). Mr. Bear also serves as a director on the Greater Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana Regional Board of Directors of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. A native of Richardson, Texas, Mr. Bear graduated from Southern Methodist University where he earned a Master of Business Administration degree with a concentration in finance, and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in finance and accounting. He attended the INSEAD Advanced Management Program for Senior Executives in 2009. Mr. Bear joined MISO in May 2004. John Bear was named President and Chief Executive Officer of MISO (Midwest ISO) on Jan. 16, 2009, after serving as President and Chief Operating Officer since January 2006. Mr. Bear has more than 20 years of executive leadership in the utility industry and is a strong proponent of market transparency and efficiency. As CEO he …

Job Titles:

• Chief Operating Officer for Heritage Growth at the Heritage Group

Micah Vincent serves as Chief Operating Officer for Heritage Growth at The Heritage Group. In this capacity, he works with companies that are in markets of expanding growth, particularly in the environmental and sustainability sectors, oversees external affairs for The Heritage Group, and works on corporate governance and strategic growth priorities across The Heritage Group. Micah has served as a board member of Heritage's battery recycling businesses Cirba Solutions. He is also the founder and a board member of Avenew, a software-enabled infrastructure management company that is an investment of Heritage's venture arm HG Ventures. In addition to his duties with The Heritage Group, Micah is the chairman of the Ports of Indiana. Micah previously served in a number of fiscal and policy roles under Governors Daniels, Pence, and Holcomb, including serving as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Micah lives in Zionsville with his wife and three children. Micah Vincent serves as Chief Operating Officer for Heritage Growth at The Heritage Group. In this capacity, he works with companies that are in markets of expanding growth, particularly in the environmental and sustainability sectors, oversees external affairs for The Heritage Group, and works on corporate governance and strategic growth priorities across The Heritage Group. …

Job Titles:

• Chief Financial Officer
• Chief Financial Officer of ESN

Michael Bouton began as Chief Financial Officer of ESN on October 3, 2022, and is responsible for the financial operations of the organization. Prior to becoming Chief Financial Officer, he served as Manager at Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors, where he assisted Indiana communities in budget preparation, capital planning, and tax increment financing projects. He spent over five years at the Indiana Economic Development Corporation as Director of Budgeting, where he was responsible for the deployment of the agency's annual appropriation, bi-annual budget submission, and grant compliance. Michael moved to Indianapolis in 2014 and began working in the Office of Management and Budget for the City of Indianapolis under Mayor Ballard. A native of Connecticut, he earned his bachelor's degree in Politics from Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH, and a Masters of Public Administration from Northeastern University in Boston, MA. Michael Bouton began as Chief Financial Officer of ESN on October 3, 2022, and is responsible for the financial operations of the organization. Prior to becoming Chief Financial Officer, he served as Manager at Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors, where he assisted Indiana communities in budget preparation, capital planning, and tax increment financing projects. He spent …

Job Titles:

• President
• President of Purdue University

Mung Chiang is president of Purdue University and the Roscoe H. George Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. From July 2017 to June 2022, he was the John A. Edwardson Dean of the College of Engineering. From April 2021 to December 2022, he was the executive vice president for strategic initiatives. Previously, Chiang was the Arthur LeGrand Doty Professor of Electrical Engineering at Princeton University, where he was the inaugural chairman of the Princeton Entrepreneurship Council and director of the Keller Center for Innovation in Engineering Education. He helped launch entrepreneurial programs at Princeton and was named a New Jersey CEO of the Year (2014). He received a BS (Honors) in electrical engineering and in mathematics and an MS and PhD in electrical engineering from Stanford University. As a teacher, Chiang received the Distinguished Teaching Award in Engineering (2016) at Princeton University for creating an interdisciplinary undergraduate course, flipping the classroom, and teaching one of the university's first massive open online courses, which has been taught to over 400,000 people. His textbook "Networked Life" (Cambridge University Press, 2012) received the ASEE Frederick Emmons Terman Award (2013) and an Association of American Publishers PROSE Award (2012). He has advised more than 50 PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, including 24 who have become faculty in research universities. As an inventor and entrepreneur, Chiang has 25 U.S. patents, most of which have been licensed and deployed by the communications and networking industry. He co-founded three startup companies in mobile networks, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things, based on the research at Princeton's EDGE Lab, and co-founded a global nonprofit, the OpenFog Consortium, now part of the global Industrial Internet Consortium. He was the founding CEO of Datami, which has served over 60 million users around the world in bridging the digital divide. As a diplomat and policymaker, Chiang was the science and technology advisor to the U.S. secretary of state and initiated the U.S. government's tech diplomacy programs. Since returning from Washington, D.C., in 2020, he co-founded the Krach Institute of Tech Diplomacy at Purdue and serves as the technology and innovation advisor to the state of Indiana.

Job Titles:

• Managing Director - Hydrogen Ecosystem

Neil joined Energy Systems Network (ESN) in January 2023 as Managing Director. Prior to ESN, he spent nearly a decade at Cummins Inc. His most recent role at Cummins was Program Director in the New Power Segment, focused on maximizing the potential of the portfolio of investments in Hydrogen. Previously to that position, he worked in the Corporate Strategy area, identifying companies and technologies to acquire as part of the New Power Segment. He has held several M&A, Treasury, and finance roles in his career, including service as the CFO of a small private equity fund. Neil earned a Bachelor's in Finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an MBA from Bradley University. He is a CFA Charterholder and serves on the Board of Directors of the CFA Society of Indianapolis as the immediate past president. Neil joined Energy Systems Network (ESN) in January 2023 as Managing Director. Prior to ESN, he spent nearly a decade at Cummins Inc. His most recent role at Cummins was Program Director in the New Power Segment, focused on maximizing the potential of the portfolio of investments in Hydrogen. Previously to that position, he worked …

Job Titles:

• CEO
• Co - Founder
• President
• President, CEO and Co - Founder of Doral Renewables LLC

Nick Cohen is the President, CEO and Co-Founder of Doral Renewables LLC (formerly Global Energy Generation),, leading developer of utility-scale renewable energy projects. Nick has 18-years of global experience leading energy project development. For 9 years, he served as Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of EmberClear, a developer of utility-scale energy projects. Before co-founding Doral Renewables LLC, Mr. Cohen managed the development of energy and desalination projects for Chicago-based Invenergy, a leading developer, owner-operator of renewables. Mr. Cohen earned a BS in Business Administration from Drexel University and an MBA from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business. Nick Cohen is the President, CEO and Co-Founder of Doral Renewables LLC (formerly Global Energy Generation),, leading developer of utility-scale renewable energy projects. Nick has 18-years of global experience leading energy project development. For 9 years, he served as Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of EmberClear, a developer of utility-scale energy projects. Before co-founding Doral …

Job Titles:

• CEO
• President

Paul Mitchell serves as President and CEO of Energy Systems Network (ESN). Prior to joining ESN, Paul served in the Office of Governor Mitch Daniels as policy director for Economic Development, Workforce, & Energy. In this capacity, he oversaw legislation, policy, and program development for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, Indiana Department of Workforce Development, and Indiana Department of Labor, and acted as the Governor's liaison to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission and Office of Utility Consumer Counselor. During his tenure with the Governor's Office, Mitchell also led the formation of and directed the Indiana Office of Federal Grants and Procurement. A native of West Lafayette, Indiana he holds a Masters of Public Affairs from the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs in Bloomington, Ind. where he graduated as valedictorian. Paul Mitchell serves as President and CEO of Energy Systems Network (ESN). Prior to joining ESN, Paul served in the Office of Governor Mitch Daniels as policy director for Economic Development, Workforce, & Energy. In this capacity, he oversaw legislation, policy, and program development for the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, Indiana Department of Workforce Development, …

Job Titles:

• President of Duke Energy 's Indiana
• President of Indiana Operations, Duke Energy

Stan Pinegar serves as president of Duke Energy's Indiana operations, the state's largest electric utility, serving approximately 860,000 customers in 69 of Indiana's 92 counties. He is responsible for the financial performance of Duke Energy's regulated utilities in Indiana, in addition to managing regulatory affairs, government relations and community affairs. He also has responsibility for advancing the company's legislative and regulatory strategies and integrated resource planning. Prior to assuming his current position in November 2018, Pinegar served as vice president of government affairs for Duke Energy Indiana. In this role, he was responsible for state government and regulatory policies, strategies and relationships impacting Duke Energy Indiana's interests and those of its customers. This included leading the Indiana legislative affairs team and coordinating regulatory affairs with the executive branch of Indiana government. Stan Pinegar serves as president of Duke Energy's Indiana operations, the state's largest electric utility, serving approximately 860,000 customers in 69 of Indiana's 92 counties. He is responsible for the financial performance of Duke Energy's regulated utilities in Indiana, in addition to managing regulatory affairs, government relations and community affairs. He also has responsibility for …