SOLAR JOBS CENSUS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Senior Manager for Workforce Education and Training at Richard Heath
Amanda is the Senior Manager for Workforce Education and Training at Richard Heath and Associates (RHA). She oversees workforce training initiatives, collaborating with federal, state, utility and non-profit energy efficiency programs. Amanda has been the Principle Investigator for two National Science Foundation grants, focusing on innovative approaches to building science training. Her industry involvement includes serving on the IREC 01022 ANSI Standard Committee, the IREC Green Building Career Map advisory group and national and local boards.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Senior Vice President
Anne Hoskins leads Generac's Policy team as Senior Vice President for Policy and Market Development, where she advocates for policy initiatives to accelerate distributed clean energy deployment, modernize the electric grid, and improve energy resiliency and reliability. She has almost two decades of regulatory, policy and strategy experience across multiple venues in the energy and telecommunications industries, including serving as Chief Policy Officer of Sunrun, Commissioner of the Maryland Public Service Commission, SVP of Policy and Sustainability at Public Service Enterprise Group, and Senior Counsel at Verizon Wireless. Anne has advanced regulatory innovation through her Board of Directors' roles on the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) and the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA).
Anne is a frequent public speaker on energy policy and guest lecturer at universities and served as the first visiting research scholar at the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment at Princeton University. She is a graduate of Harvard Law School, the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs (MPA), and Cornell University (BS, Applied Economics).
Job Titles:
- Communications Projects Director at IREC
Avery Palmer is Communications Projects Director at IREC. He is responsible for guiding the strategic direction of several flagship projects to advance the organization's mission and contribute to the success of its programs. He was previously the Communications Director at The Solar Foundation, where he led outreach campaigns for the National Solar Jobs Census, SolSmart, the Puerto Rico initiative, and other major programs. Avery previously led communications at the Violence Policy Center, a national gun violence prevention organization. He also has many years of experience as a journalist, including as an environment and energy reporter at Congressional Quarterly. Avery grew up in Des Moines, Iowa and has a Bachelor's Degree from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Co - Founder of Zemetric
- International Market Strategist
Passionate about disruptive technologies, Bonnie is an international market strategist who brings to bear a combined policy and business background to positively impact decarbonization pathways, with deep expertise in transport electrification and grid modernization.
Bonnie is the co-founder of Zemetric, a clean transport infrastructure start-up based in Silicon Valley. She is also the founder of Plug to Grid Strategies, a niche advisory firm that focuses on early-stage start-ups in charging infrastructure. Prior to this, Bonnie was Senior Director, Market Development, Americas & South-East Asia for Siemens Digital Grid, and eMobility businesses. She has previously worked at the inward-investment arm of the Singapore Government, and in mobile telecom at Nokia.
Bonnie also serves on the Advisory Board of Electrada.
Job Titles:
- Program Director
- Certified Economic Developer from International Economic Development Council
- Program Director - SolSmart
Brandy O'Quinn is Program Director of SolSmart at IREC.
Before joining IREC, Brandy has collaborated and worked closely with city council members and all levels of city staff and stakeholders to advance over 25 different policies to remove barriers and improve the health of her community. She has spearheaded the grass roots effort to launch a new electric circulator bus connecting two highly populated entertainment districts. Having strong working relationships with high profile business leaders, elected officials at the federal, state, and local levels, she has a proven track record in securing collaboration among groups with diverse interests.
Brandy holds a M.S.R.E - Masters in Real Estate and Sustainability from the University of Texas at Arlington, and B.S. in Political Science from the University of Texas at Austin.
Brandy is a Certified Economic Developer from International Economic Development Council (IEDC), holds an ESG Certificate from Berkeley School of Law, and was a Zoning Commissioner for four years. She has been recognized as Top Influencer in Fort Worth, Inc Magazine, two years in a row.
Brandy currently resides in Fort Worth, TX, and is married with a 21-year-old daughter.
Job Titles:
- Chief Regulatory Engineer for IREC
Brian Lydic, Chief Regulatory Engineer for IREC, has been active in renewable energy since 2005. He started out designing and installing residential and small commercial PV, solar thermal, and wind energy systems for a company based in Ann Arbor, MI. In 2007, he joined Fronius as an Applications Engineer for solar electronics, supporting customers with design and field issues as well as leading numerous trainings for installers, designers, and salespeople. In his role as Sr. Standards & Technology Engineer, Brian tracked standards and regulatory, technology, and market issues as they related to product development for Fronius. As Regulatory Engineer for IREC, he continues to work with regulatory stakeholders to further the organization's mission to increase access to sustainable energy and energy efficiency. He is a member of UL 1741 and IEEE 1547 working groups, helping to improve the grid integration of PV systems. Brian is a founding member and chair of the Forum on Inverter Grid Integration Issues (FIGII), an ad-hoc consortium of PV experts which seeks to address emerging high penetration issues through research and standardization. Working with utilities, manufacturers, and experts, Brian helps to craft and revise technical requirements for grid interconnection in California, Hawaii, and elsewhere. Brian, who holds an electrical engineering degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan with his wife Willi and enjoys playing music with (and for) friends.
Job Titles:
- Program Director, Puerto Rico at IREC
Carlos Alberto Velázquez López is Program Director, Puerto Rico at IREC, where he oversees Puerto Rico programs including the Puerto Rican Solar Business Accelerator, a position he also held at The Solar Foundation prior to the merger of the two organizations in 2021. An environmental manager by education, Carlos Alberto has been able to bring an interdisciplinary perspective to problem analysis and solutions. After completing two tours in the United States Marine Corps, he was honorably discharged in 2006 and quickly transitioned to serving Puerto Rico by advising environmental and political organizations on federal, environmental, and energy matters. Instrumental in the early coalitions that advocated for net metering and interconnection of distributed generation in Puerto Rico, he eventually became the managing partner for a local energy and photovoltaic design and installation company. After Hurricanes Irma and Maria, he led an exemplary team of engineers, financial experts, and community economic development professionals to put together a conceptual design for a community-based renewable energy microgrid. That initiative became the basis for an ongoing energy cooperative model that is in development in rural areas of Puerto Rico.
Claire Laurentine is a Program Manager within the Workforce Development team at IREC. She previously held the position of Workforce Program Manager at GRID Alternatives North Valley, where her main focus was managing a solar installation training program, teaching career readiness skills, helping place folks in jobs within the renewable energy sector, and building community partnerships. Claire is passionate about environmental justice, renewable energy, and making the clean energy space more equitable, diverse, and accessible. She graduated from Mills College in Oakland with a degree in Environmental Studies, focusing on environmental policy. Claire loves the outdoors and lives in Sacramento, California.
Job Titles:
- Vice President - Workforce Strategy and Innovation
- Vice President of IREC 's Workforce
Cynthia serves as Vice President of IREC's Workforce program, creating strategic initiatives helping to expand workforce development in clean energy. Cynthia comes to IREC from the Virginia Community College System as the Director of Workforce Development Programs and Partnerships. Her background includes experience in higher education, workforce development, adult education, fiscal management, programs for justice-impacted individuals, and research in building social capital for underserved communities. Cynthia is passionate about developing sustainable and equitable career opportunities and pathways for underrepresented populations in the clean energy workforce.
Cynthia holds a PhD in Higher Education Leadership from Old Dominion University, a Master's Degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a Bachelor's Degree from Virginia Tech. She lives near Richmond, Virginia with her husband, two children, and two dogs.
Job Titles:
- Investor
- Member of the Board of Directors
Dan Reicher is an entrepreneur, investor, policymaker, lawyer, and educator focused on clean energy and climate change. Dan has served three U.S. presidents, testified before the U.S. Congress more than 50 times, led the launch of Google's pathbreaking climate and clean energy work, oversaw a $1.2 billion annual clean energy RD&D budget as U.S. Assistant Secretary of Energy, and co-founded the nation's first investment firm focused exclusively on renewable energy project finance. He is currently a Senior Scholar at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, Co-Founder and Senior Advisor at the Climate Adaptive Infrastructure Fund, and a member of various boards and councils on clean energy, climate, and conservation.
Dan served from 2011 to 2018 as founding executive director of the Steyer-Taylor Center for Energy Policy and Finance, a joint center of the Stanford Law School and Stanford Graduate School of Business. He came to Stanford from Google, where he served since 2007 as Director of Climate Change and Energy Initiatives.
Dan's federal roles include: Assistant Secretary of Energy for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; Department of Energy Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff; Acting Assistant Secretary of Energy for Policy; a member of the Obama and Clinton presidential transition teams; a member of the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board; a member of the National Academy of Sciences Board on Energy and Environmental Systems; a staff member of the President's Commission on the Accident at Three Mile Island; a law clerk to a federal district court judge; and a paralegal in the U.S. Department of Justice.
In addition to his work at Google and the Climate Adaptive Infrastructure Fund, Dan's private sector roles include President and Co-Founder of New Energy Capital, the nation's first investment firm focused exclusively on renewable energy project finance, and Executive Vice President of Northern Power Systems, one of the nation's oldest renewable energy companies. Earlier in his career, Dan was as an Assistant Attorney General in Massachusetts and an attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council. He was also an adjunct professor at Yale University, Vermont Law School and the University of Maryland.
In 2012, Dan received an honorary doctorate from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry and was also named one of the five most influential figures in U.S. clean energy by Oilprice.Com. He holds a BA in biology from Dartmouth College and a JD from Stanford Law School. He also studied at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and MIT.
An avid kayaker, Dan was a member of the first expedition on record to navigate the entire 1888-mile Rio Grande (with support from the National Geographic Society) and to kayak the Yangtze River in China. He is married to Carole Parker, has three children, and lives in Warren, Vermont.
Job Titles:
- CEO and President of Urban Efficiency Group
- HR / DEIA Consultant
Darnell Johnson is the CEO and President of Urban Efficiency Group (UEG), Illinois' first native, minority-owned utility implementation and sustainability design firm. Darnell served in the United States Army for nine years and began his formal education at Central Texas College majoring in Urban Planning, while on active duty. Darnell graduated from Moody Bible Institute with a Bachelor's in Theology and a minor in counseling. His industry specific credentials include but are not limited to; BPI- Building Analyst, Building Envelope, Infiltration Duct Leakage, Energy Auditor, Quality Control Inspector, Healthy Home Evaluator, RESNET Rater, EcoDistrict Accredited Professional, and DEI Certified Professional (Cornell University).
Darnell is a spirtitual and sustainability architect, with over two decades of entrepreneurial, social science, and sustainability experience. His commitment to engineering solutions that humanizes sustainability for BIPOC communities and advancing energy equity is fundamental to all of his work.
Darnell and Urban Efficiency Group have assisted thousands of underserved residents across Northwest Indiana, the greater Chicagoland and Milwaukee Wisconsin reduce their energy burden by delivering energy efficiency and community sustainability services, while working toward carbon neutrality. He believes that diversity brings strength, inclusion is indicative of an acceptance that is essential to growth, and equity is a human right that should be embraced as the standard and not an exception. By pragmatically implementing these beliefs systemic change would be the resolve and "Stronger Together" would become a reality.
As a Senior Program Manager for IREC's Regulatory program, David focuses on improving rules, regulatory policies, and technical standards to make clean energy widely accessible and develop a state-of-the-art electric grid. He previously worked on the IREC-led SolSmart program, which provides local governments nationwide with no-cost technical assistance to help streamline their solar permitting, inspection, and zoning policies. Prior to joining IREC, David held the same role working on SolSmart at The Solar Foundation, which merged with IREC in 2020. Earlier in his career, he worked as a research contractor for Smart Electric Power Alliance and Wind Energy Foundation, and was a fellow with the Clean Energy Leadership Institute. David holds a B.S. in Political Science and Communication Studies from Towson University and a M.S. in Energy Policy and Climate from Johns Hopkins University.
Job Titles:
- Leader
- Director, Equitable Workforce Strategies
- IREC 's Director of Equitable Workforce Strategies
Dr. Janell Hills-Thomas is IREC's Director of Equitable Workforce Strategies. She has 15 years of experience in higher education, 12 years of experience in grant administration including development, implementation, and management. Dr. Hills has developed work-based learning and apprenticeship programs for innovative occupations such as pharmacy technician, information technology, and also had the opportunity to enhance the plumber's apprenticeship program by adding digital plumbing layout design equipment for course implementation.
Dr. Hills-Thomas is an enthusiastic leader who is passionate about education and workforce equity. She thoroughly enjoys working to develop programs for underrepresented populations.
A fun fact about Dr. Hills-Thomas is while she loves being outside, she hates bugs and is terrified of spiders.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- WDT Consulting LLC
Job Titles:
- Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives
Ed is Senior Director at IREC, focusing on strategic initiatives. He also oversees the Puerto Rican Solar Business Accelerator. His past leadership roles include SolSmart, American Cities Climate Challenge, Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (CPACE), Solar Ready Vets, and the National Solar Jobs Census. He was principal author for the 2015 - 2019 National Solar Jobs Census reports and the 2017 Solar Schools report. Prior to joining IREC, Ed was Senior Director at The Solar Foundation, which merged with IREC in 2021. Prior to that, he was Vice President at the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) where he managed their Advisory Services and Research Department. In that role, Ed directed all local, state, federal, and international consulting work, completing over 80 projects in 65 cities and regions. He is a certified planner (AICP), economic development professional (CEcD), and project management professional (PMP). He holds two master's degrees from the University of Virginia, including an MBA from the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Senior Vice President for Climate and Environmental
Emily Robichaux is Senior Vice President for Climate and Environmental Programs at Opportunity Finance Network (OFN), a financial intermediary for the community development financial institution (CDFI) industry. She is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive climate strategy for the organization's network of 400+ CDFIs that serve communities across the U.S. Prior to joining OFN, Emily was a banker at Amalgamated Bank where she financed sustainable projects and companies that advanced the bank towards its net zero targets. She also previously served as CFO of Groundswell, a DC-based non-profit solar developer, where she executed transactions for the organization's low- and moderate-income serving community solar and solar+storage projects in multiple markets, researched and analyzed transaction structures and financing trends to accelerate LMI access to solar, and launched the organization's subscriber services line of business to bring clean energy savings to over 5,000 households.
Emily earned her MBA in Sustainability from Bard College and holds dual bachelor's degrees in French Studies and Government from Smith College. She was honored to have received the 2018 Bard MBA L. Hunter Lovins Award for her commitment to advancing social justice as an essential element of the clean energy transition. A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Emily has lived in DC since 2005.
Job Titles:
- Workforce Outreach Manager
As Workforce Outreach Manager, Grace is responsible for driving local engagement, developing collaborative partnerships, and supporting outreach campaigns for IREC. Grace most recently worked with Educators for Excellence building advocacy campaigns to support increased school funding and accessible teacher certification. Prior to joining Educators for Excellence, Grace worked as a community organizer to design and implement youth voter outreach efforts.
Grace brings a passion for the environment to her work with IREC and will draw upon her experiences with the Environmental Protection Agency and the American Bear Association to dive into green community initiatives. She holds a BA from Boston College in Political Science and a minor in Managing for Social Impact. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, traveling, and live music. Grace currently resides in Pennsylvania.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Communications
As Vice President of Communications at the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), Gwen oversees communications and outreach to increase awareness of IREC's work to build the foundation for rapid adoption of clean energy and energy efficiency. This work spans IREC's regulatory engagement, workforce development, and its local initiatives to support communities in bringing clean energy and energy efficiency to their residents and businesses. Prior to joining IREC, Gwen was one of the first marketing hires at (then-startup) Aurora Solar, a software firm working to reduce the cost of residential and commercial solar through remote site analysis and PV design. In this role, she led the creation of educational content for solar professionals-including blog posts and webinars. Earlier in her career, Gwen was a Senior Research Associate at the Environmental Law Institute and a Fellow with the Clean Energy Leadership Institute. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Gettysburg College and resides in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband.
Hannah Rome is an Operations Manager where she focuses on recruitment, human resources, and development functions for IREC. Previously, she was a Senior Program Manager at Mindr-a workforce development organization focused on building belonging, where she managed their mentorship program. Hannah has a passion for creating inclusive spaces and developing and maintaining impactful programs.
Hannah holds a BA from Manhattan College in Urban Studies and minors in Sociology and Spanish. While born and raised in Northampton Massachusetts, Hannah currently resides in Westchester, NY. In her free time she enjoys cooking, taking walks outside, and spending time with her friends and family.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Jacob Parks, J.D., CFE, currently serves as General Counsel at the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). In this role, he provides day-to-day counsel within the organization and works with various departments to provide education and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. He also oversees any litigation involving the organization and the complaint process against ACFE members regarding the organization's Code of Professional Ethics and Code of Professional Standards.
The ACFE also has two associated non-profits that Jacob provides counsel for. He also previously served on the board of the Friends of Austin State Supported Living Center from 2015-2022, working with the organization to improve the lives of residents and staff at the Center.
Previously, Jacob worked as Associate General Counsel at the ACFE, where his main areas of work were contract review, liaison to the association's Board of Review, and corporate governance. In both this role and his current position, he ensures that the ACFE's products are up to date and accurately reflect current laws and legal issues. He is a member of the Texas State Bar, the Association of Corporate Counsel, and the American Bar Association.
Jai McBride Calloway has over 15 years of experience as a change maker and people strategist empowering organizations toward culture transformation and equitable workplace environments through conflict resolution. Jai is known for her unique approach to reimagining business models by centering on people-centric strategic frameworks. She blends her experience in alternative dispute resolution methodology, diversity and inclusion, and organizational development to provide equitable solutions to highly complex organizational issues. In addition to founding J. Calloway Consultants, LLC, a boutique firm dedicated to helping organizations create equitable, inclusive, and high-performing workforce cultures, Jai proudly serves on multiple civic boards, and works as a trusted executive advisor.
Jai earned a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from the University of New Mexico, a Master of Science in Public Affairs from Texas Southern University, a Juris Doctor from South Texas College of Law, and a Master of Law in Dispute Resolution with a focus on cross-cultural conflict and advanced mediation from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
John has had a long career in a broad range of energy policy issues with a focus on energy efficiency. Most recently he was the Energy Foundation's Buildings Program Director for 10 years. In that role he supported advocates working on public policies that reduce carbon emissions in the building sector, with a focus on building codes, appliance standards, building performance benchmarking, and affordable multifamily housing. Prior to joining the Energy Foundation in 2008, John was a Special Advisor at the California Energy Commission for 31 years, working on efficiency standards, public interest energy research management, and integrated energy resource planning. In 2006, he was a winner of the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy's "Champion of Energy Efficiency" award for his work on increasing the efficiency of consumer electronics. In 2018, the US Department of Energy awarded John the "Jeffrey Johnson Award for Excellence in the Advancement of Building Energy Codes." He has served on the boards of the New Buildings Institute (founding board member), Global Cool Cities Alliance (currently board president), and has served on the steering committees of the Appliance Standards Awareness Project and the Building Code Assistance Project (projects of ACEEE and Alliance to Save Energy). John has BA and MA degrees in economics from the University of California (Berkeley and Davis).
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Member of the Board of Directors
- President
- President and CEO of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council
Larry Sherwood is the President and CEO of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), a national nonprofit that has advanced the growth of renewable energy and energy efficiency for more than 45 years. At IREC, Larry works with the Board of Directors and staff to strategically develop programs in areas such as workforce development, grid interconnection, energy codes and standards, and engagement with local governments. Larry previously served in other roles at IREC, including as Vice President/COO. He has also served as Executive Director of the Small Wind Certification Council, the American Solar Energy Society, and the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association, and was the Project Administrator for the Solar America Board for Codes and Standards. Larry is a graduate of Dartmouth College and lives with his family in a PV-powered house in Colorado.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Chairman of the Board
- Principal
Larry Shirley serves as the Principal Advisor to the Gunn Winslow Foundation, a Washington-based foundation that funds early childhood education. He is the former Chair of IREC (2015-2021) and has served on numerous IREC committees spanning more than two decades. During Larry's career in renewable energy and energy efficiency, he founded and directed the NC Clean Energy Technology Center at NC State University, directed North Carolina's Energy Office for nearly a decade, directed strategic planning and operations for Duke University's Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy, and served as Assistant Director for the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation. He also founded the Nonprofit Energy Management Program for Advanced Energy and has extensive experience in nonprofit organizations and board governance. He has been a leader on several nonprofit boards, including the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), NC Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA), and the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) where he was elected Chairman.
Larry is a graduate of the University of North Carolina and holds a master's degree in Philanthropy and Development from Saint Mary's University. He is the creator of the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy, commonly known as DSIRE, which serves as the repository of information on state, federal, local, and utility incentives.
Job Titles:
- Partner at Shute, Mihaly and Weinberger, LLP
As a Partner at Shute, Mihaly and Weinberger, LLP, Laura represents IREC before utilities commissions nationwide regarding development of distributed energy resources (DERs). She has represented IREC in both contested cases and rulemaking proceedings to shape regulatory policy for interconnection of DERs. She was a major contributor to the latest version of IREC's Model Interconnection Procedures (2019). She has taught workshops to solar developers and utilities commissioners on developing effective interconnection procedures.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Development
Leslie is Vice President of Development, where she leads fundraising activities for the organization. She previously managed grants and partnerships for a zero-emission vanpool and carsharing company. In this capacity, she secured contracts with LA Metro, San Diego Association of Governments, and the California Air Resources Board, among others. She previously participated as a reviewer on the Greenlining Institute's Mobility Equity Framework and was a Fellow with the Southern California Leadership Network. With a keen interest in strategy for community development, Leslie's work experience has spanned management consulting and fundraising for school-based environmental education, workforce development programs, and the arts. Originally from Oklahoma, she earned an MBA from Boston University and her undergraduate degree is from Washington University (St. Louis). Leslie lives with her partner Vivek and their dog Frida in a solar-powered home in Los Angeles within woeful eyeshot of the still-functioning Inglewood Oil Field.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- President / CEO of LHA Ventures
As President/CEO of LHA Ventures, Lorraine is a recognized thought leader with technical expertise and knowledge in the development of Hawaii's renewable and clean energy policy and regulatory framework. Previously, she was Commissioner at the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, which presides over all regulated public utility matters in the state. Prior to this appointment, she was a partner at McCorriston Miller Mukai MacKinnon LLP and at Cades Schutte LLP, and led the environmental practice teams at both firms. Lorraine co-chairs the Low Income Consumer Solar Working Group of the Low Income Energy Issues Forum, a diverse national consortium focused on innovations that make utility service more affordable. Specifically, the solar working group is addressing actions and recommendations for successful integration of community solar. She is also a member of the Resiliency Strategy Steering Committee for the City and County of Honolulu and is a member of the U.S.-Japan Council. She has served on the advisory council to the board of directors, Electric Power Research Institute; the board of directors of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners and its energy resources and environment committee; the U.S. DOE and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Future Electric Utility Regulation Advisory Group; and the State and Local Efficiency Action Network Financial Solutions Working Group. Previously Director of the State of Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations and Chair of the State of Hawaii Environmental Council, she has also held leadership positions at numerous professional organizations and non-profits. Lorraine holds a JD from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law and graduated with honors from the University of California at Berkeley with a BA in political science.
Job Titles:
- Director of Research & Analysis at IREC
Mallory is Director of Research & Analysis at IREC, where she uses her data background to support projects across IREC's workforce, regulatory, and local initiatives. Mallory uses both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies to tackle climate and economic justice problems. Previously, Mallory was Director of Data & Technology at Civic Nation, a civic advocacy non-profit.
Mallory holds a MSc in Ecological Economics from The University of Edinburgh, where she completed her dissertation on community land ownership in Scotland. She also holds a BS in Political Science from The George Washington University. Mallory lives with her partner Isaac in Brooklyn, New York, and enjoys embroidering, knitting, and baking in her spare time.
Marc Roper is a long-time member of the distributed energy industry, currently holding the position of Vice President for ENGIE, one of the world's largest independent power producers, where he focuses on strategy and market development for distributed energy resources in the U.S. Prior to joining ENGIE, Marc has served in a variety of executive leadership roles in companies engaged in emerging distributed energy markets, including Alta Energy, a sustainable energy advisory and procurement services provider to commercial real estate clients in the US; Sovereign Modular, a solar development company focused on the California education sector; Coda Energy, a C&I energy storage services provider; Tioga Energy, a solar PPA provider that successfully developed more than 100 solar PPA projects around the U.S.; Turner Renewable Energy, a solar power systems integrator (acquired by First Solar in 2007); and photovoltaic manufacturer SCHOTT Solar. Early in his career, Marc managed residential markets for PV manufacturer AstroPower (acquired by GE Energy in 2004) and headed up renewable energy programs for the State of Colorado's energy office. At different times in his career, he has served on the boards of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), and the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC).
Job Titles:
- Director - Regulatory Program
- IREC 's Regulatory Program Director
As IREC's Regulatory Program Director, Mari is responsible for policy tracking, research, and analysis, as well as providing support for IREC's state and national regulatory efforts. Before joining IREC, Mari was Deputy Director of Policy and Electricity Markets at SolarCity where she managed regulatory and legislative solar policy initiatives that covered the Southeastern U.S., as well as provided research and analytical support to the policy team. Prior to SolarCity, Mari worked on clean energy issues at the Center for American Progress and the Solar Energy Industries Association. A former Austinite, Mari currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
Job Titles:
- Program Manager - Puerto Rico Energy Resilience
Mariana García Benítez is Program Manager - Puerto Rico Energy Resilience at IREC. She was born and raised in Guayama, Puerto Rico. She has a Master's Degree in Latin American Literature from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and is finishing a Master's Degree in Government and Public Policy from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. She has distinguished herself professionally as a developer and manager of cultural projects. She served as director of six editions of La Campechada-the annual pinnacle cultural project of the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture. Leveraging her organizational skills, she has transitioned to the energy sector serving as the project manager for Energy Justice for Puerto Rico, a non-profit focused on addressing Puerto Rico's need for resilient and reliable electricity, where she helped creating educational forums for the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau (PREB). Mariana also served as the director and manager of the Energy Justice Alliance-a multisector group composed of a dozen entities and associations that wish to accelerate the objectives of Puerto Rico's Law 17 of 2019 which established that Puerto Rico's energy needs will be generated 100% from renewable sources by 2050.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Workforce Development
Mary is Assistant Director of Workforce Development for IREC and in the last six years has supported numerous workforce development grants including three through the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative and one for NYSERDA's Workforce Development Program. Mary has supported IREC as national administrator of the GEARED (Grid Engineering for Accelerated Renewable Energy Deployment) Network, an initiative to build a skilled power generation workforce for the 21st century electric grid. She also supported the Solar Training and Education for Professionals (STEP) Project which is focused on deploying high-quality solar training, both online and in-person, to code officials and firefighters across the country. Mary came to IREC from AmeriCorps Cape Cod, a full-time, residential, service program that focuses its efforts on the natural resource management and disaster preparedness needs of the Cape Cod Community. Mary lives in upstate New York with her husband and two children.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director, Workforce Training & Community Engagement
Matthew Harris joins IREC with 18 years of experience working in clean energy education creating content, delivering trainings, managing programs, and developing training centers.
Matthew brings his strategic thinking and broad skill set in collaborative engagement and program management to the position of Assistant Director, Workforce Training & Community Engagement. Joining the IREC workforce team, Matthew will focus on national and regional efforts to improve clean energy workforce recruitment and job placement outcomes as well as widely promoting educational solutions for safety officials on solar, energy storage systems (ESS), electric/alternative vehicles (EV/AFV), and grid-interactive efficient building (GEB) technologies.
Matthew lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife Alexis and two cats Percy and Magic. When he is not working towards a clean energy future, Matthew's passions include growing food, cooking with the sun, playing in pickleball tournaments, being in the mountains, music, art, travel, performing improv comedy, and tropical fruit.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Workforce Development
Megan Howes is Assistant Director of Workforce Development, focused on reducing solar industry soft costs, particularly related to workforce development. She previously coordinated The Solar Foundation's Solar Training Network initiative, which produced original industry resources and leveraged cross-functional partnerships for stronger solar career pathways. Since the merger between The Solar Foundation and IREC, she continues to manage IREC's growing portfolio of workforce development programming, and supports efforts to build industry capacity as solar emerges as a mainstream part of the American energy sector. Megan comes to IREC with a background in environmental science and public affairs. She previously served as the constituent and legislative affairs intern at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Environment from McGill University.
Job Titles:
- Environmental Scientist and Program Manager for the Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Programs at IREC
- Program Manager - Puerto Rico Energy Resilience
Melanie Quiñones is an Environmental Scientist and Program Manager for the Puerto Rico Energy Resilience Programs at IREC. She has a strong background in community engagement, strategic planning, and system thinking to advance sustainability and land conservation. She has conducted research projects across Hawaii, Belize, and Puerto Rico, and her professional appointments include multiple sectors like the academia, federal government, state government, and non-profit organizations. In 2020, Melanie received the 30 under 30 Environmental Educator award by the U.S. National Association for Environmental Education for her work in leading the Citizen Science Program and Community Engagement efforts at El Yunque National Forest Region. She earned a B.S. in Environmental Sciences from the University of Puerto Rico and is currently pursuing an M.S. in Natural Resources Management from Cornell University. Melanie loves dancing, hiking, street photography, and learning new languages (currently learning French and Portuguese).
Job Titles:
- Senior Special Events and Projects Manager for the IREC Workforce
Michelle Barrett is Senior Special Events and Projects Manager for the IREC Workforce, Regulatory, and Communication operations. Prior to joining IREC, Michelle worked at the New York Association on Independent Living, Inc. (NYAIL) as the Membership and Event Coordinator. Michelle's primary responsibility was management of all association meetings. She was also responsible for the operations and management of the association's bi-annual conference and exposition, along with overseeing the day-to-day association office operations. She is a life-long resident of New York and resides in Albany with her family.
Job Titles:
- Regulatory Program Engineer for IREC
Midhat Mafazy, Regulatory Program Engineer for IREC, holds a BS in Physics from Illinois State University (Normal, IL) and a Master of Engineering from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI). Midhat joins IREC with six years of experience in the utility industry. He began as an Intern for a Fortune 500 utility in 2014. There he performed cost-benefit analysis of energy storage systems used as investment deferrals at utility substations (NWA solutions). Midhat joined the utility full-time in 2015 and transitioned to primarily Distributed Energy Resources (DER) roles. For two years, he worked at the utility microgrid facility (Champaign, IL) where he was involved in numerous tests, facility upkeep, as well as providing public tours of the world-renowned utility-scale microgrid. Midhat continued to expand his portfolio and began to oversee DER Integration, Standards, Policies & Strategies, DER pilots, and the grid of the future projects. In his role as a DER Integration Engineer, Midhat was instrumental in specifying the Illinois Smart Inverter rebate, offering incentives to non-residential customers with Smart Inverters in the state. He maintained and updated the company's DER policies and standards, and quite often, served as a link between DER-related research and the company's DER pilot engagements. Midhat has partnered with peer utilities around the country and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) on projects related to DER interconnection best practices and smart inverter field deployment. Before joining IREC, Midhat served as a technical lead in Illinois grid interconnection proceedings, responding to comments and data requests. Midhat lives in Normal, Illinois with his wife, Nazma, and daughter, Shani, and enjoys playing soccer with friends.
Job Titles:
- Communications and Digital Media Manager at IREC
As Communications and Digital Media Manager at IREC, Nicole supports IREC's communications operations by managing IREC's social media accounts and campaigns, designing graphics and layouts, helping to maintain and update the IREC website, and writing blog posts and articles.
Before coming to IREC, Nicole worked as a reporter for several newspapers, a marketer and designer for two book publishing groups, and a lead copy editor and designer for a Northern California newspaper design center publishing 12 newspapers a night. In her most recent role before IREC, Nicole worked as a Communications Specialist for the NC Clean Energy Technology Center at NC State University. She holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Florida.
A native Floridian, Nicole currently resides in Raleigh, NC, with her husband and cat. She enjoys reading, yoga, gardening, playing piano, and vegetarian food.
Job Titles:
- Director, Strategic Workforce Engagement
Pagan Poggione joins IREC with 25 years of experience in clean energy technology, spanning education and workforce development, marketing communications, and project and program management. She has been an IREC contractor since 2005, first as an assessor for IREC's credentialing program and more recently as a project coordinator and subject matter expert.
Pagan is also an educator and works to develop projects, programs, and courses that meet the needs of diverse audiences. In addition to this work, she has also taught workshops and courses focusing on online collaboration tools and methods, project development, and design thinking. She has a MA in Educational Technology from the University of Michigan and a BA in Philosophy from the University of Victoria.
Born in New Zealand and raised in Canada, she currently resides in Michigan with her husband and children.
Job Titles:
- Senior Workforce Program Manager
At IREC, Pilar supports the operations of national and regional projects that improve clean energy workforce recruitment, training and education, and job placement for diverse groups and communities. Prior to joining the IREC team, Pilar managed a variety of federal grants from the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Labor with the purpose of developing and implementing work-based learning models such as pre-apprenticeships and apprenticeships in innovative occupations. She is passionate about connecting underserved and underrepresented populations with learning resources and workforce opportunities that ultimately lead to career paths. She holds a bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management from the University of Houston-Downtown, and resides on the outskirts of Houston, TX, with her husband and rescue cats. She is also actively involved in her community with animal rescue and volunteering.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- IREC Board Chair
IREC Board Chair Polly Shaw has 28 years of energy and climate policy experience in the U.S. and China. Polly is Head of Policy and Communications at Plus Power, a developer of standalone battery energy storage systems that foster grid flexibility by providing capacity, energy, and ancillary services as more renewable generation enters wholesale energy markets. Previously, Polly was VP of Regulatory Affairs and Communications for Stem and Vice President of External Affairs at SunEdison. Her earlier career posts include: senior executive at Suntech, California state regulatory program manager for the California Solar Initiative, foundation grantmaker at the Energy Foundation, and EPA consultant. Polly holds a B.A. from Tufts University, a Certificate in Chinese Law from the University of London, and speaks English, French, Chinese, and basic Spanish.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director, Workforce & Industry Engagement
Richard Lawrence is Sr. Director, Workforce & Industry Engagement at IREC. Mr. Lawrence leads the Solar Ready Vets Network, a U.S. Department of Energy sponsored initiative that connects veterans and transitioning service members to training, certifications, apprenticeships, and careers in the solar industry; and the U.S. Department of Labor's Apprenticeships in Clean Energy (ACE) Network that is expanding Registered Apprenticeship opportunities in the clean energy industry. Mr. Lawrence earned a B.S. degree in Science Education from Florida State University, and a M.S. degree in Environmental Education from Lesley University through the Audubon Expedition Institute. Since 2002, he has focused his career on renewable energy education, training, workforce development, credentialing, and quality assurance. He has worked for several non-profit and academic institutions including Self-Reliance, Hudson Valley Community College, the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), and the Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS) in positions ranging from Adjunct Instructor to Executive Director.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Principal at Regulatory Assistance Project
Ronny Sandoval is a Principal at Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) where he works with regulators and other energy stakeholders to develop strategies, best practices and thought leadership on issues that increase the efficiency of the electric system and maximize opportunities for the energy transition. He has extensive experience working across major segments of the utility industry including transmission planning, distribution engineering, distributed energy resources, grid modernization and customer engagement.
Mr. Sandoval has led various strategic efforts with energy stakeholders to modernize the energy system as business strategy manager at Accenture, regulatory director at Vote Solar and president at ROS Energy Strategies.
Mr. Sandoval has also managed national efforts to modernize the electric grid through direct intervention in regulatory proceedings, partnerships and effective communications as senior director at Environmental Defense Fund. He also led various efforts in developing long-range system plans and expanding the role of distributed energy resources to meet the ongoing energy needs of customers at Con Edison.
Mr. Sandoval holds a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from New York University and a Bachelor of Engineering in electrical engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology. He earned a Master of Business Administration from New York University Stern School of Business.
Scott Hancock is a Senior Program Manager within the Local Initiatives team at IREC, supporting the SolSmart and EV Smart programs. He is a dedicated energy resiliency professional passionate about advancing clean energy access and environmental justice.
Scott has lived in Arizona his whole life and is the middle child of six other siblings in a very modern, transcontinental family. He's brought to this work to build a brighter future for his adorable and resilient nieces.
Professionally, Scott has served as project manager for Arizonans for Community Choice, building coalition to advance community choice energy policy in Arizona. He has also worked as an environmental policy consultant for the City of Tucson, furthering heat equity and community resilience capacity. Additionally, he spent three years as a lead water educator for Arizona Project WET, presenting to thousands in the Southwest U.S. on the importance of water conservation and stewardship.
Scott is skilled in project coordination and communication, stakeholder engagement, synthesis of deep research, and ensuring equitable outcomes are part of the solution. He holds dual Master's degrees in Public Administration and Business Administration from Presidio Graduate School with a focus on sustainable solutions, as well as a Bachelor's degree in Geography with a minor in Sustainable Built Environments from the University of Arizona. He is dedicated to driving equitable and sustainable solutions forward.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Finance and Administration
Scott is the Director of Finance and Administration for IREC, overseeing organizational and project-related finances, grant administration and compliance, and the administration of HR and operational policies. Prior to joining IREC Scott fulfilled similar functions for a number of nonprofits, including as Chief of Finance for the Global Center on Cooperative Security, a nonprofit focused on international security issues. He is a certified public accountant and holds a BA in Business Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara and an MBA from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Originally from California, Scott lives in a solar-powered home in Northern Virginia with his wife Holly, dog Jax, and cat Lua.
Job Titles:
- Regulatory Program Engineer and Energy Justice Policy Advocate
Shay Banton (they/them), Regulatory Program Engineer and Energy Justice Policy Advocate for IREC, has been working in the grid integration technology and policy space since 2017. Over the course of their career, Shay has been lucky to have worked in multiple sectors across the power industry from utility, to developer, to the federal government. Most recently, they worked for the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Energy Technologies Office where they managed over a dozen projects across the solar integration technology landscape. They also had a unique opportunity to co-found one of the DOE's most ambitious efforts, the Interconnection Innovation eXchange, which had a goal of making the DOE a national resource for determining interconnection best practices. Prior to this, they worked for Borrego as a Utility Electrical Engineer where they became a nationally recognized interconnection policy advocate leading multiple state-wide efforts to expand market viability.
Shay holds a B.S. in Systems Science and Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis and is currently pursuing an M.S. in Energy Policy and Climate from Johns Hopkins University. They one day hope to work in international energy policy by supporting the equitable energy transitions of developing nations. Shay lives in Washington D.C. with their partner (and free roaming bunny, Luna) where they enjoy dancing like nobody's watching any chance they get.
Job Titles:
- Partner at Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger, LLP
Sky is a Partner at Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger, LLP, where she represents IREC in grid modernization, interconnection, and energy storage proceedings across the U.S. Her practice focuses on renewable energy regulation, with a particular emphasis on the numerous legal and technical policy questions that need to be addressed to advance the integration of distributed energy resources. She was the lead author of IREC's 2017 Optimizing the Grid: A Regulator's Guide to Hosting Capacity Analyses for Distributed Energy Resources and has been an active participant in most of the country's regulatory proceedings related to Hosting Capacity Analyses. Sky also regularly works on the development and refinement of state and federally regulated interconnection standards. She participates in rulemakings before state public utility commissions and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission surrounding the creation of foundational policies for energy storage, distributed solar, community solar, and related topics. Sky earned a BA with High Honors from Hobart & William Smith Colleges, a JD from UC Berkeley. In 2010, she was awarded the California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY) award.
Job Titles:
- Program Director
- Program Director at IREC
Theresa Perry is Program Director at IREC. Theresa was previously Program Director of the SolSmart program, a position she also held at The Solar Foundation prior to the merger of the two organizations in 2021. Prior to her work at The Solar Foundation, she focused on corporate energy management and sustainability programming for companies including Cisco and Advance Auto Parts. Her energy supply side management experience includes purchasing renewable energy around the globe and developing solar projects as large as 20 MW. Theresa held a management consulting role at ScottMadden with projects that helped utility clients adapt to the increasing penetration of distributed energy resources. She holds an MBA from James Madison University and an MS and BS from Virginia Polytechnic and State University.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Vice President, Government and Public
Tom Starrs is Vice President, Government and Public Affairs of EDP Renewables North America. EDPR is one of the largest global developers, builders, and owner/operators of renewable energy projects. Prior to his current role, Starrs served as SunPower Corporation's vice president for market strategy and policy, where he was responsible for the company's global market analysis, policy analysis, and policy advocacy. He has 25 years of experience in solar and renewable power, including senior management positions with Iberdrola Renewables (now Avangrid), PPM Energy, the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, and Schott Solar. Starrs is widely recognized as a leading strategist on solar energy market development, business strategy, and policy. He is the current Chair of the Board of Directors of the Solar Energy Industries Association. Starrs holds a Ph.D. from the Energy and Resources Program at the University of California, Berkeley; and a J.D. from the School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley.
Job Titles:
- Vice President - Local Initiatives
- Vice President of IREC 's Local Initiatives Program
As Vice President of IREC's Local Initiatives Program, Toyah Callahan provides strategic direction and oversight of IREC's Local Initiatives team. She has a strong knowledge of local government structures and processes. IREC's Local Initiatives work includes DOE-funded designation programs SolSmart and Charging Smart, which aim to reduce barriers to solar adoption and support local governments in meeting their solar and EV readiness goals. The team also implements groundbreaking programs to support solar, energy storage, and grid resilience in Puerto Rico.
Toyah also oversees the Sustainable Energy Action Committee. She provides support to eleven working groups that are collaboratively working to improve clean energy codes and standards. These groups identify and find solutions to issues that affect the installation and use of solar photovoltaics, energy storage, and EV charging infrastructure.
In 2020, Toyah was recognized as one of the recipients of the 40 Under 40 Energy Award. She was selected out of 175 professionals nationwide and recognized as a leader for work in America's transition to clean energy. She serves on the board of the Great Plains Institute. Toyah holds a Master of Science in Sustainability Management from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Connecticut.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Managing Director
- Member of the Board of Directors
As Managing Director/CEO, Trenton founded Sustainable Capital Advisors (SCA) as a consulting and financial advisory firm that provides a comprehensive suite of services to support the successful deployment of capital for sustainable energy projects, domestically and internationally. Under Trenton's hand, SCA has financed a wide range of infrastructure projects including water, wastewater, energy efficiency, fossil and renewable energy for utility, business, and governmental clients. Trenton has been an adjunct professor at the University of Delaware's Center for Energy and Environmental Policy teaching a graduate level course on Sustainable Energy Finance. Prior to founding SCA, Trenton was a director at Citi, developing financing strategies for utility-scale and distributed renewable energy projects including solar, biomass, and energy efficiency that combined traditional project finance structures utilizing equity and debt investments with tax and environmental credit monetization strategies. Trenton holds an AB degree in Chemistry from Harvard University.
Job Titles:
- Attorney at Shute, Mihaly and Weinberger, LLP
Yochi represents IREC as an Attorney at Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger, LLP, where he practices administrative and energy law. He represents public agencies and nonprofits in cost allocation, grid modernization, and interconnection proceedings before utility commissions across North America. Yochi authors legal memos, technical reports, and media articles regarding energy storage systems, hosting capacity analyses, and interconnection policies for IREC. Prior to joining the firm, Yochi was a Senior Power Analyst at Seattle City Light. There, he represented the utility in rate and tariff proceedings before the California Independent System Operator, leading the development of policies regarding market power mitigation, resource adequacy, day-ahead market design, and interjurisdictional allocation methodologies. Earlier, Yochi was a Policy Advisor to the Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission where he authored regulatory orders and policy statements. In that role, he advised the Commissioners on energy policy issues including rate cases, electric vehicle incentives, integrated resource plans, cybersecurity, and decoupling. Yochi led the Commission's investigation into distributed generation cost shifts and rate design, revision of rules regarding RPS and energy efficiency resource standards, and the interconnection of distributed generation facilities. Yochi earned a BS from the University of Michigan and a JD from the University of Oregon; he is a member of the Oregon State Bar.
As Communications Manager, Zack supports IREC's communications efforts across social, digital, and email platforms with a special focus on local initiatives and workforce programs. Before coming to IREC, Zack worked in communications for a variety of nonprofits across the Southeast, focusing on sustainability, conservation, and environmental education. He holds an MA in professional writing from Kennesaw State University and received his BA from Sewanee, where he double-majored in English and ecology. He lives in Atlanta.