September 6-7
Mt. Laurel, NJ
Detailed Agenda and Speaker Bios
Wednesday, September 6
8:00am – Complimentary Breakfast
9:00 – Welcome & Keynote
Speaker: Senator Troy Singleton (Majority Whip, NJ State Senate)
10:00 – Panel
National Funding, Local Impact: Deploying Federal Incentives at State Energy Offices
Speakers: David Althoff (PA DEP), Henry Gajda (NJBPU), & Maddie Koewler (NASEO)
Moderator: Camille Moore (American Association of Blacks in Energy)
11:20 – Panel
Perspectives on Decarbonization
Speakers: Patrick Migliaccio (NJ Natural Gas), Carolyn Sloan (Oracle), Leo Sommaripa (DNV), & J.R. Tolbert (Advanced Energy United)
Moderator: Theo Love (Green Energy Economics Group)
12:30 – Lunch
1:45 – Panel
New Jersey’s Energy Efficiency Landscape
Speakers: Mike Ambrosio (NJCEP), Susanna Chiu (PSE&G), Anne-Marie Peracchio (NJNG), & Stacy Ho Richardson (BPU)
Moderator: John Kolesnik (EEA, KEEA, & EEA-NJ)
3:15 – Panel
Pennsylvania’s Energy Efficiency Landscape
Speakers: Rob Altenburg (PennFuture), Kathy MacWilliams (PECO), & Tom McAteer (PPL)
Moderator: Andrew Dieck (Performance Systems Development)
4:30 – Networking Happy Hour
Thursday, September 7
8:00 – Complimentary Breakfast
9:00 – Welcome & Keynote
Speaker: Christine Guhl-Sadovy (Commissioner, NJBPU)
9:45 – Panel
Multiple Challenges, Multiple Opportunities: Energy Efficiency & Multifamily
Speakers: Jon Jensen (MaGrann Associates), Lindsey Samsi (Pennrose), Lisa Shulock (Philadelphia Energy Authority), & Brendan Thomas (CMC Energy)
Moderator: Julie De Seve (CLEAResult)
11:20 – Panel
Raising the Bar: Pushing Building Performance Standards With Emerging Strategies
Speakers: Philip Chao (BPU), Amanda Clevinger (Bright Power), Alex Dews (IMT), & Luke Surowiec (ICF)
Moderator: Renwick Paige (EIP)
12:30 – Lunch
1:45 – Panel
Distributed Energy Resources
Speakers: Baird Brown (eco(n)law), Elowyn Corby (Vote Solar), Manuel Esquivel (Enel), & Russ Newbold (C-Power)
Moderator: Kevin Warren (Warren Energy)
3:00 – Fireside Chat
How to Scale Up! Funding, Workforce and Electrification
Speakers: Paul Douglas (The JPI Group), Ben Hiller (Daikin), and Peter Krajsa (National Energy Improvement Fund)
Moderator: Lloyd Kass (Franklin Energy)
4:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Prize Raffle and Closing Remarks
*Please note that schedule, content, and speakers are subject to change.
Keynotes
Time: 9:00 am, September 6
Majority Whip
NJ State Senate
Senator Troy Singleton has devoted his life to public service in government, political, and policy posts at all levels. In 2011, he was elected to his first term in the New Jersey General Assembly, representing the over 220,000 residents of the 7th Legislative District. Senator Singleton was elected to the New Jersey State Senate in November 2017 and currently serves as Chairman of the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee, Vice Chair of the Senate Economic Growth Committee, and as a member of the Judiciary Committee. He was most recently appointed to serve as the Senate Majority Whip.
During his time in the legislature, Senator Singleton had a significant number of proposals signed into law and has received numerous awards for his public service and legislative acumen from business, education, civic, labor and non-profit organizations.
Senator Singleton is an established leader in NJ clean energy jobs and environmental justice legislation. His accomplishments include primary sponsoring and shepherding the bill that became New Jersey’s landmark environmental justice law, sponsoring the bill that created the BPU’s School and Small Business Energy Efficiency Stimulus Program, and ongoing sponsorship and support for additional energy and equity legislation like the Clean Energy Equity Act.
Senator Singleton is currently employed as a Senior Vice President for Anywhere Integrated Services and as the President of Realogy Insurance Agency. Along with this busy career, Senator Singleton has long included personal involvement in his community as an essential component of his life.
Time: 9:00 am, September 7
Commissioner
NJBPU
Christine Guhl-Sadovy was appointed Commissioner at NJBPU in 2023. Previously, she served as Cabinet Secretary, working as the primary liaison between Governor Murphy’s Cabinet and the Governor’s Office.
She joined the Murphy Administration at the Board of Public Utilities, where she rose to the position Chief of Staff, helping to spearhead Governor Murphy’s clean energy agenda. During her time at NJBPU, she worked on several key initiatives of the Administration including the 2019 Energy Master Plan, implementation of the 2018 Clean Energy Act, and development of the State’s electric vehicle incentive program.
Prior to serving in the Murphy Administration, Christine worked as the Legislative and Political Director for Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey. At Planned Parenthood, she worked to ensure the election of pro-women’s health candidates to state office and advocated for the restoration of funding for family planning, the first piece of legislation Governor Murphy signed upon taking office.
Christine began her career working on energy and environmental issues with the Sierra Club as a representative of the Beyond Coal campaign, where she spent five years advocating for clean energy policies in New Jersey.
Christine is a lifelong New Jersey resident. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Rutgers University and serves on the board of Anchor House, Inc., a Trenton-based youth homelessness organization. She lives in Lambertville with her seven-year-old son, Julian.
National Funding, Local Impact: Deploying Federal Funding at State Energy Offices
Time: 10:00 am, September 6
About the Panel:
With 2021’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and 2022’s Inflation Reduction Act, the federal government made historic investments in clean energy. New tax credits, rebates, and workforce development programs are now set to create opportunities for residents and businesses to access energy efficiency. But the work isn’t over: most federal funds and programs must still be applied for, enacted, and administered by individual states. Pennsylvania and New Jersey both plan to set-up programs using federal funds, a significant endeavor that will have far-reaching impacts for our region’s clean energy industries. This panel offers a peek behind the curtain at implementation, sharing both state-level insight into energy office setup and a nationwide perspective on best practices and trends for deploying federal funds.
Speakers:
David Althoff (PA DEP)
Henry Gajda (NJBPU)
Maddie Koewler (NASEO)
Camille Moore (AABE) – Moderator
Director, Energy Programs Office
PA Department of Environmental Protection
David’s office, DEP’s Energy Programs Office, is involved in supporting, designing, and implementing energy-focused programs to encourage the development and deployment of energy efficiency, energy resiliency and alternative energy projects in Pennsylvania. The Energy Program’s Office’s mission is to support energy activities which result in environmental improvements including mitigating the effects of and adapting to climate change.
During his 30+ years with DEP, David has led the development and deployment of $125 million of American Recovery and Reinvestment Stimulus funds, the $100 million Pennsylvania Sunshine Program, and the $15 million Green Energy Revolving Loan Fund. Dave has also served as the Executive Director for the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority and lead the very popular Pennsylvania Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Programs.
Deputy Chief of Staff
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.
Henry is the Deputy Chief of Staff at the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, where he helps lead the State’s efforts on a variety of federal clean energy grant programming. Previously, he served as Public Policy Director for the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters where he drove environmental legislation and action through strategic advocacy, lobbying, and coordinated coalition building. Henry earned a Master of Science in Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management from The New School and has an extensive background in climate, clean energy, and urban policy research and analysis.
Sr. Program Manager
National Association of State Energy Officials
Maddie Koewler supports NASEO’s buildings program, where she provides assistance to state energy offices and works on the development of building energy codes, residential energy labels, and equity in the proliferation of clean energy and energy efficiency. Prior to NASEO, Ms. Koewler worked at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building Technologies Office within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy implementing residential energy efficiency programs. Ms. Koewler has a Bachelor of Arts in political science and economics from Kent State University.
Senior Vice President, External Affairs
American Association of Blacks in Energy
Moderator
Camille Moore serves as Senior Vice President, External Affairs for the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE). Following her matriculation from Oakwood University and Carnegie Mellon University (Heinz College), Camille became a Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Energy Fellow. This is where her passion for robust workforce pathways, equitable energy policies, efficient built environment, and inclusive economy came alive. Before joining AABE, Camille served national clients in energy infrastructure, wastewater, labor and energy efficiency. Camille is a member of the Atlantik-Brücke network, Women of Color Advancing Peace and Security (WCAPS), and serves as a Board Member for the Solid Waste Environmental Excellence Performance (SWEEP) organization.
Decarbonization & Energy Efficiency
Time: 11:20 am, September 6
About the Panel:
For the U.S. to meet ambitious decarbonization goals, just one approach isn’t enough—an array of tools deployed throughout every step of our energy economy is needed. Energy efficiency, however, will play a role in every sector. This panel’s diverse experts will look at energy efficiency in some of our most significant decarbonization channels, from the challenge of grid and interconnection management as the U.S. becomes more electrified and renewables-dependant, to the pathway forward for historic gas utilities, or strategies for decarbonizing challenging industrial sectors.
Speakers:
Patrick (Pat) Migliaccio (NJ Natural Gas)
Leo Sommaripa (DNV)
Carolyn Sloan (Oracle Energy and Water)
JR Tolbert (Advanced Energy United)
Theo Love (Green Energy Economics Group) – Moderator
Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
New Jersey Natural Gas
As Chief Operating Officer of New Jersey Natural Gas, NJR’s largest subsidiary, Mr. Migliaccio leads a team of more than 770 employees working to advance the utility’s decarbonization efforts, direct its infrastructure investments and grow its customer base, while managing the safe, reliable operation of more than 7,600 miles of distribution and transmission main.
Mr. Migliaccio joined New Jersey Resources (NJR) in 2009 and has since held numerous leadership roles. As CFO, he led the finance and accounting team through a period of significant growth at NJR, including over $1.5 billion in infrastructure investments at NJNG, increased capital expenditures and revenue growth at NJR Clean Energy Ventures, as well as the acquisitions of Leaf River Energy Center and the Adelphia Gateway pipeline.
Prior to joining NJR, Mr. Migliaccio was an accomplished leader of accounting and related functions in the energy industry having worked for Public Service Enterprise Group and NRG Energy, as well as other energy companies in New Jersey. He serves as a member of the New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, and as Treasurer on the Junior Achievement of New Jersey State Board of Directors.
Manager of Regulatory Affairs & Market Development
Oracle Energy & Water
Carolyn is a Manager of Regulatory Affairs & Market Development at Oracle Energy & Water. She works within the Opower line of business, engaging with utilities, regulators and stakeholders across the MidAtlantic to support behavioral energy efficiency, demand response, and customer engagement programs. Prior to her position with Oracle, Carolyn worked on federal clean air and climate issues for the Business Council of Sustainable Energy and was a policy fellow with the US Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. A graduate of the College of William and Mary, she also holds a JD from the University of Richmond School of Law. Carolyn lives in Washington, DC, and is an avid Caps fan.
Senior Consultant, Business Development
DNV
Leo Sommaripa, PE, is an energy consultant with 25+ years of experience leveraging technology and infrastructure to achieve policy, financial, and economic objectives. He has a successful track record of guiding organizations in new directions and improving their performance. Mr. Sommaripa’s experience includes leadership of DNV’s midstream program portfolio and a variety of innovation initiatives. Prior to DNV, he consulted to the Government of Jordan and the Palestinian Authority, was a Budget Analyst in the Energy Branch and the International Economic Affairs Branch of the Office of Management and Budget, and served in the Peace Corps. He holds a Master of Science in Technology and Policy from MIT.
Vice President, Strategy & Partnerships
Advanced Energy United
Partner
Green Energy Economics Group
Moderator
New Jersey's Energy Efficiency Landscape
Time: 1:45 pm, September 6
About the Panel:
2023 is a big year for Energy Efficiency in New Jersey. Review and rollout of the utility-led efficiency programs continue, while preparations for triennial updates mean that program changes–some of them ambitious–are on the horizon. Meanwhile, Governor Murphy’s recent Executive Orders accelerated New Jersey’s 100% Clean Energy target to 2035 while encouraging deployment of heat pumps and electrification-ready buildings in LMI communities. Incoming federal funds and programs, largely deployed through state-level decision-making, are also poised to make a big impact on the state’s energy efficiency industry. At this panel, experts from the BPU, major utilities, and other EE players will provide insight into how these pieces are coming together to shape the future of energy efficiency in the Garden State.
Speakers:
Mike Ambrosio (TRC)
Susanna Chiu (PSE&G)
Anne-Marie Peracchio (NJNG)
Stacy Ho Richardson (BPU)
John Kolesnik (EEA-NJ) – Moderator
Director, Policy & Planning
TRC/NJCEP
Senior Director of Operational Services
PSE&G
Ms. Chiu’s previous roles at PSE&G include energy efficiency solar development, program development, program management, business development and marketing. Active in her community, she has served on the East Brunswick (NJ) Board of Education as well as the township’s Redevelopment Committee. Ms. Chiu earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Master of Science in Management Engineering from NJIT.
Managing Director of Marketing & Energy Efficiency
New Jersey Natural Gas
Deputy Director of Clean Energy Division
NJBPU
Policy Counsel
EEA-NJ
Moderator
Pennsylvania's Energy Efficiency Landscape
Time: 3:15 pm, September 6
About the Panel:
Take a deeper dive into what’s happening in Pennsylvania on the Energy Efficiency front. Utility representatives, advocates, and statewide influencers will discuss program progress, challenges, and emerging opportunities like the Inflation Reduction Act and RGGI. Join us as we focus on the state of energy efficiency in Pennsylvania and what panelists’ organizations are doing as part of that mix—including policy barriers or opportunities for the future.
Speakers:
Rob Altenburg (PennFuture)
Kathy MacWilliams (PECO)
Tom McAteer (PPL)
Andrew Dieck (Performance Systems Development) – Moderator
Senior Director for Energy and Climate
PennFuture
Manager, Energy Efficiency Programs
PECO
Manager of Energy Efficiency
PPL
Director, Existing Building Services
Performance Systems Development
Moderator
Multiple Challenges, Multiple Opportunities:
Energy Efficiency & Multifamily
Time: 9:45 am, September 7
About the Panel:
The multifamily sector presents unique challenges from both policy and implementation perspectives, combining elements of residential and commercial building types, systems, meter configurations, and use cases. Split incentives can divide developers/property owners and occupants, and market drivers vary immensely between market rate, affordable, new construction, and retrofit projects. Hear how programmatic, technical and financing approaches can all be part of the solution.
Speakers:
Jon Jensen (MaGrann Associates)
Lindsey Samsi (Pennrose)
Lisa Shulock (Philadelphia Energy Authority)
Brendan Thomas (CMC Energy Services)
Julie de Seve (CLEAResult) – Moderator
Sustainability Director
MaGrann Associates
Senior Developer
Pennrose
With more than 10 years of industry experience, Lindsey Samsi currently serves as Senior Developer for Pennrose. In this role, she has total responsibility for the successful development of a full spectrum of real estate development projects. She is responsible for complete leadership of an in-house team of Developers, Associate Developers, and Administrative Assistants, and is simultaneously responsible for multiple projects in varying stages of development – overseeing and orchestrating the completion of multiple developments and the activities of the development team. Lindsey started at Pennrose in April 2016 as the company’s first Assistant Developer. She works with senior leadership to manage the sourcing, financing, design and construction, lease-up, and stabilization of a diverse array of Pennrose’s portfolio of multifamily, mixed-use conventional and affordable real estate assets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. As a Developer at Pennrose, she has closed on affordable housing developments totaling over $300 million and almost 500 units including an affordable housing development in Dover, NJ for Veterans, and active-duty families, and three phases of scattered site affordable housing development in the Sharswood neighborhood of North Philadelphia, for families and individuals, as part of the Philadelphia Housing Authority’s CNI plan.
Lindsey graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Arts, double majoring in Geography & Urban Studies and Environmental Studies. In addition to her work at Pennrose, Lindsey is a member of Women in Housing and Finance of Pennsylvania (WHF-PA), the Signature Events Development Committee of the Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations (PACDC), the Annual Giving Committee of the Pennrose Foundation. She is on the Temple University College of Liberal Arts (CLA) Alumni Board and is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Community Partnership School (CPS).
Director, Commercial Programs
Philadelphia Energy Authority
Brendan Thomas
Market Development Manager
CMC Energy Services
Brendan is a seasoned professional with a decade of specialized experience in the energy efficiency sector, notably in multifamily and LMI contexts. His expertise spans program design, modeling and delivery, with a focus on integrating cutting-edge technologies, particularly electrification. As a crucial asset at CMC Energy, Brendan leads new program inception, ensuring a seamless alignment between design visions and successful implementation outcomes. His comprehensive background encompasses strategic planning, process optimization, business development, sales, outreach and training, alongside a strong commitment to collaborating with residential contractors to drive envelope improvement initiatives on a national scale. During his tenure of more than four years at CMC Energy Services, Brendan has excelled in client relationship management, capitalizing on his proficiency to establish and nurture partnerships with utilities, state agencies and implementation contractors. His influential role has been instrumental in broadening CMC’s horizons through innovative growth avenues.
Program Director
CLEAResult
Moderator
Julie de Seve has been involved in energy efficiency programs for over a decade, first at Conservation Services Group and is now with CLEAResult. In NJ, Julie successfully led multiple NJ Clean Energy residential program initiatives including Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® as well as HVAC and ENERGY STAR products rebate programs. Currently, Julie leads a suite of energy efficiency residential programs in the region. She manages a team of local employees as well as a group of subcontractors to deliver these programs which includes Specialty Lighting, Energy Efficient Homes, RAD compliant Appliance Recycling and Student Education. Julie resides in NJ and manages the Residential Portfolio out of CLEAResult’s office in Allentown, PA.
Raising the Bar:
Pushing Building Performance Standards With Emerging Strategies
Time: 11:20 am, September 7
About the Panel:
Benchmarking policies track building performance, while codes require that specific actions be taken and Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) enforce specific energy outcomes. These policies can be a powerful tool in the policy arsenal of a city or state, but with great power comes great responsibility. Building owners in NYC have not uniformly embraced the rigorous requirements of Local Law 97, for example. Our panel of experts will discuss the potential benefits of outcome-focused BEPS in PA and NJ as well as the benchmarking and building code tools we have right now. We’ll cover model policy, the road to implementation and acceleration, strategies for addressing jurisdictions with ‘home rule charter’ provisions, and effectively engaging property owners.
Speakers:
Philip Chao (BPU)
Amanda Clevinger (Bright Power)
Alex Dews (IMT)
Luke Surowiec (ICF)
Renwick Paige (Energy Infrastructure Partners) – Moderator
Benchmarking Manager
NJ BPU
Policy and Programs Manager
Bright Power
Managing Director of Programs
Institute for Market Transformation
As IMT’s Managing Direct of Programs, Alex oversees all programmatic work across policy, business engagement, and strategy & analysis. He leads the execution of IMT’s organizational strategy and sets the programmatic pathway for IMT to realize broad adoption of building regulations at the city, state, and federal levels; new utility regulatory models that center investments in people and that improve the health and wellbeing of citizens; and engagement with real estate and other business operations to embody commitments to equity and the environment.
Before joining IMT, Alex served as Executive Director at Green Building United for six years, where he supported code and policy adoption at the state and local levels and led effective implementation of building performance programs at the city and regional scale. Prior to this role, Alex led policy and program work for Philadelphia’s Office of Sustainability, including the creation of its energy benchmarking program.
Director, Building Decarbonization
ICF
Principal
Energy Infrastructure Partners
Moderator
Renny has broad development and financial structuring experience across the infrastructure and alternative investments markets and has closed over $10 billion of financial transactions. Mr. Paige has substantial experience with the municipal and governmental sector client base and substantial operational expertise informed by his roles as Chief Marketing Officer for both an AmLaw 100 law firm and a national utility privatization firm. He has over 30 years of experience in infrastructure finance, public finance and private equity. Mr. Paige is also an executive board member of New York City Energy Efficiency Corporation (NYCEEC), a public private partnership that finances energy efficiency in New York City buildings.
Distributed Energy Resources
Time: 1:45 pm, September 7
About the Panel:
Whether physical or virtual assets, distributed energy resources, or DERs, are reshaping electric load, changing demand on the electric grid, and radically shifting how we think about energy resources and efficiency. As electrification continues to ramp up, small-scale electricity generation and demand resources become critical components to reliability and resilience, whether solar or other renewables, behavioral management, energy storage systems, EV infrastructure or other solutions. This panel highlights the fast-paced changes for utilities and EE industry players – and the associated policy considerations – fomented by DERs.
Speakers:
Baird Brown (eco(n)law)
Elowyn Corby (Vote Solar)
Manuel Esquivel (Enel)
Russ Newbold (C-Power)
Kevin Warren (Warren Energy) – Moderator
Elowyn Corby
Mid-Atlantic Regional Director
Vote Solar
Elowyn serves as the Mid-Atlantic Regional Director for Vote Solar, where she advocates for inclusive solar policies and helps to amplify local voices calling for equitable clean energy solutions.
Prior to joining Vote Solar, Elowyn was the program director for a national gender equity coalition, and has previously run campaigns around fighting climate change, protecting public health and workers’ rights, advancing equity, and electing progressive champions to office. She got her start with PennEnvironment, where she spent four years building and demonstrating public support for clean energy on the state and federal level.
Elowyn studied political science and peace education at Swarthmore College, and while she grew up in Northern California, she’s been happy to call Pennsylvania home since 2009. She lives in South Philly with her spouse and a very good dog.
Principal
eco(n)law
Baird Brown is the principal of eco(n)law. His practice is devoted to taking effective action on climate change and on issues of energy and environmental justice. He assists in the development of innovative programs and strategies for widespread adoption of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and other sustainable technologies. He has helped develop pooled procurement and financing techniques for energy efficiency and renewable energy and has structured public private partnerships for a broad array of infrastructure projects. Baird also advises on energy policy issues and represents clients before energy regulatory agencies. He helped form and serves as counsel to the Microgrid Resources Coalition.
Baird has played key roles in organizations that advance energy and sustainability goals. He served as a co-chair of energy-related committees of the American Bar Association (ABA) and the International Bar Association, and he was a principal author of the form Renewable Energy Credit Purchase Agreement for the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), the Energy Markets Association, and ABA. He serves on the boards of non-profit organizations that work for community revitalization and energy justice.
Manager of Regulatory Affairs, PJM Region
Enel North America
VP & General Manager, Energy Efficiency
CPower
Principal
Warren Energy Engineering
Moderator
Kevin Warren was an original member of the KEEA Board and served for roughly 10 years. Like several other Board members, he has been involved with PA ACT129 since its development and lobbied for its passage prior to KEEA’s official founding. His energy efficiency experience has focused on large multifamily, industrial, and commercial facilities.
Kevin Warren founded and is the principal of Warren Energy. Prior to starting the company, he was co-founder and principal of kW Engineering in Oakland, California. Kevin is a nationally recognized expert on measurement and verification (M&V) and impact evaluation. He is an active member of the Efficiency Valuation Organization’s (EVO) International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol (IPMVP) committee where he is the chair of the IPMVP EM&V subcommittee. Kevin has represented EVO in energy efficiency protocol efforts with NAESB, the World Bank, and ANSI. He is a registered professional engineer in five states and has a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, received in 1993 from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, Solar Energy Laboratory.
Kevin serves on the Chester County Energy and Environmental Advisory Board, the Oxford Regional Planning Commission’s Environmental Advisory Council, the Elk Township Open Space Committee, and his wife Jenifer’s school board reelection committee. He is also the President of the Elk Creeks Watershed Association.
Fireside Chat: How to Scale Up! Funding, Workforce and Electrification
Time: 3:00 pm, September 7
About the Chat:
Join us for a lively closing session with our own in-person version of the beloved ‘Energy Gang’ podcast. Lloyd Kass (Franklin Energy) will lead our participants through a candid, informal session sharing insights, predictions, perspectives, worries, and hopes for the next 3 months and 3 years in our industry.
Speakers:
Paul Douglas (The JPI Group)
Ben Hiller (Daikin)
Peter Krajsa (National Energy Improvement Foundation)
Lloyd Kass (Franklin Energy) – Moderator
President & Co-Founder
The JPI Group
Paul Douglas is an Entrepreneur, Speaker, Workforce Development Consultant and the President of the award-winning JPI Group. With more than 20 years in the recruiting and workforce development space, Paul has gained a reputation as a dynamic expert in hiring diverse talent through innovative strategies that help companies grow and scale — with ease. In a short period, The JPI Group has rapidly emerged as a leading-edge solution that provides skilled and diverse talent for top utility and energy companies, including Comcast, PSEG, DNV and PECO. Paul and his wife Iyomekha “Yom”, have been honored with multiple awards for the success of their multi- million dollar company as well as the incredible advocacy of minority-owned businesses. In 2020, they received the prestigious National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) Supplier of the Year award and the regional Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council (EMSDC) Minority Business Advocate of the Year. The couple has been featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Minority Business News and The Lou Hutt Show on Sirius XM.
Energy Efficiency Business Development Manager
Daikin
Ben Hiller joined Daikin in March 2023 as an Energy Efficiency Business Development Manager. He’s responsible for working with utilities, program administrators, regional energy efficiency organizations, and various other energy efficiency programs to develop rebates and incentives that encourage the adoption of Daikin’s residential and commercial variable capacity heat pumps across the North Division.
Ben previously served as Technical Manager at NEEP, working to accelerate market adoption of heat pumps and energy efficient technologies. He collaborated with federal agencies, program administrators, and manufacturers in the development of the NEEP Cold Climate Air Source Heat Pump (ccASHP) Specification and Product List. Prior to joining NEEP, Ben spent 10 years with Trane as an Account Manager in the Boston commercial sales office.
Co-Chair & Founder
National Energy Improvement Fund
Peter Krasja was a founding board member of KEEA and a Co-Chair and Founder of the National Energy Improvement Fund (NEIF) the nation’s only Certified Benefit Corporation, US Department of Energy Home Improvement Expert lender partner. Pennsylvania-based, NEIF provides energy efficiency and resilience financing programs for home and businesses nationally through partnerships with governments, utilities, manufacturers and contractors. NEIF currently has over 1,000 partners focused on increasing the affordability of energy and resilience improvements.
Peter is a recognized innovator in energy efficiency finance for over two decades. He spear-headed the creation of a number of major national energy finance programs as CEO of AFC First Financial Corporation, a specialty residential energy efficiency lender, operating programs nationally with a network of over 6,000 participating contractors. Peter led the development of the company’s national EnergyLoan® program as one of Fannie Mae’s approved lenders; created the Keystone Home Energy Loan Program in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Treasury Department, DEP and PHFA, which laid the foundation for WHEEL, (Warehouse for Energy Efficiency Loans), the world’s first investment grade rated securitization of a portfolio of unsecured energy loans. Under his leadership, AFC First closed over $500 million in energy efficiency loans, was named by the U.S. DOE as the nation’s first private Home Performance with ENERGY STAR sponsor, selected as one of five national pilot lenders for the HUD PowerSaver program, received the Alliance to Save Energy Andromeda Award and established the Green Energy Training Academy supported by the Rockefeller Foundation. Most recently, he headed national channel business development for the innovative energy lender, Renew Financial, which acquired AFC First in 2015, as part of its national expansion plans.
He holds a B.S. Economics from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Vice President of Strategy & Market Development
Franklin Energy
Moderator
Lloyd has developed and implemented clean energy, building efficiency, and affordable housing programs for utilities and government for 30 years. At Franklin Energy, Lloyd is responsible for leading engagement with government, utilities, and other stakeholders to grow the business through the acceleration of climate-forward clean energy policy. Lloyd is also a part-time educator and has served as adjunct associate professor at Columbia University for 13 years. He is active with several energy policy nonprofit groups as well and just completed a stint as board president for the Energy Efficiency Alliance