LES 2022 Speakers

Head of US Offshore East

RWE

Keynote Speaker

Katie Theoharides

Keynote Speaker, Katie Theoharides, has been a clean energy leader for the state of Massachusetts, helping to achieve the state’s climate goals.

As Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to Governor Charlie Baker, she oversaw a staff of more than 3,000, had a budget of $300 million, and was responsible for six energy and environmental agencies. 

And now, she serves as the Head of Offshore Development (East) for RWE Renewables - leading the development of RWE’s research array in Maine (the first offshore floating wind project in the United States) and the development of New York Bight, a lease area set to power approximately 1.1 million homes.

Consultant

VEIC

Alex Pine

Alex has over a decade of experience in advancing alternative fuels and renewable energy. Their expertise in stakeholder outreach, engagement, and advocacy, currently supports electric vehicle adoption programs across the Northeast. 

Reporter

NH Bulletin

Amanda Gokee

Amanda Gokee is the New Hampshire Bulletin’s energy and environment reporter. Amanda grew up in Vermont and is a graduate of Harvard University, with a master's from Dartmouth College where she currently teaches. 

Energy Training Coordinator

Lakes Region Community College

Andy Duncan

At Lakes Region Community College, Andy Duncan manages energy efficiency training programs for facility managers and energy auditors, as well as the NH Rural Renewables technical assistance program. In addition to his work at LRCC, Andy provides sustainable energy program management and training services. He has a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, School for Environment and Sustainability. 

Energy Educator & Action Project Advisor

NH/VT Energy Education Program

Aubrey Nelson

Aubrey loves to explore and share with those around her, so was naturally drawn to teaching. She taught middle school science for 7 years and earned her MEd before joining V/NHEEP, and also serves educators through Inquir-Ed, her personalized professional development business. Her work at NHEEP work centers around empowering youth and teachers to engage in inquiry-driven STEM education and energy action. Aubrey is a mom of two, a gardener, aspiring children’s book author, outdoor sports enthusiast, and helped design and build her net-zero home in Concord, NH.

Transportation Director

Champlain Valley School District

Barry Russell

I started in busing 15 years ago as a side job. After a few years I took lead driver at one of our Elementary schools. 10 years as lead driver then was hired as transportation director for CVSD 3 years ago.

Selectman

Town of Wolfeboro, NH

Brian Deshaies

I am a Cost Analyst for my family Defense Contract Company. For the last 15 years I developed an interest in emerging energy technologies. As a Selectman in Wolfeboro I sit on the Energy Committee and champion carbon reducing and energy reduction policies.

VP Power Resources and Access

NHEC

Brian Callnan

Brian Callnan is Vice President of Power Resources and Access for New Hampshire Electric Cooperative. He joined NHEC in 2017 as its Director of Power Resources and Access.  Brian assumed his current position at NHEC in 2019 and is responsible for managing the cooperative’s power resource portfolio strategy.

Executive Director

Lakes Region Community Developers

Carmen Lorentz

Carmen is a proud native of the New Hampshire Lakes Region. After a decade in Washington, DC and six years as a consultant in the Saratoga Springs, New York area, Carmen moved back to the Lakes Region in 2011 to serve as the Executive Director of Belknap Economic Development Council. In 2014, she was appointed by Governor Maggie Hassan to serve as the Director of Economic Development for the State of New Hampshire. In 2017, she assumed the role of Executive Director of Lakes Region Community Developers where she has worked with the Board of Directors to expand the organization’s mission to respond to the changing affordable housing needs in the region.

V.P. Government Relations

New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Association

Dan Bennett

Dan Bennett is a Government Relations professional with the NHADA and has over 20 years of experience in the motor vehicle industry. Dan has a Masters Degree in environmental law from Vermont Law School and has been doing environmental compliance and sustainability issues for the motor vehicle industry over the course of his career. 

Eastern Regional Sales Director

EVSE LLC - Smart Charging for Electric Vehicles

Daniel Shanahan

Dan Shanahan is the Eastern Regional Sales Director for EVSE LLC (www.evsellc.com), a Connecticut and MA manufacturer, and a subsidiary of Control Module Inc (CMI), founded in 1969. EVSE LLC is a CT and MA manufacturer of EV chargers. Dan has been at the forefront of electric vehicle infrastructure since 2009. His responsibilities include direct and resale sales in North America. He has also worked for IBM, Kronos and First Data Corporation. Dan has provided the state of Connecticut's towns and state agencies on EV charging since 2010. Dan has also been appointed by Massachusetts Governors Deval Patrick and Charles Baker to the Zero Electric Vehicle Commission, offering subject matter expertise for the state's electric vehicle policies and initiatives.

Commercial Solar Consultant

ReVision Energy

Rachel Eades

ReVision Energy is an employee-owned B-Corporation on a mission to solve the environmental problems caused by fossil fuels while alleviating economic and social injustice. In her role as Commercial Solar Consultant, Rachel helps businesses and community organizations in her home state of New Hampshire transition to clean energy through large scale solar projects. 

Sr. Manager, Performance Construction

Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US LLC

David Hazel

Dave Hazel is the Sr. Manager for Performance Construction at Mitsubishi Electric. He has over 20 years of experience in the HVAC industry specializing in High Performance Heat Pump applications while working to educate and develop new construction builders, architects, remodelers, deep energy retrofit firms along with the building science and passive house communities.

Shareholder

Bernstein Shur Sawyer & Nelson

David P. Littell

David Littell is an attorney and shareholder with Bernstein Shur with more than 30 years of experience in energy, utility, and environmental matters. A recognized national expert on integrating energy and environmental regulation and markets, David provides guidance to private and public clients, utilities, state officials, public utility commissions, environmental regulators, and energy officials on how to approach and resolve complex energy, utility, pollution, environmental, and economic problems and challenges.

Consumer Advocate

Office of the Consumer Advocate

Donald M. Kreis

As New Hampshire's Consumer Advocate, Don Kreis has since 2016 headed up the small but feisty independent state agency whose job is representing the interests of residential utility customers. A lawyer by trade, Don is a fierce advocate of ratepayer-funded energy efficiency and the creative use of utility customer data. In keeping with his former career as a journalist, Don writes a column about his work for the nonprofit online news organization InDepthNH.org.

Community Power Consultant

Standard Power

Emily Manns

Emily Manns has been the Chair of the Peterborough Energy Committee for five years and is a Community Power Consultant for Standard Power. 

Director of Technology & Market Solutions

Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP)

Dave Lis

Dave oversees NEEP’s Technology and Market Strategies team, which is currently leading regional market transformation initiatives for space and water heating electrification. In this capacity, Dave provides strategic direction for the team’s development, management, and integration with other NEEP teams. 

Principal

Resilient Edge

Ethan Goldman

Ethan Goldman has been developing software for sustainability since 2001, creating systems to find and quantify energy efficiency and demand flexibility. He has worked with clients such as electric and gas utilities, regional energy efficiency organizations, efficiency program administrators, and product developers. He currently serves as the chair of the CalTRACK working group and was the primary author on Missouri's Guidebook to the Adoption of M&V 2.0. 

Health & Sustainability Lead

Ahold Delhaize USA

George Parmenter

George Parmenter is Health & Sustainability Lead supporting Hannaford Supermarkets. George works for Hannaford’s parent company Ahold Delhaize USA, a large east coast grocer operating several grocery brands from the Northeast to the mid-Atlantic States. During his time in this role, this involved developing and implementing an industry leading seafood sustainability program and more recently guiding work related eliminating food scraps from the waste stream and moving toward more sustainable packaging in private brand products. His work also extends to mitigating the companies impact in areas of like reducing food waste, energy and greenhouse gas.

Principal

Herndon Enterprises

Henry Herndon

Mr. Herndon works with businesses, governments, and communities to advance 21st century energy solutions. Over the past several years, Mr. Herndon led a collaboration of cities, towns, counties, and technical and legal advisors to create a new statewide public power agency in New Hampshire which he is now supporting through its start-up phase. Mr. Herndon is an expert in legislative and regulatory energy policy.

Executive Director

Nashua Regional Planning Commission

Jay Minkarah

Jay Minkarah, Executive Director of the Nashua Regional Planning Commission, has worked in planning and economic development in New England for over thirty years. Jay has a Bachelor of Urban Planning from the University of Cincinnati and a Juris Doctor from The University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law. He is also active in several civic and community-based boards, committees and organizations.

Professor of Law, Staff Attorney

Vermont Law and Graduate School, Energy Clinic

Jeannie Oliver

Jeannie Oliver is a professor of law and staff attorney at the Vermont Law and Graduate School Energy Clinic, where she works with students to provide law, policy, and advocacy services to clients pursuing clean energy and climate justice projects. In this role, she focuses on extending the benefits of renewable energy to low-moderate income communities, and is working closely with ROC-NH to develop community solar projects for Resident Owned Communities in New Hampshire. Jeannie has previously worked for the Vermont Department of Public Service in their Public Advocacy division and as a commercial transactions attorney in private practice. She obtained her LLMs in Environmental Law and American Legal Studies from Vermont Law School and her law degree from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. 

Bureau Administrator

Bureau of Career Development NH Dept. of Education

Jeff Beard

Jeff Beard is the administrator of the Bureau of Career Development (BCD). BCD partners with employers and educators to design and implement career pathways for young people in order to provide them with the capacity to make informed decisions about careers in NH. Dr. Beard received his Ed.D from Plymouth State University in Educational Leadership.

Transportation Program Specialist & Coalition Director

NH Department of Environmental Services / Granite State Clean Cities Coalition

Jessica Wilcox

Jessica Wilcox joined the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services as the Transportation Program Specialist and Granite State Clean Cities Coalition (GSCCC) Director in September 2017. Jessica has 20+ years of experience in both the automotive industry and non-profit grants management. She holds degrees in early childhood education and broadcast communications.

Vice President - Community Choice Energy

Calpine Energy Solutions

Josh Brock

Josh Brock is an experienced executive leader in clean energy and climate resiliency. Calpine Energy Solutions Community Energy Division works with agencies across the united states to support decarbonizing of the power grid, increasing renewable energy, and reinvesting in communities to create a resilient and sustainable future. In his role as Vice President, Josh oversees all aspects of the Community Choice Energy division’s strategy, regulatory, legislative, marketing, external affairs, and market development activities. 

Executive Director

Keene Housing

Joshua Meehan

Josh Meehan is Executive Director of Keene Housing in Keene, NH. Josh has worked in affordable housing for over 20 years. Keene Housing is actively engaged in reducing its carbon footprint and has committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2035.

Director, Energy Efficiency

Eversource Energy

Kate Peters

Kate Peters is a Director in the Energy Efficiency group at Eversource Energy. Kate is committed to helping New Hampshire and Massachusetts residents and businesses save energy and create healthier and more comfortable spaces to live and work through the energy efficiency programs. Kate can often be found presenting on behalf of the energy efficiency programs at stakeholder meetings, regulatory and legislative hearings, conferences and events. Prior to joining Eversource Kate was Program Director for the NH Better Buildings Program, a federally funded initiative focused on both residential and commercial energy efficiency projects. She served as Energy and Environmental Policy Advisor for Governor John Lynch and did legislative work for the NH State Senate. In 2016 Kate was named as one of the NH Union Leader’s 40 Under 40. Kate is a graduate of Cornell University and is a certified Building Analyst Professional. She is a native of New Hampshire and lives in Concord with her husband and two children.

Director of Market Transformation

Building Decarbonization

Matt Rusteika

Matt's work at the Building Decarbonization Coalition brings together major industry actors, environmental groups, equity advocates, and organized labor to chart an ambitious and realistic path toward emission-free buildings across the U.S. Prior to joining BDC, Matt led Acadia Center's buildings initiative and helped to plan Massachusetts' heat pump incentive programs through Mass Save. He lives in Lee, NH with his wife, two sons, and dog.

Sr Director of Business Development, Energy Storage

New Leaf Energy

Michael Conway

Mike is New Leaf's Sr Director of Business Development for Energy Storage and has developed of 200MWh of energy storage across New England and New York. He currently manages New Leaf's 6GWh energy storage development pipeline.

Executive Director

NH Businesses for Social Responsibility

Michelle Veasey

Michelle Veasey has been the Executive Director of NHBSR for eleven years and loves working with the amazing people, businesses and organizations that create positive impact in our state. She worked in high tech and finance for over twenty years and values the insights those experiences bring to her work with NHBSR.

Director, Rates & Regulatory Affairs

Liberty Utilities

Erica Menard

As the Director of Rates and Regulatory Affairs at Liberty Utilities, Erica Menard leads all ratemaking and regulatory activity for Liberty's electric and gas companies in New Hampshire.

Erica has over 25 years of experience in the energy industry serving in a variety of capacities including financial planning and analysis, load forecasting and rates and regulatory. She is excited about the opportunity to share Liberty's approach to alternative regulation in New Hampshire.

Owner

Turn Cycle Solutions

Mike Turcotte

Mike Turcotte is a Southern NH native, he is an active owner in the day to day operations of Turn Cycle Solutions. TCS is a Weatherization and Luxury design build remodeling firm. Mike has won Young Entrepreneur from the Small business of NH in 2017 and a past President of Homebuilders Association Nashua/Manchester/Concord Chapter. 

Policy Analyst-Manager

New England Power Generators Association

Molly Connors

Molly Connors is Policy Analyst-Manager at the New England Power Generators Association, the trade association that represents more than 90 percent of the region’s electricity generation capacity. Prior to joining NEPGA in March 2022, she was a member of the External Affairs team at ISO New England, the independent, not-for-profit corporation responsible the reliable operation of the regional electric grid. From 2013 to 2016, she worked in New Hampshire government, as an energy advisor to then-Governor Maggie Hassan and as an analyst in the state’s energy office. A former journalist, Molly holds a BA and MS from Boston University and is pursuing an MBA at Bentley University. 

Retired Scientist

Peterborough Energy Committee

Bruce E. Tucker

Active in the Electric Auto Association in AZ and CA and an EV owner since 2003 including a Toyota RAV4EV daily driver from 2005-2018, and currently driving Teslas.

EV Advocate during the early 2000s when CA ZEV mandate was being dismantled and EV1s crushed. Currently active in expanding EV adoption and charging infrastructure in NH, and an alternate member of the Peterborough Community Power Task Force. 

Environmental Stewardship Team Leader

Hypertherm Associates

Robin Tindall

Robin integrates environmental stewardship along Hypertherm's entire value chain. Her efforts are central to Hypertherm’s mission of reducing the environmental impact of everything it does. A trained environmental engineer with a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, a B.S.E. in environmental engineering and an MBA, Robin’s experience stretches 23 years.

Business Development Manager - New England

Enel North America

Ryan Doherty

I handle all business development activity for the ISO-NE & utility level Demand Response programs available here in New England. Our solutions are innovating the way energy is used to help cities, companies, and consumers create a more sustainable power grid.

Managing Director, Operations & Strategy

Ascend Analytics

Scott Wrigglesworth

In his role with Ascend Analytics, Scott leads his staff as they deliver Ascend's expert services and software to client pursuing industry best practices in power portfolio risk management and planning analysis. Before joining Ascend 5 years ago, he spent 17 years with Dayton Power and Light and the AES Corporation. Scott also teaches a course in Energy Markets at the University of Dayton from where he also earned his MBA. He holds a BA in Global Economics and International Business from Cedarville University. 

Energy Market Leader

VHB

Sherrie Trefry

Sherrie is a NH resident and UNH graduate. She has served as a Clean Energy NH Board Member for several years. She has worked as an Environmental Scientist specializing in natural resource assessment and permitting in NH for 18 years. Her current focus is on renewables and transmission projects. 

President

Filtrine Manufacturing Company

Turner Hansel

Turner Hansel joined Filtrine Manufacturing Company (FMC) on 1997 and has run the process/medical chiller division for the last 20 years. He was elected President of FMC by the Board of Directors in 2020. Filtrine Manufacturing is a family owned company that was founded in 1901 and manufacturers process/medical chillers, drinking fountains and drinking water systems. They are a world-wide leader in these markets and are known for it’s innovative approach to designs and solutions.

Director

ReVision Energy Training Center

Vaughan Woodruff

Vaughan oversees ReVision Energy's innovative workforce development arm, which is focused on helping the company to address the challenges related to the technical workforce in northern New England. He is the former founder and CEO of Insource Renewables, an employee-owned B Corp that merged with ReVision Energy in February 2021.

Commissioner

NH Department of Transportation

Victoria Sheehan

Sworn in as the Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Transportation on October 19, 2015, Victoria Sheehan oversees a state agency with an operating budget of $650 million and over 1,650 employees dedicated to providing safe and efficient transportation systems.

Ms. Sheehan brings both transportation engineering and management experience to her role as Commissioner. In her years as a dedicated public employee, she has worked as a resident

engineer and as a project manager, with a record of delivering contracts on-time and on-budget.

She also has extensive experience in asset and performance management.

Commissioner Sheehan is originally from Ireland, and has a Master’s Degree in Structural

Engineering and Architecture from the University of Edinburgh. She lives in Nashua, NH with

her husband Sean and son Eoin.

Executive Director

Stay Work Play NH

Will Stewart

Will Stewart was named the Executive Director of Stay Work Play in September 2017. In this role he is responsible for the overall management of Stay Work Play and serves as the organization’s key spokesperson and as an advocate for the attraction and retention of younger workers in New Hampshire.

President and Chief Technical Officer

Standard Power

Robert Hayden

I live in Lyndeborough in an Earth Bermed Solar house I built in my twenties. We enjoy a very green life style. I have worked with Standard Power the last 10 years and developed a large aggregation of Hydro and Solar facilities that participates in NH Group Net Metering, this program benifites over 70 schools and towns here in NH. Currently we are looking at Biomass and Wind projects to add to our portfolio.