Arlington, VA
United States
The Spring FUPWG is co-sponsored by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). FUPWG provides a venue for information exchange and training that fosters effective partnerships between federal agencies and their serving utilities to develop solutions which leverage private sector investment in federal facility infrastructure to improve energy and water efficiency and support federal building decarbonization.
Agenda
Registration Information
Sold out! There will be no on-site registration.
FUPWG Attendance Policy
Private sector participants may, space permitting, send a maximum of three attendees per organization. These companies are encouraged to coordinate internally in advance to determine who should register for the seminar. Only badged attendees will be permitted to attend FUPWG meetings, breaks, and networking events.
Federal agencies have no maximum attendee registration limit, space permitting.
FUPWG Seminar Location
The 2023 FUPWG Seminar will be held at the Westin Arlington Gateway Hotel which is steps away from the Ballston-MU Metro station.
Westin Arlington Gateway
801 North Glebe Road
Arlington, VA 22203
Hotel Reservations
There is a limited block of rooms reserved at the Westin Arlington Gateway and we encourage you to secure your hotel reservation as soon as possible. The FUPWG seminar rate is $258 per night and rooms must be booked by the April 13 cut-off date.
Energy Lawyers and Contracting Officers Forum
Tuesday, May 2, 2023, 2:15 – 3:15 p.m.
This meeting is open to all FUPWG attendees with an interest in federal energy projects. The agenda is designed to provide an opportunity for an open exchange of information and discussion.
Comprehensive Utility Energy Service Contract (UESC) Training
Wednesday, May 3 – Thursday, May 4, 2023
8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
4301 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, VA
To achieve decarbonization and other federal goals, it is increasingly critical for agencies to consider the value of Utility Energy Service Contracts (UESCs) as a tool for upgrading energy and water infrastructure and installing on-site carbon pollution-free projects, with little to no upfront costs. This in-person workshop will help attendees understand the fundamental elements of a UESC and how these limited-source performance contracts can be used to maximize investment into energy and water conservation measures. FEMP and experts from DOE’s national labs will present best practices aimed at assisting agency staff in the successful development of UESCs, including topics such as acquisition planning, contractor selection, site assessments, proposal review, and performance assurance.
This course is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training, and there is no registration fee to attend. CEUs will be awarded upon successful completion of an online quiz and evaluation following the workshop. Priority registration will be given to contracting officers, contracting specialists, and other Federal employees. Attendees from private industry will be admitted as space allows.
Register now! There are separate registration links for each day. Please complete both if you plan on attending Day 1 and Day 2 of UESC Training.
FUPWG Seminar Code of Conduct
Hospitality and social functions (on- and off-site) are strictly prohibited from conflicting with the timing of FUPWG Seminar activities listed in the schedule of events. Aggressive sales techniques are to be avoided while attending the seminar.
For more information on FUPWG, please visit the FEMP website or contact Andrew Grejda or (443) 474-6644.
Speaker Biographies
Creshona Armwood
Department of Energy Federal Energy Management Program
Creshona Armwood currently serves as the Engagement Supervisor for the U.S. Department of Energy, Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP). Her team is responsible for supporting federal agencies and assisting them with meeting energy, sustainability, and decarbonization goals through strategic partnerships that connect them with FEMP products and services. Programs under her leadership include training and certification, awards, Healthy Buildings, Energy Efficient Product Procurement (EEPP), and compliance reporting. Prior to joining FEMP, Creshona served as the Chief of Energy and Sustainability for GSA Southeast Sunbelt Region 4 where she managed the UESC program and executed projects through all phases of development and implementation. Creshona has over 30 years of federal experience. She holds a B.S. from the University of Maryland in Fire Protection Engineering and an M.S. from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Building Construction and Facility Management.
Priya Barua
Director, Market and Policy Innovation
Priya Barua is the Director of Market and Policy Innovation. She has expertise in emissions and attribute accounting, utility business models, regulatory frameworks, and corporate energy buying strategies. Prior to joining CEBA, she worked at the World Resources Institute where she helped establish WRI's work on green tariffs and fostered collaborations between utilities and large energy buyers in traditional, regulated markets, to develop innovative utility business models that support an efficient and economic transition to clean energy resources, including leading the Special Clean Power Council (CPC) for Utilities and Buyers. Prior to WRI, she worked at the World Bank on renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives in India and Afghanistan. She also worked at ICF International, supporting the ENERGY STAR energy efficiency program, and at IHS Emerging Energy Research, producing solar market development reports on the Asia-Pacific region. Priya holds a Master in Public Policy degree from the Harvard Kennedy School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brandeis University.
Paul Breakman
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
Mr. Breakman is a Vice President at NRECA, where he serves as an energy and telecommunications expert, while simultaneously leading a group of technical and industry professionals within the Business and Technology Strategies (BTS) Department of the company. With over 25 years of utility and leadership experience, Mr. Breakman supports and executes on a wide range of initiatives for NRECA's membership, with a focus on utility business models, rural broadband, data analytics, resource adequacy, and energy markets. Mr. Breakman is mission-driven and committed to effectuating the success of the cooperative model. Through his inclusive leadership style and competent counsel, he has built and maintained strong, trusting relationships within NRECA and the membership. Mr. Breakman has a proven track record of success managing and leading teams.
Mr. Breakman possesses a deep curiosity and understanding of, and experience with, emerging technologies and contributes to the thought leadership of NRECA and NRECA members. Among various charges, Mr. Breakman is primarily responsible for providing key information on current and future trends affecting operations, technology planning, and consumer expectations. He also works closely with the NRECA Government Relations team on regulatory and policy drivers.
Mr. Breakman regularly prepares and presents to large audiences within the membership and utility industry. Additionally, he supports a number of federally-funded research projects in collaboration with the NRECA Research team. His team's products and service offerings include generation and resource assessments, supply relationship consultation, business structure and model review, GIS mapping, electrification consultation, economic analysis, utility digitalization, and broadband due diligence support.
Jeffery R. Brown
Sandhills Utility Services, LLC
Jeff Brown is the Chief Executive Officer of Sandhills Utility Services at Fort Bragg, NC. Jeff has been the CEO since April 1, 2007, and held several positions since joining SUS in 2004. Jeff has over 30 years of extensive experience in the electric utility industry. Prior to his present position, Jeff worked for Duke Energy Progress (formerly Progress Energy) and Edison Electric Institute in various fields and positions. Jeff is a 1987 graduate of Virginia Military Institute, with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, and an MBA from Campbell University. Jeff is also a Certified Energy Manager.
Jeff has served 16 years in the Army National Guard and Army Reserves, stationed at Fort Bragg at the North Carolina Military Academy with the rank of Major. He held several positions: Officer Candidate School (OCS) Instructor, Administration Officer, and Logistic Officer.
Joe Bryan
Department of Defense
Joe Bryan serves as the Chief Sustainability Officer and Senior Advisor for Climate to the Secretary of Defense. Prior to his appointment, Joe Bryan was principal at a boutique consulting practice focused on clean energy technology and its intersection with national security. Joe previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy where he was responsible for policies relating to the Department's installation and operational energy programs. Earlier in his career, he led investigations for the Senate Armed Services Committee and served on the professional staffs of the Senate's Select Committee on Intelligence and Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Joe has consulted on energy policy in southern Africa and began his career working on electricity restructuring and state-level policies to encourage the growth of clean energy markets. He is a former Senior Fellow with the Atlantic Council's Global Energy Center.
Susan Call
Office of the Secretary of Defense
Susan O. Call is the Director for Installation Clean Energy & Energy Efficiency in the Office of the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense for Environment and Energy Resilience. Her responsibilities include overseeing policies and programs to ensure installation and energy resilience for DoD installations. Her extensive background as an integrator and innovator uniquely qualifies her for the challenges of this new position. For 20 years, she worked at the Naval Facilities Engineering System Command (NAVFAC) with experience in utilities, energy, resilient and renewable energy project development through third-party financing. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech and is a licensed Professional Engineer.
Tim Campbell
Tennessee Valley Authority
Tim Campbell currently serves as the Senior Program Manager for the Tennessee Valley Authority Federal Energy Services Program. He holds a Bachelor's of Science in Engineering from Old Dominion University and a Juris Doctor from the Nashville School of Law. He has 10 years of UESC and federal contracting experience with the agency.
Gary Dannar
DD DANNAR, LLC
Starting with early patents for rough terrain forklifts in the 1970s, Gary Dannar's career has continuously centered on innovation and new product development. His corporate responsibilities spanned North America and across Europe and Asia, in leadership roles for several corporations, including Ford Motor Co., The General, New Holland, and Alamo Group. Throughout his career, Gary has worked independently and collaboratively with other engineers to bring forward-thinking solutions to a demanding workplace. He continues his focus on disciplined innovation through DD DANNAR, LLC, the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of the Mobile Power Station®. Today, Gary is an established leader and industry innovator, with an entrepreneurial spirit.
Tanuj Deora
Council on Environmental Quality | Executive Office of the President
Tanuj brings 20 years of experience driving sustainability across the electric power supply chain, from upstream production through to consumer engagement. His prior roles include developing wind energy and transmission projects for EDP Renewables, serving in the cabinet of Governor John Hickenlooper as Director of the Colorado Energy Office, and consulting roles at McKinsey and IHS (now S&P Global). Tanuj lead the research and external engagement programs as Chief Strategy Officer at the Smart Electric Power Alliance, where he founded/expanded the 51st State, Beyond the Meter, and Utility Market Snapshot research series and advised the government of Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. Most recently Tanuj led market development at Uplight, a ClimateTech company enabling utilities to provide modern digital customer experiences for DSM programs.
Ethan Epstein
Department of Energy Federal Energy Management Program
Ethan Epstein is the FEMP Resilience Program Manager and is the new lead for FEMP's Utility Program. Ethan has a diverse background in both the federal and private sector. Prior to FEMP, he was a contractor for the Air Force (SAF/IEE) and the Marine Corps (MCICOM) working on energy analytics and resilience programs. Ethan began his career at the American Public Power Association (APPA) where he worked with municipal utilities to better understand reliability and safety metrics and help public power gain national industry recognition for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and distributed generation initiatives.
Douglas S. Hartman
FirstEnergy Utility Services
Doug is currently responsible for proactively supporting FirstEnergy's regulated generation fleet and the strategic application of renewable assets. The Project Engineering, Field & Technical Services, and Operations & Maintenance teams augment the engineering and technical program for FirstEnergy's regulated generation business unit. Generation Services is also responsible for the development, subscription, and installation of Mon Power's WV Solar Program.
Doug earned his Bachelor of Science degree in environmental biology from Heidelberg College. Since 2010, Doug has volunteered as a CYO cross country and track coach for middle school and junior high athletes in the Cleveland area.
Don Henderson
U.S. Army
Don Henderson, CEM has served as Energy Manager at Redstone Arsenal for the past three years, overseeing the energy program for over 19 million square feet of facilities utilized by the Army and over 70 tenant organizations. He has worked with the Tennessee Valley Authority to develop and execute two UESC projects totaling over $20 million. He previously worked 11 years at Redstone as a Mechanical Design Engineer/Project Manager, and 10 years as a Facility Engineer/Project Manager at Marshall Space Flight Center. He graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering.
Lisa Hermenau
Department of Veterans Affairs
Lisa Hermenau is an Energy Manager for the Providence, RI, VA Medical Center. She brings a wealth of knowledge to the VA from her prior positions at National Grid and the Newport, RI, Naval Base. She has successfully implemented energy conservation projects in Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 1 by utilizing her knowledge and experience resulting in greater than $1 million in savings annually.
She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering as well as a Master's Degree in Power Systems Management from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). She is a registered Professional Engineer (PE) in Electrical Engineering as well as a Certified Energy Manager (CEM). She has won numerous VA Energy Awards for her utility energy service contract (UESC) projects, was a 2019 FEMP DOE Spotlight Award winner, and was most recently chosen to be the national 2023 VA Energy Engineer of the Year. Lisa has over 30 years of experience in the electrical utility industry.
Kathleen Hogan
Department of Energy
Kathleen Hogan is a distinguished national leader in clean energy with a more than twenty-year career as a federal executive spanning the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and DOE. She currently serves as the Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Infrastructure at DOE. Prior positions include the Acting Under Secretary for Science and Energy where she helped the Agency launch its Energy Earthshot program and the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency at DOE. There she oversaw a more than $600 million annual energy efficiency policy, program, and research portfolio and helped pursue national goals in advanced manufacturing, building energy technologies, low-income weatherization, appliance and equipment minimum standards, federal energy management, and building energy codes.
Earlier, she led an EPA division for more than ten years in the development and implementation of a suite of clean energy policies and programs to cost-effectively address global climate change. There she established a strong track record of addressing complex challenges in the energy and climate arena using voluntary partnership approaches, including leading the ENERGY STAR program to national prominence.
Kathleen has been recognized throughout her career for her leadership in public service, most recently with a Presidential Rank Award (2015), The Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals Career Achievement Award (2016), and a Secretary of Energy Exceptional Service Award (2018).
She holds a Ph.D. from the Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering of the Johns Hopkins University and a B.S. in Chemistry from Bucknell University in Pennsylvania.
Robert B. Hughes
U.S. Army
Mr. Robert B. Hughes serves as the Executive Director for the U.S. Army Office of Energy Initiatives (OEI). Prior to joining OEI, he was a Program Manager in LMI's Logistics Service Line, focusing on delivering solutions to improve their client's oversight of their infrastructure, energy and environmental management challenges. Before working at LMI, he served as the Director, Air Force Office of Energy Assurance (OEA), where he led the implementation of projects to meet the top Air Force energy challenges and support mission-ready installations. As the first director of the OEA, he established a central management office dedicated to providing a comprehensive, enterprise-wide approach to energy projects, including the development and execution of strategic energy assurance initiatives.
Kinga Hydras
General Services Administration
Kinga Hydras serves as a Deputy Director in the GSA Office of Federal High-Performance Green Buildings, with particular focus on decarbonization, electrification, grid-interactive efficient buildings, energy efficiency programs, and renewable energy. She has been working on improving the usage of energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs) in the federal government, forming public-private partnerships to achieve deep energy retrofits in existing buildings. Kinga has over 25 years of experience in the public and commercial building industry with extensive knowledge in energy analysis, air conditioning, and high performance building practices and policies, coupled with 10 years of experience in sales and marketing management. Kinga has an MBA from Case Western Reserve University and a Masters in Engineering Degree from the Technical University of Budapest. Kinga is a CEM and a LEED-AP.
Lauren Khair
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
Lauren Khair is a Director in NRECA's Business and Technology Strategies department. Prior to NRECA, she worked for the Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration (EIA), where she developed and led the quality assurance process for the three major electricity surveys. At NRECA, she currently leads NRECA's Infrastructure initiative and the Department of Defense engagement. Lauren manages research projects totaling over $10 million, primarily focused on military energy and cybersecurity. A native of Northern Virginia, Lauren earned her B.A. from James Madison University and a Master's in Public Policy from George Mason University's Schar School of Policy and Government.
Steve Kiesner
Edison Electric Institute
Steve Kiesner is Senior Director of National Customer Solutions for the Edison Electric Institute, the association that represents all U.S. investor-owned electric companies. Steve runs EEI's corporate, DoD, and federal customer outreach activities which work to enhance opportunities and the business between EEI members and their large, multi-site national customers, including large chains, the Department of Defense, and technology companies. Under Steve's leadership, EEI serves as the platform for its members and multi-site national corporate and federal government customers to develop mutually beneficial collaborations and discuss important policy issues.
Sandy Kline
U.S. Navy
Ms. Sandy Kline is the Department of Navy's first Director of Installation Resilience and currently serves Ms. Berger, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations and Environment and the Chief Sustainability Officer. Her responsibilities include policy development and program oversight for installation resilience to include energy, water, control system cybersecurity and climate resilience. Her extensive Navy background as an integrator and innovator uniquely qualify her for the challenges of the position. She previously served as the Deputy Director for the Department of Navy's $3.6 billion Military Construction Program and Chief Information Officer at the Naval Facilities Engineering Command. She was the Director for e-Business and Acquisition Systems at Naval Sea Systems Command and a Logistician and Program Manager for S-3 and F-14 aircraft programs at the Naval Supply Systems Command.
Jason Koman
Department of Energy Federal Energy Management Program
Jason Koman is an Energy Technology Program Specialist at DOE FEMP. He leads FEMP's work focused on Grid-Integrated Efficient Buildings (GEBs), water sustainability and resilience, and cybersecurity. Jason began his career in the non-profit space with the Clinton Foundation as a global program manager for energy efficient, low carbon buildings. Moving into the private sector as a consultant to DOE, Jason rose to the role of managing director at RE Tech Advisors, leading a team of 30+ consultants to deliver sustainability programs for the EPA and DOE. Jason decided to return to DOE in 2021 to focus on decarbonizing federal government infrastructure and helping agencies meet their sustainability goals under the Biden administration. He holds a Bachelor's in Public Policy from Trinity College, Hartford, and a Master's in Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley.
Nichole Liebov
Department of Energy Federal Energy Management Program
Nichole Liebov is a program manager at DOE FEMP. She leads the Distributed Energy and Energy Procurement program and the Performance Contracting National Resource Center. The Distributed Energy program supports federal agencies in identifying and implementing on-site projects and off-site procurement options by providing technical assistance and trainings and developing tools and resources. She also leads the interagency Renewable Energy Working Group.
Prior to her current role, Nichole joined FEMP as a AAAS Science ∓ Technology Policy Fellow, where she supported federal agencies' resilience and distributed energy needs.
Nichole holds a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Georgia and a Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Virginia.
Andrew Mayock
Council on Environmental Quality | Executive Office of the President
In February 2021, President Biden appointed Andrew Mayock to serve as the Federal Chief Sustainability Officer. As the Federal Chief Sustainability Officer, Andrew Mayock leads President Biden's efforts to improve the sustainability and climate resilience of the federal government.
Andrew brings over 25 years of public and private sector experience to the Biden administration, including service in the Obama and Clinton administrations. In the Obama administration, Andrew served as Deputy Director for Management and Associate Director for General Government Programs at the Office of Management and Budget.
During 2019–2020, Andrew served on the steering committee of the Climate 21 Project, which delivered advice for a coordinated, rapid-start, whole-of-government climate response.
Michael F. McGhee
Office of the Secretary of Defense
Michael McGhee is the Executive Director for Climate Resilience at the United States Department of Defense and a member of the Senior Executive Service. His responsibilities include overseeing policies and programs to ensure climate, installation, and energy resilience, and sustainable operations for DoD installations. He holds degrees in National Security Strategy, Business Administration, Management, and Mechanical Engineering. Mr. McGhee has more than 30 years' experience in the Department of Defense in energy and environmental strategy and policy, resilient and renewable energy project development, congressional affairs, and construction management, including assignments with the President's Council on Environmental Quality and the U.S. House of Representatives. He is a former Air Force officer and licensed Professional Engineer.
Adam Mierzwa
Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative
Adam Mierzwa is the Director of Distribution Engineering for Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO). Adam is responsible for overseeing system planning, system protection, distribution devices, and new commercial accounts. In addition, he is the Electric Utility Privatization Project Manager for SMECO on behalf of Patuxent River Naval Air Station (PRNAS) and its outlying annexes. Prior to distribution engineering, Adam has been a substation engineer for SMECO and a government contractor for different contracting agencies. Adam obtained his Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering from Florida Institute of Technology and a Master's in Project Management and Operations from Southern New Hampshire University.
Rick Murphy
American Gas Association
Mr. Murphy works with AGA's member companies to explore and advance new business models and leadership strategies for natural gas utilities to deploy in an evolving energy economy. Mr. Murphy also serves as the Executive Director for the American Gas Foundation that funds independent, critical research that can be used to help formulate fact-based energy policies.
Prior to his current role at AGA, Mr. Murphy was Senior Vice President of Energy Solutions Services for National Grid, a natural gas and electric utility serving the northeast United States.
Mr. Murphy earned his MBA degree from Northeastern University and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Massachusetts – Lowell.
John Myhre
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
John Myhre is a Project Manager for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, where he supports the FEMP Utility, ESPC, and Distributed Energy Procurement Teams with training, technical assistance, and project feasibility reviews, as well as conducting research on decarbonization and the federal performance contracting industry. John has over 10 years of experience working on federal energy projects and in the construction industry, including serving at GSA as a mechanical engineer supporting deep energy retrofits and the Green Proving Ground technology validation program. John has an MBA from Loyola University of New Orleans and a Master of Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of California in Riverside.
Tracy Niro
Department of Energy Federal Energy Management Program
Tracy Niro is the Utility Program Manager at the U.S. Department of Energy's Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP). Tracy chairs FEMP's Federal Utility Partnership Working Group (FUPWG) and is a recognized expert in federal energy procurement, alternatively financed projects, performance contracts, and federal energy policy. Tracy began her career in energy as a Staff Accountant at an investor-owned utility. Tracy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and earned her Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego School of Law.
Nael Nmair
Department of Energy Federal Energy Management Program
Mr. Nmair (PE, PMP) is the acting Facility & Fleet Optimization Section Supervisor. Mr. Nmair has a wealth of knowledge in both facility requirements and energy conservation. He has worked for three different government agencies, with 25+ years' experience in facility design and construction. Some of the titles held were: Quality Assurance Branch Chief, Regional Engineer responsible for construction management and contract administration associated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' mission in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Yemen. He's managed a wide range of simple and complex construction and maintenance projects for both civilian and military construction. Projects included bridges, entire military bases, airfields, hospitals, training centers, operation & maintenance, and border security. Some of the special projects directed included: highest bridge in the Middle East; Special Ops Training Center, unmatched in the entire Middle East; and Border Tunnel Security Systems.
Carole Plowfield
American Public Power Association
Ms. Plowfield has more than 20 years of project management experience working on energy policy and public service issues.
As the American Public Power Association's Clean Energy Strategy Manager, Ms. Plowfield oversees the Energy Transition Community project and the Cooperative Agreement that supports it to empower public power utilities to manage the energy transition to low emissions resources and continue to deliver reliable, affordable, and safe electricity. Ms. Plowfield came to APPA from the Department of Energy where she served in multiple capacities, including Senior Advisor to the Deputy Secretary, Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary, Director of the Office of Indian Energy, and Special Advisor in the Office of Policy. She advised leadership on a broad portfolio of applied energy issues, and directed the office responsible for tribal energy development, including technical and financial assistance. Prior to joining the Department of Energy, Ms. Plowfield served as the Executive Administrator and Senior Public Policy Analyst for the FutureGen Industrial Alliance, a consortium of energy and utility companies in a public-private partnership with the Department of Energy to design and build a $1 billion commercial-scale, coal-fueled power plant with carbon capture and storage technologies. Ms. Plowfield was part of the management team that worked to solve the financial, legal, regulatory, and political issues involved in any large energy infrastructure Project.
Prior to the FutureGen project, Ms. Plowfield served as the Deputy Director for the Brookings Institution's Presidential Appointee Initiative, a project of the Center for Public Service to reform the presidential appointments process and encourage public service. She was also the Deputy to the Vice President and Director of Governmental Studies where she provided organizational and strategic planning and worked on the Center's Volcker Commission to improve how the federal government works, as well as other organizational effectiveness and capacity-building Projects.
Ms. Plowfield holds a B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy from Drew University and completed coursework at the Georgetown Public Policy Institute.
Steve Rutledge
General Services Administration
Steve began his career with GSA as an intern in Region 7 in 1987. He served in various positions in property management in Dallas; Baltimore; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Austin, Texas. Steve was the NC Service Center manager for four years and the Supervisory Building Manager in Austin for 13 years. In 2018 Steve transferred to Region 7's Sustainability and Energy Branch and became the Performance Contract Program Manager. Steve and the rest of the team have developed the Region's ESPC and UESC contracts which currently includes 6 projects covering over 60 of the buildings in the region.
Steve and his wife Lisa reside outside Austin, Texas. They are active in their church and community and have two adult children and one grandchild. Steve is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma. Steve is a nationally rated gymnastics judge.
Gregg Sawl
National Energy Technology Laboratory
Gregg Sawl is the Energy Manager/Sustainability Lead, and Supervisor of the Maintenance, Operations and Sustainability Directorate at DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). NETL has research facilities in Albany, OR; Morgantown, WV; and Pittsburgh, PA.
Gregg has worked in the facilities operations/sustainability area for most of his federal career, at the Naval Reactors Field Office at the Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory for 20 years before working at NETL for the past 15 years. He was a DOE Sustainability Champion in 2012.
Gregg has a B.S. in Civil Engineering degree and MBA from the University of Pittsburgh.
Schuyler Schell
Department of Energy Federal Energy Management Program
Schuyler Schell supervises project procurement and distributed generation services at the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP). Mr. Schell leads the FEMP program relating to DOE ESPCs, UESCs, distributed energy project and procurement support, utility contract oversight, and other initiatives.
Before coming to the DOE in 2001, Mr. Schell served in a variety of capacities at a leading housing finance government sponsored enterprise in McLean, VA. These roles included: Director of Sales and Integration, Director of Structured Transactions, and Director of Marketing Strategy and Planning. Earlier in his career, Mr. Schell was Vice President for Secondary Marketing and Product Development for a Dallas based mortgage company and was an economist and the Director of Government Agency Relations for a trade association in Washington. He has an undergraduate degree in economics from the State University of New York at Albany, and a Master of Planning degree from the School of Architecture at the University of Virginia.
Chandra Shah
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Chandra Shah is a senior project leader at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. She leads NREL's support of the FEMP Utility program and also supports the FEMP Distributed Energy Procurement program. She has been helping agencies meet various energy and water goals through UESCs, ESPC Energy Sales Agreements and other contracting mechanisms since 1998.
Rachel Shepherd
Department of Energy Federal Energy Management Program
Rachel Shepherd recently became the Supervisor for Strategic Planning, Integration, and Operations at DOE FEMP. Prior to that, for the past 8 years, Rachel has been a Program Manager at FEMP with much of the time leading the Distributed Energy Program. She went on a yearlong detail assignment at OMB's new Made in America Office in 2022, focused on increasing reliance on domestic supply chains through Federal procurement and financial assistance. Prior to FEMP, she was a project engineer conducting energy audits and retro-commissioning studies for existing commercial and industrial facilities. Shepherd holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland.
Sonya Smith-Pickel
Department of Energy Federal Energy Management Program
Sonya Smith-Pickel is the federal fleet program manager at the Department of Energy's Federal Energy Management Program (DOE FEMP). She leads the tools, training, technical assistance, planning, and regulatory requirements for federal fleet electrification and sustainable fleet management. Sonya has 20 years of experience working in transportation, planning, project management, and environmental science at the federal, regional, and local level.
Sonya has a master's degree in Regional Planning from UMass Amherst and bachelor's degrees in Economics and Environmental Studies from Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Sonya is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and a certified Federal Fleet Manager (FFMCP), and is active in the Transportation Research Board Alternative Transportation Fuels and Technology Committee (TRB AMS40).
Mary Sotos
Department of Energy Federal Energy Management Program
Mary Sotos is the Director of the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP). She leads a team dedicated to helping federal agencies achieve sustainable facilities and fleets by assisting with federal-wide data collection and aggregation, developing reporting tools and technical assistance, and offering training and project funding.
Sotos previously served as a senior policy advisor with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, where she launched a revamped "Lead By Example" program to create new strategies to track and manage greenhouse gas emissions, waste, and water use across all state agencies. She also served as the agency's deputy commissioner for energy, directing the state's energy policies and programs. Sotos also worked at the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Program at the World Resources Institute, an international think tank, where she developed new global carbon accounting standards and tools used by thousands of organizations worldwide. Additionally, she partnered with corporate leaders to develop and advance new renewable energy strategies, tools, and policies to decarbonize the grid.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from St. Olaf College and completed a Fulbright Fellowship in Brussels, Belgium.
Douglas K. Tucker
U.S. Air Force
Douglas K. Tucker is the Director, Installation Energy Policy and Programs, assigned to the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (DAS), Environment, Safety, & Infrastructure. His responsibilities include assisting and advising the DAS in development and oversight of installation energy policies addressing mission assurance through energy assurance. He is a graduate of the University of Kansas' College of Engineering, the Air Force Institute of Technology's School of Systems and Logistics and Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business, and was a National Security Fellow, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. Mr. Tucker served 30 years as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force. His experience includes facilities energy management, district heat network and heat plant modernization program development, alternative fuels performance assessment, and facilities and infrastructure investment, operations, and maintenance.
Abraham Vasquez
Rio Grande Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Abraham Vasquez is the Program Director for Rio Grande Electric Cooperative, Inc. (RGEC), overseeing the operational programs of the cooperative and management of the Fort Bliss Army and Laughlin Air Force Privatized Utility contracts. Prior to his position as Program Director, Abraham served as Project Manager for RGEC, and the Engineering Technician for the Fort Bliss Directorate of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation at the Fort Bliss Army base. Joining RGEC in 2017, Abraham is a highly motivated professional with substantial experience in project management and government environments.
Jetta Wong
General Services Administration
Jetta Wong is the Senior Advisor on climate change to the Administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration. At GSA she provides advice and assistance on all elements of the agency's climate, energy, and sustainability programs and participates in key policy decisions affecting the operations of GSA. Prior to her work at GSA, Jetta worked as a consultant developing clean energy policies and programs that help commercialize new technologies. She was a Senior Fellow at the Center for Clean Energy Innovation at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation where she focused on U.S. competitiveness and the commercialization of technologies that reduce carbon emissions.
Jetta was a political appointee in the Obama Administration and worked at the U.S. Department of Energy, where she established the Office of Technology Transitions for the Department and served as its first director. Before OTT she was in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Before joining DOE, she worked for the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Prior to that, she worked for the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) and the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI). Her career in energy started in Uzbekistan where she was a natural resources consultant. She holds a MPS in legislative affairs from George Washington University and a B.S. in natural resources and the environment from the University of Michigan.
Jay Wrobel
Department of Energy
Jay is the Senior Advisor for Residential Programming and Utility Strategy in the Building Technologies Office at the U.S. Department of Energy. At DOE, Jay supports technologies and practices that promote improved performance of residential structures. Jay also is leading an effort to enhance DOE collaboration with electric and gas utilities to advance utility promotion of efficiency, demand response and grid-connected technologies. He has over 20 years of experience in the energy efficiency field and holds degrees from Boston University and the University of Chicago.
Craig Zamuda
Department of Energy
Craig Zamuda is a senior advisor providing policy and technical advice on U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) programs related to sustainability and climate mitigation/adaptation. He led the development of DOE's Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan, and DOE's Carbon Pollution-Free Electricity Roadmap, and plays a key role in their implementation across the DOE complex. Craig has served as a lead author on numerous reports related to the energy sector and resilience to climate change and extreme weather, including serving as lead author for the Energy Chapter of the Fourth National Climate Assessment, and serving again in that capacity for the development of the Fifth National Climate Assessment.
Craig has over 40 years of federal experience with DOE, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. House of Representatives. He has a Ph.D. in environmental sciences from the University of Maryland, and a Bachelor of Science from Rutgers University.
Special Session 1: GSA Areawide Contract Holders Meeting
Ebony Atkinson
General Services Administration
Ebony Atkinson is the GSA Public Utility Services Branch Chief and Contracting Officer for the GSA Natural Gas Acquisition Program and Areawide Contracting Program. Mrs. Atkinson's work involves providing client agencies with natural gas supply, access, and ease of ordering; managing utility services under the areawide program (i.e., electricity, natural gas, water, wastewater and steam); and providing access to unique energy procurement and contracting expertise. Over the past 13 years, she has led and supported energy and acquisition programs while providing contract management and technical support to government clients. Ebony received a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Degree in English Art and Education from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
Special Session 2: Energy Lawyers and Contracting Officers Forum (ELCOF)
Katy Christiansen
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Katy Christiansen is a project manager in the Project Development and Finance Advisory Group at NREL leading resilience and sustainability efforts. Christiansen's area of expertise includes strategic planning, project development, and analysis for the defense, federal, utility, and nonprofit sectors. Her focus is in resilience analysis for complex organizations and best practices for developing advanced infrastructure systems.
Phil Coleman
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Phil is a technical advisor to the Federal Energy Management Program's Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) Program, focusing particularly on utility rates and measurement and verification of savings. Also in support of FEMP, he spearheads an effort to educate federal facilities on energy project incentives, demand response, and time-variable pricing. Internationally, he has worked with the governments of Mexico, India, Chile, and Jordan on developing public sector energy conservation programs.
Phil received a Master of Science in energy management and policy from the University of Pennsylvania in 1994 and also holds the Association of Energy Engineers' Certified Energy Manager (CEM) and Certified Measurement and Verification Professional (CMVP) designations.
John Michael Forrest
Department of Energy Federal Energy Management Program
John Michael Forrest is a Presidential Management Fellow (PMF), serving as a Program Manager at the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) within the Department of Energy (DOE). He serves as the lead for FEMP's Utility Acquisition Program which assists DOE sites across the country in utility related activities. He is a licensed attorney, a member of the DC Bar, and holds a J.D. from William & Mary Law School as well as a bachelor's degree in business administration from The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina.
Kurmit Rockwell
Department of Energy Federal Energy Management Program
Kurmit Rockwell serves as energy savings performance contract (ESPC) program manager where he oversees services, tools, and resources needed to assist agencies with implementing successful ESPC projects. Over a career spanning 25 years, Kurmit's work included engineering and all aspects of ESPC project implementation for federal, state, and local governments. His work in the public and private sector energy services industry has focused on evaluation and implementation of energy and water cost saving technologies, smart building energy optimization services, renewable energy systems, and demand side management. He holds a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Polytechnic Institute of New York University and a master's degree in building systems engineering from the University of Colorado. He is a registered professional engineer in multiple states.