Scroll down or click on panel/keynote titles to read speaker biographies!
8:00 AM — Breakfast
Sponsored by Rockland Electric Company
9:00 AM — Welcome & Keynote
Keishaa Austin • Department of Energy
9:45 AM — Pennsylvania’s Energy Efficiency Landscape
Rob Altenburg • PennFuture
Matthew Brown • National Energy Improvement Fund
Kerry Campbell • PA DEP
Joe Sherrick • PA PUC
Moderator: Amal Mahrouki • AIA Pennsylvania
11:00 — Networking Break
Sponsored by TRC Companies
11:15 AM — New Jersey’s Energy Efficiency Landscape
Rachael Fredericks • PSE&G New Jersey
Henry Gajda • NJBPU
Doug O’Malley • Environment New Jersey
Sean Sonnemann • NJEDA
Moderator: Michael Winka • Sustainable Lawrence
12:30 PM — Lunch
Sponsored by CMC Energy Services
1:30 PM — Afternoon Keynote
Katie McGinty • Johnson Controls
2:00 PM — Perspectives on Decarbonization
Andrew Knox • Office of the Secretary of Defense
Elizabeth Marx • Pennsylvania Utility Law Project
Matt Rose • TRC
Rose Stephens-Booker • Building Decarbonization Coalition
Moderator: Ben Adams • MaGrann Associates
3:15 — Networking Break
Sponsored by PSE&G
3:30 PM — Interview with a Contractor
Angela Hines • Bovio Rubino Services
Matt Tenny • MT Weatherization
Christopher Tulloch • A.J.Perri
Moderator: Joe Nunley • Green Energy Economics Group
4:30 — Energy Efficiency Champions Awards
4:45 PM — Happy Hour
Sponsored by the Energy Efficiency Alliance
8:00 AM — Breakfast
Sponsored by FSG
8:45 AM — Keynote
Brian Regli • PA Governor’s Office
9:15 AM — Affordable Housing and Energy Efficiency
William Reeves Ferran • Pennsylvania United
Troy Hannigan • Community Ventures
Bryce J. Maretzki • Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency
Colleen Morris • Calico Energy
Moderator: Patrick Coleman • New Ecology
10:35 — Networking Break
Sponsored by the New Jersey Clean Energy Program
11:05 AM —Diving into Distributed Energy Resources (DERs)
James Freihaut • Penn State
Alexander Ratner • ACEEE
Brendon Shank • Solar Landscape
Kyle Wallace • PosiGen
Moderator: Stephen Oyler • CPower
12:05 PM — Lunch
Sponsored by Tri-State Light & Energy and OM Heating and Air Conditioning
1:15 — PechaKucha: New Challenges, New Solutions
2:30 — Networking Break
Sponsored by Elizabethtown Gas and South Jersey Gas
2:45 PM — Fireside Chat: The Future of Energy Efficiency
Tanuj Deora • Clean Power Industry Strategist
Andy Frank • Sealed
Kara Saul Rinaldi • AnnDyl Policy Group
Richard Sedano • Regulatory Assistance Project
3:45 — Closing & Raffle
4:15 — Dismissal
Keishaa Austin
Acting Principal Deputy Director, Office of State and Community Energy Programm
Department of Energy
Keishaa Austin is Acting Principal Deputy Director of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP). Prior to joining the office, she was the Director of External Engagement of the Office of the Under Secretary for Infrastructure at DOE. She served as the Head of Community at Rewiring America, and as a Senior Public Utilities Regulatory Analyst at the California Public Utilities Commission. Prior to that she worked as a Program Analyst at the Office of the People’s Counsel for the District of Columbia, where she chaired the Distributed Energy Resources Committee for the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA).
Keishaa has also held a variety of roles with media and entertainment companies including Urban One, BET Networks and Capitol Music Group. She has deep experience in marketing and stakeholder engagement and consumer outreach, complemented by policy expertise in grid planning and reliability and renewable energy. Keishaa earned her law degree at Texas Southern University and her bachelor’s degree from Howard University.
Katie McGinty
Vice President and Chief Sustainability and External Relations Officer
Johnson Controls
Kathleen “Katie” McGinty is Vice President and Chief Sustainability and External Relations Officer for Johnson Controls where she is responsible for driving the company’s top-tier sustainability performance, including recognition as one of the world’s 100 most sustainable corporations.
In her role, she champions technology development, sustainability, and creative policies tackle climate change, encourage smart buildings and energy efficiency, drive impactful net-zero carbon strategies and bring forward initiatives and partnerships that are needed to solve tough environmental problems and chart a positive course for the future of the planet.
Katie has more than 25 years of public and private sector experience and is a recognized innovator in clean energy and environmental protection. Her public sector career includes being the first woman to serve as Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality and as Deputy Assistant to President Clinton (1993-98), as Pennsylvania Secretary of Environmental Protection (2003-08), and as Chair of the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (2004-08).
Over the course of her career, Katie has received recognition for her environmental work and influence, including “Woman of the Year” from the Women’s Council on Energy and the Environment (2004), one of the Top Women in HVAC by ACHR News (2021), one of the Top 100 Women in Sustainability by Sustainability Magazine (2022), one of 25 women honored for climate leadership by GreenBiz (2022), and one of the Most Influential Women Executives in Corporate America by Women Inc. Magazine (2022).
Brian Regli
Executive Director, Office of Critical Investments
Office of Governor Shapiro
Brian Regli serves as Executive Director, Critical Investments for the Governor, overseeing more than $20 billion of federal appropriations allocated to Pennsylvania through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022. He has been appointed by the Governor as Chair for Pennvest, and also as Special Advisor to the Secretary of the Budget. Previously, he served as Director of Commerce in Montgomery County (PA) and as a policy advisor in the Attorney General’s office. He has more than 25 years of entrepreneurial experience in the software, energy, utility and telecommunications sectors and has been directly responsible for more than $300 million of construction, debt financing, equity funding, and asset sales in his commercial real estate career. Dr. Regli holds a Doctorate in Developmental Economics from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, and undergraduate degrees from Georgetown University in Government and Philosophy.
Time: 9:45 AM, September 17
About the Panel:
What are the latest happenings influencing energy efficiency in Pennsylvania? This perennial favorite panel will feature state regulators, financiers, and advocates speaking about opportunities and challenges ranging from Green Bank funding to workforce development needs and programs. Our panelists will share their insights on how the governor’s energy plans, opportunities from the IRA and IIJA, and existing efficiency programs interact to shape the present and future of the Commonwealth’s energy efficiency landscape.
Speakers:
Rob Altenburg (PennFuture)
Matthew Brown (National Energy Improvement Fund)
Kerry Campbell (PA DEP)
Joe Sherrick (PA PUC)
Moderator: Amal Mahrouki (AIA Pennsylvania)
Rob Altenburg
Senior Director for Energy and Climate
PennFuture
Rob brings more than 30 years’ worth of environmental, climate, and energy expertise to advance clean energy solutions for Pennsylvania. As Senior Director for Energy and Climate, he works with regulatory agencies and clean energy industry experts on climate and energy issues across the Commonwealth and has provided testimony to the White House, the U.S. Senate, the Pennsylvania Legislature, and numerous state and federal agencies.
As a recognized energy and climate policy expert, Rob has been interviewed by numerous media organizations, including ABC, NBC, NPR, Fortune Magazine, The Atlantic, The Guardian, and many state and local outlets. He also writes extensively on these topics and has co-authored a book chapter on federal climate policy.
Prior to joining PennFuture, Rob spent nearly 22 years with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), working in both the Bureau of Air Quality, where he was the primary forecaster for air pollution episodes in South Central PA, and the Lehigh Valley, and in the policy office where he advised the governor’s office and department executive staff on a variety of environmental and public health issues.
Matthew Brown
Co-Chair and Co-Founder
National Energy Improvement Fund, LLC
Matthew has worked in the energy finance and policy field for more than 25 years, working with KPMG, the City of New York, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the International Energy Agency, the U.S. Department of Energy, and others. As Co-Chair and Founder of the National Energy Improvement Fund (NEIF) he provides strategic direction for the overall activities of the firm, co-leads all capital raise activities to satisfy loan and other capital needs, and leads implementation of the firm’s commercial and rebate advance product activities. Prior to the founding of NEIF, Matthew was principal with Harcourt Brown and Carey, a clean energy finance consulting firm. In that role, among many other activities, he led HB&C’s engagement with the four California investor-owned utilities to develop and implement energy efficiency financing programs as well as a similar engagement to develop a third-party financing program with utility bill collections for utilities, utility commissions, energy offices or others. Matthew has worked extensively with financial institutions to advise on deployment of capital through loans and leases for clean energy in the western United States as well as nationally.
Kerry Campbell
Environmental Program Manager, Energy Programs Office
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Kerry Campbell is an Environmental Program Manager in the Energy Programs Office of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). He oversees staff who support the Pennsylvania Climate Program, the State Energy Program, Energy Security Program, the Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Program, among other climate and clean energy initiatives, including implementing programs from the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. He previously worked for the Air Quality and Waste Management programs in DEP and was a Research Assistant at Penn State University. He received an M.S. in Agronomy, and B.S. degrees in Biology and Environmental Resource Management, all from Penn State.
Joseph M. Sherrick
Supervisor, Policy & Planning
Bureau of Technical Utility Services, PA PUC
Joe Sherrick has 30+ years of experience working for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, much of it spent in the energy sector. Joe supervisors the Policy & Planning Section within the PA Public Utility Commission’s Bureau of Technical Utility Services. He and his staff are responsible for overseeing the administration and management of PA’s Act 129 energy efficiency and conservation program, PA’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards program and other activities involving electric vehicle charging, energy storage and combined heat and power operations.
Prior to his time with the Public Utility Commission, Mr. Sherrick worked in several capacities at the PA Department of Environmental Protection. Mr. Sherrick served as the Climate Change Program Manager at DEP, charged with the development of climate change plans for the Commonwealth, among other related responsibilities. He oversaw the administration of the multi-million dollar Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Program and a host of renewable energy initiatives. Mr. Sherrick also served as the Commonwealth’s primary lead in numerous multi-state energy and climate initiatives, including the establishment of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
Amal Mahrouki
Director of Legislative Affairs
AIA Pennsylvania
As the Director of Legislative Affairs at AIA Pennsylvania, Amal leads the advocacy efforts of the state chapter of the American Institute of Architects, representing over 2,800 architects and design professionals. With over ten years of experience in association management and government relations, Amal has a talent for building coalitions and strengthening relationships through advocacy.
Recognized in 2023 as one of Central Penn Business Journal’s Top Lobbyists and in 2024 as one of City and State PA’s Who’s Who in Government Relations, Amal has developed great relationships with legislators, staff, lobbyists, association professionals, community members, and artists. Amal is passionate about advancing the public policy interests of the architecture profession and the built environment and has successfully advocated for multiple legislative and regulatory initiatives that benefit the industry and the public. Amal is also the founder of Demystified Advocacy, a platform that educates and empowers individuals and organizations to engage in effective advocacy.
Time: 11:15 AM, September 17
About the Panel:
Join us for an illuminating panel discussion as we delve into the dynamic energy efficiency landscape of the New Jersey. From the Energy Master Plan to the latest Triennium 2 programs and beyond, this panel will offer invaluable insights into leveraging federal investments, fostering private-public partnerships, and identifying key opportunities for implementing energy efficiency measures across various markets in New Jersey.
Our distinguished panel of experts hails from influential entities such as the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), and prominent utility companies. With their wealth of experience and knowledge, they will provide a comprehensive overview of the state’s energy efficiency initiatives, exploring strategies for maximizing impact and achieving sustainable outcomes.
Speakers:
Rachael Fredericks (PSEG)
Henry Gajda (NJBPU)
Doug O’Malley (Environment New Jersey)
Sean Sonnemann (NJEDA)
Moderator: Michael Winka (Sustainable Lawrence)
Rachael Fredericks
Director, Energy Services
PSE&G New Jersey
Rachael Fredericks is the Director of Energy Services, at Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G). She leads the implementation of PSE&G’s residential, commercial and industrial energy efficiency programs. She is directly responsible for a team of approximately 40 management associates as well as implementation contractors and third-party providers. Rachael ensures regulatory compliance, business controls, and stakeholder satisfaction. She also has oversight of financials and business planning for PSE&G’s energy efficiency programs and strategy for future programs.
Rachael has over 12 years of experience with PSE&G specifically in the energy efficiency and clean energy area. Ms. Fredericks earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and has over 20 years of experience in energy efficiency. Through the years, she has worked with a wide variety of companies and clients and has enjoyed watching the way technology and people continue to shape the ever-evolving clean energy sector. Rachael is passionate about the environment and coastal conservation, as well as service to underserved communities and promotion of diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Henry Gajda
Deputy Chief of Staff
NJBPU
Henry is the Deputy Chief of Staff at the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. In his role at the Board, Henry manages a number of major state policy initiatives including the 2024 Energy Master Plan, Future of Natural Gas Proceeding, and has helped submit over $400 million in federal clean energy grant applications. 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.
Doug O’Malley
State Director
Environment New Jersey
Doug O’Malley is the Director of Environment New Jersey and Environment New Jersey Research & Policy Center. Doug has worked on multiple issue fronts and led campaigns to fast-track New Jersey’s clean energy economy via offshore wind, solar and energy efficiency programs and to keep New Jersey in the RGGI climate pollutant program, oppose the expansion of fossil fuel projects and expand electric vehicles across the state. He has also led campaigns focused on protecting New Jersey’s drinking water quality, preserving the state’s watershed lands and restoring the water quality of the Delaware River. He serves on the boards of the NJ Work Environment Council, Environmental Endowment of New Jersey, Environment America Inc., the NJ School of Conservation and received an EPA Region II Environmental Quality award in 2012. He also serves as the President of ChargEVC, an electric vehicle coalition, and serves as the treasurer of the NJ Working Families Alliance. He has worked with the organization in Trenton since 2001, when he graduated from Harvard with a history degree.
Sean Sonnemann
Senior Project Officer – Clean Energy
NJEDA
Sean Sonnemann is a Senior Project Officer on the Clean Energy Products team at the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA). The Clean Energy Products team at the NJEDA works to provide financial support to clean energy related projects and businesses to equitably grow the New Jersey’s clean energy economy while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Sean is particularly focused on developing and supporting initiatives related to building decarbonization and energy efficiency. He works closely with his partners at other state agencies, including co-chairing the Clean Buildings Working Group that is part of the Governor’s Office Council on the Green Economy. Prior to working at the NJEDA, Sean worked as a civil engineer on a variety of infrastructure and site development projects. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Manhattan College and a master’s degree in Urban Planning from Hunter College. Sean is also a licensed professional engineer in New Jersey and New York.
Michael Winka
Sustainable Lawrence
Mike worked for the State of New Jersey for almost 40 years. For 22 years at New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (JDEP) in the Division of Solid Waste Management as the Chief in the Bureau of Resource Recovery and in the Division of Science and Research as Chief in the Office of Innovative Technology and Market Development (OITMD). At Solid Waste Management his main activities were evaluating solid waste recovery and disposal technologies including waste to energy facilities. At Science and Research his main activities were assisting in the development of the first NJDEP Statewide Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Action Plan and evaluating the development and implementation of new energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.
Mike worked for the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) for 17 years. He was the first Director of the newly established Office of Clean Energy and managed New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program (NJCEP) for 9 years. He helped to establish the state’s solar and offshore wind programs and expand the statewide energy efficiency programs. Mike worked on a number of state Energy Master Plans including the 2019 Integrated Energy Plan (IEP) and helped to develop the Town Center Microgrid, Community Solar, Battery and Thermal Storage, Heat Pump, Smart Grid and EV programs.
Mike currently teaches a graduate level course on sustainable energy and policy at Rutgers University and is a member of Sustainable Lawrence, Sustainable Jersey Energy Task Force and Mercer County Sustainability Coalition.
Time: 2:00 PM, September 17
About the Panel:
The Energy Information Administration estimates that 18.44% of global CO2 emissions come from heating and cooling buildings, plus another 8.26% from the construction of buildings. Building owners, operators and developers, from the U.S. military to affordable housing developers, are leading the charge to decarbonize the way we build and run our work and dwelling spaces. See what’s working, where the challenges lie, and who is taking the biggest strides.
Speakers:
Andrew Knox (Office of the Secretary of Defense)
Elizabeth Marx (Pennsylvania Utility Law Project)
Matt Rose (TRC)
Rose Stephens-Booker (Building Decarbonization Coalition)
Moderator: Ben Adams (MaGrann Associates)
Andrew Knox
Director, Installation Energy Integration
Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Environment & Energy Resilience
Andrew Knox is Director, Installation Energy Integration, in the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Environment & Energy Resilience. In this role, he manages resilience, clean energy, and efficiency programs and initiatives relating to installation energy. Formerly, he was Advisor to the DOD Chief Sustainability Officer, where he led initiatives to design and deploy a Carbon Pollution-free Electricity (CFE) pilot and streamline the Department’s collection, analysis of reporting of sustainability data. He holds degrees from Rice and Harvard Universities and is a Certified Energy Manager (CEM) and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder.
Mr. Knox has managed the Navy’s Smart Cities and Smart Grid programs, as well as renewable energy programs. Prior to joining the government, Mr. Knox managed energy, infrastructure, and climate change related strategy projects for public and private sector clients. Earlier in his career, Mr. Knox developed utility scale commercial power projects, where he negotiated power purchase and financing agreements.
Elizabeth Marx
Executive Director
Pennsylvania Utility Law Project (PULP)
Elizabeth Marx is the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Utility Law Project (PULP), a statewide specialty legal services project of Regional Housing Legal Services. Elizabeth leads PULP’s policy, litigation, training, and specialized projects in furtherance of its mission to secure just and equitable access to safe and affordable utility services for Pennsylvanians experiencing poverty. She serves as Chairperson of the Department of Human Services’ Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Advisory Committee and the Department of Community and Economic Development’s Weatherization Assistance Program Policy Advisory Council. She is also a member of the Public Utility Commission’s Consumer Advisory Council and the Department of Environmental Protection’s Climate Change Advisory Committee. Before joining PULP in 2014, Ms. Marx worked as an attorney for the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence. She holds a BS in Political Science from Temple University, and a JD from Widener University Commonwealth Law School.
Matt Rose
Director
TRC Companies
Matthew Rose is a Director at TRC. He has over 30 years of experience working with utility and energy clients on issues of demand-side management (DSM), regulatory strategy, customer relationships and strategic planning. His consulting engagements have included work with domestic and international electric and gas utilities, regulatory agencies, wholesale market transmission organizations, industry trade groups, renewable energy developers and customer/market research firms. He also provides industry training support to utility and energy companies covering issues of regulation, business rules and markets. Mr. Rose has authored numerous reports and industry papers and has served as an expert witness in various utility rate proceedings.
At TRC, Mr. Rose is part of the company’s market outreach efforts responsible for tracking regulatory and legislative initiatives to inform strategy and investment decisions. This includes following ongoing federal policy efforts (e.g., IIJA, IRA), FERC 2222, state energy efficiency/renewable portfolio standards, and distribution and integrated resource planning. His efforts also support the company’s Integrated Grid Solutions team offering grid modernization and distributed energy resource management system expertise.
He holds a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Michigan and a B.S. from Michigan State University.
Rose Stephens-Booker
Director of State Mobilization
Building Decarbonization Coalition
Rose Stephens-Booker is the Director of State Mobilization at the Building Decarbonization Coalition, a non-profit organization harnessing the power of coalition to forge paths for effective upgrades that power homes and buildings with clean electricity. Previously, she served the Biden-Harris Administration as a presidential appointee within the Department of Energy; charged with connecting the Department’s resources and technical assistance with local communities, states, Tribal nations and external stakeholders. Prior to her appointment, Rose worked as a Senior Associate at BlocPower, where she developed and managed the company’s partnership strategy to bring clean energy solutions to vulnerable communities across America. Before obtaining her MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler’s Business School in 2020, she spent over eight years with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Program focused on market transformation and public-private partnerships. She began her career as a sustainability consultant overseeing issue-based awareness campaigns (with media influencers such as, The Today Show and The Ellen Show) for various utilities, federal, state and local governments.
Along with Rose’s commitment to decarbonizing the built environment she serves as a Board Member to the nonprofit organization called Upstream, advancing solutions to plastic pollution by helping people and businesses shift from single-use to reuse; and, as a member of the Energy and Climate Change Task Force for the City of Alexandria where she resides with her family.
Ben Adams
Vice President Strategic Development
MaGrann Associates
Ben is responsible for the identification and development of new services at MaGrann Associates, and supports program design for state and utility sponsored energy efficiency initiatives.
With 30 years in residential single and multi-family deployment, his experience ranges from low income retrofit to new construction and green building certification programs. Most recently, he has been focusing on integration of Internet of Things technologies into smart homes and buildings.
Ben sat on the RESNET Board of Directors from 2002 through 2016, was a Board Director of Affordable Comfort (now Building Performance Association) for 14 years, and was a founding Board member of both the Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance (KEEA) and the Northeast HERS Alliance. He is a frequent advocate for residential energy efficiency issues, particularly related to whole-building approaches.
Time: 3:30 PM, September 17
About the Panel:
Contractors are extremely critical to the success of any energy efficiency policy or program, but we rarely listen to the needs and barriers that contractors face when crafting policies and designing programs. In this panel we are going to have an interview-style discussion with the Home Performance Contractors who are critical to the energy efficiency work being done in PA and NJ. Learn about the barriers they face in working in energy efficiency programs and the needs of their organizations to meet upcoming increased demand as a result of energy efficiency policies.
Speakers:
Angela Rubino Hines (Bovio Rubino Services)
Matt Tenny (MT Weatherization)
Christopher Tulloch (A.J. Perri)
Moderator: Joe Nunley (Green Energy Economics Group)
Angela Rubino Hines
Co-Principal
Bovio Rubino Service
Angela Rubino Hines is co-principal of Bovio Rubino Service. Bovio Rubino Service formed from a merger between Rubino Service Company and Bovio HPCI in January of 2021. Both legacy companies were in business since 1974. Angela’s father started Rubino Service Company and she grew up in the industry with working in the office dispatching, customer service and service biller. She attended Drexel University receiving both her Bachelor of Business of Administration in Finance and Marketing and her Masters in Marketing. She returned to the HVAC industry and president of Rubino Service in 2004 and currently is co-principal of Bovio Rubino Service. She has been active in the HVAC industry helping form NJ-ACCA chapter and served on the board including President from 2011-2023. She has been a speaker and presenter across many industry events throughout her career and continues to do so. Under her leadership, the company has received 13 Carrier Presidents Awards, multiple Home Performance with Energy Star awards and multiple PSE&G Trade Ally Top 10 Contractor Awards. She also holds her NJ Master HVAC license. She is happily married to Bill and has 2 daughters.
Matt Tenny
CEO & Founder
MT Weatherization
With over three decades of experience in the building industry, Matt Tenny began his career as a general contractor and home builder. In 2006, he transitioned to installing and maintaining thermal storage solar systems for both residential and commercial properties. Recognizing the critical role of energy efficiency in the success of solar technology, Matt shifted his focus entirely to the Industry.
Since founding MT in 2007, Matt has grown the company to over 50 employees and has helped more than 30,000 customers save energy, enhance health and safety, and improve the comfort of their homes. He holds a BS in Marketing and Marketing Management from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and multiple certifications from the Building Performance Institute (BPI).
Christopher Tulloch
General Manager
A.J. Perri
Chris has been in HVAC and plumbing for over a decade and is the General Manager for AJ Perri, an American Residential Services company. Starting as a Home Comfort Advisor, Chris worked his way up to be the General Manager. As the GM, Chris is responsible for over 200 trucks on the road servicing the state of New Jersey for all customer HVAC and plumbing needs.
Joseph Nunley
Partner
Green Energy Economics Group
Joe Nunley is a Partner at Green Energy Economics Group (GEEG). In this role, he is responsible for designing new energy efficiency portfolios, analyzing existing energy efficiency programs and portfolios, performing management consulting for home performance contractors, and continuous improvement process of existing program designs. Prior to joining GEEG, Joe served as the Vice President of Program Services at PSD. In this role Joe led the PSD Program Services Division, which implements Residential, Commercial, and Energy Code Programs throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest. Joe has been in the EE field for 15 years. Prior to joining PSD, he was an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Senior Analyst with UGI Utilities, where he was responsible for managing the commercial and residential natural gas Energy Efficiency and Conservation Programs. Joe was also responsible for emerging technologies, customer satisfaction, and trade ally relations. Joe previously worked as an Energy Efficiency Trade Ally Manager with Puget Sound Energy in Seattle, WA. Prior to that position, Joe spent eight years as the owner of a Harrisburg, PA energy auditing firm, focusing on Utility Low-Income Weatherization Programs, and residential and small commercial energy audits. Rooted in a deep love for building science, Joe is an Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) Certified Energy Manager (CEM) as well as a Building Performance Institute (BPI) Certified Building Analyst.
Time: 9:15 AM, September 18
About the Panel:
Affordable housing residents often stand to benefit the most from energy efficiency improvements. But affordable housing also presents unique efficiency challenges, from split incentives in rental units to high up-front costs for energy-saving projects. Hear from experts in the affordable housing space on solutions that are working, including multifamily benchmarking, community-scale projects, sustainable affordable development, and more.
Speakers:
William Reeves Ferran (Pennsylvania United)
Troy Hannigan (Community Ventures)
Bryce Maretzki (Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency)
Colleen Morris (Calico Energy)
Moderator: Patrick Coleman (New Ecology)
William Reeves Ferran
Project Manager
Pennsylvania United
William Reeves Ferran is currently the project manager for decarbonization in Allegheny County with Pennsylvania United. He works with the Allegheny County executive’s office and the Mayor of Pittsburgh’s office to coordinate a decarbonization initiative to decarbonize buildings owned and operated by the city and county and all properties of the county and city housing authorities. Originally from Westchester, New York, he’s made Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, his second home for the past 7 years. He holds a bachelor of liberal arts in political science and Spanish from Duquesne University. William previously worked at Casa San Jose as the Community Policy Organizer, advocating for immigrant rights and organizing immigrant communities in Southwestern Pennsylvania. He previously ran for City Council of Pittsburgh in 2023 to advocate for increased accessible public transportation, expanding youth programs, and rectifying food deserts in various neighborhoods in the district. He is an avid dog lover and loves going on nature walks.
Troy Hannigan
Development Director
Community Ventures
Troy Hannigan is the Director of Development with Community Ventures, a Philadelphia-based non-profit real estate developer with the mission to work in partnership with neighborhood-based organizations to improve communities and to increase the supply of affordable housing. Troy oversees the organization’s real estate programs including neighborhood development, affordable housing, and investment in parks, recreation centers and libraries. During his time with Community Ventures, he has worked on over $100 million in real estate projects all focused on building quality, sustainable, affordable housing and civic assets through a community informed design process. Troy was an adjunct professor and former program director of Thomas Jefferson University’s MS in Real Estate Development program and focuses his teaching and research on the quadruple bottom line of people, planet, profit and placemaking. Troy holds a MA in Urban Studies with a concentration in community development from Eastern University and a B.Arch from Thomas Jefferson University. Troy has been an active member of the local Philadelphia architecture, sustainability and community development communities including the AIA, ULI, Philadelphia Association of CDCs, and Green Building United, and is a SEED (Social Economic Environmental Design) certified professional.
Bryce Maretzki
Director of Policy and Planning
Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency
In 2013, Mr. Maretzki was appointed Director of Policy and Planning for the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency where he leads all of the agency’s long-range planning while continuing to direct a number of policy initiatives. He joined the agency as Director of Business Development in April 2011 and took the lead in developing the agency’s response to the impact of Marcellus Shale development on housing and community development.
Prior to joining PHFA Mr. Maretzki was with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development as Deputy Secretary for Administration and Director of Legislative Affairs for the department having joined the department in 2004 as Director of Policy. While there he was charged with creating a complete revision of the “silos” attached to economic and community development, to create a coordinated, comprehensive approach to rebuild and revitalize Pennsylvania communities.
Colleen Morris
CEO
Calico Energy
Colleen Morris is the CEO of Calico Energy, a software company dedicated to making utility-enabled whole building data access a widespread reality. A seasoned market strategist and product executive, Colleen leads Calico’s efforts working with utilities to scale the impact of building sector energy efficiency and decarbonization efforts through user-centric software. She’s committed to delivering solutions that create value for utilities, their customers, and broader stakeholders while reducing the building sector’s energy consumption.
Patrick Coleman
Principal Director, Climate Smart Communities
New Ecology
Pat leads New Ecology’s Climate Smart Communities division, which offers programs and services to advance high-performance housing and community rejuvenation. Previously, Pat researched new market opportunities, spearheaded New Ecology’s entry into the Mid-Atlantic region, and supported strategic organizational growth. Before joining New Ecology, Pat worked for the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources and as an organizer and affordable housing policy analyst in Massachusetts and New York. A resident of Philadelphia, Pat holds a bachelor’s degree from Boston College and a Master in City Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is a Certified Passive House Builder.
Time: 10:50 AM, September 18
About the Panel:
Distributed Energy Resources continue to generate buzz across the industry. In 2024, both Pennsylvania and New Jersey’s utility commissions considered Order 2222 from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and how they will plan and account for increased reliance upon virtual power plants. Both states received $156M in federal Solar for All funding under the IRA, accelerating development. Speakers will address not only grid planning but tactical, on-the-ground deployment of Combined Heat and Power, solar and renewable energy, control systems, and how demand response programs will drill down to the individual household level.
Speakers:
James Freihaut (Penn State)
Alexander Ratner (ACEEE)
Brendon Shank (Solar Landscape)
Kyle Wallace (PosiGen)
Moderator: Stephen Oyler (CPower)
James Freihaut
Department Head of Architectural Engineering
Penn State College of Engineering
James Freihaut is a Professor and Interim Department Head of Architectural Engineering at the Pennsylvania State University. He is also Director of both the Penn State Indoor Aerosol Laboratory and the DOE Mid-Atlantic and New York-New Jersey Onsite Energy Technical Application Center. He has spent 22 years as a Professor at Penn State University (2002 – present) in the Department of Architectural Engineering, where his current research interests focus on the application of hybrid (combined heat and Power, high-temperature heat pumps and solar photovoltaic), onsite energy systems to industrial manufacturing sites; and the use of ultraviolet germicidal radiation in the inactivation of virus aerosols in indoor air systems. Prior to Penn State, he worked for 22 years at the United Technologies Research Center, serving as a Research Scientist, Group Manager, and Director. He holds seven patents, including Photocatalytic Indoor Air Quality devices, CFC disposal techniques., Fuel Processing, and Humidity Control via Polymer Membranes.
Alexander Ratner
Federal Policy Counsel
ACEEE
Alexander Ratner leads federal policy outreach activities and develops strategic direction on federal policy. He is ACEEE’s primary liaison with Congress and other federal policy stakeholders. Alexander joined ACEEE in 2020.
Prior to joining ACEEE, Alexander worked at the Alliance to Save Energy as the organization’s Manager of Policy and Analysis. Before that he worked as a policy analyst for the United States House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce for the Energy and Environment Subcommittees and as counsel for the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
Alexander holds a juris doctor degree from DePaul University College of law and a bachelor of arts in political science from the George Washington University.
Brendon Shank
Executive Vice President for Engagement
Solar Landscape
Brendon Shank helps tell Solar Landscape’s best stories about how solar on commercial rooftops contribute to our clean energy transition and social justice.
He joined in 2021 and oversees the company’s communications and branding. Prior to his role at Solar Landscape, Brendon was director of communications at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and worked in marketing and communications for national companies and nonprofits.
He graduated from American University in Washington, DC.
Kyle Wallace
VP of Public Policy and Government Affairs
PosiGen
Kyle Wallace is the VP of Public Policy and Government Affairs at PosiGen, PBC, the nation’s leading provider of renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions for low-to-moderate (LMI) income homeowners. Prior to joining PosiGen, Kyle was Director of Public Policy for the northeast at Sunrun and was also a board member of the New York Solar Energy Industries Association. Before Sunrun, he held multiple positions at Vivint Solar where he engaged in public policy and government affairs and helped expand the company into new markets. He was also a contributor to Utah State University’s Energy Policy Initiative. He holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from Utah State University and a Bachelor’s degree from Colorado Mesa University.
Stephen Oyler
VP of Legal and Policy
CPower
Stephen Oyler is the VP of Legal and Policy at CPower working across the Energy Efficiency and Demand Response markets overseeing Compliance matters and State Policy initiatives. Previous work experience includes work at Westinghouse Electric Company, Eaton, and General Electric across Accounting, Corporate Development, Commercial Operations, Risk, and Compliance. Stephen holds undergraduate degrees in Accounting and International Business from Penn State University and an MBA and MS in International Business from the University of Pittsburgh and continuously pursuing additional educational opportunities.
Time: 2:45 PM, September 18
About the Panel:
Join four thought-leading industry professionals for a free-flowing fireside chat about the future of the energy efficiency industry. From the impact of electric vehicles to progressive residential approaches to the regulatory realities that will shape the near-term, hear what practical and policy prompts are affecting your bottom line.
Speakers:
Tanuj Deora
Andy Frank (Sealed)
Kara Saul Rinaldi (AnnDyl Policy Group)
Richard Sedano (Regulatory Assistance Project)
Tanuj Deora
Clean Power Industry Strategist
Andy Frank
Co-Founder & President
Sealed
Kara Saul Rinaldi
President & CEO
AnnDyl Policy Group
Richard Sedano
Senior Director, Innovation
Regulatory Assistance Project
Richard Sedano brings decades of industry and regulatory experience in developing creative, context-specific energy policies, and he continues to advise governments on the “power sector of the future” and energy efficiency policy. From 2017 until earlier this year, Sedano was RAP’s first CEO. He is now RAP’s Senior Director for Innovation. In both roles, he works collaboratively with our regional leadership to advance power sector reform and environmental policy, cost-effective paths to a low-carbon energy sector, and practical solutions to the challenges of integrating renewable energy sources into the grid and scaling up energy efficiency and other distributed resources.
Prior to joining RAP in 2001, Sedano served as commissioner for nine years and held various engineering staff positions with the Vermont Department of Public Service. The department represents utility consumers in all regulatory matters and acts as the state’s energy office. He also worked as an engineer in power generation for Philadelphia Electric Co.
In November 2009, Richard Sedano was awarded the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ Mary Kilmarx Award. In September 2011, the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) presented him with an award for his service. Sedano served as chair of NASEO from 1998-2000. He served on the board of Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships for 19 years and was a three-time panel leader for the ACEEE summer study of energy efficiency in buildings