Advisory Board
Smart Energy Decisions is honored to have the involvement and support of an advisory board made up of industry leaders from a wide array of commercial and industrial market sectors. Their collaboration and engagement will help shape and direct our content and programs. Their influence as board members will help advance industry best practices and ensure we remain true to our mission. Participation on the advisory board does not reflect an endorsement of Smart Energy Decisions by a member's employer.
Michael Barry, Bloomberg Global Sustainable Business & Finance, head of sustainable business operations.
Michael Barry is the Head of Sustainable Business Operations in Bloomberg's Global Sustainable Business and Finance group. Reporting to the Chairman's Office, the team integrates sustainability considerations into all operations and co-develops products and services for the Bloomberg Terminal, enabling our clients to evaluate sustainability market risks and opportunities.
Michael is responsible for all global sustainability efforts within Bloomberg’s facilities, leasing, and technology departments. He works closely with a cross-functional team to develop, manage and implement critical clean energy and energy efficiency projects throughout Bloomberg's global operations.
Michael holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Kean University and a master’s degree in sustainability management from Columbia University. He is a LEED Accredited Professional and an AEE Certified Energy Procurement Professional. He serves on the advisory board of the Rocky Mountain Institute’s Business Renewables Center. He also sits on the Technical Assistance Group for Electricity Procurement that develops guidance for the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council.
Dr. Wolfgang Bauer, Michigan State University, university distinguished professor, associate vice president for administration
Dr. Wolfgang Bauer received a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Giessen, Germany, in 1987. After a postdoctoral year at the California Institute of Technology, he joined the faculty at Michigan State University in 1988, with a dual appointment at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory. He was chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy from 2001 to 2013 and Founding Director of the Institute for Cyber-Enabled Research from 2009 to 2013. He is co-owner of several businesses in the renewable energy sector and has consulted on renewable energy issues for the fossil fuel industry and hedge funds. He has published over 200 research articles, conference proceedings, and books, and has given over 400 invited presentations in 25 countries. He is currently University distinguished professor and senior consultant, driving the implementation of the Energy Transition Plan at Michigan State University.
Kevin Bell, Toyota North America, energy manager
Kevin Bell started in the Automotive Industry 30 years ago. He completed a 4-year Electrical Control Apprenticeship with Ford Motor Company of Europe and received his ONC and HNC in Electrical and Electronic Controls Engineering. He spent 9 years in various roles, Powertrain, Facilities, and Boiler House Operations. During this time Kevin received his BEng (Hons) in Manufacturing Systems Engineering. Kevin transitioned to his new role of Electrical Controls Engineer for Ford Group Staff in 2001.
In 2003 Kevin emigrated to Canada and began working for Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, his focus areas were Utilities Equipment & Construction Management. In 2006, Kevin was transferred to the Facilities Engineering pilot group responsible for all aspects of design and construction of the new Woodstock Toyota Plant, tasks included equipment selection, commissioning, training, plant start-up, and utility operations.
Kevin transferred to Toyota Motor Manufacturing America in 2011; he has spent the last 8 years working in the Facilities Engineering Group responsible for Energy Management, he was promoted to Energy Manager in January 2015. In June 2018 he was transferred to Plant Planning to support Plant Expansion projects at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana, in February 2019 Kevin recently transferred into Toyota Environmental Department to the position of Energy Manager responsible for Toyota’s 2050 Challenge in North America.
Chris Broome, Merck & Co. Inc., associate director, global energy and sustainability center of excellence
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Chris Broome is an associate director of the Global Energy and Sustainability Center of Excellence at Merck, where he assists more than 40 North and South American manufacturing, research and administrative facilities in reducing their energy usage to meet strategic energy and sustainability corporate goals.
He is passionate about reducing energy consumption and costs and has extensive experience in energy conservation; corporate energy management and sustainability programs; HVAC; and water conservation. Chris uses Energy Star benchmarking tools on a regular basis and his efforts helped Merck win Energy Star's "Sustained Excellence Award" in 2016 for the 11th consecutive year. He is a member of the Association of Energy Engineers and is a Certified Energy Manager and a Certified Energy Auditor.
Chris has more than 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He joined Merck in 2009, as part of the merger with Schering-Plough. He started with Schering-Plough in 2006 as a contract administrator managing outsourced maintenance contracts for all the New Jersey sites. Previously, he worked as a plumbing project engineer, specializing in the design of pharmaceutical facilities. Chris has also worked as a project manager and design engineer for several equipment manufacturers of laboratory equipment, such as steam sterilizers, glassware washers, and environmental chambers. He is a Licensed Engineer in New Jersey and received his Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Joby Carlson, Walmart Inc., director, global sustainability
Joby is responsible for the development and execution of Walmart’s enterprise-wide sustainability strategies for its operations including more than 11,000 facilities and trucking fleet worldwide. His work focuses on the company’s approach to sustainable energy procurement and emissions reduction, eliminating solid and organic waste, increasing water stewardship and conserving land and habitat. Joby works closely with Walmart’s real estate, operations and logistics teams in the U.S. and over 13 international markets to ensure the proper resources, processes and controls are in place to execute against public commitments while continuously reducing costs and risk for the business. He is responsible for Walmart’s annual CDP response and played a central role in the development of its science-based emissions reduction target covering Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, making Walmart the first retailer to achieve this recognition. Carlson is a LEED accredited professional and holds a Masters of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering and Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering.
Mike Colwell, Illinois Tool Works, director, NA indirect materials & services and global energy
Mike Colwell is the director, NA indirect materials & services and global energy for Illinois Tool Works in Glenview, Ill., focused on cost reductions and risk management through energy supply and demand reduction opportunities in North America, Europe, and Australia.Mary Curtiss, HP, global head of energy and sustainability
Mary Curtiss has more than 20 years of experience in the construction and sustainability industry. As HP’s Global Head of Energy and Sustainability, she is responsible for developing and driving the strategy for all matters related to renewable energy, sustainability, and energy efficiency in the global portfolio. She's also involved in a number of industry-leading forums in the San Francisco Bay Area to drive improved efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. Before HP, Mary was Siemens' National Director for Enterprise Efficiency, where she worked with external clients on energy program solutions and Siemens' global energy efficiency program to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. Mary also spent time at JLL, where she led business development and program execution for their Sustainability business and managed a team of 30 Energy and Sustainability professionals to optimize corporate portfolios. During her time there, she also helped establish JLL's Women's Network.
Mary received a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Iowa State University and a Master’s in Business Administration from Santa Clara University. In her free time, she loves spending time with her three boys exploring California's forests and beaches.
Steve DePalo, McDonald’s Corporation, Director, North American Sustainability
Steve DePalo is a Director in McDonald’s North American Sustainability Organization for McDonald’s Corporation. In this position, Steve is currently responsible for Climate-related energy programs, including energy efficiency and renewable energy, water, and emerging issues and technologies.
A key responsibility for Steve’s team is to develop the strategies and oversee implementation of programs that will deliver on the U.S. portion of McDonald’s 2030 Global Science-Based Climate Target announced in early 2018. In November 2019, McDonald’s announced two large scale renewable energy power purchase agreements (VPPAs) that match the power used in more than 2500 McDonald’s restaurants. Steve led the team that developed the overall renewable strategy, as well as the implementation of these initial deals.
Steve holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. He received a Mini-MBA from Loyola University. Prior to joining McDonald’s, Steve spent 14 years in the utility industry, in various roles ranging from distribution system engineering and design, to key account and national account management.
Denis E. George, The Kroger Co., senior leader – enterprise sourcing
As senior leader – enterprise sourcing for The Kroger Co. (www.thekrogerco.com) – one of the Nation’s largest grocery companies with well over $110B in annual revenue - Denis George manages the Company’s renewable energy acquisition, energy contracts, regulatory intervention, as well as construction material & equipment sourcing. From 1998 to 2015, Denis served as Kroger’s corporate manager – energy with responsibilities that included energy efficiency initiatives, carbon footprint calculations, mechanical system design, and Energy Star program compliance.
During this time, Kroger has also received numerous national and regional awards for energy efficiency and sustainability, including in 2015 the Energy Star “Partner of the Year” Award, in 2012 the Alliance to Save Energy's top award, the "Galaxy" Star of Energy Efficiency, and an “Award of Excellence” from Platt’s Publications. Mr. George has presented before numerous Commissions and Associations, including the Edison Electric Institute, Touchstone Energy Partnership, Green Retail Decisions, and the Critical Consumer Issues Forum.
Mr. George received a Juris Doctor Degree in 1985 from The University of Cincinnati College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics/Business Administration, cum laude, from Wittenberg University in 1980. Denis and his wife, Alice Sutherland George, live in Loveland, Ohio.
Eric Hoegger, Cargill, director of global renewable energy
Eric is the Director of Global Renewable Energy, owning Cargill’s renewable energy strategy globally. In this role, Eric is responsible for adding renewable energy to Cargill’s operations, ensuring Cargill meets its 2025 Climate goal to reduce absolute greenhouse gas emissions in our operations a minimum of 10% vs. a 2017 baseline. In Eric’s short time in the new role, Eric has executed on a VPPA, two green tariff programs, and two onsite solar projects. Over the coming years, Cargill will continue to seek additional onsite and offsite renewable energy projects to meet our goal in a cost-effective manner while managing the associated market price risk.
Eric is a Chemical Engineer by background and was formerly a Plant Engineer for Cargill Salt in California when the 2000 California Power Crisis hit. Eric has been active in all of North America’s deregulated retail power markets since its inception, having previously managed the power supply for Cargill’s North American operations for the last 17 years.
Bill Hoenigmann, Becton, Dickinson and Co., global category manager for energy
Bill’s current responsibilities include developing the global procurement strategy and managing regional execution of the purchased electricity and natural gas for all of BD’s manufacturing, distribution and R&D sites around the world. On the demand side, Bill supports the BD manufacturing sites’ continuous improvement (Lean/Six Sigma) energy teams (known as ATLAS teams) as they manage their energy usage. This includes supporting initiatives in LED lighting, compressed air audits, energy audits, BMS software implementation, HVAC/chiller upgrades and on-site generation including fuel cell, solar, geothermal and cogeneration. Bill also works with BD’s office of global sustainability for the purchase and retirement of renewable energy credits.
Bill has worked at BD for 15 years, all of them in global procurement, and hold a Bachelor of Science in Engineering in chemical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and a Masters of Business Administration from Columbia University.
Art Justice, Cinemark, vice president of energy and sustainability
Art has led Cinemark's energy efforts since 1999 and was named vice president of energy and sustainability in January 2014. He has been with Cinemark for 25 years. Prior to starting the energy group at Cinemark, Art worked in operations as district manager and regional manager. Art has certifications for both energy management and energy procurement through the Association Of Energy Engineers. Under his leadership, Cinemark's sustainability initiatives have included energy efficiency projects such as lighting and HVAC retrofits as well as rooftop solar installations at a growing number of its theaters.
Cinemark is a leader in the motion picture exhibition industry, with nearly 500 theaters and 5,700 screens in the U.S. and Latin America as of April 2015. Cinemark has a solid operating performance as a result of its disciplined operating philosophy that centers on building high-quality theaters while maintaining favorable theatre-level economics, controlling operating costs (including energy) and effectively reacting to economic and market changes.
Christian D. Lenci, Praxair Inc, director of capital, productivity and energy
Christian Lenci is the Director of Capital, Productivity and Energy at Praxair, Inc. and a subject matter expert in the industrial gases industry, the most electricity-intensive manufacturing process. In his 34 years Christian has worked in Maintenance, Operations, Project Management, Customer Service, Distribution, Control Systems, Energy Management departments, including serving as Facility Manager at Praxair’s largest liquid hydrogen facility in Niagara Falls NY for 4 years. Christian led the rollout of Lean Six Sigma's data-driven methodology and associated culture change in Praxair's West Region and managed the group for over a decade, completing over 200 custom retrofit energy efficiency projects totaling over $50 million in Capex and supported by nearly $15 million in utility incentives. He also directed the Region's Control Systems group for eight years, leading teams that designed, implemented, and measure in real time automated energy management strategies at nearly all of Praxair's West Region production facilities.
Christian serves as Chairman of the California Large Electricity Consumers Association (CLECA), an organization representing 16 of the largest demand-responsive customers with the state's utilities, the California PUC and CA ISO. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and resides in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Patrick Leonard is renewable energy procurement manager at Amazon.com. Prior to Amazon.com Patrick supported energy, water, and renewables strategy for 9,500 Starbucks stores in the U.S. and Canada. Patrick was responsible for deregulated energy procurement and sourcing renewable energy to meet Starbucks' aspirational Global Responsibility goals. Patrick's work included roles in sustainability, energy management, and renewables with T-Mobile, Paladino and Company, Enviros Consulting, and Shell.
David Reid, Celanese Corp., global energy and productivity leader
David Reid is the global energy and productivity leader for Celanese. He is a graduate of the University of Waterloo, Canada, with a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in chemical engineering.
David has more than 30 years of manufacturing experience in polymer and chemicals industries including ICI, PolyOne, Oxy Vinyls and Celanese.
He has held positions in process control, manufacturing operations leadership as well as process improvement (reliability, work processes, Six Sigma, manufacturing IT solutions) including his current role leading energy and productivity programs for 26 Celanese plants worldwide.
Celanese Corporation is a global technology leader in the production of differentiated chemistry solutions and specialty materials used in most major industries and consumer applications. The company has a strong track record of energy stewardship reducing energy intensity across its manufacturing sites by more than 28% from 2005 to 2015 and expects to complete more than 180 energy reduction projects in 2016 with savings totaling more than $15 billion.
Marty Sedler, Intel, director of global utilities and infrastructure
Marty Sedler is the director of global utilities & infrastructure and sr. PE for Intel Corporation. Marty has been with Intel 22 years, integrating Energy Management and Energy Supply Policy responsibilities within a formal process. He and his staff are responsible for all utility supply issues, ensuring the capacity, price, and reliability of Utility Supplies/Infrastructure to Intel facilities worldwide, as well as, supporting conservation programs. Marty is responsible for evaluating/incorporating alternative energy options w/in Intel and establishing sustainable energy positions/strategies for renewable energy policy within Intel’s energy portfolio. He leads the utility site selection component of a corporate team that identifies and recommends potential new locations for Intel Facility/Manufacturing growth worldwide. Marty is Intel’s external energy representative in various private/public, State and Federal energy action groups and task forces. He is a member of various DOE Steering Committees and has sat on several state Governors’ energy committees. Previous to joining Intel, he spent 14 years in the electric utility industry in a variety of functions including; operations, rates, environmental, energy supply/engineering, power plant operation, and key account management. In 2015, Marty was honored to be the recipient of the “Green Power Leader of the Year” by the Center for Resource Solutions at the annual EPA/CSR REM event.
Jason Shulman, Bloomberg LP, Global Sustainable Business & Finance, sustainability manager
Jason Shulman is a sustainability manager in Bloomberg's Global Sustainable Business and Finance group. Reporting to the Chairman's office, the department fully integrates sustainability considerations into all company operations and codevelops products and services for the Bloomberg Professional Service, enabling Bloomberg's clients to evaluate sustainability market risks and opportunities. Bloomberg Sustainability Operations department is focused on reducing the company's environmental impact, inside and outside of operational boundaries, including aggressively pursuing renewable energy projects both on and off-site. Bloomberg recently joined RE100 and committed to 100% renewable energy by 2025.
Jason is responsible for sustainable operations management, global data collection and emissions calculations, all facets of Bloomberg's sustainability analysis and both internal and external sustainability reporting.
Prior to his current role, he worked in Bloomberg's management systems/reporting department and managed a department responsible for global systems privileging. Jason holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Colby College and an MBA from Columbia Business School.
Steve Skarda, Procter & Gamble Co., global climate and energy leader
Steve Skarda is responsible for delivering P&G’s 2020 sustainability goals on energy. Steve leads a team focused on a science-based goal to reduce absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2020 compared to 2010. To date, the team has improved energy productivity by more than 15% across 200 facilities worldwide saving P&G more than $350 million in four years. The team has also announced projects that together will double their use of renewable energy. This supports P&G’s goal to power their facilities with 30% renewable energy by 2020 which is part of a larger vision to obtain 100% of P&G’s energy from renewable sources.
Steve is a licensed Professional Engineer with a BS in Electrical Engineering from Marquette University and a Masters of Engineering degree in Sustainable Systems Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He was a 2011 graduate of the Energy Executives Leadership Program at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Prior to his current role, Steve spent time with P&G in Wisconsin, Ohio, and Utah leading Power & Controls engineering for several capacity expansions and a new greenfield plant.
Andy Smith, Cisco, sr. manager, global energy management and sustainability
Andy has over 15 years of experience in the field of sustainability and currently leads Cisco’s Global Energy Management and Sustainability team. He started working at Cisco in 2009 and has helped developed Cisco’s sustainability program to what it is today by leading a number of initiatives including developing and achieving multiple sustainability goals, managing global energy efficiency programs, deploying a global energy and sustainability information system and creating Cisco’s annual greenhouse gas inventories and Corporate Social Responsibility reports. Through these efforts, Cisco has been recognized consistently over the years as a leader in sustainability from numerous organizations including Barron’s, EPA, Association of Energy Engineers, Newsweek, CDP, Dow Jones Sustainability Index, and Sustainability Roundtable.
Prior to joining Cisco, Andy worked as a consultant at Rocky Mountain Institute and DOMANI Sustainability Consulting in Colorado and served as Energy Manager for Washtenaw County Government in Michigan.
Andy has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis, a B.A. from Oberlin College and an MBA from the University of Colorado. He is also a Certified Energy Manager and Certified Carbon Reduction Manager from the Association of Energy Engineers. Andy and his family live in Boulder, Colorado and enjoy just about all outdoor activities including rock climbing, hiking, biking, and skiing. They are also both musicians and love to travel.
Reid Spolek, Google, strategic negotiator for energy
Reid Spolek works on the Energy & Location Strategy team for Google's global data centers.
Previously Spolek led the global renewable strategy for Amazon Web Services (AWS) global data centers. He also ran business development for Berkeley Energy Sciences Corp., an energy storage company that successfully merged with Amber Kinetics in early 2013. Spolek previously worked in private equity investing, management consulting, and nonprofit strategy.
Rowena is the energy manager for all Aeronautics sites across North America. She is responsible for negotiating and hedging long-term power and natural gas contracts as well as providing utility budget oversight for Aeronautics' top major sites. Rowena is also the technical program leader for Aeronautics' Go Green team. Rowena helps support future projects that help achieve Lockheed Martin's Go Green goals. For her home site in Palmdale, Calif., also known as Skunkworks, Rowena’s engineering feasibility studies and funding efforts led to Go Green projects such as a 1 MW single-axis solar system, air scrubbers, LED high bay lighting, HVAC and more. Rowena previously served as energy efficiency consultant for Southern California Edison's large industrial customers and construction manager for Kroger. She was also an energy engineer for UCLA and design engineer for the Southern California Gas Co.Rowena earned a Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering from California State University, Northridge. Her certifications include Certified Energy Manager, Certified Carbon Reduction Manager and Certified Energy Procurement Professional from the Association of Energy Engineers, LEED Accredited Professional from the U.S. Green Building Council, and Engineer in Training certification.
David Templeman is the Vice President of Environmental, Health, and Safety for ViacomCBS responsible for occupational safety and health, industrial hygiene, EHS management systems, environmental programs (including sustainability reporting), DOT regulatory compliance and aspects of fire protection and business continuity. 
Rob Threlkeld is global manager of Sustainable Energy, Supply and Reliability for General Motors, leading the company’s energy procurement efforts including the commitment to meet the electricity needs of its global operations with 100 percent renewable energy by 2050. Threlkeld is responsible for leading that team that supports GM energy procurement and regulatory efforts including negotiating power purchase agreements, natural gas, green tariffs, and engineering onsite renewable solutions for GM facilities across the globe, including opportunities associated with battery storage, behind-the-meter applications and EV integration.
As part of GM’s Sustainable Workplaces team, Threlkeld shares best practices for renewable energy procurement with internal and external audiences, offering solutions for large and small businesses alike to benefit from the use of renewables.
Threlkeld is a board member of the Renewable Energy Buyer’s Association (REBA), involved in the American Wind Energy Association and Solar Energy Industries Association, two energy groups advancing the use of these renewable forms of energy. He also serves an industry advisor to the School of Environmental and Ecological Engineering at Purdue University. He is a member of the Association of Energy Engineers, the Engineering Society of Detroit, and the Solar Power International Education Council. This year, Energy Manager Today recognized Threlkeld as one of 50 top energy managers for driving GM and the energy management industry forward.
Threlkeld began his career at GM in 2000 as manager of the powerhouse and wastewater treatment plant operations at GM’s Lordstown, Ohio Assembly Complex. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Purdue University. He is a registered Certified Hazardous Material Manager, Certified Energy Manager and Business Energy Professional.
Bob Valair, Staples, director of energy and environmental management
Bob Valair is the Director of Energy and Environmental Management for Staples. He has over 30 years in energy strategy and management. He is responsible for Staples Global Energy with over 2,000 retail stores, 50 distribution centers, data centers, and corporate offices. Bob leads the Energy Management Group, which is a key component of the Staples Sustainability Program. Bob has been recognized for his passion and leadership in energy efficiency, adopting new technologies, team building, and his devotion in helping students learn about energy. The Staples Energy Program has been honored with awards from the DOE, Energy Star, Platts Global Awards and Lifetime Achievement awards. Bob is an active member of the Advisory Board for Edison Electric Institute, the US Green Building Council, Ecova, and Green Retail. Dave Zita, Citrix, global indirect procurement manager
Dave is global indirect procurement manager at Citrix. He utilizes his subject matter expertise to innovate, architect and deliver programs aimed at achieving energy efficiency, cost savings, and operational sustainability. He previously had global functional responsibility for all energy and engineering support items for IHG. Prior to joining IHG, Dave served in various energy-related capacities, including tenures in energy consulting and energy procurement. Dave graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Energy, Business, and Finance and a Minor in Economics from The Pennsylvania State University and is a Certified Energy Procurement Professional through the Association of Energy Engineers.
