Advisory Board

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 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.

Aaron Daly, Whole Foods Market, global director of energy management 

Aaron Daly is a recognized professional in the field of energy and climate change. In his current role as Whole Foods Market's global director for energy management, Aaron oversees the company’s programs in energy efficiency; renewable and on-site power generation; and energy analysis and reporting. He also works with colleagues to improve energy and resource management in new and existing buildings across the global portfolio. He is currently focused on Whole Foods Market's Department of Energy Better Buildings Challenge commitment to reduce energy consumption 20% by the year 2020.

From 2007 to 2013, Aaron was an account manager at Portland Energy Conservation Inc., where he worked with retailers on the development and execution of energy management programs. In 2011, he was visiting lecturer in energy and the environment at San Jose State University.

Additionally, Aaron is a founding board member of the North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council and is currently chair of the utilities progress group. He is co-author of the book Advanced Energy Design Guide for Grocery Stores, published by ASHRAE Press in 2015. Aaron is a Certified Energy Manager and holds a Master of Science in Energy Management from Sonoma State University.

You can connect with Aaron on Twitter and LinkedIn. 

 Steve DePalo, Director, North American Sustainability McDonald’s Corporation

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. 

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, associate director, energy and engineering

Christian Lenci is currently the Associate Director of Energy and Engineering at Praxair, Inc. and subject matter expert in the industrial gases industry, the most electricity-intensive manufacturing process.  In his 32 years, Christian worked in Praxair's USIG Maintenance, Operations, Project Management, Customer Service, Distribution, Control Systems, Energy Management, Plant and Region Management organizations, serving as Senior Facility Manager at their 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 nearly 200 custom retrofit energy efficiency projects totaling over $40 million in Capex and supported by nearly $10 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. 

Currently Christian is responsible for electricity and natural gas procurement for the Western US and Canada, responsible for procuring and managing a $100 million annual spend for Praxair, and is regularly consulted inside and outside Praxair for his insight. Christian was elected Chairman of the California Large Electricity Consumers Association (CLECA), an organization representing 14 of the largest demand-responsive customers in various discussions with the state's utilities and regulatory activities at the California PUC.  He also is a member of the Alberta Electricity System Operator's (AESO's) Industry Executive Advisory Council, a 13 member group including the CEOs of all the major generating and transmissions companies in the province consulting with the AESO as they add a capacity market to their existing energy and ancillary services markets. Christian graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and resides in Concord, California with his wife and four children. 

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.

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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. 

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 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.

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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.

Spolek received his Master of Business Administration from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, and his Bachelors in economics and journalism from Northwestern University.

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Rowena Striff, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, energy manager

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.

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David Templeman, ViacomCBS, vice president - environmental, health & safety

 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. 

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Rob Threlkeld, General Motors Co., global manager of renewable energy

Rob Threlkeld manages the more than 100 MW of renewable energy that make up GM’s global renewable energy portfolio and assesses the feasibility of future projects as they pertain to GM’s overall sustainability strategy. Threlkeld is responsible for negotiating long-term power purchase agreements with projects underway at various facilities across the globe, including opportunities associated with battery storage, behind-the-meter applications, and electric vehicle integration.

As part of GM's sustainability team, Threlkeld is charged with sharing renewable energy best practices to internal and external audiences to further GM’s reputation as a responsible corporate citizen. Threlkeld is actively involved in the Solar Energy Industries Association, the World Wildlife Fund/ World Resources Institute’s Corporate Renewable Energy Buyer’s Principles and the Rocky Mountain Institute’s Business Renewable Center, where he serves on the advisory board. He is also involved with the Association of Energy Engineers, Engineering Society of Detroit and the Solar Power International Education Council. His certifications include Certified Hazardous Material Manager, Certified Energy Manager, and Business Energy Professional.

Threlkeld began his career at General Motors in 2000 as manager of the powerhouse and wastewater treatment plant operations at GM’s Lordstown, Ohio, Assembly Complex. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in civil engineering from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.

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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. 

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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.