Smart Energy Voices
Welcome to Smart Energy Voices: an SED Podcast
Hosted by John Failla, Smart Energy Decisions Founder.
Smart Energy Voices, an SED podcast, features conversations with leaders of the energy transition. In each episode, Smart Energy Decisions founder John Failla digs deep with industry movers and shakers to reveal insights you can learn from in their stories, personalities, and visions for the future.
Click on the Apple Podcast or Google Podcast buttons below to listen and subscribe.
You can also find this podcast on Spotify, Radio Public, Stitcher, Pandora, iHeart Radio, TuneIn Radio, Acast, Deezer, Double Twist, Learn Out Loud, Player FM, Podknife, and Spreaker.
Episode 78: Meeting Renewable Energy Goals: A Portfolio View with Quen Howard
Date: 3/3/23
Guest: Quen Howard
This episode of Smart Energy Voices is an interview from Smart Energy Decisions’ recent Renewable Energy Forum featuring Quen Howard, Indirect Procurement Manager of VF Corporation, and Debra Chanil, Smart Energy Decisions’ Director of Editorial and Research. They discuss the challenges of implementing renewables across a portfolio of consumer brands. Read more...
Episode 77: General Motors Hit 100% RE in the U.S. a Generation Ahead of Schedule
Date: 2/17/23
Guest: Rob Threlkeld, General Motors
In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla shares a special keynote from Smart Energy Decisions’ recent Renewable Energy Forum. Rob Threlkeld, Global Manager of Sustainable Energy, Supply, and Reliability for General Motors, shares how General Motors reached its 100% renewable energy goal a whole generation ahead of schedule. Read more...
Episode 76: McCormick’s Recipe for Success – An 'All of the Above' Sustainability Strategy
Date: 2/3/23
Guest: Jeff Blankman, McCormick & Company
This episode of Smart Energy Voices is a keynote from Smart Energy Decisions’ recent Renewable Energy Forum featuring Jeff Blankman. Jeff is the Sustainable Manufacturing Manager for McCormick & Company and is also an Advisory Board member for Smart Energy Decisions. Jeff’s keynote addresses McCormick’s all-of-the-above sustainability strategy and embodies the essence of the unique corporate buyer presentations only found at SED events. Read more...
Episode 75: Achieving Net Zero Across Cisco’s Value Chain
Date: 12/16/22
Guest: Andy Smith, Cisco Systems
In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla shares a special keynote presentation from the inaugural Net Zero Forum featuring Andy Smith, Senior Manager of Global Energy Management and Sustainability at Cisco Systems. In his presentation, Andy provides a deep dive into the process Cisco recently went through to evaluate, establish and certify its net-zero goal through the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Read more...
Episode 74: Today's Net-Zero Challenges in Real Time
Date: 12/9/22
Guests: Marianella Franklin, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Michal Shepard, Harris Teeter
Ryan Spies, VP of Sustainability for Clayco
This episode of Smart Energy Voices is a panel conversation from Smart Energy Decisions' recent Net Zero forum, moderated by SED's Director of Education Programs, Peter Kelly-Detwiler. The panel covers real-time challenges that companies face on their road to net zero. This conversation is a compilation of comments and notes from peer-to-peer discussions at the event. Peter is joined by Ryan Spies, VP of Sustainability for Clayco, Marianella Franklin, Chief Sustainability Officer at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, and Michal Shepard, Director of Maintenance, Energy, and Engineering at Harris Teeter. Read more...
Episode 73: Bank of America's Approach to Net Zero
Date: 11/18/22
Guest: Wolfgang Bauer, Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University
In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla shares the opening keynote presentation from the inaugural Net Zero Forum, featuring Beth Wytiaz, Net Zero Strategy Executive for Bank of America. Beth is responsible for developing and delivering the financial institution’s environmental strategy to reach net zero before 2050. In this talk, she shares Bank of America’s approach to net-zero framework and how the organization is building a robust strategy and transition plan that covers operations, supply chain, and financing activities. Read more...
Episode 72: Michigan State's Renewable Energy Journey
Date: 10/20/22
Guest: Wolfgang Bauer, Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University
In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla is joined by Dr. Wolfgang Bauer, Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University, to discuss the renewable journey he has led at the university. Wolfgang is also an active Smart Energy Decisions Advisory Board member. Read more...
Episode 71: Emissions Reduction by Design
Date: 8/26/22
Guest: Ryan Spies, Vice President of Sustainability at Clayco
In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla introduces Ryan Spies, Vice President of Sustainability at Clayco. As the closing keynote speaker from Smart Energy Decisions’ Renewable Energy Forum, Ryan spoke about addressing emissions reduction through design and the role renewables should play in decarbonization strategies. Read more...
Episode 70: City of Cincinnati's Renewable Energy Journey
Date: 8/5/22
Guest: Michael Forrester, former Director of Environment and Sustainability for the city of Cincinnati.
In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla introduces Michael Forrester, former Director of Environment and Sustainability for the city of Cincinnati. At SED’s recent Renewable Energy Forum, Michael shared his insights on Cincinnati’s strategy of acting like a corporation that led to implementing its 100 MW PPA. Read more...
Episode 69: Profiles in Leadership: Dean Nelson and the iMasons Climate Accord
Date: 7/15/22
Guest: Dean Nelson, Founder and Chairman of Infrastructure Masons and CEO of Cato
In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla is joined by Dean Nelson, Founder and Chairman of Infrastructure Masons and CEO of Cato. They discuss the creation of the iMasons Climate Accord and the community efforts for diversity and inclusion, education, sustainability, and technology. Read more...
Episode 68: Leading from Within
Date: 7/10/22
Guest: Amy Bond, Sustainability Sourcing Manager at T-Mobile
In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla introduces the opening keynote speaker from Smart Energy Decisions’ recent Renewable Energy Forum, Amy Bond. Amy is the Sustainability Sourcing Manager at T-Mobile. In her talk, she presents actionable tips for navigating obstacles to success in implementing sustainability strategies, including her experience in executing Sprint’s first virtual power purchase agreement. Read more...
Episode 67: SED's Sustainability Plan
Date: 6/17/22
Guest: Alexandra Failla, Director of ESG and Administration at Smart Energy Decisions
In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla introduces Alexandra Failla, Director of ESG and Administration at Smart Energy Decisions. Alexandra shares SED’s first Sustainability Report, which reflects SED’s commitment to align its actions and operations with The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Read more...
Episode 66: Women in Smart Energy
Date: 6/3/22
Guests: Creshona Armwood, General Services Administration Region 4
Jordan Calverley, McDonalds
Monica Ferrer, Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc
Kourtney Nelson, Microsoft
In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla introduces Creshona Armwood, Jordan Calverley, Monica Ferrer, and Kourtney Nelson from a panel at Smart Energy Decisions’ recent Innovation Summit conducted in concert with the inaugural Women in Smart Energy awards program. The panel was moderated by Smart Energy Decisions’ Director of Editorial and Research, Debra Chanil. Read more...
Episode 65: Best Practices in Vehicle Fleet Electrification
Date: 5/20/22
Guests: Gary Glasscock, City of Houston
Ryan Martin EVolve Houston
In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla introduces Gary Glasscock and Ryan Martin from Smart Energy Decision’s recent Innovation Summit. Gary is the Director of Fleet Management for the City of Houston. Ryan is the Interim President and Managing Partner at EVolve Houston. This panel conversation, moderated by SED’s Director of Research and Content Debra Chanil, highlights the innovative public-private partnership between the City of Houston and Evolve Houston. Read more...
Episode 64: Decarbonizing Thermal Loads: The Next Frontier
Date: 5/06/22
Guests: Susan Corry, University of Maryland College Park
David Reid, Celanese
Peter Kelly-Detwiler, Smart Energy Decisions
In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla introduces Susan Corry of the University of Maryland College Park, David Reid of Celanese, and Peter Kelly-Detwiler of Smart Energy Decisions from a panel at Smart Energy Decisions’ recent Innovation Summit. These three leaders discuss decarbonizing thermal loads and how different types of organizations are facing this challenge. Read more...
Episode 63: Mohawk’s Decarbonization Journey
Date: 4/22/22
Guests: Scott Bargerstock, Director of Manufacturing, Productivity, and Global Energy, Mohawk Industries
In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla introduces Scott Bargerstock of Mohawk Industries, the opening keynote speaker from Smart Energy Decisions’ recent Innovation Summit. As Director of Manufacturing, Productivity, and Global Energy, Scott shares his insights on how he is building the green bridge with Mohawk Industries’ efforts to decarbonize and save money without a formal net-zero goal. Read more...
Episode 62: The Electrification of General Motors
Date: 4/08/22
Guests: Rob Threlkeld, Global Manager of Sustainable Energy, Supply, and Reliability at General Motors
This episode of Smart Energy Voices features a keynote conversation host John Failla had with Rob Threlkeld, Global Manager of Sustainable Energy, Supply, and Reliability at General Motors. In Episode 25, they talked about the future of General Motors, EVs, and Renewables. Listen in for this update on the dramatic changes at GM since their last conversation, including GM’s commitment to an electric future and how energy is driving the reinvention of the company. Read more...
Episode 61: The Next Chapter: Reflections from an Industry Leader
Date: 3/25/22
Guests: Mary Curtiss, HP's Former Global Energy Head of Energy and Sustainability
In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla introduces a keynote speaker from the recent Renewable Energy Forum. As Mary Curtiss transitions from her role as HP's Global Energy Head of Energy and Sustainability to a new role at the company, she reflects on key lessons learned during her tenure as a senior leader in the field, as well as more than 20 years of related industry experience. Listen in to hear more about Mary’s amazing career and her work at HP. Read more...
Episode 60: Challenges and Opportunities for EV Charging at Scale
Date: 3/11/2022
Guests: Neha Palmer, CEO and Co-Founder of TeraWatt Infrastructure
In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla has a conversation with Neha Palmer, CEO and Co-Founder of TeraWatt Infrastructure. Many also know her as the former Head of Energy Strategy at Google. Neha recently wrote an article for Wired titled “Electric Vehicle Charging is the Next Billion-Dollar Market.” She spoke about the potential and challenges of the transition to vehicle fleet electrification. At Google, Neha drove a large part of the adoption of renewables, so you won’t want to miss out on her insight into this critical topic. Read more...
Episode 59: Microsoft and the Art of the Possible
Date: 2/25/2022
Guests: Brian Janous - General Manager of Energy at Microsoft
This episode of Smart Energy Voices presents the keynote speaker from the recent Renewable Energy Forum, Brian Janous - General Manager of Energy at Microsoft. As one of the world’s preeminent leaders in the energy transition, Microsoft is constantly innovating. Listen in as Brian provides a glimpse into the mindset and culture at Microsoft that has enabled its unique approach to innovation, including efforts to drive collaboration between peers, suppliers, and customers to enable broader adoption of renewable energy. Read more...
Episode 58: The Role of Customer Choice in Decarbonization Strategies
Date: 2/11/2022
Guests: Rob Gaudette, Senior Vice President of NRG Business
This episode is made in partnership with NRG. In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla is joined by Rob Gaudette, Senior Vice President of NRG Business for a discussion on the increased pressure large power users are experiencing to meet aggressive emission reduction targets. Listen in as they dive into the dynamics of this changing landscape. Read more...
Episode 57: Collaborating to Drive Diverse Supplier Activity
Date: 1/28/2022
Guests: Cheryl Comer, Strategic Account Manager - Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions
Gilbert Campbell, Co-Founder & CEO - Volt Energy
Denis George, Category Manager for Energy - The Kroger Company
In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host John Failla continues SED’s series on “Inspiring Diversity in Energy.” This conversation was part of the recent Distributed Energy Forum with a panel featuring Cheryl Comer, Strategic Account Manager - Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions, Gilbert Campbell, Co-Founder & CEO - Volt Energy, and Denis George, Category Manager for Energy - The Kroger Company. You won't want to miss this meaningful conversation on how collaboration can help accelerate success in diversifying the supplier rosters of large electric power users. Read more...
Episode 56: Managing Energy Supply and Demand in Transportation
Date: 1/13/2022
Guests: Keith Warner, Aviation Utilities Business Manager for the Port of Seattle
In this episode of Smart Energy Voices, host Debra Chanil talks with Keith Warner to discuss his role as Aviation Utilities Business Manager for the Port of Seattle and its affiliated utility. Among the topics they cover are the importance of resiliency, the push for electrification, and Keit
