Sessions:

• Plant Management Institute: Environmental Chess Game

Sessions:

• Plant Management Institute: Operational Excellence in Power Plant Management
• Panel Discussion: The Future of Nuclear Energy: Fleet Modernization, Advanced Reactors, and Fusion
• O&M Best Practices for Thriving in the Thermal Power Generation

Siraj Taj is a rare Power industry insider who has the experience to look across the entire value chain - from sourcing and generation to transmission and distribution - to optimize plant efficiencies and economics. Siraj and his team at ST Power Services are focused on creating Innovative and Pragmatic O & M strategies that empower plant owners to solve today's problems while laying the groundwork to profitably transform their organization for a carbon-free future. A sought-after Power industry consultant and thought leader, Siraj Taj has leveraged more than 35 years experience into his latest pursuit: Helping power plant owners prepare for our clean energy future.

Sessions:

• Plant Management Institute: Extension of Life with Aging Infrastructure and Supplier Issues

Sessions:

• Plant Management Institute: Extension of Life with Aging Infrastructure and Supplier Issues

Don Cribb brings over three decades of expertise in the power generation industry to his role on the Planning Committee for the 2025 Experience Power Conference. As the Owner and Lead Consultant of 3600 Consulting Group, he drives excellence in capital planning and reliability, leveraging advanced analytics to deliver customized, data-driven solutions for resilient and cost-effective power generation. With a distinguished career at Santee Cooper, a state-owned power utility in South Carolina, Don held pivotal leadership roles, including Senior Director of Generation, where he managed a 5,200 MW asset portfolio, overseeing $185 million in annual O&M budgets and $90 million in Capital budgets ensuring compliance with state, federal, and NERC regulations. As Manager of Cross Generating Station, he led a 2,400 MW facility, fostering safety, reliability, and employee engagement through innovative continuous improvement initiatives like idea-driven systems and workplace optimization programs. His earlier roles, from Superintendent of Operations to Maintenance Engineer, honed his technical and strategic acumen, with hands-on experience in turbine overhauls, boiler maintenance, and predictive maintenance. A graduate of The Citadel with an MBA and Clemson University with a BS in Engineering, Don combines technical proficiency with visionary leadership. His commitment to the industry extends to community involvement, including serving on the University of South Carolina's SAGE Research Institute board and volunteering with organizations like Habitat for Humanity. As a member of the Experience Power 2025 Steering Committee, Don is dedicated to shaping a forward-thinking conference that addresses the evolving challenges and opportunities in power generation.

Sessions:

• Utility Panel Session
• Industry Panel Session
• Fireside Chat: Project Finance Strategies and Best Practices
• How DLR Deployment Unlocked Nearly 50% More Transmission Capacity

Aaron Larson joined the POWER team in September 2013 as an associate editor and was named executive editor in 2017. Aaron has a bachelor's degree in nuclear engineering technology and a master's degree, specializing in finance. He spent 13 years in the U.S. Navy nuclear power program, advancing to Chief Petty Officer. He has worked at commercial nuclear, biomass, and coal-fired power plants, functioning in operations, maintenance, safety, financial, and management capacities. Aaron holds a Chief A Engineer boiler operator license in the state of Minnesota.

Sessions:

• Utility Panel Session

Darren Buck joined Platte River Power Authority in 2021 as the director of power delivery and has 30 years of experience in the electric utility business. Platte River has 800 miles of transmission and manages 30 facilities. Darren is responsible for overseeing real-time operations across transmission, maintenance, engineering, construction, fiber telecommunications and physical security. Prior to his position at Platte River, Darren served in numerous executive positions responsible for maintenance, construction and operations for 8,000 miles of transmission lines and hundreds of substations across eight western states. He is active in electric industry organizations including the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, the Western Electricity Coordinating Council and the North American Transmission Forum. Darren has a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the Colorado School of Mines. Platte River Power Authority is a not-for-profit, community-owned public power utility that generates and delivers safe, reliable, environmentally responsible and financially sustainable energy and services to Estes Park, Fort Collins, Longmont, and Loveland, Colorado, for delivery to their utility customers. In addition to providing a public health and safety service to the owner communities, Platte River is working toward a 100% noncarbon energy future through a Resource Diversification Policy approved by its board of directors in 2018.

Sessions:

• Industry Panel Session

Sessions:

• Panel Discussion: Supply Chain Issues in New Generation

With 40 years' experience, Paul leads innovative grid modernization projects, helping North American utilities negotiate major contracts, digitize operations and use advanced analytics to drive enterprise and customer value. Paul supports private equity firms in commercial diligence for acquisitions offering energy technologies and related services. Paul joined West Monroe from Long Island Power Authority, where he was vice president of power markets and managing director for utility service provider contract oversight. Paul oversaw human resources during the Power Authority's reorganization and restructuring. Paul negotiated over $10 billion in power purchase agreements, and over $400 million in union labor contracts. Paul has a bachelor's degree in international business management, a master's degree in economics, and an MBA in finance. Prior to joining the utility, Paul was deputy Energy Secretary and senior energy advisor to two governors. Paul invests great energy in academic, industry and not-for-profit organizations. Paul has been active, serving on professional and community boards of directors for over 30 years. Paul served on the Board on Energy and Environmental System at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), and chaired and served on several NASEM committees. Paul also chaired several peer review advisory panels for the US Department of Energy and served as an advisor to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Paul is currently a board member with the Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center at Stony Brook University, an editorial board member for Wiley's Climate and Energy Journal, and Springer's Energy Efficiency Journal. Paul is also Deputy Supervisor in the Town of Malta, New York, and advisory board member to the Critical Infrastructure Security Consortium. Paul has published over 13 dozen professional articles and papers. Paul was named one of New York City & State's ""Responsible 100"" recognizing 100 of New York's most outstanding corporate citizens, executives, thought leaders, visionaries, and influencers in promoting core principles of social responsibility: charity, community engagement, customer service, diversity and inclusion, equity, ethics, transparency, sustainability, and volunteerism. Paul was also recognized as a notable leader in Accounting and Consulting by Crain's New York, and is a member of Montclair Publishing LLC. "Who's Who in North America."

Sessions:

• Panel Session: Implications of Planned EPA Regulatory Changes
• Panel Discussion: Strategies to (re)Build the Talent Pipeline

Delivering asset development, operational improvements and performance enhancement services, Diane Fischer, the Director of Generation Services at Kiewit, leverages her 30+ years of experience in the power industry to provide detailed engineering and design solutions. Throughout the project lifecycle, she partners with clients to address environmental issues, engineer components and systems and conduct facility evaluations and feasibility analyses. A recognized subject matter expert in the power market, Diane has shared her insights on combustion turbine issues, fuel flexibility, hydrogen combustion and energy storage at 12 conferences over the last three years. Holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Iowa State University, she is also a licensed Professional Engineer in Missouri.

Sessions:

• Achieving 100% Success in Digital Twin Deployment - Lessons from the Field

Kevin brings 37 years of expertise in commercial nuclear power and fossil generation engineering, a licensed Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) and Control Room Supervisor. He has design, construction, and start up experience in the Electrical and DCS (distributed control system) engineering areas for two $1B projects and a $500M project. Kevin was the Superintendent of Maintenance at a nuclear power station. College adjunct Professor for over 10 years teaching engineering classes and responsible for curriculum development. Kevin is also a retired U.S. Navy veteran. Kevin has spoken at multiple conferences on DCS, control room designs, power plant Simulators, and human factored engineering. Worked on a research project with Penn State for digital transformation. Published in Control Magazine for innovative Control Room designs.

Sessions:

• Fail-Safe Batteries: Enabling Safe, Resilient Energy for Critical Infrastructure

Jon M. Williams is the CEO of Viridi Parente, a point-of-use energy technology company that is revolutionizing the way energy is stored and used--leading the way to a zero-carbon energy future. As CEO of Viridi, Jon's visionary leadership and innovative strategies were recognized on a national level when he was named an EY New York Entrepreneur Of The Year® in 2024, underscoring his pivotal role in driving the company's growth and success. Jon is also a member of Endeavor Entrepreneur, a leading global community of, by, and for High-Impact Entrepreneurs--those who dream bigger, scale faster, and pay it forward. Jon's commitment to using the power of business to address the interconnected systems of economic inequality, environmental degradation, and climate change was inspired by his hometown, Niagara Falls, New York. The many abandoned factories there served as reminders of Western New York's rich history as a thriving manufacturing center for the world and of the devastation to lives and land caused by their abandonment. Most of all, these empty factory towns motivated Jon to help bring them back to life in a way that serves everyone who lives there. "The first half of my career was focused on removing the remnants of the industrial revolution; the second half of my career will be focused on building and developing technologies and associated industry that will last decades past my time," Jon says. Prior to founding Viridi, Jon owned and managed OSC Holdings, Inc., a group of companies in the US and Canada that focused on environmental remediation and redevelopment of former industrial sites.

Sessions:

• Maximizing Project Value through Wind and Solar Repowering

Eric DeCristofaro is a vice president in Sargent & Lundy's Consulting Group. He joined the firm in 2009 and is based at its Chicago headquarters. In the last decade Eric has managed or directed over 250 renewable energy projects. Eric's support for clients covers a wide range of services including project development support, permitting, feasibility studies, owner's engineering, technical due diligence, wind and solar resource assessments, independent engineering, construction monitoring, condition assessment, technology evaluation, contract reviews and technical advisory services. Eric graduated from the University of Iowa, where he earned a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in mechanical engineering. He also has a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in finance from DePaul University and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Illinois.

Sessions:

• Enhancing Energy Systems: Using AI for Power Plant Energy Management

Darren manages global commercial and business development for the Siemens Energy Omnivise Performance team with special focus on the Omnivise Energy Management System. He has been with Siemens Energy for 17 years working in power generation and digital solutions. He also holds a masters degrees in both engineering and business administration from the University of Florida.

Sessions:

• No Metals: How Emerging Battery Technologies Will Make Energy Projects Safer

Giovanni Damato serves as President at CMBlu Energy, Inc. (CMBlu), commercializing Organic SolidFlow battery storage technology in the United States. Giovanni is responsible for all aspects of CMBlu's U.S. energy storage project and product development while also leading the expansion of CMBlu's manufacturing capacity into the USA. He has nearly two decades of professional experience leading the exploration of grid-connected energy storage. At the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Giovanni provided innovative grid storage and DER techno-economic analyses with strategic recommendations to energy industry stakeholders while managing the program's integrated modeling frameworks for EPRI's grid storage practice areas. In this capacity, he produced cutting-edge research and traveled around the world to present ERPI's work on energy storage. Giovanni holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a BS in Civil Engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

Sessions:

• End of Life Management of Solar PV Panels

Chilukuri Maheshwar is a Marine Engineer (DMET-1980 pass out) recently retired as Faculty-Engineering at Anglo-Eastern Maritime Academy belonging to Hong-Kong based Anglo-Eastern Univan group managing about 700 ships of various types. Chilukuri has an MBA, MEE (Masters in Ecology and Environment) and M Phil in Management. His first book titled CONTAINER REFRIGERATION was published in 2008 by Witherbys, UK and is used as reference material for US MARAD's Marine Engineers License Examinations. His second book titled REFRIGERATION AND PERSONAL SAFETY was published by Bhandarakar Publications, Mumbai in 2023. He is accessible at in.linkedin.com/pub/maheshwar-chilukuri/1/60a/443/

Sessions:

• Optimizing Power Plant Cooling Tower Performance with Analytics: A Case Study

Maher is the Co-Founder and CEO of Infinite Cooling, an award-winning start-up disrupting the way cooling is done in industrial processes and commercial buildings. He has led the development and commercialization of water recycling technology and optimization software for cooling systems in multiple verticals including power generation, data centers, manufacturing, and commercial HVAC. Maher has a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from MIT where he developed a novel patented technology to efficiently capture water from fog and cooling tower plumes using electric fields. He received several awards for his work including Forbes 30 Under 30 in Energy and the Edison Awards Gold Medal.

Sessions:

• Diversifying Energy Storage Technology for the Energy Transition

Mukesh Chatter is CEO, president and co-founder of Alsym Energy, a battery developer with a high-performance, low-cost, non-flammable solution for global electrification. In addition to his role at Alsym, Mukesh co-manages NeoNet Capital LLC, an investment firm focused on funding out-of-the-box, innovative ideas. Previously, Mukesh co-founded Nexabit Networks and was CEO until its acquisition by Lucent Technologies. He was named to Red Herring Magazine's Top 10 Entrepreneurs in 1999, and Rensselaer Entrepreneur of the Year in 2001. Mukesh received his Master's degree in Computer and Systems Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he currently serves on the Board of Trustees.

Sessions:

• Non-lithium LDES is Ready for a Future of Unstable Grids and Extreme Weather

Caroline is the Senior Sales Manager of Battery Technology for BASF Stationary Energy Storage, where she is responsible for finding new projects for the NAS Batteries system and expanding the division's North American presence. She holds a PhD in Chemistry from North Carolina State University, an MBA from Duke University, and a BS in Chemistry from Salem College. She joined BASF in 2012 and has gained a broad experience through various positions in sales, project management and business development.

Sessions:

• Harnessing AI for Wind Energy: Enhancing Efficiency, Predictability, and Profit

As one of the founding partners of Triumphus, Dave brings 25 years of experience as a leader in the Information Technology field. Prior to founding Triumphus, Dave held executive-level IT roles with Union Carbide Corp, BHP Billiton, and Devon Energy. As a Director with Devon Energy Inc., Dave aligned people, process, and technology to create an efficient and seamless technology group. Dave retired from the US Marine Corps after serving as Team Leader for the USMC 3rd Force Recon, specializing in anti-terrorism, hostage rescue, special ops logistical planning, and training. He earned a BS in Political Science from Sam Houston State University, a MAIS from Claremont Graduate School, and a PhD from Claremont Graduate School in the Peter Drucker's School of Management. He lives in Clear Lake Shores, Texas, with his wife, Amy.

Sessions:

• Panel Discussion: Identifying Future Leaders in Energy

Kristen Himmerick is a higher education and nonprofit administrator with extensive experience working with higher education institutions and systems to launch large-scale academic technology projects. She joined CAEL in June 2012 as Director of Academic Technology and Student Engagement for the CAEL's national portfolio assessment program, LearningCounts. As Director, Kristen led the internal operations and platform design of LearningCounts. In 2022, Kristen became the Vice President of the Solutions Team, which focused on developing technology to support regional, workforce, and higher education initiatives. She is currently CAEL's VP Technology Strategy, working on adapting AI for experiential learning and leading the technology for digital credential grant programs. Before joining CAEL, Himmerick was part of the Innovation Lab at Southern New Hampshire University, where she helped author the proposal for a self-paced, competency-based associate degree awarded the $1MM Next Generation Learning Challenge Grant for College Completion (SNHU?s College for America Program). Before SNHU, Kristen was the District Director of Academic Technology at the City Colleges of Chicago, managing the first system-wide LMS and student email system launches. She earned an M. Ed., concentration in eLearning from the University of Illinois, and holds a B.S. in Communication Studies and a Musical Theater certificate from Northwestern University. Kristen is a Prosci Certified Change Management Practitioner. Also, an actress and singer, Kristen, has performed in theaters across Chicago. Past regional theater appearances include roles at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, The Second City, and Drury Lane Oak Brook.

Sessions:

• Panel Discussion: Identifying Future Leaders in Energy

Whether navigating new growth strategies or landing top talent, she has worked hands-on with business leaders finding valuable solutions for most of her career. Prior to co-founding Iridium Consulting Company, Caley served as the Vice President in two previous award-winning consulting and search firms. In both companies, she supported clients in identifying new approaches to their businesses and teams. In addition, Caley has successfully coached professionals across all levels of an organization to effectively advance their careers. She serves as a speaker and workshop administrator on human capital strategies, career development skills, soft skill development, the energy industry, and other key topics for private organizations, associations, and educational institutions. As an active member of the community, Caley served as President of the board of the Colorado chapter of the Women's Energy Network (WEN), an international organization of 6,800+ women professionals who work across the energy value chain. Caley received the Denver Business Journal's Top 40 Women in Energy award in 2020. Caley is a Colorado native that can often be found mountain biking, hiking, or traveling outside of the office.

Sessions:

• Panel Discussion: Identifying Future Leaders in Energy
• Panel Discussion: Women in Power: Leading Change from the Inside

Jamie Choate is the Director of Workforce Strategy and Development (WS&D) at Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). In this role, she leads a newly created team focused on ensuring TVA's workforce remains adaptable and equipped with the skills, capabilities, and technology needed to safely power TVA's energy future. Jamie is passionate about developing an agile and diverse workforce through strong community partnerships. Towards that mission, Jamie leads her team in pursuing several key objectives: making strategic workforce development investments, fostering cross-functional enterprise alignment, enhancing partnerships, alliances, processes, and tools, and developing diverse workforce pathways and pipelines. In her current role, she is also focused on equipping our current and future workforce with robust skills and capabilities. As a results-driven leader, Jamie excels in strategic planning, organizational leadership, financial management, training programs and change management. She is committed to bolstering innovation across TVA and continuously evaluating progress with an eye on the future of work. Her extensive background in the energy sector has provided her with deep technical knowledge and a strong leadership presence. With over two decades of experience at TVA, Jamie has held several leadership positions, including Director of Learning and Development, Director of Technical Training, Senior Manager of Regulatory & Corporate Training, and Manager of Power Production Operations Training. Jamie holds an MBA from Ashford University Forbes School of Business and Technology, a Bachelor's degree in Business Management and Engineering from the University of Tennessee at Martin, and an Associate's degree in General Studies from Columbia State Community College. Jamie currently resides in Ooltewah, TN with her husband and three children. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering with community events and spending time with family traveling to her kids' sporting events.

Sessions:

• Bridging the Gaps: Co-Optimizing Energy Systems for a Resilient Future

Rob Homer is a senior product manager with Energy Exemplar with more than 25 years experience in the energy planning, forecasting and simulation industry. Rob has worked globally with utilities, IPP's, ISO's, TSO's, LDC's, consultants, regulators, and explorers to plan and optimize gas and power markets for future operations and investments. Rob's recent work at Energy Exemplar has been focused on emerging industry trends around carbon reduction, impacts to system reliability, demand growth, hydrogen, and the latest in modelling methods of these emerging trends.

Sessions:

• Meeting the Resource Adequacy Challenge: The Case for RICE, sponsored by Wartsila

Matthew Fioretti is a Senior Manager for the Market Development department at Wärtsilä North America. In his role, Matt advises on wholesale electricity markets, sales opportunities, and resource capabilities that support decarbonization, while highlighting the critical role flexible gas generation plays in the evolution of the power grid. He has over 10 years of experience in the energy industry and previously held the title of Market Research & Development Manager at Mitsubishi Power Aero, where he worked on expanding market intelligence services to identify global sales opportunities and guide strategy decisions. Prior to that, Matt worked as a Market Monitor for ISO New England identifying market manipulation, opining on new wholesale electricity market designs, and conducting empirical analysis of market performance. He is a graduate of Springfield College and holds a Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science in Finance.

Sessions:

• Panel Discussion: Strategies to (re)Build the Talent Pipeline

With over 20 years of experience in operational, functional, and business HR roles, Sarbari has worked across five countries and multiple industries, including manufacturing, retail, distribution, and services. She brings a wealth of leadership expertise in both human resources and business operations to Prismecs, where she currently serves as the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and General Manager (GM). In her dual role, Sarbari oversees end-to-end business operations, workforce strategy, and organizational transformation. She plays a pivotal role in aligning business objectives with talent strategies, driving operational excellence, and optimizing workforce performance. Her responsibilities span financial and operational oversight, P&L management, HR governance, employee engagement, and leadership development. Sarbari holds a Bachelor's degree in English Literature and an MBA from Calcutta University. She is a 2018 Global Fellow of Talent Management at The Wharton School, a certified Six Sigma Green Belt, and a certified Strategic Workforce Planning (SWP) practitioner. Currently, she is further expanding her expertise in Organization Design and Change Management, strengthening her ability to lead large-scale workforce and operational transformations.

Sessions:

• Panel Discussion: Strategies to (re)Build the Talent Pipeline

John "Yiannis" Galiotos holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Northeastern Illinois University and both a Master of Science and Ph.D. in Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Chicago. While completing his undergraduate studies, he worked as a production specialist at Dynamic International Chemical Fertilizing Company in Chicago. Currently, Dr. Galiotos serves as the Dean of Workforce Development and a tenured Associate Professor of Chemistry at Southern University A&M College in Shreveport. John serves as a Board Member of the Consumer Energy Education Foundation and a former President of the Houston Abu Dhabi Sister Cities Association. In 2008, Dr. Galiotos established the first Power Engineering Technology program at the Energy Institute in Texas. In 2022, he was asked to serve as Senior Executive Advisor to the CEO at PHOS Global Energy Solutions for his exceptional contributions to the global Energy and Infrastructure sector. An active participant in the STEAM community of Northwest Louisiana, Dr. Galiotos serves on the Advisory Board for the NWLA STEAM Alliance. His previous positions include Senior Vice President for Workforce-STEM/CTE-Economic Development at Suffolk County Community College, NY; Academic Service Department Manager at ADNOC Technical Academy, Abu Dhabi; Dean of the Energy and Manufacturing Institute at Lone Star College, Houston; and Professor and Division Chair at Houston Community College-Northeast. Dr. Galiotos is the founder of the Houston Community College Global Energy Institute and has developed several programs addressing STEAM education and industry needs, earning recognition from the State of Texas and nationally. With over 15 years of industry experience in the Chemical Fertilizers, Chemical, and Petrochemical sectors, he brings valuable expertise. With more than 35 years in Workforce Education, Economic Development, and STEAM Education, Dr. Galiotos is a successful grant writer, published author, internationally recognized presenter, and acclaimed educator, leader, and trainer.

Sessions:

• Panel Discussion: The Growth of Data Centers

Ed Myers, Vice President of Business Development at Long Ridge Energy and Power, brings over 20 years of experience in power, data center, and telecommunications infrastructure sales and transactions. Before joining Long Ridge, Ed served as Vice President of Business and Corporate Development at Tillman Global Holdings' in-building wireless systems integrator and finance company, TDC. Earlier, he co-founded and led the telecommunications group at Parallel Infrastructure, a national build-to-suit communications tower and fiber service provider. Ed also managed offer development and the national spectrum program for FiberTower, a cell tower backhaul and fixed wireless service provider. His leadership journey spans notable roles with AT&T, Level 3, Verizon Wireless, and T-Mobile. A University of Virginia graduate, Ed holds BA and MA degrees in English Literature and frequently lectures at UVA's Darden School of Business and the Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Technology.

Sessions:

• Panel Discussion: Hydrogen Behind the Hype: Real-World Applications

Alexandra Pony is the founder and principal of PONY Communications, an award-winning PR and social agency specializing in the energy sector. Known for delivering standout results for the world's most innovative energy companies, PONY helps clients dominate headlines and shape the energy narrative--from cleantech and grid-edge innovation to next-gen battery storage. Recognized by Inc., NASA, and top industry awards--including a Stevie Award for Most Innovative Woman of the Year - Advertising, Marketing + Public Relations)--Alexandra transforms bold ideas into headline-grabbing stories that drive meaningful impact and propel disruptive brands into the media spotlight. She helped launch Pivotal's (formerly Opener) electric flying vehicle--the world's first, backed by Larry Page--into mainstream recognition; amplified OhmConnect's success leading to its acquisition by Google; and supported energy pioneers like Renew Home, Recurve, and Climeworks, the world's largest direct air capture company. PONY has also amplified Glydways--backed by Bill Gates and Sam Altman--as it reimagines personal mass transit. Notably, Alexandra led one of the largest viral crowdsourcing campaigns in history for NASA.

Sessions:

• Panel Discussion: Hydrogen Behind the Hype: Real-World Applications

Graduate as Dipl. Ing. from TU Graz, mechanical and industrial engineering. Doctorate from TU Graz, in the field of thermal engineering. Started my career at VA Tech, an Austrian Engineering company for large gas turbine combined cycle plants. Worked for GE from 2001 - 2018: Several positions in the field of gas power plants, since 2009 for Jenbacher gas engines. Since 2018: INNIO Jenbacher as strategic product development manager for gas engines.

Sessions:

• Panel Discussion: Hydrogen Behind the Hype: Real-World Applications

Rick is leading a consortium of entities, including a manufacturer (Pillar Innovations) and a federal lab (National Energy Technology Laboratory), to bring to market the H2PWR Microgrid, a Distributed Energy Resource (DER) generation technology. For the past decade, he has guided the evolution of the tightly coupled hybrid system (while in development at the federal lab), assuring that it has the capacity to be a utility asset: dispatchable and with load-following capabilities.

Sessions:

• Panel Discussion: Hydrogen Behind the Hype: Real-World Applications

Whitaker (Whit) Irvin, Jr. is Chief Executive Officer of Q Hydrogen. He is a seasoned entrepreneur with a wide range of experience in industries including finance, aerospace/defense, energy and green high technology companies, including Raytheon, where he managed technology deployments in the northeast region. Irvin's family has been actively engaged in the West Texas oil and gas sector for five generations. In 2010, he left Raytheon to guide the development and commercialization of carbon-free hydrogen production technologies invented by his father, Whitaker B. Irvin Sr. He is responsible for crafting the company's commercialization strategies and is known for his relationships within the commercial and equity communities.

Sessions:

• Panel Discussion: The Future of Nuclear Energy: Fleet Modernization, Advanced Reactors, and Fusion

Tom Overton is Senior Strategic Development Specialist with the General Atomics Energy Group in San Diego, where he supports GA's inertial and magnetic fusion energy programs by pursuing new opportunities and applications for GA's world-leading R&D efforts. Over his 25 years in the science, defense, and energy fields, Tom has had a wide-ranging career including tenures as a nuclear operator in the US Navy, an editor of POWER magazine, and an attorney specializing in intellectual property issues. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California, a law degree from UCLA, and a Certificate in Finance from UCSD.

Sessions:

• Panel Discussion: The Future of Nuclear Energy: Fleet Modernization, Advanced Reactors, and Fusion

Justin Lindemann is a senior policy analyst with the NC Clean Energy Technology Center's Policy & Markets team, where he tracks state energy policies across portions of the Northeast and Southeast. He also contributes to the Department of Energy's Southeast Onsite Energy Technical Assistance Partnership (TAP) and the Carolinas Development Assistance and Siting Hub (C-DASH). In addition, Justin monitors and analyzes nuclear energy legislation at both the state and federal levels, tracks regulatory updates, utility nuclear resource plans, and emerging market trends. He has also published annual reviews on advanced nuclear developments in the U.S. for 2023 and 2024. Examples of annual review: 2024 - https://www.dsireinsight.com/blog/2025/1/21/2024-in-review-navigating-the-advanced-nuclear-landscape 2023 - https://www.dsireinsight.com/blog/2024/1/25/2023-in-review-navigating-the-advanced-nuclear-landscape

Sessions:

• Panel Discussion: The Future of Nuclear Energy: Fleet Modernization, Advanced Reactors, and Fusion

Mr. Torres has over 20 years of nuclear industry experience, specializing in engineering and management of large-scale digital upgrades for a variety of commercially operating nuclear plants. As an Instrumentation and Controls engineer, Nick has been on the forefront of modernizing our aging domestic nuclear fleet through various digital upgrades. Most recently, Nick has successfully managed projects including complete Nuclear Steam Supply System (NSSS) Digital Controls Upgrade, Plant Process Computer Replacement, Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR) Replacement, and Digital Modernization Implementation Plan (MIP) Strategy. Mr. Torres is a licensed professional engineer in the States of California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Montana, Texas and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Sessions:

• Panel Discussion: AI Enabled Plant Performance

Nicholas Meyer is the Head of Industry and Product Marketing at Yokogawa Corporation of America. He joined Yokogawa in 2019 and has 23 years of experience in the process industry, with expertise in industrial automation, product strategy, and digital transformation. Nick currently leads initiatives in the energy and sustainability sectors, with a particular emphasis on power generation. He is passionate about the evolving landscape of the energy transition and how digital transformation and industrial autonomy can enhance energy reliability, efficiency, and security--key themes shaping the future of power. Nick lives in Fayetteville, Georgia, with his wife and three children, where they are active in local soccer and music programs. He holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota.

Sessions:

• Panel Discussion: AI Enabled Plant Performance

Mr. George has worked in the North American Power industry for more than 35 years in the areas of Automation, Electrification and the Application of Digital Solutions for more than 35 years. In his career he has served as Design Engineering, Construction Engineer, Commissioning and Startup Management, Project Engineering, Project Management, Marketing, Sales, and Sales Management.

Sessions:

• Panel Discussion: AI Enabled Plant Performance

Siva Kondapi is the Founder and CEO of Jaajitech Digital providing integrated platform for digital transformation for process plants. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Andhra University, India. Previously he worked an advanced process control (APC) engineer at ATME Kuwait for almost 7 years leading APC implementation and optimization projects across the middle east. He has worked for Indian Oil Corporation for over 4 years as a process engineer working on the APC projects and maintaining Operator Training Simulators. He also worked as a plant shift engineer at Nagarjuna Fertilizers as a production in charge of the ammonia plant.

Sessions:

• Panel Discussion: AI Enabled Plant Performance

With a career spanning over four decades in the technology and energy industries, Ray Rasmussen brings an extraordinary depth of knowledge, vast experience, and a proven track record of successful leadership roles. Ray began his journey in technology as an engineer at IBM at the dawn of the personal computer era. He quickly developed an infatuation with the revolutionary potential of this technology. He worked for 10 years at Deloitte Consulting leading mergers and integration of energy companies. He deepened his knowledge of leading-edge AI technologies as Microsoft's worldwide leader of business application strategies. Today, Ray is the co-founder and managing principal of rGen Consulting, a management consulting firm specializing in AI business transformation. Under his leadership, rGen Consulting has become an ideal partner for companies seeking rapid growth and increased revenues. Through comprehensive services encompassing strategic planning, organizational design, process automation, and ongoing operations, Ray and his team enable clients to navigate the complexities of AI adoption and realize their vision for success.

Sessions:

• Panel Discussion: AI Enabled Plant Performance

Stewart Nicholson is President and founder of Primex Process Specialists, Inc., a professional services firm specializing in generation asset optimization services. Building on thirty years' experience in process optimization, Stewart's mission is to further develop and deploy Primex's suite of advanced forecasting, anomaly detection, and diagnostic services. Stewart is a seasoned executive, patent holder, Professional Engineer, ASME published author, and contributing author of Machine Learning and Data Science in the Power Generation Industry (ISBN 9780128197424).

Sessions:

• Panel Discussion: Goldilocks and the Three DERS

Hal is Head of Development at Viridi, where he focuses on market development, strategy, partnerships, leading Viridi's "Insights" software and connectivity division, and structuring of large programs. Hal comes to Viridi from JPMorgan Chase where he was Vice President, Global Head of Energy and Sustainability for Global Real Estate. There he ran global energy management and was responsible for delivery on JPMorgan Chase's public sustainability commitments relating to operations (Scopes 1 and 2). Execution included managing energy procurement, all programs relating to decarbonization, efficiency, sustainability, water conservation, and renewable energy for the firm's operations spanning 7500 properties in over 70 countries. Additionally, he oversaw energy-related capital programs (solar, microgrids, EV, etc.) while crafting strategy and conducting the development, due diligence, underwriting, and implementation of all solutions. Prior to joining JPMorgan Chase, Hal served as Energy Manager for Jeffco Public Schools, a 100,000 occupant portfolio, where in addition to running sustainability and energy management function he frequently taught energy and conservation topics to students. Prior to joining Jeffco, Hal worked as a consulting Mechanical Engineer where he designed HVAC, energy plants, and authored technical studies for complex environments for Dewberry and Affiliated Engineers Inc (AEI). He served on the Corporate Advisory Board of the World Green Building Council. He twice served as Chairperson of the Colorado Association of School District Energy Managers (CASDEM). Hal is a graduate of the P.C. Rossin School of Engineering and Applied Science with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh University and also holds a MBA from the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business at Elon University. Hal holds the Certified Energy Manager (CEM) and Certified Energy Procurement Professional (CEP) professional designations.

Sessions:

• Panel Discussion: Goldilocks and the Three DERS

Matt Bosch is a dynamic and results-driven executive with extensive experience leading transformative initiatives across the energy and utilities sectors. As the Executive Vice President of Programs and Growth at Sparkfund, Matt has been instrumental in shaping the company's revenue strategy and scaling its operations. Under his leadership, Sparkfund transitioned from a direct-to-customer model to a partner led go-to-market approach, securing multi-year partnerships with industry leaders in utilities, retail energy, and oil & gas. Matt also played a pivotal role in crafting Sparkfund's mission and vision, driving strategic corporate initiatives, and participating in board and investor relations. Prior to Sparkfund, Matt held senior roles at Opower (later acquired by Oracle), where he led client success teams managing utility partnerships. At Accenture, Matt served as a consultant in the Utilities Practice, with clients spanning RTO, Smart Grid, and Energy Trading. Matt holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (Energy Focus) from the University of Michigan and is based in Denver, Colorado.

Sessions:

• Panel Discussion: Goldilocks and the Three DERS

With a decade of experience in the energy industry, Beth Crouchet leads Budderfly's efforts in energy markets and resource planning. She focuses on underserved markets, driving initiatives in energy efficiency, load flexibility, and net zero strategies. Beth has a strong background in climate change research and has spearheaded the launch of some of the first Virtual Power Plants in the country, continually expanding dynamic energy solutions across new sectors. At Budderfly, she oversees the integration of cutting-edge DERMS technology, enabling small and mid-sized commercial businesses to achieve significant cost savings and sustainability goals through innovative energy management.

Sessions:

• Panel Discussion: Women in Power: Leading Change from the Inside

Wayshalee Patel works for Sargent & Lundy, a comprehensive consulting, engineering and design firm providing solutions for the electric power industry. She is currently the Director of S&L's Environmental Technologies, Licensing and Permitting Group. Mrs. Patel is a licensed professional engineer in the State of Illinois and has a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and Masters in Business Administration. She directs multiple project teams, each led by project managers and technical and engineering personnel. Her overall experience encompasses environmental permitting, regulatory compliance, and air pollution controls. She is well versed in existing and proposed environmental regulations, including the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). She has been involved with several air quality retrofit projects, new generation projects and transmission line projects where she assisted in project management, preliminary engineering and design, specification/procurement, and project implementation.

Sessions:

• Panel Discussion: Women in Power: Leading Change from the Inside

Passionate leader in digital I&C engineering and licensing for the nuclear industry. Over 25 years of experience in licensing, plant design and modification engineering, training, project management, and leadership. Specializes in successful first-of-kind projects and initiatives. Leads resolution of complex industry and regulatory issues for the operating fleet and new plants. Dedicated to the sustainability and growth of the nuclear industry in the US and worldwide.

Sessions:

• Panel Discussion: Women in Power: Leading Change from the Inside

Sessions:

• Panel Discussion: Women in Power: Leading Change from the Inside

Sessions:

• Panel Discussion: Women in Power: Leading Change from the Inside

Sessions:

• Fireside Chat: Project Finance Strategies and Best Practices

As Vice President of Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technologies, she manages all aspects of the transaction lifecycle for solar, RNG, and carbon capture utilization and sequestration (CCUS) investments. Ms. Lima has over two decades of experience in full cycle of oil & gas energy development including: operations, business development and acquisitions & divestitures. A graduate from the Canadian Royal Military College of Canada, Ms. Lima holds a B.Eng. in Chemical & Materials Engineering and received her commission as an Officer in the Canadian Airforce.

Sessions:

• Panel Discussion: Operation Technology (OT) Cyber - Protection vs Compliance

James currently serves as the Southern Company Executive in Residence at Auburn University's McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security. In this role he works closely with industry, academia, and federal partners, including national laboratories on electric grid cyber security strategies. James also served as a senior fellow at the McCrary Institute, a prestigious group of nationally renowned cyber and critical-infrastructure security experts. With more than 28 years of service at Southern Company, James co-led an initiative to implement an enhanced Operations cyber and NERC-CIP program support model and has held various operational and engineering support leadership positions. Prior to joining Southern Company, James served in the U.S. Marines. He holds a B.S. in electrical engineering from Auburn University.

Sessions:

• Space-Based Solar Power

Leet Wood received his doctorate in political science from George Mason University in 2019. He has been publishing on space security and space-based solar power since. He has a professional background in energy policy and regulatory affairs, and has been working with the Space Frontier Foundation on their SBSP advocacy program since 2023. He lives in Washington, D.C.

Sessions:

• Flexing for the Future: Enhancing Combined Cycle Plant Flexibility

Mr. George has worked in the North American Power industry for more than 35 years in the areas of Automation, Electrification and the Application of Digital Solutions for more than 35 years. In his career he has served as Design Engineering, Construction Engineer, Commissioning and Startup Management, Project Engineering, Project Management, Marketing, Sales, and Sales Management.

Sessions:

• Panel Discussion: Powering Tomorrow: Exploring New Generation Construction & Technologies

I spent 20% of my life underwater. After serving 20 years in the U.S. Nuclear Submarine Navy- operating and maintaining nuclear reactors and associated steam equipment, I retired and had to find a real job. Transitioning to the wild west that is Pulp and Paper, I spent 4 years at a Mill, 2 years on shift supervising 3 distinct areas- the Wood Yard, Power House (Recovery boiler, power boilers, biomass boiler, along with turbines), and Kraft Mill (Continuous Digester), before being promoted to the Power House Supervisor. After the mill closed, I spent 3 years managing the Deerhaven site for Gainesville Regional Utilities- a 450 MW capacity site, with 1 coal/ natural gas (NG) steam unit, 1 oil/NG steam unit, a 7EA simple cycle combustion turbine (CT), and 2 frame 5 simple cycle dual fuel CT's, following which I moved to my current position as Manager of Power Production at Kissimmee Utility Authority. I hold a Bachelor's of Science in Nuclear Engineering Technologies from Excelsior University, a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee, and have been the recipient of numerous commendations, awards, distinctions, and leadership programs. In my spare time, I still like going underwater- scuba diving.

Sessions:

• Panel Discussion: Powering Tomorrow: Exploring New Generation Construction & Technologies

Mr. Swope has a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology and has 16+ years of experience at Burns & McDonnell in the power generation industry. He leads the Generation Asset Advisory team in 1898 & Co., part of Burns & McDonnell, focusing on early project development including technology evaluation, site selection, early project planning schedule development, and risk assessment. He also supports existing facility condition assessments, O&M Optimization, and independent engineer due diligence.

Sessions:

• How DLR Deployment Unlocked Nearly 50% More Transmission Capacity

Brita Osmundsvaag Formato is President of Heimdall Power, where she leads the company's North American operations. Previously, Brita served as CEO of T-Omega Wind Inc. and spent more than 16 years at Duke Energy Corporation, holding executive positions in corporate development, strategy, and risk management across both U.S. and international operations. Her global energy perspective was honed through roles at ExxonMobil, Equinor, and Mercer Management Consulting, where she focused on downstream operations, petroleum market analysis, and energy strategy. Brita holds an MBA from the Columbia Business School and a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Eckerd College.

Sessions:

• How DLR Deployment Unlocked Nearly 50% More Transmission Capacity

Sessions:

• Agrivoltaics--Enhancing Grid Resilience Through Dual-Use Energy and Agriculture

Dave serves as Vice President of Development and Chief Legal Officer for Green Lantern Solar. Prior to joining Green Lantern Solar, Dave served as Associate General Counsel at Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (2007-2012) where he was lead inside counsel on environmental and renewable energy matters. Dave also worked in private practice at firms in New York, Massachusetts and Vermont, where he represented Green Lantern Solar for nearly five years and represented clients in transactional, zoning, land use, brownfield and site remediation matters. Dave earned his J.D and M.S.E.L from Vermont Law School in 1997 and is a 1990 graduate of Penn State University. Dave is a past co-chair of Renewable Energy Vermont's Legislative & Policy Committee and a former Member of the Vermont Bar Association's Board of Managers, and is in his second year as a guest lecturer for the University of Vermont's Sustainable Innovation MBA program. Dave is also a Firefighter, Training Officer and the Chairman of the Orwell Volunteer Fire Department; and has been a soccer coach for the Orwell-Benson Coyotes and Middlebury Union Middle School Tigers. Dave also served as a Member of the Slate Valley Unified School District Board.

Sessions:

• Community Solar As a Strategic Form of Distributed Power Generation

Ampion's Senior Executive Director of Enterprise Acquisition, Vihann Kong, is an authority on the sustainable energy efficiency and demand-side management market. For over 15 years, he has delivered customer-centric solutions that enable increased revenue and efficient operational standards. His clients trust him, as he listens and helps many customers across Fortune 1000, public sector, hospitals, and universities develop an overall energy strategy that fits their unique business needs. With Ampion, he delivers renewable energy solutions to enterprise customers to help lower their energy costs and achieve ESG initiatives. He manages a robust end-to-end sales strategy with a cross-functional business development team, engineers, and project managers. Before Ampion, he led national sales at Metrus Energy. He successfully built the sales strategy and grew their direct and indirect sales channel. Before Metrus Energy, Vihann led demand-side management sales at Constellation, an Exelon company, where he pioneered new products and revenue models for over a decade. He is an engaging presenter and an actor who has appeared in many movies. Vihann is a National Board Member of the Screen Actors Guild's Asian Pacific American Media Committee (APAM).

Sessions:

• Land in the American West (Best Practices & Lessons Learned)

Laura Rippentrop, Senior Director, Land with rPlus Energies, brings 20 years of land management experience and expertise in the energy industry to the rPlus team. Laura joined rPlus in 2021 and has successfully utilized her skills and expertise in land management across all rPlus' solar, wind and pumped storage hydro projects. Most recently, Laura has been integral in helping to manage the land and title due diligence matters on some of rPlus' large scale solar projects, notably the Green River Energy Center project in Emery County, Utah, and Pleasant Valley Solar and Pleasant Valley Solar 2 projects in Ada County, Idaho. Laura started her career in the oil and gas industry in 2004 working onshore projects across the U.S. Her experience includes managing several assets and teams responsible for acquisitions and divestitures, business development and operations on tribal, federal, and private lands. In addition to spending several years working for independent exploration companies, Laura spent ten years with QEP Resources managing multi-billion-dollar assets in Utah, Texas, and North Dakota. Laura received a Bachelor of Art degree in English and Communications from Northern Arizona University, and a master's degree in Environmental & Natural Resource Law & Policy from the University of Denver College of Law.