Energy and Environment Policy Conference

U.S. Naval Academy graduate, Navy helicopter pilot, former federal prosecutor, wife, and mother of four kids – Mikie Sherrill ran for governor to make life easier and more affordable for Garden State families. Her career has been defined by service to her country and New Jersey, and she previously served in Congress representing New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District.

Mikie was inspired to join the military by her grandfather, a World War II veteran. From a young age, she knew she wanted to fly and do big things. After graduating from the Naval Academy in 1994 – the first class of women eligible for combat roles on ships and aircraft – Mikie spent almost 10 years on active duty in the United States Navy. As a Sea King Helicopter pilot, she led missions throughout Europe and the Middle East. She worked on the Battle Watch Floor in the European Theater during the Iraq War, served as a Flag Aide to the Deputy Commander of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, and was a Russian policy officer aiding in the implementation of our nuclear treaty obligations and oversaw the relationship between the U.S. Navy and Russian Federation Navy.

Following her service in the Navy, Mikie attended and graduated from law school. She worked in private practice and then joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey. As an Outreach and Reentry Coordinator, Mikie established programs to develop trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve and helped people leaving prison to gain employment, housing, and education to restart their lives. Then as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, she prosecuted federal cases to keep our communities safe and worked to take illegal guns off the streets of New Jersey.

Michele N. Siekerka, Esq., President and CEO of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association, leads the nation’s largest, most influential employers’ organization, advocating on behalf of New Jersey’s large and small businesses for policies that will make New Jersey more affordable and regionally competitive.

Being known as a collaborative leader, Siekerka is leading an NJBIA established coalition (New Jersey Business Coalition) comprised of more than 100 business and nonprofit associations across the state to tackle the tough economic and business challenges our state is facing during COVID 19.

Well versed on the ‘boots on the ground” issues affecting our state’s business community, Michele is often the “go to” resource for media and is sought after to share her expertise in public forums across the state.

Liam Baker is the Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs for Alpha Generation, LLC. He is responsible for a variety of regulatory, legal and commercial matters affecting the company’s 14,000 MW of ISONE, PJM and NYISO assets. Mr. Baker has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Manhattan College, a B.A. in Liberal Arts from Fairfield University and a J.D. from Pace University School of Law. Over a thirty year career he has held a wide and varied array of positions in the electric generating industry, from operating supervisor of high-voltage line constructors to staff engineer, attorney and asset manager.

Jeff Barron is a Senior Economic Advisor for Energy Market Analysis at the American Petroleum Institute. Before his time at API, Jeff was an Industry Economist with the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). He was the lead analyst in forecasting global liquid fuels consumption for EIA’s Short-Term Energy Outlook as well as contributor to EIA’s price forecast. Jeff graduated from Syracuse University with M.A.s in Economics and International Relations.

Carlos is a partner at Archer & Greiner where he represents clients in complex toxic tort, product liability and environmental litigation matters. He is experienced in handling environmental litigation cases in all of the contexts in which they arise, including single plaintiff cases, mass actions involving hundreds of plaintiffs, class actions and defending clients against state and federal government. Carlos typically handles high stakes litigation with massive potential damages. He has tried numerous contested matters in federal and state courts and has experience in all aspects of pre-trial and trial work.

Carlos has been involved in many professional, charitable and community organizations over the years. Carlos currently serves on the Board of Directors at Archer & Greiner. Carlos also currently serves on the board of Legal Services of New Jersey. He also currently serves as Chair for the NJSBA Judicial and Prosecutorial Appointments Committee and also on the NJSBA Ethics Diversionary Committee. He is a Past-President of the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) and the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey (HBA-NJ).

Carlos frequently lectures on various topics relating to environmental law, complex litigation, e-discovery and diversity in the legal profession. Carlos graduated from Rutgers College in 1994 and Rutgers School of Law, Camden Campus in 1997.

Ray Cantor is Deputy Chief Government Affairs Officer of Government Affairs of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA), the nation’s largest state-level business association whose member companies collectively employ 1 million people.

Cantor, an attorney whose career has included high-level positions in the legislative and executive branches of government, a former assistant commissioner and, later, chief adviser to the commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), leads NJBIA’s advocacy efforts on environmental and energy matters affecting the business community.

At DEP, Cantor oversaw the offices of Legal Affairs, Dispute Resolution, and Economic Analysis in addition to advising the DEP commissioner on policy, legal, management, and economic matters. Cantor was also responsible for policy formulation related to all DEP regulations, including site remediation, NRD, air quality, water regulation, and land-use management.

A graduate of New York Law School, Cantor began his career working at the state’s Office of Legislative Services as senior counsel in the Environment, Energy, & Natural Resources section. He later served as the Assistant Commissioner of Land Use Management & Compliance at DEP until 2002 and also worked as a project consultant for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Cantor’s experience as a business lobbyist includes five years as director of Government Affairs for the Medical Society of New Jersey and then executive director of the New Jersey Apartment Association. He returned to the state DEP in 2010, where he served as chief advisor to DEP Commissioner Bob Martin for eight years.

Dr. Christodoulou has a long and distinguished career in business, academia, and philanthropy. He has provided management consulting services to various industries and has owned successful businesses in commercial print manufacturing, graphic design, the restaurant industry, and the media sector. Additionally, he has taught as an adjunct professor for 25 years, educating undergraduate and graduate business students in areas as diverse as organizational behavior, innovation, economics, and strategy development. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Board at Raritan Valley Community College, the top ranked community college in New Jersey.

At the NJ Board of Public Utilities, Commissioner Christodoulou represents New Jersey as the Secretary of OPSI (Organization of PJM States); serves as Vice Chair of NARUC’s Committee on Consumers and the Public Interest. He also serves on several NARUC Committees, including: Electricity, International Relations, Nuclear Energy, Electric Vehicles Working Group, and Wildfires Advisory Group, while also serving on the Cyber Security Tiger Team and as an ambassador for new commissioners. Additionally, he sits on the Advisory Committee of New Mexico State University’s Center for Public Utilities, the Executive Committee of the National Council on Electricity Policy, University of Missouri’s Financial Research Institute, and GTI Energy’s Public Interest Advisory Committee. Commissioner Christodoulou also serves as honorary chair of the National Utility Diversity Council.

Dr. Christodoulou was invested as an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 2017, is the Founding Chair of the NJ Hellenic-American Heritage Commission and a global officer of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), the largest Hellenic organization in the world. He also served as President and CEO of the Greek-American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey.

Commissioner Christodoulou earned his doctoral degree from Pace University in Organizational Behavior, his MBA from Fordham University in International Finance and Management, and his BA from Rutgers College in Economics and Philosophy.

The Honorable Bradley R. Crowell was sworn in as a Commissioner of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on August 26, 2022, and is serving the remainder of a five-year term ending June 30, 2027.

Most recently, Commissioner Crowell served as Director of the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, first appointed in 2016 by former Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval and was reappointed by Gov. Steve Sisolak in 2019. At DCNR, he led approximately 1,000 employees across eight divisions with a nearly $300 million biennial budget.

Commissioner Crowell has more than 20 years of experience in the fields of energy, environment, natural resources, climate change, and national security, including executive leadership positions in federal and state government. He previously worked for multiple Members of Congress, including former Nevada Gov. and Sen. Richard Bryan (D-NV) and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

Commissioner Crowell served in the Obama-Biden Administration at the U.S. Department of Energy from 2010 to 2016 and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2013 as the Assistant Secretary of Energy for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs.

Crowell is a native of Carson City, Nevada and graduated from Santa Clara University, in Santa Clara California with a B.S. degree in Political Science.

Chris Daggett is Board Chair of the New Jersey Civic Information Consortium, providing grants to local news organizations to meet evolving community information needs and benefit the State’s civic life. Previously, Chris served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Thomas Kean, Regional Administrator of the US EPA, Commissioner of the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, and President and CEO of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation. In 2009, he ran as an independent candidate for governor of New Jersey. Chris holds a BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an Ed.D from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Michael Davin serves as the NAM’s Senior Director of Energy and Resources Policy.  Prior to his time with the NAM, Michael was a long-time staffer within the office of United States Congressman Robert Latta (OH-05), where he served as the legislative director and policy lead for energy and environment issues.  While working for Congressman Latta, Michael managed the legislative team and successfully guided multiple bills through the legislative process to be signed into law, including legislation related to nuclear fuel security and the nuclear fuel supply chain, strengthening cyber protections for the electric grid, and identifying threats and defenses against vehicular terrorism.

Michael received his Master of Arts in Political Science from Villanova University and his Bachelor of Arts from Saint Joseph’s University.  A native of southeast Pennsylvania, Michael is married to his wife Monica, who is a schoolteacher in Alexandria, VA, and they have two children, Ethan and Abigail.

Gene founded Prism with a mission to strategically invest and develop across a broad spectrum of asset classes and transaction sizes. The firm has evolved into one of the New Jersey’s most active and respected developers focusing on the adaptive re-use and repurposing of excess corporate facilities and turn-of-the-century industrial buildings. Throughout his career, Diaz has been responsible for the acquisition and capitalization of more than 26 million square feet of commercial real estate with total transaction value in excess of $3.5 billion. Previously, Diaz worked for Cushman & Wakefield, and held several leadership positions at Gale & Wentworth, including chief investment officer. With multiple industry honors and prominence as a sought-after media source and speaker, Diaz is an outspoken advocate for positive, impactful commercial real estate development.

Senior executive and legal advisor specializing in energy policy, statutory frameworks, and public utility regulation. Currently serving as Senior Counsel to Governor Mikie Sherrill and Governor Appointee & Counsel to the New Jersey Nuclear Power Task Force, leading the regulatory architecture for the state’s transition to large-scale, baseload clean energy. Uniquely experienced across the Executive Branch, the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to navigate complex, multi-agency infrastructure development —driven by a 46-year family legacy of working inside the containment zones of nuclear reactors.

Erick Ford is a recognized leader in policy and business. In 2024, he was recognized by ROI-NJ as one of New Jersey’s leading energy and utilities influencers, highlighting his significant impact on the state’s energy landscape. Erick currently serves as Vice President at Stevens & Lee Public Affairs and holds key roles as President of the New Jersey Energy Coalition, Chairman of NJSEED’s Energy Committee, and Project Manager for Protect Our Power, where he drives energy policy and initiatives. In his current roles, Erick supports an array of clients with real estate development, energy production, business development, strategic advice, business planning, legislative and regulatory support, local, state and federal support, advocacy campaigns, infrastructure, and event planning. Throughout his career, Erick has published various op-eds about energy.

His public sector experience includes serving at the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, where he made significant contributions to energy policy, cybersecurity, rulemaking, and alternative vehicle development, as well as an Agency Manager at the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.

In addition, Erick has moderated and participated in key industry panels regarding utility policy, energy efficiency, solar, offshore wind, electric vehicles, hydrogen, nuclear energy, renewable natural gas, fuel cells, and incentive programs, among various other critical and emerging topics, at conferences hosted by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA), Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey (CCSNJ), and Solar & Storage Finance USA.

Further, Erick serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey. In this role, he has served on the audits committee, finance committee, and fundraising committee.

Rebecca Moll Freed’s crossover practice spans multiple industries and is positioned at the intersection of law, government and business.

An experienced compliance attorney, Rebecca helps companies navigate the complex framework of pay-to-play laws, corporate political activity, procurement laws, diversity in government contracting, lobbying, trade associations, corporate ethics and gifts and entertainment. Rebecca’s clients include corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, trade associations, charitable organizations, social welfare organizations and political action committees.

With respect to pay-to-play and procurement laws, Rebecca has extensive experience with vendor codes of ethics, prequalification questionnaires, background qualification questionnaires, diversity in government contracting, set-asides for minority and women-owned businesses (MWBEs), Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs), and public-private partnerships (P3s). She has also represented clients in bid protest disputes before administrative agencies and the Appellate Division.

Moreover, Rebecca takes a collaborative “hands-on” approach when it comes to interfacing with clients and views herself as part of the client’s team.

In the energy and utility space, Rebecca has collaborated with utility companies, solar companies, and offshore wind companies on procurement matters and lobbying and political activity compliance. She has also represented clients before the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU).

Rebecca earned her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, and her B.A. from Tufts University.

At the cross sections of economic develop, business and organized labor you will find Kate Gibbs. The Deputy Director for the Engineers Labor-Employer Cooperative, ELEC 825, a collaborative trust focused on creating work opportunities for the members and signatory contractors of Local 825 Operating Engineers, Gibbs leads Business Development for the organization by promoting economic development and advocating for investments in all types of infrastructure.

She has established a strong record of shaping policy, building coalitions and implementing successful strategies and tactics that include political advocacy, government relations, communications and social media in pursuit of organizational goals. With her background in politics, public affairs and organizational management, Gibbs is uniquely suited to help ELEC 825 achieve its core objectives of growing the economy to create jobs for Local 825 members and its union contractors.

In November of 2015, Gibbs was elected to the Burlington County Board of Freeholders; becoming the youngest woman in NJ to be elected to countywide office. During her first two years in office, Gibbs served as Deputy Director before being elected in January of 2018, in a unanimous and bi-partisan vote of her peers to serve as Freeholder Director.

In this role she crafted and passed a tax-cutting budget while investing in a first of its kind $20 million school security grant program, creating a women’s mentoring program, and ensuring that all County facilities, schools and libraries are equipped with dedicated, private space for mothers to nurse or pump.

Prior to joining the Freeholder Board, Gibbs served on the Board of Trustees for Rowan College at Burlington County, where she worked closely with the County’s new Workforce Development Institute and played an active role in establishing the College’s partnership with Rowan University.

Gibbs actively participates on boards and committees for various Chambers of Commerce and business and industry organizations throughout the entire State of New Jersey.

Gibbs earned her Master’s in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business, graduating Summa Cum Laude and a B.A. from The American University, with a Double Major in Public Communications and Political Science.

Steve serves as Chair of the firm’s Energy, Climate Change & Public Utilities Practice Group. He concentrates his practice in public utility law, with a particular emphasis on energy regulatory matters. Since 1996, Steve has played a lead role in literally all matters of consequence before the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, including the restructuring of the State’s electric and natural gas industries from a monopoly to a competitive model, utility rate and merger proceedings, energy infrastructure proceedings, and regulatory matters involving the formulation and implementation of the State’s energy policies. In these proceedings, Steve has represented the interests of large commercial and industrial establishments, independent power producers, energy service companies, renewable energy companies, and marketers of electricity and natural gas.

Haque is an officer of the company and leads the Governmental and Member Services Division. The Governmental Services team is the primary conduit between PJM and governmental entities, which includes legislatures, Governor’s officers and regulatory bodies. The team also includes a technical arm that serves to assist government in the advancement of their policy initiatives. The Member Services Division is charged with providing cutting-edge service to PJM members and facilitating the PJM stakeholder process.

Prior to joining PJM, Haque was the chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO). He was appointed to the PUCO by Gov. John R. Kasich in 2013 and was reappointed to a second term in 2016.

As the state’s chief regulator, Haque led Ohio through some of the nation’s most pressing energy policy discussions. He guided Ohio’s Clean Power Plan compliance efforts, adjudicated cases pertaining to the future of baseload power plants in competitive markets, and successfully executed to completion Ohio’s grid modernization endeavor, PowerForward.

Haque, an attorney, began his career at a large general practice firm and went on to work as in-house counsel at a global auto manufacturer prior to his appointment to the PUCO.

Additionally, Haque serves on the board of the Philadelphia Education Fund, which works to create equitable opportunities for all students to succeed in college and career.

He is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University, where he graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and political science. He received his Juris Doctor from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, where he was awarded the school’s Outstanding Recent Alumnus Award in 2015.

In November of 2016 Dennis Hart was named the Executive Director of the Chemistry Council of NJ, representing the chemical, pharmaceutical, refining and other industries in the business of chemistry. He is also the President of State Street Associates, a private government relations and lobbying firm. With over 45 years of both government and private sector experience working in Trenton, His career has included nearly 30 years of staff and senior management positions at the NJ Department of Environmental Protection including positons of Assistant Commissioner for Environmental Regulation and Executive Director of the Environmental Infrastructure Trust financing authority as well as the State Drought Czar. He then spent six years in government affairs in the Utility and Transportation Construction Association prior to his current roles.

Dennis has served on the Steering Committee of New Jersey Water Works Collaborative, has Co-Chaired the New Jersey Nature Conservancy’s Conservancy Council, Trustee of the New Jersey Society for Environmental, Economic Development, Chair of the City of Trenton Transition Team for the Trenton Water Utility and Co-Chair of Senator Robert Smith’s Natural Resource Damage stakeholder project. Dennis was appointed by the NJ Board of Public Utilities as the industrial and commercial sector representative on the Energy Efficiency Advisory Group. He has served on education advisory boards for several New Jersey colleges and universities. He has testified numerous times in Congress and at the New Jersey Legislature and is a much sought after speaker, including discussions on CSPAN and various television programs. Dennis has been recognized on numerous lists of the most influential people in New Jersey in regard to environmental issues, manufacturing and governmental affairs.

Dennis has a BS in Biology from Juniata College and an MA in Administration from Rider University and is a 2002 graduate of the Leadership New Jersey Program.

Andrew Hendry is the regional president for Atlantic City Electric, a subsidiary of Pepco Holdings, and vice president of Governmental and External Affairs. In his role, Andrew leads the company’s external affairs engagement strategy, working closely with elected officials, business leaders, and community partners. This includes the advancements of customer-centric initiatives and fostering collaboration to support reliable, affordable and sustainable energy solutions for all customers.

Hendry has over three decades of experience in the external affairs and regulatory space and utility industry. Before coming to Atlantic City Electric, he previously served as senior advisor of Regulatory Affairs at Jersey Central Power and Light, a FirstEnergy company, where he led regulatory strategy development. Prior to that, he held leadership roles at the New Jersey Utilities Association and the New Jersey Senate Majority Office, among other roles in state government.

Ben Hertz-Shargel is President of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU). Governor Sherrill nominated Hertz-Shargel in June. Prior to becoming a part of the Sherrill administration, Hertz-Shargel served as Global Head of Grid Edge at Wood Mackenzie, where he advised energy, technology, and financial firms on grid modernization, electrification, distributed energy resources, and emerging energy technologies. Prior to his role at Wood Mackenzie, Hertz-Shargel served as Head of Data Science and Demand Management at Rhythm and as Vice President of Advanced Grid Services and Analytics at EnergyHub, where he designed and built core demand response optimization technology and served as a lead technical expert in stakeholder engagement before state public utility commissions.  

In addition to his private-sector leadership, Hertz-Shargel served as a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Center, an Advisory Committee Member for the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation’s Energy and Environment Program, and in advisory roles with Pew Charitable Trusts on distributed energy resources policy. 

Hertz-Shargel earned a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science from Northwestern University in 2001, a Master of Science in Mathematics from New York University in 2006, and a PhD in Mathematics from the University of California, Los Angeles in 2010.

Donald “Blue” Jenkins is the president and chief executive officer of South Jersey Industries (SJI), where he leads one of New Jersey’s most prominent energy infrastructure companies.

Mr. Jenkins joined SJI in 2026, bringing nearly 30 years of experience spanning every facet of the energy industry. Before joining SJI, he served as EVP & president, Utilities, at AltaGas, as well as president of Washington Gas, where he led strategy development and execution across the company’s U.S. utilities. During his tenure, he implemented a $1.7 billion pipeline modernization investment aimed at strengthening system safety and reliability while reducing emissions.

Prior to AltaGas and Washington Gas, Mr. Jenkins spent seven years at EQT Corporation and 13 years at BP, where he held a series of senior executive leadership positions and built a reputation for driving operational excellence, developing high-performing teams and delivering meaningful results for customers, employees and communities.

Mr. Jenkins holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Brigham Young University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Northwestern University. He currently serves on the board of directors

Ari Kahan serves as the Director for the Office of Integrated Products, providing leadership and technical direction to EIA’s cross-cutting analysis. In this role, Ari oversees the production of EIA’s flagship statistical reports and analytical outlooks, including the Annual Energy Outlook (AEO), Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), Monthly Energy Review (MER), Today in Energy, global disruption analyses, and the International Energy Statistics database.

Daniel Kennedy oversees the daily operations and programs of the association. A registered legislative agent, Dan works in consultation with the officers and board of trustees to carry out the association’s mission. He frequently meets with and testifies before New Jersey legislative committees and regulatory agencies on matters of importance to the industrial and commercial real estate development industry.

Jeff Kolakowski has over 25 years of experience in government relations, public policy, advocacy, and public affairs. He currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Builders Association (NJBA), the state’s leading trade association representing the residential construction industry. In this role, he oversees the association’s governance, operations, advocacy initiatives, and member engagement efforts. NJBA’s members include residential and mixed-use builders, developers, remodelers, subcontractors, suppliers, engineers, architects, consultants, attorneys, and other professionals involved in the planning, development, construction, and improvement of housing throughout New Jersey.

As CEO, Jeff leads the association’s advocacy efforts on a broad range of legislative, regulatory, and public policy issues, including housing, land use, redevelopment, economic development, environmental regulation, utility infrastructure, and building codes and standards. Throughout his career, he has worked extensively with elected officials, state agencies, industry stakeholders, and advocacy organizations to advance policies affecting housing affordability, economic growth, and community development in New Jersey. He is a frequent participant in legislative hearings, regulatory proceedings, and public policy discussions concerning housing and development issues throughout the state.

Prior to joining NJBA, Jeff held several positions with the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development and spent more than eight years serving as Chief of Staff to a member of the New Jersey General Assembly. He has also been involved in political campaigns at the local, state, and federal levels.

Jeff earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from The College of New Jersey and a Master of Public Affairs and Politics from the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University. He lives in Chesterfield, New Jersey, with his wife and two children and is an active member of his community.

Dan Lapato is the Vice President of Planning at the American Gas Association, where he is part of the leadership team focused on strategic planning, project management, and communication with members and stakeholders. Previously, he led the State Affairs team, supporting natural gas initiatives and regulatory efforts across numerous states. Before joining AGA, Dan represented natural gas utilities before Congress and federal agencies and held environmental and energy policy roles at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. He holds a Bachelor of Science from West Virginia University.

Ralph A. LaRossa is chair, president and chief executive officer of Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (PSEG). He is also chair of the PSE&G board and a member of PSEG’s Senior Executive Team.

Previously Mr. LaRossa was chief operating officer of PSEG from January 2020 until September 2022 at which time he became president and chief executive officer. He was president and COO of PSEG Power from June 2017 until September 2022. In his role as PSEG COO, he was responsible for overseeing all of the operating businesses of PSEG, including Public Service Electric & Gas Company, PSEG Long Island, PSEG Power and PSEG Services Corp. functions, information technology and cyber and physical security.

In addition, Mr. LaRossa was chair of the board of PSEG Long Island from December 2020 until September 2022 and from October 2013 until 2017. From 2006 until 2017, Mr. LaRossa served as president and COO of PSE&G.

Mr. LaRossa joined PSE&G in 1985 as an associate engineer and advanced through a variety of management positions in the utility’s gas and electric operations.

Mr. LaRossa received his Bachelor of Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology. In addition, he completed the Harvard Business School’s Program for Management Development and MIT’s Reactor Technology Course for Utility Executives.

Mr. LaRossa is chair of Choose New Jersey and serves on its board. In addition, he is a member of the board of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and former member of the board for Montclair State University. Mr. LaRossa is also an honorary trustee of the Liberty Science Center, the past chair of the American Gas Association and past member of the board for the New Jersey Utilities Association and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Mr. LaRossa is the recipient of the Rutgers Heldrich Center for Workforce Development Distinguished Leadership Award.

Bob Martin is a senior executive with vast experience in both the public and private sectors working with and running large and complex organizations. Extensive skills and experience managing, transforming and consulting to companies and government organizations. His abilities include strong analytical, strategic, leadership, people management and development, financial, and regulatory skills. Bob has strong sector knowledge in the utility & energy industries, government, health insurance, and manufacturing & distribution.

Bob’s work at Christie 55 Solutions has included working with clients on:

• Renewable Energy Strategy (Offshore & Onshore Wind, Solar, Battery Storage and Hydrogen)
• Business Strategy and Growth
• Sports Betting
• Regulatory & Permitting Strategy at the State and Federal levels
• Land Use Strategy
• Environmental Strategy
• Fossil and Nuclear Power Generation
• Electric Power Transmission
• Infrastructure and Engineering

Bob served as New Jersey’s Commissioner of Environmental Protection under Governor Christie from 2010 to 2018, managing over 2,800 professionals and a multi-million dollar annual state budget and other federal and state resources. He effectively implemented DEP’s mission to protect the air, water, land and natural and historic resources of the state. He has deep knowledge and expertise in state and federal environmental and land use laws and regulations, and working with numerous federal agencies and departments. Bob also played a key leadership role under Governor Christie in coordinating the State’s preparation and response, and long-term rebuilding from natural disasters, especially for Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

Prior to public service, Bob was a Partner at Accenture LLP with over 25 years of experience consulting to a broad variety of businesses and industries, and trusted advisor to senior executives to help them achieve their vision and create value. He has extensive skills and experience in all aspects of business and management consulting, including business strategy and planning, business transformation and operations reengineering, IT strategy, systems implementation and change management.

Bob has extensive international experience including living and working in the UK for 5 years, and doing significant consulting work throughout Europe and Canada. He has demonstrated expertise in all the key aspects of the utility industry, including electric generation, electric & gas transmission, and electric, gas and water distribution operations. Bob has a BA in Economics & Sociology from Boston College and an MBA, concentrating in Finance & Investments, from the George Washington University.

Vanessa comes to EPA from UBS, multinational investment bank and financial services firm, where she worked as an Environmental Analyst. At UBS, Vanessa focused on environmental compliance and analyzed emissions data to assess sustainability risks and integrate environmental and social factors into corporate sustainability reporting. Earlier in her career, Vanessa also worked for the Nassau County Executive Office working on environmental issues and as an Environmental Policy Intern with the New York State Senate. In both roles, she drew upon her strong background in data analytics and environmental compliance topics.

Vanessa has a Bachelor of Science in Environment and Sustainability from Cornell University with concentrations in Environmental Policy and Governance and Environmental Economics. She also has a Master of Science in Sustainability Management from Columbia University with a focus in Sustainable Finance. She grew up on Long Island, lives in NYC, and is a lifelong New Yorker.

Richard S. Mroz, Esq. has a long and distinguished career in law, government, business, and public service. His experiences as a regulator, lawyer, lobbyist, banker, corporate director, consultant and thought leader have focused on numerous issues, including energy and utility regulation, energy markets, the evolving grid, cybersecurity, water and wastewater policy, as well as infrastructure development and financing for various industries. Mr. Mroz is the former President of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU), serving as Chairman and Chief Administrative Officer of the Agency, and acted as the Chief Energy Officer for New Jersey.

Mr. Mroz has held various national and regional leadership positions, including serving as Chairman of the Critical Infrastructure Committee for the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), where he advanced efforts addressing cybersecurity and infrastructure improvements in the electric, gas, water and telecommunications industries. He was NARUC liaison to the Electric Sector Coordinating Council (ESCC), as well as a member of the NARUC Electricity Committee, Subcommittee on Nuclear Issues and Nuclear Waste Disposal, and a member of the NARUC Board of Directors. He was Chairman of the Organization of PJM States, Inc. (OPSI), the official organization designated by the states to interact with the regional grid and transmission organization, and a member of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Advisory Council.

Mr. Mroz was appointed by the Secretary of Energy to be a member of the USDOE Electric Advisory Committee, which provides advice to the Department on programs and priorities on issues of the evolving grid, distributed energy resources, and reliability of the electric system, and is a member of the Smart Grid Subcommittee and Subcommittee for Defense Critical Facilities.  He is a member of the New Mexico State University Center for Public Utilities Advisory Council, and a Distinguished Corporate Fellow to the Global Resilience Institute at Northeastern University.

For over two decades Mr. Mroz served on the Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, a congressionally chartered wholesale bank, with assets over $100 Billion, and which provides funding to member financial institutions in New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. He has served on the Bank Executive, Corporate Governance, Compensation, Audit, and Congressional & Regulatory Affairs Committees, and currently is Chairman of the Housing Committee. His work with corporate governance issues continues with his active involvement with the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) where he serves on the Board of Directors for the NACD New Jersey Chapter having been Chairman of the Programs Committee and currently the committee for Director of the Year Awards in good governance.

These appointments and leadership positions continue an accomplished career in legal affairs and public service. Governor Christie Whitman appointed Mr. Mroz to be Chief Counsel after serving in various positions in her Administration. Of particular note, President George W. Bush appointed Mr. Mroz to the Commission on White House Fellows in 2007. In 2012, Governor Chris Christie appointed Mr. Mroz as a Commissioner of the Delaware River & Bay Authority (DRBA), a congressionally chartered bi-state transportation agency operating facilities, including the Delaware Memorial Bridge and the Cape May- Lewes Ferry.

Before becoming President of the NJBPU, Mr. Mroz worked in private practice as a lawyer and lobbyist. He was a founding Managing Director of Archer Public Affairs in Trenton, New Jersey and was Of Counsel to the Archer & Greiner law firm. For many years in the private sector, Mr. Mroz provided advice to clients in numerous industries and concentrated on governmental relations, regulatory affairs, business development and issues management. He also provided strategic counsel and advice for project development and financing, as well as corporate external affairs. He has represented clients in the energy, utility, transportation, financial services, real estate, healthcare, human services, pharmaceutical, and gaming and entertainment industries.

Over the course of his career, Mr. Mroz has provided both representation and personal service to several professional and community organizations. He has been co-counsel and legislative agent to the New Jersey Conference of Mayors and was a member of the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on the Unauthorized Practice of Law. Mr. Mroz is a frequent commentator for programs on television and radio and internet on issues such as cybersecurity and resilience of critical infrastructure and emerging energy issues. He was Chairman of the Board of the Volunteers of America of the Delaware Valley and is a former member of the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Alliance for Action, and the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce.

Active with his college alma mater, Mr. Mroz served for many years on the Board of Directors of the University of Delaware Alumni Association and served as the Association President. He holds a B.A. from the University of Delaware and his J.D. from the Villanova University School of Law.

For over 20 years, Pat has built a reputation for his proactive communications strategies, government and community relations, and media management in high visibility situations. Prior to joining Holtec, Pat spent 3 years with Holtec’s decommissioning unit, Holtec Decommissioning International, as Senior Manager Government Affairs and Communications overseeing the Government Affairs and Communications programs at our five, current, decommissioning sites.  Pat began his career in the nuclear industry serving 4 years as the Company Spokesman and Sr. Communications Specialist for Entergy’s Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station. In this role, he served as the company’s direct media contact, managed day-to-day communications with employees, ran the company’s charitable contributions, and saw the plant through Column 4 recovery and transition from operational facility to decommissioning site.

More importantly, Pat has been a key conduit to the local community.   Throughout his career he built relationships with elected officials and key community stakeholders. He has served on various non-profit boards including the Plymouth Area Chamber of Commerce, South Shore Community Action Council, and the Greater Attleboro-Taunton Regional Transit Authority.  He served three years on the Town of Plymouth Advisory and Finance Committee, the last year as Vice-Chair.

Prior to joining Pilgrim station in 2015, he spent thirteen years working in state and local government in Massachusetts. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a master’s degree from Norwich University.

Mr. Pohlman joined New Jersey Resources (NJR) in 2011. As Vice President of NJR Clean Energy Ventures (CEV) and NJR Energy Services, he is responsible for leading and developing NJR’s renewable energy and natural gas marketing businesses, while also driving new growth opportunities and strategic initiatives across the company.

He previously served as NJR’s Vice President-Strategy, Communications, Government Relations and Policy, Managing Director-Innovation and Strategic Initiatives, Chief of Staff to the President and CEO and Director of Business Development at CEV.

Mr. Pohlman earned his bachelor degree in finance and marketing from Marist University. He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.

Grace serves as General Counsel and EVP of Government Affairs at Solar Landscape, the leading commercial and community solar developer in the United States. Most recently she was a Partner at McCarter & English, LLP in the Government Affairs and Energy & Environment practice groups. Previously she served as Chief of Staff at the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities during the Murphy Administration and was responsible for the development and implementation of policy and day-to-day management of the agency. Grace chaired the 2019 State Energy Master Plan Committee. She began her career as the Legislative Liaison at the BPU. Active in state and local politics, she is a graduate of Rutgers University School of Law – Newark. She has a Master’s Degree from the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers and an undergraduate degree from Rutgers College, and was affiliated with the Eagleton Institute of Politics as a graduate fellow and undergraduate associate.

Ed Potosnak was nominated to become Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection by Governor Mikie Sherrill on Jan. 16, 2026. He leads the state’s efforts to protect the environment and public health, while growing the economy.

Supporting the environmental priorities of the Sherrill-Caldwell Administration, the Commissioner is responsible for continuing DEP’s progress to advance New Jersey’s resilience to flooding and extreme weather, addressing toxic chemicals such as PFAS and cleaning up contaminated sites. As part of Governor Sherrill’s Mission to Deliver, the Commissioner is working to streamline the environmental permitting process, so that government is responsive to job creators while safeguarding the state’s air, land, water and natural resources.

Commissioner Potosnak previously served as executive director of the New Jersey LCV, guiding the environmental group for 14 years. During his tenure, he led efforts to constitutionally dedicate Natural Resource Damage settlements into a lockbox for the communities harmed; to establish a permanent, predictable and reliable funding source for open space preservation; and advanced measures to protect public health on issues including PFAS and lead in drinking water, and cleaning up toxic sites.

The Commissioner was co-chair of the New Jersey Keep It Green Coalition and the New Jersey State Lead of the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed. He was a council member in Franklin Township, Somerset County, from 2022 through 2025 and earlier served on his local school board and as its president. The Commissioner also formerly was a member of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission Board, a post he was appointed to by former Governor Phil Murphy.

Born and raised in New Jersey, the Commissioner gained a love for the environment while fishing with his dad, and camping, hiking and swimming with his family and friends.

Rob Rains joined Washington Analysis in April 2013 as an Energy Analyst with an emphasis on gas and electric utilities, renewable energy, energy infrastructure, including pipelines, liquefied natural gas, electric transmission, and deals in the sector. Prior to joining Washington Analysis, Rob worked for Capstone, another policy analysis firm. Before Capstone, Rob spent five years as a Sr. Government Relations Representative for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), a trade association and global technical standards developer, focusing on energy and environmental issues. Rob began his career on Capitol Hill where he worked for Congressman Brian Baird and Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones. Rob earned his JD from The Catholic University of America and holds a B.A. in Political Science and English-Journalism from Miami University (Ohio).

Tom is Executive Vice President of Sustainability and External Affairs for CPV. In his role, Tom oversees CPV’s ESG program to ensure the company operates in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner. He is also responsible for all regulatory affairs, government relations, corporate communications, and RTO relations.

His previous role was as the Senior Vice President of External Affairs at the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO). Prior to joining the NYISO, Tom was an executive with General Electric where he held positions of increasing responsibility culminating in his role as the Chief Marketing Officer for Power and Water, GE’s largest industrial business.

He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Army with over two decades of leadership experience and is an alumnus of Harvard Business School’s General Management Program. Tom holds an MBA from the University of Maryland and a B.S. in Aeronautical Studies from the University of North Dakota.

Mark Schottinger is President, Chief Legal Officer, and an owner of Solar Landscape, where he has played a foundational role in building and scaling the company’s business model.

Mark pioneered the leasing structure, commercial model, and policies that helped establish the industry standard for front-of-meter solar and energy storage on commercial real estate. He has led the development of more than 1 GW of Solar Landscape projects and is a recognized expert in how commercial real estate-sited, distribution-connected solar and storage can bring new power online quickly and efficiently to meet growing energy demand.

Prior to Solar Landscape, Mark practiced law at Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Washington, D.C. He earned both his law and undergraduate degrees from the University of Virginia.

A New Jersey native, Mark grew up in Wall alongside longtime friends and Solar Landscape partners Corey Gross and Shaun Keegan and attended the University of Virginia with partner Clayton Avent.

Joseph Seebode is the Deputy Commissioner of the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection, where he supports Acting Commissioner Ed Potosnak in advancing the Department’s mission to meet the state’s environmental needs. A former Deputy District Engineer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New York District, with more than 35 years of service, he led major coastal resilience and restoration initiatives — including post-Hurricane Sandy recovery and the deepening of the Port of New York and New Jersey. He also is a past DEP Assistant Commissioner, award-winning public servant and lifelong steward of New Jersey’s waterways.

David Skillman is a partner in the firm’s Public Policy and Law practice group. Prior to joining the firm, David served as counsel to a senior member of the Ways and Means Committee in Congress for more than a decade and as a managing director at an international law firm. He advises clients seeking to enact tax, trade, and energy legislation, draft regulatory comments, and secure regulatory changes. He regularly advocates before Congress, the White House, and executive branch agencies.

During his Congressional service, David drafted and secured the enactment of legislation supporting renewable energy tax incentives, including expansions of the investment tax credit, the production tax credit, and credit monetization provisions, as well as a variety of other changes to corporate, individual, and excise taxes. He staffed the Congressional Trade Working Group during the negotiations that led to passage of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, as well as supported Congressional engagement on a wide variety of bilateral and multilateral trade initiatives, including passage of Trade Promotion Authority, reauthorization of Customs programs, and Congressional approval of various bilateral agreements, including with Peru, Panama, South Korea, and Colombia.

Nicholas Stalnecker leads government affairs for The Williams Companies across the U.S. Northeast, with a current focus on New York, New Jersey and Maryland. He helps advance major energy infrastructure projects across the region, including the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) pipeline and the Constitution Pipeline, while building coalitions around affordability, reliability and economic growth.

Stalnecker joined Williams in January 2026 after more than a decade at National Fuel Gas Company in Buffalo, where he helped shape the company’s Albany strategy as New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act advanced. He also served as president of the steering committee for New Yorkers for Affordable Energy, representing labor and industry in support of clean, affordable and reliable energy.

A civil engineer by training, Stalnecker began his career designing and overseeing natural gas pipeline construction and utility relocation projects. That technical background continues to inform his work on energy policy and infrastructure. He earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University at Buffalo.

Stephen Sweeney began his career with Local 399 in Camden, NJ, joining in 1977 and becoming a journeyman in 1980. He rose through the ranks as Financial Secretary-Treasurer and Business Agent, later serving as a general organizer for both the Philadelphia and Northern New Jersey District Councils. In 2015 he became General Vice President, and served as First General Vice President until December 2025, consistently demonstrating deep commitment to workers and the labor movement.

A longtime public servant, Sweeney represented South Jersey in the State Senate from 2002 to 2022, including 12 years as Senate President. He previously served as a Gloucester County Commissioner and Director, where he built a reputation as a consensus-builder focused on practical solutions for New Jersey families.

Sweeney is also recognized as a leader in statewide energy policy. He drove major expansions in solar development—growing New Jersey’s capacity from 250 MWp to nearly 4,500 MWp—by stabilizing the SREC program and encouraging redevelopment of landfills and brownfields. He authored the Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Credit program, enabling more than 5,000 MW of planned offshore wind, and championed New Jersey’s involvement in RGGI to support efficiency and emissions reductions.

Guided by an “all-of-the-above” energy philosophy, Sweeney promoted a balanced strategy that includes natural gas, nuclear, and renewables. He advanced legislation that preserved the state’s three nuclear reactors—powering over 3.8 million homes—and supported natural gas infrastructure, including the pipeline to the BL England plant. As Gloucester County Freeholder Director, he also oversaw development of the 738-MW LS Power Plant in West Deptford. Throughout his career, Sweeney has prioritized reliability, affordability, and sustainability in meeting New Jersey’s energy needs.

John G. Valeri Jr. is a Member and Practice Group Leader of CSG’s Environmental Practice Group. John has more than 30 years of experience providing advice regarding state and federal environmental laws and regulations, including obtaining permits and approvals involving multiple environmental media for complex projects. He provides strategic policy advice on major state and federal legislative and regulatory initiatives, and he regularly appears before the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Office of Administrative Law and in appeals before the New Jersey Superior Court. John also represents public utilities and renewable project owners and operators before the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. In addition, John negotiates environmental agreements and provides strategic policy advice on major state and federal legislative and regulatory initiatives. John previously served as Associate Deputy General Counsel in the Office of General Counsel at the USEPA, and Counselor to the Administrator under former Administrator Christine Todd Whitman. John also served as Senior Assistant Counsel for Governor Christine Todd Whitman, and Chief of Staff to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. John was appointed as a member of the New Jersey Clean Air Council by Governor Chris Christie in 2015 and served as the Chair from 2018-2021.

Neil Yoskin is Of Counsel in the firm’s Environmental department. His practice includes all aspects of Environmental, Land Use, Natural Resource, and Redevelopment Law. He provides advice and representation to a wide range of clients including businesses, industry organizations, municipal governments, banks, financial services companies, and private property owners. He has litigated matters related to wetlands, waterfront development, public access, port facility sighting, endangered species, solid waste licensing, and groundwater pollution in state and federal courts. Neil also regularly represents clients before the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and local agencies throughout New Jersey.