2022 SPEAKER SERIES

Macro Meets Micro in the Grid of the Future

This session examines efforts to coordinate improvements for the transmission system to enhance capacity, gain efficiency, and strengthen the ties between regional operators at the macro level and ensure adequate generation to meet future demand. The panel will talk about what it means to be a “prosumer” and showcase examples of how microgrid applications are being designed, implemented, and funded, by featuring local model projects. Find out how macro and micro align to enable resilience, and learn about financing strategies to add your facility into the mix.

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MODERATOR

Geoff Oxnam

Geoff Oxnam

Founder & CEO,
American Microgrid Solutions
& Board Chair, MCEC

Geoff Oxnam

Founder & CEO, American Microgrid Solutions
& Board Chairman, MCEC

Geoff is the founder and CEO of American Microgrid Solutions, an advanced energy services company dedicated to helping clients improve performance, resilience, savings and sustainability. Prior to founding American Microgrid Solutions in 2016, Geoff served as Vice President of Operations for Easton Utilities, a nationally recognized municipal utility that provides electric, natural gas, water, wastewater, broadband Internet, cable television and utility management software solutions. Geoff also has a background in environmental advocacy through his work with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and is an award-winning journalist. On appointment by Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, Geoff serves as Chairman of the Maryland Clean Energy Center board of directors and as a member of the Maryland Energy Innovation Institute advisory board. Geoff is a member of the Leadership Maryland Class of 2010 and was awarded the William Donald Schaefer People Helping People Award in 2016 for his work to improve financial literacy through Junior Achievement. Geoff has served on the boards of the University of Maryland Medical System Shore Regional Health, Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and the Maryland Broadband Cooperative. Geoff earned his Bachelors of Arts from Williams College and a Masters of Business Administration from The Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School.

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PANELISTS

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Jake Friedman

VP, Project Development, Strategic Accounts , GreenStruxure

Jake Friedman

VP, Project Development, Strategic Accounts

GreenStruxure

Jake Friedman has over 20 years of experience developing projects, products and technologies in the distributed energy space. He prides himself working to meet customers’ long-term energy and sustainability goals. He holds an MBA in Finance and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering, both from the University of Connecticut.

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Nicole Geneau

SVP, Development
AlphaStruxure

Nicole Geneau

SVP Development
AlphaStruxure

Nicole Geneau is a tested leader with over 20 years of experience spanning clean and alternative energy, finance and investment, commercialization of innovation, strategy and professional services. At AlphaStruxure, she leads the development team and supports developers to guide customers and deals in the pipeline from start to close.

Prior, Nicole was Strategy and Market Development Director for Mortenson's Integrated Energy Solutions business, actualizing electrification trends across the company’s vertical/commercial and energy /infrastructure operating groups.

Nicole brings extensive industry experience as a leader in large-scale renewable energy development. She was Development Director for NextEra Energy where she helped deliver $2.5 billion of capital investment in renewable energy generation facilities in Canada. She was responsible for market entry strategy, development, landowner contracts, PPA negotiations, community and stakeholder engagement, government relations, siting and permitting, construction, operation and financing. Prior to NextEra, Nicole managed a portfolio of investments in energy technologies working extensively with utilities and research institutions to foster innovation in the sector.

Nicole is a Sloan Fellow in Leadership & Innovation from MIT, a Fellow in Economics of Energy from the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office and has a Bachelor of Commerce from Queen’s University in Canada.

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Jana Gerber

President, North American Microgrid
Schneider Electric

Jana Gerber

President, North American Microgrid
Schneider Electric

Jana Gerber, President, Microgrid North America, is responsible for growing the commercial microgrid business in North America and supporting customers in their sustainability and resilience journeys. In this role, she oversees go-to-market strategies and delivery for the North America region. Throughout her 20-year career at Schneider Electric she has served as the Principal of Sustainability Consulting and Vice President of Building Segments for the Strategic Customers and Segment organization. Jana supports her team in delivering tailored services to help customers’ electrification efforts to build more resilient and sustainable operations. Jana graduated from Washington State University with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. Jana resides in Dallas, TX with her husband and two children.

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Barbara Tyran

Director
Macro Grid Initiative

Barbara Tyran

Director, Macro Grid Initiative
ACORE

Barbara Tyran is Director, Macro Grid Initiative, at the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE). She also serves as Past President of the Board of Directors of the Women’s Council on Energy & the Environment (WCEE). She was General Chair of the IEEE Power & Energy Society 2021 General Meeting Local Organizing Committee, hosting nearly 2000 delegates from around the world in July 2021.

She brings outstanding federal / state government relations experience, following two decades as Director, Washington & State Relations, in EPRI’s Washington DC office. She was the principal liaison between EPRI executive management, and Congress, the Administration, the national trade associations, state legislators / regulators, and the Washington policy community.

Her background includes federal advocacy for utilities and management consulting for public / private / non-profit sector clients, with engagements involving strategic planning, policy analysis, marketing, external relations and communications, and financial / economic analysis.

In recognition of her technical expertise and knowledge, she was appointed by the Secretary of Commerce to the Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Energy and Energy Services, advising the Secretary and USTR on international trade matters. She was elected and re-elected as Chair.

She holds a BA degree with Honors from Stanford University and an MBA from Yale University.

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Michael Yambrach

Michael Yambrach

Interim Chief, Office of Energy & Sustainability, Montgomery County

Michael Yambrach

Interim Chief, Office of Energy and Sustainability
Montgomery County

 

Michael is responsible for managing the energy portfolio for Montgomery County Maryland. He oversees all aspects of supervising the demand and supply requirements to meet Montgomery County’s goal of cutting Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions 100% by 2035. To achieve this goal OES is developing, financing, contracting for, and implementing energy efficiency programs, and advanced energy infrastructure projects. As the County’s fleet of vehicles and transit buses converts to non-carbon fuels, he is developing the infrastructure to support this transition. This includes reconstructing the transit depot’s infrastructure to support electric and hydrogen buses, with solar, batteries and generation systems under a PPP contract structure. He has over 30 years working in the energy industry, managing both supply and demand programs. Michael had previously managed the District of Columbia’s energy program, along with prior development responsibilities at Enron and Johnson Controls. He has worked in both the public and private sectors and is experienced in developing new revenue streams and reducing operating costs. Michael has an MBA from Loyola University in Chicago and a BA from Michigan State University.

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