Lindsay Baxter
Senior Manager, Energy Policy and Public Affairs, Duquesne Light Company
Lindsay Baxter is Senior Manager of Energy Policy and Public Affairs for Duquesne Light Company (DLC). Prior to joining DLC in 2018, she worked for Pennsylvania Environmental Council, where she worked with diverse stakeholders to advance clean energy policy and programs. She has also worked in local government, as the Sustainability Coordinator for the City of Pittsburgh. She holds degrees in environmental science from Duquesne University (MS) and Allegheny College (BA).
Mario Berges
Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering, CMU Scholar, Amazon
Mario Bergés is a Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), and a Scholar at Amazon. At CMU, he is interested in making our built environment more operationally efficient and robust through the use of information and communication technologies, so that it can better deal with future resource constraints and a changing environment. Currently his work largely focuses on supporting autonomous systems (buildings, space habitats and other physical infrastructure assets) by developing digital twin frameworks through which software and human agents can interact with them. Bergés has led multiple research projects on a wide range of problems related to sensing and data analysis for civil infrastructure systems, particularly in the area of buildings and energy efficiency with funding from federal agencies (e.g., DOE, ARPA-E, NSF, NASA), industry (e.g., Bosch, HP Labs, Samsung) and other sources. His work has resulted in over 100 publications in top peer-reviewed journal and conference venues, as well as popular press coverage by the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Bergés is the director of the Intelligent Infrastructure Research Lab (INFERLab) at CMU. Among recent awards, he received the Best Paper Award at ACM BuildSys in 2019, and the Professor of the Year Award by the ASCE Pittsburgh Chapter in 2018. Bergés received his B.Sc. in 2004 from the Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic; and his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering in 2007 and 2010, respectively, both from Carnegie Mellon University. When not conducting research at CMU or Amazon (which, thankfully, he enjoys very much), Mario also enjoys traveling, playing his guitar and spending time with his family.
Douglas Bush
Director, Strategy and Corporate Development, Peoples Natural Gas
Douglas Bush is the Director of Strategy and Corporate Development at Peoples Natural Gas. In this role, he oversaw the management of Peoples’ three unregulated energy projects including the Pittsburgh International Airport Microgrid before leading the asset divestiture process which resulted in a $165M sale to Cordia Energy. Douglas’ initiatives also include further unregulated energy project development, hydrogen production and distribution, SOFC fuel cells, emerging tech, as well as developing long-term decarbonization strategies to assist Peoples in navigating their way through the energy transition. Douglas joined Peoples Natural Gas in 2022 as the Senior Manager of Asset Management for IMG Energy Solution’s portfolio of distributed power generation assets as well as developing 100 MWs of solar throughout Western Pennsylvania which leveraged local brownfield and abandoned coal mine acreage. Prior to IMG Energy Solutions, Douglas gained valuable industry experience within Range Resource’s natural gas marketing group, including natural gas transmission logistics and trading. Douglas has over 10 years of diverse experience within the energy industry. Douglas was born and raised in Ford City, PA and holds an Energy Finance undergrad degree from Penn State University’s College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.
Bingqing Chen
Director, Strategy and Corporate Development, Peoples Natural Gas
Bingqing Chen is a research scientist at Bosch Center for AI. Prior to that, she received her PhD from Carnegie Mellon University. Her research lies at the intersection of AI and energy systems, focusing on optimizing energy systems operations to combat climate change. Her research was recognized by honors, such as best paper award at ACM BuildSys 2019, and best paper nomination at IEEE SmartGridComm 2020 and ACM e-energy 2021. At Bosch, she continues to pursue this line of research by developing AI-driven solutions for climate technologies, such as heat pumps and electrolysers.
Christophe Combemale
Assistant Research Professor, Engineering and Public Policy, CMU
Christophe Combemale's research focuses on the implications of technology choices and process design for skill demand, and on workforce supply chain levers to meet industry skill demand needs. He is interested in how regional and national labor supply may constrain economic productivity and innovation, and solutions that enhance outcomes for workers and firms.
Combemale is an expert contributor on labor and technology issues for an NSF-funded pilot program seeking to develop a National Network for Critical Technology Assessment. The program objective is to develop assessment capabilities for critical technologies for U.S. competitiveness and present insights to U.S. legislators. He also serves as a consultant to the Allegheny County Department of Human Services on workforce development and strategic programs, such as rate-setting for large-scale Medicaid reimbursements for behavioral health services.
Poulomi Damany
Limited Partner, Operator Collective
Poulomi is a seasoned Leader who drives and delivers results on scaled technology transformation and product innovation initiatives in consumer technology and highly regulated industries. She brings a wealth of experience in general management, product strategy, and product/engineering management from over 2 decades in the Silicon Valley Tech Community. Currently she is SVP and GM of Credit Karma's Money business unit, which includes checking and savings products aimed at helping underbanked consumers; particularly young “Gen-Z” professionals. Prior to this role, she led Credit Karma's data and AI business unit to deliver personalized financial recommendations to Credit Karma’s 120 Million members. Prior career experience included a variety of product and engineering leadership roles at Symantec and Yahoo! in digital advertising and consumer/media products. Poulomi was on the founding team at Bityota, an innovative startup that built a SaaS business delivering real-time analytics for apps and gaming. In 2014, she was named one of CloudNow’s Top 10 Women in Cloud and was a finalist for their Top Woman in Cloud Innovations Award. Poulomi has a service for others mentality and spent a year in the White house with the U.S. Digital Service, on projects that improved Veterans healthcare, the NIH precision medicine initiative and refugee admissions. She is a social impact-focused investor, and an Advisor and LP with the Operator Collective. She's also on the Advisory Board of Second Harvest of Silicon Valley,one of the largest food banks in the nation. Her investment areas include advancing climate change solution, access to education and resources, and healthcare equity.
Erica Gallant
Technology Strategy Leader, Trane Technologies
As the Technology Strategy Leader for Electrification of Heating at Trane Technologies, Erica Gallant sets the corporate strategy and research roadmap for decarbonized heating technology and fosters relationships with external labs and universities to accelerate required technology development. Erica has been with Trane Technologies for over 18 years, 17 of which were dedicated to creating low-GWP heating and cooling solutions in her technology and product engineering roles for Trane’s Commercial HVAC business. Before joining Trane Technologies, Erica was a powertrain research engineer at Ford Motor Company in Dearborn, MI. She holds a B.A. in Physics from Wartburg College and a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from University of Wisconsin - Madison.
Valerie Gaydos
State Representative, Commonwealth of PA
Rep. Valerie Gaydos has been a leader in fighting to make government more efficient, transparent and accountable to the citizens of the Commonwealth. She was elected to serve her fourth term in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in November 2024 and will continue to be committed to putting her experience from the private sector to work to help grow the state’s economy and improve opportunities for employers and employees across the Commonwealth.
Valerie started her own company in 1994, an information publishing company that sold financial data to subscribers. She went on to invest in other successful startup companies and became a well-known startup business advocate and angel investor who has helped small businesses succeed and create jobs across the country.
In recognition of her strong support for pro-business legislation, she has earned consecutive “Guardian of Small Business” awards from the Pennsylvania chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business and was named by the Speaker of the House of Representatives to serve on the Small Business Council within the Department of Community and Economic Development to assist with developing policies and regulations that might affect small businesses, which contain fewer than 100 employees. In addition, Valerie was named to the board of directors for Team Pennsylvania and America250PA, and is the chair of the House Life Sciences Caucus, the House Cancer Caucus and House Cyber Security Caucus. She is also a member of other active caucuses including Economic Growth, Emerging Technologies, Homeowners Association, and Manufacturing caucuses. Her accolades continue. Prior to getting elected she was the first woman president of the Pennsylvania Angel Network.
Valerie has been assigned to serve on the House Liquor Control (secretary), Commerce, Finance and Professional Licensure committees for the 2024-25 legislative session. She has also been assigned to serve on the newly formed House Communications and Technology Committee.
To date, four of her bills have been signed into law, including Act 77 of 2024, which will address critical issues in the pharmaceutical industry and provide much-needed protections for independent pharmacies and their customers. Her other laws include: Act 38 of 2022, which will allow the state to use the expertise of the Pennsylvania National Guard to respond to cyber crises and subvert cyber intrusion. Act 45 of 2021, which will better protect the victims of human trafficking; and Act 67 of 2020, which will increase transparency and consumer choice in the prescription drug marketplace.
As part of her legislative priorities, she will continue to protect our state and national constitutions and advocate for state’s rights, Second Amendment rights, and taxpayers rights. She will also strive to reduce the size of government and focus on mental health and wellness for all Pennsylvanians.
Josh Grehan
Partner, Helios Climate Ventures
Josh Grehan brings a depth of operating experience in a range of industries. Prior to Helios Josh helped grow Finch Therapeutics from 10 to over 200 people and managed its IPO on the Nasdaq. Before Finch he served in the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a Special Assistant to Minister Dion. He has also worked in the nonprofit sector for Bridgespan Consulting and KickStart International. Josh is originally from Lily Plain, Saskatchewan but now calls Washington, DC home.
Brian Guzek
VP of Corporate Strategy, Duquesne Light Company
Guzek began his career with DLC in 2017 as director and chief procurement officer, working his way up to managing director of customer transformation and then managing director of affordability and innovation management. In July 2021, he also became responsible for corporate strategy. Prior to joining DLC, Guzek held various roles at U.S. Steel, including director of transformation. He holds both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s in mechanical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.
Lisa Hansmann
Director, Foundry Logic
Lisa Hansmann is the Director at Foundry Logic. She began her career as a management consultant for McKinsey & Company. Lisa has held multiple roles in economic policy, working on Senator Elizabeth Warren's policy team on competition and industrial strategy, and in the Biden White House, first as a Senior Advisor for economic policy at the National Economic Council, and then as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor in the Chief of Staff's office, driving implementation of the Administration's Investing in America agenda. Lisa’s research has focused on the intersection of clean energy and industrial strategy, most recently at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as Senior Advisor to Innovation Fellow Brian Deese. Lisa holds a J.D. from Yale Law School and a B.A. from Yale University.
Sara Innamorato
Allegheny County Executive, Allegheny County
Sara Innamorato was sworn in as Allegheny County Executive on January 2, 2024. Prior to winning the election for County Executive, she served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives after securing an overwhelming majority and winning the election for the 21st District seat in 2018. Representative Sara Innamorato served as the Vice-Chair of the Allegheny County Delegation and as a member of committees for House Finance; Labor and Industry; Transportation; Health; and Housing and Community Development.
Sara is a founding member of the Welcoming PA Caucus and the Pittsburgh City-wide Task Force on Employee Ownership and served as Treasurer of the Urban Redevelopment Authority and Vice Chair of the Allegheny County Housing Authority. As State Representative, she introduced dozens of bills, leading the effort to increase the supply of affordable housing, raise the minimum wage, secure environmental protections, compassionately address the opioid epidemic, establish the first Office of New Pennsylvanians, create a Working Families Tax Credit, and protect reproductive healthcare. In 2022, the legislature passed Sara’s Whole Home Repairs legislation which distributed $125M in critical funding to keep seniors, and those facing housing insecurity, in their homes while investing in climate resilience and local workforce development.
Sara is a lifelong resident of Allegheny County, currently residing in Upper Lawrenceville. She is a graduate of North Hills High School and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh’s College of Business Administration.
Valerie Karplus
Professor, Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University Associate Director, Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation
Valerie J. Karplus is the Associate Director at the Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation and a Professor in the department of Engineering and Public Policy.
Karplus studies resource and environmental management in organizations operating in diverse national and industry contexts, with a focus on the role of institutions and management practices in explaining performance. Areas of expertise include regional approaches to low carbon transition, decarbonization of global corporate supply chains, and the integrated design and evaluation of energy, air quality, and climate policies. Karplus has taught courses on public policy analysis, global business strategy and organization, entrepreneurship, and the political economy of energy transitions. At CMU, she runs the Laboratory for Energy and Organizations at the CMU Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation.
Karplus is an affiliate of the Scott Energy Institute. She previously served on the faculty at the MIT Sloan School of Management. From 2011-2016, she directed the MIT-Tsinghua China Energy and Climate Project.
Vibhu Kaushik
Head of Worldwide Energy, Amazon Web Services
Vibhu Kaushik is Head of Worldwide Energy at Amazon Web Services (AWS), where he leads global energy procurement and innovation efforts. Vibhu is a senior leader in energy and sustainability, and has over two decades of experience across the global energy and utilities sector. Prior to joining AWS, Vibhu served as Senior Vice President (SVP), Global Head of Energy, Utilities, and Storage at Prologis, the world’s largest owner and operator of logistics real estate, with over 1.2 billion sq. ft. across 19 countries. At Prologis, he led a global team across the Americas, Europe, and Asia to deploy clean energy solutions, spearheading the strategy and roadmap to achieve 1 GW of rooftop solar on Prologis buildings by 2025. His efforts also advanced zero-emission logistics, the conversion of warehouses to data centers, and the transformation of the distributed energy landscape in collaboration with electric utilities. Before joining Prologis, Vibhu spent over 16 years working for electric utilities in the U.S. and Canada. He worked at Southern California Edison (SCE) for 11 years, holding multiple leadership roles across energy procurement, power generation, asset management, grid technology & modernization, transmission & distribution strategy, and inspections. Vibhu originated and led SCE’s hybrid (battery + gas) enhanced gas turbine projects, which received multiple prestigious awards, including EEI’s Edison Award, the ESNA Innovation Award, PowerGen Project of the Year, and the SCAQMD Clean Air Technology Award. He was recognized by Public Utilities Fortnightly magazine as one of its “Top Forty Innovators” in 2017. In 2019, he led SCE’s Tier I, Gold Prize-winning submission to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Inaugural Electricity Industry Technology and Practices Innovation Challenge, which sought innovative solutions to strengthen and modernize the nation’s electric grid. Before joining SCE in 2011, Vibhu began his utility career at Manitoba Hydro in Canada, where he held various technical and leadership roles in power supply and transmission system operations from 2006 to 2011. At Manitoba Hydro, he led power generation optimization functions and managed participation in Midcontinent ISO (MISO) day-ahead and real-time markets. He also represented Manitoba Hydro in MISO’s Contingency Reserves Sharing Group Committee. Vibhu holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Manitoba, Canada, and an MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) – Anderson School of Management. He is also a registered professional engineer.
Mike Kramer
VP of Data Economy Strategy, Constellation
Mike Kramer is Vice President of Data Economy Strategy at Constellation, responsible for providing strategic thought leadership and driving coordination of the company’s effort to support our data economy customers with their power needs. Prior to his current role, Mike was responsible for governance and oversight for all of Constellation’s financial valuation work on growth projects including modeling of clean energy business development, nuclear asset valuations and capital investment decisions, M&A activity support and other strategic initiatives. Mike has been with Constellation (and Exelon prior to the company’s separation) in the energy industry for over 20 years in a variety of finance roles including over 10 years of Nuclear Finance experience. Mike is a Certified Public Accountant, has a Bachelor’s of Science in Accountancy from University of Illinois and a Masters of Business Administration in Finance and Strategic Management from University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Ramayya Krishnan
Dean, Heinz College, CMU William W. and Ruth F. Cooper Professor of Management Science and Information Systems, CMU
Ramayya Krishnan is the dean of Heinz College and the W. W. Cooper and Ruth F. Cooper Professor of Management Science and Information Systems. He has a B.Tech. in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, and an M.S. in industrial engineering and operations research and Ph.D. in management science and information systems from the University of Texas at Austin. He is an International Research Fellow of the International Center for Electronic Commerce in Korea and a visiting scientist at the Institute for Information Systems at Humboldt University (Germany). He was a founding faculty member of the Information Systems Management program at Heinz College.
Krishnan's current research projects investigate risk management in business process design and in information security, large scale social network analysis, and the design of policies that take into account the competing needs of promoting data access and protecting privacy. His ideasLab presentation on data analytics at the World Economic Forum summarizes key ideas from his research program.
Krishnan's teaching interests lie at the interface of technology, business, and policy aspects of internet-enabled systems. He has taught courses on e-business and telecommunications management, and led the creation of a capstone course on digital transformation that integrates technological and managerial aspects of information technology. He is the recipient of the General Motors (GM) Technical Education Program Outstanding Distance Learning Faculty Award, which honors a professor for demonstrating excellence in distance learning education. He has received the Martcia Wade Teaching Award, and has twice received the Teaching Award for the Heinz College's IT programs. He has taught in numerous executive education programs and is an expert on the use of IT to both create and capture value for organizations.
In addition, Combemale has a research appointment at the Block Center for Technology and Society at CMU’s Heinz College.
Jason LeRoy
Director of Research & Development, Trane Technologies
Jason LeRoy is the Director of Research and Development for the Residential HVAC & Supply business at Trane Technologies which cover the strategic brands of Trane, American Standard, Ameristar, RunTru, and OxBox. Mr. LeRoy’s organization is focused on the development of improved HVAC components, system technologies, and the evaluation and development of alternative, not-in-kind, technologies both inside and outside the enterprise at large. Prior to that, he led the development of Trane’s flagship product, Trane TruComfort Variable Speed, where he was responsible for all aspects of refrigeration design, control algorithm development, system reliability, manufacturability, serviceability, and meeting cost and efficiency targets. He is the holder of seven U.S. patents and has served on numerous committees with external organizations including ASHRAE and AHRI and is currently on the Industrial Advisory Board at Purdue University. Mr. LeRoy was awarded Purdue University’s Outstanding Mechanical Engineer Award in 2014. Every year, the School of Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University recognizes alumni who have demonstrated excellence in industry, academia, governmental service, or other endeavors related to mechanical engineering. Education Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO B.S. Mechanical Engineering 1995 Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN M.S. Mechanical Engineering 1997 Indiana University, Bloomington, IN MBA 2012.
Eric Masanet
Professor, University of California, Santa Barbara
Eric Masanet is Professor and Mellichamp Chair of Sustainability Science for Emerging Technologies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he leads the Industrial Sustainability Analysis Laboratory. He is also a faculty scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He has been researching the energy and sustainability impacts of data centers and digitalization for nearly 20 years and has published widely on these topics. His public service includes as a Lead Author in the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Cycle, an author of the Fifth and Sixth U.S. National Climate Assessments, Head of the Energy Demand Technology Unit at the International Energy Agency in Paris, Senior Industrial Advisor at the U.S. Department of Energy, and Consultant at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. He is also the former Editor in Chief of Resources, Conservation and Recycling, the leading scientific journal on sustainable resource systems. He holds a PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, with a specialization in sustainable design and manufacturing.
Jeffrey McDaniel
Portfolio Executive, Innovation Works
Jeffrey McDaniel is a recognized expert in Innovation, Advanced Materials, Advanced Manufacturing, Robotics and Clean Energy ventures. Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania he is currently a Portfolio Executive and manager of energy venture investments at Innovation Works (“IW”), one of the most active early-stage investors in the United States. Through IW, its co-investment arm Riverfront Ventures, and its three tech accelerators, Mr. McDaniel drives investments into early-stage technology companies, provides entrepreneurs with strategic advice and technical expertise, and evaluates hundreds of emerging technologies and companies annually. He serves as an observer on the boards of more than 20 tech startups. Mr. McDaniel is a member of both IW’s hardware and software teams, providing a unique perspective of the multidisciplinary aspects of most technology development, transition and commercialization. His energy experience extends throughout his career, including roles as an operating engineer in the United States Navy, industrial technology R&D, and executive leadership for both for-profit and non-profit organizations.
Holly Merriman
Program Manager, Workforce Initiatives, Pittsburgh Gateways/Energy Innovation Center
Holly Merriman With a background in Human Resources in the financial services, nonprofit and energy sectors, Holly Merriman serves as the Program Manager, Workforce Initiatives for Pittsburgh Gateways. In that role, Merriman partners with employers in the construction, energy and manufacturing sectors to identify individualized and sector-wide recruiting and training solutions, with a focus on creating a pipeline of individuals from underserved communities to fill the gaps in these growing career paths. Raised in New England, Holly holds a bachelor's in economics from Allegheny College and has called Pittsburgh home since her college graduation.
Erienne Olesh
Executive Director, Office of Innovation and Commercialization, West Virginia University
Erienne currently serves as the Executive Director of Innovation and Commercialization. This office oversees intellectual property management for WVU, licensing and commercialization of technology, NSF I-Corps programing, the Morris L. Hayhurst Launch Lab, SBIR/STTR coaching and startup assistance, and other strategic functions related to innovation and economic development. Previously, Erienne helped establish and launch Vantage Ventures which focuses on scaling startup companies, attracting investments, and working across state agencies for economic growth. She has experience in IP strategy, funding, corporate partnerships and economic development. Erienne completed a PhD in Neuroscience, focused on neural networks, spinal and motor integration and neural reorganization, particularly relating to clinical rehabilitation and motor control. She received her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute and an MBA from West Virginia University.
Jennifer Padgett
Director of Field Studies, Gecko Robotics
Jennifer is the Head of Field Software at Gecko Robotics where she leads efforts in AI powered data collection software, localization, and robotic autonomy. Since joining the company in 2023 she has completely revamped Gecko’s data collection software- ideating, designing, and launching Fulcrum. She has additionally modernized Gecko’s approach to data localization and robotic autonomy. Prior to joining Gecko, Jennifer spent 7 years in the self driving industry where she was responsible for developing cutting edge mapping and perception systems. Jennifer holds a PhD in robotics from Cornell University and is the author of several academic papers and an inventor on patents relating to SLAM systems.
Rachel Phillips
Senior Vice President, Impact & Innovation, Team Pennsylvania
Rachel Phillips is Team Pennsylvania’s Senior Vice President, Impact and Innovation. Her work has taken her across the globe to build and operationalize strategies for public and private organizations. Rachel’s work in North America primarily centered on supply chain and operations challenges, while her work in the Middle East focused on large transformations. Formerly the Chief Operating Officer of Kearney’s Product Excellence and Renewal Lab (PERLab), Rachel brings to Team Pennsylvania her ability to build strategic partnerships, scale operations, and drive impact. Previously a member of the U.S. Air Force and California Air National Guard, she has a passion for unlocking team potential and building leaders. She also spent time with Pacific Gas and Electric Company's Diablo Canyon Power Plant where she focused on nuclear energy business technologies. Rachel earned her Master of Public Policy and Management from, Carnegie Mellon University and her Bachelor of Science in Economics from California Polytechnic State University. Rachel has a deep passion for mentorship and serves as “Big” for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh.
Brian Regli
Executive Director of Critical Investments, Commonwealth of PA
Brian Regli serves as Executive Director of Critical Investments for the Governor, overseeing more than $20 billion of federal appropriations allocated to Pennsylvania through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022. He has been appointed by the Governor as Chair for Pennvest, and also as Special Advisor to the Secretary of the Budget. Previously, he served as Director of Commerce in Montgomery County (PA) and as a policy advisor in the Attorney General’s office. He has more than 25 years of entrepreneurial experience in the software, energy, utility and telecommunications sectors and has been directly responsible for more than $300 million of construction, debt financing, equity funding, and asset sales in his commercial real estate career. Dr. Regli holds a Doctorate in Developmental Economics from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, and undergraduate degrees from Georgetown University in Government and Philosophy.
Costa Samaras
Director, Scott Institute, CMU
Constantine (Costa) Samaras is a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and affiliated faculty in the Energy Science, Technology and Policy Program at Carnegie Mellon University. His research focuses on the pathways to clean, climate-safe, equitable, and secure energy and infrastructure systems.
Samaras analyzes how technologies and policies affect energy use and national security, resilience to climate change impacts, economic and equity outcomes, and life cycle environmental emissions and other externalities. He directs the Center for Engineering and Resilience for Climate Adaptation and is the Director of the Power Sector Carbon Index. He is a fellow in Carnegie Mellon’s Scott Institute for Energy Innovation and by courtesy, a faculty member in both the Department of Engineering and Public Policy and CMU’s H. John Heinz III College of Information Systems and Public Policy.
Samaras served on three National Academies Committee evaluating emerging energy technologies and earth systems research, served as the chair of the ASCE Committee on Adaptation to a Changing Climate, and served on the Alternative Transportation Fuels and Technologies Committee and currently serves on the Energy Committee of the Transportation Research Board.
Samaras has published numerous studies examining electric and automated vehicles, renewable electricity, clean energy transitions and decarbonization policy, and climate resilience. He was a contributor to the 4th National Climate Assessment, and was one of the lead author contributors to the Global Energy Assessment. He has also led analyses on energy security, strategic basing, and infrastructure issues faced by the Department of Defense. He teaches courses on energy utilization and demand, climate change resilience, and infrastructure and environment interconnections in a changing world. In 2018, he was named Professor of the Year by the Pittsburgh Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Samaras regularly provides commentary to online, print, radio, and television media, and his comments have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, The Atlantic, PBS, ABC News, WIRED, and other outlets. He has presented his research to senior appointed governmental leaders, former cabinet secretaries, senior federal and military decisionmakers, Congress Members and professional staff, and the leadership of major utilities, automotive companies, and technology firms.
From 2009 to 2014 he was a RAND Corporation researcher, most recently as a Senior Engineer and a professor at the Pardee RAND Graduate School, and was an adjunct senior researcher through 2021. From 2008 to 2009 he was a post-doctoral fellow in the Climate Decisionmaking Center at Carnegie Mellon, working on electric transportation and low-carbon technology policy. From 1999 to 2004 he was an engineer working on several multibillion-dollar infrastructure megaprojects in New York, including the extension of the Number 7 subway line in Manhattan, and also worked on the rebuilding of the subway line underneath the World Trade Center after the attacks of September 11, 2001.
Costa received a joint Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering and engineering and public policy from Carnegie Mellon, an MPA in public policy from the Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University, and a B.S. in civil engineering from Bucknell University.
Jeff Schneider
Professor, School of Computer Science, CMU
Dr. Jeff Schneider is a research professor in the Carnegie Mellon University School of Computer Science where his research is on machine learning for autonomous systems. He has over 20 years experience developing, publishing, and applying machine learning algorithms in government, science, and industry. He has hundreds of publications and routinely gives invited talks and tutorials on the subject. Jeff is also an entrepreneur. He was a founding member of Uber's Advanced Technologies Group and spent three years helping to build their self driving car program. Before that, he developed a machine learning based CNS drug discovery system and commercialized it during two years as Psychogenics' Chief Informatics Officer. Earlier, he was the co-founder and CEO of Schenley Park Research, a company dedicated to bringing machine learning to industry. Through his research, commercial, and consulting efforts, he has worked with dozens of companies and government agencies around the world.
Abby Smith
President and CEO, Team Pennsylvania
Abby Smith is Team Pennsylvania's President & CEO. Her work has focused extensively on building strategic public-private partnerships to address long-term issues that no one sector can tackle alone. Abby's 20-year career includes high-level strategic planning and leading cross-sector collaboratives at the state level in Pennsylvania as well as in several other states, along with ample experience as a grant and project manager overseeing multi-million-dollar grants and serving on various state-level councils. In early 2023, Abby received an Above and Beyond Award, honoring Pennsylvania women of "public and civic mind" who have demonstrated exemplary leadership in their field, combined with having made significant contributions to society. Formerly the Vice President of Policy & Programs and Senior Advisor to the Foundation, Abby also served as the Director of Education & Workforce Development. Previously, Abby worked as a policy specialist at the PA Department of Education; for Teach For America as a recruitment director; and as a 7th grade social studies teacher and Teach For America corps member. Abby earned her undergraduate degree from Yale University and master's degrees in teaching from The Johns Hopkins University and in public policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University. Abby serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg and JCC and is a board member of the Jewish Community Foundation of Central PA. As Chair of the Federation, Abby spearheaded the acquisition of a new Jewish community campus - the Alexander Grass Campus for Jewish Life. Abby lives in Hershey, PA with her husband, twin sons, and dog Comet.
Emma Strubell
Raj Reddy Assistant Professor, Language Technologies Institute, CMU
Emma Strubell is the Raj Reddy Assistant Professor in the Language Technologies Institute (within the School of Computer Science) at Carnegie Mellon University, and a Visiting Scientist at the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence. Previously they held research scientist roles at Google and FAIR after earning their doctoral degree in 2019 from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Strubell’s research lies at the intersection of natural language processing and machine learning, with a focus on providing pragmatic solutions to practitioners who wish to gain insights from natural language text via computation- and data-efficient AI. Their work has been recognized with a Madrona AI Impact Award, best paper awards at ACL and EMNLP, and in 2024 they were named one of the most powerful people in AI by Business Insider.
Chris Telmer
Associate Professor, Tepper School of Business, Carnegie Mellon University
Chris Telmer is an Associate Professor of Financial Economics at Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business. His research interests include the effect of government subsidies on the financing of renewable energy assets, consumption behavior, exchange rate behavior, the effects of labor-market risk on financial markets, and intergenerational mobility. Prior to joining the Tepper School in 1993, he studied at The University of Western Ontario (BA Hons., 1986) and Queen's University at Kingston (PhD, 1992). He has been a visiting scholar in the Federal Reserve System and at universities in Canada, Chile, Japan, Spain and Sweden. He has served as an educational consultant in Japan, The Russian Federation, Spain, Ukraine and on Wall Street. In 1995 he was awarded the Undergraduate Teaching Award, and in 2001 he was awarded the George Leland Bach Award for MBA Teaching, both at the Tepper School of Business. He grew up in the Toronto area and remains an avid supporter of the Maple Leafs.
Lucia Tian
Head of Clean Energy and Decarbonization Technologies, Google
Lucia Tian leads Google’s team responsible for developing and scaling advanced clean energy technologies through strategic investments, offtake, and partnerships, to achieve Google’s global 24/7 carbon-free energy and net zero goals. Prior to Google, Lucia served as Senior Advisor to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Chief Commercialization Officer, and as Chief Strategist for the Loan Programs Office, driving the Pathways to Commercial Liftoff effort to inform DOE’s IIJA and IRA investments. Lucia has built and led strategy & analytics functions across public, private, and non-profit organizations, including at the ACLU and McKinsey & Co. She holds a dual B.S. in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science and B.S. in Economics from MIT, and an M.A. in Economics from Harvard.
Daniel Tkacik
Executive Director, Scott Institute, CMU
Tkacik (pronounced Ta-chick) has been at CMU since 2009, having earned an M.S. and Ph.D. in CMU's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. As a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, Tkacik's research focused on air pollution from combustion systems and helped advance the understanding of secondary organic aerosols -- microscopic airborne particles that form from the oxidation of organic (i.e. carbon-containing) vapors. From 2013-2014, he served as a postdoctoral researcher, traveling around the United States measuring methane emissions from natural gas facilities to gain a better understanding of greenhouse gas emissions from the natural gas sector.
From 2014 to 2022, Tkacik joined CMU's College of Engineering as a communications manager, leading the development of communications strategies and materials to elevate the stature and reputation of the College.
Prior to coming to CMU, Tkacik earned a B.S. in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences from the Georgia Institute of Technology, conducting research on the properties of cloud condensation nuclei and the effects of cloud properties on global climate.
Param Vir Singh
Carnegie Bosch Professor and Associate Dean for Research, Tepper School of Business, Carnegie Mellon University
Param Vir Singh is the Carnegie Bosch Professor of Business Technologies and Marketing and Associate Dean for Research at Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business. A leading expert in AI, economics, and digital transformation, his research on algorithmic bias, economic inequality, and AI sustainability has been frequently cited in the Economic Report of the President, the American Civil Liberties Union, and major outlets like Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, CNN, and Bloomberg. He is the youngest recipient of the INFORMS ISS distinguished fellow award, and at CMU, he drives interdisciplinary collaboration, exploring AI’s role in climate, energy, education, and business innovation.
Marianne Walck
Director, National Energy Technology Laboratory
Marianne Walck, Ph.D., leads the complete NETL complex, including two major components: world-class research and development (R&D) focused on carbon management and resource sustainability and development and execution of a broad spectrum of national energy programs for the U.S. Department of Energy Offices of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; Electricity; and Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response. Walck leads NETL’s more than 1,700 employees, located at three sites across the nation, who are responsible for more than 1,000 R&D projects in 50 states with a total award value of $5 billion. As director, Walck fosters strategic relationships with academic institutions, state and local governments and important carbon management stakeholders. Prior to joining NETL, Walck served as deputy laboratory director for Science and Technology and chief research officer at Idaho National Laboratory. Her prior experience includes 33 years at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), concluding as vice president for SNL’s California laboratory and its Energy and Climate Program. She is a member of numerous societies and councils and is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Walck earned a doctorate and master’s in geophysics from the California Institute of Technology and a bachelor’s in geology/physics from Hope College.
Adam Walters
Senior Energy Advisor, PA DCED
Adam is Senior Energy Advisor for the Department of Community and Economic Development’s Office of Energy. Adam works across public, private, and non-profit sectors to bring energy-related economic development opportunities to the commonwealth. Previously, he was a William Penn Fellow with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development where he supported the agency’s goals of developing business investment and recruitment strategies for the commonwealth in the energy sector. Adam earned his Master of Public Administration from Penn State University and holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations.