Iowa Association for Energy Efficiency

Presenter Information

Pamela Brookstein, Program Director, High Performing Homes, Elevate

Pamela Brookstein leads the market transformation and real estate engagement work for Elevate, a nonprofit dedicated to designing and implementing efficiency programs that ensure the benefits of clean energy reach those who need them most. In her role, she works to ensure the value of high-performing homes is visible in real estate transactions. Pamela developed and teaches classes designed specifically for real estate professionals. Additionally, she researches and writes about consumer reactions to high-performance homes and works to learn what would motivate buyers to invest in energy efficiency upgrades.


Michael Bahr, Sustainability Engineer, Turner Construction

Mike is responsible for helping clients achieve their sustainability goals by implementing efforts in embodied carbon, material selection, hybrid & electric equipment, and other sustainability initiatives. Mike is a leader in embodied carbon and understands the challenges that need to be overcome in sustainability, piloting efforts to track across all A-stages of a building’s lifecycle including best practices for A4 emission estimating and tracking. Mike began in construction as a project manager on complex projects and has LEED AP BD+C and Living Future accreditations. He holds a bachelor's degree in Construction Management from Brigham Young University.


Isaiah Borel, Linn County REC

 

 

 

 


Matt Brown, AIA, President, Formation Group

Matt Brown, AIA, President at Formation Group assists a broad spectrum of clients with their building development, planning, and operational needs. He plays the role of Owner's Representative and approaches each project with a universal life cycle perspective, deliberate planning, intentional strategy, cost effective budgeting, efficient implementation, and constructive reflection throughout the client relationship. He brings out the knowledge, drive, and intention in others to empower evolutionary thinking, and his analogies provide realistic insights into what facilities actually cost to build and operate.

 


 

Ashley Coffin, Associate Director for Center for Energy & Environmental Education, University of Northern Iowa

Ashley Coffin is the Associate Director for the University of Northern Iowa’s Center for Energy & Environmental Education and acting Director of the Green Iowa AmeriCorps program since 2010; the largest environmental stewardship AmeriCorps program is the state of Iowa. Ashley has an undergraduate degree from Valparaiso University in Communication and a Master’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Development along with a Certified Nonprofit Credential. Ashley works with a variety of nonprofits, cities, utilities, schools, and utilities to promote energy efficiency, environmental stewardship, and green job development throughout Iowa


Kathryn Eggers, Manager, Market Solutions & Education, Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance

As Market Solutions & Education Manager, Kathryn coordinates programmatic activities that help MEEA advance energy efficiency for sustainable economic development and environmental stewardship in 13 Midwestern states. Current programs include training courses for building operators and real estate professionals and support for K-12 schools considering facility updates. Prior to joining MEEA Kathryn supported sustainability initiatives as a Manager of ESG at a software company, and as a Project Manager at another Chicago nonprofit. She began her career as an environmental educator and especially enjoyed her jobs as a Park Ranger at Arches National Park and an Educator at the Field Museum.

Kathryn holds a Master of Environmental Management, with a concentration in Energy and Environment, from Duke University and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Outside of work Kathryn enjoys exploring the outdoors, typically on foot or bike, knitting, reading and spending time with family and friends.


Jordan Elliott, Business Development Manager, Pearl Certification’s Public-Private Partnership Division

As Business Development Manager for Pearl Certification’s Public-Private Partnership Division, Jordan brings the benefits of custom home certification programs to the public sector.

Before joining Pearl, Jordan spent nearly five years with Missouri’s State Energy Office, where he managed the Energy Analysis, Coordination, & Education group. Jordan’s team handled everything from designing pass-through funding programs, to organizing Missouri’s energy-planning efforts, to developing strategies for increasing energy workforce participation and energy literacy across the state. Jordan began his career in community banking and received his MBA from William Woods University.

Jordan lives in central Missouri with his wife, enjoys games with family, and, as a third-generation woodworker, loves spending time in the shop.


Steven Guyer, Energy Policy Manager, Iowa Environmental Council

Steve Guyer is the Energy Policy Manager at the Iowa Environmental Council, bringing years of experience and leadership in the energy field. Since 2008 Steve has owned and lead GWA International, a solar installation company based in Altoona that has designed and installed solar systems on the federal courthouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa DNR facilities, and homes and businesses. Prior to operating his own company, Steve held several key environmental positions with Iowa utilities, analyzing environmental laws and impacts, providing counsel on environmental compliance, conducted due diligence, and other critical environmental duties.

Steve is an Iowa native and holds a J.D. from the University of Iowa, a B.A. in Physics from the University of Northern Iowa, and an A.A. in Electronics Engineering from Hawkeye Institute of Technology in Waterloo. He now resides in Altoona and in his spare time enjoys biking and traveling.


Bill Hassel, Turner Construction

 

 

 


Kara Holstrom, Green Iowa AmeriCorps, Northeast Iowa CC

 


Bryan Howard, Policy Advisor for the Building Technologies Office at the Department of Energy

Bryan Howard serves as a Policy Advisor with the Building Technologies Office (BTO) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). On behalf of BTO he leads inter-agency coordination efforts, provides technical assistance to federal agencies and the legislative branch, and shares strategic and policy advice with DOE leadership.

Prior to joining BTO, Bryan served as a Legislative Analyst with the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) at DOE where he responded to inquiries from Members of Congress and their staff, provided briefings and tracked legislation. Prior to joining DOE Bryan worked as the State Policy Director for the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, the Legislative Director for U.S. Green Building Council and a legislative aide in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Bryan earned a bachelor of arts in political science from Mesa State College in 2002.


Craig Just, Donald E. Bently Associate Professor in Engineering Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa

Dr. Craig Just is the Donald E. Bently Associate Professor in Engineering. Dr. Just has nearly 30 years of experience leading fundamental and applied environmental engineering research with expertise in wastewater treatment, analytical chemistry, microbiology, sensors for control of complex systems, anaerobic digestion, and algal biofilms. Dr. Just has over 50 peer-reviewed publications, was PI or co-PI on over $120M in funded research, is an AAAS Leshner Fellow, and has received the Excellence in Teaching Sustainability Award, International Studies Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award, David J. Skorton Award for Staff Excellence in Public Service, College of Engineering Staff Research and Faculty Service Awards, and the University of Iowa President and Provost Award for Teaching Excellence.


Nabin Kendal, Principal Electrical Engineer, Linn County REC

Nabin has more than 20 years of experience in the electric utility industry. He has a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Wichita State University. Registered professional engineer in the state of Iowa. In his free time, he enjoys playing tennis and traveling to new places. Nabin lives in Coralville, Iowa with his wife, two kids and a dog.


Anne Kimber, Director, Electric Power Research Center, Iowa State University

Anne Kimber is the Director of the Electric Power Research Center (EPRC) at Iowa State University. She works with ISU faculty research teams, industry partners and DOE National Laboratories to build collaborations that advance education, research and technology transfer in electric power systems. Together we work to solve the most challenging problems facing the evolving grid with increasing electrification of loads, and integration of new resources such as wind, solar, hydrogen and storage. Projects range from development of better tools for customer-side energy efficiency, demand-response and AMI analysis, to projects integrating distributed energy resources and storage at multiple scales ranging from microgrid development to large scale co-optimized grid expansion planning. EPRC’s industry partners jointly select and fund projects of common interest to the group, and they also participate in ISU DOE and NSF grants, as well as in grants from non-profits and state agencies. Before joining ISU in 2014, she worked for over 14 years with Iowa municipal electric, gas and water utilities at the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities. She is a PE in Mechanical Engineering.


Steve King, AIA, Project Manager and Partner, RDG Planning & Design

Steve King, AIA is project manager and Partner at RDG Planning & Design, highly collaborative, multidisciplinary design firm. King graduated from the University of Kansas where he received a Bachelor of Architecture. His 30-plus years of experience ranges across a variety of project types, from corporate and university projects to historic preservation and adaptive reuse. He has received multiple awards and recognition for his projects and design work. King’s active involvement and leadership in civic and professional organizations keeps him continually open to new approaches and ideas.


David Inghram, PE, LEED AP, Principal IMEG Corp.

David Inghram, PE, LEED AP, Principal at IMEG, manages the design of mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and technology systems for a large variety of building types including commercial, utility, government, institutional, education, data centers, sports, and recreation. He has specialized system experience with geothermal systems, under floor air distribution, chilled water, and boiler systems. He has provided consulting services for high performance buildings assisting building owners in meeting their energy efficiency and operational goals. He is a member of ASHRAE. He received his Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from The University of Iowa.


Joel Logan, Program Manager, Willdan

Joel Logan, PE, is a program manager with Willdan, a nationwide engineering and energy company helping communities transition to clean energy and a sustainable future.  He works with architects, engineers, and building owners to design and operate high performance buildings.  Mr. Logan received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in mechanical engineering from Iowa State University.


Cameron MacKenzie, Iowa State University

Dr. MacKenzie is a faculty member in Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering Department, and studies decision making under uncertainties, and enhances the applicability of this study through risk management.

 


Kellen McSweeney, Program Manager, Slipstream

Kellen is a Program Manager who implements cutting edge utility energy efficiency programs in both the commercial and residential sectors. Kellen works to develop innovative processes and efficiencies that advance the impacts of energy efficiency programs. She is passionate about supporting Slipstream's mission through the programs that she administers.

 


K. Jo Min, Associate Professor, Iowa State University

Dr. K. Jo Min is Associate Professor and Associate Chair in Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering Department at Iowa State University. He conducts research on generation, transmission, and distribution planning of energy with economic consequences, and publish research results in journals such as The Engineering Economist. He also studied rural governments' e-services funded by Carnegie and Sloan Foundations.


Gazi Nazia Nur, Iowa State University

Gazi Nazia Nur is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering at Iowa State University. She earned her B.Sc. degree in Industrial and Production Engineering. Her research interests include operations research and data analytics with applications in supply chain management, logistics, and electrical transmission networks.


Vinoth Sekar, PMP, CEM, WELL AP, LEED AP BD+C, Program Manager, Willdan

Vinoth Sekar, PMP, CEM, WELL AP, LEED AP BD+C, Program Manager at Willdan, manages the implementation and operations for various utility demand side management programs. He has provided consulting services for high performance buildings while assisting utilities, design professionals, and building owners in meeting their energy efficiency goals. He serves as a board member for Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) and USGBC Iowa. He received his Bachelor of Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Anna University in Tamil Nadu, India and Master of Science in Energy Systems from Northeastern University.


Jessica Wagner, Senior Marketing Manager, Slipstream

Jessica is a project management and operations professional with expertise in strategic marketing planning, execution, and project/budget management. She skillfully collaborates with all members across various levels of the organization to achieve business and marketing objectives. Instrumental in streamlining and improving processes, enhancing productivity, and implementing solutions across multi-faceted teams. 

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