Speakers

Kathleen Quinn Abernathy, Chief Legal Officer and Executive Vice President, Frontier Communications
Washington, DC

Kathleen Quinn Abernathy is Chief Legal Officer and Executive Vice President for Frontier Communications, responsible for legal, governmental and regulatory affairs, and public relations. She was a Partner at Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP and previously a Partner at the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP. Abernathy served as a Commissioner with the Federal Communications Commission from 2001 to 2005. As a Commissioner, she chaired the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service and participated as a U.S. representative in numerous international bilateral and multilateral negotiations. Abernathy received her B.A. degree magna cum laude from Marquette University and her J.D. degree from Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law.

Susan Baldwin, Independent Consultant, Telecom Public Policy and Regulation
Newburyport, MA

Susan Baldwin has worked in public policy for 34 years, 28 of them in telecommunications. She served as the Director of the Telecommunications Division for the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities and as a Senior Vice President at the consulting firm Economics and Technology, Inc. She has worked as an independent consultant since 2001, primarily serving government agencies and consumer advocates. Baldwin has testified before 21 Public Utilities Commissions in approximately 60 State proceedings, advised regulators, contributed to hundreds of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) filings, and prepared expert reports in tax proceedings. She has been an invited speaker at many other conferences, testified before State Legislatures, participated in FCC panels, and trained regulatory staff. She has also served as an analyst with various government agencies regarding public welfare and alternative energy. Baldwin holds a B.A. degree in math and English from Wellesley College, a M.A. degree in economics from Boston University, and a M.P.P. degree from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

Robert F. Baur, Ph.D, Chief Global Economist, Principal Global Investors
Des Moines, IA

Robert F. Baur is Managing Director and Chief Global Economist for Principal Global Investors, and is a Vice President for the Principal Financial Group. He establishes and directs global economic policy and strategy, oversees and conducts macro-economic and quantitative research, forecasts economic trends, anticipates market movements, and advises the investment staff in making economically sound investment decisions. Bob also directs macro-economic research for Multi Asset Advisors, an asset allocation boutique of Principal Global Investors. Baur received a Ph.D. in economics and a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Iowa State University. He completed post-doctoral study in finance and economics at the University of Minnesota. Baur is frequently quoted by the financial news media and appears regularly on CNBC and Bloomberg TV.

John Bear, President and Chief Executive Officer, Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator
Carmel, IN

John R. Bear is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO). He has led MISO’s continuous efforts to create and deliver value for all customers through efficient, reliable market operations and system planning. Bear joined MISO in May 2004 and previously served as its President and Chief Operating Officer, overseeing the initial design, implementation and daily operation of MISO’s energy markets and transmission system planning. He has more than 20 years of executive leadership in the utility industry and is a strong proponent of market development and reliable, efficient, and transparent energy market operations.

Philip Bennett, Senior Managing Counsel, American Gas Association
Washington, DC

Philip Bennett is Senior Managing Counsel for the American Gas Association. He oversees regulatory and legislative issues affecting pipeline safety and employee safety. Bennett joined the American Gas Association in 2000. He has argued in federal court before the Northern District of Illinois and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and is a professional engineer in Texas and a member of the Texas Bar. He worked for 12 years with the DuPont Company in engineering design, operations, and environmental compliance. Previously, Bennett managed pipeline safety, employee safety, and risk engineering for MidCon Corporation, which is now owned by Kinder Morgan. His undergraduate degree is in chemical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh in 1978, and he received his law degree from the University of Houston in 1992.

Philip Bowie, Executive Director - Public Policy, AT&T
Washington, DC

Philip Bowie is Executive Director of Public Policy at AT&T in Washington D.C. He started his career with AT&T (formerly SBC Communications) in 1997 and has held several positions in its marketing and regulatory departments with a specific focus on wholesale. Bowie has been in AT&T’s Public Policy organization since 2004 and is responsible for development of state and federal public policy for wholesale-related regulatory matters. He graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso with a degree in Business Administration.

Commissioner David Boyd, Chairman, Minnesota Public Utilities Commission
St. Paul, MN

David C. Boyd has been a member of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission since 2007 and has served three years as its Chairman. He serves on the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ Board of Directors, Committee on Electricity, Committee on International Relations, Subcommittee on Clean Coal and Carbon Sequestration, Subcommittee on Education and Research, and Subcommittee on Nuclear Issues-Waste Disposal, which he chairs. He is a member of the National Regulatory Research Institute Board of Directors and the Executive Committee Member of the Nuclear Waste Strategy Coalition. He is a member of the Organization of Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator States (OMS) Board of Directors, and its Treasurer, and the OMS Executive Committee. He previously co-chaired the Upper Midwest Transmission Development Initiative. He holds a B.A. degree with majors in biology and chemistry from St. Olaf College, and a Ph.D. degree in chemistry from the University of Minnesota.

Peter Bradford, Adjunct Professor, Vermont Law School, and former chair New York and Maine utility regulation commissions and former member of Nuclear Regulatory Commission
South Royalton, VT

A former member of the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission and former chair of the New York and Maine utility regulatory commissions, Peter Bradford has taught at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and currently is an Adjunct Professor at Vermont Law School teaching “Nuclear Power and Public Policy.” He recently chaired Vermont’s Public Oversight Panel on the reliability of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant and will serve as one of Vermont’s two representatives on the Texas-Vermont Low Level Waste Disposal Compact Commission. Bradford is a member of the China Sustainable Energy Policy Council. He has served panels on the remaining Chernobyl nuclear plants in Ukraine and the opening of the Mochovce nuclear power plant in Slovakia and the Keystone Center collaborative on nuclear power and climate change. Bradford is the author of “Fragile Structures: A Story of Oil Refineries, National Securities and the Coast of Maine” and many articles. He is a graduate of Yale University and the Yale Law School and is Vice Chair of the board of The Union of Concerned Scientists.

Terry E. Branstad, Iowa Governor, Chair of the Midwestern Governors Association (MGA) and the Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition, Vice Chair of the Governors’ Biofuels Coalition
Des Moines, IA

The Honorable Terry E. Branstad is the MARC 2012 guest speaker for the Iowa Luncheon. Branstad is serving his fifth term as Iowa Governor. Branstad was Iowa’s longest-serving governor, from 1983 to 1999. Following his four terms as governor, Branstad served as president of Des Moines University (DMU). In October of 2009, Branstad retired from DMU to explore running again for governor in 2010. He launched his campaign in January of 2010 and he won the Republican primary in June. He was elected as Iowa’s governor on November 2, 2010 and was sworn into office on January 14, 2011.

Phillip Brown, Director of State/Federal Policy and Broadband Planning, Connected Nation
Louisville, KY

Phillip K. Brown is Connected Nation’s Director of State/Federal Policy and Broadband Planning. He played a key role in managing a coalition that facilitated the passage and enactment of the Broadband Data Improvement Act, and that supported the funding of key elements of the telecommunications law in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Under programs enabled by the State Broadband Data and Development Program, Brown has played a leading role in the development of broadband planning reports for several U.S. states with which Connected Nation has partnered. Prior to joining Connected Nation, Brown was the Director of Government Relations for the Association of Public Television Stations and spent more than six years working for the U.S. House of Representatives in senior staff positions. He received a B.A. degree in international relations from Centre College.

Thomas M. Bruns, President, Aqua Indiana
Indianapolis, IN

Thomas M. Bruns serves as President of Aqua Indiana, a subsidiary of Aqua America, where he manages its water and wastewater operations throughout Indiana. Bruns was previously Vice President at Indianapolis Water Company, and responsible for record expansion of its customer base and regional service territory in the late 1990’s. In 38 years of public and private sector experience in the water resources field, he held various positions with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and served as its Deputy Director for Water and Mineral Resources.

Paul Burgener, BP Company
Chicago, IL

Paul Burgener joined BP in April 2005, to work with BP’s Midwest customers to provide physical and financial risk management product offerings across natural gas, power, natural gas liquids, and crude. Burgener has more than 20 years of risk management, commodity, and trading experience, primarily in the energy sector. He has a B.B.A. degree in economics from the University of Iowa and a M.B.A. degree in finance from DePaul University

Timothy Butters, Deputy Administrator, United States Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Washington, DC

Timothy P. Butters is the Deputy Administrator of the United States Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. He formerly served as Assistant Chief of Operations for the Fairfax Fire Department in northern Virginia. He also served as the chairman of the Hazardous Materials Committee for the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and as a member of the National Capital Region Incident Management Team. Butters served as Managing Director of the Chemical Transportation Emergency Center, Director of Government Affairs for the IAFC, and Senior Manager with the United States Fire Administration/Federal Emergency Management Agency. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and economics from James Madison University.

Jill Canfield, Director, Legal and Industry Division, National Telecommunications Cooperative Association
Arlington, VA

Jill Canfield is Director of the Legal and Industry Division of the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association (NTCA). Canfield prepares many of NTCA’s pleadings for submission to the Federal Communications Commission, federal courts, and other agencies. Canfield also provides expert assistance addressing NTCA member issues involving legal, regulatory, and industry matters. Before joining NTCA in 1998, Canfield was an associate at a Washington, D.C., law firm specializing in telecommunications law. Canfield holds a B.S. degree from the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and a J.D. degree from Syracuse University College of Law. She is a member of the New York State and District of Columbia bars and is certified for corporate practice in Virginia. She worked in broadcasting before attending law school. Canfield serves on the Board of Directors of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Capitol Chapter.

Frank Clemente, Senior Professor, Penn State University and former Director of Penn State Environmental Policy Center
University Park, PA

Frank Clemente is a Senior Professor in the graduate faculty at Penn State University and the former Director of the Penn State Environmental Policy Center. Professor Clemente’s research specialization is the socio-economic impact of energy policy, especially on families, minorities, business, and communities. His work has been published in such energy related media as Public Utilities Fortnightly, Electric Light & Power, Electrical World, Nuclear News, World Oil, American Coal, Oil and Gas Journal, and Journal of Commerce. His research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, and Ford Foundation. Professor Clemente was first listed in the social science section of American Men and Women of Science in 1979. He has a doctorate in demography from the University of Tennessee, where he was named Distinguished Alumnus. The Senior Class of 2008 voted him the "Best Professor" at Penn State.

Richard Cortright, Jr., Managing Director, Standard & Poor’s
New York, NY

Richard W. Cortright, Jr. is a Managing Director in Standard & Poor's United States Utilities and Infrastructure Ratings group. He is engaged in the analysis and communication of ratings on utility credits. He is a principal spokesperson for Standard & Poor's in the utility sector and leads the department's efforts in communications with state commissions and other related entities. His responsibilities also include maintaining the quality of ratings, meeting with utility management and investors, chairing rating committees, and contributing to Standard & Poor's publications.

Ken Costello, Principal – Natural Gas Research and Policy, National Regulatory Research Institute
Silver Springs, MD

Ken Costello is Principal, Natural Gas Research and Policy, at the National Regulatory Research Institute. He has conducted extensive research and written widely on topics related to the energy industries and public utility regulation. His research has appeared in books, technical reports and monographs, and scholarly and trade publications. Costello has also provided training and consulting services to several foreign countries. He previously worked for the Illinois Commerce Commission, the Argonne National Laboratory, Commonwealth Edison Company, and as an independent consultant. He received B.S. and M.A. degrees from Marquette University and completed two years of doctoral work at the University of Chicago.

Commissioner Swati Dandekar, Iowa Utilities Board
Des Moines, IA

Swati Dandekar has been a member of Iowa Utilities Board since September 2011. She serves on the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners Committee on Telecommunications and is the Board representative to the Advisory Council of the Iowa Energy Center, a voting member of the North American Numbering Council, and a member of the Mid-America Regulatory Conference. She also serves on the advisory board of the National Science Foundation’s Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research. Prior to joining the Board, Dandekar served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 2002 until 2008 and was elected to the Iowa Senate in 2008. She was the chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, vice-chair of the Economic Development Budget Subcommittee, and was elected President of the National Foundation of Women Legislators for 2011.

H.B. "Trip" Doggett, President and CEO, Electric Reliability Council of Texas
Austin, TX

H.B. “Trip” Doggett was named President and Chief Executive Officer of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) in May 2010. Doggett has also served as ERCOT Interim President, Chief Operating Officer, and Senior Vice President. He has 29 years of experience in the electric power industry, including seven years as an independent consultant in the ERCOT market. He chaired the Texas Nodal Transition Plan Task Force and also served as an independent facilitator for the Texas Nodal Team, a stakeholder team that developed the ERCOT nodal protocols. Prior to leading the market engagement and readiness team, he was involved in the stakeholder development and implementation of the zonal protocols. He worked 22 years for Duke Energy where he led projects in transmission substation engineering and was part of the team that launched the California Independent System Operator. Doggett is a Registered Professional Engineer and earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Deborah Erwin, President, Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System, Inc.
Madison, WI

Deborah Erwin is President of Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System, Inc., the regional non-profit that oversees the M-RETS renewable energy credit tracking system. She is the renewable energy specialist at the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. Prior to joining the Commission staff in 2008, Erwin practiced renewable energy law, working on project development, land leasing, and permitting. She oversees compliance with Wisconsin’s Renewable Portfolio Standard and advises the Commission and stakeholders on renewable energy issues. Erwin holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and a J.D. degree from the University of Minnesota Law School.

Bill Fehrman, President and CEO, MidAmerican Energy Company
Des Moines, IA

William J. Fehrman is President and Chief Executive Officer of MidAmerican Energy Company and President of MidAmerican Renewables, LLC. Both companies are subsidiaries of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company, a global leader in the production of energy from diversified fuel sources, including coal, natural gas, wind, solar, hydroelectric, nuclear, geothermal, and biomass. MidAmerican is also a leader in the supply and distribution of energy in the United States and United Kingdom consumer markets with approximately 6.9 million electricity and natural gas customers.

Paul Foran, Vice President and Counsel – Regulatory Programs, American Water
Voorhees, NJ

Paul G. Foran is the American Water Vice President and Counsel for Regulatory Programs. He is responsible for system-wide facilitation, support, and coordination of regulatory activities. Prior to joining American Water in November 1999, Foran was a partner in an Illinois law firm where he represented parties before the Illinois Commerce Commission. From 1986 to mid-1993, Foran served as a Commissioner of the Illinois Commerce Commission and was Chair of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ Water Committee. He was appointed by the Environmental Protection Agency and served as a member of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council and was a member of the Public Council on Water Supply Research of the American Water Works Association Research Foundation.

Commissioner Lula Ford, Illinois Commerce Commission
Chicago, IL

Lula M. Ford is the first African-American woman to be appointed as a Commissioner in the 90-year history of the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). During her tenure at the ICC, she has served as Chair of its Gas Policy Committee. Additionally, Ford was appointed to the United States Department of Transportation’s Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee and served a term as President of the Organization of PJM States. A native of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Ford received a B.S. degree from the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff and was awarded Master’s degrees from Northeastern University and the University of Illinois-Champaign/Urbana.

Beth Fujimoto, Executive Director – Public Policy, AT&T
Seattle, WA

Beth Fujimoto, AT&T Executive Director of Public Policy, is responsible its state and federal policy development and advocacy support on wireline, wireless, and broadband universal service issues. Prior to joining AT&T, Fujimoto served as Director of External Affairs for Cingular Wireless, responsible for policy development and advocacy support on various wireless industry public policy issues. She previously also served as State Regulatory Counsel for AT&T Wireless, responsible for state regulatory matters. Before joining AT&T Wireless, Fujimoto was a partner in a Honolulu law firm, with an emphasis in government and regulatory affairs.

Bob Gnapp, Director, Demand Assurance and Network Analysis, National Electrical Contractors Association
Whipping, NJ

Bob Gnapp is Director of Demand Assurance and Network Analysis for the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). Gnapp began his telecommunications career in 1989 when he joined NECA’s Rate Development Department. He has since held several management positions with varied areas of responsibility including settlements coordination, cost study and Universal Service Fund analysis, CABS auditing, tariff interpretation, and member company training. In 2007, Gnapp accepted his current position with NECA. In this position, he heads a department that is responsible for the identification and resolution of issues related to changing demand, the analysis of evolving networks and technology, and the advancement of rural broadband availability and adoption.

Joe Goffman, Senior Counsel to the Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, United States Environmental Protection Agency
Washington, DC

Joseph Goffman has been Senior Counsel to the Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation at the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) since October 2009. During his tenure, he has worked on, among others, the Tailoring Rule, the Transport Rule, the Utility Toxics Rule, and related climate change and air quality rules. Goffman previously served as Majority Senior Counsel to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), focusing on climate change, clean air, and energy issues. He has held senior legal, policy, and management positions at the Environmental Defense Fund. He also played a key role in developing and drafting the landmark Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and implementing rules, which established, among other things, the nation’s first “cap and trade” program for air pollution. Goffman received his J.D. degree from Yale Law School and graduated from Yale College.

Greg Gordon, Senior Managing Director, International Strategy and Investment Power & Utilities Research Group
New York City, NY

Greg Gordon has been a Senior Managing Director, overseeing the International Strategy and Investment Power & Utilities Research Group since 2011. From 2004 to 2010, Gordon was ranked as one of the top analysts in his field by both Institutional Investor Magazine and Greenwich Associates. Previously, he led the Power & Utilities research effort at Morgan Stanley worked for Citigroup, and covered the power industry at Goldman Sachs and CIBC World Markets, Inc. Additionally, he worked at Regulatory Research Associates, where he analyzed regulatory issues and developments in the electric, gas, and telecommunications industries. Gordon graduated from Drew University in 1992 and is a C.F.A. charter holder.

Commissioner Kevin Gunn, Chair, Missouri Public Service Commission
Jefferson City, MO

Kevin Gunn has served on the Missouri Public Service Commission since March 2008 and as its Chairman since February 2011. Previously, Gunn was an attorney in private law practice in St. Louis, practicing primarily in government affairs. He was chief of staff to Representative Richard A. Gephardt and worked on his congressional campaign before forming Gunn Communications LLC. Gunn was appointed to the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Board of Directors in 2009 and currently serves on NARUC’s Committee on International Relations and Committee on Electricity. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Eastern Interconnection States’ Planning Collaborative as well as the Eastern Interconnection Planning Collaborative its Stakeholder Steering Committee. Gunn received his B.A. degree in political science from American University and earned his J.D. degree from St. Louis University School of Law.

Commissioner Darrell Hanson, Iowa Utilities Board
Des Moines, IA

Darrell Hanson, current MARC President, was appointed to the Iowa Utilities Board in 2007. He serves on the following NARUC committees and subcommittees: Gas, International Relations, Nuclear Issues – Waste Disposal, and Education & Research. He is a member of the Financial Research Institute advisory board and the Eastern Interconnection States Planning Council (EISPC). He served eight terms in the Iowa House of Representatives. Hanson’s professional career includes service with Iowa State University Extension, Senior Director of Transportation and Economic Development for the Iowa Northland Regional Council of Governments, and university instructor (economics and political science). He is a former member of the Manchester, IA City Council and Delaware County Economic Development commission, and chairman of the Manchester Enterprise Zone Commission and the Manchester Local Access Cable Television Committee. In the mid-1980’s he served as Chairman of the Iowa Professional and Occupational Regulatory Commission, and from 2000 to 2007 he served on the Iowa Environmental Protection Commission including three terms as commission Chair.

Greg Harper, Senior Vice President and Group President – Pipelines and Field Services, Center Point Energy
Houston, TX

C. Gregory Harper is the Senior Vice President and Group President of CenterPoint Energy’s pipelines and field services businesses. He oversees operations, engineering, marketing, strategic planning, and business development. Harper is also First Vice Chairman of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America. Prior to joining CenterPoint Energy in 2008, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Spectra Energy Partners, LP, a $1.6 billion master limited partnership formed by Spectra Energy. He was Business Development and Marketing Manager for Texas Eastern and Algonquin Gas Transmission, Vice President of East Tennessee Natural Gas, and Group Vice President of Duke Energy’s North American energy trading and merchant business. Harper started his career as an engineer for Texas Eastern Transmission Corporation. The Owensboro, Kentucky, native received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Kentucky. He is an honors graduate of the University of Houston’s M.B.A. program and has completed executive development programs at Rice University and Harvard Business School.

Mark Hewett, President and Chief Executive Officer, MidAmerican Energy Pipeline Group
Omaha, NE

Mark Hewett was selected President of Northern Natural Gas following MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company’s purchase of the company in 2002. He previously served in several management positions at MidAmerican Energy Company. Northern operates a 14,900-mile natural gas transmission pipeline in 11 states. In 2007, his group assumed responsibility for Kern River Gas Transmission Company, a 1,700-mile pipeline extending from Wyoming into California. The MidAmerican Energy Pipeline Group delivers about eight percent of the natural gas consumed in the United States. Hewett holds a bachelor’s degree in management science from Buena Vista University.

Jeff Hicken, Manager, Gas Trading and Dispatch, Alliant Energy Company
Madison, WI

Jeff Hicken has served as Manager of Gas Trading and Dispatch for Alliant Energy Company in Madison, Wisconsin, since 2006. He oversees gas trading, dispatch and scheduling operations for both of Alliant Energy’s local distribution companies, Wisconsin Power and Light Company and Interstate Power and Light Company, which operate gas and electric utilities in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. He first joined Alliant Energy (Wisconsin Power and Light) in 1990 and worked as a gas distribution engineer before becoming a gas trader for the utility in 1997. Hicken joined Chevron U.S.A. in 1980 and served as a designs engineer and designs engineering manager in the El Segundo, California, refinery until 1989. Hicken received a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin- Madison.

Frank Hilton, Vice President of Information Technology, Iowa Network Services
Des Moines, IA

Frank Hilton joined Iowa Network Services, Inc. (INS) in 1998 as Director of Information Technology and was appointed Vice President of Information Services in 2001. INS is a Centralized Equal Access (CEA) provider located in Iowa. In addition to traditional information technology responsibilities, Hilton plans for known changes in the business and regulatory environment and potential unforeseen events. His INS team is responsible for providing accurate, complete, and secure call detail records to carriers to help ensure accurate billings. Hilton is a member and past-president of the Iowa CIO forum, which is an association of information technology executives. He is also very active in his local school district as a volunteer in five different parent groups; including board president of a city-wide parent association. Prior to INS, Frank spent three years in telecom sales and 23 years as an information technology professional, mostly in the transportation industry. He is a graduate of Upper Iowa University with a degree in business management.

Commissioner Colette Honorable, Chairman, Arkansas Public Service Commission
Little Rock, AR

Colette D. Honorable serves as Chairman of the Arkansas Public Service Commission and Mid-America Regulatory Conference Vice President. She also serves as National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Second Vice President and is a member of NARUC’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors, Committee on Gas, Audit and Investment Committees, White House Smart Grid Working Group and Pipeline Safety Task Force. Honorable is a native of Little Rock, Arkansas, and is a graduate of the University of Memphis (formerly Memphis State University). She obtained her J.D. degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law.

Commissioner Orjiakor Isiogu, Michigan Public Service Commission
Lansing, MI

Orjiakor N. Isiogu has served on the Michigan Public Service Commission (PUC) since September 2007. Commissioner Isiogu has more than two decades of experience in public service and the regulation of public utilities and telecommunications services. Prior to his Commissioner appointment, he served as the Director of the Telecommunications Division for the PUC and as an Assistant Attorney General in the Special Litigation Division of the Michigan Attorney General's office. He is Co-Chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission/National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Smart Response Collaborative, and also served as Co-Chair of NARUC's White House Smart Grid Working Group. Isiogu is Co-Vice Chair of the NARUC Committee on Telecommunications and a member of its International Relations Committee.

Commissioner Elizabeth “Libby” Jacobs, Chair, Iowa Utilities Board
Des Moines, IA

Elizabeth S. Jacobs has served as Chair of the Iowa Utilities Board since May 2011. Jacobs is a member of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners Committee on Electricity and Subcommittee on Nuclear Issues-Waste Disposal and the Mid-America Regulatory Conference. She represents Iowa on the Board of the Organization of MISO States and is a voting member on the Eastern Interconnection States Planning Council. Jacobs served in the Iowa House of Representatives from 1994 to 2008. She served as Majority Whip and sat on the Commerce, State Government and Appropriations Committees. She co-chaired several interim committees, including a study committee on the Iowa Communications Network. Just prior to joining the Board, Jacobs was president of The Jacobs Group, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in strategic planning, board development, community outreach, and fund development.

Pat Kampling, CEO, President, and Chairperson of the Board, Alliant Energy
Madison, WI

Pat Kampling is Chairperson of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Alliant Energy Corporation. Since joining Alliant Energy in 2005, she has also held the positions of Chief Financial Officer, and President and Chief Operating Officer. She is Chairman of the Alliant Energy Board of Directors and a member of the Boards of Directors of American Transmission Company, Briggs & Stratton Corporation, American Gas Association, and Wisconsin Manufacturers Commerce. Kampling previously worked for more than 20 years with Exelon Corporation. She holds bachelor’s degrees in Engineering and Economics from Swathmore College, an M.B.A. degree from the University of Chicago Booth School, and is a registered Professional Engineer.

Frank Kartmann, President, Missouri American Water
St. Louis, MO

Frank Kartmann has served as President of Missouri American Water since May 2009. In more than 20 years, he has also been Director of Network Operations for American Water’s former central region of six Midwest states, Vice President of Operations, and Vice President of Engineering. He is a founding member of the Metro Water Infrastructure Partnership, serves on the board of the Missouri Energy Development Association, and is a member of the American Water Works Association and the National Association of Water Companies. Kartmann earned a master’s degree in business administration from Washington University in St. Louis, a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Missouri, Rolla, and a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from the University of Illinois.

Commissioner Robert S. Kenney, Missouri Public Service Commission
Jefferson City, MO

Robert S. Kenney is a member of the Missouri Public Service Commission. He is an active member of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, serving as Co-Vice Chair of the Committee on Energy Resources and the Environment. Kenney currently serves as President of the Organization of Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator States. Previously, Kenney was Chief of Staff to the Missouri Attorney General and a litigator with a large St. Louis law firm. He was also a Missouri Assistant Attorney General in the Consumer Protection Division. Kenney earned his undergraduate degree from Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia, and his law degree from Saint Louis University School of Law.

Stephen J. Klejst, Director – Railroad, Pipeline, and Hazardous Materials Investigations, National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC

Stephen J. Klejst was named the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Director of the Office of Railroad, Pipeline, and Hazardous Materials Investigations in July 2010. He is responsible for directing the investigation of accidents involving railroads, pipelines and incidents in which hazardous materials are involved. Klejst first joined the NTSB in 2008 as a railroad accident investigator. Previously, Klejst served over 30 years with NJ Transit Rail Operations and Conrail. Klejst has been an active member of several American Public Transportation Association committees. He received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania and a M.S. degree in management from the Stevens Institute of Technology.

Commissioner Larry Landis, Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission
Indianapolis, IN

Larry Landis has been a Commissioner on the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) for nearly nine years. He serves on the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service, the Federal-State Joint Conference on Advanced Telecommunications Services (as State Chair), and the Board of Directors of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. In addition, he co-chairs the IURC Financial Taskforce, created in the wake of the 2008-2009 market collapse; and was Vice Chair and Chair of the Advisory Board of the Financial Research Institute at the University of Missouri’s Trulaske School of Business. Landis is also a member of the Society of Utility and Regulatory Financial Analysts and a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Computer Society. Landis worked for 30 years in the private sector before his appointment as a Commissioner.

Joel Lubin, Vice President, Public Policy, AT&T Services Inc.
Washington, DC

Joel E. Lubin is Vice President-Public Policy of AT&T Services, where he oversees universal service policy and planning initiatives as well as the development and economic support of state and federal inter-carrier compensation. He has worked for AT&T companies for more than 40 years. Lubin has testified before the Federal Communications Commission, Federal-State Joint Boards, and Congressional Committees numerous times, addressing both access and universal service issues. The Federal-State Joint Board appointed him to a multi-year Rural Task Force to address universal service issues associated with rural telephone companies. Lubin is serving a fourth term on the Universal Service Administration Company (USAC) Board and is Chairman of the High Cost and Low Income Committee of USAC. He has a B.A. degree in mathematics from Wilkes University, M.S. degree in from Columbia University, and M.B.A. degree from Fordham University.

Carol Mattey, Deputy Bureau Chief - Wireline Competition Bureau, Federal Communications Commission
Washington, DC

Carol Mattey is Deputy Bureau Chief of the Federal Communication Commission’s Wireline Competition Bureau. She was as a senior policy advisor on the FCC Omnibus Broadband Initiative, focusing on developing the universal service recommendations in the National Broadband Plan. She has more than 25 years of experience developing telecommunications public policy and advising private sector clients on the intersection of business and regulation. Mattey was a director at Deloitte & Touche LLP from 2005 to 2009, providing consulting services to telecommunications companies, media companies, and private equity firms. Prior to 2005, she served ten years at the FCC, five years in the position she currently holds. Mattey also worked at the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, advising the Administration on communications policy and privacy issues.

Commissioner Carolene Mays, Indiana Regulatory Commission
Indianapolis, IN

Carolene Mays serves on the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission and is Treasurer of the Mid-America Regulatory Conference. She is Co-Vice Chair of Critical Infrastructure and serves on the Water and the Washington Action Committees for the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. Formerly, she served in the Indiana House of Representatives and was President of the Indianapolis Recorder newspaper and the Indiana Minority Business Magazine, as well as a television talk show host. She received several Legislator of the Year awards. Roll Call named her a "Rising star in Indiana politics" and the Indianapolis Business Journal designated her one of "Indiana's most influential women.”

Kent Miller, Vice President – Customer Service and Business Development, Northern Natural Gas
Omaha, NE

Kent Miller is Vice President of Customer Service and Business Development for Northern Natural Gas. He oversees the company’s commercial activities, including marketing, business development, scheduling, billing, and contracting. From 1981 to 1986, Miller worked in the Operations and Engineering Division of Northern Natural Gas in Minneapolis and held engineering and facility planning positions in its Omaha office. Miller relocated to Houston in 1986 and worked in facility planning and marketing for Transwestern, Florida Gas Transmission, Northern Natural Gas, and Houston Pipeline. In 1990, Miller returned to Omaha where he has held various positions managing Northern Natural Gas transportation and storage businesses. He received his B.S. degree in civil engineering from Iowa State.

David Monie, President, G.P.M. Associates Inc.
Cherry Hill, NJ

David R. Monie has been President of G.P.M. Associates Inc., a water engineering and management consultant firm, since 1976. In addition to consulting work, including providing expert testimony on tariff design and cost of service for water and wastewater systems, G.P.M. owns and operates three small water and sewer utilities in New Jersey. Monie is a civil engineering graduate of Tufts University and spent time in the Army and with the Consumers Water Company (now Aqua America) system prior to forming G.P.M. David has been active in the National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) for more than 30 years and is currently the small company representative to the NAWC Executive Committee. He was formerly Chairman of the NAWC Small Companies Committee and NAWC New Jersey Chapter.

Commissioner John Norris, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and former Chair, Iowa Utilities Board
Washington, DC

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) member John R. Norris, a former Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) Chair, will discuss the latest issues affecting energy utilities at the national and regional level. Norris most recently served as Chief of Staff to Secretary Tom Vilsack of the United States Department of Agriculture. During his tenure as IUB Chair, Commissioner Norris served on the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Electricity Committee and was Co-Chair of the 2009 National Electricity Delivery Forum. He was also a Board Member, Secretary and President of the Organization of Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator States. Norris was Chairman of the Iowa Electric Restructuring Task Force while serving as Chief of Staff for then-Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack. He also served as Chief of Staff for United States Representative Leonard Boswell. Norris graduated with distinction from the College of Law at the University of Iowa in 1995 and earned his undergraduate degree in 1981 from Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa.

Commissioner Ellen Nowak, Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
Madison, WI

Ellen Nowak is a member of the Wisconsin Public Service Commission. Prior to her July 2011 appointment to the Commission, she was the Chief of Staff to Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas. From 2002 to 2006, she was the legal counsel and then Chief of Staff to the Speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly. Nowak also worked as the Deputy Director of School Choice Wisconsin. From 1998 to 2002, she practiced business litigation at Mallery & Zimmerman, SC in Milwaukee. Nowak holds a B.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and a law degree from Marquette University.

Commissioner Erin O’Connell-Diaz, Illinois Commerce Commission
Chicago, IL

Erin O'Connell-Diaz was appointed a Commissioner on the Illinois Commerce Commission in 2003 and was reappointed in 2008. She is Chair of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Electricity Committee and a member of the NARUC Rate School Faculty and Advisory Board of the NARUC Critical Consumer Issues Forum. She serves on the NARUC Board of Directors and NARUC Committees on Water, Utility Marketplace Access, International Relations and Critical Infrastructure. O’Connell-Diaz serves on the Electric Power Research Institute Advisory Council and is also a member of the Harvard Electric Policy Group. She was an Illinois Assistant Attorney General in the General Law Division, Illinois Commerce Commission Administrative Law Judge, and Assistant Director of the Commission’s Administrative Law Division. O'Connell-Diaz received her B.S. degree in history and government from St. Mary's College of Notre Dame and her J.D. degree from Loyola University School of Law.

Preston Padden, Adjunct Professor, University of Colorado School of Law
Boulder, CO

Preston Padden had a 38 year career in the media business holding the following positions: Assistant General Counsel, Metromedia; President, The Association of Independent Television Stations; President, Network Distribution, Fox Broadcasting Company; Chairman and CEO, American Sky Broadcasting (merged into Dish Network); President, ABC Television Network; and Executive Vice-President, Government Relations, The Walt Disney Company. He worked directly for CEO’s including Rupert Murdoch, Barry Diller, Michael Eisner and Bob Iger, and served on the Boards of The National Association of Broadcasters and The Motion Picture Association of America. Mr. Padden helped to launch the Fox Broadcast Network, secured waivers of multiple Federal regulations for News Corporation, and secured legislation extending by 20 years the term of U.S. copyrights. Currently, Mr. Padden is an Adjunct Professor at the University Of Colorado School Of Law and at the University’s Interdisciplinary Telecommunications Program. He is a Senior Fellow and Board Member at the University’s Silicon Flatirons Center for Law, Technology and Entrepreneurship and on the Advisory Board of Grotech Ventures, a private equity investment firm.

Randy Pankiewicz, Environmental Compliance Manager, Illinois American Water Company
Belleville, IL

Randy Pankiewicz is the Water Quality and Environmental Compliance Manager for Illinois American Water Company. He has been with the American Water system for 31 years and has held positions in water quality, operations, and environmental management. Pankiewicz is also a Class A water treatment plant operator in Pennsylvania. He is a member of American Water Works Association, Water Environment Federation, and Pennsylvania Water Environment Association. Pankiewicz has a B.S. degree in chemistry from the California University of Pennsylvania.

Michael J. Parsen, Hydrogeologist, Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey
Madison, WI

For the past two years, Michael J. Parsen has led the development of a groundwater flow model for Dane County, Wisconsin. Given the reliance upon deep aquifers for drinking water in that area, a groundwater model is critical for ensuring the sustainable use and management of this precious resource. In 2005, Parsen worked for URS in France as an environmental engineer and hydro geologist. In 2009, he returned to Wisconsin to work as a hydro-geologist and project manager at Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey. A Madison native, Parsen attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison as an undergraduate, majoring in geological engineering, geology and geophysics, and history. Parsen pursued his master’s degree in hydrogeology and water resources management at the University of Neuchâtel in Switzerland.

Michael Pendergast, Vice President-Associate General Counsel, Laclede Gas Company
St. Louis, MO

Michael C. Pendergast is Vice President-Associate General Counsel of Laclede Gas Company. Pendergast joined Laclede in 1993 and served as Assistant General Counsel and Associate General Counsel before being elected Assistant Vice President-Associate General Counsel in 1999. He assumed his current position in 2002. Laclede Gas Company is the largest subsidiary of The Laclede Group, Inc. and the largest natural gas distribution company in Missouri, serving more than 630,000 customers in the St. Louis area and surrounding counties in Eastern Missouri. Pendergast previously was the managing regulatory attorney for Western Resources, Inc. from 1987 to 1993, Missouri Public Service Commission Assistant General Counsel from 1984 to 1987, and Missouri Office of the Public Counsel’s Assistant Public Counsel from 1981 to 1984. Pendergast holds a B.A. degree in political science from the University of Kansas and a J.D. degree from the University of Kansas School of Law.

Johannes Pfeifenberger, Principal, Brattle Group
Cambridge, MA

Johannes (Hannes) Pfeifenberger is a Principal at the Brattle Group, where he leads the firm’s utility practice area. He has a background in power engineering and more than 20 years of experience public utility economics and finance. He has had articles published widely, assisted clients and stakeholder groups with business and regulatory strategy, and submitted expert testimony to the United States Congress, courts, state and federal regulatory agencies, and in arbitration proceedings. Pfeifenberger has extensive experience in the economic analyses of electricity wholesale markets, resource adequacy, and transmission systems. He received his M.A. degree in economics and finance from Brandeis University and M.S. degree in power engineering and energy economics from the University of Technology in Vienna, Austria.

Mary M. Pietrzyk , Manager of Fuel Cycle Policy and Programs , Nuclear Energy Institute
Washington, DC

Mary Pietrzyk (pronounced Pea-trick) is the Manager of Fuel Cycle Policy and Programs at the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI). She supports NEI’s efforts to define and implement industry policy related to current and advanced nuclear fuel cycles, addressing both the front and back end of the fuel cycle. As part of her role in overall nuclear policy development, she also manages NEI’s strategic planning activities. Pietrzyk is also responsible for outreach activities to the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners and its regional organizations on issues related to the commercial nuclear industry. Pietrzyk holds a B.A. degree in history and international affairs from Loyola University Chicago and a M.A. degree in international affairs from George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs.

Stephen Pociask, President, American Consumer Institute Center for Citizen Research
Washington, DC

Stephen B. Pociask is President of the American Consumer Institute Center for Citizen Research, a nonprofit educational and research institute. He has testified before Congress, as well as federal and state regulatory commissions. His numerous studies include two reports for the Office of Advocacy for the Small Business Administration and three books for the Economic Policy Institute. He is a member of the Federal Communications Commission’s Consumer Advisory Committee, and is also on its Universal Service Fund, Broadband, Media and Consumer Empowerment subcommittees. He has completed his Ph.D. coursework in economics and has a M.A. degree in economics from George Mason University.

Commissioner John Quackenbush, Chairman, Michigan Public Service Commission
Lansing, MI

John D. Quackenbush has served as Chairman of the Michigan Public Service Commission since his appointment in September 2011. Quackenbush is a member of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners Committee on Consumer Affairs and Committee on Gas. He is also a member of the Advisory Council for Utilities 2020. Quackenbush previously worked for UBS Global Asset Management for 10 years, most recently as managing director and senior investment analyst responsible for equity research for the transportation, utilities and coal industries in the U.S. and Canada. He also worked as manager of the Sprint Corporation Treasury Department and Sprint Corporation Local Telecom Division and was a senior financial analyst with the Illinois Commerce Commission. Quackenbush was named a Top Gun U.S. Industrials Investment Mind in 2011 by Brendan Wood International. He earned certification as a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) in 1993 and is a member of the CFA Institute and CFA Society of Chicago. He served as a board member of the Society of Utility and Regulatory Financial Analysts. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business economics from Calvin College and a master’s degree in finance from Michigan State University.

Jim A. Roth, Chair - Alternative Energy Practice Group, Phillips Murrah P.C., and President, A New Energy, LLC
Oklahoma City, OK

Commissioner Jim A. Roth represents the Oklahoma City-based Phillips Murrah law firm, where he is providing leadership to the firm’s Natural Resources and Alternative Energy Practice Group. In addition, Jim Roth serves as President of A New Energy, LLC. Previously, Roth served on the Oklahoma Corporation Commission and in elective local office for many years. As a Corporation Commissioner, Roth has responsible for Oklahoma’s most important economies, including regulation of oil and gas activities, energy policies, public utilities, telecommunications, transportation, petroleum storage tanks, pipeline integrity and safety, and consumer services. Roth was elected Oklahoma County Commissioner for District One in 2002 and was re-elected in 2006. Previously, he served county government as an Attorney and Chief Deputy for a previous Commissioner and County Clerk. Roth has a B.A. degree in political science and pre-law from Kansas State University and a J.D. degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law.

Commissioner Doug Scott, Chairman, Illinois Commerce Commission
Chicago, IL

Doug Scott is chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission. He served as director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency from 2005 to 2011. He chaired the Illinois Governor’s Climate Change and Advisory Committee and was a member of the Midwestern Governors’ Association panel charged with developing a regional cap-and-trade system. He was mayor of Rockford, Illinois, from 2001 to 2005 and held leadership positions in the Illinois Municipal League, United States Conference of Mayors, and the national League of Cities. Scott was elected a state representative for the 67th district in 1995 and served in the Illinois General Assembly until 2001. Scott also served as the Rockford city attorney. The Rockford native received his undergraduate degree with honors from the University of Tulsa and a J.D. degree with honors from Marquette University.

Commissioner Tim Schram, Nebraska Public Service Commission
Lincoln, NE

Tim Schram was elected to the Nebraska Public Service Commission in November 2006. He is currently a member of the Mid-America Regulatory Commissioners and the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners where he serves on the Committee on Telecommunications. Schram served for 12 years as a member of the Sarpy County Board of Commissioners. He also served on the Nebraska Beginning Young Farmer Board, Nebraska Road Classifications and Standards Board, Sarpy County Planning Commission, Alegent Midlands Hospital Advisory Board, and the University of Nebraska President’s Advisory Council. Schram is a graduate of the University of Nebraska with a B.S. degree in Agricultural Economics.

Mark Sievers, Chair, Kansas Corporation Commission
Topeka, KS

Mark Sievers is Chair of the Kansas Corporation Commission. He previously worked for Verizon Global Solutions where he was responsible for its international legal and regulatory matters. Sievers also held senior positions at GTE, Sprint, and Southwestern Bell. He was a lawyer in private practice in Washington, D.C. He has also worked for the Utah Attorney General and the California Department of Water Resources. Sievers holds a B.A. degree in economics from the University of Colorado, M.A. and A.B.D. degrees in economics from the University of California, Davis, and a J.D. degree from the University of Utah.

JT Smith, Manager – Regulatory Studies, Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator
Carmel, IN

JT Smith is the Manager of Regulatory Studies at the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO). He joined MISO in 2006 and has worked on the development of a long-term economic transmission planning process, utilizing capacity expansion models and production cost models. JT was project manager for the Regional Generation Outlet Study and is currently focusing time on generation fleet compliance issues related to recently proposed Environmental Protection Agency rules. Prior to MISO, he worked five years for American Electric Power as a transmission planning engineer. JT received a B.S. degree in electrical engineering from Mississippi State University and an M.B.A. degree from Oklahoma State University.

Beth Soholt, Executive Director, Wind on the Wires
St. Paul, MN

Beth Soholt is the Executive Director of the non-profit organization Wind on the Wires (WOW). She oversees its technical/transmission planning, state regulatory proceedings, legislative education, and outreach. WOW is a key regional partner of the American Wind Energy Association and the groups work closely together to advance wind power development and transmission issues in the Midwest. Soholt serves on the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO) Advisory Committee, representing the environmental sector. She has worked with the electric industry in various capacities for more than 15 years. Soholt has a law degree from Hamline University Law School in St. Paul, Minnesota, and a B.A. degree from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.

David Springe, Consumer Counsel, Kansas Citizens’ Utility Ratepayer Board
Lawrence, KS

David Springe is the Consumer Counsel of the Kansas Citizens’ Utility Ratepayer Board (CURB), which is the statutory advocate for the interests of residential and small commercial ratepayers in Kansas utility proceedings. Prior to his Consumer Counsel appointment, Springe served as Chief Economist for CURB and served six years on the Economic Policy and Planning staff of the Kansas Corporation Commission. Springe is a past President of the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates and serves on numerous energy advisory boards. He received his master’s degree in economics and his Law degree from the University of Kansas.

Curt Stamp, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Cox Communications
Oklahoma City, OK

Curt Stamp is Director of Regulatory Affairs for Cox Communications in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Arkansas. Prior to assuming this role in June, 2010, he was President of the Independent Telephone and Telecommunications Alliance, the national trade association for mid-sized local exchange carriers. From 2005 to 2007, Stamp served as a member of the Iowa Utilities Board, the three-person panel responsible for the regulation of Iowa’s gas, electric, telecommunications, and water utilities. He has been an attorney in private practice and has held several telecommunications policy positions in the public and private sectors. Stamp received his B.A. and M.B.A. degrees from Iowa State University and his J.D. degree from Drake University Law School.

Tom Stanton, Principal Researcher – Renewable Resources and Energy Efficiency, National Regulatory Research Institute
Lansing, MI

Tom Stanton is Principal Researcher for Renewable Resources and Energy Efficiency at the National Regulatory Research Institute (NRRI). He joined NRRI in 2010. Stanton specializes in policy research for renewable energy, energy efficiency, smart grid, and global climate change. A lifelong resident of Michigan, he worked in Michigan’s state government – in the fields of public utility regulation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy – for more than 32 years. He worked for 10 years at the State Energy Office and more than 22 years at the Michigan Public Service Commission. He earned a B.A. degree in communications and M.A. degree in journalism, both from Michigan State University, and M.S. degree in public administration from Western Michigan University.

Paul Suskie, Senior Vice President – Regulatory Policy & General Counsel, Southwest Power Pool
Little Rock, AR

Paul Suskie is Senior Vice-President of Regulatory Policy and General Counsel for Southwest Power Pool, Inc., which is a non-profit Arkansas corporation serving as the Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) in eight states. Suskie was formerly Chairman of the Arkansas Public Service Commission and was a member of the Arkansas Governor’s cabinet. He was named to the Arkansas Business Top 40 under 40 List of individuals positively influencing business in Arkansas. Suskie also served three elected terms as City Attorney of North Little Rock. Suskie is a graduate of the University of Central Arkansas and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law and is past president of the Arkansas City Attorneys’ Association. He is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Arkansas Army National Guard's JAG Corps and is a veteran of both the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.

David Swenson, Associate Scientist, Department of Economics, Iowa State University; adjunct lecturer, School of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Iowa
Ames, IA

Dave Swenson is a community economics research and education specialist who has worked in the Iowa State University (ISU) Department of Economics since 1989. His work centers on regional and statewide economic analysis, technical assistance, and projects that support the efforts of the ISU College of Agriculture and Life Science in community development and in providing economics education services to the public. Swenson’s research and service categories include regional industrial studies and evaluations, economic development research and technical assistance, input-output (economic impact) studies, benefit-cost analysis, fiscal impact research, public finance and tax policy analysis, community change and worker mobility dynamics, and public project evaluation. He holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in political science from the University of South Dakota and a M.A. degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Iowa.

James Tramuto, Vice President of Government and Regulatory Strategies, Southwest Energy Company
Houston, TX

James A. Tramuto is Vice President of Governmental and Regulatory Strategies for Southwestern Energy Company. He joined Southwestern Energy Company in 2009 and has more than 35 years of experience in energy and governmental relations. Previously, he served as Vice President of Federal Government Relations for PG&E Corporation in Washington, D.C. Tramuto is actively involved with America’s Natural Gas Alliance, as State Affairs Committee Chair, and with the Natural Gas Supply Association. He also serves on the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers Board. Tramuto earned a J.D. degree from South Texas College of Law and a bachelor’s degree in management from Texas A&M University. He also attended the executive development program at the Harvard Business School.

Joe Waz, President, Altura West, LLC
Los Angeles, CA

Joe Waz is President of Altura West, LLC, a strategy and public policy consultancy in Los Angeles for the communications, media, and Internet industries. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Silicon Flatirons Center at the University of Colorado School of Law. Waz was previously Senior Vice President of External Affairs and Public Policy Counsel at Comcast Corporation. He was also the founding President of the Comcast Foundation. His board service includes the Broadband Internet Technical Advisory Group, Telecommunications Policy Research Conference, Internet Education Foundation, Family Online Safety Institute, and ConvergeUS. He has also received the Vanguard Award, which is the cable industry’s highest honor.

Joe Welch, Chairman, President and CEO, ITC Holdings Corp.
Novi, MI

Joe Welch is Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, of ITC Holdings and its subsidiaries. Welch oversees ITC’s strategic vision and overall business operations. Under his leadership, ITC and its subsidiaries have been singularly focused on investing in the high-voltage transmission system in order to provide best-in-class service to customers, increase reliability, reduce constraints, and lower the total cost of delivered energy. Welch has a B.S. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Kansas and is a licensed professional engineer in the State of Michigan.

James Wilson, Principal, Wilson Energy Economics
Bethesda, MD

James F. Wilson is the Founder and Principal of Wilson Energy Economics. He is an economist with more than 25 years of consulting experience in the electric power and natural gas industries. His work has dealt with those industries’ economic and policy issues arising from the interplay of competition and regulation, including restructuring policies, market design, market analysis, and market power. His work has also pertained to resource adequacy and capacity markets, contract litigation, and pipeline rate cases. Wilson was formerly a Principal at LECG, LLC. He holds a B.A. degree in mathematics from Oberlin College and an M.S. degree in engineering-economic systems from Stanford University.

Commissioner David Wright, Vice-Chairman, South Carolina Public Service Commission and President, National Association of Regulatory Commissioners
Columbia, SC

David Wright has served on the South Carolina Public Service Commission since 2004 and as its Vice-Chairman since July 2010. Wright is 2011-2012 President of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC). He is a member of NARUC’s Executive Committee, Board of Directors, Washington Action Committee, Electricity Committee, and Subcommittee on Nuclear Issues and Waste Disposal. He represents NARUC on the Advisory Board of the Board of Directors for the Electric Power Research Institute and the Keystone Energy Board. Wright has served as National Chairman of the Nuclear Waste Strategy Coalition since 2006. Wright served as both councilman and Mayor of Irmo, South Carolina. He also served for eight years as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives. In 1996, Wright received South Carolina’s highest citizen honor, “The Order of the Palmetto.”

Thomas E. Wright, Commissioner and Former Chair, Kansas Corporation Commission
Topeka, KS

Thomas E. Wright has served on the Kansas Corporation Commission since 2007 and was its Chair from 2007 to 2011. Wright previously practiced law. He served on the Kansas Supreme Court Nominating Commission from 1995 to 2003. Wright was also Chairman of the Governor’s Gaming Committee in 2004 and Chairman of Consolidation Commission of Shawnee County and the City of Topeka in 2005. He was President of the Kansas Bar Association in 2008. Wright has earned degrees in mathematics, German, and law from Wichita State and Washburn Universities.

Rick Zucker, Assistant General Counsel, Laclede Gas Company
St. Louis, MO

Rick Zucker is Assistant General Counsel for Laclede Gas Company, the largest gas distribution utility in Missouri. Since 2002, he has represented Laclede before the Missouri Public Service Commission, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and various courts. Zucker previously served as counsel to GTE, which he represented before utility commissions in Iowa, Nebraska, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Washington University in St. Louis and a law degree from the University of Texas.