The volunteer CEE Board of Directors is drawn from the membership. The Board provides strategic direction, approves CEE initiatives, holds fiduciary responsibility for the organization, and oversees management. It meets in person twice a year and carries out its work in committees the remainder of the time.
Role: Kira leads the Behavior team at CEE. She oversees CEE members’ work applying behavioral science techniques to energy efficiency programs and addressing customer benefit from these offerings. Kira serves as the National Expert for the United States on a 4-year global collaboration on better engaging underserved energy users, which is a project of the UsersTCP by the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Previous Experience: Prior to joining CEE, Kira served as an Evaluation Consultant at the Harvard Prevention Research Center and a Research Assistant at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Center for Community-Based Research.
Education: Kira holds a Bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College and a Master’s of Science from the Social and Behavioral Sciences department of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Role: Charlie provides support to CEE Industrial Sector work areas, including initiatives for motor-driven equipment, Strategic Energy Management, and natural gas.
Previous Experience: While at Middlebury College, Charlie worked on the Living Building Challenge Project. This LBC project is an ongoing initiative to establish stricter, more sustainable green buildings at Middlebury. He also worked on the college’s environmental council, considering measures that might contribute and add value to the new solar array in the community through integrating educational and aesthetic functions of the site within the larger area.
Education: Charlie holds a Bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College where he studied Film and Media Culture as well as Environmental Studies.
Role: Abi serves as the staff lead of the Program Operations Committee (POC), a subset of the CEE Board tasked with evaluating, reviewing, and approving initiative actions that span across all of CEE work. She also directs and manages the wide portfolio of residential HVAC efforts, which focus on the adoption of high-performing products and solutions that contribute to affordability, reliability, and decarbonization goals.
Previous Experience: Abi worked at the United States Environmental Protection Agency, where she served as Product Manager, ENERGY STAR HVAC and Connected for more than a decade in the Office of Air and Radiation. She has also worked as a consultant for the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences and a Senior Engineering Physicist at EDO-EVI.
Education: Abi earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of Maryland, a Masters of Arts in Physics from the University of California, and a Master of Engineering and Public Policy from the University of Maryland.
Role: Ryan’s work cuts across industry, policy, regulation standards and utilities. He and his team manage the complete lifecycle of market transformation initiatives adopted by CEE members for commercial water heating, efficient building electrification, and building control and automation. Their efforts include collaboration with manufacturers, service providers, trade associations, national labs and federal agencies to develop program and equipment specifications.
Previous Experience: Twenty-four years in leadership and ownership roles in wholesale distribution, mechanical engineering, mechanical contracting, heat pump and solar-plus-storage manufacturing companies. Subject matter expertise in national efforts relating to building electrification, renewable energy procurement, energy storage, heat pumps and utility load control strategies.
Education: Ryan graduated from Madisonville Community College with an Associate of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and from Indiana Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management.
Role: Emily joined CEE full-time in July 2024 to assist with CEEs work in measurement. Emily also splits her time with the Evaluation and Research team contributing to Program Summary data collection and the cross-cutting work of non-energy impacts (NEIs).
Previous Experience: Emily previously worked as an intern for Middlebury College’s Sustainability Solutions Lab, assisting the college in more accurately documenting and reporting emissions in its Greenhouse Gas Inventory and creating a codebook for increased transparency to this inventory. Emily joined CEE as an intern in Summer 2023 and continued interning on the Evaluation & Research team in Fall 2023 and Spring 2024.
Education: Emily holds a Bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College in Environmental Policy with a minor in Mathematics.
Role: Bjorn manages four CEE Initiatives including Commercial Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps, Commercial Lighting Systems, Commercial Kitchens, and Data Centers and Servers (inactive). As a Senor Program Manager, Bjorn is responsible for the development, implementation, and prioritization of the strategic vision for these efficiency initiatives. He analyzes technical and market aspects of assigned product areas to guide member committees in the development of program strategies and resources. He leads communication efforts with CEE members and external stakeholders to create and refine proposals and cultivate collaborative relationships with industry partners.
Previous Experience: Bjorn’s career has spanned sustainable energy, city planning, and international development. Prior experience includes supporting operations and the stewardship of a nonprofit’s properties including activities related to a LEED Gold renovation of its office complex, and the operation of its conference center business. He also held a fellowship in which he worked to advance equitable international trade, debt, and immigration policies by drafting papers and policy briefs, co-organizing workshops and congressional lobbying events.
Education: Bjorn holds a Master in City Planning degree with a focus on Environmental Policy and Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He also received a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies with a focus on international development from Earlham College.
Role: Evelyn is co-chair of CEE’s Water Heating Initiative. Evelyn also provides support to the rest of the Residential Team, including the Integrated Home Initiative and Competition.
Previous Experience: While at Middlebury College, Evelyn worked on the AASHE STARS (Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System) Report. This report compiles Middlebury College sustainability data from sources throughout the College to recognize successes and identify areas of improvement.
Education: Evelyn holds a Bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College where she studied Environmental Chemistry and Global Health.
Role: Oversees CEE industrial sector initiatives, with particular attention on the expanding role of demand side management programs to provide value beyond the unit energy savings historically associated with energy efficiency, to support decarbonization and dynamic interaction of energy systems to align with the time and locational value of energy. Additionally, leads CEE work in support of Strategic Energy Management, and oversees program areas for Motor Systems (including motors, pumps, compressed air systems, and municipal water and wastewater systems), natural gas energy efficiency, and emerging industrial energy efficiency and decarbonization opportunities.
Previous Experience: Walker has been working in the energy space since 2001, at different points focusing on energy efficiency, renewable energy technology development and deployment, decarbonization and GHG reduction planning, as well as broader business sustainability and material life cycle assessment.
Education: Walker holds a BA from Bates College in Environmental Studies and Political Science and Master of City Planning with a concentration in Environmental Policy and Planning from MIT.
Role: Kristin is responsible for the residential and commercial Program Summaries and Qualifying Product Lists. The Program Summaries are tied to CEE Initiatives and Areas of Exploration capturing various programs and incentives offered by CEE Members. CEE’s QPLs are maintained with the intention of providing CEE membership of energy efficiency program administrators with a database of products that meet CEE specifications for energy efficiency and connected criteria. Program administrators can use these lists to identify products to promote in their local programming.
Previous Experience: Kristin worked as a supervisor at The Bank of New York Mellon for over ten years in Securities Data Management handling a variety of data and client services responsibilities.
Education: Kristin holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication from The University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communication from Suffolk University.
Role: Erik leads CEE’s work on Residential Appliances, Electric Vehicles, and Connected Residential Technology. Erik also supports a wide range of other residential efforts, conducting data analysis for Residential HVAC Specifications and helping to run the annual Integrated Home Competition.
Previous Experience: At Amherst College, Erik worked as an environmental economics teaching assistant and captained the Ultimate Frisbee team. During his time at Amherst, Erik also worked remotely for CEE’s Evaluation, Research, and Behavior Team as an intern, leading much of the Behavior Program Summary work.
Education: Erik holds a bachelor’s degree from Amherst College where he majored in Economics and Psychology.
Role: Tim is supporting member retention and recruitment, while also serving as a liaison to the CEE Board of Directors and an advisor to the Executive Director.
Previous Experience: Tim has more than 25 years of experience working to ensure best practices in program administration for the energy efficiency industry. Tim served as the Director of Energy Efficiency Services at Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) from 2008 to 2014 where he oversaw the ComEd energy efficiency portfolio. During his tenure at ComEd, the portfolio reduced customers’ energy consumption by approximately 8.5 million MWh and resulted in savings of over $800 million on customers’ electric bills. After retiring from ComEd, he went on to serve as an advisor to Opower, FirstFuel and Future Energy Enterprises. Tim previously served as a Director at CEE and MEEA, where he was also the board chair.
Education: Tim has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University.
Role: Thomas leads the data collection and analysis process for the Annual Industry Report, which documents trends in the Energy Efficiency Industry. He also splits half of his time focusing on the non-energy impacts (NEIs) of energy efficiency programs.
Previous Experience: At Middlebury College, Thomas supported the research of professors in the Psychology Department as a research assistant. His research focused on the psychological impact of COVID-19 on different student populations and the underlying mechanisms of pro-social and environmental behaviors. He also studied the concepts of social capital and decision theory in the field of environmental economics..
Education: Thomas holds a Bachelors degree from Middlebury College where he double majored in Economics and Psychology.
Role: Alice is responsible for overseeing CEE’s Program Portfolio, including specialty teams that focus on Emerging Technology, Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Natural Gas, Behavior, and Evaluation and Research matters. She establishes and maintains strategic alliances with targeted industries and other applicable stakeholders and works to navigate CEE’s program strategy to incorporate the time dependent valuation of energy.
Previous Experience: Prior to her tenure at CEE, Alice was a researcher at the Industrial Performance Center at MIT where she evaluated the status and condition of energy efficiency in buildings across the United States and compiled policy recommendations advocating the implementation of energy efficient building codes. Alice has also taught graduate level design courses at Boston Architectural College.
Education: Alice holds a Bachelor of Arts from Colgate University and a Master of Architecture from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Role: Maya leads the data collection process for the Behavior Program Summaries. These summaries aim to create a resource for members with the goal of aiding in the design and implementation of future behavior-based efforts. Additionally, Maya supports the Behavior Committee.
Previous Experience: At Middlebury College, Maya worked in the conservation psychology lab looking to leverage psychological techniques like morality and values, social norms, identity, and goal setting to increase pro-environmental behavior. Her honors senior thesis explored how Moral Foundations Framing and Religious Priming impact support for environmental policy in a group of religiously identifying people.
Education: Maya holds a Bachelors degree from Middlebury College where she studied Environmental Science and Psychology.
Role: Spencer leads the Emerging Technology Collaborative at CEE, working with emerging technology leaders at utilities and other stakeholders to identify and accelerate new savings opportunities into portfolios. Areas of critical work for the ETC include HVAC, building shell, building controls, refrigerants, process loads, and water heating.
Previous Experience: Spencer previously served as Senior Director of Emerging Technology at E Source, where he led the company’s emerging tech-related consulting and subscription services. He also has worked as the manager of the California Emerging Technology Coordinating Council, has worked for utility R&D groups, and has started or been a part of several small consulting firms.
Education: Spencer holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado in Astrophysics.
Role: Essie leads the residential team at CEE and works in collaboration with utilities, program administrators, manufacturers, national laboratories, federal agencies, and other industry leaders to help drive market transformation, deepen energy efficiency, and accelerate decarbonization. Key focus areas include integrated home systems, emerging dual-fuel measures, and efficient home electrification.
Previous Experience: Essie brings more than 15 years’ experience in the energy sector. He previously worked at both E Source and ICF, where he advised energy utilities across the US and Canada on a wide range of emerging technologies, trends, and decarbonization strategies. In that time, he published more than 300 papers and articles on topics ranging from the energy impacts of smart home systems to decarbonization pathways for gas and dual-fuel utilities. Essie subsequently worked at Copper Labs—an innovative hardware-enabled utility solution provider—where he focused on corporate strategy, messaging and positioning across the energy and water sectors, and regulatory engagement.
Education: Essie holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Role: Laney joined CEE in July 2023 and is working on Case Studies and contributing to work regarding non-energy impacts (NEIs).
Previous Experience: Laney worked as a Research Assistant for the Vermont Center for Behavioral Science Research on Climate and the Environment, and her thesis examined how people’s patience and willingness to take risks (time and risk preferences) impacted their support for environmental policy.
Education: Laney holds a Bachelors degree from Middlebury College with a major in Economics and minors in Environmental Science and Architectural Studies.
Role: John is responsible for all aspects of CEE operations, including financial, personnel, strategic and organizational development.
Previous Experience: John has more than 20 years of experience with CEE. He managed CEE’s residential portfolio, served as CEE’s liaison to the ENERGY STAR Program, and represented CEE on multiple technical and advisory committees at AHRI, ACCA, DOE, and RESNET. John was Deputy Director since 2015, where he has responsibility for CEE’s Program Portfolio while playing a key role in architecting the transition of CEE’s Initiatives to incorporate the time dependent valuation of energy saved. John has also served on the Board of Directors of his municipal utility for thirteen years, including multiple terms as Chairperson.
Education: John earned a BA in Economics from Kalamazoo College, and a Masters in Environmental Management and Masters in Public Policy from Duke University.
Title/Group: Residential Sector Program Manager
Role: Shawn manages CEE’s New Construction and Existing Homes Initiatives and is the residential team lead on the Inflation Reduction Act. He focuses on whole house Initiatives, which emphasize energy efficiency and energy reduction as well as load management and demand response to maximize the energy savings and decarbonization impacts of whole home approaches. His role involves focusing on measures that improve a building envelope and how these solutions and systems will affect the relationship to other equipment or aspects of the home.
Previous Experience: Shawn has over 15 years of experience in the high-performance building envelope market in both the residential and commercial sectors. He is a PHI Certified Passive House Designer and a LEED AP.
Education: Shawn holds a Master of Science degree in Sustainability Management from Columbia University in the City of New York, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Lehigh University where he studied Molecular Biology, Philosophy, and Writing.
Role: Will has ownership of two important industrial sector committees: the Industrial Heat Pump Committee, and the C&I Strategic Energy Management Committee. In service of these committees Will conducts research, organizes and leads outreach to members and industry, and facilitates meetings that drive the work forward.
Previous Experience: After graduating from college, Will worked as a utilities design engineer in New York City for several years, where he designed plumbing and fire protection systems for new construction projects. During his master’s program, he worked for the Boston Planning and Development Agency in their Climate Change and Environmental Planning team. His primary responsibility during this time was the review of new construction projects which fell under the regulatory authority of the Boston Smart Utilities program.
Education: Will has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Public Policy, both from Northeastern University.