MEEA Board of Directors

Dave Backen brings 26 years of experience in program management, project management and business development in the areas of energy, construction and utilities. His insights in program development and knowledge of best practices allow Dave to structure successful programs for clients across Ecos' service areas in the Midwest, Northeast and Southeast US and Canada. In addition to engaging new clients, Dave represents Ecos at National events and provides program oversight and research into market trends. At Ecos, Dave serves as a member of Ecos senior team with regard to energy efficiency program implementation.  He previously managed the Northwest Region for the company, responsible for all clients, programs and business development in the area. His expertise is in residential and commercial energy efficiency programs for utility clients, and he oversees the design and implementation of all new utility programs for Ecos.  Dave has served as the Program Manager, Senior Program Manager and Director over many energy efficiency and renewable energy programs.  Which have included: Dayton Power and Light Residential Lighting Energy Efficiency Program, Rocky Mountain Power ENERGY STAR New Homes Program, Arizona Public Service ENERGY Star Lighting Program, Five-year Solar Incentive Pilot Program for Rocky Mountain Power, Lighting Component of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance ENERGY STAR New Homes and Consumer Products Program, and New Construction Market Assessment Program for UniSourve Energy Services (Tucson Electric Power). Dave Backen holds a Bachelor of Science from Oregon State University. 

Charles Budd, Senior Principal Consultant at KEMA, Inc., has extensive regulatory and demand side management experience covering the entire DSM cycle beginning with program planning and continuing through evaluation. He has provided expert testimony on matters involving DSM cost recovery and determination of utility performance incentives, as well as demand-side planning, utility cost of service, rate design, and fuel clauses. Charles successfully managed the development and operations of over $100 million of energy efficiency and load response programs at two major utilities. His project management experience includes the planning, staffing and start-up of gas and electric energy efficiency programs, load management programs, real-time pricing programs, as well as managing other complex projects at utilities including implementation of gas choice and waste recycling initiatives.
Mr. Budd's consulting work at KEMA has included energy efficiency planning and program design for several electric utilities, best practices research for energy efficiency and demand response programs, and policy analysis regarding DSM cost recovery and utility performance incentives. Mr. Budd is currently KEMA's operations manager for the implementation of Commonwealth Edison's energy efficiency programs for business. Mr. Budd has a BS in Business Economics and Public Policy from Indiana University and a MBA in Marketing from Michigan State University. He has held positions in several community organizations and industry associations, including two terms on the board of the Association of Energy Services Professionals.

Brian T. Castelli brings 30 years of national and international experience in the energy field, including expertise in energy efficiency, renewables, emission reductions, and electricity demand reduction, to the Alliance to Save Energy as Executive Vice President for Programs and Development. Prior to joining the Alliance's senior management team in July 2005, Castelli ran his own energy consulting firm:  he was the federal energy liaison for the California Energy Commission; a principal with the Center for Energy and Climate Solutions, a one stop shop helping businesses and states adopt high-level strategies for saving energy and cutting greenhouse gases; and a consultant to the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) where he organized a High Technology Council (comprised of communications and information technology leaders) to advise EPRI's Intelligent Grid program.  Appointed by President Clinton, Castelli served as chief of staff to the U.S. Department of Energy's assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy from 1994 to 2001. He managed 550 staff and more than $1 billion in programs and research, development, and deployment initiatives and directed the development and implementation of energy policies and programs. Prior to DOE, Castelli was appointed in 1988 by Gov. Bob Casey to the Pennsylvania Energy Office (PEO), first serving as deputy director for administration and public affairs and then as executive director, through 1994. As executive director he ran the commonwealth's energy policies and programs, managed the state energy office and the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority, and took the lead on responding to energy emergencies. Notably, he developed a revolving loan fund for energy-efficiency measures and a "Green Buildings" program for cutting energy use and costs in all commonwealth-owned or operated buildings, and he drafted legislation for and implemented an alternative fuel program. Castelli holds two degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, a bachelor of science in chemical engineering and an MBA in industrial/environmental management from the university's Wharton School.

John Cuttica became the acting director of the Energy Resources Center (ERC) in December 2008 and the director in November 2009. As director, his responsibilities include program development, strategic planning, operation, and financial stability of the ERC, which is based out of the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He also expanded the Industrial Energy Efficiency Program to include a student based facility assessment program and a regional energy solutions activity. In addition, Cuttica established the Biofuels thrust, which focuses on corn ethanol facilities and the Midwest Clean Energy Application center.

Tim Duff is general manager of energy efficiency and smart grid regulation and collaboration for Duke Energy’s U.S. Franchised Electric and Gas organization. He is responsible for the development of strategies and policies related to energy efficiency, smart grid and all other retail services. In addition, Tim serves as director of Duke Energy’s Commercial Associates Program, a leadership development program designed for MBA graduates. He was named to his current position in January 2010.
Previously, Tim served as managing director of federal regulatory policy, a position he held since the merger between Duke Energy and Cinergy in 2006. In this role, he was responsible for developing and advocating Duke Energy’s policy positions with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

David A. Eijadi, AIA is a Principal who directs business development through the firm's service offerings; Design Assistance for Sustainable and High Performance Buildings. He consults directly on selected projects. Since 1978 Mr. Eijadi's career in architecture, urban design, and interior design has emphasized environmental responsibility. In addition to being a design architect, Mr. Eijadi has been recognized for his work as a scientific researcher, product developer, educator and pioneer in Sustainable Design. He is a LEED Accredited Consultant. Before joining The Weidt Group in 1992 Mr. Eijadi was the Director of Architecture for the Phoenix office of a Minneapolis based firm which produced award winning architectural and urban design projects as well as energy and lighting research. Mr. Eijadi is also a former contributor to Architectural Graphic Standards and a former peer reviewer for DOE research grants. Mr. Eijadi, a frequent speaker at industry, national and international conferences, recently presented "Measurable Sustainable Design" at the National convention for the American Institute of Architects. Mr. Eijadi and The Weidt Group are part of team that has just completed writing a Midwest-specific and regionally appropriate Sustainable Design Guideline for the State of Minnesota. Minnesota is adopting new, measurable standards for Sustainable Design to replace the proxy and point systems. The guide includes methodologies for complying with recent legislation mandating that all new State buildings exceed energy code performance by 30%.

Mr. Feroli is Vice President of Applied Proactive Technologies.  With 19 years experience in the energy efficiency industry, Mr. Feroli has worked as both a contractor and as a utility program manager responsible for managing numerous energy efficiency initiatives. In his role at APT, Mr. Feroli is responsible for the daily management and oversight of all APT efficiency programs ensuring that client goals are met and that service is provided at the highest level of customer satisfaction. APT is involved in program implementations in twelve states ranging from the Northeast, Midwest, Southeast and Pacific Northwest regions. Mr. Feroli is involved in all aspects of program management, planning and execution and has an in depth understanding of the many industries involved in energy efficiency programs implemented throughout the country. Mr. Feroli has extensive national industry contacts spanning government agencies, utilities, retailers, and manufacturers and works closely will all of APT's clients on the design and implementation of the various programs APT implements. Over the past four years, Mr. Feroli has played a major role in the design and implementation of upstream residential lighting incentive programs currently being utilized extensively by program sponsors in several regions of the United States.

Randy is a Principal and founder of Summit Blue Consulting. He has 25 years experience in the development, implementation, and evaluation of utility demand response and energy service programs.  He is the Company's practice leader in the fields of market assessments, energy efficiency and demand response potential studies, and is also leading large scale evaluation projects in Illinois.  He's a three term Board member of the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, and recently served as Vice Chair.  He earned an M.S. in Planning from the University of Minnesota, and a B.A. in Physics from Carleton College.

Jeff Haase is currently the Demand Efficiency Program Supervisor for the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Office of Energy Security.  In this capacity he works with all of the states utilities and energy efficiency stakeholders to develop policies, tools and procedures for reaching the state's 1.5% energy conservation goal.  One of his primary interests within the states Conservation Improvement Program has been the development of standard assumptions for individual conservation measures.  He is also responsible for the states Applied Conservation Research and Development programs, which provides over $3 million dollars for applied research and development for conservation and energy efficiency projects.  As part of these activities he has been working on the development of standards and energy savings assumptions to be used for indirect or behavioral program activities, which is the focus of several research and development pilot programs that are currently underway.  He has been with the Department of Commerce in varying capacities since 1998.  He has worked as a Project Manager in the Department's Energy Facilities Permitting Group, carrying out permitting and process activities for Large Energy Facilities, as well as working as the Wind Program Manager and the Commercial & Industrial Program Manager for the State Energy Office.  In addition, for the past six years he has been the Department's primary Homeland Security and Emergency Management representative.  In 2006 he worked with the National Association of State Energy Officials on the development of the Minnesota Energy Emergency Plan.  He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota.

Greg Lovett is responsible for development, implementation and promotion of electric and natural gas energy efficiency and demand response programs for commercial, industrial and residential customers at Ameren, the largest electric utility in Missouri and second-largest in Illinois. He also is on the board of directors for the Association of Professional Energy Consultants, Energy Education Council and St. Louis Earth Day. 

Linda Mattes has been with Alliant Energy or its predecessors for over 25 years. She is currently the Director of Energy Efficiency Programs and New Product Development for Alliant Energy, a regulated investor owned utility holding company providing electric and natural gas service in the states of Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. She is responsible for evaluating opportunities for new energy efficiency product and services as well as green products for customers. She is also responsible delivering energy efficiency, billing options and renewable products and services to residential and small commercial customers in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Linda also leads the Alliant Energy Green Strategy team.   Previously, Linda has served as the Director of Generation Central Region, Director of Electric and Gas Asset Care and in various manager positions within the company's Customer Care, Credit & Collections, Data Acquisition, Sales & Account Management, and Pricing & Regulatory Contracts departments. Linda began her Alliant Energy career at the Duane Arnold Energy Center, Iowa's only nuclear power plant, where she served in finance and strategic planning and was a certified senior reactor operator.  Linda holds a B.A. in Business Administration from Coe College and a M.B.A. from Ashford University.  She serves on several non-profit boards and foundations in her community and for the State of Iowa.

Tim Melloch, Director of ComEd's Energy Efficiency Services, also serves as one of ComEd's Energy Doctors, making numerous media and public appearances to educate the public on the efficient use of energy. In his current position, Melloch is responsible for implementing ComEd's 2008 - 2010 Energy Efficiency Plan approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission in February 2008. Melloch was instrumental in helping ComEd win second place in the 2008 Chartwell Best Practices Award for Marketing, which recognizes excellence among electric or gas utilities with respect to projects, programs, or service initiatives. Melloch is recognized by the Association of Energy Engineers as a Certified Energy Manager and Certified Cogeneration Professional.

As Consumers' Counsel, Janine L. Migden-Ostrander oversees the state agency that represents the interests of Ohio's 4.5 million residential households with their investor-owned electric, natural gas, telephone and water companies. Prior to Ms. Migden-Ostrander's appointment in 2004, she was a partner in the law firm of Hahn Loeser & Parks and served as Co-Chair of the firm's Utility and Regulatory Practice Group. She began her career in public utilities at the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel, where she served as an administrative assistant before earning a law degree from Capital University. She then was promoted to an Assistant Consumers' Counsel for the agency and litigated a variety of cases that involved electric, natural gas, telephone and water companies.
Ms. Migden-Ostrander is well known as a strong consumer advocate. She is a proponent of energy efficiency programs and new generation technologies as a means to lower consumers' monthly energy bills. She is working to bring broadband services and other technologies to rural and urban customers, and she is addressing ways to improve traditional avenues of advocacy and outreach and education programming. Throughout her career, she has been actively involved in proceedings before numerous state utility commissions and has monitored activities and worked on policy issues involving the Midwest Regional Transmission Organizations. In addition to her law degree, she earned a bachelor of arts from the State University of New York, and a Certificat de la Langue et Civilisation Francaise from the Universite de la Sorbonne in Paris, France.

Diane Munns is the vice president of Regulatory Relations and Energy Efficiency for MidAmerican Energy Company in Des Moines, Iowa. Previously she was the executive director of Retail Energy Services for Edison Electric Institute (EEI), the trade association for the nation's investor-owned utilities in Washington D.C. In that post, she was responsible for the EEI's efforts on energy efficiency and worked to establish the Institute for Electric Efficiency, funded by the Edison Foundation. Munns was a member of the Iowa Utilities Board from 1999-2006 and served as its chairman for four years. While a member of the Iowa Utilities Board, she served two years as the president of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC). She focused on the role of regulation in efficiency during her tenure as NAUC president and, along with Jim Rogers of Duke Energy, became the first co-chair of the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency. Munns was recipient of the Public Service Leadership Award from the U.S. Energy Association and Johnson Controls at its 17th Annual Energy Efficiency Forum in 2006. She was awarded the MEEA Inspiring Efficiency Leadership Award that same year.

Don Nichols, Consumer Programs Manager, leads American Electric Power's energy efficiency and demand response program support team.  Responsibilities include development and ongoing refinement of programs, processes, and strategic initiatives to help achieve the company's internally-established energy and demand reduction targets.  The Consumer Programs team supports AEP's seven operating companies, covering portions of eleven states, to provide guidance on program implementation, data tracking, evaluation and day-to-day support activities as well as request for proposal (RFP), testimony, and contract development. Prior to assuming his current position, Don has held positions of increasing responsibility including National Account Manager, Demand Side Management Program Supervisor and Energy Services Supervisor.  Don led the efforts of Appalachian Power Company, an operating unit of AEP, to develop, implement, track and evaluate a portfolio of energy efficiency programs in Virginia and West Virginia during the 1990's.  Don Nichols holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from West Virginia Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration from Averett University.

 Bio Forthcoming

Jan Patrick has served in the State of Michigan energy efficiency and renewable energy office for 28 yrs. in several capacities.  Currently, she oversees public buildings, transportation and biomass energy/biofuels programs and a staff of six professionals.  She's been the co-administrator of the SEP /Formula Grant for the past 10 years; was appointed as the Energy Use Reduction Coordinator for the department and, most recently, assumed responsibility for the state's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program for state government and non-entitlement communities. In addition, Jan represented the Midwest Region on the National Association of State Energy Officials Board of Directors from 2006-2008 and has led several regional initiatives on energy performance contracting.  Jan has been a long-term supporter of regional collaboration on a several issues, including biofuels infrastructure, biomass CHP and building technology applications.  Jan earned a bachelors degree and teaching certificate from Central Michigan University, and a master's degree from Michigan State University with post graduate study in Public Administration.

Karen has been with Xcel Energy for over 10 years involved in energy efficiency primarily through marketing and product management.  For the past six years, she has been responsible for energy-efficiency program strategy and achievement, as well as related regulatory compliance, for programs targeted at business customers.   She currently leads marketing and program management efforts in Minnesota, Colorado, and New Mexico.  In 2008, areas under her responsibility saved 419 GWh and 470,000 Dth with combined budgets of over $45.0 million. From 1998 to 2000, she managed one of the largest business energy efficiency programs for Northern States Power Company and was involved in conservation program design.  After the merger that created Xcel Energy in August of 2000, she moved to the Segment Marketing group to help lead focused marketing efforts, including entering deregulated markets. She became the manager of Business Marketing in early 2003 and remains responsible for strategic market planning and program results for commercial customers. Prior to her career in energy efficiency, Karen held a variety of marketing positions in the retail, transportation, and franchise management industries. Karen earned her BBA degree in Marketing from The University of Michigan and her MBA degree, also in Marketing, from the University of Minnesota. Her interests in family, fishing, and outdoor activities align well with her career initiatives to encourage utility customers to lower their energy use and environmental impacts.

Mr. Romine is currently serving as Manager, Energy Optimization and manages the development and roll out of energy efficiency programs for MichCon and Detroit Edison.  Prior to being appointed to this role he served as Manager, Group Performance in Detroit Edison's Distribution Operations organization.  In addition he has held other leadership roles  at DTE on  the Enterprise Performance Management and the DTE2 teams.  Before joining DTE Energy, Mr. Romine held leadership positions at Enigma and KPMG Consulting, and was Manufacturing Engineer at Nordyne, Inc.  Mr. Romine has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Washington University, St. Louis, a BA in Physics from William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri and an MBA from Olin School of Business, Washington University.

Mr. Sirkin has over 25 years of management experience in business and government. At JACO Environmental, Mr. Sirkin serves as the Program Development Director.  He has overseen the growth of JACO's energy efficiency appliance recycling programs across the Midwest and the Eastern SeaboardJACO Environmental, Inc. is committed to protecting the environment and preserving the earth's valuable resources through  responsible appliance recycling.
Mr. Sirkin was previously the program Development Director  at Ecos Consulting. There, he assisted in designing  and launching multi-utility, region-wide programs, including a residential lighting project, an innovative industrial efficiency program,  the  residential portfolio  for the new Energy Trust of Oregon as well as a successful national initiative to improve the energy efficiency of desktop computers (80PLUS). Prior to Ecos Consulting, Mr. Sirkin was CEO of a contract research service  serving the energy efficiency and sustainability needs  of major firms like H-P, NIKE, Portland General Electric and well as major developers, architects and contractors.
Sam Sirkin served as Deputy Director of the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department from 1997-2000 and before that spent 15 years working on urban water pollution control programs in the US and Europe.  .. His knowledge of state and local government, statewide and regional efficiency initiatives across sectors and long service as a MEEA board member make him a valuable to resource to MEEA and its mission.  

As the Manager of Marketing & Member Services, Tom Van Paris is responsible for all commercial, industrial and residential energy efficiency and demand side management programs for Hoosier and has planning responsibilities for resource planning, wholesale rates and research efforts at Hoosier.  Prior to his work at Hoosier, Tom was Senior Principal for NRECA's National Consulting Group in Washington, DC where he facilitated strategic planning, organizational assessment and governance projects for the rural electric program across the country.  Prior to his work with NRECA, Tom was the Director of Marketing & Economic Development for Buckeye Power, a generation and transmission cooperative in Columbus, Ohio and various management positions at Cinergy Corporation in Cincinnati and Plainfield.  Tom has worked over 20 years in the electric utility industry with experiences in customer operations, marketing, communications, organizational redesign, merger integration and regulated and non-regulated business ventures.  Tom has worked with many interdisciplinary teams in his career in order to build successful organizational structures.  Strengths include knowledge of regulatory and legal issues affecting utilities, strategic planning, customer research, market analysis, communication planning and organizational design tied to operational efficiency. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Communications from Purdue University and an MBA from Otterbein College.

Dan York is Utilities Program Deputy Director for the Utilities Program of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).  In this role York researches and analyzes policies and programs designed to achieve greater energy efficiency by utility customers. York joined ACEEE in 2001 with over 15 years of experience in the energy efficiency field, including 5 years as a senior project manager with the Energy Center of Wisconsin. York has a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Minnesota. His M.S. and Ph.D. degrees are both in "land resources" from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with an emphasis in "energy analysis and policy." From 1989-90 York was a Fulbright Fellow at the University of Oslo's Centre for Development and the Environment, where he researched energy planning and policy issues associated with Norway's restructured utility industry. In 1990 York also worked as a consultant for the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Administration (NVE).