Participant Bios: (J–R)

Rob L Jones
Rob L. Jones js Chairman of the Board of Spire Inc., a gas utility based in St Louis Mo. He served as co-head of Bank of America Merrill Lynch Commodities, Inc. (MLC) from 2007 until his retirement in March of 2012. Prior to serving as co-head of MLC, he held various positions with Merrill Lynch & Co. including managing director, co-head Global Energy and Power Investment Banking and founder, Merrill Lynch Commodity Partners. Jones has provided academic and career guidance to students as an executive-in-residence at the University of Texas at Austin in the McCombs School of Business. He has also served as a director of Susser Bank, Shell Midstream Partners, L.P, and Sunoco L.P.

Vincent Kaminski
Vincent Kaminski has been a Professor in the Practice of Energy since 2007. His corporate career included the most recent positions of managing director for Citigroup Commodities, Sempra Energy Trading, Citadel Investment Group and Enron Corporation; and was VP of Salomon Brothers. His academic career includes teaching at Main School of Planning and Statistics in Warsaw, Poland and the University of Port Harcourt in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. He received is MS in international economics and his PhD in economic theory at the Main School of Planning and Statistics, and his MBA at Fordham University.

Prashant Kansal
Prashant is the Director of Grid Transformation at ERCOT where he leads initiatives to solve grid and market challenges. Prior to ERCOT, Prashant worked at Tesla leading its global Power Systems team focused on BESS modelling and grid interconnection. He also worked at American Electric Power (AEP), Schweitzer Engineering Lab (SEL), and Engineers India Limited (EIL) with experience across Inverter Based Resources, NERC compliance studies, grid stability, protection system, power quality, and substation design. Prashant got his Bachelors (EE) from Delhi College of Engineering, India and Masters (EE) from Washington State University, USA.

Mark R Kelly
Full-time MBA candidate at Texas McCombs and CleanTech Fellow with 6 years of experience in renewable energy and grid infrastructure. Currently a Finance MBA Intern at Grid United, building transmission transaction datasets for asset valuation and project planning. Previously held senior roles at Ørsted in preconstruction estimating and supply chain development, supporting utility-scale wind, solar, storage, and offshore projects across the U.S. Focused on power markets, transmission, and energy finance.

Carey King
Carey is a Research Scientist at The University of Texas at Austin and Assistant Director at the Energy Institute. He also has appointments within the McCombs School of Business and the LBJ School of Public Affairs. Dr. Carey W King performs interdisciplinary research related to how energy systems evolve and interact within the economy and environment. His research bridges the gaps between economic and biophysical (or ecological) worldviews of economic growth and structural change. He is the author of the book “The Economic Superorganism”.

Becky Klein 
Becky is renowned for leadership in corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory affairs, and executive talent acquisition for some of the world’s fastest-growing companies. As President of Klein Energy LLC, her team delivers high-impact advisory and consulting services across water, oil & gas, and electric power sectors, steering organizations to success in competitive and rapidly evolving markets. She is a seasoned board director for publicly traded companies; an infrastructure fund, and a private engineering services company. She’s the founder of an energy-poverty institute, TEPRI. She’s a retired Lt Colonel in the USAF. Becky and her husband own KVRWines.

Nicholas D. Laws
Dr. Nick Laws is the Director of Modeling and Analytics at IdeaSmiths. He is also the Senior Power Systems Optimization Engineer at Camus Energy, where he researches and develops methods and software to aid electric utilities in the energy transition. Prior to Camus Energy, Dr. Laws led the development of a flagship decision support tool at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), called REopt. REopt is a techno-economic optimization tool for determining distributed energy resource (DER) capacities and dispatch strategies to meet economic, resilience, and emission reduction goals.

Benjamin Leibowicz
Dr. Benjamin D. Leibowicz is an Associate Professor at The University of Texas at Austin, where he holds the endowed Banks McLaurin Fellowship in Engineering. His primary appointment is in the Operations Research and Industrial Engineering graduate program, which is administered through the Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering. Dr. Leibowicz uses methods from operations research, systems analysis, and economics to improve decision-making in the energy, natural resources, and the environment domain. Application areas that he focuses on include energy and environmental policy analysis, energy markets, electricity reliability and resilience, energy sector planning, and carbon management.

Doug Lewin
Lewin is part of Google’s Energy Market Development team, leading energy strategy and market design work in Texas. Before Google, he founded and was President of Stoic Energy, an energy consulting firm in 2018, and founded the Texas Energy & Power Newsletter and the Energy Capital Podcast. Previously, Doug led regulatory affairs and market development for CLEAResult, and was the founding Executive Director of the South-central Partnership for Energy Efficiency as a Resource (SPEER). Lewin worked at the Texas Legislature for five years as a legislative aide, primarily on energy, environment, and climate issues for three different elected officials in the House and Senate.

Dr. Jeremy Lin
Dr. Lin has over twenty-five years of experience in the electric power industry and power markets in the US. His past employment included various positions at NERC regional reliability entity, PJM interconnection, and a number of power consulting firms. He also has extensive experience in renewable energy project development particularly in the areas of transmission and congestion studies, project development, and power purchase contracts. He published a book on “Electricity Markets: Theories and Applications” (by Wiley Press, 2017). He also contributed a number of chapters to other books as well. He teaches a course on ‘Power Grid: Technology and Policy’ at Johns Hopkins University.

Chiara Lo Prete
Chiara Lo Prete is Associate Professor of Energy Economics and Wilson Faculty Fellow in the Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University. My research centers on the economics of energy markets, with a focus on the areas of competition and design of electricity markets, natural gas markets, energy system interdependencies, geopolitics and energy security, and state policy interactions with regional electricity markets. Recent work has used tools from operations research, economics and statistics to study electricity market structures to support wind energy integration and resource adequacy, the interactions between natural gas market design and grid reliability, regulation of hydrogen pipelines, the weaponization of electricity trade, and emission leakage.

Dr. Gus Lott
Dr. Gus Lott is the Principal Engineer at YarCom® Inc., a local electrical engineering firm. YarCom specializes in electrical and telecommunications engineering, including SCADA and ICS communications systems, high reliability communications systems, renewable energy, energy storage, and mitigation of power system interference to wireless systems. Dr. Lott is a practicing expert in cybersecurity, critical infrastructure protection, and utility contingency communications. He is a retired US Navy cryptographer, licensed Professional Engineer in three states, a Program Management Professional (PMP), and a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). Dr. Lott lives near Austin.

Jose Maria Lujambio
Partner and energy director at the law firm of Cacheaux, Cavazos & Newton, which he joined in 2014 (UT LLM ’13, ITAM Law ’02). Based in Austin, his practice focuses on helping U.S. companies doing business in Mexico. Clients include power plant developers, electricity and natural traders, and end users from several industries. He has participated in litigation strategies and as expert witness in interconnection disputes. Before his private practice, he worked at Mexico’s federal government; from 2009 to 2012, as General Counsel at the Energy Regulatory Commission. Various publications on energy regulation and constitutional law. Member of the board at the solar association ASOLMEX.

Nithish Mahalingam
Nithish is a a Director at Microsoft, leading teams of engineers who are passionate about improving the power efficiency and sustainability of Azure Compute, the cloud infrastructure platform that powers Microsoft’s online services and data centers. He has been in this role for over 7 years, building software-based systems and machine learning solutions that optimize the energy consumption and carbon footprint of Azure. His team’s mission is to enable Azure to deliver high-performance, reliable, and green computing to its customers and partners, while reducing the environmental impact and operational costs of running a global cloud network. His expertise encompasses building and scaling teams, software development, design, and architecture. He has also contributed to multiple patents, publications and open source projects in these domains.

Jeff Makholm
At NERA since 1986, specializing in the regulation of infrastructure industries, Dr. Makholm has been involved with the entire arc of state/federal restructuring in US regulation natural gas and electricity and the spread of such infrastructure regulation to dozens of countries during the privatization era starting in the UK. He has appeared in more than 350 civil/administrative litigated matters representing corporations, governments, regulatory agencies and special interest groups. He publishes widely on industry and regulatory matters. His latest book was The Political Economy of Pipelines, published in 2012 by the University of Chicago Press.

Dr. Paras Mandal
Dr. Paras Mandal is a Full Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) and the Director of Power & Renewable Energy Systems (PRES) at The University of Texas at El Paso. His research interests include power systems operations and markets including demand response, DERs integration/forecasting, AI/ML applications to smart grid, and cyber-security of power systems. He has authored more than 200 scientific articles and proven technical, academic and leadership skill with various awards and honors. His research has been funded by NSF, DOE, DoEd, and Industry. He is a Co-Lead Power Thrust of NSF-ERC-ASPIRE (National Science Foundation’s flagship Engineering Research Center program).

Brooke Marcus
Brooke Marcus is a natural resources lawyer focused on assisting the renewable energy sector with maintaining compliance with environmental laws. She is go-to counsel for matters involving the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA), Clean Water Act (CWA) the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). Brooke regularly provides natural resources and environmental support for renewable project financing and advises investors and power purchasers on federal wildlife and other environmental issues for potential renewable acquisitions.

Zona Martin
Zona Martin is a clean energy policy professional with experience in utility-scale renewable energy siting and community engagement. She has led major state initiatives to advance renewable deployment, including spearheading Michigan’s Renewables Ready Communities Award and managing the state’s Renewable Siting through Technical Engagement Program (R-STEP), funded by the U.S. DOE to remove barriers to clean energy siting. Previously, Zona held roles with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy and UM’s Graham Sustainability Institute. She holds an M.S. in Environmental Policy and Planning from the University of Michigan and a B.A. in Government from UT Austin.

Julia Matevosyan
Julia is ESIG’s Associate Director and Chief Engineer, and has more than 20 years of experience in the power industry. Prior to joining ESIG, Matevosyan was the Lead Planning Engineer of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). In her time with ERCOT, she worked system frequency control and performance issues related to high penetration levels of inverter-based generation and ancillary services market design. Julia is a Fellow of the IEEE and chairs a number of industry working groups at CIGRE, NERC and ERCOT. She received her BSc from Riga Technical University in Latvia, and her MSc and PhD from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Sweden.

Frank McCamant
Mr. McCamant is an expert development partner for organizations involved in energy resource management. Over the past 40+ years he has worked with both the public and private sectors to develop a strategic focus and translate that strategy into action. Mr. McCamant brings a wealth of executive-level relationships and experience negotiating tough deals while crafting sound public policy. Areas of Focus include wholesale power supply PPAs, ERCOT/PUCT monitoring, stakeholder process and analytics, and project development. Mr. McCamant holds both a B.S. in civil engineering and an Executive MBA from the University of Texas at Austin, and is a registered engineer in Texas.

Sree Mohan
Sreemohan is Vice President of Investments at CleanCapital, a leading renewable-energy investor focused on battery storage, solar, and electric vehicles. He leads project acquisitions, corporate strategy, and the firm’s policy positioning. He holds a master’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University in Energy and Technology and brings a combined engineering and policy background to the world of infrastructure investing and project finance.

Naomi Montes Goo
Master’s student in Energy and Earth Resources at the University of Texas at Austin. Research focuses on evaluating the role of natural gas in Mexico’s electricity system under evolving political and institutional constraints. Using integrated power and natural gas system models, including SWITCH and GPCM, the work examines how fuel supply risks, public investment strategies and, policy shifts influence long-term electricity planning in Mexico.

Bill Muston
R&D Manager at Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC. Career in electric utilities spanning forty years. Retired from Oncor in 2022. Roles encompassed R&D and emerging technologies, maturity and risks for commercial use, and fit with regulatory and business models. Member of the Oncor Corporate Strategy & Emerging Technologies team 2012 to 2022. Recent technologies included energy storage, microgrids, electric vehicles, distributed energy resources, and related grid integration. Named an Oncor Fellow in 2015. Education: The University of Texas at Austin, BSEE and MS in Engineering.

Dr. Laura T. W. Olive
Dr. Laura T. W. Olive is an energy economist with more than 10 years of experience working with clients to navigate challenges and resolve disputes in the energy and transport industries. Dr. Olive is an expert in North American energy regulation. Her primary areas of expertise include market dynamics in the electric, gas, and oil sectors; transmission infrastructure issues, including permitting; competition; and the energy transition. Dr. Olive holds a PhD in economics from Northeastern University, specializing in Industrial Organization, where her research focused on analyzing competition and market structure in infrastructure-intensive industries.

Dr. Richard O’Neill
Dr. Richard O’Neill was Distinguished Senior Fellow at the ARPA-E where he directs the Grid Optimization Competition and other optimization and power system programs. Prior to ARPA-E, he served as the Chief Economic Advisor at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and as the Director of FERC’s Office of Pipeline and Producer Regulation. His work with governments and companies has included mathematical software, energy modeling, forecasting, open access, restructuring, competition, performance-based regulation, market power mitigation and market design. He has a B.S. in chemical engineering, an MBA and a Doctorate in operations research all from the University of Maryland.

Eric Padilla
Mr. Padilla is the Director of Public Policy for Vistra Corp., a fortune 500 competitive generator and retailer of electricity based in Irving, Texas. In this role Mr. Padilla is responsible for all state legislative policy analysis and advocacy, working closely with the business, government affairs, and regulatory teams to advance Vistra’s preferred policy outcomes. Mr. Padilla also serves as the Board Vice-Chair for the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association’s Research Foundation. Mr. Padilla holds a degree in European History with a minor in Classical Studies from DePauw University. He lives in Arlington Texas with his wife, two daughters, and a bevy of pets.

Dalia Patino-Echeverri
Dalia Patiño-Echeverri is the Gendell Family Associate Professor of Energy Systems and Public Policy at the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University. She heads the GRACE Lab (A Grid that is Risk Aware for Clean Electricity), which explores, assesses, and proposes technological, policy, and market approaches to pursue environmental sustainability, affordability, reliability, and resiliency in the energy sector. Most of her research focuses on the decisions regulators and private actors must make regarding capital investment and operations in the electricity industry, and on quantifying the value of flexibility across multiple dimensions.

Stavros Penagos
Business Development professional focused in the ERCOT market. 10 years of experience in the industry from different angles. Currently working in BESS and thermal projects. Simultaneously, working on completing the MBA program at UT Austin. Class of 2026.

Brett A. Perlman
Brett A. Perlman has had a multifaceted career spanning management consulting, senior government leadership, and nonprofit executive roles. He is currently an Impact Fellow in Residence at Harvard University’s Advanced Leadership Initiative where he focuses on strategies to address climate change as well as new energy technology commercialization. In addition, he is the CEO of Gulf Energy Catalyst, a newly formed organization focused on transforming the Gulf Coast’s energy economy. Brett served as a Commissioner on the Public Utility Commission of Texas, where he led the state’s landmark electricity restructuring.

Scott Peters
Congressman Scott Peters serves the country’s most beautiful congressional district, California’s 50th, in San Diego County. First elected in 2012, Scott’s career has been defined by major legislative victories for our veterans and military, deploying clean energy, reducing drug costs while protecting innovation, and confronting the substance abuse crisis. Above all else, Scott works to improve the quality of life for San Diegans. To that end, he has championed San Diego’s innovation and life sciences economy, strengthened the San Diego – U.S. Military partnership, tackled the scourge of cross-border sewage, and taken on homelessness and the housing shortage with federal funds. In Congress, Scott serves on the House Energy and Commerce and House Budget Committees, where he has championed and passed historic legislation to protect our environment and promote the energy transition and works to fix a broken budget process and take on our nation’s unsustainable debt.

Justin Pidot
Justin Pidot is the Ashby Lohse Chair in Water & Natural Resources at the University of Arizona College of Law and co-directs its Environmental Law, Science and Policy Program. An expert in environmental, natural resources, and administrative law, he co-authored Practicing Environmental Law and has published in leading journals. He previously served as General Counsel of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, Deputy Solicitor for Land Resources at the Department of the Interior, and an attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice. Pidot has also taught at the University of Denver, clerked on the D.C. Circuit, and holds a J.D. from Stanford and a B.A. from Wesleyan.

Pedro Pozas
Pedro Pozas is a Research Analyst at Good Energy Collective, where he supports research initiatives spanning clean energy, community engagement, and energy systems modeling. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Data Science from the University of Texas at Austin. His work contributes to reports and policy recommendations aimed at helping decision-makers plan more equitable energy transitions.

Steve Puller
Steve Puller is the Rex B. Grey Professor of Economics at Texas A&M University and he teaches courses in Energy Economics and Industrial Organization. His research interests include industrial organization, empirical microeconomics, and energy economics, with a particular focus on the electric power sector.

Varun Rai
Dr. Varun Rai is a Professor in the LBJ School of Public Affairs and in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, where he directs the Energy Systems Transformation Research Group (aka “Rai Group”). His interdisciplinary research – delving with issues at the interface of energy systems, complex systems, decision science, and public policy – focuses on studying how the interactions between the underlying social, behavioral, economic, technological, and institutional components of the energy system impact the diffusion of energy technologies. Over the last 15 years, his research has applied various analytical lenses to study technologies and policies in carbon capture and storage (CCS), fuels cells, oil & gas, plug-in hybrid vehicles (PEVs), and solar photovoltaics (PV). He has presented at several important forums, including the United States Senate Briefings, Global Intelligent Utility Network Coalition, and Global Economic Symposium, and his research group’s work has been discussed in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Bloomberg News, among other venues.

Staci Rende
Staci Rende is a graduate student at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin, focused on environmental and energy policy, specifically infrastructure governance and data center sustainability. She is pursuing a Master of Global Policy Studies and a Graduate Portfolio in Energy Studies. Her research examines how energy-intensive technologies, particularly data centers supporting artificial intelligence, interact with environmental regulation, water and heat management, and ecosystem protection. She has conducted policy research with the Cambridge Security Initiative and is currently authoring a white paper on sustainable data center deployment.

Joshua Rhodes
Joshua D. Rhodes, Ph.D. is a Research Scientist and Lecturer at The University of Texas at Austin, a non-Resident Fellow at Columbia University, a Founding Partner and CTO of IdeaSmiths LLC, and a commissioner on the City of Austin Electricity Utility Commission. He has authored over 125 scientific articles, columns, op-eds, journal publications, and reports which have been cited over 2,500 times and he has given over 120 keynotes, panel presentations, podcast interviews, and other talks. His current area of work is in how energy systems power our modern lives, with a particular focus on new supplies and demands of electricity.

Laura Rivera
I am a dual-degree graduate student at The University of Texas at Austin, pursuing an MBA and an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering. I am a Graduate Research Assistant with the Webber Energy Group, where my work focuses on hydrogen and life-cycle analysis to support the industrial decarbonization. With six years of experience as an engineer and project manager in rotating equipment services for power plants and industrial facilities, I bring a mix of technical depth and business strategy to support solving complex energy challenges.