2025 Federal Market Workshop

Room: Le Méridien (fka The Madison Hotel) Hamilton Room 

Time: 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Location: 1177 15th Street NW, Washington DC 20005

Room: Le Méridien (fka The Madison Hotel) Potomac Room

Time: 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Location: 1177 15th Street NW, Washington DC 20005

Breakfast - Sponsored by Ameresco!

8:00 - 9:00 AM

9:00 - 9:05 AM

Speaker

Wes Walker is CEO of Veregy, a national energy services company focused on accelerating the energy transition in the United States. He has over twenty years of experience in the energy and sustainability industry, including executive leadership roles at a multi-national ESCO, an electrical and water contracting company and one of the nation’s largest electrical utility companies. Wes holds a Master of Business Administration with a focus on finance from Illinois State University and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University. Additionally, he is the Board Chair with the National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO.org) and a former Board member with the Alliance to Save Energy (ase.org).

9:05 - 9:30 AM

Speaker 

Atty. Jeff Genzer, Duncan, Weinberg, Genzer & Pembroke

Jeff Genzer is an attorney in Washington, D.C., and Shareholder of the law firm of Duncan, Weinberg, Genzer & Pembroke, P.C., where he practices energy, utility and environmental law. Jeff has been with the firm since 1985. He also has an active advocacy practice. Jeff counsels clients on all types of energy project development. He has served as counsel to the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO), since the organization began in 1986. He also serves as counsel to a number of other national associations, including the National Association of Energy Service Companies (“NAESCO”), the National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association and the Energy Programs Consortium. That work involves support for federal appropriations, legislation and policy. He worked on statutory provisions included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021, the State Energy Efficiency Programs Improvement Act of 1990, the Energy Policy Acts of 1992 and 2005, and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, as well as all pieces of major energy legislation since the early 1980s. In 2013, the Energy Bar Association presented Mr. Genzer with their State Regulatory Practitioner of the Year award. In 2010, the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy presented Jeff with their “Champion of Energy Efficiency in Buildings” award.

Prior to joining the law firm, Jeff served as staff counsel and energy lobbyist for the National Governors Association. Jeff also worked at the National Consumer Law Center in the early 1980s, focusing on low-income energy issues. He began his work in energy and the environment as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Micronesia in the 1970s. He is an honors graduate of Haverford College and received his law degree from the Washington College of Law of the American University.

FEMP Update

Mary Sotos, Director of the Federal Energy Management Program, Department of Energy

Mary Sotos is the Director of the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP). She leads a team dedicated to helping federal agencies achieve sustainable facilities and fleets by assisting with federal-wide data collection and aggregation, developing reporting tools and technical assistance, and offering training and project funding.

Sotos previously served as a senior policy advisor with the Connecticut Department of energy and Environmental Protection, where she launched a revamped "Lead By Example" program to create new strategies to track and manage greenhouse gas emissions, waste and water use across all state agencies. She also served as the agency's deputy commissioner for energy, directing the state's energy policies and programs. Sotos also worked at the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Program at the World Resources Institute, an international think tank, where she developed new lobal carbon accounting standards and tools used by thousands of organizations worldwide. Additionally, she partnered with corporate leaders to develop and advance new renewable energy strategies, tools, and policies to decarbonize the grid.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from St. Olaf College and completed a Fulbright Fellowship in Brussels, Belgium.

10:00 - 11:00 AM

Speakers 

Gopal Shiddapur, Vice-President, Federal Project Development, NORESCO (moderator)

As Vice-President for Federal Project Development, Mr. Shiddapur ensures development of customer-centric projects that maximize resiliency and progress toward federal mandates. He is a senior level point-of-contact and trusted advisor for utility partners, federal clients and agencies, accountable for overall project delivery and customer satisfaction.  Mr. Shiddapur has overseen the award of over $1 billion in resilient, renewable and conservation solutions through UESCs and ESPCs for various federal agencies such as DOD, GSA, DOE, VA, DHS, DHHS, BOP, DOT, LOC, EPA, U.S. Mint, and Smithsonian. Over his 30-year career, Mr. Shiddapur has led teams performing energy analysis, design, commissioning, sales, program management, contract compliance, financial structuring, and project development. Mr. Shiddapur holds an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from University of Texas at Austin and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Government College of Engineering, Pune, India.  He has authored technical papers for ASHRAE and AEE and presented at various trade associations.

Fred B. Parry, Director - FES Business Operations, Dominion Energy

Fred works for Dominion Energy, an American-owned utility with its headquarters in Richmond, Virginia. Dominion Energy is one of the largest producers and transporters of energy. Dominion has a long history of providing reliable, affordable and increasingly clean energy to fuel your every day and is committed to complete client satisfaction. The company is an industry leader in Utilities Privatization and has an excellent ESPC/UESC programs.

Fred has his B.S. degree in Economics & Finance and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from The Costello College of Business at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. & a Master of Science (MS) in Project Management from Averett University in Danville, VA. He also has certifications as a Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Certified Energy Procurement Professional (CEP), Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (SSBB), Certified Project Management Professional (PMP), and a McKinsey and Company Management Accelerator Graduate. 

Fred is a member of the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), American Association of Black in Energy (AABE), Association of Professional Energy Managers (APEM) & Project Management Institute (PMI)

Fred has over 30 plus years of experience in the energy industry. He has worked as a Design Engineer, Energy Consultant, Energy Engineer, Business Development Manager, National Key Accounts Manager, Engineering Supervisor, Sr. Project Manager, Manager- Construction Projects and currently is Director - Finance, Business Development, & Compliance at Dominion Energy. He leads Dominion Energy’s Energy Solutions Group with overall responsibility for their ESPC/ UESC programs in VA, NC, & SC, and their Utility Privatization Businesses at (11) Privatized Base Locations. His work includes managing Dominion Energy’s portfolio of Utilities Privatization contracts that includes Fort Belvoir, Fort Hood (gas and electric), Fort Jackson, Joint Base Myer – Henderson Hall, Fort Lee, Joint Base Langley-Eustis (Fort Eustis), Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek - Fort Story (Fort Story), and Arlington National Cemetery. Under Fred’s leadership, Dominion Energy has successfully completed UESC projects at multiple Government facilities and currently has projects underway at MCB-Quantico, NSWC-Dahlgren, The Pentagon and MSAC-Beaufort in South Carolina (SC).

Elizabeth Kuhn, Director of Federal Services, Southern Company

Elizabeth Kuhn serves as the Director of Federal Services for Southern Company. She leads a diverse team of business professionals dedicated to partnering with federal clients within the Southern Company footprint to meet their energy conservation and resilient goals. Her team is responsible for delivering solutions through federal mechanisms such as Utility Energy Services Contracts (UESCs) and others. Her expertise which spans 3 decades ensures Southern Company remains at the forefront of innovative energy solutions for the federal customer. 

Elizabeth has over 30 years of leadership, engineering and project management experience within Southern Company and its affiliates. She is an Electrical Engineer by degree and a project leader by experience. She has been in the energy services sector for over 10 years involved in UESC contract execution for the Southern company family. She was instrumental in earning Southern Company the title of largest UESC issued to date by the General Services Administration and her portfolio of influence us over $1B. A sample of Elizabeth's resume includes contracted UESCs at Maxwell AFB, Fort Novosel, Fort Eisenhower, Anniston Army Depot, the USDA, the Center for Domestic Preparedness, and the GSA. Elizabeth's team is developing the largest UESC in federal history at Anniston Army Depot which is expected to contract to early 2025 and exceed $200M.

Elizabeth brings extensive experience as a performance contractor in several market segments beyond the federal government including educational institutions, municipalities, hospitals and commercial facilities through previous roles. Elizabeth also offers a broad knowledge of federal contracting, financial optionality and associated energy solutions for the federal customer in the SOCO territory.

11:00 - 11:15 AM

11:15 AM - 12:30 PM

Speakers 

Joe Maranto, Director of Energy Solutions, Constellation

Joe is a Director of Energy Solutions for Constellation, the nation’s largest producer of carbon-free energy and provider of sustainable solutions to homes, businesses, and public sector customers across the United States. 

With over twenty-five years of experience, Joe has provided leadership for the customer facing business development activities for Constellation with the goal to provide reliable, resilient energy and deliver innovative sustainability solutions that help customers achieve their clean and resilient energy goals.

Joe received his MBA from Loyola University and his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Bucknell University.

Bayla Gewirtz - Program Manager for Energy Performance Contracting Program, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

Bayla Gewirtz works at the Department of Veterans Affairs within the Energy, Environment and Fleet Program Service. She serves as program manager for VA’s Energy Performance Contracting program. In this role, Bayla leads a program team that plans, supports, and tracks VA’s portfolio of over $1.1 billion of awarded contracts and approximately $300 million of projects in various stages of development, and works closely with VA’s centralized team of contracting officers and specialists to continually improve VA’s program.

Crystall Merlino, Director for the Resilience, Energy, and Sustainability Program, LEED Green Associate 

As the Director for the Resilience, Energy, and Sustainability Program, Crystall is responsible for strategy, oversight, and delivery of the program for the Department of Homeland Security. She is responsible for implementing policy and guidance for the Department on climate change adaptation and mitigation, resilience, sustainability, and energy/water related matters. She led the development of the DHS Resilience Framework in 2018, which provides a roadmap for the Department in operational resilience and readiness and led the development of the Departments’ Climate Action Plan, signed by the Secretary in September 2020. Over the past 25 years she has led and supported large-scale government, resilience, sustainability, energy, and environmental programs and projects providing leadership, mentorship, contract management, research, and technical support to government and private clients. Crystall graduated from Arkansas State University, Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science. She is a LEED Green Associate, a chapter member of the National Capital Region, US Green Building Council, and sat on the board as president (2002) and secretary (2000), she was one of the original founding members and board member for the Building Commissioning Association and a member of the Women’s Council on Energy and Environment (WCEE). She also is very active in her local government and school system, participating on many boards to ‘green’ the schools and graduated from the City of Alexandria, VA Academies on leadership and environmental plans. She is a City of Alexandria Eco-City Ambassador, which provides opportunity to take actions to make the city more sustainable.

12:30 - 1:30 PM

1:30 - 2:45 PM

Speakers

April Frakes, Director of Commercial Business Development, Aeroseal (moderator)

April Frakes is a strategic leader with over 15 years of experience in business development, team management, and driving organizational growth. As the Director of Commercial Business Development at Aeroseal, she has played a pivotal role in expanding the company's commercial division. April's work focuses on developing innovative solutions for energy efficiency and sustainability, fostering partnerships with key industry stakeholders, and aligning cross-functional teams to achieve strategic objectives.

Throughout her career, April has excelled in navigating complex challenges, identifying new opportunities, and implementing scalable strategies. She also spearheaded Aeroseal’s inclusion in a GSA Green Proving technology evaluation, underscoring her ability to integrate innovation into practical applications that benefit both organizations and the environment.

April is a dynamic speaker and advocate for professional development and diversity in energy and sustainability sectors. She is a founding member and External Engagement Chair of the NAESCO Women’s Committee and has presented at prominent industry events such as the Federal Energy Exchange and the Association of Energy Engineers World Conference.

Anthony Spera, Senior Director of Sales and Marketing, RWE Clean Energy

Anthony Spera is the Senior Director of Sales and Marketing for RWE Clean Energy - DCE. He has responsibility for all sales and marketing in support of the lines of business within RWE Clean Energy - DCE. Mr. Spera has more than 35 years of experience in the energy industry and has worked on energy savings projects involving various technologies.  Having overseen the sales for both the Federal and MUSH Energy Efficiency divisions, Mr. Spera has long history and understanding of the ESPC and energy efficiency markets in multiple sectors. His work with design/build concepts, energy savings performance contracting vehicles, renewable energy and long-term O&M agreements has given Mr. Spera broad experience in the implementation of energy savings projects and the introduction of new technologies and contract vehicles that drive energy efficiency and resilience.

Steve Smith - Vice President, Federal Business Unit, Energy Systems Group 

Steve has over 20 years of experience in the energy performance contracting industry and has background expertise in industrial building science, energy management, and project financing. As a Vice President for ESG’s Federal Business Unit (FBU), Steve oversees all business activity for the Federal Business. Steve administers over a team of business development professionals, engineering professionals, construction management professionals, administrative staff, and other personnel. He is also responsible for all of the ESG’s enduring service projects. He and his team of managers supervise the development of energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs) and utility energy service contracts (UESCs) in support of the federal government’s energy conservation, electrification, carbon reduction and infrastructure modernization needs. Steve received his MBA from Baldwin Wallace University and his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Dayton.

2:45 - 3:00 PM

3:00 - 4:30 PM

Speakers

John Streicher, Sales Director - Federal, Energy Systems Group (moderator)

John Streicher is a seasoned professional with a distinguished background and extensive experience. A 12-year Navy veteran, John, demonstrated exceptional leadership and dedication in service to our nation. Following his military service, he built a successful 16-year career at Johnson Controls, where he had numerous roles and increasing responsibilities at a branch level, region level and national level at Johnson Controls. His last position there was as a Federal Solutions Regional Sales Manager across four regions and OCONUS. In this role, he led a team of account managers, ensured the timely achievement of organizational goals, and cultivated a reputation for excellence in customer satisfaction.

Currently, John is the Director of Sales for Energy Systems Group's federal business unit, focusing on strategic customer outreach and satisfaction. He leverages his extensive sales and account management expertise, a deep understanding of utility markets and energy efficiency, and the ability to analyze market forecasts to develop and implement impactful strategic initiatives. His professional experience includes working on numerous projects with military institutions and civilian agencies, further solidifying his industry credibility. John continues to excel as a trusted advisor and strategist, ensuring ESG's federal customers achieve their goals with outstanding service and support.

Gregory J. Lane, Energy Savings Performance Contract / Utility Energy Saving Contract (ESPC/UESC) Program Lead, Navy Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC)

Gregory J. Lane joined Navy Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) headquarters in October 2019 after a successful military career. He is the Energy Savings Performance Contract / Utility Energy Saving Contract (ESPC/UESC) Program Lead responsible for overseeing the execution of 152 projects across Navy and Marine Corps installations in the pre-award, design and construction, and performance phases. Since his arrival, NAVFAC awarded 4 ESPCs and 12 UESCs across the DON installations, and the team is currently working 23 projects at various levels in the pre-award phase with 9 anticipating award before the end of calendar year 2023. Mr. Lane plays a critical role in the success of the DON energy project portfolio by ensuring accurate reporting on project statuses and financial metrics as well as communicating information to partners. Most recently Mr. Lane has worked closely with the NAVFAC Smart Grid team and Command Information Office as NAVFAC moves toward integrating data analytics and cybersecurity into all new and existing third party financing projects.

4:30 - 5:30 PM

Workshop Wi - Fi - Sponsored by Aeroseal

Workshop Lanyard - Sponsored by Blue Energy Group