Frank J. Macchiarola is Chief Policy Officer at American Clean Power Association (ACP). In this role, he leads a policy team developing the framework necessary to efficiently deploy the full suite of advanced clean energy technologies.

Prior to joining ACP, Frank served as Senior Vice President of Policy, Economics, and Regulatory Affairs at the American Petroleum Institute and Executive Vice President of Government Affairs at America’s Natural Gas Alliance. Earlier in his career, Frank served as Staff Director of the US Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the US Senate Committee on Health Education Labor & Pensions. He was also a partner in the Policy Resolution Group at Bracewell LLP.

Frank currently serves as an associate member of the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Energy & Environmental Markets Advisory Committee and a member of the board of directors of the National Brain Tumor Society. He was twice recognized by National Journal as a top Capitol Hill staff member, and in 2022 he was named by Washingtonian as one of the 500 most influential people shaping public policy.

Frank earned his J.D. from New York University School of Law, M.P.Aff. from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin, and A.B. in History from College of the Holy Cross.

Mr. Prashant Krishnan is currently working as Director Health and Safety with EDP Renewables and is based in Houston, Texas. Mr. Krishnan has over 11 years of engineering and compliance experience in conventional and renewable energy industries. He oversees the Health, Safety and Quality Programs for the North America platform, consisting of constructing 500 - 1,000 MW annually, operating greater than 6.5 GW and developing future projects. His key focus is to drive improvements in the safety culture at operating sites, construction sites and development regions by implementing programs that have clear definition of the desired culture EDPR North America wishes to achieve.

Kristy Abel is the Head of HSE for Vestas North Americas Region. Kristy is responsible for facilitating best in class safety governance and performance for over 250 service locations throughout the US and Canada, 2 manufacturing facilities for turbine nacelles and blades in Colorado, transport of turbine components from port to construction sites, and many other activities within the Vestas portfolio including an emerging offshore business.
Kristy brings over 20 years of experience in energy generation, transmission and distribution; primarily in HSE and operational positions.

Jason has made it his mission to share his experience as an arc flash survivor to help others stay safe on the job. He is currently the Lead Corporate Safety and Technical Trainer for Tyndale Enterprises, Inc. and an NFPA Certified Electrical Safety Compliance Professional (CESCP). Jason has been an NFPA 70E instructor for several years and has been a certified master electrician for over 28 years. His nationally recognized presentations include his own compelling arc flash survival and recovery story.

JC Sandberg is the Chief Advocacy Officer at the American Clean Power Association (ACP). He leads ACP’s state and federal advocacy and regulatory policy work as well as ACP’s legal and research teams. Prior to joining ACP, Sandberg led global government affairs and policy at GE Renewable Energy. In this role, JC was instrumental in the global growth of the company’s onshore and offshore wind, grid, hydro, and storage businesses. Sandberg played an active role in the establishment of policy and regulatory frameworks enabling the accelerated deployment of renewable energy in domestic and foreign markets.

Sandberg began his policy career in 2001 as Counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works where his portfolio included surface transportation, federal government response to the 9/11 attacks and a range of environmental issues. During his Senate tenure, Sandberg was a lead Senate negotiator on the $300 billion reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century. Following his work on the Hill, he served as Counsel to the law firm of Baker Donelson where he advised clients on energy and infrastructure issues.

Sandberg earned his B.S. in Accounting from Brigham Young University and his J.D. from the University of Arizona.

Laura Wilson Phelan is the Chief Strategy and Program Officer for the Clean Power Institute and Senior Vice President of Strategy & Leadership at the American Clean Power Association. In this role, she supports the development of the vision for the Clean Power Institute, specifically related to workforce development, as well as its operations. Laura comes to ACP with extensive experience at grassroots’ and management levels across the non-profit and government sectors. She began her career as a teacher through Teach For America and the Peace Corps. She later applied her field experience to policy work at the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Department of State and U.S. House of Representatives before becoming a founding member of the leadership team at Teach For All and a senior advisor on social policy at Teach For America. She later led operations and national work for the Flamboyan Foundation. Most recently, Laura founded and led Kindred, a nonprofit focused on creating racially and educationally equitable schools. She served as an elected member of the DC State Board of Education from 2015-2019.

Laura earned a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School, teaching certification from National Hispanic University, a Bachelor of Arts in Politics from Wake Forest University and is fluent in Spanish. She is an avid soccer player and fan and is the proud mother of twin middle school students.

Kelly Darnell is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the American Clean Power Association and President of the Clean Power Institute. She is the former Interim Chief Executive Officer and COO for the Bipartisan Policy Center.

She previously served as COO at The Executive Leadership Council, United Way of the National Capital Area and for the Washington, D.C. Office of the State Superintendent of Education.

Prior to her operations positions, she worked at Bank of America in Capital Markets Structured Finance, focusing on mortgage finance and derivatives.  She also practiced corporate law at Saul Ewing, LLP.

Kelly’s political positions include serving as the Federal Affairs Director for the City of Atlanta and as a Legislative Assistant for Congressman John Lewis of Atlanta in the U.S. House of Representatives.

She is the Immediate Past President of the D.C. Bar Foundation and serves on the University of Maryland and School of Public Policy Dean’s Advisory Council. She is a Woodrow Wilson Fellow and has received numerous awards, including the Washington Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business Award.

She received her B.A. in Economics from Spelman College and an M.P.M. from the University of Maryland. She received her law degree from the American University, Washington College of Law.

As Co Chair of the AWEA Operations & Maintenance Working Group, Kevin coordinates and supports activities developed by the working group for championing good communication and best industry practices among owners, operators and independent service providers to help maximize efficiency, reliability and profitability for the wind energy generation industry in the USA.

In his position as Director of Marketing at Shermco Industries, Kevin is responsible for design and implementation of corporate marketing activities for current and proposed services and coverage areas. Kevin coordinates corporate communications, advertising, sales literature, trade/technical conferences and assures Shermco Industries brand development, awareness and integration of new acquisitions. He strongly supports trade association activities and encourages active participation by others.

Chris Petrola is the Director of Maintenance and Technical Services for Enel Green Power North America. He has been in the renewable energy industry since 2009 and in the power generation industry since 2004. At Enel Green Power, Chris leads an organization that is responsible for the engineering, technical support, and maintenance planning for the Enel Green Power North American operating fleet of wind energy assets.

Prior to coming to Enel Green Power, Chris was the Manager of Electrical Engineering for Acciona Energy North America and previous to that an Electrical Engineer with American Electric Power (AEP).

Chris is also the acting chairman of the American Clean Power (ACP) Balance of Plant (BoP) Working Group. The working group is dedicated to optimizing the renewable energy industry performance on all of the components and systems in a renewable energy power plant that is part of the collection, transformation, and transmission of energy.

Chris has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from The Ohio State University and is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of Ohio.

As the project manager of a 50MW windfarm, Charles started his renewable career in 2008, with his first cable failure. At that time he knew nothing about cable systems, so he spent the next 17+ years learning from everyone he could and accidently became a cable forensic expert. He has worked for owners, operators, and developers, testing service providers, and cable manufacturing. As well, he has performed countless defect and failure root cause investigations. He has shared his experience and knowledge of MV cable systems through case studies, trade articles, published white papers and award-winning presentations. As a voting member, co-author, and working group contributor of a number of IEEE cable and accessory standards and guides including 48, 386, 404 and the 400 series of field testing guides, he has influenced and shaped much of the cable industry.

Chris Bremer is a Technical Leader at the Electrical Power Research Institute (EPRI) on the Energy Storage and Distributed Generation program and is currently focused on battery energy storage operations, maintenance, reliability, and asset management. Prior experience came from the Southwest vertically-integrated utility, Salt River Project (SRP), where he was a senior data scientist and renewable integration subject-matter expert (SME) and helped contract, commission, test, and onboard over 3GWh of standalone and solar-hybrid battery energy storage resources. Responsibilities also included storage outage management, control room visualizations, mid-term strategy development, and the creation of organization-wide training on all facets of energy storage and renewables. Chris also has extensive experience in short and long-term solar and wind power forecasting; creating and leading SRP’s renewable forecasting team and integrating SRP’s mid-term planning models with both renewable forecasts and energy storage operating conditions and limitations. Other experience was gained at Clearway Energy Group where he created Clearway’s weather and basis forecasting system, and architected the energy storage enterprise data model. He has both Bachelors and Master’s degrees in Chemical Engineering from Arizona State University.

Chris Lenda, Director of EHS for Powin Energy began his professional leadership and safety journey when he joined the Idaho Army National Guard in May 1999 as a Combat Medic. Assigned to the 116th Cavalry Brigade, Chris mobilized for 18 months from 2004-2005 to Kirkuk, Iraq as both a Medic and with the additional duty position of Unit Safety Officer.
Following this deployment, he was reassigned to the 1-148th Field Artillery communications section, where he served as Team Chief, Section NCOIC, Forward Signal Support NCO, as well as continuing as the unit’s safety officer.
In 2009, he graduated from Columbia Southern University with honors (Cum Laude) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice.
In 2010-2011, Chris again deployed with the 116th to Iraq, this time serving as Convoy Security Team NCO, providing armed gun truck escorts to VIP's, light army units, and civilian commodity convoys moving across the whole of Iraq. His team was so successful that they were personally selected by the theater commander to travel to Kuwait to train the 7th Army Cavalry (We Were Soldiers) before their own deployment to Iraq.
Retiring from the National Guard in 2019, his notable military awards include 7 Army Achievement Medals, 3 Army Commendation Medals, Meritorious Service Medal, 6 Army Reserve Component Achievement Medals and 2 Armed Forces Reserve Medal
Concurrently with his military service, Chris entered public service in 2003 as a State Trooper with the Idaho State Police, taking on the additional role of Crash Reconstructionist, being recognized as New Trooper of the Year in 2004.
After 10 years with ISP, he transitioned into renewables, starting as a traveling Special Services Technician with EDF Renewable Energy in 2014. After traveling full-time for 2 years, he transitioned into the Health and Safety Team, first as a Specialist, and finally as a Senior Manager over all aspects of Safety and Health for EDFR’s US operations (60 sites).
He currently holds both a Certified Safety Professional and Associate Safety Professional certification through the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. He also has been an active member of the American Clean Power’s training committee as well as a participant in other safety related industry panels and events.
Chris currently resides on a small farm in Southeast Idaho with his wife Heather, 16 year old son Kaleb, and 7 year old chocolate lab Jade. In his free time, Chris enjoys woodworking, gardening and long-distance bike riding.

Omar Longou is the Director of Commercial Operations for Spearmint Energy with 8 years of experience in the field of renewable energy. At Spearmint, he is responsible for managing the company's fleet of operational battery energy storage projects. Key functions of his team include HSE & cybersecurity risk management, asset management, and performance engineering. He previously worked for Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE), where he held multiple engineering roles throughout his tenure. Omar holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Iowa State University.

James A. Junkin, is the chief executive officer of Mariner-Gulf Consulting & Services, L.L.C., a boutique risk management and occupational safety and health consulting firm headquartered in Louisiana with clients throughout the United States and abroad. He holds the designations of Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Safety Management Specialist (SMS), and Associate Safety Professional (ASP) from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. James and his firm specialize in safety regulations, best practices, management systems, and EHS program development and implementation. He and Mariner-Gulf Consulting & Services provide expert opinions for legal actions, technical writing for company specific written policies and procedures, training, accident investigations, and site safety consultations. James is a noted author with articles appearing in trade and peer reviewed publications such as Professional Safety Journal and a much sought-after master trainer for Veriforce, having taught over 40,000 students and trained over 3,000 instructors. He is noted for his work during the Deepwater Horizon disaster, where he trained over 30,000 oil spill responders. Columbia Southern University recognized his achievements in the field of occupational safety and health by declaring him the 2022 Outstanding Safety Professional (Runner Up) of the Year. He was awarded the National Association for Environmental Management’s (NAEM) 30 over 30 Award recognizing his positive impact in consulting including technical expertise, innovation, leadership effectiveness, and program development He is the chairman of Veriforce’s Strategic Advisory Board, is a member of the American Society of Safety Professionals’ (ASSP) Strategic Advisory Group, Columbia Southern University’s Occupational Safety and Health Advisory Group, and a committee member of the American National Standards Institute’s (ANSI) Z-390.1 Accepted Practices for Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) Training Programs. He is cost host of the acclaimed podcast The Risk Matrix

Dr. Simon Goncharenko, PhD, CSP, CSHO is the Director of HSE at Veriforce, LLC. (The Woodlands, TX, USA), where he leads Expert Services team, and member of the Veriforce Strategic Advisory Board. He is an academic, teaching safety on undergraduate university level, and a practitioner – as a global leader with 30 years of experience across Americas, Europe, and Asia. He has led diverse teams on multi-billion-dollar projects, specializing in operational improvements, strategic planning, and safety and in turning around struggling organizations. Simon holds certifications in energy, construction, data centers, and more, and has worked with multi-national corporations including CBRE, BHP, Meta, and Google. Dr. Goncharenko, whose mission is to save lives by making safety a common global currency, has authored or contributed to over 80 articles, including in the Professional Safety Journal, and 7 books, including Save Lives: Pushing Boundaries in Human Factors, and Operationalizing Safety for Today’s World: A Humancentric Practical Guide. The companion training to Save Lives book, entitled Save Lives Global Human & Organizational Factors© is the world’s first and only human factors program designed specifically for the operators, builders, and contractors of mission critical facilities and has been widely popular with countless participants around the globe. Simon is in demand as a speaker and motivator across numerous geographies.

Josh Rogers is the Senior Director of Safety, Workforce Training, and Operations at ACP. In this role, Josh leads the ACP team and committees focused on worker safety, workforce development, and operational excellence that will support the renewables industry growth. He brings over 15 years or operational industry experience. Josh spent several years as Director of Solar Operations for Duke Energy, which included responsibility for safety, organizational development, performance, and financial profits and losses at more than 60 facilities across the country. He has also developed standards, training, and operational leadership for at several leading companies such as: ABB, Sun Edison, First Solar, and most recently Fluence. Prior to joining private sector energy companies, Josh served in the United States Navy for nine years where he was certified as a nuclear operator and Master Training Specialist. Josh earned his Bachelor of Science in Technology from Excelsior University.

Sam Ramsey is ACP’s Deputy Director of Safety, Workforce Training & Operations. In this role, Sam works across wind, solar, and energy storage to manage ACP’s committees focused on worker safety, workforce development, and operational excellence. She leads ACP’s annual Safety First Workforce Campaign that connects the industry’s top safety practices to boots-on-the-ground technicians. Sam also supports implementation of the Clean Power Institute’s workforce development initiatives.

Prior to ACP, Sam worked for a consultant firm, Kearns & West, where she managed stakeholder engagement, program implementation, and strategic communications for state and federal agencies, industry associations, and non-profits to advance U.S. clean energy development. Here, Sam designed and implemented multi-stakeholder processes, procurements, and educational programs on topics related to health and safety, workforce development, supply chain, and environmental permitting.

Sam received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Christopher Newport University. She resides in Washington, D.C.

I am Devin Ring, an experienced Safety Coordinator with nine years in the wind energy industry, currently serving as a Regional Safety Coordinator at EDP Renewables. Over the course of my career, I have developed a strong foundation in wind turbine maintenance, troubleshooting, and safety coordination, with a deep focus on ensuring compliance with safety regulations. My expertise includes diagnosing and repairing electrical, mechanical, and hydraulic systems, and I’m skilled in delivering OSHA-compliant safety programs and site-specific training. I also conduct rescue at heights training. I am driven by a passion for creating safe and sustainable energy solutions, I thrive in environments where collaboration, leadership, and technical precision are key to ensuring the safety of my team and the success of the projects I contribute to.

Dwayne Coffey is a Program Manager at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) for EPRI’s Plant Management Essentials program (Program 225). This program focuses on providing guidance for organizational and operational excellence in power plants through continuous improvement in people, processes, and technologies. Dwayne is the Sector lead for EPRI Training and Safety.
Dwayne has more than 35 years of operational and maintenance experience in the power industry, both in fossil and nuclear plants. Prior to joining EPRI, he held positions in maintenance, operations, and training in commercial nuclear power plants. He has also been a shift supervisor, operations manager, maintenance manager, plant manager and corporate operations manager in fossil power plants.
Dwayne served in the U.S. Navy Nuclear Power Program, as a reactor operator and then as an engineering watch supervisor on a fleet ballistic submarine. He then trained civilian and Navy personnel on safe operation and maintenance of naval power plants in Idaho where he received the Navy’s Master Training Specialist award.
Dwayne has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland University College in Nuclear Science. He also completed leadership development programs at the Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Business and the University of Texas at Dallas Naveen Jindal School of Management. He held a senior reactor operator (SRO) license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and SRO certifications at two other nuclear sites.

Hi, I am Chris Martin, owner of Martin Up Consulting. Although safety has always played a part in my previous roles, I have been working primarily in safety since 2006, and after 2 seasons doing oil & gas work in Iraq, I became involved in the renewable energy industry in 2008 when a wind farm was being developed 30 minutes from my home. I have held corporate safety roles at the national and international level for various multinational players within the industry, but have been running my own independent consulting firm (US and Canada) since 2018. My client base has included major industry players, growing mid-size entities, small outfits and start-ups, as well as non-profit groups. Through these experiences, I have been exposed to a wide variety of people and projects, which has led to a tremendous cross-section of insight into the wealth of experience within the industry. In addition to the general conept of "safety", I have been engaged in work at heights since 1999, including a highlight of 5 years rapelling out of helicopters into forest fires - best job I have ever had and ever will! In keeping with the working at height topic, I am a voting member of CSA's Z259 (fall protection) Technical Committee and co-chair of the Z259.11 sub-committee on energy absorbers and lanyards; as such I have been able to bring representation from our industry into the standards that eventually become legislation.
At Martin Up, we focus on quality over quantity, and when the company name is also my family name, I know my reputation is on the line with every project my team supports.
In addition to working as a safety professional (CRSP since 2013), I also take my "work" home with me. As a Captain in my hometown volunteer fire department, I often bring lessons learned from our industry to the other members of the department and provide regular training sessions on applicable topics. Outside of work, I am an avid outdoorsman; also keenly interested in hockey (as all Canadians are required to be), sea kayaking, triathlons and mountain biking. I am also a proud husband an father hoping to pass on a safe, active, and healthy lifestyle to the next generation.

Brian Cashion, Director of Engineering at Firetrace International, a leading provider of fire detection and suppression solutions, specializing in protecting critical assets across a wide range of industries. With a career in fire safety spanning over two decades, Brian has played a pivotal role in the company's growth and technological advancements.
Serving in an executive capacity, Brian oversees new product development, applications engineering, and technical support for Firetrace, ensuring the company continues to deliver innovative fire protection solutions. Under his leadership, Firetrace has developed a reputation for providing fast-acting, reliable fire suppression systems that are often used in high-risk environments like wind turbines, solar inverters, battery energy storage, industrial machinery, data centers, and transportation.
Before transitioning to Firetrace’s commercial markets, Brian gained substantial experience in defense fire safety and engineering sectors, working in roles that allowed him to hone his technical expertise as well as leadership abilities. His work is marked by a commitment to advancing fire protection technology while also delivering exceptional customer service.
Brian is known for his customer-centric approach and his deep understanding of the specific fire protection needs faced by diverse industries. He also advocates for fire safety standards and collaborates with industry organizations to ensure that Firetrace remains at the forefront of emerging trends and regulatory requirements.
In addition to his professional work, Brian is passionate about training and educating both the public and professionals about fire safety, helping to foster a safer environment in high-risk industries worldwide.

As Co Chair of the AWEA Operations & Maintenance Working Group, Kevin coordinates and supports activities developed by the working group for championing good communication and best industry practices among owners, operators and independent service providers to help maximize efficiency, reliability and profitability for the wind energy generation industry in the USA.

In his position as Director of Marketing at Shermco Industries, Kevin is responsible for design and implementation of corporate marketing activities for current and proposed services and coverage areas. Kevin coordinates corporate communications, advertising, sales literature, trade/technical conferences and assures Shermco Industries brand development, awareness and integration of new acquisitions. He strongly supports trade association activities and encourages active participation by others.

Henk de Swardt, Chief Electrical Engineer at H&N Wind
With over 29 years of expertise in the electric motor and generator industry, I am passionate about advancing technology and delivering innovative solutions. My career journey has spanned engineering design, manufacturing, and repair, with a focus on improving performance, reliability, and quality. As a Chief Engineer at Timken Power Systems, I provide technical leadership and support to engineering teams across diverse sectors, including industrial, nuclear, hydro, and wind energy.

I am proud to be the inventor of 11 patents, author of nine IEEE papers, and a frequent technical presenter at industry conferences. These achievements reflect my commitment to knowledge-sharing and driving progress in electric machine technology. As a Senior Member of IEEE and a trusted technical advisor, I contribute to global standards and mentor emerging talent in the field.

Key highlights:
* Led the development of custom motor insulation systems, earning multiple patents.
* Directed high-impact projects, such as the redesign of wind generator components to enhance reliability.
* Served on technical committees for EASA and IEEE, offering expertise in motor testing and design improvements.

Beyond technical innovation, I am driven by collaboration and empowering teams to succeed. My approach blends technical depth with practical solutions, ensuring optimal results for customers and stakeholders.

I welcome opportunities to connect with fellow professionals who share a passion for engineering excellence and energy innovation.

I am proud to share my extensive body of work on ResearchGate, where my technical papers are frequently the most read within Timken. You can explore my complete list of publications here: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Henk-De-Swardt.

Jacob Beck, CEO, Electrom Instruments, Inc. has been involved in designing and manufacturing test instrumentation for rotating machinery for the last 18 years. Prior to this he held various electrical engineering and management positions in the US and Europe, mainly with Emerson Electric where he worked for 23 years in the process control and instrumentation business unit.

Karl DeLooff is Acciona’s Director of Quality, Safety, Environment, and Sustainability for the United States of American and Canada located in the North American headquarters in Chicago, IL. He is responsible for the Integrated Management System that is ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018 certified and providing support for the continuous improvement process. Along with administering the daily minutia of the quality, safety, and environment programs, Karl is intentionally building a culture that is based on teamwork and critical thinking by providing training, examples, and practice scenarios. Karl is actively involved in American Clean Power and CanREA’s various safety, standards and training committees and shares and receives best practices with the industry.
Karl served as a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps in an infantry company, weapons platoon, during Desert Shield/Desert Storm. He also served as a Lieutenant in the United States Coast Guard and was an investigator for potential violations of US law and regulations on the East Coast, Gulf Coast, and Great Lakes.

Rob is an accomplished leader with a strong safety and training background including managing cross-functional teams. Rob has a bachelor's degree in business management. Rob has broad business, operations ,construction, safety, and training through several companies experienced commercial leadership program including Six Sigma Black Belt training certification and strong OSHA background. He also a Combat Veteran with the United States Marine Corps.

Piper Foster Wilder is the Founder and CEO of 60Hertz Energy. The company offers work order management software to maintain fleets of distributed energy resources — from fleets of C&I solar, to energy storage to microgrids. The company has won more than 10 national and international awards for their work. 60Hertz is active on more than 1200 sites in 8 countries ensuring proper maintenance on $150M worth of assets. Foster Wilder was named top 250 female entrepreneurs of 2024 by Inc Magazine; is a C3E fellow through the Department of Energy; Tory Burch Foundation Fellow and former German Chancellor Fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. She has raised more than $4M for 60Hertz over the past five years. The company serves customers from Nigeria to Baja to the Canadian Arctic. 60Hertz, in partnership with Industry and NOAA is developing predictive algorithms for weather-informed maintenance. Foster Wilder was previously the Vice President of Amatis Controls, an Internet of Things company.  She lives in Anchorage with her husband, 7 yr old daughter, and 2 yr old son.

Candace Wood serves as Chief Operating Officer at Everpoint Services, Inc., bringing more than a decade of renewable energy experience to the organization. Everpoint Services specializes in end-of-life and remediation solutions for renewable energy assets, including full-scale demolition, recycling, decommissioning, and remediation of wind, solar, and battery energy storage system (BESS) assets.

As COO, Candace oversees Everpoint's operations, ensuring projects are executed safely, efficiently, and to the highest industry standards.

Candace earned a Bachelor of Science in Geosciences (Geophysics) and a Master of Science in Atmospheric Science, along with a Wind Energy Graduate Certificate from Texas Tech University. She began her career as an owner’s representative on multiple wind farm construction projects across Texas and Oklahoma before moving into the development of utility-scale solar, wind, and battery storage projects across the United States.

Outside of work, Candace enjoys hiking, camping, and storm chasing across the high plains.

Ray has spent his 20+ year career developing ground-breaking analytics and data fusion technologies.
His work in systems of systems engineering, machine learning, machine reasoning, modeling and
simulation, multi-hypothesis optimization and uncertainty quantification helped deliver cutting-edge
capabilities to multiple verticals including: DoD and Intelligence, aerospace, healthcare, logistics, cyber, energy,
and finance. Ray has spent his career helping organizations exploit data to achieve strategic outcomes
through novel application of technology, process, mathematics, and software.

Josh Rogers is the Senior Director of Safety, Workforce Training, and Operations at ACP. In this role, Josh leads the ACP team and committees focused on worker safety, workforce development, and operational excellence that will support the renewables industry growth. He brings over 15 years or operational industry experience. Josh spent several years as Director of Solar Operations for Duke Energy, which included responsibility for safety, organizational development, performance, and financial profits and losses at more than 60 facilities across the country. He has also developed standards, training, and operational leadership for at several leading companies such as: ABB, Sun Edison, First Solar, and most recently Fluence. Prior to joining private sector energy companies, Josh served in the United States Navy for nine years where he was certified as a nuclear operator and Master Training Specialist. Josh earned his Bachelor of Science in Technology from Excelsior University.

James Wells is currently the Technical Training Manager for Leeward Renewable energy. James has been in the Renewable Space for over 15 years working on Wind Energy, Solar and Bess, James has a history of developing training programs ranging from Safety, Leadership, Environmental, Fire Protection and Construction. He has served in the corporate world working for leading companies developing training programs that were effective that achieved cost savings and injury reduction.

James is married to his lovely wife Aneeva of 38 years he is a father, grandfather and a musician. James is passionate on improving the lives of the workforce through effective and timely training programs.

I am the Director of HSQE+T at Leeward Renewable Energy, originally from St. Louis, MO. I hold a Bachelor of Science from Washington University and an MBA from Fontbonne University.

My mission is clear: to be an outstanding husband, father, and friend while making a significant impact in the business world. With experience in the medical device and pharmaceutical industries, I've honed my skills under strict FDA regulations. Transitioning to manufacturing and construction, I've learned that the workforce—those laboring in extreme conditions—are the true backbone of any operation.

For the past twelve years, I’ve been involved in the evolving renewable energy sector, watching its shift from wind to solar and now to battery energy storage systems (BESS). This field is rife with challenges, especially concerning safety and training for new workers unfamiliar with OSHA standards.

I hold multiple certifications, including CSP, CUSP, CHMM, and ARM, signifying my dedication to ongoing education and excellence.

Reginald Hodges is the President of The Training Center of Central Texas, a Texas based trade school that serves the Fort Cavazos community in Harker Heights, Texas. Training students for careers as Medical Technicians, Solar Technicians and Electricians. He served 11 years in the United States Navy as an officer and leader in the Navy’s Civil Engineer Corps (Seabees), Reginald left the military to continue his career as a construction manager in 2004. He went on to become one of the first construction managers in the world to build utility scale solar power plants with First Solar in 2009, where he was a construction manager on the three largest solar power plants in the world at the time (the world’s first mega solar projects). In 2017, Reginald moved to Harker Heights, Texas to start the first trade school in the United States with an emphasis in providing skilled solar technicians and electricians for the burgeoning utility scale solar industry. He later expanded into training for careers in the Allied Medical fields.