jwrobel@mwalliance.org
312.784.7245
Named MEEA's Executive Director in January 2011, Jay Wrobel has over 10 years experience in the energy, efficiency and sustainability fields. Jay joined MEEA as Director of Programs, coming to us from the Gas Technology Institute where he led developed and managed projects addressing the economic and environmental impacts of community energy planning, distributed and renewable energy deployment and energy efficiency applications. He also worked in the Environmental Strategy and Latin America groups at Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA) where he analyzed natural gas and power markets, developed forecasts of future technology integration, and served as researcher on climate change issues and environmental strategies for energy companies. He began his career on the floor of the Chicago Board of Trade while spending 4 years with Nomura Securities. Jay has an economics degree from the University of Chicago and masters degree in Energy and Environmental Analysis from Boston University. When not working, Jay enjoys motorcycling, writing, playing frisbee and spending time with his dog Cleo.
Stacey Spencer Paradis is Deputy Director of the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance and is responsible for fundraising and member development, conferences and special events and public policy. Most recently, Ms. Paradis was a Government Relations and Policy Consultant for the YMCA of the USA managing the state and local advocacy programs for states in the Midwest and South. Earlier in her career, Ms. Paradis was the Director of Public Affairs for Orbitz LLC leading the issues management team as the organization underwent reviews by the U.S. Departments of Justice and Transportation. She started her career in Chicago working with the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce as a Government Relations Manager managing the organization's work in environment, transportation and economic development. Ms. Paradis has a Masters degree in Public Administration (MPA) from the George Washington University and a Bachelor's degree (BA) in political science from Loyola University Chicago. She lives in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood with her husband, Brock, and two sons, Maxwell and Emmit.
Bill Angelos serves as the Director of Finance and Operations, bringing a wide scope of functional private sector corporate experience with him. Bill’s experience includes 18 years in the Financial Services Industry where he was Chief Operating Officer of a futures brokerage firm for 11 years, responsible for the functional areas of Operations, Finance, Human Resources and Office Management. After being COO, he was an independent consultant for 5 years performing project management and advisory services for financial institutions. He most recently co-founded Dynamic Trade Solutions Inc., a software development/IT consulting firm specializing in financial trading products for the futures industry. He has a degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Political Science and Philosophy, as well as an MBA from Loyola University. An avid outdoorsman and Eagle Scout, Bill is at home in the wilderness as well as the urban environment and has been a supporter of conservation since his youth. Other interests include: traveling, motorcycling, spending time with family and friends, creating music, golf and racquetball.
Will Baker is responsible for managing MEEA’s residential energy efficiency programs, including Illinois Home Performance with ENERGY STAR and HVAC SAVE. Will is passionate about urban sustainability and energy access issues. Prior to joining MEEA, Will worked in East Africa to increase the uptake of clean and renewable energy technologies through access to end-user finance. Will has a BA in Economics & International Relations from Michigan State University and an MPA in International Energy Management and Policy from Columbia University. Will enjoys volunteering, charcoal grilling, and riding both his bike and motorcycle.
As Program Manager, Kerry Granfield is responsible for overall management of MEEA’s energy efficiency training and certification programs for building operations staff, HVAC contractors, and others throughout MEEA’s 13 state region. Prior to joining MEEA, Kerry worked at AMIDEAST in Abu Dhabi, UAE, where she organized professional skills training programs for clients and the general public. Earlier in her career, she managed renewable energy and environmental programs for ICF International and supported energy efficiency education programs in K-12 schools and colleges and universities for the Alliance to Save Energy in Washington, DC. Kerry is a native of Atlanta, GA and holds a B.A. in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology and a minor in Environmental Studies from Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, watching sports, discussing international affairs, and playing her guitar. 
Michael Hairston serves as a Program Associate at MEEA. He is responsible for contractor outreach and enrollment in Illinois Home Performance with Energy Star and the PEEC Network in MEEA’s 13-state region. Additionally, he is also responsible for enrollment of students into the HVAC SAVE program. Prior to working as a Program Associate at MEEA, he worked as a Building Policy Associate working on energy analysis and participated in activities related to energy code advancement in MEEA’s region. Before coming to work at MEEA, Mr. Hairston worked for Building Performance Engineering in Boone, NC and The Performance Point in Charlotte, NC. He has a B.A. in Fine Art from North Carolina Central University and a M.S. in Industrial Technology with a concentration in Building Science from Appalachian State University. When not working to promote energy efficiency, Michael enjoys spending times with his family and friends, weekend excursions, and visiting museums and theaters.
khorton@mwalliance.org
As a Senior Program Associate, Chelsea Lamar will be assisting the program management staff with implementation and development of MEEA programs, specifically education and training programs. Chelsea earned a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Iowa State University and most recently she was working with a non-profit home remodeling company in San Francisco. In this position Chelsea was responsible for developing and implementing their energy efficiency programming and also acted as a project manager for larger scale construction projects in low-income homes and community facilities. Through these pursuits, Chelsea has developed a strong technical background in energy efficiency and construction practices as well as a penchant for smart and efficient project and program management. Chelsea’s other interests include volunteering with local community gardens, food and water sustainability, and playing gin rummy.
Eric Roach is a Senior Program Associate for the Building Operator Certification (BOC) program providing support for the program in Illinois, Iowa and Missouri. As a Senior Program Associate, he coordinates trainings, conducts presentations about the BOC program and assists with expansion efforts. He is passionate about energy efficiency as it is crucial to sustaining healthy, vibrant cities for our growing population. Before working at MEEA, he worked and attended graduate school at DePaul University earning an M.P.A with a Concentration in Urban Affairs.
Nora is a Program Associate for the Building Operator Certification (BOC) program in Michigan, Minnesota and Kansas. In this role, Nora provides support in the coordination and implementation of the series and aids in program expansion efforts throughout the thirteen state footprint. Additionally, she performs administrative tasks and BOC program presentations. Nora is a 2011 graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago Master’s of Urban Planning and Policy program and earned her Bachelor’s in Fisheries and Wildlife from Michigan State University. Before joining MEEA, Nora interned at a sustainability consulting agency and worked as an office manager at a fast-paced law firm. Nora is a longtime volunteer at a homeless shelter in Chicago, has her LEED Green Associate and is preparing to obtain LEED AP status in building Operations and Maintenance. Outside of work Nora enjoys reading, yoga, and spending time with family and friends.
syee@mwalliance.org
Jessica Collingsworth serves as a Policy Associate at MEEA. She is responsible for tracking energy and climate policy in the Midwest, researching and administering outreach and education campaigns, managing events and communication and education programs and assisting with strategic policy planning. Prior to MEEA, she worked for Keep Alachua County Beautiful, an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful. There she worked on an array of programs including Gator Home Game Recycling, Cigarette Litter Prevention, and Neighborhood Cleanups. Along with these campaigns, she also organized many service projects with student volunteers from both the University of Florida and Santa Fe Community College. Ms. Collingsworth has a B.A. in Sociology and Environmental Studies from the University of Florida.
Kevin Cullather is MEEA's Senior Policy Manager. He has more than 20 years of experience working on – and educating utility policymakers, senior managers, and staff on – policy issues affecting the electric utility industry. Most recently, Kevin was the Director of Education for the American Public Power Association (APPA) in Washington, D.C. In this role, Kevin oversaw the development and delivery of more than 100 utility-focused educational programs and conferences annually. Prior to APPA, he worked for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association in Arlington, VA. For more than 10 years, Kevin was the Manager of Regulatory & Policy Issues. In this role, he served as the “utility infielder,” managing a wide array of public policy issues and working with officials from DOE, EPA, DOT, and others. Kevin then spent more than 5 years as NRECA's Director of Conferences, overseeing the development and delivery of professional and issue-focused conferences for cooperative board members, CEOs, and senior managers. Kevin began his career in the field of energy policy by monitoring legislative and regulatory activities before Congress and FERC for two Washington, DC law firms. Kevin has an MPA from The George Washington University with a focus on the nexus between public policy and business. His undergraduate degree is from The College of William and Mary. He has published articles on a variety of topics, including stakeholder engagement practices, voluntary environmental programs, and work force development issues.
Gregory Ehrendreich is the Research Analyst at the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA), working on research and analysis projects for MEEA's policy team as well as serving as MEEA’s sysadmin, webmaster, and 'geek-in-residence.' Greg grew up in northern Wisconsin, swimming in Lake Superior and hiking and camping in the Chequamegon National Forest. He attended Northland College and Beloit College, both in Wisconsin, and he received his BS (Biochemistry, minor in Environmental Studies) from Beloit. His graduate education includes several years studying arthritis biochemistry at Rush University in Chicago before leaving 'All-But-Dissertation' and heading down a greener path. After a few years as a retail worker and as an activist in Chicago's labor and peace movements, Greg returned to academia to earn an MS in Environmental Management and Sustainability at the IIT-Stuart School of Business. Greg combines his interests in the environment , labor, and sustainable business by representing MEEA on the Steering Committee of the Chicagoland Green Collar Jobs Initiative. Greg bikes to work from the Logan Square neighborhood, where he lives with his wife and kids.
Mr. Elnecave has spent 15 years as both an engineer and energy policy analyst. Currently, Mr. Elnecave is the Senior Policy Manager at the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA) with responsibilities that focus on the building energy codes program. Prior to arriving at MEEA, Mr. Elnecave managed the appliance efficiency standards and building energy codes programs at the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships where he was responsible for promoting the adoption and effective implementation of both these policies through the development and dissemination of technical and policy related information. He was actively involved in the recently adopted stretch code in Massachusetts where he worked closely with the Executive Office of Energy and Environment to develop the stretch commercial code. Before this, Mr. Elnecave worked as a policy advocate for the Michigan Environmental Council where he promoted policies and reviewed permits with the aim of cleaning up the dirty coal fired powered plants that dot the region. The first half of his career was spent as a civil engineer focusing on the structural retrofitting of older buildings to help them withstand earthquakes.
Samantha Williams is MEEA’s Policy Manager, primarily focusing on developing energy efficiency policy for the Kentucky Department of Energy Development and Independence. Prior to joining MEEA, Samantha practiced environmental law in San Francisco, California, during which she represented citizen groups in Clean Water Act enforcement actions to reduce illegal pollutant discharges to surface waters and improve water quality for the benefit of people and the environment across California. In each of these cases, Ms. Williams worked collaboratively with both public and private dischargers to develop strategies to improve their water management systems, and thereby achieve compliance with state and federal law. Prior to living and working in San Francisco, Ms. Williams earned a B.A. in Biological Sciences from Mt. Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts, and a J.D. from Vermont Law School in South Royalton, Vermont. Ms. Williams is a native of Western Massachusetts, and is excited to be living in the Midwest for the first time, where she intends to spend her entire life savings (and then some) enjoying the city’s diverse food options and live music scene.
Over the last ten years, Lance has worked exclusively in Chicago not for profit organizations, including Lincoln Park Zoo, Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing, Archeworks, and Goldie’s Place. In December 2009, he received his MA in Political Science from Northeastern Illinois University and plans to enroll in the Paralegal program at Loyola University in spring 2012, focusing on wind and solar contracts and policy. He is also a local musician and songwriter who performs in the band Deep Cricket Night.
Gloria Smith is the Senior Accountant at MEEA. She recently joined the staff after serving as Controller for the Howard Area Community Center. She has worked in accounting for associations and not for profit organizations for most of her career. Gloria is originally from Northwest Indiana and has also lived In Kansas City, MO. She has a Bachelor's degree from Purdue University and an MBA from DePaul University. Gloria volunteers at the North Lakeside Cultural Center, an arts organization in the Edgewater neighborhood. She enjoys the exciting arts and theatre scene in Chicago. Gloria lives in Rogers Park on the far north side of Chicago.
Tina Keith joins MEEA in a new role, Manager of Marketing and Meetings, that reflects the growth of our organization. She brings 17+ years of marketing/communications, business development and meeting planning experience to our members. Tina has worked with a diverse clientele ranging from Fortune 500 companies including General Electric, Motorola and GM, to international associations and regional and local organizations including affiliates of Keep America Beautiful. She brings an arsenal of realistically applicable, cost-efficient techniques to help organizations grow their membership base, meeting sponsorship and attendance and works continuously on integrating sustainable practices into marketing and meetings. Tina has also been active in committees and boards of industry associations and has received several leadership awards for her work. An alumni of Miami University, she also holds certificates in Interactive and Direct Marketing from the Vachel E. Pennebaker Institute at DePaul, Print Management and Estimation from the Printing Institute of Illinois & Indiana, GE Capital’s internal Six Sigma training and is in process of completing her CMP.
Lisa Sims serves as MEEA’s Office Associate, offering administrative support for MEEA’s staff, Board and membership. In addition, she has been working with the Program Manager in support of the Illinois Home Performance with Energy Star program and a whole-home approach to energy efficiency. Before joining MEEA, Lisa worked for the Chicago Public Charter School system as Administrative Assistant/Office Manager. Lisa is a native Chicagoan, but has also lived in Texas where she attended college at Prairie View A&M University. Currently, Lisa is on track to complete her Bachelor's degree in the field of Public Policy, with a minor in Social Science at National Louis University in June 2012. Lisa has always had a passion for travelling which why she chose an early career as a Flight Attendant for American Airlines. Lisa enjoys taking trips to local and international places and going to the movie theater. During her free time she enjoys spending time with family and friends. Mrs. Sims and her husband, Gerald, have two children, Noel and Nathaniel. 
