Who are we?

Craig Perkins provides leadership, oversight and strategic input at TEC for all contracts, programs and policy work. Prior to joining TEC in 2008, he was Director of Environmental and Public Works Management for the City of Santa Monica, where he served for over 25 years. Craig has extensive experience designing and implementing energy programs and policies, which involve outreach strategies to key stakeholder groups, including creation of the Regional Energy Networks, implementation of Energy Upgrade California in Los Angeles County, the Los Angeles County Southern California Regional Energy Center Pilot, directing Santa Monica’s award-winning Sustainable City Plan, Solar Santa Monica Program, and Energy Independence Plan. Craig has played a key leadership role in shaping regulatory policies that have resulted in successful program implementation. Craig holds a B.A. in Sociology from UC Berkeley, and Master’s Degrees in Political Science and Latin American Studies from UCLA and in Public Administration from California State University, Dominguez Hills.

Allison is TEC’s Executive Vice President and serves on TEC’s Board of Directors. Allison provides management and oversight of program implementation with a focus on strategic planning, business development, operations, and leadership development. Prior to joining TEC, Allison was the City Manager for the City of Irvine where she served for 17 years. Prior to her work with the City of Irvine, Allison was the Executive Director of Human Resources for the City of Santa Ana. She has extensive experience leading teams to design and implement public purpose programs and startup organizations. Allison has a B.A. in Political Science and an M.P.A from The University of Colorado, and a Ph.D. in Public Administration from USC.

Doris Do, Vice President, leads oversees all administration and operations for TEC. Prior to her current role, Doris implemented the $3.4M Energy Champions Pilot, a community based social marketing pilot, that provided incentives to local non-profit organizations to promote residential energy upgrades within their communities. She also supported the development of the first SoCalREN program proposal in coordination with a diverse team of consultants under the direction of LA County and assisted in the development of the Energy Upgrade CA Los Angeles County Program marketing and outreach initiatives, Community Energy Partnership local government partnerships program implementation, and PEAK Student Energy Actions curriculum development and teacher trainings. Doris holds a B.S. in Environmental Sciences from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MBA from the University of California, Irvine.

As Vice President, Laurel oversees The Energy Coalition’s diverse portfolio of programs and collaborates with stakeholders across the state to advance the organization’s mission of empowering communities to leap into the future of clean energy. She has over 13 years of experience working with local governments and communities to promote energy efficiency action through various Programs. Laurel is a current member of the California Energy Efficiency Coordinating Committee (CAEECC), a Certified Energy Auditor (CEA) and a LEED AP O+M. She holds a B.S. in Business Economics from UCSB.

Genaro has more than 12 years of professional experience with a background in mechanical engineering, real estate, commercial retrofits and energy management. He is a graduate of the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College and obtained an M.B.A. from USC’s Marshall School of Business. Genaro is a Certified Energy Manager (CEM) and LEED Accredited Professional (AP).

Marc has more than ten years of experience in the building industry focusing on areas ranging from advanced energy community planning, to federal energy data standards and software development, to state and local government energy policy. Marc is a board member of the Local Government Sustainable Energy Coalition (LGSEC), a Policy Advisory Committee member of the California Technical Forum, and an Advisory Board member of the Decarbonization Coalition. He has been an advisor to the CEC on AB 802 data regulations and machine learning GIS data efforts, a member of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Task Force to create and implement data exchange standards, and was on the triennial DOE Solar Energy Technology Office investment proposal review team to award National Research Laboratories 2018-2020 funding. He holds a B.S. in Management Science from UCSD, a B.S. in Construction Engineering from CSULB, and is a LEED AP, CGBP, and BOC Level II.

Rebecca Hausheer is Director of Energy Services at The Energy Coalition. She oversees the design, implementation, and management of a diverse portfolio of energy efficiency and distributed energy resource programs including the Southern California Regional Energy Network’s (SoCalREN) Public Agency Programs and a Pacific Gas & Electric Local Government Partnership program- the Central Coast Leaders in Energy Action Program (CC-LEAP). The programs serve over 200 participating public agencies across southern California. Rebecca has extensive experience assisting public agencies navigate the complex energy programs landscape and addressing opportunities to reduce energy and increase resiliency. Rebecca also managed an energy services contract with Laguna Woods Village and developed a microgrid feasibility study for critical facilties in the community.

Meaghan oversees marketing and outreach activities for The Energy Coalition and its programs. She recently led all marketing and outreach services for the launch of Clean Power Alliance, the largest CCA in California. She also supported the development and implementation of the Southern California Regional Energy Network (SoCalREN) communications plan at program launch and continues to oversee all marketing and outreach activities for the SoCalREN Public Agency Programs. In addition, Meaghan currently leads all outreach activities for TEC’s Bassett-Avocado Advanced Energy Community (BAAEC) project. In these roles, she manages program budgets, oversees various subconsultants, program websites, collateral creation, engagement workshops and conferences and events. As TEC’s Communications and Marketing Manager, Meaghan brings over fifteen years of experience in project management, marketing and communications.

Julie Castro, Program Manager, manages project delivery for public agency energy efficiency projects at TEC through the SoCalREN Public Agency Programs. She also develops benchmarking tools to enhance data-driven insights and decision-making. Julie previously worked as the Director of Strategic Partnerships at Chai Energy, a behavioral energy efficiency technology start up. She has a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from UCLA and a B.A. in Global Studies and International Studies from UCSB.

Tim oversees data management and technology across programs for TEC. He designs and maintains data collection, analysis, and reporting systems and processes. Prior to joining TEC, Tim worked as a scientist and project manager for ERM where he worked on issues related to climate change, sustainability, air quality, and environmental compliance assurance. He has expertise in auditing and verification, GHG emissions, information management systems and green buildings. Tim holds a B.S. from Cornell University in Communications and a Master’s of Environmental Science and Management from UCSB. He also is a LEED-AP and holds certification in GHG Verification from the Air Resources Board.

Lauren is the Assistant Director of Energy Services with The Energy Coalition. She oversees the SoCalREN’s Public Agency Programs to ensure all program goals and objectives are met. She also reviews energy policy impacts for the programs. Lauren previously worked as an energy industry research specialist and was an Energy Fellow at the U.S. Department of Energy. She has a Masters in Public Affairs with a focus on Energy Policy from the University of Texas at Austin and a B.A. in International Affairs and Spanish from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Pranesh Venugopal is a Program Manager at The Energy Coalition (TEC) and a registered Professional Engineer with over 15 years of experience. Pranesh currently leads program design and development initiatives for the SoCalREN Public Agency Programs, focusing on the integration of emerging technologies and Normalized Metered Energy Consumption (NMEC) strategies. He has served as technical advisor to the SoCalREN Public Agency Programs for the past 5 years, providing oversight for water and wastewater project development. He previously was a Project Manager with Nexant, Inc. where he worked on SCE’s energy efficiency and demand response programs. Pranesh holds an MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Regional Engineering College, Calicut, India and is a certified Project Management Professional.

Jake manages various aspects of the North Orange County Cities Local Government Partnership Program at TEC, including the development of a benchmarking workshop for partnership cities. Prior to TEC, Jake worked as a Sustainability Consultant for FirstCarbon Solutions where he served as the lead technical expert and project coordinator to aid customers in voluntary corporate sustainability reporting. Jake holds a B.S. in Earth and Environmental Science with a minor in Global Sustainability from UCI.

Cody Bruder supports project delivery for over 10 public agencies’ energy efficiency projects through the SoCalREN Public Agency Programs. He serves as lead coordinator on investor-owned utility program updates and has expertise in statistical analysis, financial modeling, triple-bottom line model building, and energy-related policy. Cody previous worked in the offices of Congresswoman Norma Torres and Senator Dianne Feinstein. He holds a Masters in Science in Environmental Policy & Planning and a Bachelor of Science in Evolutionary Anthropology from the University of Michigan.

Taylor manages communications and marketing efforts for TEC. She has over seven years of experience in communications for impact-driven companies, nonprofit organizations, and government initiatives. At TEC, she has supported SoCalREN Public Agency Programs, Clean Power Alliance’s launch communications, and the Bassett Avocado Heights Advanced Energy Community, and has developed branding for several Local Government Partnerships and other programs. Prior to TEC, Taylor worked as a Senior Analyst at Blue Garnet, a boutique social impact consulting firm. She holds a Bachelors in Business Administration from the College of William and Mary, where she studied marketing, entrepreneurship, and environmental science & policy.

Ivana manages engagement, education, and outreach activities for TEC and its programs. She has over eight years of experience serving the energy needs of communities and supporting local governments with energy strategic planning and the rollout of benchmarking requirements to IOU Local Government Partnerships. Ivana has worked with several local governments across southern California assisting them with developing energy efficiency projects, energy action plans, and energy related messaging and outreach. She holds a B.A. in Environmental Policy from UCSD and an M.A. in Environmental Policy from Colorado State University.

Natalie supports TEC’s Local Government Partnership programs where she provides marketing, outreach and event support to partner cities. Prior to TEC, Natalie served as a Powersave Intern as part of CSU Long Beach’s participation in the Alliance to Save Energy’s Powersave Schools program, where she worked with CSU Long Beach facilities management to educate students, staff and faculty on energy efficiency and supported campus retrofit efforts. Natalie holds a BA degree in Environmental Science and Policy with minors in Anthropology and Geography from CSU Long Beach.

Kristin has more than six years of experience working in the sustainability and environment sector. She is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara, a former intern with the City of Irvine’s Environmental Programs department and currently holds a LEED accreditation from the US Green Building Council

Nicol manages messaging, outreach and engagement for the SoCalREN Public Agency Programs. She leads the enrollment process for new agencies looking to join the SoCalREN and designs and facilitates workshops and webinars for the program. Nicol has a B.S. in Environmental Science and Policy from Cal State Long Beach.

Casey manages project delivery for public agency energy efficiency projects at TEC through the SoCalREN Public Agency Programs. She also coordinates and oversees all GIS projects for the program. Casey previously designed and implemented educational outreach campaigns for the Humboldt State Office of Sustainability. She has a B.S. in Environmental Science with a minor in Environmental Ethics from Humboldt State University.

Rachel Pennington supports the implementation of SoCalREN Public Agency Programs at TEC. She has over three years of experience supporting environmental and energy conservation initiatives. Prior to TEC, Rachel served as a Program Coordinator for the University of California, Irvine, where she designed and implemented programming related to renewable energy, zero waste, environmental justice, and local environmental issues. Rachel holds a B.A. in Environmental Science with a Minor in Global Sustainability from the University of California, Irvine.

As a Program Manager with The Energy Coalition, Siria oversees and manages relationships and projects associated with statewide utility partner contracts and is the Instructional Design Lead for curriculum development for workforce and education training programs. She holds a BA in Liberal Studies from Point Loma Nazarene University and an MA in Education from the University of Phoenix. Siria holds a California Multiple-Subject Teaching Credential with a Bilingual, Crosscultural, Language and Academic Development (BCLAD) certification. Throughout her career, Siria has served as a general manager and regional trainer with a national optical retailer, as a guest educator in the South Bay Union and Chula Vista Elementary Schools District, and a classroom educator with South Bay Union School District.

John Gravelin provides Project Manager support for The Energy Coalition by engaging public agencies through energy efficiency opportunities. He has over 10 years of experience in environmental consulting and resilient design planning. John previously worked in Los Angeles at Ecomotion as a Project Manager / Solar Specialist, and in Cambridge, MA at Linnean Solutions as a Project Manager, Sustainability & GIS Consultant. John has a Bachelor of Design Studies in Architectural Technology from the Boston Architectural College and received the President’s Award from his work on the college’s first climate action plan.

Angela supports project delivery for a portfolio of energy efficiency projects at TEC through the SoCalREN Public Agency Programs. Angela also analyzes utility level energy data and is a team lead for the Comparative Energy Analysis program. She has a M.S. in Environmental Studies from Cal State Fullerton and a B.A. in Communications from Michigan State University.

Ian Wright supports the implementation of SoCalREN Public Agency Programs at TEC. Ian previously worked in transportation safety for the State of Wisconsin as the Bicycle/Pedestrian Safety Program Manager. Ian has a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration and a minor in Environmental Studies from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Prior to joining TEC, Emma was a staff accountant at Irvine-based Abaris, Inc. where she managed the Oracle 11i R12 financial system and all the billing for staff and contractors. Prior to that, she served as a tax paraprofessional at Deloitte Tax LLP where she provided compliance and tax research to accountants and senior managers. Emma holds a B.A. in Business Organizational Management with emphasis in Accounting from Vanguard University.

Chris Alano, Accounting Supervisor, leads TEC’s accounting team and supports business operations. Chris has more than 15 years of professional experience in Accounting and Finance with over 5 years of managerial experience. Prior to TEC, Chris served as the Accounting Manager for Home Franchise Concepts, where he managed all of accounting’s general ledger functions. Chris holds a B.A. in Business Management Economics with an emphasis in Accounting from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Christina provides analytical support across programs in The Energy Coalition’s portfolio, working with various partners in obtaining, wrangling, and analyzing data, and then presenting the outcome of analysis to stakeholders. She previously worked for VaynerMedia as a Data Analyst and holds a B.S. in International Business with a minor in Cultural Anthropology.

Mariana is responsible for reviewing contracts, consultants and consulting agreements, as well as processing all invoices for TEC. Throughout her professional career, Mariana developed expertise in financial statements and reports, planning budgets and reporting, accounts payable/receivable, QuickBooks accounting software, claims/restitution payments and record keeping. Mariana hold a B.S. in Economics & Accounting from the Academy of Economic Studies of Bucharest, Romania and a diploma in Accounting and Business Management for Stratford Career Institute.

Erica Alvarez supports operations as a project accountant for The Energy Coalition. She has over 3 years of experience in accounting. Erica previously worked as an accountant at AB Construction LLC. Erica has a B.A. in International Relations Global Business from the University of Southern California. In the past, Erica has also worked on different policy issues such as closing the education gap within lower-income communities which is why she feels that her position at the Energy Coalition is a perfect match for her since she is passionate about business and policy work. Erica Alvarez supports operations as a project accountant for The Energy Coalition. She has over 3 years of experience in accounting, and previously worked as an accountant at AB Construction LLC. Erica has a B.A. in International Relations Global Business from the University of Southern California. In the past, Erica is passionate about business and policy work and has previously worked on policy issues such as closing the education gap within lower-income communities.

Alina supports project delivery for a portfolio of energy efficiency and distributed energy resources projects for the SoCalREN Public Agency Programs. She has over 3 years of experience in environmental consulting and prior to TEC, Alina worked at VCA Green as an Assistant Project Manager, where she managed and tracked sustainable building development projects. Alina holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science and a minor in Business Administration from Whittier College.

Michelle Bunn supports project delivery for a portfolio of energy efficiency projects for the SoCalREN Public Agency Programs and the TEC Education and Workforce Development Team. She has over ten years of experience managing and collaborating on various projects with K-12 schools and higher education organizations. Prior to TEC, Michelle worked as a Director for San Diego State University Research Foundation’s Women in Engineering and College of Engineering Femineer® programs. She holds a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and a Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering from San Diego State University.

Tinuviel supports the TEC Education and Workforce Development Team in Northern California. Prior to her current role at TEC, Tinuviel worked as a CivicSpark Climate Fellow with the City of Antioch, where she worked with numerous public agencies to develop and expand climate programs across the Bay Area and increase the capacity of local governments. In addition, she was instrumental in the project management, development, and community engagement for a 2-year pilot project to engage community members in a countywide online sustainable action platform called The Cleaner Contra Costa Challenge. Tinuviel holds a B.A. in International Studies with a concentration in Environment and Development, and a double minor in Latin American and Legal Studies from the University of San Francisco.

Nataiia Hamidi manages project delivery for public agency energy efficiency projects at TEC through the SoCalREN Public Agency Programs. Prior to TEC, Nataiia worked with Cooperative Strategies, LLC as a sustainability consultant, where she focused on school energy efficiency initiatives. She holds a Master of Advanced Studies in Climate Science and Policy/Sustainability from the Scripps Institute at the University of California, San Diego, and a Bachelors and Masters in Geography and Environmental Management from Lomonosov Moscow State University.

Bryan supports the implementation of SoCalREN Public Agency Programs, Bassett Avocado Heights Advanced Energy Community, Central Coast Leaders in Energy Action Program, and Business Development & Strategic Initiatives for The Energy Coalition since 2019. He has three years of experience with energy efficiency in the public sector and previously worked in San Luis Obispo as a Fellow through the AmeriCorps CivicSpark program on energy and climate initiatives. He also has past non-profit experience and worked with the Irvine Ranch Conservancy on native habitat restoration and managing protected public lands. Bryan has a B.S. in City and Regional Planning with a Minor in Sustainable Environments from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

As a Project Manager with The Energy Coalition, Elaina supports regional partnership coordination, engagement and enrollment goals, and supports Local Government Partnership projects. She previously worked with the City of Santa Clara’s Municipal Utility, Silicon Valley Power, as an Energy Conservation Specialist supporting outreach and education efforts to residents in the local community. Elaina holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Sustainable Energy from San Jose State University.

Vanida Ngeam, Project Manager, supports marketing, communication, and outreach across TEC, focusing on education & training initiatives and SoCalREN Public Agency Programs. Prior to her current role at TEC, Vanida served a Climate Corp fellow at The Energy Coalition, planning an executing hands-on STEM events and activities for K-8th grade students. She also interned with the University of California, Irvine’s Housing and Sustainability department, where she facilitated sustainability trainings. Vanida holds a Bachelors of Science in Biology with a Minor in Global Sustainability from the University of California, Irvine.

As a Project Manager, Anthony supports project delivery for a portfolio of energy efficiency projects for the SoCalREN Public Agency Programs. Prior to joining TEC, Anthony was a Senior Analyst at the Western Riverside Council of Governments, where he supported local governments agencies in both San Bernardino and Riverside Counties with energy efficiency resources. He has a Masters of Public Administration from California Baptist University and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with a concentration in Natural Science from University of California, Riverside.

Minh supports project delivery for a portfolio of energy efficiency projects for the SoCalREN Public Agency Programs. Minh previously worked as an Environmental Health and Safety consultant and an assistant Director of Operations for a bioremediation technology startup company. He has a B.S. in Environmental Science from UCSB and a Certificate of Financing and Accounting from Santa Barbara City College.

Udval supports the implementation of the SoCalREN Public Agency Programs. She has over three years of experience supporting various environmental engagement and educational events and social media marketing campaigns. Prior to TEC, Udval served as a Social Marketing Intern for The Uplifters’ Prima where she assisted in research and analysis and crafted the company’s social media marketing strategy. Udval holds a Bachelor of of Arts in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Professional Writing from University of California, Santa Barbara.

Elsie Varela, Project Manager, supports energy efficiency project delivery for public agencies at TEC through the SoCalREN Public Agency Programs. She is passionate about environmental engineering, has four years of experience in learning and knowledge management, and is bilingual in English and Spanish. Before TEC, Elsie obtained a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from the University of California, San Diego.

Amy supports engagement, education, and outreach activities for TEC and its programs. She works with educators across San Diego County to train and implement science and energy curriculum. Amy is also a co-chair for the Environmental Education Working Group in San Diego, which connects STEM professionals and resources to the larger San Diego community. Amy has a B.A. in Environmental Studies with concentration in writing and a B.A. in Sociology from Gettysburg.

Robinson Chigiti, Project Manager, supports project delivery for a portfolio of energy efficiency projects at TEC through the SoCalREN Public Agency Programs. He has over five years of coordination experience in the energy industry and over fifteen years in the nonprofit sector. Prior to TEC, Robinson provided paralegal assistance to the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles and served as an administrative assistant for the Center for Community and & Fam Services, Inc. Robinson holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Punjab University (India), a post-graduate degree in Laws from Pune University (India), and a paralegal certificate from El Camino College.

As a Project Coordinator at The Energy Coalition, Rachel supports project delivery for public agency energy efficiency and distributed energy resources projects through the SoCalREN Public Agency Programs. Prior to her role at TEC, Rachel worked at environmental nonprofit organizations, where she facilitated community outreach events, supported partnership developments, and assisted with educational events. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with a concentration on Earth Science from the University of California, San Diego.

Bio coming soon!

As Senior Project Coordinator with The Energy Coalition, Mallory supports engagement and enrollment goals, assists with educational events, and supports Local Government Partnership projects. She previously served two AmeriCorps VISTA terms in Flagstaff, Arizona, where she supported a variety of initiatives, including acquiring funding and developing curriculum for a Makerspace in an off-grid rural school. She also worked five summers at a Girl Scout camp in Prescott, Arizona, starting as an Art Instructor and Unit Counselor and moving to Assistant Camp Director. Mallory holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Northern Arizona University.

Jennifer Valerio, Project Coordinator, provides executive and secretarial support to TEC’s Vice President, including coordinating meetings and tracking reporting deliverables. She also provides project delivery manual change management support for the SoCalREN Public Agency Programs. Jennifer has over twenty-two years of experience working in complex, highly sensitive, and rapidly changing office environments, providing a wide array of executive, secretarial, and administrative support. She holds a Bachelors in Business Administration from Long Beach City College.