NASEO Staff

David Terry - President

David Terry is the President of the National Association of State Energy Officials and has worked with NASEO in a variety of capacities since 1996. Mr. Terry leads NASEO's policy actions and programs in support of the 56 governor-designated state and territory energy directors and their offices. NASEO communicates the states' views on virtually all national energy issues. Mr. Terry has participated in governor-led policy meetings, testified before U.S. Congressional Committees and presented at White House and international energy forums.  Mr. Terry has 25 years of experience working on a range of energy issues for such organizations as the Governors’ Wind and Solar Energy and Coalition and Energy Services Coalition. Prior to working in the energy area, Mr. Terry was researcher at the National Academy of Sciences and a statistical analyst for a consumer products market research firm. He received a BA degree from Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, and he has completed graduate coursework in statistics and marketing at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia.

Jeffrey Genzer - General Counsel, Duncan, Weinberg, Genzer & Pembroke, P.C.

Jeff Genzer has been Counsel to NASEO since the organization began in 1986. He represents the organization before Congress and the Administration, working closely with David Terry and the NASEO staff. He has also practiced energy and environmental law since 1985 at the law firm of Duncan, Weinberg, Genzer and Pembroke, PC. Mr. Genzer serves as Chairman of the law firm. Prior to going into private law practice, he served as counsel and energy lobbyist for the Energy and Environment Committee of the National Governors Association. Mr. Genzer also worked on low income energy issues for the National Consumer Law Center. He began his energy career as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Micronesia 43 years ago.

Susan Stocker - Chief Financial Officer

Susan Stocker is responsible for oversight of the financial and accounting functions of NASEO.  She leads budget planning and execution, oversees compliance with federal cost allocation and related regulations. Ms. Stocker has over 30 years of accounting experience. Prior to NASEO, Ms. Stocker was the Senior Accounting Manager at Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, Inc.  She reports to NASEO’s President.
 

Shemika Spencer - Senior Director, Contracts and Administration

Shemika Spencer oversees NASEO's administrative compliance of grants and contracts. She also leads major conference logistics activities. Prior to NASEO, Ms. Spencer worked on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Yucca Mountain Project and at the Florida Executive Office of the Governor’s Office of Drug Policy. Ms. Spencer received both her Bachelor of Arts in international affairs and a Master of Public Administration from Florida State University.

Tracey Kohler - Senior Director, Operations and Human Resources

Tracey Kohler leads NASEO’s operations and human resources activities in support of our members, programs, committees, and events.  Ms. Kohler has over 20 years of experience serving a number of energy and environmental focused organizations; including, the Global Environment & Technology Foundation, the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissions, the Energy Services Coalition, and the Compressed Air Challenge, Inc.  She also worked for the association management company, AMS NAVISTA, providing direct support to the Surface Finishing Industry Council and the American Electroplating and Surface Finishers Society.  She has a Bachelor of Science in natural resources policy and administration from North Carolina State University. 

Cassie Powers - Chief of Staff

Cassie Powers leads coordination between NASEO's policy, program, and operations priorities, and works closely with NASEO's President and leadership to develop and implement strategies that best serve the State and Territory Energy Offices. She oversees communications and member engagement; informs NASEO's energy policy positions; provides guidance across NASEO's Committees, associated publications and resources, and events; leads fundraising across various NASEO programs; and represents State Energy Offices' interests to the U.S. Department of Energy, key federal and private sector partners, and outside audiences. In previous roles, Cassie led NASEO's state energy planning program, regional initiatives, and clean transportation program, supporting State Energy Offices as they developed and implemented transportation electrification and other clean transportation policies and initiatives. She serves as a member of the U.S. Joint Office of Energy and Transportation's Electric Vehicle Working Group, representing the transportation electrification interests of State Energy Offices nationwide.

Prior to NASEO, Cassie worked as the EV Program Coordinator at Georgetown Climate Center, and in other clean energy roles at the American Wind Energy Association, and the League of Conservation Voters. She has a Bachelor of Arts in environmental policy and government from the College of William and Mary, and a Master of Urban and Environmental Planning from University of Virginia.

Sandy Fazeli - Senior Managing Director

Sandy Fazeli leads NASEO policy and program priorities coordination; workforce development; equity, access, and inclusion; and state and local cooperation and coordination on energy, climate, and resilience planning. She oversees NASEO’s private sector Affiliates program, which connects state energy policy makers, companies, and non-profits, and helps lead the content development of NASEO’s major conferences and events. She serves as an Adjunct Fellow for the Center for Strategic and International Studies Wadhwani Chair in U.S. India Policy Studies; on the Advisory Board of the Energy Policy Institute at Boise State University; as the Vice-Chair of the City of Minneapolis's Community Environmental Advisory Commission; and on the National Academies' Committee on Accelerating Decarbonization in the United States. Prior to NASEO, Ms. Fazeli worked on energy efficiency and state policy issues at the Rocky Mountain Institute, the Colorado Energy Office, and the Alliance to Save Energy. She received a Bachelor of Science in foreign service from Georgetown University and a Master of Development Practice from the University of Denver.

Kirsten Verclas - Senior Managing Director

Kirsten Verclas leads NASEO’s electricity program, which informs and educates the states on issues related to generation, transmission, and distribution, and NASEO's energy security program, focused on resilience, energy security planning, and cybersecurity. Prior to NASEO, Ms. Verclas was an ORISE Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the U.S. Department of Energy, where she worked on clean energy, state and local energy policy, cybersecurity issues and emergency response. She also served as a Program Manager in the International Department of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) working on regulatory partnerships in Africa, as well as a Senior Program Manager at the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies (AICGS) at Johns Hopkins University. Ms. Verclas has written extensively on energy and climate as well as security policy in the transatlantic context. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Franklin and Marshall College, a Master of Arts in International Relations from The George Washington University, and a Master of Science in Energy Policy and Climate from Johns Hopkins University.

Ed Carley - Senior Program Director

Ed Carley works with State Energy Offices to support policy and program development in building energy efficiency, including ENERGY STAR for buildings, building energy codes, home energy labeling, and other areas. Prior to NASEO, he consulted with a California municipal utility on energy efficiency program design, and interned with the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy supporting a research paper investigating Measurement and Verification 2.0 topics. Mr. Carley received his Bachelor of Science in political science from Appalachian State University and a Master of Sustainability Management from American University.

Sam Cramer - Senior Program Director

Sam Cramer supports NASEO’s financing program and electricity planning initiative, leads NASEO’s state energy planning assistance, and conducts research on a range of issues such as energy-water nexus and Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy. Prior to NASEO, Mr. Cramer worked for the National Governors Association, where he assisted governors’ offices with understanding energy topics including new utility business models and electricity market structures, shale oil and gas protective practices, and greenhouse gas emissions rules. Mr. Cramer received his Bachelor of Science from Cornell University and his Master of Public Policy from American University.

Catherine Reed - Senior Program Director

Catherine Reed supports NASEO’s electricity program, which informs and educates the states on issues related to generation, transmission, and distribution. Prior to joining NASEO, she served as Deputy Director of the State Energy Office in the South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff.  This was her second tenure with the SC Energy Office, having first worked there between 2007 and 2012, implementing a range of energy efficiency and renewable energy programs through various federal grants, including the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. She also had experience working in the private sector on the design and implementation of commercial and industrial demand side management programs for an investor-owned utility. She has more than 20 years of combined experience in energy programs, resource conservation and management, public policy and planning, and stakeholder engagement.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Master of Public Administration from the University of South Carolina.  

Rodney Sobin - Senior Fellow

Rodney Sobin leads NASEO’s work on demand flexibility and building-grid integration as well as industrial energy; supports a range of building energy management and energy-environmental integration activities; led reports on critical minerals, hydrogen, and carbon management; and works on such issues as technological innovation and distributed energy resources. Prior to NASEO, he was Director of Research and Regulatory Affairs at the Alliance to Save Energy; worked at the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality; and did environmental technology work at Concurrent Technologies Corporation, the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment, and the World Resources Institute. He has a Bachelor of Science in biology and society from Cornell University and two master’s degrees – Master of Arts in technology and human affairs and Master of Science in biological sciences from Washington University in St. Louis.

Kelsey Jones - Program Director

Kelsey Jones supports NASEO’s electricity program, where she conducts research and analysis on a variety of state electricity policy and program issues including energy storage, microgrids, carbon management, and hydrogen. Prior to NASEO, Ms. Jones worked at the Nuclear Energy Institute assisting the political affairs and advocacy programs and as a graduate research assistant studying renewable energy development in Arctic cities. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Florida and a Master of Environmental Resource Policy from the George Washington University. 

Blake Kinney - Program Director, Energy Security and Resilience

Blake Kinney supports NASEO’s energy security and grid resilience programs where he works with states on various resilience and energy security issues including state energy security planning, cybersecurity issues, energy emergency response coordination, and grid resilience planning. Prior to NASEO, Mr. Kinney focused on state energy and policy measures at the Alabama Public Service Commission and a cooperative generation and transmission utility. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Alabama and a Master of Business Administration from Northern Kentucky University. 

Maddie Koewler - Program Director

Maddie Koewler supports NASEO’s buildings program, where she provides assistance to state energy offices and works on the development of building energy codes, residential energy labels, and equity in the proliferation of clean energy and energy efficiency. Prior to NASEO, Ms. Koewler worked at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building Technologies Office within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy implementing residential energy efficiency programs. Ms. Koewler has a Bachelor of Arts in political science and economics from Kent State University.

Jessie Lund - Program Director, Clean Transportation

Jessie Lund leads NASEO's Clean Transportation program, where she works with states on a variety of transportation policy and program issues including electric vehicles (EVs), charging infrastructure, incentive programs, freight decarbonization, battery and vehicle manufacturing, economic development, workforce development, fuel cell vehicles, hydrogen refueling, and other alternative fuels. 

Prior to joining NASEO, Jessie worked on freight efficiency and decarbonization, municipal and state policy and climate action, and sustainability with CALSTART, the North American Council for Freight Efficiency (NACFE), the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), and the City and County of Denver. She holds a Master of Science in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources from Colorado State University and a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the University of Missouri. 

Delaney Dixon - Senior Program Manager

Delaney Dixon supports NASEO’s transportation program where she conducts research and analysis on electric vehicles and clean transportation policies, programs, and market developments. Prior to NASEO, she worked at Arcadia Power assisting with data management for their community solar programs. She also worked on a graduate capstone project studying the challenges and opportunities faced by both utilities and fleet operators seeking to electrify their fleets. Delaney has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from The University of North Carolina Wilmington and a Master of Arts in Environmental Resource Policy from The George Washington University.  

Grace Lowe - Senior Program Manager

Grace Lowe supports a variety of NASEO’s clean energy projects and programs covering low-income solar, workforce development and diversity, and clean electricity. Prior to her role at NASEO, Ms. Lowe held positions at the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, and D+R International. She also contributed to the City of Ithaca Sustainability Office’s Justice 50 efforts and researched the environmental justice implications of California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard through two client-based courses. Ms. Lowe has a Master of Environmental Management from the Yale School of the Environment and a Bachelor of Arts from Middlebury College. 

Jasmine Xie - Senior Program Manager

Jasmine Xie supports NASEO’s buildings program, where she works on policy and program development for states on topics including public school facilities, residential energy labeling, grid-interactive efficient buildings, advanced building construction, and resilience. Prior to NASEO, she worked at ICF and supported EPA’s ENERGY STAR Program for Commercial Buildings and the City of Cambridge on administering their annual Building Energy Use Disclosure Ordinance. She has a Bachelor of Arts in economics and environmental studies from Swarthmore College.

Sarah Trent - Program Manager

Sarah Trent supports the NASEO’s energy security programs, where she works with states on a number of resilience and energy security issues, including cybersecurity, energy emergency response, resilience funding, and energy emergency exercises. Prior to NASEO, Ms. Trent interned at the Federal Aviation Administration assisting in research and stakeholder engagement. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from James Madison University.

Arvand Golbazi - Coordinator, Clean Energy

Arvand Golbazi supports a variety of NASEO’s clean energy projects and programs including clean energy-based economic development, solar, smart surfaces, as well as workforce development, access, and inclusion. Prior to NASEO, Mr. Golbazi worked as a Research Associate at Guidepoint where he supported corporate clients across industries in implementing decarbonization and sustainable production strategies. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and a minor in Environmental Studies from the University of Connecticut. 

Camille Norton - Coordinator, Electricity

Camille Norton supports NASEO’s electricity program, where she provides assistance on various state electricity policy and program issues. Prior to NASEO, Ms. Norton worked at the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators on the Climate and Energy team, conducting policy analysis on microgrids, virtual powerplants, and climate finance, and as an intern at the Office of Management and Budget within the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, supporting the Natural Resources and Environment branch in reviewing proposed regulations. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Louisiana State University.

Marion Gold - Senior Advisor - Electricity

Marion Gold supports NASEO’s electricity program.  Prior to joining NASEO, Dr. Gold served as a Commissioner with the RI Public Utilities Commission where she participated in rate cases involving renewable energy, energy efficiency and grid modernization. Previously, Dr. Gold served as Commissioner of the RI Office of Energy Resources, the lead state agency on energy policy.  Dr. Gold holds a BS in Natural Resource Science and Policy from the University of Michigan, an MS in Environmental Economics from Michigan State University and a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from the University of Rhode Island.  

Jeff Pillon - Senior Advisor - Energy Security

Jeffrey Pillon provides states with technical support, training, and exercises for energy emergency planning and helps enhance security and resiliency of critical energy infrastructures, including cybersecurity. Prior to NASEO, Mr. Pillon worked for the State of Michigan for 36 years in the state energy office and Michigan Public Service Commission. He served as an Energy Management Coordinator, ESF-12 lead in the State Emergency Operation Center, and Chaired the state’s Critical Infrastructure Protection Committee. Mr. Pillon has a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Michigan State University.