Jeff Weiss is the co-founder, co-chairman, and managing director of Distributed Sun (DSUN), which develops and operates community solar, C&I, and utility-scale projects in 11 states. He leads DSUN’s capital formation, business development, strategy, and governance. An early digital media and commerce entrepreneur, Mr. Weiss has led companies in digital media, renewable energy, cyber and physical security, intelligence and corporate fraud mitigation, mission preparedness and training, software development, and transformational management. He is also a Washington Leadership Co-Chairman of Business Executives for National Security (BENS), a board member of the Atkinson Center for Sustainability, a Trustee Council member of Cornell University, an Executive Committee member of DC’s oldest synagogue, a past co-chair of the Aspen Institute’s Socrates Society, and a founding director of Shenandoah National Park Trust. Mr. Weiss graduated from Cornell and Wharton.
Event Overview
Throughout December, the Cornell Energy Connection is hosting a series of virtual events featuring experts sharing their perspectives on key issues impacting the energy sector, such as the inequitable access to clean energy and the energy challenges posed by data centers.
In this third and final session, industry professionals will take stock of the energy storage sector and examine its impact on the wider energy industry.
What You'll Learn
- How energy storage is changing the future of the energy sector
- The hurdles associated with integrating this new technology
- How the wider energy industry is responding to advances in energy storage
- Possible constraints or accelerants to future growth
Speakers
Kate McGinnis is a technology leader with over 20 years of experience in energy and environmental markets. She is a strategy expert in renewable energy, energy efficiency, emissions reduction, and storage technologies, as well as the interplay between cleantech and traditional energy sources. Ms. McGinnis’s expertise is in managing uncertainty at the intersection of policy, environment, and technological innovation. Throughout her career, she has worked in project development across six continents.
Kevin Johnson brings 10 years of energy sector expertise, primarily focused on business development for government and microgrids, as well as mergers and acquisitions. His previous roles include co-founder, board advisor, and Chief Commercial Officer for CleanCapital; Managing Director of Federal and Microgrid Business Development for Canadian Solar (USA), Inc.; and Senior Manager of Mergers and Acquisitions for Acciona Energy North America. Prior to entering the private sector, Mr. Johnson served as a Captain in the United States Army. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point and a Master’s of Business Administration from Cornell University. Mr. Johnson’s awards and fellowships include Roy H. Park Leadership Fellow, Truman National Security Fellow at the Truman National Security Project, Emerging Leader at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and White House Champions of Change, as well as membership on the nonprofit Board of Directors for the American Resilience Project and Clean Energy Leadership Institute.
Mike Conway is Borrego Solar’s Director of Business Development for Energy Storage; he is responsible for Borrego’s front-of-meter and utility-facing energy storage project development portfolio. Mike identifies strategic pathways and highlights new market opportunities around the rapidly evolving intersection of energy storage, solar, and the traditional grid. Before joining Borrego Solar, he worked on the utility side completing system impact studies and designing system modifications for oncoming distributed generation. Mike is a licensed Professional Engineer in Power Systems and earned his Bachelor’s of Science in Electrical Engineering and Master’s of Science in Energy Systems (MSES) from Northeastern University.
Nico Johnson is the host of the SunCast podcast, through which he helps entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, executives, and sales professionals achieve professional and personal growth. He interviews thought leaders and change agents at the helm of the global transition to renewable energy while highlighting career paths for those who want to make a difference in the world. Nico has broad experience across the PV landscape, from project development to equipment sales and marketing, and he has held positions of increasing responsibility in strategic account acquisition, distribution strategy, and sales channel management in the Americas. Nico has nearly two decades of experience in marketing and sales, team, and change management, as well as working in Latin America for major global companies. In 2006, he founded his own startup, a solar installation business, working in corporate and as an independent contractor. Nico is also a former Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala; he is bilingual in English and Spanish, and knows basic Portuguese.
Nupur Pande is the Director of Equipment Procurement and Supply Chain Management at SB Energy (Softbank Group). In this role, she leads the procurement of major equipment including battery energy storage systems (BESS) for utility-scale projects. Prior to this, she led EPC and Equipment Procurement at Recurrent Energy. Nupur has managed procurement for over 1GW of utility-scale PV projects and 1GWh of BESS. Nupur has an MBA from Cornell University and a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from Osmania University, India.
Jeff Weiss is the co-founder, co-chairman, and managing director of Distributed Sun (DSUN), which develops and operates community solar, C&I, and utility-scale projects in 11 states. He leads DSUN’s capital formation, business development, strategy, and governance. An early digital media and commerce entrepreneur, Mr. Weiss has led companies in digital media, renewable energy, cyber and physical security, intelligence and corporate fraud mitigation, mission preparedness and training, software development, and transformational management. He is also a Washington Leadership Co-Chairman of Business Executives for National Security (BENS), a board member of the Atkinson Center for Sustainability, a Trustee Council member of Cornell University, an Executive Committee member of DC’s oldest synagogue, a past co-chair of the Aspen Institute’s Socrates Society, and a founding director of Shenandoah National Park Trust. Mr. Weiss graduated from Cornell and Wharton.
Kate McGinnis is a technology leader with over 20 years of experience in energy and environmental markets. She is a strategy expert in renewable energy, energy efficiency, emissions reduction, and storage technologies, as well as the interplay between cleantech and traditional energy sources. Ms. McGinnis’s expertise is in managing uncertainty at the intersection of policy, environment, and technological innovation. Throughout her career, she has worked in project development across six continents.
Kevin Johnson brings 10 years of energy sector expertise, primarily focused on business development for government and microgrids, as well as mergers and acquisitions. His previous roles include co-founder, board advisor, and Chief Commercial Officer for CleanCapital; Managing Director of Federal and Microgrid Business Development for Canadian Solar (USA), Inc.; and Senior Manager of Mergers and Acquisitions for Acciona Energy North America. Prior to entering the private sector, Mr. Johnson served as a Captain in the United States Army. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point and a Master’s of Business Administration from Cornell University. Mr. Johnson’s awards and fellowships include Roy H. Park Leadership Fellow, Truman National Security Fellow at the Truman National Security Project, Emerging Leader at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and White House Champions of Change, as well as membership on the nonprofit Board of Directors for the American Resilience Project and Clean Energy Leadership Institute.
Mike Conway is Borrego Solar’s Director of Business Development for Energy Storage; he is responsible for Borrego’s front-of-meter and utility-facing energy storage project development portfolio. Mike identifies strategic pathways and highlights new market opportunities around the rapidly evolving intersection of energy storage, solar, and the traditional grid. Before joining Borrego Solar, he worked on the utility side completing system impact studies and designing system modifications for oncoming distributed generation. Mike is a licensed Professional Engineer in Power Systems and earned his Bachelor’s of Science in Electrical Engineering and Master’s of Science in Energy Systems (MSES) from Northeastern University.
Nico Johnson is the host of the SunCast podcast, through which he helps entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, executives, and sales professionals achieve professional and personal growth. He interviews thought leaders and change agents at the helm of the global transition to renewable energy while highlighting career paths for those who want to make a difference in the world. Nico has broad experience across the PV landscape, from project development to equipment sales and marketing, and he has held positions of increasing responsibility in strategic account acquisition, distribution strategy, and sales channel management in the Americas. Nico has nearly two decades of experience in marketing and sales, team, and change management, as well as working in Latin America for major global companies. In 2006, he founded his own startup, a solar installation business, working in corporate and as an independent contractor. Nico is also a former Peace Corps volunteer in Guatemala; he is bilingual in English and Spanish, and knows basic Portuguese.
Nupur Pande is the Director of Equipment Procurement and Supply Chain Management at SB Energy (Softbank Group). In this role, she leads the procurement of major equipment including battery energy storage systems (BESS) for utility-scale projects. Prior to this, she led EPC and Equipment Procurement at Recurrent Energy. Nupur has managed procurement for over 1GW of utility-scale PV projects and 1GWh of BESS. Nupur has an MBA from Cornell University and a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering from Osmania University, India.
- View slide #1
- View slide #2
- View slide #3
- View slide #4
- View slide #5
- View slide #6
View Keynote by completing the form below.
You're Registered!