TIM MASTERS is an Environmental Planner at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. His roles and responsibilities include providing support to the Climate and Energy Team at COG, collecting and evaluating energy use data and renewable energy trends in the region, and supporting work on the regional greenhouse gas emissions inventories. He is passionate about environmental economics, clean energy, the built environment, and food systems.

Tim earned a BSc in Environmental Science at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU), majoring in Geography and Zoology. After completing an Honours degree at NMMU focusing on Environmental Geography, he moved to the UK in 2016 to study for an MBA in Environmental Management at Bangor University, Wales. His dissertation was concentrated on the transition of small- and medium-sized enterprises in the food industry to business models that were aligned with the circular economy. In 2017, Tim graduated with distinction and two awards: Best Dissertation in Business, Management or Marketing, and Best MBA Environmental Management Student. He was born in the coastal city of Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

TODD BEAZER is the Supervisor for the Business Services Group, a program of the Washington DC Department of Employment Services responsible for business engagement services. Prior to his role with Business Services Group, Mr. Beazer was the Regional Revenue Management Specialist for UPS responsible for Small Package and Supply Chain solution tax compliance.

Mr. Beazer will highlight the current work of the Department of Employment Services in matching job seekers to employers in its Job Banks system.  He will also discuss the new Infrastructure Academy which has a solar training program and Apprenticeship Academy.

Mr. Beazer brings over 23 years of experience in Transportation Logistics, IT Sales & Marketing and Workforce Development.  Mr. Beazer has vast experience in providing business to business solutions within private and public sectors. Mr. Beazer holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Morgan State in Baltimore, Maryland.

DR. ELLIE GILES serves as the first CEO of WorkSource Montgomery, Inc. (WSM) in Montgomery County, Maryland.  WSM is a talent development non-profit connecting employers and job seekers. WSM works with current employers and new employers to support their talent needs. Additionally, WSM creates strong talent pipelines for jobs of the future by establishing career pathways through collaboration with strong and relevant training and community resources.  WSM has received a grant for green jobs and is developing a program on solar training and also offers programs related to jobs in sustainability such as stormwater management technicians.

Prior to this position, Dr. Giles was the Director of Operations for Montgomery Business Development Corporation (MBDC), the first public/private economic development agency in Montgomery County. MBDC’s mission is to provide engagement and a platform for the business community in economic development and policy decisions. In this role, Dr. Giles built relationships and implements actions with targeted decision makers to realize a shared vision of economic stability. In 2016, the Daily Record identified Dr. Giles as one of Maryland’s top 100 women.

Dr. Giles is a former instructor and researcher at Johns Hopkins University with an emphasis on developing strategies to enhance educational practices for students.  She earned a Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins in Educational Leadership and Administration.  She has related educational degrees from Johns Hopkins (Masters) and Florida State University (Bachelors).  She is an award-winning international speaker and consultant sharing her passion regarding education reform and advocacy for a strong educational future. She has over 30 years of experience in the field of education and has been recognized as a National Educator of the Year.

DR. TARESA LAWRENCE is the Deputy Director of the Department of Energy & Environment, which is charged with developing energy plans, policies, and programs in the District.  Her experience includes the sustainable use of energy in the residential, commercial, and institutional sectors, and she specializes in strategic planning, energy management and analysis, program design and implementation, and evaluation methods. Dr. Lawrence currently oversees a variety of energy efficiency and renewable energy programs, including those administered by the District of Columbia Sustainable Energy Utility. She also works on a variety of electric and natural gas utility rate issues, where she assesses the impacts of various rate proposals on the District’s ratepayers.

Prior to joining the District in 2008, Dr. Lawrence was a Regulatory Economist at the Public Service Commission of Maryland, and Center Director of the Small Business Development Center at Howard University Center for Urban Progress. She holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Howard University and a Master’s Degree in Development Economics from University of Manchester, England.

NATALIE MONKOU serves as a business development manager and liaison to the business improvement districts (BIDs) for Arlington Economic Development in Arlington, Virginia. In her business development role, she focuses on national recruitment and attraction of new business to Arlington County with a primary emphasis on energy companies and educational technology, as well as nonprofit organizations. Natalie also manages the business investment team’s innovative initiatives such as the award-winning Startup Arlington and Arlington Real Labs Initiative (known as ARLi).

Before arriving in Arlington, she served as special assistant to the deputy chief administrative officer for economic development and public infrastructure in the Prince George’s County Executive’s Office (Rushern L. Baker, III) and focused on economic development policy and agency management.

Natalie is a graduate and dual degree holder from the University of Maryland, College Park with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, Language, and Literature and a Master’s in Public Administration.

SILVIA LUCERO works at the BlueGreen Alliance promoting the BuildingClean.org database which has over 3,000 U.S. facilities manufacturing energy-efficient products as well as working on procurement policies.

Previously she worked as a General Manager and Director of Sales within the hospitality industry. As General Manager she created a sustainability plan focusing on changing procurement decisions which impacted the health and safety of her employees as well as guests. She is passionate about environmental issues that affect the health and safety of our community.

She participated in Mayor Vincent Gray’s Sustainable DC initiative. Served as Chair for the Environmental Committee at the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce and became an Energy Master at EcoAction Arlington where she helped residents in low income housing retrofit their homes for energy savings. Silvia earned her LEED Green Associate certificate and is currently the ANC 3D10 Commissioner.

JOHN PAUL MOSCARELLA (“JP”) is an international clean energy and climate finance executive, with over 25 years of experience.  He recently became a partner at Climate Finance Advisors and is responsible for business development and senior expert at boutique environmental finance advisory firm. Climate Finance Advisors’ mission is to accelerate sustainable, climate-smart investments, and to integrate climate considerations into financial products, services and policies.

An entrepreneur, he has founded or co-founded four (4) companies, including Emerging Energy & Environment (EEE), a fund manager focused on Latin America, with circa US$70 MM in AUM, and Econergy International, a renewable developer with 260 MW (190 MW net) of projects in Latin America and USA at the time of its sale in 2008 to GDF Suez (now Engie), one of the largest utilities in the world.  With proven leadership skills, he has been a leading executive and general manager of several clean energy companies, as well as a fund manager for two private equity/venture capital funds; and a board director for over a dozen companies and organizations; and, is a pioneer in the field of carbon credits and climate finance, since the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, as well as pioneering clean-technology investments in Latin America. He has experience in natural gas, wind, hydropower, biomass and fuel cells project development, as well as energy efficiency and developing solar more recently.

Recently, he has raised capital for clean energy start-ups in the USA, arranging seed financing and investing directly, including community solar, electric vehicle charging station and a wastewater technology company, and is working on climate crowdfunding.  He has an MBA from Yale School of Management and BS Environmental Engineering from Cornell University.

SPENCER SCHECHT is an early-career climate and energy professional serving as the Member Experience Manager at the Smart Electric Power Alliance. Spencer spent two years at the DC Sustainable Energy Utility helping some of the largest institutions in the nation’s capital adopt energy efficiency measures. He has also worked on programs with The World Bank and The Natural Resource Defense Council around renewable energy domestically and abroad.

Spencer holds a B.S. in biological sciences from the University of Maryland, College Park, an M.A. in International Affairs from the School of International Service at American University, as well as an M.A. in Natural Resources and Sustainable Development from the University for Peace in Costa Rica.

ANDIE WYATT recently joined GRID Alternatives as Policy and Regulatory Manager, assisting GRID’s advocacy and regulatory efforts to assure equitable expansion of the clean energy economy with a focus on the Mid-Atlantic states. Prior to GRID, she advised Congress members and staff on climate, energy, and environmental law at the Congressional Research Service, and worked in the private sector at an environmental, energy, and land use focused law firm.

Andie holds a master’s degree in environmental economics and policy and a law degree, both from Duke University, and a bachelor’s degree in environmental biology from DePauw University.

TOMMY WELLS -(Director, District of Columbia Department of Energy and Environment)

Tommy Wells is the director of the Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE). Appointed January 2015, he is chiefly responsible for protecting the environment and conserving the natural resources of the District of Columbia. Tommy’s team is comprised of approximately 300 environmental professionals collectively working to improve the quality of life for residents and the natural inhabitants of the Nation’s Capital. Most recently, Tommy served as the DC Councilmember representing Ward 6—a position he held since 2006. During his time on Council, he garnered broad support for his efforts to make the District livable and walkable for all.

Known for his neighborhood-focused development, Tommy championed efforts to ensure availability of public transit, including the construction of new streetcar lines and the expansion of the DC Circulator. As Chair of the DC Council Committee on Transportation and the Environment, he worked to double the city’s Capital Bikeshare program. In 2009, Tommy crafted The Anacostia River Clean Up and Protection Act of 2009, to implement $0.05 fee on disposable bags. This landmark legislation prompted thousands of District residents to curb the use of plastic bags and instead opt for reusable, green alternatives. Seventy-five percent of DC residents reported a decrease in their use of disposable bags once the bill took effect on January 1, 2010. The legislation also established a fund to restore District water bodies, including the Anacostia River; support the distribution of reusable bags in the District; install trash traps; and provide environmental education for District students. These and other efforts, championed by Tommy, have helped position the District as a model for sustainable green living for jurisdictions nationwide.

A passionate innovator and student of cutting edge solutions, Tommy earned his law degree from the Columbus School of Law at Catholic University in 1991 and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Minnesota in 1983.

EMILY YATES is an Founder + Principal of Urban Revolution Group, Emily Yates is working to help cities position themselves as globally competitive by utilizing a systems approach to develop strategies, projects and programs that exist within the intersection of sustainability, technology, and economic development. Most recently, Emily was Deputy Director with Envision Charlotte where she was responsible for leading the development of the Circular Charlotte strategy, which made Charlotte the first city in the US to have a citywide circular economy strategy, in addition to other local programming that created a smarter, more sustainable Charlotte.

Emily’s career work has focused on the intersection of economic development, smart and sustainable cities, and civic engagement. She has held a variety of positions in Europe and North America, including urban planning positions with both the District of Columbia and the city of Cleveland planning offices. Emily was a recipient of the prestigious Alexander von Humboldt German Chancellor/ Bundeskanzler Fellowship, which funded a year of research focused on German approaches to the implementation of sustainability policy and climate change adaptation in brownfield development. Emily holds a Bachelors of Science in Landscape Architecture from Arizona State University. She is a member of the Emerging Leaders in Energy and Environmental Policy (ELEEP) Network.