Award category

Chair's Award

Year released

2024

In her tenure on the MEEA Board, Kristol Simms was instrumental to setting the organization up for success and guiding MEEA through many pivotal moments. Kristol joined the MEEA Board in 2018 for Ameren Illinois, replacing Keith Martin who served in Ameren’s seat for 1 year, and quickly made an impact. During her first years on the board, she helped develop the organization’s 2020-2025 Strategic Plan. She and other board members also helped start MEEA’s first DEI Committee in 2019, which will leave a lasting impact on MEEA and the industry. Kristol offered invaluable insight during the pandemic, immediately and as organizations and events looked at how to function in a new normal. 

  

Serving as Board Chair from July 2021 through June 2023, she offered insight and support as MEEA expanded its membership and work to more intentionally include community-based organizations. She worked closely with MEEA staff and the Board, as former Executive Director Stacey Paradis stepped down to take a role at the Illinois Commerce Commission in early 2023. Through this transitional time, Kristol ensured the organization was set up for success, while also overseeing Ameren Illinois’ work related to CEJA. The industry knows Kristol as a fierce proponent of equitable energy efficiency as much as she is a proponent of a good karaoke song. 

Award category

Chair's Award

Year released

2023

Shawn White has been a long-time supporter of MEEA. He represented
Xcel Energy on MEEA’s Board for six years, serving on the Policy and
Finance Committees. Shawn was elected MEEA’s Board Chair, serving
in that role from July 2019 through June 2021. During Shawn’s time on
the Board, he helped guide MEEA through organizational and industry
growth, the development of MEEA’s 2020-2025 Strategic Action Plan and
a revised mission and vision for the organization. Shawn worked closely
with Stacey and the Board at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020,
helping the organization adapt and moving the 2021 Midwest Energy
Solutions conference online. Those across the industry know Shawn as a
knowledgeable and supportive colleague. While he has a mild-mannered
demeanor, his passion to drive the industry forward is always apparent.

Award category

Chair's Award

Year released

2021

Nick Mark is the Manager for Conservation and Renewable Energy Policy at CenterPoint Energy, Minnesota’s largest natural gas utility. He has regulatory responsibility for the company’s Conservation Improvement Program, one of the foremost natural gas energy efficiency programs in the country. His activities include setting strategic and policy priorities for the program, ensuring the program complies with all state requirements, and leading the development and submission of program plans and annual status reports. He also represents CenterPoint on policy matters related to conservation and renewable energy in Minnesota.

Nick also served on MEEA’s Board of Directors from 2015 to 2020 and led the Program Committee as Chair. During that time, Nick was a constant voice of reason and clarity, guiding the organization through challenges and opportunities alike. Nick continues to support MEEA assisting with the creation of the Utility R&D Collaborative in 2016 and being an active member of the Program Committee.

MEEA leadership thanks Nick Mark for all his contributions to the organization.

Award category

Chair's Award

Year released

2020

Jim Jerozal is currently the Director of Energy Efficiency for Nicor Gas and is located at the company’s operational headquarters in Naperville, Illinois. In this position, Jim was responsible for developing the Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Program that began in 2011. The program provides a wide portfolio of offerings that meet the needs of all 2.2 million customers, from home audits and rebates to offerings for small and large businesses, including sophisticated engagements such as Strategic Energy Management and gas and electric CHP assistance. The portfolio also includes an emerging technology element that is quite unique to the industry. In the process of building the program, Jim has collaborated effectively on the policy front with stakeholders, regulators and other utility partners over the years, helping shape a statewide Technical Reference Manual, Policy Manual, Net to Gross methodology, and novel Market Transformation State-wide protocol and a national Market Transformation collaborative.

Prior to this post, Jim served Nicor Gas as General Manager of Environmental Health and Safety and its Regulatory Compliance Manger. Prior to Nicor Gas, Jim was Director of Technical and Business Services at the Laidlaw/Safety-Kleen Technical Business Center and was an environmental engineer and project manager for ERM-Southeast in Charleston, South Carolina. Jim holds a B.S. in Bioengineering from Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. Jim has more than 32 years’ experience in the energy and environmental fields.

Award category

Chair's Award

Year released

2019

Lauren Casentini is a passionate energy professional and entrepreneur who has dedicated 30+ years to energy consulting, program design and management, and policy. Her experience includes 10+ years leading energy efficiency initiatives at Pacific Gas and Electric during the early phases of energy efficiency policy development.

She brought her experience, insights and dedication to the Midwest through two companies she founded, Resource Solutions Group and now Resource Innovations. She also contributed to the Midwest’s energy efficiency framework by overseeing California and Midwest program operations and national policy for CLEAResult Consulting, the largest energy efficiency consulting company in the U.S.

Lauren remains active in influencing federal and state energy policy by serving as a speaker and panelist for energy forums and events nationwide, including for ACEEE and the Illinois Energy Efficiency Stakeholder Advisory Group. Lauren is also a co-founder and long-time board member of the California Efficiency and Demand Management Council.

Award category

Chair's Award

Year released

2018

Jon Williams’ responsibilities include the design, development and implementation of the portfolio of energy efficiency and peak demand reduction programs for all classes of customers in AEP Ohio. AEP Ohio serves 1.5 million customers in Ohio. He is also responsible for portfolio compliance activities including the evaluation, measurement and verification of program results, as well as the filing of portfolio plans and program results. He further serves as an expert witness for AEP Ohio in regulatory proceedings for energy efficiency and peak demand response. Prior to this position, Mr. Williams managed Customer Services operations in Eastern and Western Ohio for AEP Ohio and has worked in similar positions in Virginia and West Virginia. He has over 36 years of experience working with all classes of customers on energy related issues, including energy efficiency, demand response, power quality, construction, rates and contracts. Mr. Williams graduated from Clemson University with a bachelor of science degree in Mechanical Engineering.