2022 Summit Speakers

Jennifer Barenholtz has been living in Florida since 2007. In 2016, she received a Master’s in Sustainability Management from Columbia University; since then she has been working as a consultant to the sustainability and renewable industry.  Pre-Covid, Jen served as a SolSmart Advisor, providing technical assistance to reduce solar soft costs to cities and counties across Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe County supported by the DOE’s Solar Energy Technology Office.  This two year effort resulted in over 20 cities and counties improving their solar permitting process.  More recently, she has focused her efforts on developing key strategic partnerships between the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) and state and local governments, universities, and non-profits in Florida and the greater Southeast in order to promote NREL’s renewable energy analysis tools and technology solutions.  In addition, Jennifer continues to actively work in the clean energy space in Florida. She was recently appointed by FLaSEIA to be the Florida campaign advisor for SolarAPP—a software tool that streamlines the permitting process for solar permits—with the long-term goal of statewide adoption.

Michele Boyd is the program manager of the Strategic Analysis and Institutional Support team at the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO). The team supports the development of analysis, tools, and data resources to reduce the non-hardware (soft costs) of solar energy and accelerates learning through technical assistance programs and national partnerships. Previously, she led government relations at Abengoa Solar, where she developed and implemented strategies to advance effective financing, siting, and transmission policies for solar energy. Prior to her work on solar, Michele led public interest advocacy on environmental and policy issues related to nuclear weapons disarmament, nuclear power, and nuclear waste management. Michele has two Bachelors of Science degrees in biology and in environmental science from Purdue University and a Master of Science in environmental policy from the University of Michigan. 

Daniel Chang is the Vice President of Business Development at RETC, an independent test lab for photovoltaic products and batteries where he is responsible for all sales and marketing activity. Daniel is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is a seasoned industry veteran with over 15 years of technical sales and product management experience in the solar and semiconductor industry.

James M. Fenton is the Director of the University of Central Florida’s Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC). FSEC, created in 1975 by the Florida Legislature to serve as the state’s energy research institute, is the nation’s largest and most active state-supported renewable energy and energy efficiency research institute. In addition to his duties as FSEC Director, Dr. Fenton also serves as a Professor in UCF’s Materials Science and Engineering Department.        

Paul Grana is the GM, HelioScope and Commercial at Aurora Solar. Previously, he co-founded Folsom Labs, where he led sales and marketing, helping to grow the company to thousands of installers in over 200 countries. Paul holds a BS in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Chicago, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Upon graduating from The United States Naval Academy he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. He served in Training, Infantry, Artillery, Ceremonial and Reconnaissance units where he commanded four companies for over three years until an injury forced him to resign his commission. Stanley Gray founded On Track (http //ontracktampa.com/index.html), a tax-exempt not-for-profit organization established to "Sustain and Create Hope, Options, and Opportunity" for several of Tampa's Title One School attendees. He is a founding member of Naval Academy's Minority Association (https://www.usnama.org/), and the revived Urban League of Hillsborough County (https://ulhc.org/).  On April 20 U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) announced a $300K community priority grant for the Urban League of Hillsborough County’s Hands Up Program to support workforce training and paid apprenticeship programs, including in solar installation. 

Tyson Grinstead leads Sunrun's solar policy efforts in the Southeast and also works on Federal policy issues. Tyson joined Sunrun after serving as Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC)’s political director for the 2014 election cycle. He also served as political director for the South Carolina Republican Party’s Victory 2014 campaign and for Rep. Tom Rice (R-7-SC)’s 2012 campaign. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law, and received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Greg brings over 25 years of international corporate finance and business development experience to Calibrant Energy and Macquarie’s Green Investment Group, with a significant focus on renewable energy development, and energy and real estate management. Greg led SunPower’s & EnerNOC’s strategic enterprise engagements with the F500 and large public, federal & government entities. Greg has worked for GAF Solar, IBM Corporate Finance and Macquarie Real Estate and holds a Civil and Environmental Engineering degree from Duke University, and an MBA in International Finance from the University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business.

As Building Official at Saint Lucie County, Doug has many opportunities to work with owners, designers, installers and regulators on a variety of projects. With years of experience in the construction industry, having worked on simple to complex projects, successfully installing and even designing electrical systems and bringing projects to successful completion, Doug understands the thought and work it takes to bring all of the concepts together into a successful project. He is experienced with solar systems, both PV and thermal and has been involved with the industry for many years. He sits on several UL committees and is currently involved through SEAC to develop documents that are helpful to the solar industry and increase understanding of the code requirements for designers, installers and AHJs. He has a deep understanding of electrical systems and tries to pass that knowledge on to others in order to keep our systems and installations safe.

Kendra is based in Portland, Oregon and has worked in the solar industry in a variety of roles in manufacturing, distribution, installation, and services since 2010. She participates in state and federal-level policy and advocacy as a board director at industry trade associations and non-profits. She joined EagleView’s Business Development team in March as a Customer Solutions Architect, working on partnerships within the solar industry. She’s the Vice Chair for the Manufacturing Division and leads the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice Mentorship working group for SEIA. She’s a big fan of the outdoors, including biking, hiking, camping, and trail running; loves traveling and fostering pets for the Humane Society; and is a proud mom to her teenage son, Will.

Dorothy M. Mazzarella is currently employed by the International Code Council, Inc. as the Vice President of Government Relations. In this capacity, Ms. Mazzarella works directly with the Senior Vice President of Government Relations in achieving the Department’s goals related to coalition building and national code adoption, implementation, and support of the International Codes. Ms. Mazzarella has oversight responsibilities in New York and Florida and works closely with the twelve State and Local Government Relations Managers as well Members and
Organizations nationwide.

Jack has worked in the energy storage industry for 10 years across a broad spectrum of applications and market sectors with a focus on LiFePO4 battery chemistry. He has designed systems for the military, space programs, data centers, telecom, utilities, and more. Having spent quite a bit of time working with manufacturers in China, Jack developed significant expertise in the technical requirements that must be utilized in the production of quality lithium ferro phosphate (LFP) energy storage systems (ESS). Prior to joining SimpliPhi Power, Jack was one of the founding members of a lithium battery company. Additionally, Jack has spent a good deal of time working in the mission critical sector primarily focused on large scale lithium battery solutions.

Barrett is a solar industry veteran and currently serves as VP of Strategic Sales at Omnidian. He empowers clients with performance assurance for their solar customers through a national channel business.  He previously worked in solar lending at Mosaic where he supported partnerships across the US.  He has also led business development efforts in New England for CED Greentech.  

Board President

For the last 20 years, Patrick has grown and managed industry-leading consumer lending businesses, including Capital One and Toyota Financial Services. In each of his three prior COO positions, he launched and scaled successful point of purchase financing businesses, most recently in the home improvement channel.

Todd serves as Director of Sales for JinkoSolar, where leads the company’s go to market activities for Energy Storage Solutions in the US and Canada. He is a renewable energy veteran with over a decade of experience in solar and storage. Prior to joining Jinko, Todd was at Enel X where he was worked on origination of standalone storage projects for C&I customers throughout North America. 

Spencer Oberan is a husband, father, college football fan and outdoor enthusiast who is passionate about the positive changes solar can have on families and the environment.  After working closely with solar installers / EPC and sales dealers over the years, Spencer saw first-hand how cumbersome, disjointed processes were preventing solar business from growing. He co-founded Enerflo in 2018 in an effort to connect and streamline the residential solar sales process from lead to PTO; shrinking sales/operational duration to lower costs to the customer, increase profitability to the installer and, ultimately, get more glass on roof. He loves to joke around and build relationships with good people who are motivated to have an impact.  Spencer’s passion for solar and renewable green energy solutions is infectious. Much of Enerflo’s success to date is the result of Spencer’s tenacity to revolutionize solar with business automation, eventually making solar more affordable and available to everyone on the planet.

Julia Pyper is Vice President of Communications and Policy at GoodLeap, a leading financier of sustainable home solutions. She also helps lead communications for GivePower, an international non-profit organization committed to extending the environmental and social benefits of clean, renewable energy around the globe. Julia is a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and host of Political Climate, a podcast presented by Canary Media and the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.

George he is the market leader for the Clean Energy team in the Americas at Ariel Re, a Lloyd’s of London Syndicate. He has over 20 years’ experience in financial services, insurance, product development, underwriting and structuring risk management solutions for the capital markets, with focus on the “clean” technology markets for the last 12 years. Prior to joining Ariel Re in 2017, he managed Munich Re’s Special Enterprise Risks activities as a founding member of the Green Tech Solutions team here in the U.S. (New York). Previously, the Senior Vice President of Global Structured Products at the financial guaranty insurer, Radian Asset Assurance, Inc., George managed the asset-backed securities (ABS) business, he also co-founded the infrastructure finance business at Radian. George started his financial services career as an analyst at Fitch Ratings’ public and structured finance groups, and earlier in his career, he was a Legislative Director for the New York State Assembly.

A fifth generation Floridian, Natasha leads the Independent Electrical Contractors Florida West Coast Chapter and their 400+ person statewide Electrical Registered Apprentice Program. This former teacher and school principal turned her focus to promoting Registered Apprentice Programs to provide access to lucrative careers for employees and access to an educated and skilled workforce for employers.

A recovering college-for-all-enthusiast, she now sees the need and benefit for providing a balanced perspective when it comes to presenting post-secondary opportunities. She currently serves as the President of the Florida Apprenticeship Association and is on the Board of Directors for the Florida Association of Career and Technical Education.

This mother of 4 graduated from the University of Florida with her BS in Public Relations and Sport Administration and her Masters in Mass Communication and Political Campaigning after spending 7 of the best football seasons of her life in Gainesville. She bleeds Orange and Blue but admits she may have learned the most important lessons outside of the classroom. Natasha has also climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro while working for Busch Gardens as the Manager of Education, produced half time shows while working for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and created magical memories while working for Walt Disney.

Wilton Simpson is living the American Dream and works each and everyday to ensure Floridians have access to the same opportunities he’s had.   With an eye toward outcomes and problem solving, Wilton has a proven record of fighting for Florida’s hardworking families and small business owners, supporting our brave law enforcement officers and first responders, protecting our precious natural resources, and taking a stand against government overreach and job killing regulations.