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Tyson's career has been dedicated to breaking things in the energy industry and helping to rebuild them better than before. His 15+ years at Honeywell, Evergy, Uplight, and now Google have given him a wide range of experiences in the energy space. He uses that experience to help Google's energy partners connect the dots for a clean energy future that is accessible to all.
Taylor Jantz-Sell
ENERGY STAR Lighting & Smart Home Lead U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Taylor Jantz-Sell
ENERGY STAR Lighting & Smart Home Lead | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Since 2007 Taylor has been working to advance adoption of energy efficient, high performing lighting products. Since 2017 she has also been working to leverage smart home products and services for effortless home energy management as dynamic as the market. She leads the teams behind ENERGY STAR lighting products and Smart Home Energy Management Systems (SHEMS). She has a deep passion and commitment to equity and social justice and is committed to learning and living these values in her personal life and through her work. Before settling down in Washington, DC to start a career and family, Taylor was a globetrotter. In High School she spent her spring breaks building for communities in need (from a community center in Tobago to a school in Brazil), in college she spent a Semester at Sea (meeting Desmond Tutu and Fidel Castro) and lived in Thailand.
INDUSTRY EXPERTISE: Connected Health, Connected Home Technologies and Services, Connected Entertainment Products and Services.
Jennifer manages the research department and Parks Associates' process for producing high-quality, relevant, and meaningful research. Jennifer also leads and advises on syndicated and custom research projects across all connected consumer verticals and guides questionnaire development for Parks Associates’ extensive consumer analytics survey program. Jennifer is a certified focus group moderator, with training from the Burke Institute.
Jennifer earned her PhD in religion, politics, and society and an MA in church-state studies from Baylor University. She earned her BA in politics from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.
Robin Lanier
Director, New Ventures Southern Company
Robin Lanier
Director, New Ventures | Southern Company
As the director of New Ventures for Southern Company, Robin Lanier leads a team focused on identifying and accelerating the adoption of emerging energy solutions and business strategies. As part of this role, Lanier is responsible for managing Southern Company's investment in Energy Impact Partners, which provides access to early-stage companies developing technology or business model innovations of strategic relevance to the energy and utilities industry. These efforts are critical to support delivery of clean, safe, reliable, and affordable energy to our customers and positions the Company to make a meaningful impact on the future of energy.
Lanier has a diverse background in energy and has served in roles of increasing responsibility across Southern Company. She began her professional career at Georgia Power as a distribution engineer, focused on complex customer projects in a high growth area. Lanier then moved into the renewable development organization where she designed and implemented Requests for Proposals, Power Purchase Agreements, and Interconnection Agreements for renewable energy projects. Next, Lanier moved into a leadership role in environmental affairs, where she was responsible for the development of Georgia Power’s environmental compliance strategy and capital budgets for the Company’s electric generation fleet as well as coordinating the Company’s environmental regulatory activities. Most recently, Lanier lead the development and execution of Southern Company Gas’ renewable fuel strategy. In this role, Lanier led the team responsible for developing and implementing first-of-a-kind renewable gas programs, as well as renewable gas project development and asset management efforts.
A graduate of the University of Georgia, Lanier holds an Agricultural Engineering degree in Structures and Structural Systems. She has an Engineering In-Training license in Georgia and is a Certified Energy Manager through the Association of Energy Engineers.
Lanier has a strong track record of engagement and leadership in the community. She has served on numerous boards and community programs, including the Atlanta Audubon Society board, the Young Professionals board for Atlanta Children’s Shelter, Leadership Walton, Women in Engineering Mentoring Program, Youth Leadership Columbia County and United Way.
Donald has over 15 years of experience working with utilities and vendors in the energy sector across the U.S., Australia, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. He leads the end-to-end value chain for Uplight’s Residential Business Line serving as the nexus between product, sales, engineering, implementation, marketing, customer success, and operations for Uplight’s solutions across behavioral energy efficiency, rates, marketplace, load flexibility, and electrification.
As the President and Chief Marketing Officer at Parks Associates, Elizabeth Parks plays a pivotal role at Parks Associates. With over two decades of dedication to the company, she has been instrumental in shaping its growth and success, along with the continued focus of delivering timely and quality industry and consumer insights on the connected home and SMB industries.
Elizabeth's leadership extends across a diverse range of responsibilities. She is a driving force behind the company's research focus and coverage areas, ensuring that Parks Associates remains at the forefront of industry trends and insights for the broadband, consumer electronics, and home service markets. Her expertise is showcased in the strategic communication plan she orchestrates, encompassing advertising, public relations, and marketing efforts.
A cornerstone of her role is as the key organizer of Parks Associates' prestigious events, including Parks Associates signature event, CONNECTIONS™, Smart Energy Summit, Future of Video, Connected Health Summit, and Smart Spaces.
Elizabeth's commitment to Parks Associates' overarching mission is unwavering. She is dedicated to providing clients with the most reliable and comprehensive consumer and industry research and analysis. Parks Associates syndicated and custom research work helps empower businesses to make informed decisions in an ever-evolving landscape.
Elizabeth's journey with Parks Associates began after graduating with a BA in psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. She lives in Plano Texas with her husband and three children.
Emilie Tullis
VP of Business Development Renew Home
Emilie Tullis
VP of Business Development | Renew Home
Emilie Tullis is a VP of Business Development at Renew Home, with the mission of building strong partnerships to deliver clean, affordable, and reliable energy to everyone. She brings over a decade of experience with developing demand response, energy storage, and electric vehicle solutions to electric utilities, corporations and consumers alike. Prior to diving into the clean tech pool, Emilie was an automotive design engineer in Detroit with an educational background in mechanical engineering at Michigan and Georgia Tech.
2024 Speakers
Erik Becker
VP, Strategic Accounts Arcadia
Erik Becker
VP, Strategic Accounts | Arcadia
Erik Becker, VP (Strategic Accounts), Arcadia
Aaron Berndt
Head of Energy Industry Partnerships Google
Aaron Berndt
Head of Energy Industry Partnerships | Google
Aaron Berndt is Head of Energy Industry Partnerships at Google, where he leads the team that works with utility partners to help scale and accelerate customer-focused energy efficiency and demand response programs that leverage Google Nest products. Prior to joining Google, Aaron was a leader in PG&E's Customer Energy Solutions team, with responsibility for the delivery of key products and programs in PG&E's portfolio. Aaron holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and an M.B.A from U.C. Berkeley Haas School of Business.
Sofia Berrada
Head of Strategy SWTCH
Sofia Berrada
Head of Strategy | SWTCH
Currently Head of strategy at SWTCH, in charge of Proptech partnership, demand response programs, utility partnerships and new revenue streams - Previously worked at BCG for 6 years covering the clean energy and utility sector - Past experience as engineer at EDF in charge of new grid connections
As a Business Development Manager at Enel X Way, Luis manages utility & municipal government business development in the Central & Eastern United States. Prior to Enel X Way, Luis was the Director of Growth at Enervee, where he launched several marketplaces with utility partners. Luis earned his BA from Universidad Iberoamericana in International Business Management.
David Chang
Chief Product Officer eIQdigital
David Chang
Chief Product Officer | eIQdigital
A seasoned digital thought leader and executive with over 15 years of experience, renowned for spearheading transformative digital disruptions that drive hyper-growth opportunities. Adept at leading digital transformations within start-ups and FTSE 100/Fortune 500 industry giants. Proven track record in crafting and deploying engaging digital experiences that onboard, engage, and retain customers, fostering brand loyalty and exploring innovative avenues. Recognized for exceptional stakeholder collaboration.
Jonathan Coffey is the vice president of product management for SmartRent, the leading provider of smart home and property operations solutions for the rental housing industry. In his role, he oversees product management and strategy, leading SmartRent's teams to design and maintain the Company's best-in-class products.
Senior Vice President of VPP and C&I Project Business sonnen, Inc.
Geoff Ferrell
Senior Vice President of VPP and C&I Project Business | sonnen, Inc.
Geoff Ferrell is Senior Vice President of VPP and C&I Project Business at sonnen, Inc. At sonnen, Geoff supports the creation and implementation of revenue-generating virtual power plant (VPP) projects throughout the U.S. Prior to sonnen, Ferrell championed significant technological innovations in home building and building science, as CTO of Mandalay Homes. His background in Aeronautical Science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and a proven record of excellence in energy management and revolutionary building design has resulted in ground-breaking energy design around utility rates and VPPs for communities like Mandalay Homes’ Jasper Community in Arizona which includes 4,000 homes over 15-years. He has consulted with NREL, PNNL, City of Fort Collins, DOE, and EPA on clean and efficient energy design projects and is recognized for innovation and leadership in the energy management and home building industries with numerous awards from the DOE, EPA and GreenBuilder and Professional Builder Magazine.
Gabi creates world-changing technology and believes in combining solar energy generation with sustainable building materials. As Chief Solar Innovation Officer at GAF Energy, Gabi leads the company's research and development efforts. Under Gabi's leadership, GAF Energy launched Timberline Solar™, which incorporates the world’s first nailable solar shingle into traditional roofing materials and processes. This innovative product is designed to provide homeowners with a durable and long-lasting roofing solution that also generates clean, renewable energy. Gabi brings 20 years of extensive technical experience and leadership in the solar and microelectronics industries to GAF Energy, most recently as Vice President of Research, Development and Deployment at SunPower Corporation. Prior to that, she held multiple roles managing Module Research, Development, Deployment and Product Design at SunPower, and previously worked as a Member of the Technical Staff in the Microelectronics Division at Lucent Technology. She holds >60 patents and has authored numerous publications on solar cell materials and technologies. Dr. Bunea is a collaborative team member and leader; she inhabits shades of gray and strives for well-informed, thoughtful, and strong decision-making, as a scientist and business executive. She comes from a Latin-Romanian lineage and teaches Zumba. She is level-headed, but she’s not afraid to speak her mind and skillfully show emotion at work. Her willingness to connect and focus on nuance and feeling have proved to be a strength as she’s ascended leadership ranks. Coupled with her core technical prowess, these qualities make her a successful people manager and inspire loyalty, trust, and excellence on the high-performing teams she’s built.
Max Gaspranov
Director, SmartHome & Energy TELUS
Max Gaspranov
Director, SmartHome & Energy | TELUS
Max Gaspranov, Director (SmartHome & Energy), TELUS
Scott Harden
Chief Technology Officer, Global Innovation Schneider Electric
Scott Harden
Chief Technology Officer, Global Innovation | Schneider Electric
Scott Harden, Chief Technology Officer, Global Innovation, Schneider Electric
Barry Holland
Director of Product & Growth SmartThings
Barry Holland
Director of Product & Growth | SmartThings
Barry has been in the Energy & Utility space for more than 15-years, having worked for Itron, Landis&Gyr and an Australian utility called Ausgrid (formerly Energy Australia) before joining the SmartThings team a little under 2-years ago. He leads a team of Product Management and Business Development professionals, who are responsible for the SmartThings Energy application in the U.S. market. The SmartThings Services team is focused on consumer engagement, home energy management and net zero homes via both the Utility and Builder channels.
Jigar J. Shah
Director, Energy Services Electrify America
Jigar J. Shah
Director, Energy Services | Electrify America
As Director of Energy Services at Electrify America, Jigar is responsible for the company’s energy portfolio of over 900 MW in energized charging infrastructure - including leveraging energy storage to manage electricity costs, engaging with utilities and wholesale energy markets on policy matters and rate structures, minimizing Electrify America’s energy carbon footprint, as well as addressing vehicle-grid integration matters. He plays a key role within the company managing the energy used from over 200 utilities by 4,000+ individual ultra-fast DC chargers across more than 900 Electrify America public charging stations across the United States and Canada. Jigar was recently recognized as a 40 Under 40 Honoree by the Washington Business Journal for 2023 and named as a Rising Star in the EV Industry by Business Insider for 2022. Jigar has a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering, with a minor in Business, from Cornell University, and a Master of Engineering degree in Electrical Engineering from Princeton University.
Taylor Jantz-Sell
ENERGY STAR Lighting & Smart Home Lead U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Taylor Jantz-Sell
ENERGY STAR Lighting & Smart Home Lead | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Since 2007 Taylor has been working to advance adoption of energy efficient, high performing lighting products. Since 2017 she has also been working to leverage smart home products and services for effortless home energy management as dynamic as the market. She leads the teams behind ENERGY STAR lighting products and Smart Home Energy Management Systems (SHEMS). She has a deep passion and commitment to equity and social justice and is committed to learning and living these values in her personal life and through her work. Before settling down in Washington, DC to start a career and family, Taylor was a globetrotter. In High School she spent her spring breaks building for communities in need (from a community center in Tobago to a school in Brazil), in college she spent a Semester at Sea (meeting Desmond Tutu and Fidel Castro) and lived in Thailand.
Dr. Kenneth Wacks
President Home, Building & Energy Systems
Dr. Kenneth Wacks
President | Home, Building & Energy Systems
Dr. Wacks has been a pioneer in establishing the home systems industry and a management advisor to 150 clients worldwide. His business spans home and building systems, utility customer services, and digital entertainment networks (including HDTV and IPTV). Clients seek his help to locate strategic business partners, financing, and new customers. He also provides due-diligence for investors and expert witness services for litigants. Please visit www.kenwacks.com for information about clients and projects.
He was appointed by the United States Department of Energy to the 13-member GridWise Architecture Council to develop smart grid strategies for reliable and efficient distribution of electricity. The Consumer Electronics Association chose Dr. Wacks to chair the international committee (ISO/IEC) establishing world standards for home and building systems and energy management. In addition, he has written American National Standards in home automation.
Dr. Wacks chairs the Editorial Advisory Board of the CABA magazine iHomes & Buildings (available at www.caba.org) and is a featured contributor under the byline “Ken Wacks’Perspectives.” Dr. Wacks received his Ph.D. from MIT as a Hertz Fellow and studied at the MIT Sloan School of Management.
Dave Kranzler
GM, IoT Services Amazon Web Services
Dave Kranzler
GM, IoT Services | Amazon Web Services
Dave Kranzler is the GM of IoT Services at Amazon Web Services. His mission is to help IoT device and solution builders across all industry verticals connect to the AWS Cloud, by providing the device-to-cloud software, tools, and services necessary to accelerate that journey.
Prior to joining AWS, Dave was an IoT solution and device builder. He was Senior Vice President of Product Development at three IoT pioneers: SkyBell (smart home), Trilliant Networks (smart metering and smart grid), and Savi Technology (smart logistics). He was also a General Manager at Broadcom and Cypress Semiconductor, where he specialized in microprocessors, high-speed memories, and networking chips for embedded devices.
Dave holds a BSEE from MIT and an MBA from Santa Clara University.
Bijou Lulla
Chief Executive Officer Sustainable Energi Solution
Bijou Lulla is a leader and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sustainable Energi, a pioneering company at the forefront of the electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions industry. His journey from the hallowed halls of Duke Fuqua School of Business to the helm of this innovative enterprise has been marked by dedication, expertise, and a relentless commitment to sustainability. Bijou's early career in the renewable industry was focused on solar energy, where he quickly gained recognition for his innovative thinking and strategic acumen. His leadership in this sector led to the successful implementation of numerous solar projects, bringing clean energy solutions to communities and businesses alike. Furthermore, Bijou Lulla has a distinguished track record of collaboration with utilities across Southern California, where he played a pivotal role in marketing and implementing energy efficiency programs that have greatly benefited communities and businesses alike. His extensive experience and expertise in energy efficiency have made a substantial impact on reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions in the region. In the world of sustainable energy, Bijou Lulla's impact is undeniable. His journey from the Duke Fuqua School of Business to becoming the CEO and CPO of Sustainable Energi is a testament to his unwavering commitment to driving positive change in the renewable energy and electric vehicle industries. Through his leadership, vision, and innovation, Bijou Lulla continues to lead the charge towards a more sustainable and environmentally responsible future.
Geoff Martin
President & Co-founder vipHomeLink
Geoff Martin
President & Co-founder | vipHomeLink
Geoff Martin is a seasoned business executive who is currently President & Co-founder of software company, vipHomeLink, providing the leading Homeowner Experience & Engagement Platform to homeowners, often in collaboration with insurance carriers, home warranty companies, builders and other valued corporate partners. Geoff is a growth-oriented leader with extensive corporate M&A, capital raising, operations and partnerships expertise. His financial career includes nearly 20 years as a Wall Street investment banker, rising to Managing Director, and subsequently serving as Chief Financial Officer of a global transportation company. During his career, he has been involved with over $10B in executed corporate transactions worldwide. Geoff has been active with technology companies for over 10 years as an operator, advisor, and investor. He co-founded vipHomeLink in 2017 with partner Alfred Bentley. Geoff received his Bachelors in Economics from The Pennsylvania State University, and his MBA from New York University in 1995. He currently resides in Charleston, SC with his family.
As a co-founder of SkyBell, Desiree plays a crucial role in steering the company’s strategic operations. Celebrating SkyBell’s 10 years in business in June 2023, Desiree has overseen the professional installation of over 2 Million Video Doorbells through the security industry. Desiree expertly leads SkyBell’s supply chain management and contract manufacturing, while overseeing the development and launch of SkyBell Connect, the company’s proprietary back-office system that overseas all deployed devices. Additionally, in her capacity as SkyBell’s Principal Executive. Desiree focuses on nurturing existing customer relationships, steering Customer Support, and supervising Order Fulfillment. Before setting the foundation for SkyBell, Desiree served as Chief Operating Officer at Location Based Technologies, a firm renowned for its GPS tracking solutions.
Martin Milani
CEO Sunverge Energy
Martin Milani
CEO | Sunverge Energy
Martin is responsible for strategy, development, delivery and operations of Sunverge’s advanced energy platform. He is an industry-recognized thought-leader and expert on cloud and edge computing, AI, IoT and SOA with more than 20 years of experience in product design, development and systems architecture spanning the evolution of distributed systems. He joined Sunverge from Nexant where he was General Manager and CTO, responsible for the company's advanced smart grid software platforms. Previous positions include CTO of Tidal Software (acquired by Cisco Systems), CEO, CTO of Intersperse (acquired by Tidal Software), CTO of iBuilding, a smart building intelligent control and orchestration platform and Chief Internet Strategist and Technologist at Times Mirror Corporation. Before joining Times Mirror, he held senior-level technology, consulting, and distributed system architect positions at Wells Fargo, IBM, Retix, and Locus computing.
Wayne Morrison is Principal of Emerging Technologies at NRG with responsibility for evaluating, developing and implementing emerging energy products, services and technology for customers. Wayne has 40+ years’ experience in the electrical industry in both regulated and deregulated markets.
Wayne has extensive knowledge in smart home automation and energy storage technologies. He also manages the Reliant Smart Home in Houston, Texas, which serves as the company’s real-world research and development hub, where he provides educational sessions on new technologies available in the market.
Wayne’s career started in distribution engineering. He has held positions coordinating electric service for residential, commercial and industrial customers and was program manager for several energy efficiency programs.
Wayne earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Technology from the University of Houston. He is licensed by the Texas Real Estate Commission for instruction of agents on new technologies.
Maryam Mozafari
Program Supervisor - Demand Response/Flexibility California Public Utilities Commission
Maryam Mozafari
Program Supervisor - Demand Response/Flexibility | California Public Utilities Commission
Maryam currently leads the Demand Response/Demand Flexibility division at the California Public Utilities Commission. Her team develops policies aimed at unlocking the potential of demand flexibility and maximizing the utilization of Behind-the-Meter resources. Previously, she served as Senior Energy Advisor to Commissioner Darcie Houck where she worked on innovative strategies for the planning and operation of a high DER distribution grid. Whether a program manager, an advisor, or an engineer on offshore oil rigs, Maryam aspires to make the world a better place, one step at a time. She holds a BSc in Mechanical Engineering and an MSc in Energy and Resources from UC Berkeley.
Mike Mulqueen is the Director of Commercial Partnerships at SWTCH and has a long history of urban planning, sustainable policy, and program design, both public and private.
Mike worked with the City of Toronto as the Senior Environmental Planner, where he was instrumental in assessing and implementing the Sustainable Energy Strategy and Climate Change Action Plan; he also helped develop the Toronto Green Standard. Mike also led business development for Toronto Hydro and spearheaded the inception of the low-income energy conservation program. Prior to joining SWTCH, Mike led sales and business development for a cloud-based building automation company providing real-time energy management services, Parity Inc,
Mike received his MA in Urban Planning from McGill University and his BA at McMaster University.
Mr. Oberholzer’s primary responsibility at Resideo is to manage the utility and business aspects of the Resideo Grid Services business and the two-dozen utility load management programs it supports. As one of the platform’s inventers, he has been instrumental in driving it from inception in 2010 to an industry leading DERMS for residential energy products by focusing on data, analytics, and automated intelligence. Mr. Oberholzer is responsible for all aspects of service delivery to our utility customers and the profit and loss of the business overall. Before founding this business in 2010, Mr. Oberholzer spent the previous decade + in technical and business management in the telecommunications industry – primarily at Verizon Wireless. Prior to that, Mr. Oberholzer was a Naval Flight Officer in the U.S. Navy making several overseas deployments to Europe, the Middle East, and Africa flying the S-3B Viking off the USS America and deploying airborne national security sensors worldwide for the National Security Agency. Mr. Oberholzer was also honored to be a White House Social Aide.
Hrag Ohannessian
SVP of Global Sales, Home Automation, Security & Hospitality Universal Electronics, Inc.
Hrag Ohannessian
SVP of Global Sales, Home Automation, Security & Hospitality | Universal Electronics, Inc.
Hrag Ohannessian, SVP of Global Sales, Home Automation, Security & Hospitality, Universal Electronics, Inc.
Nayan Parikh
Technology Group Product Manager PSEG Long Island
Nayan Parikh
Technology Group Product Manager | PSEG Long Island
Nayan Parikh, Technology Group Product Manager, PSEG Long Island
Juliet Shavit
President & CEO SmartMark Communications
Juliet Shavit
President & CEO | SmartMark Communications
Juliet Shavit is the President and CEO of SmartMark Communications, a strategic advisory company that works with utilities and technology companies to identify and apply new technologies that improve customer engagement. She founded the U.S. DOE Smart Grid Customer Engagement Working Group under President Obama, bringing together regulators, utilities and consumer advocates to develop best practices in AMI education. She also worked with leading utilities globally on customer education plans to support smart grid transformation. Today, SmartMark works with utilities and technology innovators on new business models to support the grid-edge. Her expertise in the intersection of consumers and smart energy technologies has made her an industry leader on the topic. In addition to her work with SmartMark, Juliet is a recent contributor to the Smart Grid Systems Report for the U.S. Department of Energy and supports the EPA on ENERGY STAR’s Smart Home Energy Management Systems program. Juliet also is a proud founder of MusiComms that brings together the music, communications and energy industries together to develop new business models. She has been a keynote speaker at the Consumer Electronics Show and was featured in Forbes Magazine and other leading publications.
An entrepreneurial and driven leader, Paul has always been a self-starter, re-founding his fraternity in college, starting his first company at 19, and operationalizing Powerley as the company’s first employee. Paul has more than 15 years’ experience in the technology space, leading digital strategy, product management/marketing and client success organizations. Since joining Powerley in 2015, Paul has emerged as a subject matter expert in the smart energy space, bringing multiple products to market, being elected to the SECC board, and delivering thought leadership to SEPA, Energy STAR and IEI. Today, Paul serves as Powerley’s chief product and customer officer, responsible for overseeing Powerley’s product strategy and the delivery of its product to the market with its partners. In addition to his work in the energy space, Paul also has over a decade of experience in the digital realm, with work spanning research, strategy, analytics and development. Prior to joining Powerley, Paul led marketing intelligence for Organic, Inc., a digital experience consultancy. In his position he drove the positioning and performance of Organic’s work for its clients across the hospitality, CPG and automotive verticals. Paul prides himself on his relentless and pragmatic approach, with a keen focus on performance and measurement, including developing advanced analytics solutions to measure cross-channel platform success. A third-generation Wolverine, Paul holds a BA in Economics and an MBA in Strategy and Marketing, both from the University of Michigan.
Paul Williams
Managing Director of Home Management Business Unit Nice Group
Paul Williams
Managing Director of Home Management Business Unit | Nice Group
Paul Williams serves as the Managing Director of the Home Management Solutions Business Unit for Nice and leads the worldwide strategy and business for the connected home in this role. Paul has over 20 years of executive leadership in the connected home space and his career spans start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. Paul previously served as Nice North America’s Chief Product Officer where he led the product management teams and developed the product strategy and product roadmaps of all products / solutions for Nice in North America. Prior to joining Nice, he was at GE Lighting in the role of GM of Product Management and Growth where he was charged with reimagining lighting solutions. In three years, Paul’s team created a DIY smart home ecosystem with innovative products and scaled the consumer mobile app, taking it from just 30,000 users to more than 2 million. During his 14+ years of executive leadership at Control4, a manufacturer of smart home solutions, he was instrumental in building the company from a startup to IPO with double-digit, year-over-year growth.
Vanessa Wright
Sustainability Account Manager Levven
Vanessa Wright
Sustainability Account Manager | Levven
Vanessa Wright, a dedicated advocate for building science, graduated from Dallas Baptist University, fueling her passion for quality home construction. With hands-on experience at Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity and TexEnergy Solutions, she contributed to energy programs, code compliance, and LEED standards.
Certified as a HERs Rater, IECC Code Inspector, and LEED Green Rater, Vanessa helped design the Build Quality Inspection program and excelled as Field Manager at Pulte Homes. Her commitment to sustainability led to the role of Sustainability Manager at Mattamy Homes, where she championed ESG and Sustainability initiatives.
In December 2023, Vanessa joined Levven as Sustainability Manager, aligning seamlessly with the company's core values. Her journey showcases hands-on expertise, unwavering dedication, and a remarkable trajectory in advancing sustainable construction practices. Vanessa's role at Levven is poised to drive goals of reducing construction costs and creating more sustainable, affordable homes.
Lumin Founder and President Alex Bazhinov envisions a resilient energy grid through flexible load management solutions. With diverse financial and entrepreneurial experiences post-graduation from Moscow’s Higher School of Economics, Alex acknowledged the importance of transitioning from finite resources while managing an international precious metals trade network. He relocated to the U.S., founding Lumin while studying at the University of Virginia. Established in 2016, Lumin embodies Alex’s dedication to a positive impact, pioneering intelligent load management and driving toward a resilient, electrified future.
Gary Debling
Vice President, Energy Services Resideo
Gary Debling
Vice President, Energy Services | Resideo
Gary Debling, Vice President, Energy Solutions and Services, Resideo
Christopher LaPré
Head of Technology CSA - Connectivity Standards Alliance
Christopher LaPré
Head of Technology | CSA - Connectivity Standards Alliance
Chris LaPré, Head of Technology, Connectivity Standards Alliance
Christy Martell
SVP Sales & Marketing Arcadia
Christy Martell
SVP Sales & Marketing | Arcadia
Christy is a seasoned sales and marketing professional with a proven track record of helping clients decarbonize for the last 15+ years in the energy and cleantech space. At Arcadia Christy runs various go-to-market functions including Sales, Client Success and Demand Generation. Prior to joining Arcadia, Christy led sales at Stem where she managed over $1B in annual bookings. Christy has also previously worked in a variety of commercial and strategy roles at Opower (acquired by Oracle), Bloom Energy and Deloitte Consulting. Christy has a MBA from the Berkeley Haas School of Business specializing in Energy and a B.A. in Economics from Claremont McKenna College.
Wayne Morrison is Principal of Emerging Technologies at NRG with responsibility for evaluating, developing and implementing emerging energy products, services and technology for customers. Wayne has 40+ years’ experience in the electrical industry in both regulated and deregulated markets.
Wayne has extensive knowledge in smart home automation and energy storage technologies. He also manages the Reliant Smart Home in Houston, Texas, which serves as the company’s real-world research and development hub, where he provides educational sessions on new technologies available in the market.
Wayne’s career started in distribution engineering. He has held positions coordinating electric service for residential, commercial and industrial customers and was program manager for several energy efficiency programs.
Wayne earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Technology from the University of Houston. He is licensed by the Texas Real Estate Commission for instruction of agents on new technologies.
Bruce Nordman
Research Scientist Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
Bruce Nordman
Research Scientist | Lawrence Berkeley National Lab
Bruce Nordman is a Research Scientist in the Electronics, Lighting, and Networks Group at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, with a focus on the intersection of network technology with energy systems.
Sean Vo
National Director of Sales and Strategic Partnerships Levven
Sean Vo
National Director of Sales and Strategic Partnerships | Levven
Sean Vo, National Director of Sales and Strategic Partnerships, Levven
Moderators
Ashton Gambrell
Director of Sales, Sponsorships Parks Associates
Ashton Gambrell
Director of Sales, Sponsorships | Parks Associates
Ashton joined Parks Associates with over 15 years experience in sales, business development, account management and sponsorship sales within the hotel and sports industries. She is now part of the business development team managing event sponsorships and custom marketing services.
Ashton graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a BA in Business Administration and concentration in Marketing. After working for Four Seasons Resorts for nearly 10 years, Ashton spent the next seven years working with PGA TOUR pro golfers and their corporate sponsors/partners before joining Parks Associates.
Kristen Hanich
Director of Research Parks Associates
Kristen Hanich
Director of Research | Parks Associates
INDUSTRY EXPERTISE: Consumer electronics, mobility services and devices, connected health and wellness.
Kristen Hanich heads Parks Associates' consumer electronics and mobility research, with expertise in other verticals including connected cars, mobile networking, healthcare, wellness, and independent living. She leads a mix of custom and syndicated research projects throughout the year, with a focus on major players and emerging trends. Kristen specializes in bridging the gap between data-driven and narrative approaches to understanding the consumer markets via a mix of qualitative and quantitative research approaches.
Kristen has dual master's degrees in applied anthropology and public health from the Universities of North Texas in Denton and Fort Worth. She earned her BSc in health at the University of Texas at San Antonio and has a graduate certificate in Geographic Information Systems.
Daniel Holcomb
Senior Analyst, Smart Home Research Parks Associates
Daniel Holcomb
Senior Analyst, Smart Home Research | Parks Associates
Daniel is responsible for smart home research involving market trend analysis, competitor and positioning assessments, technology evaluations, and forecasts of relevant industry metrics.
Daniel is a market research industry veteran with 13 years of experience across multiple research types such as shopper insights, brand equity and brand health tracking, and customer experience. Daniel has also conducted research across multiple sectors such as consumer packaged goods, consumer electronics, specialty retail, and transportation, travel, and hospitality.
Daniel has a BA in Sociology from the University of Texas at Arlington, with specializations in Research and Evaluation, Diversity, and Family and Gender Studies.
INDUSTRY EXPERTISE: Connected Health, Connected Home Technologies and Services, Connected Entertainment Products and Services.
Jennifer manages the research department and Parks Associates' process for producing high-quality, relevant, and meaningful research. Jennifer also leads and advises on syndicated and custom research projects across all connected consumer verticals and guides questionnaire development for Parks Associates’ extensive consumer analytics survey program. Jennifer is a certified focus group moderator, with training from the Burke Institute.
Jennifer earned her PhD in religion, politics, and society and an MA in church-state studies from Baylor University. She earned her BA in politics from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.
Jason Paris
VP, Business Development Parks Associates
Jason Paris
VP, Business Development | Parks Associates
Jason Paris joined Parks Associates as an analyst studying international telephone, cable, and satellite providers and is now a member of the business development team.
Jason graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a BA in psychology and government. After working for the Texas House of Representatives, Jason spent the previous seven years in New York City working with portable and enterprise healthcare technologies.
As the President and Chief Marketing Officer at Parks Associates, Elizabeth Parks plays a pivotal role at Parks Associates. With over two decades of dedication to the company, she has been instrumental in shaping its growth and success, along with the continued focus of delivering timely and quality industry and consumer insights on the connected home and SMB industries.
Elizabeth's leadership extends across a diverse range of responsibilities. She is a driving force behind the company's research focus and coverage areas, ensuring that Parks Associates remains at the forefront of industry trends and insights for the broadband, consumer electronics, and home service markets. Her expertise is showcased in the strategic communication plan she orchestrates, encompassing advertising, public relations, and marketing efforts.
A cornerstone of her role is as the key organizer of Parks Associates' prestigious events, including Parks Associates signature event, CONNECTIONS™, Smart Energy Summit, Future of Video, Connected Health Summit, and Smart Spaces.
Elizabeth's commitment to Parks Associates' overarching mission is unwavering. She is dedicated to providing clients with the most reliable and comprehensive consumer and industry research and analysis. Parks Associates syndicated and custom research work helps empower businesses to make informed decisions in an ever-evolving landscape.
Elizabeth's journey with Parks Associates began after graduating with a BA in psychology from the University of Texas at Austin. She lives in Plano Texas with her husband and three children.
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