The Grid Forward Team

All across the region, the energy industry is facing the opportunities and challenges of grid modernization. The Grid Forward team is working with its Board and membership to provide educational and community programs to help all the stakeholders collaborate on scale. Get to know us and send us a note if you’d like to participate in our collective efforts.

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Bryce Yonker

Executive Director & CEO

As the executive director & CEO for Grid Forward Bryce leads strategic development, industry engagement, programs and operations. He was a founder and original board member of the organization dating back to 2009. He is also the principal for Enertec Development, a energy and tech consultancy and is an advisor to energy growth companies. Bryce previously served as the senior director of business development & strategy for Clean Edge, a leading cleantech market research and advisory firm. He holds a bachelor degree in business administration from Pepperdine University and an international MBA from IE in Spain. In his spare time, Bryce enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, and being in the outdoors with a fly-rod in hand or skis on his feet.
 
Talk to Bryce about getting involved with Grid Forward and its myriad programs and initiatives.

Lauren Bhaskar

Strategic Initiative & Content Lead

 

Lauren contributes to the Grid Forward team with content development and the planning, coordination and execution of Grid Forward events, like the 2017 Demand Response + Energy Storage Summit, the 2018 NW Energy Resiliency Summit, and the recent GridFWD 2019.  She currently works with the Distribution Modernization/Networks, Integration & Automation engineering team at Burns & McDonnell. A former teacher for Washington public schools, Lauren returned for a bachelor of science degree in power systems engineering from Washington State University.  Her prior education includes a BA with honors in history from University of WA and a masters of teaching from WSU.  She enjoys throwing a Frisbee with her husband and two sons and practicing yoga in the early morning.

Cameron Brooks

Policy Liaison

Cameron has 25 years’ experience in clean energy markets and environmental advocacy. As both a consultant and in-house executive, he is passionate about building coalitions and leading organizations dedicated to technology innovation in the electricity and sustainability sectors. Currently, he manages two integrated companies that provide a full suite of advocacy, research and analytic services to advanced technology companies, trade organizations, philanthropies and government agencies. Both companies integrate his personal mission to influence and create new markets new markets for distributed energy. His earlier career included senior roles in entrepreneurial start-ups, project development, investment partnerships and non-profit management. Cameron is happily based in Colorado with a national and international scope.

Lois Gordon

Strategic Growth and Operations

Lois Gordon brings deep experience in developing strategy, client/member relations and growth in the energy industry. She is a seasoned energy management business executive with more than 25 years of experience working with utilities, program implementers, and evaluators. She is the CEO at ASWB Engineering, a small WBE firm specializing in energy efficiency, demand response, and load management. Her past roles include managing evaluation, implementation, and development teams at the Cadmus Group, PECI and Ecos Consulting. Her extensive background includes managing professional services, incorporating program evaluation methodology into program design and execution, market transformation strategies, customer solutions development and marketing.

Talk with Lois about helping Grid Forward grow its impact and organization.

Terry Oliver

Grid Modernization Evangelist

You’ll find our industry evangelist Terry Oliver at our events and across the marketplace, helping to spread the word and expand our networks and resources. He has worked globally to advance energy sustainability including conservation and renewable energy and electric utility industry R&D, including long tenures at the International Institute for Energy Conservation and as Bonneville Power Administration’s first Chief Technology Innovation Officer, where he was one of the early visionaries of the smart grid and Transactive Energy. He is a past member of EPRI’s Research Advisory Committee, the EPRI Board of Directors, the Oregon Institute of Technology Renewable Energy Engineering Industry Advisory Committee, the Carnegie Mellon University Electric Industry Center Advisory Committee, and was Vice Chair of the Board of the GridWise Alliance. In 2010, GreenTech Media named him one of The Networked Grid 100: Movers and Shakers of the Smart Grid. He’s enjoying his pseudo-retirement spreading the word about grid modernization in the region and beyond as well as pursuing photography around the globe. Today, Terry has a full-blown photo habit, and several of his photos are featured on this site.

Talk with Terry about all things related to strategic alignment with the Grid Forward mission.

David Smith

Marketing Director

A writer, creative director and marketer in clean energy and technology, David leads marketing for Grid Forward. He helps the team execute highly successful events like GridFWD 2018 and the NW Energy Resiliency Summit, as well as create processes for expanding email, activity collateral and website communications. David is also VP of Creative Services for Publitek North America, part of an international technology marketing agency, which supports Grid Forward and leading industry firms. He holds a master and bachelors in electrical engineering from Cornell University and brews a pretty good IPA.

Talk with David about helping Grid Forward, its members and its partners communicate the activities and goals of grid modernization in our region.

Gerard O’Sullivan

Strategic Initiative & Content Lead

Gerard is a strategic initiative & content lead, helping guide development of content for GridFWD activities, specifically the Utility Roundtable ‘Forward Focus’ workshop initiative.   Gerard currently leads the Strategic Energy Management practice with AESC, training and coaching industry leadership how to begin and sustain their continuous improvement journey in energy and sustainability.  He previously held a Director of Engineering role at ECS, delivering demand response and DSM solutions for C&I customers.  He holds a BS & MS in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA in International Business. In his spare time, Gerard enjoys spending time photographing and writing about the Pacific NW music scene for several publications including Oregon Public Broadcasting. 

Kelly Strand

Member Services Director

Kelly Strand is a strategist and activator in the energy sector, drawing together people and concepts that drive forward progress.  She’s an innovator at Snohomish County PUD where she serves as Policy & Program Manager, creating and leading teams through the utility’s Distributed Energy Resources Initiative.  Prior to joining the utility to run renewable energy and conservation programs, Kelly was CEO of a sustainability consulting business and worked for a mechanical contracting firm integrating client strategies in energy efficiency and sustainability consulting.  She holds a bachelor’s in applied economics & management from Cornell University and a leadership executive MBA from Seattle University.  Away from the office, Kelly can be found chasing a golf ball and cheering for the Seattle Sounders.

Talk with Kelly about maximizing your membership benefits with Grid Forward.

Sam Zuckerman

Membership and Development Director

Grid Forward is excited to have Sam as our newest addition to the team!  Sam currently serves as Business Development Manager at Doosan GridTech.  He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and environmental studies from Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

Talk with Sam about becoming a member of Grid Forward.