Executive Council

Barry K. Worthington serves as the Executive Director of the United States Energy Association (USEA) where he directs the Association’s domestic and international activities. He has served in this capacity since September 1988. Previously, he served as a Vice President of the Thomas Alva Edison Foundation and prior to that served in several capacities with Houston Lighting & Power Company, now known as Center Point.

Mr. Worthington has also written extensively on energy and environmental matters, and addresses many conferences on national and international energy issues. He holds a B.S. degree from Pennsylvania State University and an M.S. degree from the University of Houston. Currently Mr. Worthington serves on the Boards of the National Energy Foundation, U.S.-China Energy Environment Center, and Energy & Mineral Law Foundation. He is also a member of the Advisory Boards of Electric Power Research Institute, National Council of Minorities in Energy, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy.

Betty L. Arndt is Vice President, Communications, for Johnson Controls, Inc. In this role, she is responsible for all internal and external communications for the Building Efficiency Business.

Ms. Arndt is on the advisory committee for Northwestern University’s Integrated Marketing Communications Journal and is the former Vice President of Marketing for the International Business Marketing Association. She is currently serving on the Corporate Advisory Council of State Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton’s Wisconsin Women’s Prosperity Initiative. She is a member of the Arthur W. Page Society, and MAPI – Manufacturers Alliance. Additionally, Arndt is on the Board of Trustees for Marquette University’s Haggerty Museum of Art.

Betty has a B.A. degree from Marquette University and a M.A. from the University of Wisconsin.

Clay Nesler is the Vice President, Global Energy and Sustainability for the Building Efficiency business of Johnson Controls. In this role, he is responsible for overall energy and sustainability strategy, policy, communications and innovation on a global basis. He is also a member of the Johnson Controls sustainability leadership team responsible for setting overall sustainability strategy and policy across the corporation.

Since joining Johnson Controls in 1983, Clay has held a variety of leadership positions in technology, new product development, marketing and strategy in both the United States and Europe. He has been active in ASHRAE as an author, speaker and technical committee chairman. He is the recipient of the 2005 CoreNet H. Bruce Russell Global Innovator’s Award for development of the Solutions Navigator™ game board-based collaborative planning tool. He is also listed as the co-inventor of ten U.S. Patents. Clay received his BS and MS degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Clay currently serves on the Wisconsin Governor’s Task Force on Global Warming, the Executive Committee for the Energy Efficiency Forum in Washington, D.C. and the advisory committee for the Climate Registry.

David J. Brady is President and CEO of the Houston-based International Facility Management Association (IFMA). He has 25 years of experience in association management. Previously, Mr. Brady served as Executive Vice President and COO. He joined the staff in 1993 as Director of Membership Services, and has also held the positions of Vice President of Education and Event Management, and Vice President of Administration and Member Resources. Mr. Brady is a member of the American Society of Association Executives and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Olivet College in Olivet, Michigan. He serves on a variety of Boards of Directors.

Kateri Callahan
President, Alliance to Save Energy

Kateri Callahan brings more than 20 years of experience in policy advocacy, fundraising, coalition building, and organizational management to her position as the President of the Alliance to Save Energy. Ms. Callahan spearheads the organization’s initiatives to advance energy efficiency worldwide to achieve a healthier economy, a cleaner environment, and greater energy security. President of the Alliance since January 2004, she leads a staff of over 50, oversees a budget of approximately $10 million annually, and works with the Alliance Board of Directors — which includes Members of Congress, state and local officials and top corporate and NGO executives — to establish and oversee the core objectives and strategic plans for the organization. Under her leadership, the Alliance conducts policy, communications, research, education, and market transformation initiatives in the U.S. and more than a dozen countries worldwide.

Previously, Ms. Callahan spent 14 years as head of the Electric Drive Transportation Association, promoting energy-efficient, advanced transportation technologies powered by batteries, hybrid drive systems and fuel cells.

The Honorable Eileen Claussen
President, Pew Center on Global Climate Change and Strategies for the Global Environment

Eileen Claussen is President of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change and Strategies for the Global Environment. She is the former Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.

Previously, Ms. Claussen served for three years as a Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Global Environmental Affairs at the National Security Council. She also served as Chairman of the United Nations Multilateral Montreal Protocol Fund. Ms. Claussen was Director of Atmospheric Programs at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, where she was responsible for activities related to the depletion of the ozone layer; Title IV of the Clean Air Act; and the EPA’s energy efficiency programs.

Ms. Claussen is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Singapore Energy Advisory Committee, the Ecomagination Advisory Board, the Natural Gas Council, the Harvard Environmental Economics Program Advisory Panel, and the U.S. Commodity Future Trading Commission’s Advisory Committee.

Jonathan Lash
President, World Resources Institute

Jonathan Lash has led the World Resources Institute as its President since 1993. Mr. Lash is president of the World Resources Institute (WRI), whose research, analysis and policy recommendations provide practical solutions to global challenges of environment and sustainability. He is recognized internationally for his expertise on climate change, energy security, and resource, environment and development policies. Mr. Lash has broad experience with public policy processes at the international, federal and state levels, and with corporate and business practices worldwide.

Mr. Lash has been a catalyst in engaging business and industry in environmental and sustainability issues. From 1993 until 1999, Mr. Lash served as co chair of the President’s Council on Sustainable Development, a group of U.S. government, business, labor, civil rights, and environmental leaders appointed by President Clinton that developed visionary recommendations for strategies to promote sustainable development. In 2006 he played a key role in the creation and success of the United States Climate Action Partnership, a group of leading companies and environmental groups that in January 2007 issued a highly influential “Call to Action” on global warming.

A frequent writer about issues of sustainability, Lash’s article in the Harvard Business Review, “Competitive Advantage on a Warming Planet,” distills more than a decade of active engagement with the private sector on climate issues. In June 2005, Mr. Lash was named one of the world’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Finance, in the annual ranking of Treasury & Risk Management magazine, the only leader of a non-profit environmental organization on the list. Mr. Lash was profiled in Rolling Stone’s “Warriors & Heroes,” a look at “Twenty-five leaders who are fighting to stave off the planet-wide catastrophe.” The piece noted that he “has arguably done more than any other environmentalist to bridge the bitter divide between industry interests and green groups determined to halt global warming.” In December 2007, he was named “one of the 100 Most Influential People in Business Ethics” for the year by Ethisphere Magazine, recognizing his “commitment to ethical leadership and corporate social responsibility.”

Under Lash’s leadership, WRI has developed innovative approaches to measuring and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, led efforts to demonstrate the financial importance of environmental risks and opportunities to capital markets successfully catalyzed the first global assessment of the state of the world’s ecosystems, and pioneered the use of digital technologies – such as satellite imagery - to solve environmental problems.

As the head of a leading international organization with partners in more than 50 countries, Lash has been involved in research and policy discussions with companies, governments, and civil society organizations all over the world. He has served on a variety of international commissions and boards, including the DuPont Biotechnology Advisory Panel; the Tata Energy and Resources Institute (India); the Keidanren Committee on Nature Conservation (Japan); the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development; Generation Investment Management, The VIVA Trust, and the Avina Foundation. He has chaired advisory groups to the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Trade Representative, and the Secretary General of the OECD.

John F. Mizroch
Of Counsel in the Washington, D.C., office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Prior to joining the firm, John served as Acting Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), which manages the federal government's principal investments in clean technology and energy transformation. He had been with EERE since 2006, when he was appointed by the President to serve as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary. During his tenure, John was responsible for overseeing the programs, staff, and policies of the agency, and working with major energy stakeholders and groups, including a variety of other federal departments and agencies; members of Congress and senior staff; leading industry associations related to energy, power production, and efficiency; and foreign governments. Among his accomplishments at EERE, John led the implementation of the first two landmark bipartisan energy policy acts to have been passed in more than a decade (EPACT 2005 and EISA 2007); developed and launched the Solar America Initiative, the 20% Wind Energy by 2030 report, and the National Biofuels Action Plan; and served as the DOE's primary representative to the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue and the Asia-Pacific Partnership for Clean Development and Climate Change. John also negotiated and implemented many significant energy and environmental technology accords with China, India, Brazil, Denmark, Sweden, and Spain, among other countries.

Before his tenure at the Department of Energy, John was president and chief executive officer of the World Environment Center (WEC), an international not-for-profit organization promoting corporate social responsibility, sustainable development, and the responsible use of natural resources. Earlier in his career, he was president of the Environmental Export Council, the first prominent international environmental trade association created to promote technology transfer and exports of environmental technology, goods, and services, and a senior advisor to the Joint Economic Committee of the Congress, a role in which he advised on policy, legal, and technical issues with the aim of improving U.S. industrial competitiveness and strategic trade interests. He also served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Trade Development at the International Trade Administration, and as a foreign service officer in South Africa with the U.S. Department of State.

Steve Nadel
Executive Director, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)

Steven Nadel is the Executive Director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), a non-profit research organization that works on programs and policies to advance energy-efficient technologies and services.  Steve has been at ACEEE for 20 years serving as Deputy Director of the organization and Director of ACEEE’s Utilities and Buildings programs prior to his promotion to Executive Director in 2001.  Prior to ACEEE he planned and evaluated energy efficiency programs for New England Electric, a major electric utility; directed energy programs for the Massachusetts Audubon Society, Massachusetts’ largest environmental organization; and ran energy programs for a community organization working on housing rehabilitation in the poorest neighborhoods of New Haven, CT.  Steve has worked in the energy efficiency field for 30 years and has over 100 publications on energy-efficiency subjects.  He has testified ten times before Congress on energy efficiency subjects and also testified before multiple state legislatures.  He was a major contributor to national energy legislation passed by Congress in 1987, 1992, 2005, 2007, and 2009 (so far only passed House of Representatives).  His current research interests include utility-sector energy efficiency programs and policies, state and federal energy and climate change policy, and appliance and equipment efficiency standards. He has a M.S. in Energy Management from the New York Institute of Technology, and a M.A. in Environmental Studies and B.A. in Government from Wesleyan University in Connecticut.

Steven R. Specker
Ph.D. President and CEO, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)

Steven R. Specker is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Electric Power Research Institute where he is recognized worldwide for his expertise in leading the research, development, and deployment of technologies for the generation, delivery and use of electricity. EPRI is an independent, non-profit center for public interest energy and environment research, which is committed to meeting society’s high expectationsfor reliable, affordable, and environmentally responsible electricity. Prior to joining EPRI in 2004, Dr. Specker spent 30 years with the General Electric Co. in a variety of executive positions within the energy business, including 11 years as a Vice-President of the company. Dr. Specker holds a B.S. degree in Engineering Science, an M.S. degree in Nuclear Engineering, and a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from Iowa State University.

The Honorable Branko Terzic
Regulatory Policy Leader in Energy Resources Group for Deloitte Services LP

Branko Terzic is an international consultant to management, government and lending institutions on regulation, management and valuation of energy companies, regulated utilities and infrastructure entities. He also serves as Chairman of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE) Ad Hoc Group of Experts (AHGE) on Cleaner Electricity Production.

Dr. Terzic is a former Chairman, CEO, and President of Yankee Energy System Inc., and a former commissioner with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Wisconsin Public Service Commission. He is a member of the planning committee for the Bordeaux Energy Colloquium, advisory Board of the Hamline University College of Business, and member of the New America Foundation Energy Advisory Council.  His columns appear in Energy Metro Desk and European Energy Review, and his chapter on energy is in The World Crisis. (Constable 2008). He is a member of the faculty of the Washington Campus public policy educational organization.

 Dr. Terzic holds an honorary Doctor of Sciences in Engineering from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee where he earlier earned a B.S. in Engineering. A Professional Engineer, he is a Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce (FRSA).

Barbara Bauman Tyran
Director, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)

Barbara Tyran is Director, Washington Relations, in EPRI’s regional office in Washington, D.C. She serves as the principal liaison between EPRI executive management, and Congress, the Administration, the national trade associations, the national leadership of the state public utility commissions, and the Washington energy community. Ms. Tyran joined EPRI in 1998 after serving for several years as Manager of Federal Government Affairs for two electric utilities, Kansas City Power & Light and Empire District Electric Company. Previously, she was the Washington representative for the Detroit Edison Company.

Ms. Tyran holds a B.A. degree with Honors from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from Yale University. The Secretary of Commerce appointed her to the Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Energy and Energy Services, and she has been a member of it since 2005. Ms. Tyran also serves on the Industrial Advisory Board at Lehigh University’s Energy Systems Engineering Institute.

Maria Vargas
Director, Strategic Partnerships, Climate Protection Division, U.S. EPA

Maria Vargas is the Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Climate Protection Partnerships Division in the Office of Air and Radiation within the EPA. This division is responsible for ENERGY STAR - a voluntary, non-regulatory partnership that assures high quality, profitable investments in energy-efficient and environmentally superior technologies - as well as a host of other voluntary programs including Climate Leaders and the Green Power Partnership In her job, Ms. Vargas manages the ENERGY STAR brand and oversees all communications and marketing activities for the division.

Ms. Vargas has worked for the U.S. EPA since 1986. Prior to her current position, Ms. Vargas was the Co-Director of the ENERGY STAR Buildings and Green Lights Partnership. Before that her work at EPA included serving as marketing director for the ENERGY STAR program and policy work on the issues of ozone depletion, global climate change, and related environmental and energy issues.

Ms. Vargas received a Bachelor's degree from Swarthmore College (Swarthmore, PA) in Political Science and Economics and a Master's degree from the University of Oregon (Eugene, Oregon) in Public Affairs and Urban and Regional Planning.

Mark F. Wagner
Vice President, Government Relations, Johnson Controls

In his role at Johnson Controls, Mark Wagner develops potential business opportunities with the federal government in the area of energy efficiency, building controls and security solutions. His areas of expertise include energy policy, federal sites that showcase energy efficiency, renewable energy, and electronic security systems, as well as advanced battery technology for hybrid electric vehicles. During his decade with Johnson Controls, he has been instrumental in developing programs with the federal government, including Energy Savings Performance Contracting and other public-private partnerships. Previously, Mr.Wagner served in the Office of the Secretary of Defense as Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Economic Security. He received his B.A. degree in Political Science from Indiana University in 1975 and his Law degree from the Indiana University School of Law at Bloomington in 1983.

Suzanne Watson
Policy Director, American Council for an Energy-Efficiency Economy (ACEEE)

Suzanne Watson is the Policy Director for the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), based in Washington, D.C. She coordinates ACEEE's federal and state policy efforts. Prior to joining ACEEE in 2008, she served as the Director for the Office of Innovation at the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, as Energy and Climate Policy Director for NESCAUM, a not-for-profit firm in Boston, as Senior Policy Advisor for the Northeast-Midwest House and Senate Coalitions on Capitol Hill, and as founder and director of the Maine Environment & Energy Center. Ms. Watson has worked extensively on the linkages between energy policy, environmental quality, and economic development issues from the early nineties to today.

Ms. Watson received her B.A. in political science from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine,
and was awarded a Juris Doctor and Master of Intellectual Property Law from Franklin Pierce Law Center in Concord, New Hampshire.

Mary Ann Wright
Vice President and Managing Director of Johnson Controls and Johnson Controls-Saft’s Business Accelerator for Advanced Energy Storage Solutions

Mary Ann Wright is responsible for establishing the business model, product and process technology plan, market shaping and sourcing strategies to accelerate the growth of advanced energy storage systems. She leads a dedicated global project team that oversees the Department Of Energy economic stimulus grant program, including launch of the first U.S. manufacturing facility in Holland, MI.  Previously, Ms. Wright served as Vice President and General Manager for Johnson Controls Hybrid Systems business, and CEO of Johnson Controls-Saft, where she played a key role in establishing Johnson Controls-Saft as a leading independent global provider of hybrid battery systems.

Prior to joining Johnson Controls in 2007, Ms. Wright served as Executive Vice President Engineering, Product Development, Commercial and Program Management for Collins & Aikman Corporation and Director, Sustainable Mobility Technologies and Hybrid Vehicle Programs at Ford Motor Company.

Ms. Wright has been recognized by Automotive News as one of the “Leading 100 Women in the Automotive Industry.”  In 2010, she received a Distinguished Service Citation from the Automotive Hall of Fame. She was named as one of the “Top 50 Women to Watch” by the Wall Street Journal in 2008. Ms Wright has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, an M.S. from the University of Michigan and an M.B.A. from Wayne State University.

Terry F. Yosie, Ph.D.
President & CEO, World Environment Center

Terry F. Yosie joined the World Environment Center in October 2006 as the President & CEO. In this role, he develops and implements strategies to advance sustainable development through the business operations of WEC member companies and in partnership with government agencies, non-governmental organizations, universities and other stakeholders. Dr. Yosie has held senior level positions in government, corporate and consulting organizations. He served as Vice President at the American Chemistry Council from 1999 to 2005, and managed a global CEO Task Force in 2004 to 2005 to develop the Responsible Care Global Charter to improve chemical industry performance and sustainable development commitments in 52 countries.

Dr. Yosie is a consultant with the EPA Science Advisory Board. He earned his doctorate degree in humanities and social sciences from Carnegie Mellon University and has been selected by the University as one of its Most Notable Alumni.