The Affordable “How-to” Conference. Book Early! Some sessions have limited occupancy. Speakers and schedule may change without notice. 

• Jonny Kocher
• KEYNOTE Speaker
• Senior Associate, Rocky Mountain Institute

Senior associate, Rocky Mountain Institute, Carbon-Free Buildings Program, where he supports city and state efforts to promote building electrification in the Western United States. MS, Environmental Engineering, San Diego State University, BS, Civil Engineering, San Diego State UniversityMS, Mechanical Engineering, Energy Systems, San Francisco State University

Jonny began his career as an environmental engineer for the City and County of San Francisco (CCSF) working to test wastewater effluent to ensure NPDES permit compliance at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). While working at SFO, he helped launch its energy efficiency program with a focus on net-zero energy buildings. He also co-chaired the Zero Energy and Resilient Outcomes committee, which reviewed and selected $100 million worth of energy efficiency measures for SFO’s $7.3 billion dollar Ascent Program. He also helped lead in the certification of the CCSF’s first net-zero energy building.

• Brian Stewart
• KEYNOTE Speaker
• Founder, Electrify Now
• Contact

Brian has over 30 years of experience in product design, manufacturing, innovation and sustainability. He began his career as an industrial designer at IDEO, and has held various senior leadership roles in footwear and apparel product creation at NIKE Inc. including Vice President of Sustainable Innovation where he directed projects and created tools to deliver on corporate sustainability goals. As Principal of Cyan LLC, he works with corporations, universities and non-profits to shape strategies and programs centered on sustainability and innovation. He has spoken at group events and made presentations about the benefits of electrification at Nike, adidas, Google, Grid Forward and numerous other organizations around the U.S.

• Scott D. Bolton
• KEYNOTE Speaker
• Senior VP, Transmission & Market Development
• PacifiCorp

Scott Bolton sees the rapidly evolving energy industry as a catalyst for improving how PacifiCorp’s customers live and work. He has devoted most of the last two decades to working with leaders in government, businesses (large and small) and anyone with a stake in a cleaner, more economically robust future to help tackle broad-based challenges involving energy policy, infrastructure development, rural community revitalization, and clean transportation.

Currently, he leads PacifiCorp’s Transmission and Market Development initiatives, where he brings together a diverse team providing transmission planning and project management, transmission ratemaking, and wholesale market development that supports PacifiCorp’s system and its customers. From promoting the expansion of critical transmission projects, to enabling the integration and advancement of clean energy, to working toward regional market and policy solutions for the grid, Scott focuses on helping customers, not only as consumers of electricity, but as people with families and jobs who want to thrive in their communities. Before working for Pacificorp, Scott worked for US Senator Ron Wyden, ensuring priorities around federal appropriations, public lands, infrastructure and economic development.

• Bali Kumar, COO
• PACE Loan Group
• CPACE Presenter
• Contact

Bali Kumar is the Chief Operating Officer of PACE Loan Group (PLG). Prior to joining PLG, he served as the CEO of Lean & Green Michigan, the PACE program in Michigan, and developed the Michigan PACE program into one of the nation’s strongest PACE programs. His experience also includes serving as a management consultant at Deloitte, a transactional attorney at Proskauer, and the Executive Director of Michigan’s Wayne County Land Bank. Bali graduated with a B.A. from Brown University, a M.Sc. from the London School of Economics, and a J.D. from Berkeley Law. He is a member of the NY and CA bar.

• Rafi Golberstein, CEO
• PACE Loan Group
• CPACE Presenter
• Contact

Rafi is a commercial real estate finance veteran with over 15 years of experience in CRE, Commercial Real Estate, structured finance, loan origination and equity investments. Prior to founding PACE Loan Group, Rafi spent his career on Wall Street where he was a Managing Director at Ladder Capital, a publicly traded Real Estate Investment Trust.  At Ladder, Rafi focused on the origination of commercial backed mortgage securities, balance sheet and mezzanine loans as well as equity investments. Prior to Ladder, Rafi worked at Gramercy Capital conducting asset management and loan workouts. Rafi began his career at Credit Suisse in its large loan commercial real estate group. Throughout his career, Rafi has originated and closed over $2.5 billion of commercial real estate loans throughout the country. Rafi has a BS from Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York.

• Robert Hamerly
• Principal, Founder, Greensavers
• Contact

Robert Hamerly serves as the Principal at GreenSavers. “The company started at my kitchen table,” said Hamerly. “It’s really exciting to see how far we’ve come.” 

Hamerly has extensive experience in the building trades, from HVAC installations on Nantucket to building timber framed custom homes throughout the Pacific Northwest. Over the years, he has earned a variety of certifications for his expertise in building science.

Hamerly’s commitment to home performance extends beyond his work at GreenSavers. Between 2013 and 2015, Hamerly served as the President of the Board of Directors for the Home Performance Contractor’s Guild of Oregon. He still sits on the Board and continues to advocate for the interests of the home performance industry at the local, state, and federal levels.  His Certifications include: Building Analyst and Envelope Professional, Home Energy Rater, Lead Safety, Level l Infrared Thermography Certification, and Certified Technician. 

• Kate Hawley
• Senior Electric Vehicle Product Manager
• PacifiCorp

Kate Hawley is the Senior Electric Vehicle Product Manager for Pacific Power. She leads the Transportation Electrification strategy and program development for Pacific Power. Over the last fifteen years, Kate’s experience spans non-profits, consulting and governmental work supporting transportation electrification, energy and climate adaptation activities.  She is a native of Wyoming, growing up in a rural community and finds herself at home in Central Oregon. She drives a Nissan Leaf and can’t wait for all the new models to hit the market.

• Max Roe
• Co Founder, Shasta Power
• Contact

Max Roe, founded Coyote Worx in 2019, a project management consulting company focused on commercial and renewable energy development. He is an experienced builder, and real estate asset manager/investor, specializing in renewable energy with more than 10 years of industry experience. Max Roe, John Copyak, and Boris Feldman founded Shasta Power in 2021 to provide opportunities for investors to support solar projects directly, and to aid the US in a rapid transition to solar energy. 

Shasta Power, aims to deliver 600 Megawatts of solar energy and 1,200 MWh of battery energy storage across three development sites. Targeting retiring fossil fuel power plants and other unique opportunities across the mountain west. The Shasta Power team has transacted on over 2 Gigawatts of solar energy and storage projects, most recently the Angeles Summit solar development in Adelanto, CA a 200 MW solar plus storage facility on target for an operation date of March 2024.

• Liz Dahlager,
• Executive Vice President, Mereté Hotel Management
• Contact

Liz Dahlager is Executive Vice President of Mereté Hotel Management  – a full service hotel development and management company based in Springfield, Oregon. Mereté has developed 18 branded select service hotels in Oregon and Washington including the Element Bend. They are an approved third party manager and franchisee for Marriott International, Hilton, IHG Hotels, Hyatt, Choice and Wyndham. Mereté has been an active participant in advocating for C-PACE in the Pacific NW. Hotel assets offer significant economic impact in the form of jobs, and tourism and tax revenues. C-PACE offers developers and owners a long-term incentive to utilize the latest energy efficient technologies and building materials. Mereté will open its 19th hotel in October – SpringHill Suites by Marriott Medford Airport. Mereté’s culture and vision supports a commitment to local communities and that commitment includes supporting the longevity of our natural resources and preserving our environment.

 Liz has been recognized nationally and locally for her work in the hospitality industry most recently by the American Hotel and Lodging Association for advancing women in hospitality with the 2021 Paving the Way Award and in February she was recognized for her efforts in Springfield as the 2021 Business Person of the Year. Liz graduated from Northeastern University and holds certifications in hotel revenue management, hotel real estate investments and asset management.

• Michele Pitale, MD,
• Counterpointe Sustainable Real Estate (CPACE Presenter)
• Contact

Prior to focusing on sustainable energy finance, Dr. Pitale was an Assistant Professor of Surgery and Otolaryngology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. Dr. Pitale also was a post-doctoral research fellow, in the Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a surgeon in the Critical Care Medical Department at the National Institutes for Health in Bethesda, MD.  Dr. Pitale’s background provides a unique perspective on the scientific and business needs of sustainable real estate markets. 

Counterpointe Sustainable Real Estate (CounterpointeSRE) is a leading commercial real estate finance provider specializing in sustainable infrastructure improvements. Since 2013, Counterpointe has administered PACE programs in some of the largest and most active jurisdictions of the PACE industry and is a respected leading national C-PACE capital provider. Over the past decade, we have played a leadership role in the PACE industry driving investment toward clean energy, resiliency and energy efficiency in our nation’s commercial buildings.

• Jack Schniepp
• Cascade Financial Strategies
• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™
• CFP®, ChFC® Financial Advisor
• Contact

• Doug Hansel Pauly
• Principal, DHP
• Contact

Doug is DHP’s mad scientist and with 20 years of experience in healthcare and 6 years experience in building science for a premier local subcontractor, he has a way of looking at building science that is unique. He has been asked to consult on some truly amazing projects from Living Building Challenge and ultra-low energy load homes to preforming a blower door test on a military tank. If you have a building science issue then he is the right person for the job. Doug is also a 3rd party verifier (both commercial and residential)  that works with owners to verify energy and efficiency upgrades so that they can qualify for enhanced financing.

• Jeff German, Principal
• Contact 
  Phone: 303.906.4046

With the electric car landscape changing rapidly, it can be hard to know what EV charger manufacturers to trust. Green Cap Energy in collaboration with national brand partners has placed hundreds of commercial stations across the US.
With years of experience, our experts work to find the right strategy and the right equipment for your specific needs. We work through electrical solutions to make it all come together in a budget-wise manner. Our network of licensed, certified professionals in your location will help you site the project and install it at the highest standard of excellence. If you have an electrical contractor already, we can work with your own professional, ensuring you a job well done that you can trust.
Contact us today to learn more about the availability and pricing of installing and operating electric vehicle charging stations for your business.

• Riccardo Waites
• Executive Director
• Central Oregon Black Leadership Assembly
• Contact

Riccardo Waites is a submarine veteran and a business owner.
Originally from Toledo, Ohio Riccardo has lived in Bend for over 20 years. As founder and executive director of COBLA, hw develops programs that seek to minimize racism and encourage support for underserved communities of color. His most recent enterprise is the start up of  the first black radio station in Central Oregon, WEBlack Radio.

• Jen Patterson
• Deschutes County Strategic Initiatives Manager
• Contact

• Commissioner Phil Chang
• Deschutes County Commissioner

• Robert Countryman
• Market President – Portland & Seattle, First Interstate Bank
• Contact

Robert joined First Interstate Bank in 2013, and currently oversees retail banking, commercial & business banking, treasury management, SBA lending and commercial real estate lending for the bank’s Portland and Seattle Metro markets. Robert has over 25 years of leadership experience in the banking and financial services industry. Prior to joining FIB, Robert held Executive and Senior level positions at other financial institutions in the Portland, Seattle and Dallas, TX markets. In 2003, he was instrumental in launching Capital Pacific Bank a new Portland-based business bank as the Executive Vice President overseeing the sales team, marketing and business development. He and his team were successful in growing the bank’s balance sheet to over $200 million in loans and $100 million in deposits in its first 5 years and the bank was eventually acquired by Columbia Bank.

Robert is experienced with CPACE lending programs and successfully integrated PACE loans into two flagship commercial projects that First Interstate financed in Portland – “Premier Gear & Machine Works Building” (Class-A office adaptive reuse) and “The PAE Living Building” (zero- carbon office ground-up construction project). Robert is very active in the Portland community and has held numerous volunteer leadership positions with local non-profits and business organizations.

• Devesh Nirmul
  
• Counterpoint SRE
• Contact

Devesh Nirmul is a leader within the energy, sustainability and resiliency space with demonstrated experiences in government and public policy, residential and commercial real estate / property management and sustainability focused non-profit organizations. He works on expanding Commercial PACE financing and helping owners , project developers and stakeholders realize more resilient and economically valuable projects across key US markets, helping to accelerate the uptake of sustainable and resilient building improvements for both new construction and retrofits.

He has served in a variety of sustainability leadership positions and authored chapter 10, “The New Resilient Built Environment: Perspectives from Investors and Owners of Private Buildings” in the 2019 National “Optimizing Community Infrastructure Resilience in the Face of Shocks and Stresses” publication, several chapters for BOMI’s High-Performance Sustainable Building Investments Coursebook and the Financial Resources and Technology Transfer chapter of the US 3rd National Communication to the UNFCC. He managed the launch of the Chicago Commercial Building Energy Initiative with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), served as the Energy and Sustainability Director at  FirstService Residential (FSR), was the first Sustainability Manager for Miami-Dade County implementing $12.5M of Energy Block Grant funds and spearheading the County’s Sustainability Plan and Green Buildings program, was University of Florida’s first Urban Sustainability Agent and consulted on climate change mitigation and adaptation solutions for the US Agency of International Development (USAID).

Devesh sustains his effectiveness by maintaining globally recognized industry credentials including LEED AP O+M, Certified Energy Manager (CEM) and Certified Sustainable Development Professional (CSDP) credentials.

• Michael Bahr
  
• Renewable Energy Gateway

Mike Bahr has over 25 years of commercial construction finance and has been active in PACE for more than a decade. He has assisted hundreds of property owners secure financing for building retrofits and new construction.

Renewable Gateway works with building owners, contractors and the trades to secure financing for construction retrofits and new construction projects.  Our team has decades of experience working with commercial property owners in every building sector. Our goal is to ensure that property owners have access to low-cost, long-term financing in order to meet their goals.

• Jared Green
  
• Automotive Program, Central Oregon Community College
• Contact

I began working on cars and motorcycles for money at the age of 15. It has been my hobby, passion and career ever since. I graduated #1 in my class with an Associates of Applied Science in Automotive Technology from Umpqua Community College in Roseburg Oregon.

I was a professional technician for 17 years, mostly at independent repair facilities. I have run the gamut with experience in Cars, Trucks, Motorcycles, Boats, Snowmobiles, Tractors, Generators, Sand Rails and the like. I also have some experience in Hybrid and EV vehicles as well a light duty diesel applications. My main areas of interests are engine performance and drivability as well Hybrid and EV technology. I transitioned to teaching part time 7 years ago as adjunct faculty at Clackamas Community College in Oregon City. Outside of work I like to ride motorcycles (both dirt and street), participate in water sports and snow sports. 

• Diane Hodiak
  
• Executive Director, 350 Deschutes
• Contact

Diane is the co-founder of 350 Deschutes, a nonprofit working in climate policy, actions, and education. Her career includes work in  various management positions for nonprofit organizations, from program director to public relations and executive director. After she completed her MBA, she became a management consultant to nonprofit organizations in management, planning and fundraising. At that time, she was a regular conference/seminar presenter and co-authored two books for nonprofits. She is currently the volunteer host for CarbonFreeda’s Powerup, a radio show about climate change for KPOV 88.9, Central Oregon.  She has worked with others at all levels within the community facilitate policy for the underserved, electrification, green mobility, and de-carbonization for the  Oregon Climate Plan. 350 Deschutes also worked to authorize CPACE, Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy in Deschutes County. The Go Clean Energy Conference, now in its seventh year, engages businesses, government and individuals to set goals for electrification and carbon reduction.