Energy Infrastructure Advisory Council
About the Advisory Council
The Energy Infrastructure Advisory Council (EIAC) helped shape the agenda of the 2025 Emerging Issues Forum by providing input on forum content and, importantly, drafting recommendations on how we can best support communities in their efforts to create a sustainable pipeline of energy workers, support energy affordability for their residents, and accommodate the infrastructure investments needed to provide reliable, affordable and resilient electricity.
Strategies for Strengthening Our Energy Infrastructure
Advisory Council Members
| Members |
|---|
| Conitsha Barnes, State Energy Policy Director, Duke Energy |
| Kimley Blanks, Business Recruitment Manager, Economic Development Partnership of NC |
| Thad Culley, Director, Regulatory Policy, Sunrun |
| Stephanie Deese, Executive Director, NC Association of Workforce Development Boards |
| Andrea DeSantis, Assistant Secretary for Workforce Solutions, NC Department of Commerce |
| Ken Dulaney, Industry Liaison, FREEDM Systems Center, NCSU |
| Nelle Hotchkiss, Chief Operating Officer, NC Association of Electric Cooperatives |
| Steve Kalland, Executive Director, NC Clean Energy Technology Center |
| Kevin Leonard, Executive Director, NC Association of County Commissioners |
| Mozine Lowe, Executive Director, Center for Energy Education |
| Dana Magliola, Sr. Director, Infrastructure Competitiveness, NC Chamber Foundation |
| Todd Roth, State Director of Skilled Trades and Work-Based Learning, NC Community College System |
| Jamie Russell, Director, Appalachian Energy Center |
| Caroline Sullivan, Executive Director, NC Business Committee for Education |
| Kristie VanAuken, Former Special Advisor, Workforce Engagement, Division of State Superintendent, NC Department of Public Instruction |
| Julie White, Deputy Secretary for Multimodal Transportation, NC Department of Transportation |
| Claire Williamson, Senior Energy Policy Advocate, NC Justice Center |
| Deb Wojcik, Executive Director, Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster |
| Patrick Woodie, President & CEO, NC Rural Center |