2024 Cleantech Innovation Awards Program

Note: Program is best viewed on a mobile device in landscape mode.

Agenda

Meet Our Speakers

Jerry Williams

Host Sponsor Remarks

Chief Environmental Officer, SAS

As Chief Environmental Officer, Jerry Williams helps lead the development and execution of SAS’ sustainability strategy across operations worldwide.  He uses SAS analytic solutions to manage the company’s global operational data, report Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance, identify risks and opportunities, and ensure SAS is compliant with rapidly emerging environmental regulations.

Jerry is a primary facilitator of smart campus and environmental initiatives at SAS and key contributor to ongoing resource efficiency programs. In the community, he is often asked to speak about the urgency of addressing climate change, the benefits of a clean energy economy, plug-in electric vehicle infrastructure, LEED certification, solar and other corporate sustainability initiatives to a wide range of municipal, education and legislative audiences.  He actively fosters collaboration and engagement across operations through the deployment of SAS Visual Analytics reporting to front line subject matter experts.

Kristen Koch

Platinum Sponsor Remarks

VP, Talent & Learning Leader, Americas, Hitachi Energy

Kristen is responsible for Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, Learning & Development, Employer Branding, and DEI for Hitachi Energy in North and South America. 

Kristen has over 18 years of experience in HR and has been with the company for almost 15 years, including starting with the company as an intern. Prior to her current role, she worked as a senior HR business partner and held regional HR leadership roles.  She also spent three years as a Talent Manager in Switzerland.

Kristen holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Notre Dame.  She has an executive education certificate from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.  Kristen is also on the board executive committee for Make-A-Wish Eastern North Carolina.  She has a passion for people, leadership and travel, having visited all 50 states and 54 countries.  She lives with her husband and dog Nellie in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Kendal Bowman

Fireside Chat

State President – North Carolina, Duke Energy

Kendal Bowman is president of Duke Energy’s utility operations in North Carolina, which serves approximately 3.7 million electric retail customers and 786,000 natural gas customers. She is responsible for the performance of Duke Energy’s regulated utilities in North Carolina, along with leading state and local regulatory and government relations, and community affairs. She also manages continued efforts to engage and work with customers and stakeholders across many topics, including North Carolina’s clean energy transition.

Before assuming her current position in January 2023, Bowman served as Duke Energy’s vice president of regulatory affairs and policy for North Carolina. In this role, she managed the company’s presence in all North Carolina regulatory matters before the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC). She provided leadership and direction in the development and implementation of public policy that is in the best interest of the customers and communities served by Duke Energy. Bowman worked closely with policymakers and other stakeholders to find working, sustainable solutions to energy policy needs. In addition, she served as the company’s regulatory policy witness in proceedings before the NCUC and other regulatory bodies.

Prior to that, Bowman served as deputy general counsel for Duke Energy, managing all legal state regulatory functions for North Carolina. Earlier, she was associate general counsel for Progress Energy, supporting all state regulatory functions for North Carolina and South Carolina. She also spent a decade leading the federal regulatory affairs group and was responsible for all Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), legal, policy and compliance matters for Progress Energy Carolinas and Progress Energy Florida. Bowman has been with the company since 1999. Prior to joining Progress Energy, Bowman was an attorney for Florida Power Corporation.

Bowman serves on the boards of directors of the NC Chamber and E4 Carolinas. She also serves on the national advisory board and the Policy & Program Committee of the Institute for Emerging Issues at NC State University. Bowman is an alum of Leadership North Carolina class of 2015 and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kenan-Flagler Business School Leadership Development Program. 

Bowman earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Virginia and a Juris Doctor degree from Stetson University College of Law. She is admitted to the state bars in North Carolina and Florida. Bowman and her husband, Bret, have a daughter and twin sons.

Jason Massey

Gold Sponsor Remarks

Co-Founder and CEO
Ndustrial

Jason Massey is a co-founder and the CEO of Ndustrial, an AI-powered energy intensity platform deployed in 400+ industrial facilities across more than twenty countries around the world. Ndustrial provides software and services to help the $60B industrial market combat inflation and climate change by optimizing energy intensity — the crucial metric of energy, emissions, and cost required for one unit of production. Ndustrial’s AI-powered solutions enable smarter energy decisions in real time, helping customers like Lineage, ABB and W.L. Gore (makers of Gore-Tex) avoid over $100M in energy spend to date.

Before Ndustrial, he started his career as an electrician in industrial facilities and then moved on to spend more than 20 years building and financing technology companies across a range of sectors, from clean energy to electric transportation on Wall Street and as a Silicon Valley VC. Jason was also invited by Richard Branson to participate in the Carbon War Room (now part of the Rocky Mountain Institute) for their industrial decarbonization focused project and helped work to get approval for Al Gore to teach The Climate Project to China.

Dr. Jason Norman

Lightning Talk – Accelerating Cleantech Innovation

Vice President
RTI Innovation Advisors

Jason Norman is the business head of RTI’s Innovation Advisors, where he leads innovation strategies that have successfully commercialized products for a wide range of clients, including Fortune 100 companies. His team’s user-centered approach, paired with expertise in innovation foresight, technology insights, and commercialization methodologies, has been key to their ongoing success.

Jason has a proven track record in developing and commercializing environmental and process technologies in the energy, chemicals and oil and gas sectors. He has held senior R&D leadership positions at BOC and Linde Gases and served as CTO of a climate tech startup specializing in nanocatalysts. His experience in corporate strategy and business development has provided him with a deep understanding of the challenges involved in bringing new products and services from concept to market.

Jason holds a PhD and a Masters in Fuel and Energy Engineering from Leeds University, UK.

Nicole Niwa

Lightning Talk – Symbiosis: Cross-Industry Applications for Cleantech

Manager of Alliance Development & Social Responsibility, Novo Nordisk

Nicole Niwa is the Manager of Alliance Development & Social Responsibility at Novo Nordisk. She leads new partnerships to ensure that Novo Nordisk is prepared for future growth with resilient talent pipelines, infrastructure, and sustainability programs/partnerships for its four manufacturing sites across the Triangle Region. Her team also leads Novo Nordisk’s community relations priorities in North Carolina, demonstrating Novo Nordisk’s commitment to the communities in which it operates. Nicole and her family recently moved to Garner. They love being outdoors, traveling, volunteering in the community, and Disney.

Jeremy Keltner

Lightning Talk – Symbiosis: Cross-Industry Applications for Cleantech

Industrial Symbiosis Project Manager, Novo Nordisk

Jeremy Keltner is the Industrial Symbiosis Project Manager at Novo Nordisk. He leads implementation of industrial clustering opportunities in Clayton and supports building and promoting collaboration across industries to ensure sustainable growth across the region.  Prior to joining Novo Nordisk, he spent time in Naval nuclear as a submarine officer and in various roles in the commercial nuclear industry.  Jeremy resides with his wife in Holly Springs where they are adjusting to being empty nesters.  Their son attends UNCG currently studying to be a nurse.  Jeremy enjoys hiking, home improvement projects and playing with his dog, Jeff.

Dr. Deb Wojcik

Executive Director, Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster

Deb Wojcik joined the Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster as Executive Director in August 2021. She brings over 20 years of experience in program leadership and development, stakeholder engagement and network building, career and professional development, and environmental education and communication.

Deb has worked extensively to build strong relationships across sectors and effectively address complex challenges through creativity and collaboration. She has developed and managed innovative programs at the Pratt School of Engineering and the Nicholas School of the Environment of Duke University, Stanford University, University of Florida, North Carolina Coastal Federation, North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve, and with technology companies.

Deb earned a PhD from the University of Florida focused on adaptive management of resources and stakeholder education and engagement. Her doctoral research focused on using a network approach to understand communication flows and decision making around water and wildlife resources in the Okavango Delta of Botswana. She was a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University and holds Master of Environmental Management, Master of Arts in Teaching, and Bachelor of Science degrees from Duke University.

Meet Our Sponsors

Platinum Sponsor

Host Sponsor

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors