Shannon Smith, CEO
Direct : 704-271-9884
Email: ssmith@abundantpower.com

Shannon Smith is the founder of Abundant Power, headquartered in Charlotte, NC. Shannon founded Abundant Power in 2008 after over 20 years in the financial service and private equity industries. After years in the investment space, Shannon wanted to focus his life skills on something with longer term impact. Prior to Abundant Power, Shannon was Managing Partner and founder of Blue Point Capital Partners, a private equity company that has made over $1.0 billion in investments. Shannon invested across numerous industries in companies ranging from $25 million to $500 million in revenue. From 1990 to 1998, Shannon was a principal at Bowles Hollowell Conner & Co, a leading investment bank serving middle market companies in Charlotte, NC.

Shannon is a board member of the Southeast Board of Environmental Defense Fund and member of the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association and the Leadership Council of the American Council on Renewable Energy. Shannon has served on numerous corporate boards. Currently Shannon serves on the Operating Executive Committee of Blue Point Capital as well as William M. Bird Company and McCoy Sales.

Shannon holds a BA in Philosophy and Economics from Wheaton College. He was a Rotary Scholar at the Universite De Lille in Lille, France in French language and History. Shannon received his MBA in 1990 from the Darden School of Business Administration at the University of Virginia. When not working, Shannon spends lots of time with his two sets of twins, stumbling through yoga, or piddling with his meager wine collection.

Greg Montgomery, CFO
Direct : 704-271-9889
Email: gmontgomery@abundantpower.com

Greg has spent his career assisting privately-held business owners and entrepreneurs and their advisors in creating, growing, and capitalizing their businesses and monetizing the value in the same through devising and executing strategies in the capital markets. He has worked extensively with both financial parties, such as private equity groups, mezzanine lenders and senior lenders, as well as strategic parties, in executing transactions.

Prior to joining Abundant Power as a Managing Partner, Greg was the Founder and Managing Director of MCF Advisors in Charlotte, NC, a boutique investment banking firm providing mergers and acquisitions advice and capital formation strategies to privately-held middle market businesses. Previously he was the Managing Director of the Royal Bank of Canada’s internal investment banking unit for its commercial banking operations based in Charlotte, NC, and prior to that a co-founder and Managing Director of Capital Investment Partners, a private investment banking firm focused on small to middle market transactions in Raleigh, NC. Previously, Greg practiced corporate and securities law in Raleigh, NC and Baltimore, MD. He received a JD/MBA from Tulane University, a BA in Environmental Sciences from the University of Virginia, and his preparatory education at the Hotchkiss School.

Greg is a member of the North Carolina and Maryland State Bars and is a registered representative and compliance officer for the firm’s broker dealer, Abundant Power Securities, LLC. He is a past member of the Board of Directors and ex-President for the Charlotte chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth. He is also a member of the Board of Managers for Camp Thunderbird which is affiliated with the Charlotte Greater Metropolitan YMCA and actively involved with the Outreach Committee for St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Gastonia, NC, where he resides with his wife and two children. An outdoor enthusiast, during his free time Greg can often be found enjoying the beautiful beaches and mountains of North Carolina or on the water on one of the local lakes.

Lori Collins, President, Abundant Power Solutions
Direct : 704-271-9545
Email: lcollins@abundantpower.com

Lori Collins is responsible for developing energy efficiency financing programs for residential, commercial and industrial properties. She has over 20 years experience in financial services marketing and product development, particularly in building new businesses. Lori was a member of the original Executive Team at LendingTree that grew the company from $7 million to $476 million in revenue over seven years. As SVP and General Manager, she led sales, product development and areas of marketing and technology for the core business.

Prior to LendingTree, Lori was head of marketing for Bank of America’s mutual fund business, which grew assets from $28 to $68 billion during her tenure. Lori also served as VP at Fidelity Investments in Boston, where she launched the first mutual fund marketplace and drove assets from zero to more than $9 billion in three years. Previously she was a director of marketing at American Express Company in New York. Lori earned her MBA from Kellogg at Northwestern University, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from UNC-Chapel Hill.

Lori is a LEED Accredited Professional and a Managing Director of Abundant Power Group.

Dank Pinckney, COO
Direct : 704-271-9890
Email: dpinckney@abundantpower.com

Francis “Dank” Pinckney has extensive experience in the origination and servicing of energy efficiency and mortgage assets focusing on operations and risk management.

Prior to joining Abundant Power, Dank served as an Executive Vice President for HSBC Holdings, PLC on the executive management team that oversaw all aspects of managing the HSBC owned and third party mortgage loan portfolios. He had direct management responsibility for compliance risk, quality assurance and counter-party risk for the organization. Dank is a former partner is the national law firm of Katten Muchin and Rosenman, and specialized in the practice areas of mortgage, consumer finance, and counter party risk.

Dank is a licensed attorney in the state of North Carolina. He received his JD from University of South Carolina and undergraduate degree from Washington & Lee University. Dank serves on the Vestry at Christ Episcopal Church in Charlotte and has participated in medical mission trips to Haiti in response to the tragic earthquake there. He also enjoys coaching his 3 kids in various youth athletics, playing golf and spending time with his family at the North and South Carolina coast.

Greg Chambers, CTO
Direct : 404-317-3390
Email: greg@gregchambers.org

Greg has been creating energy technology solutions for over 15 years. He started as project manager for large building Energy Management System deployments in the Atlanta area before joining Prenova, a privately-held enterprise energy management company headquartered in Atlanta. At Prenova, he used that knowledge of energy management systems to build the first ever platform that conducted energy audits remotely. He also helped brands like Gap Inc, Home Depot, Crate and Barrel and JC Penny design and implement their demand side energy programs. Greg would go on to invent and author 6 energy technology patents in total for Prenova. Next he started working overseas designing energy platforms for clients in Belfast, Amsterdam and Manila. Most recently at E3 Greentech, Greg architected and designed a Home Energy Management System and Big Data Platform. The E3 Greentech system Greg designed was recognized as a Top Utility Technology of 2010 Finalists by CTSI and the City of Anaheim for its Demand Response and Consumer Engagement features.

In his spare time Greg is the Executive Director of the GA Energy Informatics Cluster, a non-profit industry group launched in conjunction with academics from UGA and GA Tech. Greg also produces art shows in the East Atlanta area where he lives with his longtime partner Allison and their son Kingston.

Randy Choplin, Managing Director, Abundant Power Community Energy
Email: rchoplin@connectview.com

A pioneer in the industry, Randy Choplin is widely recognized as a driving force in bringing the promise of renewable energy platforms and programs to low income communities. Currently, Mr. Choplin brings his passion for the green economy to government agencies, including local governments, K12, and higher education institutions, inspiring them to embrace and execute on the vision of energy efficiency and sustainability in their communities.

In his role as Managing Director of Abundant Power Community Energy, he serves as as the key organizational strategist as he simultaneously leads the company’s market development efforts. A frequent speaker at municipal conferences, Mr. Choplin also lectures regularly at the University of North Carolina School of Government, interacting with officers from local and state governments from all over the Southeastern United States.

Prior to joining Abundant Power Group, Mr. Choplin was the founder and CEO Clover Energy, an Energy Development group focused in the Southeast, with high profile projects like Make it Right NOLA, in Louisiana. He is also known for his efforts to found and build well-known venture backed technology startups WindChannel Wirelss, Mediaspan, and nSyndicate; growing those companies to successful exits via mergers and acquisitions.

Brad Ives, Managing Director, Abundant Power Solar Finance
Direct : 704-271-9802
Email: bives@abundantpower.com

Brad Ives is a seasoned renewable energy and finance executive with hands-on management and project development experience. In his current role, he is responsible for investment management and investment banking services in renewable energy project development with an emphasis on solar power. Prior to joining Abundant Power, Brad was Chief Executive Officer at Integro Earth Fuels, Inc, an early stage biomass company, and Chief Executive Officer at Illumination Renewables, an energy project development and consulting company. He also served as a Managing Director at Babson Capital, Managing Director and Head of Structuring, Operations and Compliace for First Union Institutional Debt Management and was a Partner and Head of Structured Finance for Kennedy Covington Lobdell and Hickman (now K&L Gates) law firm.

Brad was a Morehead Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received J.D. from the UNC School of Law.

 

Derek McGarry, Director of Engineering
Direct : 704-271-9886
Email: dmcgarry@abundantpower.com

Derek has extensive experience working as an engineer to upgrade energy systems within existing facilities, and with Abundant Power, has developed platforms to pay for such improvements.

Prior to joining Abundant Power, he was the President and founder of Refresco, a Charlotte-based engineering consulting firm, which provides analysis, design and construction oversight services for the built environment. Over the past 12 years, he has managed and designed mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems for commercial, municipal, institutional and multifamily projects, including district energy plants. A LEED Accredited Professional since 2001, he has designed systems and performed energy/economic analysis for multiple LEED certified projects.

Derek has served on the Boards of the Southern Piedmont Chapter of ASHRAE as well as the Charlotte Region Chapter of the US Green Building Council. He received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University. Derek and his wife are raising their daughter in Charlotte, NC, where they both grew up. In his spare time Derek enjoys spending time outdoors, pitching a tent at a camp site and getting off-road on his mountain bike.

 

Natasha Herting, Director of Business Development
Direct : 704-271-9887
Email: nherting@abundantpower.com

Natasha is responsible for driving sales for Abundant Power's financing products, including the AlabamaSAVES energy revolving loan program and energy services agreements. She brings extensive experience developing and financing a range of energy efficiency and renewable projects. Natasha’s experience is “empowered” by her personal passion for sustainability which is evident in her personal and professional life.

Prior to joining Abundant, Natasha was involved with the launch of DyTech Systems, a distributor of products that help reduce energy and maintenance costs for existing facilities. She also managed utility and energy analysis for Efficiency Finance and, its parent company, Mechanical Systems and Services. Previously, as the Energy Division Project Manager for Optima Engineering, Natasha led energy audits and renewable energy feasibility studies for private companies, municipalities, energy services companies and contractors. While at Burt's Bees, her focus was to optimize production by reducing lead times, electricity, natural gas, and water consumption in addition to creating a product foot‐ printing calculation and scorecard.

Her passion was realized during her studies at NC State University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Systems Engineering and also earned her LEAN Six Sigma Green Belt. During her college career, she developed the University's first Greenhouse Gas Inventory and was actively involved in developing NC State's Climate Action Plan as the Sustainability Commission Director for Student Government. When Natasha isn’t working at the office or in the garden growing her own produce, she enjoys staying active by volunteering for the North Carolina USGBC Advocacy Committee and competing in marathons and triathlons.

 

Trey Davis, Director of Analytics
Direct : 704-237-3195
Email: tdavis@abundantpower.com

Trey is Abundant Power’s Director of Analytics, responsible for collecting, sorting, analyzing, and reporting on a multitude of data. His Systems Engineering background allows him to interact in both the engineering and financial activities of the company. He is also heavily involved in the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of Abundant Power’s technology platform. Trey is an adept user of Metrix, software with a 20+ year track record in efficiency finance industry, able to conduct highly sophisticated analytics and tracking of energy performance.

A graduate of Wake Forest University and the College of Engineering at UNC Charlotte, Trey played golf professionally before joining Abundant Power. He and his wife share their home with a revolving pack of foster German Shepherds.

 

Ken Clark, Associate
Direct : 704-271-9874
Email: kclark@abundantpower.com

Ken Clark is an Associate with Abundant Power. Prior to joining Abundant Power in 2012, Ken worked as an Analyst for Colville Capital, a middle market private equity firm based in Charlotte, NC. While with Colville, Ken provided financial analysis and operational support for portfolio companies and potential new investments across multiple sectors. Previously, he worked with Fennebresque & Co., a boutique investment bank providing M&A and financial advisory services to the middle market.

Ken received a BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he graduated cum laude double majoring in Economics and History. Ken enjoys Carolina athletics, traveling, movies and live music.

 

Daniela Wilburn, Associate
Direct : 704-942-5665
Email: dwilburn@abundantpower.com

Daniela is responsible for project coordination and program & sales support at Abundant Power. Her diverse experience spans across various fields including finance, real estate and higher education.

Prior to joining Abundant Power, Daniela served as a Student Support Manager at Strayer University where she was directly responsible for the continuing student enrollment. While as Stayer, Daniela was also selected to act as the campus “Ambassador” to lead training and communication efforts for a university-wide system implementation initiative and to ensure project success and sustainability. Previously, as the Information Systems Coordinator at Centex Homes in Naples FL, Daniela oversaw the implementation of several company systems and provided systems user training and administration.

Daniela holds BA in Political Science from Purdue University (Go Boilermakers!) and MSc in International Banking and Financial Studies from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. She is a licensed real estate broker and a member of the National Association of Realtors. Originally from Slovakia, Daniela likes to collect passport stamps, travelling with her husband, visiting her home country, as well as exploring new places around the world.

 

Kelley Fluharty, Office Manager
Direct : 704-271-9885
Email: kfluharty@abundantpower.com

Kelley is responsible for office management and program support at Abundant Power Solutions. She has over 20 years of administrative experience in many different industries, such as accounting, retail pharmacy, insurance, legal and a computer software company. Kelley holds the Certified Administrative Professional designation, as well as the Microsoft Office Specialist certification. She began her tenure with Abundant Power in the spring of 2012 and has quickly moved into program support and management, as well as continuing the office management role.

Prior to joining Abundant Power, Kelley worked as an administrative assistant and the e-filing coordinator in the tax department of Dixon Hughes Goodman, a regional accounting firm. In addition to the administrative duties, she also served as the local technology liaison for the Charleston, WV office and as the Human Resources Coordinator in the Charlotte, NC office.

As an active community volunteer, Kelley served on many community boards and as President of a local chapter of the International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) while living in Charleston, WV. Since moving to Charlotte, she has become a founding member of the Y.E.S! (Young Executives for Success) committee of Dress for Success Charlotte, and serves as PTO treasurer for McClintock Middle School. Kelley is a veteran of the United States Army (and a qualified Sharp Shooter) and is an avid “Roll Tide” Alabama football fan! In her spare time, she loves to read, enjoy time with friends and family, shopping the local farmers’ markets and cheering for her son Chris in his many sporting events.

 

Michael McHugh, Business Development
Direct : 205.279.2919
Email: mmchugh@abundantpower.com

Michael McHugh is responsible for developing new business and driving sales for Abundant Power's EPx program throughout the state of Alabama. He provides experience in various areas obtained through his previous background in construction, real estate, engineering and energy efficiency.

Prior to joining Abundant Power in 2012, Michael worked for Brasfield & Gorrie as an estimator in their preconstruction division. He produced and assisted in the creation of cost estimates and project schedules during the conceptual, schematic, design development and construction document phase of projects throughout the southeast region for their facilities, commercial, infrastructure/power, healthcare and federal divisions. His team also provided full preconstruction services for the FIRST LEED Certified Hotel in Alabama. Previously he worked for alive2green where he was brought on to grow and develop the company’s first U.S. office in Birmingham focusing on business development related to their annual green building and sustainability focused conferences and seminars.

A graduate of Louisiana State University, Michael received his Bachelors of Science in Construction Management with a minor in Business Administration and was a member of the Sigma Lamba Chi National Honor Society. He is a LEED Green Associate, current Vice Chairman for the Birmingham Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council and board member for the Green Resource Center of Alabama. He enjoys college sports, in particular baseball and football, live music, reading, volunteering and skiing both on the water and in the snow.

Aimée Christensen, Founder & Chief Executive, Christensen Global Strategies

Aimée Christensen is the founder and CEO of Christensen Global Strategies, advising clients seeking to address the global challenges of climate change, ecosystem degradation, and resource scarcity, and their impacts on conflict and development. Her clients are wide-ranging, from governments, to non-profits, to corporations, to investors, to emerging technology companies. They have included the Clinton Global Initiative, Duke Energy, Global Observatory, Ogilvy, Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Swiss Re, The Elders, U.N. Development Program, U.S. Department of Energy, Virgin Unite, and Wolfensohn + Co. Aimée has two decades' experience in policy, law, advocacy, and philanthropy, including with Google.org, World Bank, Baker & McKenzie, and the Department of Energy, where she drafted the first bilateral and regional climate change accords. In addition, she served on the Council of Foreign Relations Task Force on Climate Change, addressed the 2008 Democratic National Convention, and at the 1992 Earth Summit, was elected to represent "U.S. Youth at Rio", introducing then Senator Al Gore before the Global Forum. Aimée is the 2011 Hillary Laureate and a 2010 Aspen Catto Fellow. She received her B.A. from Smith College and her J.D. from Stanford Law School, where she wrote and led efforts to obtain the adoption by Stanford’s Board of Trustees of the "Climate Change and Investment Responsibility Policy" that governs Stanford's investments to this day.

Andrew S. Cooney, Managing Director, FalconBridge Capital Markets

Andy Cooney, Managing Director at Falconbridge Capital, has over 20 years of financial advisory, investment banking and asset management experience. Prior to his role at Falconbridge, Andy served as Chief Financial Officer and a Principal at Four Corners Capital Management, LLC for 8 years, until its acquisition by the Macquarie Group. Prior to his role at Four Corners, Andy was a Managing Director at First Union Capital Markets (a predecessor to Wachovia Securities and Wells Fargo Securities), where he was responsible for the Emerging Assets Securitization Group, which focused on applying securitization techniques to new asset classes. While at the firm, his group executed securitizations across a broad array of asset classes including tax liens, student loans, and franchise loans. Prior to that, Andy was a Director at Banc of America Securities in the asset securitization group and served as Chief Financial Officer for ProCredit, a subprime automobile finance company. In all, Andy has been responsible for the structuring and execution of more than $17 billion of financings and investment funds as both a banker and as a principal. Andy is a graduate of Washington and Lee University and earned his MBA at the Babcock Graduate School of Management at Wake Forest University.

Bracken Hendricks, Senior Policy Advisor, CAP

Bracken Hendricks is a Senior Fellow at American Progress and works at the interface of global warming solutions and economic development. He is a longtime leader in promoting policies that create green jobs, sustainable infrastructure, and investment in cities. Bracken served as an advisor to the campaign and transition team of President Barack Obama, and was an architect of clean-energy portions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. He also served in the Clinton administration as special assistant to the Office of Vice President Al Gore, with the Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and with the President’s Council on Sustainable Development. Bracken was founding executive director of the Apollo Alliance for good jobs and energy independence and has served as an energy and economic advisor to the AFL-CIO, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell’s Energy Advisory Task Force, and numerous other federal, state, and local policymakers and elected officials. Bracken earned a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Urban Planning from Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School.

Matthew H. Brown, Principal, Harcourt Brown & Carey Energy & Finance

Matthew H. Brown, principal of Harcourt Brown & Carey Energy & Finance, has worked in the energy finance and policy field for more than 20 years, beginning his work with the accounting and consulting firm of KPMG in its New York City office. He subsequently worked with an environmental, energy and finance consulting firm conducting research on viability of clean coal companies in the late 1980s. He went on to work with the City of New York where he was in charge of establishing public-private partnerships for the financing of natural gas fueling stations, among other related activities. In 1994 he moved to Denver, Colorado where he headed the National Conference of State Legislatures energy program for 11 years. In 2005, Matthew moved to Paris, France in order to begin consulting work with the International Energy Agency. Upon his return to Colorado, Matthew developed an extensive practice that involves assisting state governments, utilities, lenders, the U.S. Department of Energy, national associations and others in the area of clean energy finance. Matthew has also worked with Tucson Electric Power and the states of Iowa, Florida and Michigan to develop clean energy financing products and programs. Matthew graduated from Brown University in 1986 with a BA, and continued on at New York University, where he received his MBA.

Tom Darden, Chief Executive Officer, Cherokee Investment Partners

Tom Darden is the Chief Executive Officer of Cherokee and founder of its predecessors. Beginning in 1984, he served for 16 years as the Chairman of Cherokee Sanford Group, the largest privately-held brick manufacturing company in the United States and previously the Southeast's largest soil remediation company. From 1981 to 1984, Tom was a consultant with Bain & Company in Boston. Tom is on the Boards of Woodberry Forest School, Shaw University and the University of North Carolina's environmental department. He was Chairman of the Research Triangle Transit Authority and served two terms on the N.C. Board of Transportation through appointments by the Governor and the Speaker of the House. He serves on the Board of Governors of Research Triangle Institute in Research Triangle Park, NC. Tom earned an MRP in environmental planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a JD from Yale Law School and a BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a Morehead Scholar. His 1976 undergraduate thesis analyzed the environmental impact of third world development and his 1981 Yale thesis addressed interstate acid rain air pollution.

Cherie Santos-Wuest, Principle Investment Officer – RE

Cherie Santos-Wuest has over 20 years' experience in financing and structuring institutional investments and development/construction projects; has expertise in pension fund investments, commercial real estate portfolio and asset management, and large-loan mortgage origination. Cherie has In-depth background in sustainable real estate and cleantech venture capital investments. Cherie was a Managing Partner of Celadon Venture Advisors - Real Estate Investment Advisory, focusing on Real Estate and Alternative Energy investments.

Cherie is a former Director of the Global Social and Community Investments for TIAA-CREF where she was responsible for management of and investments in equity/debt portfolio for $600 million Socially Responsible Real Estate, and $50 million Green Building Technology venture capital investment programs. She previously served on multiple advisory boards and investment committees, including Impact Community Capital, a for-profit CDFI created to make impact-related RE investments in the Western states and across the country, and currently serves on the Advisory Board for Wall Street Without Walls, and serves in active Council leadership at the Urban Land Institute.

Cherie earned BS in Architecture from the University of Virginia, Master of Science in Architecture from Yale University and Master of Science in Real Estate Development from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

J. Michael Bontrager – CEO and Managing Principle, Chatham Financial

Mike founded Chatham in 1991 and is the CEO and managing principal. Formerly a Vice President in the Derivative Products Group at Chemical Bank (now JP Morgan Chase), Michael spent nine years in various credit, corporate finance, and derivative roles in New York and Zurich, Switzerland. He holds a BA in Economics from Wheaton College, Illinois and received an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Martin Lagod – Managing Director, Firelake Capital

Martin Lagod is a Managing Director and co-founder of Firelake Capital Management. Previously, Mr. Lagod was the co-founder and CEO of Solo Energy Corporation, an energy technology company based in Alameda California. Solo Energy developed microturbine and clean combustion reciprocating engines for the distributed power market. For the previous 19 years, Mr. Lagod was an intellectual property attorney based in Silicon Valley first as a partner in the Palo Alto office of Phoenix based Brown and Bain, and then at Cooley Godward in Palo Alto. Mr. Lagod holds a B.A. in Economics (with Honors) from the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) and a J.D. from Vanderbilt University. Mr. Lagod serves on the boards of MiaSolé, ZeaChem, Simbol Materials, EOS Climate, EnerG2 and HydroPoint Data Systems. He is also Co-Chair of the Board of the Clean Economy Network.

Ed Weisiger, Jr – President and CEO, Carolina Tractor

Ed Weisiger, Jr., was named President and CEO of Carolina Tractor in 1991. He started with Carolina Tractor in 1956 as Branch Manager of their Charlotte Branch. From 1958 to 1965 he was Vice President and General Manager and from 1965 to 1991he was President of the Corporation. Carolina Tractor represents Caterpillar, Link‐Belt, Mitsubishi Caterpillar, Forklift of America, Linde, and other fine manufactures and operates in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Ed is involved in several business organizations. He is a member of the Board of Directors of NC Trucking Association; member and past chapter chairman of Young Presidents’ Organization; past chairman of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce; and past president of Southeast Caterpillar Dealer Association. He is also very community minded and gives back in many ways, such as: Myers Park Presbyterian Church (Elder); Woodberry Forest School (Board of Trustees); Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens (Board of Visitors); Goodfellows Club (Director); and Central Piedmont Community College President’s Council (Member). He served in the Army from 1954 to 1956, in Germany. Ed holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from North Carolina State University at Raleigh and a M.B.A. from Harvard University Graduate School of Business at Boston.

Claudius (Bud) E. Watts IV – Managing Director, The Carlyle Group

Claudius (Bud) E. Watts is currently a Managing Director with The Carlyle Group, a private equity firm. Mr. Watts is the head of Carlyle’s Technology Buyout Group and focuses on buyouts and growth equity investments in large companies providing semiconductors, electronic systems, software, and software enabled services. Prior to joining Carlyle in 2000, Mr. Watts was a Managing Director in the mergers and acquisitions group of First Union Securities, Inc. (now Wells Fargo Securities) from May 1998 to April 2000, where he led the firm’s defense, aerospace and technical services mergers and acquisitions efforts. Mr. Watts joined First Union in conjunction with First Union’s 1998 acquisition of Bowles Hollowell Conner & Co., an investment banking firm, where he was a principal and had been employed since June 1994. Prior to attending graduate school Mr. Watts was a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force. Mr. Watts earned a B.S. in electrical engineering cum laude from The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, and an M.B.A. from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration. He currently sits on the board of directors of CommScope, Inc., SS&C Technologies, Inc., Open Solutions, Inc., and CPU Technology, Inc. Inc. He formerly served on the board of directors of OpenLink Financial, Inc.

Jason Scott – Managing Partner and Co-Founder, EKO Asset Management Partners

Jason Scott is a co-founder and Managing Partner of EKO Asset Management Partners. Jason has more than a decade of experience developing and managing firms seeking to sustainably manage and invest capital. He was most recently a founding Director and investment analyst at Generation Investment Management, co-founded by David Blood and former Vice President Al Gore, Jr. As its first employee, Jason helped build the firm and its first and second products. Generation's global equity and climate solutions funds seek to maximize financial returns by integrating sustainability analysis into traditional investment management processes. From 1999 to 2004, Jason worked as an executive and advisor with Acumen Fund, the Blue Ridge Foundation, and the Flatiron Future Fund/Foundation in New York City. From 1996-1999, Jason was the President/COO of a NYC-based software company. From 1991-1996, Jason helped found and build Public Allies, a community leadership program for young adults. In 1998, the Rockefeller Foundation selected Jason as a fellow in its Next Generation Leadership Program. Jason serves on the boards of the Clean Economy Network, the Forest Philanthropy Action Network, and youth development programs Public Allies and Groundwork. Jason received M.B.A. with distinction from a joint program of Columbia and London Business Schools and graduated cum laude from Duke University. He served on the transition advisory boards for the Obama Administration for Technology and Innovation and Energy and the Environment.

Dr. Robert K. Koger – President and Executive Director, Advanced Energy

Dr. Robert Koger is president and executive director of Advanced Energy, a nonprofit organization established by the North Carolina Utilities Commission in 1980 to forestall electrical rate increases by promoting energy conservation and alternative and renewable sources of electricity. Before joining Advanced Energy, Dr. Koger served on the commission for 11 years, including eight years as chairman. Dr. Koger’s wide-ranging energy experience also includes participation on several important committees including the Executive Committee of the National Association of Regulatory Commissioners (NARUC), President of the Southeastern Association of Regulatory Commissioners (SEARUC) and a 10-year membership on the Advisory Council of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). The International Association of Energy Engineers honored Dr. Koger as Energy Executive of the Year in 1991. More recently Dr. Koger received a national public leadership award for his efforts to promote energy efficiency from the U.S. Energy Association and Johnson Controls Inc. and in 2008, the Triangle Business Journal recognized Dr. Koger as green nonprofit leader of the year. Among governmental activities, Dr. Koger has served on the North Carolina Energy Policy Council (appointed by the governor) and the U.S. Department of Energy’s State Energy Advisory Board (appointment by the Secretary of Energy). For more than 20 years Dr. Koger has been a resource for the Southern States Energy Board, and has also served on the Southeastern Electric Reliability Council as one of two board members chosen to represent the public interest. Dr. Koger earned his BSc from University of Tennessee, and holds MSc and PhD from North Carolina State University.

Lori Collins, Strategic Advisor, Emerging Ventures

Lori is a results-oriented business leader with deep experience in growing entrepreneurial venture with over 20 years of experience in financial services marketing and product development, particularly in building new businesses. Lori is the past President of Abundant Power where she was responsible for developing energy efficiency financing programs for residential, commercial and industrial properties. Lori was a member of the original Executive Team at LendingTree that grew the company from $7 million to $476 million in revenue over seven years. As SVP and General Manager, she led sales, product development and areas of marketing and technology for the core business. Prior to LendingTree, Lori was head of marketing for Bank of America’s mutual fund business, which grew assets from $28 to $68 billion during her tenure. Lori also served as VP at Fidelity Investments in Boston, where she launched the first mutual fund marketplace and drove assets from zero to more than $9 billion in three years. Previously she was a director of marketing at American Express Company in New York. Lori earned her MBA from Kellogg at Northwestern University, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from UNC-Chapel Hill. Lori is a LEED Accredited Professional.