Staff Directory

As manager of legislative affairs, Aly Eilers assists with analyzing, advocating, developing, and communicating CEE’s policy positions in policy arenas in the Minnesota Legislature that shape Minnesota’s energy framework.

Aly joined CEE’s policy team after working in the Minnesota State Senate for nearly 10 years as a legislative assistant, committee administrator, and most recently, as a caucus researcher for the Energy and Utilities Finance and Policy Committee, the Environment Finance Committee, and the Environment Policy and Legacy Finance Committee. While working on the Energy Committee, Aly worked on important energy-related policies such as the Minnesota Efficient Technology Accelerator, the Energy Conservation Optimization Act, utility host community transitions, and the Natural Gas Innovation Act.

Aly graduated from Bemidji State University with a degree in political science, international studies and pre-law.

As General Counsel, Ryan is responsible for the legal affairs of the organization, from risk assessment and compliance to contract drafting, execution, and management. He assesses and identifies potential risk that could impact all aspects of the organization, and works to develop, recommend, and implement risk mitigating controls and cost-effective approaches to minimize the organization's risk. He facilitates and oversees contract management best practices and processes that support CEE's operational needs, as well as ensure contracts are in line with CEE's nonprofit mission and goals.

Ryan works in collaboration with leadership and management to address and advise on any legal matter that may arise.

Ryan joined CEE in 2017. Prior to CEE, he worked as in-house counsel and director of operations for a private nonprofit. Ryan attended William Mitchell College of Law and has been a licensed attorney since 2012.

Membership

• Minnesota State Bar Association

As an energy savings specialist, Chidinma develops key energy savings deliverables for market transformation initiatives as part of Minnesota’s Efficient Technology Accelerator (ETA) program.

Prior to joining CEE in 2021, Chidinma worked for the Maryland Energy Administration supporting incentive programs for a variety of clean energy technologies including residential solar, electric vehicle car chargers, and energy storage.

Chidinma holds a BA in applied mathematics and statistics from Macalester College in Saint Paul. 

As scheduling team supervisor, Kiyya is responsible for scheduling program activities, providing administrative support to the Customer Engagement Team within the Residential department, and helping homeowners and renters with the starting process of making their homes more energy efficient.

Kiyya joined CEE in 2022. She graduated from Augsburg University with her BS in psychology. She has worked within administration and hospitality for 10+ years.

Christy works at CEE as an HR recruiter. She collaborates with hiring mangers and community partners to identify, attract, and select top talent to contribute to CEE's mission of advancing clean energy solutions. Prior to joining CEE, Christy honed her customer service and supervisory skills working in the hospitality and multifamily housing industries. She moved into human resources and administrative management during her time with All Energy Solar, and most recently began specializing in talent acquisition at Minneapolis Public Housing Authority.

Erik provides training to building operations and management staff in both the public and private sector to improve building operations and maintenance, increase occupant comfort, and reduce energy consumption. Erik is also involved in sales and client relations for the One-Stop Efficiency Shop small business lighting program.

Erik has worked with CEE since 2001. He has over 23 years of experience working in multifamily and commercial buildings. He has performed assessments on over 3,500 buildings, including lighting and lighting controls in the multifamily and small business sectors to evaluate indoor air quality, moisture intrusion, building operations and maintenance, building controls, commissioning, and retro-commissioning options.

In addition to his work at CEE, Erik serves on the board of directors of NALMCO, the International Association of Lighting Management Companies. His current role is President.

Certifications

• Certified Lighting Management Professional (CLEP) Association of Energy Engineers
• Certified Lighting Management Consultant (CLMC) NALMCO
• Certified Sustainable Lighting Consultant (CSLC) NALMCO
• Certified Lighting Controls Professional (CLCP) NALMCO
• Certified GUV Management Professional (C-GUVMP) NALMCO
• Certified Multi Family Auditor MN Department of Commerce

Memberships

• American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Technical Committee 2.9, Ultraviolet air and surface treatment
• Association of Energy Engineers (AEE)
• Minneapolis Builders Exchange (MBEX)
• Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) technical committees:  Photobiology and Lighting Maintenance
• International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA)
• International Association of Lighting Management Companies (NALMCO)

Gabriel works at CEE as an energy counselor. He helps improve the efficiency, comfort, and affordability of homes by installing energy-saving fixtures and educating residents on ways they can improve efficiency. He recently completed a B.S. in mechanical engineering and conducted research focused on renewable energy and geospatial planning prior to joining CEE.

John previously worked as an engineer in Demand Side Management with Xcel Energy, developing prescriptive savings methodologies and performing custom energy savings analysis. Now at CEE, John performs commercial energy audits and supports research and consulting efforts

John studied mechanical engineering at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities and he recently obtained EIT certification in pursuit of PE license. 

As a field supervisor, Matthew supports the home energy auditing program by improving program materials, tracking feedback and results, managing the auditing equipment, and following up with homeowners' concerns. Matthew also trains incoming auditors to work directly with homeowners to help them understand how their home uses energy by presenting findings such as insulation levels, infrared scans, air tightness, and mechanical efficiencies.

Prior to CEE, Matthew worked at a local engineering firm where he sampled and processed contaminated soil, groundwater, and vapors for remediation analysis. Matthew also served an AmeriCorps term with Conservation Corps, where he partnered with Mississippi Park Connection in natural resource management such as prairie restoration and maintaining climate study plots.

Matthew has a degree in geological engineering and geology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Jackie works in CEE's Lending Center as post closing specialist assisting with loan services.

She has a long career in the lending industry and is familiar with the many stages of residential lending.

Savannah works at CEE as an HVACR sales support specialist. She has had a long-time interest in working with buildings. They previously worked on the Home Energy Squad, helping homeowners find ways to save energy.

Before working at CEE, she worked in the facilities department at the Minnesota Historical Society, on various design projects, and at paint and hardware stores. They have a degree in interior design and a minor in public interest design that sparked their interest in creating sustainable, equitable communities.

As a building science trainer for CEE's residential programs, Victor inspects homes to assess insulation levels, air tightness, and combustion appliances to identify ways that homeowners can make their homes safer and more energy efficient.

Before CEE, Victor got his BS in geology from the University of Minnesota, Morris. He also spent a few years gaining customer service experience in the retail sector.

As a senior energy analyst, Michelle supports Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy program by collecting, processing, and analyzing data to support city and municipality efforts in energy and climate planning and implementation, including plans designed to increase energy efficiency, grow renewable energy, and electrify buildings and transportation.

Prior to joining CEE in 2023, Michelle worked as a research scientist on a research team for an educational technology company where she utilized a variety of methods and data tools to analyze and report on the impact of the company’s products on the students who were using them. Michelle also serves on the Eden Prairie sustainability commission and volunteers with a number of west metro natural resource groups.

As director of commercial programs, Kristen oversees CEE’s commercial building programs to ensure they meet annual energy savings goals and provide participating businesses the tools needed to implement efficiency upgrades. These programs provide lighting, HVAC and refrigeration assessments, services, and rebates to small and midsize commercial customers in Minnesota Xcel Energy service territory.

Kristen joined Center for Energy and Environment in 1996 and has worked extensively with public policy and technical programs. Kristen has a BA in international studies from St. Norbert College and a master’s in international affairs from Columbia University.

Awards

• 2003 Governor’s Award for Excellence in Waste and Pollution Prevention

Q Gagne (they/them),  works as part of CEE's Market Transformation team as a product development manager focused on lighting (LLLCs). With a decade of experience in the lighting industry and an expertise in controls, their career in lighting began with Lutron Electronics and a role in Commercial Specification Sales, where they learned how the market operated in the new era of LEDs. They then gained hands-on experience with implementing lighting controls in the built environment as a Systems Engineer for Signify (formerly Philips Lighting).

Q has a BS in Engineering Science from Smith College, where their passion for sustainability first met electric light in the built environment when providing tours of the campus' new, LEED gold engineering building, where no one knew how the lights could be turned off.

Andrea works at CEE as a loan officer. She processes applications for home improvement loans ,energy loans and grants. Most recently, she was the assessment coordinator at Brooklyn Center Elementary School.  Prior to that, she worked at Firefly Credit Union(formerly known as US Federal Credit Union) for over 22 years, processing loans.  

 

As program development manager - beneficial electrification on the Market Transformation team, Molly oversees the Midwest Air Source Heat Pump Collaborative and assists with business development to expand and launch new programs. 

Prior to joining CEE, Molly was a program manager of market transformation at Resource Innovations, where she administered the North American Gas Heat Pump Collaborative. In other recent roles, she oversaw long-term strategy and strategic communications for market development and commercialization as market development program manager at GTI, and spent three years at the Edison Electric Institute, as manager of state policy analysis in regulatory affairs.  

She holds an MS in energy policy and climate from Johns Hopkins University and a BS in natural resource conservation from the University of Montana. Most recently, Molly completed an executive program for social innovation and design through the University of Pennsylvania. 

Molly has called many places home and currently resides in Baltimore, MD. 

Jennifer works at CEE as an energy counselor. She assists home-owners with energy and water saving installs while making sure their home is as comfortable as possible. Before CEE, she had recurrent summer internship in operations for Abbott for three years. During the academic year, she worked part-time at Aldi as an associate. She is currently taking a gap year from mechanical engineering studies at University of St.Thomas.
 

As a program development manager, Renee plays an integral part in the launch of new energy efficiency programs, including managing program development and operations post-launch.  

Michele is responsible for down payment assistance and process home improvement loans and various city loans. She worked as a loan officer for 15yrs and Firefly credit union now Trustone. She worked as a mortgage loan assistant for Lake Area Mortgage, a division of Royal Credit Union.