Monthly archive

Llewellyn King

Job Title: 
Creator, Executive Producer & Host
Organization: 
White House Chronicle

Llewellyn King was born in Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. He went into journalism as soon as he turned 16, stringing for Time magazine and United Press in Africa.

From there, it was off to London and the legendary Fleet Street, where he chalked up newspaper bylines before doing a year of television writing for BBC and ITN.

On to New York, where he was on the foreign desk of The Herald Tribune. Later he started the first women's liberation magazine, Women Now.

After that venture liberated all his money and no women, he went to Washington, D.C., where he became an assistant editor at The Washington Post and a leader of the Baltimore-Washington Newspaper Guild.

He founded The Energy Daily in 1973 -- before the energy crisis hit -- and was its publisher and editor chief until its sale, along with other King Publishing Group newsletters, in 2006.

He was awarded an honorary doctor of engineering from the Stevens Institute of Technology. In 2014, the United States Energy Association presented him with its annual United States Energy Award.

King is the creator, host and executive producer of

of the long-running news and public affairs program,"White House Chronicle," which airs nationwide on PBS and SiriusXM Radio, among other outlets, and worldwide on Voice of America Television and Radio in English and Chinese. He writes a weekly column for the InsideSources syndicate which distributes it to hundreds of newspapers.

A charity he founded in 2011, ME/CFS Alert on YouTube, produces videos that help victims of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, commonly known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, educate doctors and encourage research.

Profile Type: 
Speaker

Thomas R. Kuhn

Job Title: 
President
Organization: 
Edison Electric Institute

THOMAS R. KUHN, President  - Edison Electric Institute (EEI)

Mr. Kuhn is president of the Edison Electric Institute, the association of investor-owned electric companies whose members generate and distribute approximately three-quarters of the Nation’s electricity. 

Prior to joining the Institute, Mr. Kuhn was president of the American Nuclear Energy Council.   The Council represented virtually all of the companies in the commercial nuclear power industry. 

From 1972 to 1975, he headed the energy section of the investment banking firm, Alex Brown and Sons.  From 1970 to 1972, Mr. Kuhn was White House Liaison Officer to the Secretary of the Navy. 

Mr. Kuhn received a BA in Economics in 1968 from Yale University, served as a Naval Officer following his graduation, and completed a Master’s in Business Administration in 1972 from George Washington University. 

He currently serves on the Boards of the U.S. Energy Association, Alliance to Save Energy, Electric Drive Transportation Association and the American Council for Capital Formation.  He is Chairman-Emeritus of the U.S. Chamber’s Committee of 100 and the American Society of Association Executives.  He is past-chairman of ASAE’s Key Industry Association Committee and of the Trade Association Liaison Council. 
Twitter Username: 
@Edison_Electric
Facebook URL: 
Facebook
Profile Type: 
Speaker

Clean Energy Development Strategies in East Africa: Barriers, Incentives, Policies & Programs

July 16th, 2012

The Workshop on Clean Energy Development Strategies in East Africa was conducted in cooperation with the East African Community Secretariat, with funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development.  It focused on how utilities, regulators, and government agencies implement best practices for clean energy development.

Natalia Fominykh

Job Title: 
Program Director
Organization: 
United States Energy Association

Natalia Fominykh is a Program Director at the United States Energy Association (USEA) with more than 17 years of experience managing international energy initiatives funded by the U.S. government. Her work focuses on strengthening energy infrastructure, regional cooperation, and institutional capacity in Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus.

At USEA, Natalia leads projects that promote energy diversification, strengthen cross-border grid integration, and advance the U.S. Energy Dominance strategy by promoting American energy technologies and exports. She is recognized for her ability to navigate complex technical and policy landscapes, build strategic international partnerships, and deliver impactful results that enhance national and regional energy security.

From 2018 to 2022, Natalia managed the Interconnection of Ukraine and Moldova Transmission Grids with the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) project. In this role, she represented USEA in the official ENTSO-E working group assessing the readiness of Ukraine and Moldova for synchronous connection with the European electricity system - a process that culminated in their emergency synchronization in 2022. She also played a key role in the Moldova Power Sector Support Project, supporting efforts to diversify Moldova’s energy sources and reduce reliance on imported electricity and gas.

Natalia holds a master’s degree in industrial and organization psychology from Moscow State University (MGU) and a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature from Moscow State University of Education (MPGU).

Profile Type: 
Staff

Maria Korsnick

Job Title: 
President & CEO
Organization: 
Nuclear Energy Institute

Maria Korsnick is president and chief executive officer of the Nuclear Energy Institute, the nuclear industry’s policy organization in Washington, D.C., a role she has held since January 1, 2017.

Drawing on her engineering background, hands-on experience in reactor operations and a deep knowledge of energy policy and regulatory issues, Korsnick aims to increase understanding of nuclear energy’s economic and environmental benefits among policymakers and the public.

The Export-Import Bank of the United States has appointed her to its Advisory Committee and its Council on China Competition; and the U.S. Department of Energy has appointed her to its Nuclear Energy Advisory Committee. She also serves as a member of the board of directors of the U.S. Energy Association; National Energy Foundation; Center for Energy Workforce Development; and the Foundation for Nuclear Studies. She also serves as a trustee of the Nuclear Power Labor Management Cooperation Committee Trust, vice chair of the University of Maryland Department of Mechanical Engineering External Advisory Committee, and a member of the Purdue University School of Nuclear Engineering Advisory Board.

Before joining NEI, she was senior vice president of Northeast Operations for Exelon, responsible for overseeing operation of the Calvert Cliffs 1 and 2, R.E. Ginna, and Nine Mile Point 1 and 2 nuclear power plants.

Before Exelon, Korsnick served as chief nuclear officer (CNO) and acting chief executive officer at Constellation Energy Nuclear Group. She began her career at Constellation in 1986 and held positions of increasing responsibility, including engineer, operator, manager, site vice president, corporate vice president, and CNO.

Korsnick holds a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering from the University of Maryland, and has held a Senior Reactor Operator license. She lives in Maryland with her husband, and they are the parents of two adult children.

Profile Type: 
Board

Tricia Williams

Job Title: 
Deputy Program Director
Organization: 
United States Energy Association

Tricia has worked in international energy development for twenty-two years and is currently the Deputy Program Director responsible for monitoring and evaluation and communications for the Energy Utility Partnership Program. She organized over 15 partnerships in Jordan, Nepal, India, Iraq, Kenya, and East Africa and South Asia regional programs. She spent two years analyzing existing Indian laws and policies regarding renewable energy and climate change and wrote recommendations to accelerate the deployment of clean energy technologies in the Handbook on Best Practices for the Successful Deployment of Renewable Energy, Distributed Generation Cogeneration and Combined Heat and Power in India.

Tricia holds a MA in International Relations from George Washington University. She received a BS in Political Science, a BA in Professional Writing and a Minor in Visual Communications from Carnegie Mellon University. She has studied in Guatemala and is fluent in Spanish.

Profile Type: 
Staff

Pakistan Power Distribution Program

USEA implemented the Utility Exchange Program component of USAID’s Power Distribution Program (PDP) in Pakistan. PDP is a five-year project aimed at working with government-owned electric power distribution companies in Pakistan to improve their performance in the areas of loss reduction, revenue collection and customer service. USEA’s utility exchanges enable U.S. and third-country utilities to share practical information, real-world case studies and best practices with their counterparts in Pakistan.

Rhonda Zygocki

Job Title: 
Executive Vice President, Policy and Planning
Organization: 
Chevron Corporation

Rhonda I. Zygocki is executive vice president of policy and planning for Chevron Corporation, a position she has held since 2011. She is responsible for Strategic Planning; Policy, Government and Public Affairs; and Health, Environment and Safety.

Previously Zygocki served as vice president of Policy, Government and Public Affairs from 2007 to 2011 and was responsible for global government relations, all aspects of commu-nications, corporate social investment and public policy, and the company’s worldwide efforts to protect and enhance its reputation.

From 2003 to 2007, Zygocki was corporate vice president of Health, Environment and Safety (HES) and was responsible for HES policy and issues management, compliance and auditing, emergency response, and Chevron’s Environmental Management Company. She played a key role in the design and implementation of the company’s Operational Excellence Management System. Previous positions include: October 2001, managing director, Chevron Australia Pty Ltd.; 2000, adviser to the chairman of the board and subsequently responsible for oversight of the Chevron-Texaco merger integration planning office through mid-2001; 1999, manager, Strategic Planning; 1997, chief financial officer, Chevron Canada Resources; 1994, profit center manager, Chevron U.S.A. Production Company; 1993, general manager, strategic business services, Chevron Canada Resources.

Zygocki serves on the boards of directors of the United States Energy Association and GBCHealth; the board of trustees of the San Francisco Ballet; and the advisory board of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Canada Institute.

Zygocki was born in St, John’s, Newfoundland, Canada, in 1957. She began her career as a petroleum engineer with Chevron Canada Resources in Calgary after graduating in 1980 from Memorial University of Newfoundland with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering.

Profile Type: 
Former Board Member

Daniel Yergin

Job Title: 
Vice Chairman
Organization: 
S&P Global

Daniel Yergin is a highly respected authority on energy, international politics, and economics and a Pulitzer Prize winner. Fortune called him "one of the planet's foremost thinkers about energy and its implications."  He is Vice Chairman of IHS Markit, a world leader in critical information, analytics and solutions for the major industries, governments, financial institutions, and markets Dr. Yergin is also Founder of IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates.

Dr. Yergin is the author of the bestseller The Quest: Energy, Security, and the Remaking of the Modern World. The Economist called The Quest “a masterly piece of work” and the Financial Times said it is “a triumph.” The New York Times said it is “necessary reading for C.E.O.’s, conservationists, lawmakers, generals, spies, tech geeks, thriller writers,” among many others.

Dr. Yergin is known around the world for his book The Prize: the Epic Quest for Oil Money and Power, which was awarded the Pulitzer Prize. It became a number one New York Times best seller and has been translated into 20 languages.

Dr. Yergin co-authored Commanding Heights: the Battle for the World Economy of which, The Wall Street Journal said, “No one could ask for a better account of the world’s political and economic destiny since World War II.” Both The Prize and Commanding Heights were made into award-winning PBS-BBC documentaries.

In 2014, the Prime Minister of India presented Dr. Yergin with “Lifetime Achievement Award” and the U.S. Department of Energy awarded him the first “James Schlesinger Medal for Energy Security.” In 2015, the University of Pennsylvania presented him with the first Carnot Prize for “distinguished contributions to energy policy.”   Dr. Yergin was awarded the United States Energy Award for “lifelong achievements in energy and the promotion of international understanding.”

Dr. Yergin is a director of the Council on Foreign Relations and a trustee of the Brookings Institution.  He is a member of the National Petroleum Council, and on the advisory boards of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Energy Initiative, Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy, and Singapore’s International Energy Panel. He is a “Wise Man” of the International Gas Union and became an Adjunct Professor at the China University of Petroleum in Beijing.

Dr. Yergin holds a BA from Yale University, where he founded The New Journal, and a PhD from Cambridge University, where he was a Marshall Scholar.

Profile Type: 
Board

Lydia Thomas

Job Title: 
President & CEO (Ret.)
Organization: 
Noblis

As former President and Chief Executive Officer of Noblis, Dr. Thomas was responsible for the general management and direction of the company’s overall technical, financial, and administrative activities. Noblis is a nonprofit science, technology and strategy organization working at all levels of government, in private industry and with other nonprofits in areas that are essential to our nation’s well being: national and homeland security, public safety, transportation, health care, criminal justice, energy and the environment, and oceans, atmosphere and space. Dr. Thomas is now a member of the Board of Trustees of Noblis.

Dr. Thomas was elected to the Board of Trustees of Noblis (formerly known as Mitretek Systems Inc.) in May 1996 and president and chief executive officer in July 1996. Previously, as a Senior Vice President and General Manager, Dr. Thomas was responsible for strategic planning and leadership of Noblis’ Center for Environment, Resources and Space.

Prior to Noblis, Dr. Thomas was with The MITRE Corporation from 1973 to 1996. At MITRE, she held a series of technical and management positions, spanning the areas of energy, environment, health, and communications systems.

In 2002, Dr. Thomas was appointed by President Bush to serve as a founding member of the President’s Homeland Security Advisory Council where she continues to serve at the pleasure of President Obama and Secretary Napolitano. She was twice appointed to serve as a member of the Virginia Research and Technology Advisory Commission, first by Governor George Allen and a second term appointment by then Governor Mark Warner. Governor Warner also appointed her to the Virginia Governor’s Higher Education Summit Steering Committee. In 2008, Dr. Thomas was appointed by Gov. Kaine to the Governor’s Commission on Climate Change.  She serves on the Board of Directors of the Cabot Corporation, Mueller Water Products, Inc. , Washington Mutual Investors Fund, the United States Energy Association (USEA), the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC), the Conference Board and is a member of the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory.  In 2005 she was appointed co-chair of the Government University Industry Research Roundtable (GUIRR) of the National Academies and is still serving in this position. 

Dr. Thomas served as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, Chair of the Committee on Academic Affairs and on the Advisory Board of the Research and Technology Campus of The George Washington University.  

Active in the local community, Dr. Thomas is a member of the Posse Foundation Advisory Board, a Trustee of the INOVA Health System and a member of the Northern Virginia HealthForce. 

Dr. Thomas served a three-year term on the Scientific Advisory Board of the U.S. Defense Department’s Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program and two terms on the seven-member Environmental Advisory Board to the Chief of Engineers, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In 2009, she was appointed to the Defense Science Board.

Dr. Thomas has served, as a member of the IT Professional magazine Editorial Advisory Board.  She has appeared as an expert witness on behalf of the U.S. government at various public hearings and before the U.S. Congress, and has co-authored one book and written many technical reports.

In 2002 Dr. Thomas was elected to the Council on Foreign Relations. She was named one of The Most Important Blacks in Technology in 2005 and 2006. She was also named as one of the 50 Most Important Blacks in Research Science in 2004. Dr. Thomas was honored as the 2003 Black Engineer of the Year at the 17th Annual Black Engineer of the Year Awards Conference and Celebration. She received a Certificate of Recognition and Appreciation for her contributions to the technology economy in Fairfax County from the Fairfax County Commission of Women in February 1998; the Deans' Award at the 1991 Black Engineer of the Year Conference; the 1990 "Ebone" Image Award presented by The Coalition of 100 Black Women, Northern Virginia Chapter, for outstanding achievement in the public service; and was the recipient of the 1986 TWIN Award (Tribute to Women in International Industry) presented by the Young Women's Christian Association, National Board.

Dr. Thomas is a member of the following professional organizations:  American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (Associate Fellow); American Society of Toxicology; National Defense Industrial Association; the Teratology Society; and the International Women’s Forum.

Dr. Thomas holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Cytology from Howard University, 1973; a Master of Science in Microbiology from American University, 1971; and a Bachelor of Science in Zoology from Howard University, 1965.

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