Mark Pruitt (Moderator)
Principal for the Power Bureau
Mark Pruitt serves as Principal for the Power Bureau and advises municipalities, institutions and project financiers operating in the energy sector. Mark served as the first Director of the Illinois Power Agency – the state agency responsible for securing wholesale electricity and renewable energy for the 4.7 million residential and small commercial accounts located in Illinois. His hedging strategies over $1.6 billion in cost savings for Illinois utility customers. Mark holds a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Illinois and a Bachelor of Arts from Bradley University.
Deirdre Coughlin
Acting Energy Division Manager, Office of Energy & Recycling, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Deirdre Coughlin has been the Acting Energy Division Manager of the Office of Energy and Recycling at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity since January, 2015, also serving as the Energy Finance Manager. Prior to working in the Energy Office Coughlin managed the budgets of several Department offices for twelve years. Coughlin manages the Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standards programs with an annual budget of $76 million for electric and gas programs statewide for the public sector, low income and market transformation programs statewide.
Edward Kriz
Program Manager Energy Efficiency, Nicor Gas
Edward is an energySMART program manager at Nicor Gas. In this position, Kriz oversees the resources and rebates available to commercial and industrial customers as well as small business owners to manage their energy use, reduce overhead costs and strengthen their bottom line. Kriz has over 30 years of experience working in the energy, environmental and engineering industries. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois – Chicago. Kriz also earned certification from Illinois Institute of Technology Stuart Graduate School of Business in environmental management, specifically in compliance and pollution prevention. Kriz and his family are over 20-year residents of Naperville.
Neal Latham
CEM Senior Energy Efficiency Program Manager, ComEd
Senior Program Manager – C&I Energy Efficiency, Commonwealth Edison
Neal is responsible for development, delivery, and management of energy efficiency programs for commercial and industrial customers in the ComEd service territory. He directs program administrators accountable for implementation of programs and pilots. Prior to joining ComEd, Neal gathered over 20 years of manufacturing experience in various roles including Regional Sustainability Manager for a global candy producer. He was responsible for driving and executing energy efficiency and water-saving projects while working with the global sustainability strategy team. Prior to this, Neal served in the U.S. Navy as a nuclear mechanic aboard a fast-attack submarine.
Patrick Michalkiewicz
Manager, Energy Efficiency and Major Accounts, Peoples & North Shore Gas
Patrick is the Manager – Energy Efficiency, Major Accounts for Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas, subsidiaries of the WEC Energy Group. He is responsible for overseeing all aspects of their energy efficiency programs, as well as the utilities’ commercial and industrial account management functions. Patrick currently serves on the National Governors Association Policy Academy for Energy Efficiency, Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance Board of Directors, Illinois Energy Education Council and Retrofit Chicago Steering Committee. He has more than 34 years of experience in the utility industry which has included various engineering and management positions in nuclear power, gas supply, sales, marketing, mergers & acquisitions and customer service. Patrick is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Ken Woolcutt
Manager Energy Efficiency, Ameren
Ken Woolcutt, CEM, is employed with Ameren Illinois as the Manager of Energy Efficiency. Since 1987, Ken has worked in the utility industry and has held a number of positions in customer service, materials management, and regional operations. In his current role he supervises the Energy Efficiency Program Manager who administer the business and residential programs for Ameren Illinois.
