LORI MITCHELL
Director
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Lori Mitchell has over 20 years of experience in the renewable energy and utility industry. She is currently the Director of the Community Energy Department, which operates San José Clean Energy. The City of San José is the 10th largest City in the United States, and SJCE is the largest CCA operated by a single jurisdiction.
Lori has an engineering background and is a licensed Mechanical Engineer in California. Earlier in her career, Lori spent years working on a variety of technical renewable energy projects at SunPower Corporation and state government agencies. Then, she dedicated 10 years to the City of San Francisco conducting operational work for the municipal electric utility and the community choice program. She managed power supply functions, as well as operating and capital budgets focused on energy efficiency and renewable investments. Lori has a track record for building strong operating teams.
ZACH STRUYK
Assistant Director
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As Assistant Director, Zach leads the department in the role of Chief Operating Officer providing executive leadership and guidance on daily operations. He previously served as Deputy Director of Account Management and Marketing in the Community Energy Department, where he successfully led many initiatives to support the start-up of SJCE. He gained more than 15 years of experience with the solar energy company SunPower Corporation, where he held a variety of roles in sales and business development for both distributed generation and utility scale projects. Zach’s tenure at SunPower included almost a decade in Asia, where he launched and oversaw major growth initiatives in Korea and Japan. Zach received a BS in Chemistry from Stanford University, an MS in Environmental Science from the University of California at Berkeley, and an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management.
ACCOUNT SERVICES, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
AMANDA OROZCO
Public Information Manager
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Amanda is responsible for outreach planning and evaluation, community engagement, partnership development, communications, and marketing. She is a San José native who joined the City of San José in August 2014 as a communications intern with the Environmental Services Department. Since then, she has held several positions within the City in areas such as stormwater management, public records management, and emergency public information. Amanda earned her MS degree in environmental management from University of San Francisco and BA degree in environmental studies from Arizona State University.
KAYLA BOARDMAN
Public Information Representative II
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Kayla is responsible for digital aspects of the team including website development, graphic design, and social media as well as writing and outreach. She is a San José native who joined the City of San José in 2019 working for the Environmental Services Department. She has a Bachelor’s degree in journalism from San José State University (summa cum laude) and is passionate about the environment and helping her community.
LAURA CORREA-HERNANDEZ
Public Information Representative II
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Laura serves as a resource for all facets of the community, providing outreach, information and education about SJCE. Laura has come full circle by returning to the City where she began her career in public service. She has worked for various governmental agencies in different capacities, including as a Public Information Officer, where she was instrumental in developing community partnerships, enhancing community engagement and implementing newly created programs. Laura received her Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from San José State University.
SARAI ROJAS
Public Information Representative II
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Saraí joined SJCE’s public information team as an SEI Climate Corps Fellow before transitioning into her current role. She executes marketing and outreach campaigns, leads SJCE’s social media, and provides programs support. A San José native, she enjoys working on initiatives that help make San José a more sustainable and equitable community. Saraí received her Bachelor’s in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
LILLIAN MEEK
Graduate Student Intern
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Lilly supports the SJCE team as a graduate student intern and has experience in renewable energy and administration. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Biology and is studying to obtain her Master’s degree in Public Administration at San José State University. She hopes to combine her energy and administrative passions to continue advocating for a climate-friendly future within her community.
HANNAH WELLS
Graduate Student Intern
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Hannah is passionate about community and the environment and thrilled to be a part of the SJCE team as a graduate student intern. She is currently pursuing an M.A. in Linguistics at San José State University and completed her B.S. in Applied Mathematics at Tufts University (summa cum laude). She also enjoys reading, playing with her cat, and taking public transit.
PROGRAMS
KATE ZIEMBA
Senior Environmental Program Manager
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Kate is responsible for planning and designing a portfolio of programs that reduce carbon emissions and improve equity and access to the benefits of renewable energy and electrification. She started with the City of San José in 2015 in the Environmental Services Department and was part of the team that created San José Clean Energy. Prior to joining the City, she worked in communications and research for the United Nations and international organizations in Geneva, Switzerland. Kate has a master’s degree in Environmental Science and Management from the Bren School at the University of California, Santa Barbara and a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Policy (cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa honors) from the University of California, San Diego.
LESLIE PARK
Senior Power Resources Specialist
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Leslie is the Senior Decarbonization Programs Specialist leading building electrification programs for San José Clean Energy. She previously held the role of Power Resources Specialist in SJCE’s Regulatory, Legislative, and Compliance Division. Leslie has experience in building and appliance energy efficiency, carbon neutrality planning, and building electrification. Prior to joining the SJCE, she worked as a Project Manager supporting energy efficiency and market transformation programs for utilities in California and the Northwest. Leslie has a Master’s degree in Energy Systems from the University of California, Davis, a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles, and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).
MARCOS SANTIAGO
Power Resources Specialist II
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Marcos joined the Accounts Management and Marketing team in April 2020 and is in charge of rate setting, analytics, and tracking of customer trends. He majored in Environmental Studies at San Jose State University and minored in Green Engineering. He also interned with the City’s Public Works Department, where he was in charge of monitoring production from the City’s 20+ Solar Arrays, working on early studies to improve the City’s resiliency, and led the effort in benchmarking the City’s largest facilities to ensure they met energy and water efficiency reporting requirements. Marcos is passionate about making a difference in the fight against climate change and believes we all have a part to play in finding a solution and a way to live more sustainably. Marcos enjoys hiking local trails, photography, cooking, and listening to audiobooks.
POWER RESOURCES
JEANNE SOLÉ
Deputy Director
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Jeanne brings over 25 years of experience in the electric industry, advising and representing electric utilities, governments, electric customers and environmental groups. She has worked both nationally and internationally, at the Federal, State and local levels, helping customers and utilities contract for electric products and services. Jeanne has worked for the City and County of San Francisco, the California Independent System Operator, Hagler Bailly Services, Inc., Grueneich Resource Advocates, and the Conservation Law Foundation.
PAUL INNAMORATO
Principal Power Resources Specialist
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Paul joined the Power Procurement team in April 2019. Over the last 15 years Paul has operated in all North American energy markets, primarily focusing on CAISO and ERCOT. Throughout his career he has provided functional support and oversight to day-ahead and real-time operations, ISO settlements, demand response management, product development, client services and NERC/ISO compliance. Paul received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management Information Systems from San José State University.
PHIL CORNISH
Senior Power Resources Specialist
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Phil is a member of the power supply team charged with procuring clean energy. Phil joined SJCE in April 2019 after three years with the City’s Environmental Services Department where he worked on sustainability programs, municipal environmental compliance, land use planning, renewable energy tracking and analysis, and capital projects for the Regional Wastewater Facility (RWF). He also acted as the project lead for the Burrowing Owl habitat near RWF. Prior to joining the City, Phil was a program manager with Guadalupe River Park Conservancy for 16 years. Phil has a BA in Biological Environmental Science from UC Berkeley with a minor in Forestry and Resource Management. A native of Willow Glen, he’s married with two daughters and enjoys playing bluegrass music in his spare time.
KELLY MORRIS
Senior Power Resources Specialist
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Kelly supports the power supply team with power procurement, analysis and energy programs. She joined the City of San José in 2017 in the Environmental Services Department and helped form San José Clean Energy. Kelly has experience with energy programs, energy engineering and energy regulation. She obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies with a minor in Energy from San José State University.
ENERGY RESILIENCY
JIM CALDWELL
Deputy Director
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Jim is a Chemical Engineer who has over five decades of experience in the energy field including 35 years in renewable energy. He is the former CEO of ARCO Solar, the pioneering company in photovoltaics going back to the 1980s. He is the former Assistant General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and has spent the last ten years on implementation strategies to ensure zero carbon energy on the California electric grid.
REGULATORY, LEGISLATIVE & COMPLIANCE
CARA KOEPF
Senior Power Resources Specialist
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Cara is a member of the Regulatory and Legislative team focusing on regulatory compliance. Cara joined SJCE in 2020 after living in Switzerland for five years and working in the impact start-up community. Prior to living abroad, Cara worked as a clean energy policy specialist and program manager for the State of Delaware’s Energy Office. She has a Master’s of Energy and Environmental Policy from the University of Delaware and a BA in International Relations from Occidental College.
TAYLOR KNECHT
Power Resources Specialist II
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Taylor supports the Regulatory and Legislative Affairs team in monitoring proceedings pertinent to SJCE and its customers and assisting SJCE in meeting its compliance and regulatory obligations. Prior to coming to SJCE, she held various positions with local government agencies, municipalities, and non-profit organizations to help advance environmental efforts and initiatives, even serving as a summer associate with the San Jose City Attorney’s Office and collaborating with SJCE on research projects. Taylor received a Juris Doctorate from the University of San Francisco, School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in English from San Diego State University. She is also a barred attorney with the State of California and hopes to use her legal background to advocate for a more sustainable future.
RISK MANAGEMENT, CONTRACTS & ADMINISTRATION
ADRIENNE BARRETO
Staff Specialist
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Adrienne directly supports Directors from both the Account Management and Marketing team, as well as the Power Supply team. She has over 12 years of customer service experience and 10 years clerical experience working in both the private and public sectors. Adrienne is a Bay Area native and is thrilled to be a part of a team who is focused on providing clean energy to San José resulting in a cleaner, affordable, and more sustainable future.
ELISE DOAN
Analyst I
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Elise began her career as an SEI Climate Corps AmeriCorps Fellow at the City of Menlo Park where she worked on zero waste and EV charge pricing projects. She continued with the fellowship and joined the Account Management, Marketing & Public Affairs team following her interest in clean energy. Elise gained valuable experience managing customer accounts, developing clean energy programs, and reporting on key sustainability initiatives. As a full-time staff member, she works for the Risk Management and Contracts Administration Division where she oversees a growing energy portfolio and helps manage risks. Elise received a BS in Business Administration with a minor in Sustainability from Pepperdine University.
Lena Garvey
Analyst II
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Lena started her career in a local credit union’s Commercial Banking Division where she supported local businesses by facilitating loans and grants for their growth and success. Driven by her passion for clean energy and making a positive impact on local communities, Lena manages contract administration and risk assessments, striving to create a more sustainable and eco-friendly future. Lena is a San José State University graduate with a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance.
MONICA GORHAM
Staff Specialist
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Monica supports the Risk Management and Contacts Administration Division. She brings extensive private and non-profit experience in marketing, legal, and human resources. Monica received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Fresno State University.
BUDGET & FINANCIAL PLANNING
ALLEN FONG
Division Manager
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Allen oversees the budget, financial management, and administrative functions for SJCE. Having started as an Analyst for the City of San Jose in 1998, Allen brings over 20 years of municipal government experience. During his career with the City, he has served in a variety of roles from leading the budget team while in the Public Works Department to managing special citywide projects while in the City Manager’s Office. Prior to joining SJCE, Allen served as the Administrative Officer for the City’s Environmental Services Department where he led the financial planning efforts for five separate enterprise utilities. Allen received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from San Francisco State University.
ROSS DASILVA
Program Manager
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Ross is responsible for financial planning and analysis, focusing on SJCE’s pro forma and other financial modeling. He started with the City of San José’s Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services department in 2017. He has also held finance, accounting, and sales operations roles in the private sector, mainly in high tech firms in the consumer electronics, digital advertising, and data storage industries. Ross has lived in the South Bay for most of his life and attended Cal Poly SLO and Santa Clara University. He enjoys going out to dinner with his family, watching sports, and playing rugby.
DESSU ENDESHAW
Senior Account Clerk
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Dessu supports the SJCE team as a Senior Account Clerk. He started working with the City of San José in 1999 as a temporary Account Clerk II and has served in various departments. In 2000, he was hired as a permanent Account Clerk II in the City Attorney’s office. In 2001, Dessu began working for the Airport Department as a Senior Account Clerk. Dessu received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from San José State University.
MARCELLA GAMINO
Accountant II
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Marcella is responsible for reconciliations and month end accruals. She graduated from California State Bakersfield with a Bachelor’s in Accounting and is currently studying for the CPA Exam. Previously she worked as a public auditor as well as an accountant for numerous private entities. She has over six years of experience creating financial statements and performing plentiful reconciliations. She likes to spend her free time painting with acrylics, practicing yoga, and attending music shows.
PAWANDEEP KAUR
Accounting Technician
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Pawandeep started working with the City of San Jose in 2018 as a temporary Senior Account Clerk and has served in various departments. In 2019, she was hired as a Permanent Senior Account Clerk with the City Clerk’s Office. Prior to working for the City, Pawandeep held an Accountant and Accounting Lecturer position in the College of Engineering and Management at Punjab Technical University. She has a Master’s in Business Administration from Guru Nanak Dev University.
HAN NGUYEN
Senior Analyst
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Han supports the SJCE team as a Senior Analyst. He has over 15 years of experience with the City, having spent the first 11 years as an Accountant in the Finance Department, where he was responsible for the daily operations of the utility billing programs for Sanitary, Storm, Recycle Plus and Municipal Water. He spent the next four years serving as a Budget Analyst for the Environmental Services Departments, where he managed one of their Enterprise/utility Integrated Waste Management Fund, and supported multiple programs that required extensive budget development, data analysis, reporting, and stakeholder management.
