Panama Bartholomy
Executive Director
Panama previously was the European Director of the Investor Confidence Project on behalf of the Environmental Defense Fund and has worked for the California Legislature, the California Energy Commission, the California State Architect and California Conservation Corps. He has worked on climate solutions in over 30 countries, and presented at and collaborated on products from the United Nations, the International Energy Agency and the European Commission.
Executive Director
Panama previously was the European Director of the Investor Confidence Project on behalf of the Environmental Defense Fund and has worked for the California Legislature, the California Energy Commission, the California State Architect and California Conservation Corps. He has worked on climate solutions in over 30 countries, and presented at and collaborated on products from the United Nations, the International Energy Agency and the European Commission.
Johanna Partin
Deputy Director
Prior to her appointment as Deputy Director, Ms. Partin was the Founding Director of the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance. She is the former North American Regional Director of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group and Senior Environmental Policy Advisor to former San Francisco Mayors Gavin Newsom and Edward Lee.
Deputy Director
Prior to her appointment as Deputy Director, Ms. Partin was the Founding Director of the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance. She is the former North American Regional Director of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group and Senior Environmental Policy Advisor to former San Francisco Mayors Gavin Newsom and Edward Lee.
Lisa Dix
New York Director
Prior to joining the BDC, Ms. Dix served as the Senior Campaign Manager of the Sierra Club’s groundbreaking ‘Beyond Coal,’ campaign, where her leadership was instrumental in ending the use of coal fired power plants in New York State. A longtime and vigorous advocate for renewable energy, Ms. Dix helped launch the state’s Offshore Wind Master Plan, committing New York State to generate 9,000 gigawatts of electricity from wind, the nation’s largest amount of wind generated energy.
New York Director
Prior to joining the BDC, Ms. Dix served as the Senior Campaign Manager of the Sierra Club’s groundbreaking ‘Beyond Coal,’ campaign, where her leadership was instrumental in ending the use of coal fired power plants in New York State. A longtime and vigorous advocate for renewable energy, Ms. Dix helped launch the state’s Offshore Wind Master Plan, committing New York State to generate 9,000 gigawatts of electricity from wind, the nation’s largest amount of wind generated energy.
Jose Torres
California Director
Prior to BDC, Mr. Torres worked as California Environmental Justice Alliance's Energy Equity Program Manager, where he oversaw their energy legislative, regulatory, and implementation work. He also worked at the California Energy Commission’s Office of Governmental Affairs and at both the California State Assembly and Senate. His career in public service started as a California Senate Fellow in the Office of Senator Alex Padilla.
California Director
Prior to BDC, Mr. Torres worked as California Environmental Justice Alliance's Energy Equity Program Manager, where he oversaw their energy legislative, regulatory, and implementation work. He also worked at the California Energy Commission’s Office of Governmental Affairs and at both the California State Assembly and Senate. His career in public service started as a California Senate Fellow in the Office of Senator Alex Padilla.
Jessica Leader
Director of Strategic Outreach
Prior to joining the BDC, Ms. Leader served as the Corporate Communications Manager for Sunrun, the national leader in home solar and energy services. Prior to Sunrun, Ms. Leader served as the Communications Director for FreeWire Technologies and as the Director of Eco, Wellness and Social Responsibility Partnerships for the HuffPost Partner Studio.
Director of Strategic Outreach
Prior to joining the BDC, Ms. Leader served as the Corporate Communications Manager for Sunrun, the national leader in home solar and energy services. Prior to Sunrun, Ms. Leader served as the Communications Director for FreeWire Technologies and as the Director of Eco, Wellness and Social Responsibility Partnerships for the HuffPost Partner Studio.
Romy Banks
Director of Operations
Prior to joining BDC, Romy was the Chief Operating Officer for the Waters Center for Systems Thinking, a gold standard provider of systems thinking resources worldwide. Prior to Waters Center, Romy worked for a variety of nonprofit organizations where she developed an extensive background in nonprofit operations, financial management, board governance, HR Management, fundraising and event management.
Director of Operations
Prior to joining BDC, Romy was the Chief Operating Officer for the Waters Center for Systems Thinking, a gold standard provider of systems thinking resources worldwide. Prior to Waters Center, Romy worked for a variety of nonprofit organizations where she developed an extensive background in nonprofit operations, financial management, board governance, HR Management, fundraising and event management.
Matt Rusteika
Director of Market Transformation
Matt comes to the BDC from leading the Buildings Initiative at Acadia Center, a Northeast regional clean energy research and advocacy nonprofit based in Maine. Matt has also worked with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, where he helped to integrate electrification into the Mass Save programs for the first time, and was a candidate for public office. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife, two sons, and dog.
Amy Rider
Director of Policy Acceleration
Prior to BDC, Ms. Rider was a Principal at Archamy Consulting, a sustainability consulting firm. She has held positions with local government agencies, an electric utility, and consulting firms. Her work has focused on advancing building science and optimizing climate action through policy, knowledge sharing, behavior change, and technology implementation.
Director of Policy Acceleration
Prior to BDC, Ms. Rider was a Principal at Archamy Consulting, a sustainability consulting firm. She has held positions with local government agencies, an electric utility, and consulting firms. Her work has focused on advancing building science and optimizing climate action through policy, knowledge sharing, behavior change, and technology implementation.
Luis Amezcua
Senior California Policy & Campaign Manager
Prior to joining BDC, Luis served as a Senior Campaign Representative for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign in California, where he provided leadership on local and state policies that increased renewable energy development to phase out gas-fired power plants. This work included shepherding projects through the approval and permitting process, while working with a broad range of stakeholders to ensure the projects fostered community benefits. Separately, Luis has served on various boards and public commissions on issues relating to energy, housing, and land use. He currently lives in Los Angeles.
Senior California Policy & Campaign Manager
Prior to joining BDC, Luis served as a Senior Campaign Representative for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign in California, where he provided leadership on local and state policies that increased renewable energy development to phase out gas-fired power plants. This work included shepherding projects through the approval and permitting process, while working with a broad range of stakeholders to ensure the projects fostered community benefits. Separately, Luis has served on various boards and public commissions on issues relating to energy, housing, and land use. He currently lives in Los Angeles.
Brian Barnacle
Senior Manager of Strategy and Development
Brian is the Coalition’s Senior Manager of Strategy and Development. He focuses on the intersection of technology, policy, and supply chain strategy, working closely with internal teams and industry experts to improve existing initiatives, expand into new markets, and forge new partnerships. Prior to working with the Coalition, Brian managed business development and sales operations at Energy Solutions, an employee-owned clean energy consulting company.
Senior Manager of Strategy and Development
Brian is the Coalition’s Senior Manager of Strategy and Development. He focuses on the intersection of technology, policy, and supply chain strategy, working closely with internal teams and industry experts to improve existing initiatives, expand into new markets, and forge new partnerships. Prior to working with the Coalition, Brian managed business development and sales operations at Energy Solutions, an employee-owned clean energy consulting company.
Ashleigh Spurgeon
Associate Director of Partnerships
Ashleigh plays a critical role in supporting the Coalition's growth, including the execution of a comprehensive membership and fundraising strategy, engaging and expanding the Coalition's membership base. Ashleigh is passionate about member engagement, ensuring that Coalition members have authentic opportunities for learning, connection and collaboration. Prior to joining the Coalition, Ashleigh was the Manager of Marketing and Member Services for a major energy industry trade organization. In addition to her work with the Coalition, Ashleigh currently serves on the Board of the International PTen Haratoma Tumor Syndrome (PHTS) Foundation.
Associate Director of Partnerships
Ashleigh plays a critical role in supporting the Coalition's growth, including the execution of a comprehensive membership and fundraising strategy, engaging and expanding the Coalition's membership base. Ashleigh is passionate about member engagement, ensuring that Coalition members have authentic opportunities for learning, connection and collaboration. Prior to joining the Coalition, Ashleigh was the Manager of Marketing and Member Services for a major energy industry trade organization. In addition to her work with the Coalition, Ashleigh currently serves on the Board of the International PTen Haratoma Tumor Syndrome (PHTS) Foundation.
Rebecca Rothman
Senior Project Manager for the Switch Is On
Rebecca is a licensed Civil Engineer who began her career working on an assortment of building projects across California. This work led her to Pacific Gas and Electric Company where she spent 6 years working with Gas and Electric Operations and Project Management. There she stood up and lead the statewide enterprise municipal permitting organization, served on the companies Ethics Council, W-STEM Board, and acted as electric operations regional emergency center Logistics Chief for the 2020/2021 Heat, Fire, PSPS & Storm events.
Senior Project Manager for the Switch Is On
Rebecca is a licensed Civil Engineer who began her career working on an assortment of building projects across California. This work led her to Pacific Gas and Electric Company where she spent 6 years working with Gas and Electric Operations and Project Management. There she stood up and lead the statewide enterprise municipal permitting organization, served on the companies Ethics Council, W-STEM Board, and acted as electric operations regional emergency center Logistics Chief for the 2020/2021 Heat, Fire, PSPS & Storm events.
Noah Cordoba
Program Coordinator, Kitchen Electrification
Prior to joining BDC, Noah was a fellow with Easy Bay Community Energy where he supported community energy efficiency. He designed and implemented kitchen electrification programs to expose people to the idea of electric cooking and match them with incentive dollars to help them make the move. Noah has a background in nonprofit communications, fundraising, and environmental psychology. Outside of the electric kitchen, Noah loves traveling to new places, hiking, surfing, and eating a questionable amount of tofu.
Program Coordinator, Kitchen Electrification
Prior to joining BDC, Noah was a fellow with Easy Bay Community Energy where he supported community energy efficiency. He designed and implemented kitchen electrification programs to expose people to the idea of electric cooking and match them with incentive dollars to help them make the move. Noah has a background in nonprofit communications, fundraising, and environmental psychology. Outside of the electric kitchen, Noah loves traveling to new places, hiking, surfing, and eating a questionable amount of tofu.
Kristin George Bagdanov
Senior Research Associate
Kristin is a PhD candidate at University of California, Davis, where she researches the relationship between energy transitions, cultural production, and social movements. She has previously worked for non-profit housing and healthcare organizations that serve vulnerable communities. She is also a published author, an editor, and an educator. She currently lives in Sacramento, CA.
Senior Research Associate
Kristin is a PhD candidate at University of California, Davis, where she researches the relationship between energy transitions, cultural production, and social movements. She has previously worked for non-profit housing and healthcare organizations that serve vulnerable communities. She is also a published author, an editor, and an educator. She currently lives in Sacramento, CA.
Lawrence Garber
Program Associate
Prior to joining BDC, Lawrence worked with the Sustainability Program at the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG). He has served as an environmental science educator in Yosemite National Park, a high school teacher in Austin, Texas, and a Peace Corps Volunteer in Sierra Leone and Namibia. He has a Masters in International Environmental Policy from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey and a BS from the University of Michigan. He currently lives in Irvine, CA.
Program Associate
Prior to joining BDC, Lawrence worked with the Sustainability Program at the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG). He has served as an environmental science educator in Yosemite National Park, a high school teacher in Austin, Texas, and a Peace Corps Volunteer in Sierra Leone and Namibia. He has a Masters in International Environmental Policy from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey and a BS from the University of Michigan. He currently lives in Irvine, CA.
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Justin Pearson
Development Associate Justin's professional background spans development, policy communications and international relations. He holds a BS in International Relations and an MS in Government from the University of the West Indies in his native Jamaica, in addition to an MA in Urban & Public Affairs from the University of San Francisco. His approach to climate change is rooted in environmental justice and the importance of local community voices to equitably embrace the future. |
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Nicole Schiller
Operations Associate Prior to joining the BDC, Nicole spent the last several years in the tech startup world working in Human Resources and as an Executive Assistant. She worked most recently as Operations Manager at Semperis, where her focus was on new hire onboarding and employee experience. Nicole is working toward achieving a PHR certification in Human Resources. She resides in Queens, NY and enjoys spending time with her family, making natural homemade soap, and volunteering at a local animal shelter. |
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Erich Fleck
Campaign Coordinator, The Switch is On Erich is a Master's in Public Administration candidate at Presidio Graduate School in the Bay Area. He has previously worked for non-profit climate action organizations, emphasizing outreach and connecting people to support tools. Working at BDC is a pivot from a 14-year career making wine and cider worldwide, including six years of service in the U.S. Army as a Korean linguist. He currently lives in San Luis Obispo County, CA, with his partner Heather, and son, Otto. |
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