The momentum is real—and it’s happening in Pennsylvania. Join us as we kick off the 2nd Annual PA Data Center & Energy Innovation Summit, bringing together the leaders, investors, operators, utilities, manufacturers, and policymakers shaping the Commonwealth’s role in the next era of digital and energy infrastructure.

Audrey Russo, President & CEO, Pittsburgh Technology Council

Since 2007, Audrey Russo has served the technology business sector for southwestern PA as President and CEO of the Pittsburgh Technology Council, the oldest (1983) and largest technology trade association in North America. In this role, Russo facilitates strong interaction across all sectors of the regional economy, which she believes will only succeed and grow through technology innovation and commercialized disruptions across every platform and experience. With a background in information technology, operations and finance, Russo previously worked for large multi-national Fortune 500 companies (Alcoa, Reynolds Metals), as well as at MAYA Design, and in an adjunct faculty and project role at Virginia Commonwealth University. Russo earned her Bachelor of Science from Ohio State University. She also has a Masters in Public Administration from Syracuse University's Maxwell School of Public Affairs. Russo is committed to the complexity of Pittsburgh's physical, literal and metaphorical terrain, and believes that vital cities are the moral imperative in achieving competitive, diverse and vibrant economies. She was the Board Chair for the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh. Russo is a serving board member at the following organizations: Regional Industrial Development Corporation (RIDC), Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Greater Pittsburgh, CityLab, Highmark Business Advisory Board, the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh and City of Asylum. Russo also co-hosts TechVibe Radio on KDKA 1020 AM Sunday mornings at 6:00 AM to explore technology companies and entrepreneurial issues.

Chris Massetti, President, Donwil

Donwil provides Infrastructure and service for data center and edge applications. Representing Vertiv, Starline, and other industry leaders, Donwil has proudly served Western PA, Eastern OH, and Northern WV for 60 years.

Jamie White, President, LLI Engineering

Mr. White is President and CEO of LLI Engineering, which was started in 1910 and offers mechanical, electrical, structural and technology engineering services for facilities, along with specialized expertise in co-generation, micro-grids, sustainable design, scientific and mission-critical facilities, commissioning and security. He is responsible for project development, quality assurance, client satisfaction, operations, and personnel. Jamie White holds a Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering degree from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology where he attended on an Army ROTC Scholarship. He is a Professional Engineer, licensed in several states and has authored several articles on mechanical and electrical systems design and construction. He is a LEED Accredited Professional. Mr. White is a member of the ASHRAE, the Building Commissioning Association, USGBC, NAIOP, and National Fire Protection Association. He is the first engineer in the State of Pennsylvania to pass the ASHRAE Certified High-Performance Building Design Professional examination. He has authored several articles on mechanical and electrical systems design and construction.

The CEO of the American Edge Project opens with a national snapshot Pennsylvania has earned the #4 ranking for announced data center projects. Hot on the heels of that news, the Pittsburgh Technology Council releases original commissioned research revealing the broader economic impact on manufacturing and energy communities.

8:45 AM – 9:00 AM - Doug Kelly, CEO, American Edge Project

An accomplished, values-driven executive, Doug Kelly has spent his entire career as a relentless force for good in transforming lives at the national, state, and local levels. He brings to AEP a deep background in politics, advocacy, technology, and organization building. For 20 years, he served in senior leadership roles in the political sector, deeply engaged in Presidential, Gubernatorial, and other statewide campaigns.

9:00 AM – 9:15 AM - Randy P. Vulakovich, Senior Principal, Government Relations, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney

Randy P. Vulakovich is the chair of the firm’s State Government Relations Practice Group. In his practice he readily assists clients with the development, management and implementation of comprehensive political and legislative strategies in support of their public policy, legislative, regulatory and procurement objectives.

9:15 AM – 9:25 AM – Petra Mitchell, President and CEO, Catalyst Connection

Petra Mitchell is the President and CEO of Catalyst Connection, a private, nonprofit economic development organization dedicated to helping manufacturers with management consulting and technical assistance leading to business growth and job creation. Catalyst Connection is part of the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) and the Industrial Resource Center (IRC) of Southwestern Pennsylvania and Petra Mitchell is its Center Director. Petra Mitchells experience in manufacturing operations, technology acceleration, and business development stretches back to 1988. Before joining Catalyst Connection, she was employed by GE Aircraft Engines, now GE Aviation.She holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Dayton, and an M.S. from the University of Cincinnati. Petra was named a 2011 Top Women in Business Leader, a 2012 Top Energy Leader and a 2016 Most Admired CEOs in Pittsburgh by the Pittsburgh Business Times. She is on the Board of Directors of the Advanced Robotics in Manufacturing (ARM) Institute, American Small Manufacturers Coalition, Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center (IRC) Network and Sister Cities Association of Pittsburgh. She is a former member of the Board of Pittsburgh Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland and Keystone Powdered Metals, and is also the Honorary Consul for the Republic of Slovenia.

From George Westinghouse's pioneering electrical grid to today's manufacturing renaissance, Western Pennsylvania continues to build the backbone of America's energy system. This session showcases the regional manufacturers racing to meet unprecedented demand for grid-scale electrical components, transformers, switchgear, and power distribution equipment.

Panel Moderator: Justine Kasznica, Shareholder and Chair of Emerging Technologies, Babst Calland

Michelle Buczkowski, Chief Administrative Officer, Eos Energy

Michelle Buczkowski is driven by a belief—and a career spent proving—that people power the world. Michelle joined Eos Energy Enterprises in 2024, bringing nearly 20 years of experience in talent acquisition and development, workforce transformation, and organizational culture and communications in highly-regulated, operationally-complex industries. She is sought out for building teams with the resilience to take on rapid growth and dynamic change and deliver with excellence—in ways that benefit not just the companies Michelle works for, but every individual within them. Throughout her career in and around Pittsburgh, one of the United States’ historic centers of industrial leadership, Michelle has led the alignment of people strategies with organizational goals, unlocking employee potential to drive corporate impact. Michelle shepherded CONSOL Energy’s employee base through the Marcellus Shale natural gas boom, architected a multi-year roadmap that brought the PNC Bank’s vision of a “Talent-Focused Culture” to life, and, most recently, as Managing Director of Human Resources at Duquesne Light, partnered closely with union leadership and executive teams to transform compensation strategies and labor relations. At Eos, as the company’s first Chief Administration Officer, Michelle is delivering on her reputation as passionate and ambitious but clear-thinking and pragmatic leader of people. Reshaping how the company leads, engages, and evolves its workforce to unleash the ingenuity and determination of every Eos employee, Michelle is creating the organizational capacity—from the R&D lab to the factory floor—to meet the moment and the mission to build the energy storage the world urgently needs.

John Campion, VP and General Manager, Mitsubishi Electric Power Products

John Campion is Vice President and General Manager of the Critical Power Solutions Division at Mitsubishi Electric Power Products, Inc. (MEPPI), where he leads Mitsubishi Electrics data center business in North America. He oversees product development, engineering, sales, and operations for solutions that support mission-critical infrastructure, including uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, IT cooling, and related software.Since joining MEPPI in 2021, John has led the divisions growth into a full data center solutions provider supporting the rapidly evolving needs of AI and high-performance computing infrastructure. Prior to MEPPI, he was an Associate at McKinsey & Company and served as a nuclear submarine officer in the U.S. Navy.John holds degrees from the United States Naval Academy, Peking University, the London School of Economics, and Carnegie Mellon University. He lives in Wheeling, West Virginia with his wife and three children.

Angie McMillin, President, Energy Solutions and Services, Eaton

Angie McMillin is President, Energy Solutions and Services, Electrical Sector of Eaton, an intelligent power management company. In this role, Angie supports the Americas and is responsible for the Power Systems divisions, specializing in power reliability and power delivery solutions for utilities and data centers; the Critical Power and Distributed IT divisions, focused on power quality of data infrastructure from cloud to edge; and the Electrical Services teams, specializing in energy hardware and digital solutions. Prior to this role, Angie was the Group CEO and VP of Industrial Products at Baker Hughes, most notably CEO of Bently Nevada. Prior to Baker Hughes, Angie was an executive at Vertiv, a critical data infrastructure company. Angie has experience in industrial, data infrastructure, oil and gas, automotive, and consumer industries. In her 30 years of experience, Angie has taken on roles of increasing responsibility in portfolio management, transformation, operations, strategy, sales, and engineering. Angie earned a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Dayton, and a masters of science degree in Engineering and Technology Management from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Throughout her career, Angie has been an active promoter and advocate for Women's ERGs, next generation of STEM, and supporter of veteran's programs. She is currently an executive sponsor for Eaton's WAVE ERG.

Andreas Wrener, VP & General Manager, Breakers & Modules, Americas, Hitachi Energy

Andreas Wrener is the Vice President and General Manager of Breakers & Modules for the Americas at Hitachi Energy, based in Pittsburgh, PA. With over 20 years of experience in the energy sector, Andreas has been instrumental in driving operational excellence and strategic growth across multiple regions. Currently, Andreas oversees the general management of Breakers & Modules, including DTB, PASS, and LTB ranging from 72-1200kV in Mount Pleasant, PA. He holds a Master's Degree in Engineering Physics from Chalmers University of Technology and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Industrial and Financial Economics from the School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg. Andreas further honed his leadership skills through the Emerging Leaders Program at Wharton Executive Education. Andreas Wrener's extensive experience and educational background make him a distinguished leader in the energy industry, known for his strategic vision and ability to lead complex projects to success.

Bob Yeager, President, Power and Water Solutions Business, Emerson

Robert (Bob) Yeager is president of Emersons power and water solutions business. Yeager brings decades of industry experience to his role of overseeing the companys strategy and digital transformation initiatives for the electric power, water and wastewater industries, helping customers to optimize operations, protect personnel and reach sustainability targets.Yeager is instrumental in creating customer value by driving innovation and growth of Emersons industry-leading Ovation digital control platform and Ovation Green portfolio of software and automation solutions for renewable energy.Yeager has held numerous positions of increasing responsibility throughout his career. In 2001 and 2022, he was named president of Emersons Intellution business and president of Emersons process systems and solutions business. He was named to his current role as president of the power and water business in 2004.Yeager holds a bachelors degree in data and systems analysis from Carnegie Mellon University and a masters degree in computer science from the University of Pittsburgh.

Corey Hessen, CEO of Homer City Generation, on how a legacy power site in Indiana County is becoming the foundation for a $10+ Billion investment in AI-ready energy infrastructure. A look at what one of largest redevelopment projects means for the region, the grid, and the state’s competitive future.

Panel Moderator: Petra Mitchell, President and CEO, Catalyst Connection

Corey Hessen, CEO, Homer City Generation

Corey Hessen is the Chief Executive Officer of Homer City Redevelopment. In this role he is responsible for leading the transformation of the former Homer City coal power plant into a more than 3,200-acre natural gas-powered data center campus, designed to meet the growing artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) needs of the innovative technology companies shaping Americas digital future. Previously, he served as Executive Vice President and President, Power and Energy Solutions, for TC Energy, one of North Americas leading energy companies. He was accountable for all aspects of the company's renewable, nuclear and thermal power generation and unregulated natural gas storage businesses including strategy, trading, commercial, business development, projects and operations. Before joining TC Energy, Mr. Hessen was Senior Vice President, Fuels, at Constellation, an Exelon Company, where he directed Constellations natural gas and LNG businesses as part of Americas third-largest trading desk. Previously, Mr. Hessen was Vice President and Managing Director, Generation Development for Exelon Generation, where he led the successful origination and development of more than $3 billion of new power assets, representing approximately 3 gigawatts of new wind, solar, combined cycle gas, peaking gas and storage power capacity. Prior to joining Exelon, Mr. Hessen worked for Xcel Energy, serving in multiple leadership positions in nuclear operations/engineering, thermal generation, information systems, strategy and innovation programs. Mr. Hessen served as a Board Director for Longview Power, NetPower & Annova LNG, and his civic leadership has included the boards of directors of the Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women, Young Women's Leadership Charter School of Chicago, Saint Ignatius Loyola Academy in Baltimore and president of the board of directors of The Rise School of Denver. Mr. Hessen holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance from the University of San Francisco and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Marquette University. Mr. Hessen has held professional engineering licenses in seven states.

America's ability to lead globally depends on getting energy policy right. Alex Fitzsimmons, Acting Under Secretary of Energy, brings a federal perspective on how the nation is rising to meet surging data center demand, securing energy infrastructure, and positioning American innovation at the forefront of the AI economy.

Panel Moderator: Greg Vlassopoulos Jr., Consultant Solution Architect - Data Center Segment, Schneider Electric

Alex Fitzsimmons, Acting Under Secretary of Energy, U.S. Department of Energy

Alex Fitzsimmons serves as the Acting Under Secretary of Energy at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Fitzsimmons concurrently serves as Director of the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response (CESER), where he leads DOEs mission to safeguard the nations energy systems against evolving cyber and physical threats. In this role, he is responsible for ensuring the resilience and security of critical energy infrastructure, enhancing preparedness and response capabilities, and fostering partnerships across federal, state, local, and private-sector stakeholders to protect Americas energy systems. Prior to his current roles, Fitzsimmons served as Chief of Staff to Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, where he led the DOE beach-head team and supported the Secretary in leading the Department through the first 100 days of the Trump Administration. He previously served as Head of Government Affairs at Sila Nanotechnologies, a next-generation energy storage company, and as Senior Director at ClearPath, where he focused on energy storage and critical-mineral supply chains. From 2017 to 2020, he served in the Trump Administration as Deputy Assistant Secretary and Chief of Staff in DOEs Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). Fitzsimmons holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from The George Washington University and a Master of Science in Cybersecurity from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Hyperscale operators including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Data Centers, and Meta, alongside the Data Center Coalition, will share proven strategies for building community trust and accelerating project approvals. This session focuses on creating lasting partnerships with local communities through transparent communication, economic benefit sharing, and sustainable development practices.

Panel Moderator: Denise Brinley, Vice President of Energy Transition Technologies, TRC

Dustin Carmack, Director, Public Policy, Executive Branch and Southern & Southeastern U.S., Meta

Dustin Carmack joined Meta in April 2024 and currently serves as Director, Public Policy, Executive Branch. Meta is the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp.

Dan Diorio, Vice President, State Policy, Data Center Coalition

Dan Diorio is Vice President of State Policy for the Data Center Coalition. In this role, he leads state level advocacy for the data center industry working with state legislators, executive agencies, and other state and local stakeholder organizations for a business climate, policies, and investments that support the growth and competitiveness of the industry. Dan brings over 16 years of experience in state and federal government affairs and public policy. He received his Bachelor of Arts in History from Boston College and has a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Colorado Denver. Dan lives in Denver with his wife and two children.

Liz Schwab, Global Advocacy, Google Data Centers

Liz Schwab leads market development teams focused on advocacy and economic development for Google’s global data center organization, working with public officials, stakeholders and communities to ensure Google’s data centers drive mutual benefit. As part of this work, she collaborates alongside technical infrastructure, economic development and policy colleagues to build the world’s most sustainable and efficient digital infrastructure. Previous to this role she led external affairs for the company in the Northeast, overseeing policy, government and community relations across New England and the Mid-Atlantic. She serves as board chair for Tech Goes Home, a digital equity nonprofit in Greater Boston, and represents Google on the board of various trade groups. Before Google, she had stints in strategy and operations in the tech startup world, coached Division I college basketball, and worked on tax, child and family issues for Senator Judd Gregg (NH). Liz is a graduate of The George Washington University, where she was a four year starter and captain of the basketball team, and where she also holds an MBA. A New Hampshire native, Liz lives north of Boston with her husband and three sons.

Shannon Kellogg, Vice President of Public Policy, Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Shannon Kellogg is a vice president of public policy at Amazon, leading the companys public policy efforts for Amazon Web Services (AWS) across the Americas. In this role, he oversees policy priorities and strategies for AWS, managingpublic policy and government affairs professionals in the U.S. (at both federal and state/local levels), Canada, Mexico,and throughout Central and South America.

Fresh off this month's $2 billion announcement, NVIDIA and Coherent have launched a multiyear strategic partnership to advance advanced optics technologies for next-generation AI data center infrastructure. Coherent Corp., headquartered in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania (formerly II-VI Incorporated) Built In, is leading this charge. Executives from both companies will discuss this landmark investment, the critical role of optical infrastructure in scaling AI, and what it means for U.S. manufacturing and Pennsylvania's tech economy.

Panel Moderator: Audrey Russo, President & CEO, Pittsburgh Technology Council

Steve Rummel, Senior Vice President, Engineered Materials Group, Coherent

 

Shane Shaneman, Senior AI Strategist, NVIDIA

 

TBD LLI

 

Pennsylvania's data center and energy infrastructure boom is being built by the hands of skilled tradespeople, and this panel puts them front and center. Join the Executive Director of the Master Builders' Association alongside leaders from the region's most essential building trades. Panelists will discuss workforce readiness, apprenticeship pipelines, the evolving demands of large-scale data center and energy projects, and how labor and industry are partnering to meet Pennsylvania's growing infrastructure needs.

Panel Moderator: Dan Blaine, Senior Vice President, AON

Dave Daquelente, Executive Director, Master Builders' Association

Dave Daquelente is the executive director of the Master Builders Association of Western Pennsylvania, Inc. (MBA), representing more than 300 leading general contractors, construction managers, specialty contractors, and industry partners in the regions commercial construction sector. Since stepping into the role in late 2019, Dave has brought over two decades of experience and a deep passion for the union construction industry, including his early career as a member of the Carpenters Union. A recognized relationship builder and advocate for labor management collaboration, Dave engages with owners, contractors, and labor leaders at both regional and national levels. He serves on the board of directors of the Builders Guild of Western PA and is a trustee on multiple multiemployer benefit funds. Nationally, he has held leadership roles with The Association of Union Constructors (TAUC) and the Executive Leadership Council (ELC) for AGC of America. Dave is honored to speak at International Foundation conferences and meetings. He currently serves on both the Foundation Board of Directors and the Apprenticeship and Training Committee. He is a graduate of Penn State University, the University of Pittsburgh Entrepreneurial Fellows Class, and Leadership Pittsburgh (LPXXXVII), and he earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).

Steve Mazza, Council Representative, Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters

Steve Mazza serves as a Council Representative for the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, representing members throughout the region. With more than 37 years of experience in the building trades, Steve is committed to strengthening the workforce and supporting community development across the Pittsburgh area. He supports workforce and community initiatives like the Carpenters’ Apprentice Ready Program (CARP), Partner4Work, and the Pittsburgh Hispanic Development Corporation, helping connect local residents with career opportunities in the skilled trades. In addition to his work with the Carpenters, Steve holds several multiple leadership roles. He serves as Vice President of the Pittsburgh Building Trades and the Allegheny County Labor Council, is a board member of Literacy Pittsburgh, Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh, and the City of Pittsburgh Land Bank, and serves as Chairman of the Permitting, Licensing, and Inspection (PLI) Review Board.

Tom McIntyre, Business Manager, IBEW Local 5

Thomas (Tom) R. McIntyre began his affiliation with International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local Union No. 5 in 1979 working as an apprentice electrician. He advanced to journeyman-wireman status in 1984. Tom is a Pittsburgh Central Catholic graduate who then went on to complete the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Apprenticeship Program. He completed the construction foreman’s training program at Penn State and Youngstown State Universities. Throughout his years in the electrical field, Tom has held General Foreman and Field Superintendent titles for several large Local 5 electrical contractors. He was first appointed as the Local 5 Manpower Coordinator from August of 2004 to March of 2007 along with holding positions on the IBEW Local 5 Examining Board and Executive Board. He went on to serve as Vice President, Local Union Recording Secretary, President and recently appointed as Business Manager and Financial Secretary of Local Union No. 5. Tom resides in Bethel Park with his wife of 27 years, Sandy. They have two children and five grandchildren.

Rick Pireaux, Assistant Training Director, Iron Workers Local #3

Rick Pireaux has been the Assistant Training Director at Iron Workers Local #3 since 2018 and a union officer since 2017. He started his career in the trades working through college as a Union Heavey Highway Labor, starting in 2000, and then earning a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education/Mathematics from Duquesne University in 2004. Rick taught math at Steel Valley High School from 2005 to 2010. He joined the iron workers as an apprentice in 2013 and worked as a journeyman iron worker until being hired at the Local #3 training center.

Shawn Steffee, Business Agent, Boilermakers Local 154

Shawn Steffee, Business Agent for Boilermakers Local 154, was born and raised in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, where he developed a lifelong commitment to labor and community. In addition to his role with the Boilermakers, he proudly serves as President of the South-Central Building Trades, representing and advocating for thousands of skilled workers across the region. Known for his strong leadership and unwavering dedication, Shawn works tirelessly to advance the interests of working men and women, promote safe jobsites, and strengthen opportunities for future generations. His advocacy has made him a respected voice for organized labor throughout Pennsylvania.

Boilermakers

 

Steamfitters TBD

 

Data centers are reshaping the energy landscape at a pace few anticipated. Hear from leading energy developers and investors on how they're responding from new generation projects to creative power solutions and what Pennsylvania's surging demand means for the future of the grid.

Panel Moderator: Adam Lavallee, Manager of Global Data Centers, Emerson Power and Water Solutions

Faisal Bakhteyar, VP of Origination, Brookfield Renewable

Faisal Bakhteyar is a Vice President of Origination at Brookfield Renewable North America, where he leads structuring of commercial opportunities to support Brookfield's portfolio of renewable energy facilities in the U.S.

Peter Dailey, CEO, International Electric Power

Peter Dailey is a veteran power markets leader, well regarded on Wall Street. With over 35 years of deal-making experience, hes executed $3B+ in transactions and built companies across thermal and renewable energy platforms.

Ben Gagnon, CEO, Bitfarms

Benjamin (Ben) Gagnon is the Chief Executive Officer of Bitfarms Ltd., a North American digital infrastructure and energy company that builds and operates vertically integrated, data centers and energy infrastructure for high-performance computing. Since joining Bitfarms in 2019, Ben has held several senior leadership roles, including Director of Business Development, Director of Mining Operations, and Chief Mining Officer, before being appointed as CEO in 2024. As CEO, Ben has overseen Bitfarms ongoing transformation from a legacy Bitcoin mining operation to an infrastructure-first owner and developer of HPC and AI data centers, which will operate as Keel Infrastructure following its upcoming corporate rebrand. As part of this strategic pivot, Ben has led the expansion of the Companys U.S. footprint and advanced diversification into new areas, such as energy generation, heat recycling and energy trading. Ben previously founded and operated two cryptocurrency mining companies, holding positions as Chief Executive Officer, Chief Mining Officer, and Chief Technology Officer. He holds an M.Sc. in Internet Computing from Hong Kong University and a B.Sc. in Economic Consulting and International Business from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University.

Claudia J. Morrow, SVP for Strategy, Vistra

Claudia J. Morrow is Senior Vice President of Corporate Development for Vistra Corp. Vistra Corp is an integrated energy company that serves nearly 5 million residential, commercial and industrial customers with electricity and gas and owns approximately 41,000 MW of generation capacity that includes natural gas, nuclear, coal, solar, and battery storage facilities in competitive power and gas markets across the United States. Claudia is responsible for a development pipeline that includes 8+ GW of natural gas, solar and battery energy storage. Vistra Corp already has 1,300MW of solar and battery storage online and more than 2GW of new gas build and solar construction underway. Claudia joined Vistra Corp in July of 2001 with multiple years of experience in commodities markets and has held leadership roles in wholesale origination, commodity pricing, risk management, and structuring during her tenure at Vistra Corp. She was born and raised in the Dallas area and lives in Murphy, Texas with her husband Chris and two children, Cale and Campbell.

Jim Spencer, President and CEO, Exus Renewables

Jim Spencer is the President and CEO of Exus Renewables North America (Exus). Prior to his tenure at Exus, Jim spent 35 years in the power industry managing the development and financing of energy projects in both developed and underdeveloped countries. He was the Founder, President and CEO of Ever Power Wind Holdings, a national utility scale development and operating wind company, for 16 years. Jim began his career as an attorney in the energy project finance group at Chadbourne & Parke LLP. He moved to Prudential Capital Corporation to work in the Utilities & Finance Group. He then spent more than a decade at Sithe Energies, Inc., including four years as President of Sithe Asia Holdings Limited; he was responsible for the business development and project finance activities throughout the Asia Pacific Region. Jim is a Pittsburgh native and received his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Jim is the Chair of the Advisory Board at The Andy Warhol Museum, and is also on the boards of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Promise.

Behind every data center is a complex web of infrastructure that must be built, upgraded, and future-proofed at unprecedented speed. From grid interconnection and power delivery to fiber, utilities, and right-of-way, this panel brings together the engineers, regulators, and executives who are actually making it happen.

Panel Moderator: AJ Kuftic, Field CTO, Expedient

Stephen Bennett, Senior Manager, Regulatory & Legislative Affairs, PJM Interconnection

Stephen Bennett, Sr. Manager, Regulatory/Legislative Affairs, is the PJM liaison for Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania. In this role, he interacts with state utility commissions, executive agencies and legislators on energy policy in the areas of RTO grid reliability, transmission planning, operations and wholesale markets. Prior to joining PJM, Bennett was the Managing Director at Energy Advocacy, LLC, a boutique consultancy focused on regulatory policy in the retail and wholesale energy markets. Bennett also held management roles in government affairs for both PPL EnergyPlus and Exelon. Bennett has a Bachelor of Science in engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Mike Huwar, CEO, Peoples Gas

Michael (Mike) Huwar is president of the Peoples division of Essential Utilities, Inc. In his role as president, Huwar is responsible for providing safe and reliable natural gas service to approximately 741,000 customers in Pennsylvania and Kentucky. Huwar joined Peoples in 2020, leading Pennsylvania's largest natural gas utility in its mission to provide safe, reliable energy to 700,000 customers in 18 counties. As president, he oversees operations, maintenance and construction, as well as designing and executing legislative, regulatory, commercial and external strategies for Peoples and its sister utility, Delta Natural Gas, which serves 41,000 customers in Eastern Kentucky. Huwar also serves as a member of Essential Utilities executive leadership team, reporting directly to CEO & Chairman Christopher Franklin. Under Huwar's leadership, Peoples has made significant strides to modernize its pipelines and related infrastructure for the continued delivery of safe and reliable natural gas, while reducing the utility's greenhouse gas emissions. Peoples has replaced or retired more than 1,700 miles of pipeline with state-of-the-art infrastructure over the past 15 years, with plans to modernize an additional 2,300 miles by 2038. In this time, Huwar has also overseen a 17% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 2021, a key factor in Essential Utilities 25% reduction in emissions in the same time, putting the company ahead of its goal to reduce emissions 60% from a 2019 baseline by 2035.In addition to modernization and emissions reduction, Huwar has emphasized safety, reliability and sustainability at Peoples, with the company making positive strides in pipeline damage prevention, leak monitoring and repair, and showcasing innovative use cases for natural gas in areas including microgrids and hydrogen production. Before joining Peoples, Huwar enjoyed a 34-year career with Columbia Gas, serving in numerous director and vice president roles throughout the organizations operating companies before becoming president and COO of Columbias Pennsylvania and Maryland operations in 2017. There, he led 800+ company employees in their work to deliver safe and reliable natural gas to nearly 470,000 customers. Huwar currently serves on the board of directors for the American Gas Association and Allegheny Conference on Community Development. He is also chairman of the board for the Energy Association of Pennsylvania and co-chair of Pittsburgh Works Together. He formerly served on the board of directors for the Marcellus Shale Coalition, the Pennsylvania State Registration Board for Architects, Land Surveyors and Geologists, and Virginia Utility Protection Services (VUPS), Virginias one call center. Huwar is also active in local philanthropic efforts, having recently served as chair for major Pittsburgh-area events held by the American Heart Association and Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Huwar holds a bachelors degree from the University of Pittsburgh. He is a native of Perryopolis, PA, and currently resides in Franklin Park.

Mike Sicoli, CEO, DQE

Mike Sicoli is CEO of DQE Communications (DQE), a Pittsburgh-based provider of high-capacity, highly resilient connectivity services for businesses and key institutions across Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Maryland, delivered over its extensive owned fiber network. Mike partnered with GI Partners, a private equity firm who invests in digital infrastructure businesses, to buy the company in May 2024 from the Duquesne Light Company (DLC), where it had been an unregulated subsidiary for over 20 years. Mikes primary focus is to accelerate DQEs growth and drive continued operational excellence, following the successful carve-out from DLC. Prior to joining DQE, Mike had a 20+ year career across the telecommunications landscape, spanning wireless, fiber, cable, managed services, and colocation, throughout the US and internationally, in management as well as advisory and board roles. Mike holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from The College of William and Mary and an MBA from The University of Virginia, Darden Graduate School of Business Administration.

Bob Taylor, CTO, Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission

Robert (Bob) Taylor, P.E., serves as the Chief Technology and Growth Officer at the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Focusing on harnessing the power of technology and innovation, he is dedicated to enhancing customer safety and mobility while modernizing business operations. Bob administers the technology program encompassing technology and innovation management customer and business systems; and technology infrastructure, and security. Bob also oversees organizational growth initiatives including but not limited to new infrastructure opportunities, new tolling alternatives, back office as service opportunities in tolling, parking and transit, and software as a service. Bob is the executive sponsor of the Turnpike's Innovation Council and 'Reimagining the Turnpike' initiative. He actively contributes to the PennSTART Operating Committee, the IBTTA Emerging Technology and Agency Technology Leaders committees, and the Smart Belt Coalition. A graduate of The Pennsylvania State University, Bob holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.

Kevin Walker, President and CEO, Duquesne Light

Kevin Walker, President and CEO of Duquesne Light Holdings Inc. (DLH), is playing a leading role in the Pittsburgh regions clean energy transition. With more than 30 years of experience in various roles at multiple utilities across the country, Walker is strategically positioning DLH, which includes Duquesne Light Company (DLC) and The Efficiency Network, to serve as a trusted partner for all. Prior to joining DLC as chief operating officer (COO) in April 2020, Walker served various executive appointments including senior vice president of Customer and Operations Services and Nuclear Decommissioning at Southern California Edison, and COO posts at Iberdrola and American Electric Power. Walker is also a proud veteran of the U.S. Army, and holds a bachelors degree in civil engineering from West Point Academy and an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

Reflect on the day's insights, key takeaways from speakers and panels, and the path forward for Pennsylvania's data center, energy, and innovation ecosystem. Wrap up with thanks to attendees and a look toward future opportunities.

Audrey Russo, President & CEO, Pittsburgh Technology Council

Chris Massetti, CEO, Donwil

Jamie White, President, LLI Engineering