Our Team

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.

​Andrea grew up in Honduras and Costa Rica surrounded by a family deeply immersed in conservation and the environment. She later spent eight years in Los Angeles, California before moving to Washington, D.C. to pursue a career in Communications. She was previously a Communications Manager at a conservation non-profit focused in Latin America and a Communications Designer at the Mexican Cultural Institute of the Embassy of Mexico in Washington, DC.  Andrea enjoys traveling, film photography and petting every dog in the city.

André is a technologist with international background in software engineering and product development.

Prior to joining BDC, André was Chief Product Officer for Oliver Wyman Retail Solutions and Director with Oliver Wyman Digital, creating AI-driven tools to empower large corporations to make more customer-centric decisions. Before then, he donned various hats, including engineering manager, solution architect, product manager, and software engineer. He delivered solutions for clients across retail, telecommunications, investment banking, and the public sector.

After two decades in technology and management consulting, André made a decision to focus his career on climate change, working toward an electrified future powered by clean energy.

Andrew is the Senior Website Associate responsible for managing the back end of the company’s websites and web tools. His duties include executing content updates, improving user experience, analyzing data, and tracking the performance of all properties. Prior to joining BDC, Andrew gained extensive experience in website management, cybersecurity, and marketing. He excels in ensuring optimal website functionality and performance while implementing measures to safeguard data and protect against online threats.

Prior to BDC, Ania was a founding director of Case Associates, a consulting company that provides management assistance to nonprofit organizations. She was also a community organizer working with multiple organizations and alliances to drive action on climate change. For example, she was on the Mothers Out Front (MOF) Massachusetts leadership team, led the Downtown MOF Boston team, and is the board president of HEET. She also co-founded and coordinated the Gas Leaks Allies, a collaboration of over 25 nonprofit organizations, working to transition the Massachusetts gas system to renewable thermal energy.

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.

Ashley comes to the BDC from leading the Net Zero Imperative at ULI, a nonprofit education and research institute that focuses on issues of land use, real estate, and urban development.  She got her start as a Sustainability Project Manager at LivCor, a Blackstone Portfolio Company where she was instrumental in laying the foundation for the multifamily firm’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) department and driving their sustainability programming forward. A Chicago native, she now lives in Texas with her small but growing family.

Prior to joining the BDC, Beckie worked energy programs for CCAs for nearly ten years, working both at MCE and most recently at East Bay Community Energy. Beckie has also worked at both the California Energy Commission and the California Public Utilities Commission, in addition to overseeing Distributed Energy Resources Programs at the Center for Sustainable Energy. 

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.

Carlos is the Senior Industry Engagement Manager responsible for earning the participation and support of state and municipal policymakers, manufacturers, contractors, unions, and environmental justice advocates. Prior to this role, Carlos was Federal Policy Manager at Bloom Energy, responsible for advancing legislative, regulatory, and business development efforts before policymakers, legislators, regulators, trade associations and industry partners. Prior to Bloom, Carlos has over a decade of energy and climate change mitigation experience working at numerous organizations and institutions such as the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance, Harvard University, Peace Corps, and Hudson Riverkeeper.

Prior to BDC, Mrs. Apaliski ran her own consulting business Sustainability Concierge helping people update every aspect of their home life toward sustainability. Previous to that she was the head of marketing at the San Francisco Department of the Environment where she worked with multiple sectors to develop measurable campaigns big and small. Before focusing on the environment, she spent eight years in the advertising industry working to help brands reach and engage their desired audiences.

Prior to joining the BDC, Jacqueline served as Housing California’s Policy Associate, where she engaged in statewide legislation and coalition work around housing instability, homelessness, and intersecting policy areas. Jacqueline is passionate about building collaboration and comprehensive solutions for vulnerable communities. This interest has led her to work on various issues, including health equity, economic development, and resource instability. A Los Angeles native, Jacqueline holds an undergraduate degree in Anthropology with a minor in Global Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles, and graduate degrees in Public Administration and Social Work from the University of Southern California.

Jessica’s background spans climate change and food security research, landscape design, marketing, and meal prep. She draws from these experiences to cook up events rooted in an ethic of imagination, solidarity, and care. Jessica holds a BA in Earth and Planetary Science from Harvard University. In her free time she enjoys mobile photography and shopping for plants she doesn’t have space for.​

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.​

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.

Prior to joining BDC, Julie served as the finance manager at L.A. Works, where she managed and streamlined financial systems. Previously, she served as the finance manager for multiple nonprofits where she developed an extensive background in nonprofit accounting, budget management, and financial process development. With degrees in Sociology and Sustainability she spends her time supporting initiatives that address multilateral challenges with an end goal of intergenerational equality, environmental and economic sustainability, and social equity. She currently lives in Albuquerque NM, where she can be found exploring the great outdoors with her dogs and fiancé.

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.

Prior to joining the BDC, Katharine spent 5 years at Salesforce in thought leadership content marketing and market research. She is also a PMP certified project manager and Agile Scrum Master. Having lived through climate-change related disasters such as Hurricane Sandy in New York and smoky air and orange skies in California, she decided to pivot into building decarbonization to make climate action part of her career in 2023. She also enjoys teaching yoga, meditation, and going on hikes.

Kristin helps build the relational infrastructure for the broader building decarbonization movement. She holds a PhD from University of California, Davis, where she studied the relationship between energy transitions, cultural production, and social movements, and an MFA from Colorado State University. She has previously worked for non-profit housing and healthcare organizations that serve vulnerable communities. She is also a published author and currently lives in Sacramento, CA.

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.

Leslie joins BDC as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Director. With a diverse background that includes working in television production, finance, and nonprofits, Leslie has an extensive background in executive support, project management, consumer inspiration, and event production.

Leslie lives near Joshua Tree, CA with her dog, Walter, and her cat, McRib, and enjoys travel and adventuring.

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 megawatts of electricity from wind, the nation’s largest amount of wind generated energy.

Makario is a senior storyteller and science communicator with many years of experience creating high-end, innovative content for broadcast and digital platforms. He has worked as a showrunner, writer, and producer on projects for National Geographic, Science Channel, Discovery Channel, and YouTube. More recently, he worked as a communications fellow in the US Senate and environmental analyst with the NASA DEVELOP program, using Earth observations to monitor Federally Endangered wild Atlantic salmon habitat in Maine. Makario received his B.A. in Asian Studies and Japanese from Skidmore College and recently received his M.S. in Environmental Sciences and Policy, with a concentration in International Environmental Policy, from Johns Hopkins University. He is passionate about addressing environmental justice issues and highlighting solutions to climate change.

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 New Hampshire with his wife, two sons, and dog.

Before joining BDC, Nicole served as the Deputy Director for Legislative Affairs at the NYC Mayor’s Office of Climate and Sustainability, where she worked to pass priority legislation, including bills to electrify buildings and school buses. Prior to the Mayor’s Office, Nicole worked as a senior legislative attorney at the New York City Council. At the City Council, Nicole worked on legislation including Local Law 97, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in large buildings, and legislation creating commercial waste zones and advancing waste equity.

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  at cybersecurity startup Semperis, where her focus was on new hire onboarding and employee experience. Nicole recently  earned  a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification from HRCI. She resides in Queens, NY and enjoys spending time with her family, making natural homemade soap, and volunteering at a local animal shelter.

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.

​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.

Chef Rachelle Boucher is a celebrated cooking appliance expert and event producer. After years of adventure as a top-tier private chef, Rachelle was recruited into the luxury appliance industry, creating her own position as an influential Culinary Events and Marketing Manager for brands such as Miele, SubZero & Wolf and many others. It was there that she found her calling as a leading advocate for induction cooking and what she calls “today’s super-powered, safe and sustainable electric kitchens”. She has been featured in numerous videos, podcasts and publications including on the front page of the New York Times Food Section, converting legendary food journalist Melissa Clark into an induction cooking fan. When she unplugs, you will likely find her whale watching, hiking and reveling in the wonders of nature in her beloved town of Pacifica, CA.

Prior to joining BDC, Robin served as Communications Manager for the Santa Monica Conservancy where she developed and implemented strategic communications for advocacy, fundraising, membership, and programs. She has also taught college-level writing and contributed to contemporary arts publications. She holds a MFA in writing from the Johns Hopkins University and a BA in literature and writing from UC San Diego. She lives in Los Angeles with her daughter.

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.

Rose Stephens-Booker is an award winning energy professional with a mission to build relationships and business strategies that advocate for climate and clean energy policies. She most recently served the Biden-Harris Administration as a presidential appointee within the Department of Energy; charged with connecting the Department’s resources and technical assistance with local communities, states, Tribal nations and external stakeholders. Prior to her appointment, Rose worked as a Senior Associate at BlocPower, where she developed and managed the company’s partnership strategy to bring clean energy solutions to vulnerable communities across America. Before obtaining her MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler’s Business School in 2020, she spent over eight years with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Program focused on market transformation and public-private partnerships. She began her career as a sustainability consultant overseeing issue-based awareness campaigns (with media influencers such as, The Today Show and The Ellen Show) for various utilities, federal, state and local governments.

Along with Rose’s commitment to decarbonizing the built environment she serves as a Board Member to the nonprofit organization called Upstream, advancing solutions to plastic pollution by helping people and businesses shift from single-use to reuse; and, as a member of the Energy and Climate Change Task Force for the City of Alexandria where she resides with her family. 

Shweta’s professional experience is in the Aerospace industry where she worked as a Power Systems Engineer on  Electric Aircraft technologies. Prior to joining BDC, she pivoted her career into Climate, working as a Program Manager for Cool Irvine to support the City of Irvine achieve Carbon Neutrality by 2030. Shweta is currently pursuing her Master’s in Environmental Science and Policy from Johns Hopkins University. She holds a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Dallas. She was born in Bangalore, India and currently lives in Irvine, California.

Stephanie Tsai is a policy advocate, political strategist, organizer, and researcher focused on the intersection of climate and environmental justice, labor, and high road workforce development. She has worked on policy and electoral campaigns for over a decade and is passionate about building coalitions around shared values and uplifting equity for low income communities of color and workers.

Stephanie has worked with the California Environmental Justice Alliance (CEJA), the California Workforce Development Board, the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE), the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, the Los Angeles Black Worker Center, Rising Sun Center for Opportunity, and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, as well as a few elected officials and others. She has a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from UCLA and a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley.

Ted Tiffany has over 20 years experience working in the energy industry. Starting from the commercial construction field, building expertise in energy performance modeling, engineering support, architectural consulting, and policy development he has emerged as one of the leading experts in building decarbonization and grid harmonization in his field. With expertise in complex building design, from houses to hospitals, efficiency engineering, renewable energy systems, microgrid design, he’s able to navigate the policy impacts of rate design, grid interaction, and the pathways to ending fossil fuel use in buildings. His prime focus is improving the educational outreach to get electrification and building decarbonization into the mainstream of design, construction, and policy.