Large commercial and industrial power consumers are exposed to an ever-increasing array of new opportunities and technologies at the grid edge – many of which can have a material impact on the how they manage their energy use, interact with grid services and, more broadly, conduct day-to-day business operations. The options available to customers are growing rapidly and becoming more complex. This panel will bring together experts from large energy consumers to highlight:

  • Energy management and optimization
  • Building, facility or campus operations
  • Corporate sustainability efforts
  • Renewable or alternative energy sources

Moderator:

Steve Propper – Director, Grid Edge, GTM Research

Steve Propper manages GTM Research’s Grid Edge program, which includes chairing the annual Grid Edge World Forum conference, overseeing the Grid Edge Executive Council, and developing research related to the changing regulatory and business models associated with the energy system of the future. Before GTM, Steve was a manager at Ernst & Young, advising power and utility companies on business planning, customer engagement, and operational improvement initiatives. Prior to that, Steve spent multiple years at PG&E in a variety of customer engagement and program management roles, ranging from smart grid deployment to energy efficiency and demand-side management initiatives. Steve holds an MBA from INSEAD and a bachelor's degree in economics from The George Washington University.

Panelists:

Vishnu Barran – Senior Business Development Manager at ENER-G Group Inc.

Vishnu Barran, senior business development manager at ENER-G Rudox Inc., is a chartered engineer and PE (in NYC) with 22 years of experience in an engineering environment ranging from petrochemical and pharmaceutical plant design, materials handling equipment, building services engineering, and energy and sustainability in buildings.

Barran worked in Europe for 20 years and in 2012 relocated with the ENER-G Group to the New York City area. He focuses on holistic energy solutions, energy conservation measures, and on-site generation of power, heat, cooling and steam. Additionally, he works on ESA/PPA/ESCP/capital contracts, carbon abatement, fiscal energy reduction, and “off-balance-sheet” funding for private and public clients. Prior to his work in the United States, Vishnu Barran was based out of ENER-G Group’s U.K. office. Over the course of his career, he has helped develop over 250 combined-heat-and-power projects around the world.

Phil Skalaski – Vice President of Engineering and Energy Services at The Durst Organization

Philip Skalaski is the vice president of engineering and energy services at The Durst Organization. His responsibilities include the management of all mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) systems at the organization’s buildings under development, including One World Trade Center, 855 Avenue of the Americas, 625 W. 57th Street, 600 W. 58th Street, and Halletts Point. In addition, Phil supervises all MEP infrastructure upgrades at the existing buildings in the Durst portfolio to ensure best design practices, as well as proper operation to maximize energy efficiency.

Prior to joining Durst in 2008, he helped design some of the most high-profile building electrical systems, including The Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park, 7 World Trade Center, IBM World Headquarters in Armonk, New York, Revel Casino Hotel Resort and Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey and the R&H Lab Tech Center in Shanghai, China.

Phil advises the New York City Commissioner of Buildings on Electrical Code Technical Standards as a member of the Electrical Code Revision and Interpretation Committee. He is a member of the board of directors for the New York Energy Consumers Council and is a member of the Real Estate Board of New York. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Hofstra University and is a New York licensed professional engineer.

Kirby Brendsel – Associate Director of Sustainability at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Kirby Brendsel is an associate director of sustainability at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., where he supports the strategy, integration and management of sustainability into Starwood’s properties globally. Prior to Starwood, he spent nine years at Deloitte Consulting, where he worked with clients on strategy and sustainability. He began his career with service as an active-duty Military Intelligence Corps Major in the U.S. Army.

Brendsel graduated with distinction and honors from the College of William and Mary with a bachelor's degree in business and from the Jones Graduate School of Management at Rice University with an MBA.

Kylie Sale – Resource Management Specialist, Green Mission at Whole Foods Market

Kylie Sale is the resource management specialist for Whole Foods Market’s Northeast region. Her role at Whole Foods Market encompasses a wide range of support for the company’s Green Mission™ initiatives, including sustainable business practices, environmental stewardship, sustainable design, renewable energy, energy-efficiency upgrades in existing stores, LEED certification projects, waste diversion, team member sustainability engagement, and more. Prior to Whole Foods Market, Sale worked at Skyview Ventures, a solar company in the Northeast U.S. She attended Vassar College and spent several years after graduation in Beijing, China, where she became interested in sustainability and energy issues.