March/April 2021 | Vol. 26 No. 2

In an 1899 letter, the “Father of Electricity” Michael Faraday wrote, “I happen to have discovered a direct relation between magnetism and light, also electricity and light, and the field it opens is so large and I think rich.” As Senior Manager of Government Relations and Legal Analysis at NEMA, I believe the vast diversity of the issues I manage for NEMA Members validates his assertion.

Serving all seven NEMA Divisions, I provide strategic advocacy and legal analysis for dozens of product sectors across a variety of electrical technology issues, including cybersecurity, critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, grid modernization, and others.

In addition to getting a “charge” (pun intended!) out of the broad scope of NEMA Members’ electrical products, I am interested in electricity’s “potential.” And by potential, I don’t mean “the amount of work needed to move a unit charge from a reference point to a specific point against an electric field.” I instead refer to the potential for electrical energy to become “greener” over time. A subset of renewable energy, green power represents any electricity produced through resources and technologies that provide the highest environmental benefit and lowest carbon footprints. Each product made by every NEMA Member holds this paradigm-shifting potential.

I strive to help NEMA Members’ products reach their full potential and to help NEMA Members meet their policy goals. As a trained scientist, licensed attorney, and experienced policy expert, I can proficiently represent the electroindustry to federal and state legislators and regulators. My diverse professional background— working with non-governmental organizations, government, and industry— provides me with a unique perspective that allows me to brush away the artificial “line in the sand” that polarizes stakeholder viewpoints to the detriment of solving difficult regulatory challenges. I enjoy working with NEMA Members to develop and implement strategies to champion their causes at every level of government.

Outside of work, you might find me at the top of a mountain or at the bottom of an ocean as I enjoy both snowboarding and scuba diving—I once did both in the same day! But my favorite pursuit is nature photography—my work can be seen here. From the white slopes of Australia to the blue waters of Midway Atoll, my adventures have allowed me to travel far and wide, but what I enjoy most is sharing these passions with others. Throughout the years, I have been a professional instructor of all three activities.

My friends tease me that facing off oceanic whitetip sharks in the middle of the Pacific Ocean was equal to law school in preparing me for policy work inside the Beltway. But seriously, I love challenges and look forward to continuing to tackle the toughest tasks in 2021 and beyond. ei