Energy²⁰²³

Since 2016, Ken Nolan has served as Vermont Public Power Supply Authority’s (VPPSA) General Manager. He joined the Authority with more than 30 years of electric utility experience. Previously, he held positions in power supply and resource planning, including 10 years at VPPSA (1988 to 1998). He then moved to the municipal utility, Burlington Electric Department, where he progressed his career from resource planning and management to Chief Operations Officer and Manager of Strategy and Innovation. In addition to his responsibilities with VPPSA, Ken serves on the Boards of Directors for Vermont Electric Power Company, Hometown Connections Inc., and VEPP Inc. Ken holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Vermont.

SaLisa L. Berrien, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of COI Energy, has over 25 years of experience in the electric power and smart grid space. From working in vertically integrated utilities (PP&L and PECO Energy) prior to deregulation to ConEdison Solutions a deregulated energy services company, and then on to Smart Grid, Clean Tech, Big Data Analytics, and SaaS Solutions, Ms. Berrien has had a diverse career in the energy space. In her early career, she sold the first electric vehicle (G-Van) in the Northeast region. She later went on to help EnerNOC move to #1 Demand Response company in the industry.

Ms. Berrien is also the Founder and Board Chair of STRIVE Inc., a 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded in 1995, which focuses on STEM leadership development training for students in 3rd through 12th grades. In 2013, she established COI Ladder Institute to focus on delivering leadership and empowerment services to millennials and women. Annually, COI Ladder Institute hosts a Women’s Business Leadership Retreat Conference in Martha’s Vineyard.

Since 1996, Ms. Berrien established several scholarship funds for high school and college students. Her first scholarship, the Jackson-Stephens Excellence Award, was named in honor of her maternal and paternal grandparents for paving the way so that she might have better opportunities in life. In 2004, she established the Karl H. Lewis Engineering Impact Alumni Endowment at the University of Pittsburgh for students of African descent enrolled in engineering. She later established the Talibah M. Yazid Academic Excellence scholarship for college bound high school seniors with a GPA greater than 3.0 to honor her aunt’s legacy as an educator.

Ms. Berrien holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and an Executive MBA from Saint Joseph’s University. She’s been a guest speaker at various conferences and events including SXSW, NSBE, the University of Pittsburgh, Florida’s Women in Energy Leadership Forum, American Society for Engineering Education Annual Convention, Microsoft’s Women Speaker Series, SAP’s Catalyst Summit, JLL AABN Florida, Wm. Allen High School Commencement Speaker, Morgan Stanley’s Sustainable Futures Summit, and a host of women in technology speaking engagements.
Ms. Berrien has been recognized with service awards from the City of Bethlehem, Lehigh University, the National Society of Black Engineers, and the YWCA. She is also the recipient of the National Council of Negro Women Mary Jackson Engineering Award and the Allentown Human Relations Commission Human Relations Award.

Darren Springer is the General Manager at Burlington Electric Department (BED). He previously served as Burlington Electric’s Chief Operating Officer and led the Center for Innovation team which includes the Policy & Planning, Finance, Information Technology and Energy Services divisions.

Prior to joining BED, Darren served as Chief of Staff for the Office of Governor Peter Shumlin. Before working in the Governor’s Office, Darren was appointed as Deputy Commissioner at the Vermont Public Service Department, leading the advancement of the 2014 net metering law and 2015 renewable energy standard.

Darren worked for 4 years in the Washington, D.C. Office of U.S. Senator Bernard Sanders as Senior Policy Advisor for Energy & Environment, and later as Chief Counsel. He has also worked for the National Governors Association as Program Director for Energy and Transportation. Darren has a B.A. from Florida Atlantic University and earned a J.D. and Master of Studies in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School. While at Vermont Law School, he was selected as Managing Editor of the Vermont Law Review, and clerked for U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy on the Senate Judiciary Committee. He is a member of the Vermont Bar, Virginia Bar, and Florida Bar. Darren has also served as a Policy Fellow on Climate Change and Renewable Energy at the University of Vermont Center for Research on Vermont.

Simeon Chapin is the Head of Social Impact, NEFCU+VSECU, a values-based credit union located in Vermont, and has over a decade of experience driving business, brands, and engagement toward social good. Simeon specializes in business development and manages strategy and execution, measurement, public and community relations, impact investing, and philanthropy. With a creative, integrated, and rigorous approach, Simeon brings people together to propel positive change and culture forward. He serves on the board of Vermont Heritage Financial Group and is the President of the VSECU Foundation.