Our Team

Bennett Byerley

Director, Finance

Bennett focuses on the intersection of climate policy and finance to advance the clean energy transition and equitable economic development. Previously, Bennett co-founded and served as COO at Verb Energy, Inc, a food and beverage brand making caffeinated protein and energy bars with healthy, clean ingredients. Founded during his undergraduate years, the company grew to be a leading food & beverage startup with a nationwide presence and was acquired this past year. He completed a Master's in Sustainability Management from Columbia, where he volunteered with the Legal Pathways to Deep Decarbonization Model Law Project to streamline the crafting of state climate legislation. Prior, he graduated from Yale with degree in Ethics, Politics, and Economics in 2019. Originally from North Carolina, he now lives in New York with his wife, Sonia, an OBGYN resident at NYU.

Melissa Cheatham

State Support Center Program Director

Melissa has worked to advance the clean energy transformation in both local and federal government. She served as Professional Staff for the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Energy and Environment Subcommittee under Chairman Henry Waxman and previously worked in the Washington, DC office of the Natural Resources Defense Council. Melissa is a champion for local progress as an elected City Council Member in Overland Park, Kansas, where she lives with her husband and two children.

Rachel Chamberlain

State Energy Strategist

Rachel has spent her career helping states translate climate and energy ambition into practical, durable policies and programs. She most recently led state decarbonization and climate planning efforts at the Utah Department of Environmental Quality. Her background spans state policy development, atmospheric science, and Clean Air Act implementation, as well as research on climate impacts to wetland ecosystems. She previously worked in residential and commercial new construction, with a focus on low-carbon building practices, including working at NYSERDA on their Carbon Neutral Buildings Program. She lives in Utah with her partner, James, and their dog, Otis, and enjoys mountain biking and gardening.

Karin Krisdiva

Spring Fellow

Karin’s work focuses on federal and international energy policy. She previously worked at the World Resources Institute and Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), where she supported stakeholder engagement, clean energy tax credit research, and authored a product on the impact of the federal policy on the domestic EV supply chain. Karin has also worked at Local Clean Energy Alliance (LCEA), an energy democracy organization based in Oakland, where she grew an interest in community resilience, Virtual Power Plants, and state-level energy policy. She completed her M.A. in International Relations from San Francisco State University, where she focused on economic development and international energy policy. Karin lives in the Bay Area with her husband, who works as an AI Engineer.

Cory Connolly

Senior Advisor

Cory has spent his career working to address climate change and advance clean energy through state policy, network building, and project development and finance. He most recently led Michigan’s Office of Climate and Energy as chief climate officer, leading the development and implementation of Michigan’s statewide climate plan. He has served as vice president of the Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council and facilitated financing for clean energy projects as chief operating officer for Lean & Green Michigan. In addition to his current role at S2 Strategies, he is a visiting scholar at the Environmental Law Institute. Cory was raised in rural northern Michigan, attended college at Michigan State University, and now lives in Detroit with his dog, Diego.

Franz Hochstrasser

Senior Advisor

Franz was the Founding CEO and Co-founder of the climate investment platform Raise Green and New Haven Community Solar. With over 15 years of experience in clean energy and climate, he spent 8 years in the Obama Administration, as Senior Advisor to the Special Envoy for Climate Change at the State Department, where he played a key role in negotiating the Paris Agreement. His previous roles include working on energy, environment, and climate policy at the White House CEQ, and conservation, energy, food security, data, and science policy at the USDA. Franz also worked on Obama’s presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2012.

Arjun Krishnaswami

Senior Advisor

Arjun has spent his career fighting for federal and state policies to address climate change and improve peoples’ lives. He most recently served as the Senior Policy Advisor for Clean Energy Infrastructure at the White House, supporting implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law across tax, electricity, manufacturing, and supply-chain policy. Arjun previously was an advisor in the U.S. Department of Energy and the Climate Policy Lead for Innovation at NRDC, where he conducted energy system modeling and worked on clean energy legislation. He has a master’s degree in fluid mechanics and hydrology and a bachelor’s in engineering from Stanford University. Originally from Florida, Arjun now lives in Washington, D.C.

Gabriela Matute

Administrative Assistant

Gabriela is a skilled administrative professional with years of experience across a variety of industries, including merchandising, mental health, manufacturing, aviation, customer service, and law. She holds degrees in Marketing and Administration, along with an MBA, and has served in various capacities such as Operations Team Manager, Project Coordinator, Customer Care Coordinator, and Administrative Assistant. This cross-functional background has sharpened her problem-solving skills and deepened her understanding of how to support operations. Gabriela is proud to work remotely from Honduras.

Alicia Noriega

Program Director, Clean Energy

Alicia’s career has spanned the international development, energy policy and program design, and climate-tech startup spaces. Alicia was a Program Director responsible for launching and scaling an $11M DOE Connected Communities project while at Edo Energy. She also ran a nationally recognized smart buildings market transformation program while at New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Alicia has a background in urban planning and is passionate about the impact of city and state action in advancing climate and clean energy progress. Alicia currently lives in New Jersey with her husband, children, and their beloved mutt, Oscar.

Sandie Raines

Chief of Staff

Sandie has centered innovation and community in her work on clean energy policy and implementation. She previously served as an advisor to the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy and in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, where she focused on industrial decarbonization, siting, and inclusive innovation. Prior to joining the Department of Energy, Sandie worked in organizing roles across Michigan, Texas, and Iowa. Sandie is a former professional runner who represented Team USA in international competitions. Originally from Texas, she now lives in Washington, D.C., and remains an avid track and field fan.

Rekha Rao

Managing Director, Clean Energy

Rekha has dedicated her career to shaping state and federal clean energy policy. Most recently, as a Senior Director at the Climate Imperative Foundation, she developed and led the organization's work in the U.S. electricity sector. She has also led legislative and regulatory policy development for organizations in both the private and non-profit sectors, including Pacific Gas and Electric Company. Before that, she spent several years in Washington, D.C., working for two energy law firms where she advised clients on energy project development. A native of Southern California, Rekha is a graduate of UCLA (Go Bruins!) and holds a law degree from American University. She now lives in the Bay Area with her husband, daughter, and giant labradoodle.

Andrea Siezar

Operations Manager

Andrea is a seasoned operations professional with over 10 years of experience optimizing business processes across a variety of industries. She specializes in streamlining finance updates, HR operations, quality assurance, and workforce management to drive efficiency and organizational growth. With a keen eye for operational excellence, Andrea ensures seamless administrative and strategic execution, fostering a high-performance work environment. She holds a BA in Tourism & Hospitality Business Administration and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from Keiser University. Andrea provides remote support to our team from Nicaragua, where she lives with her husband.