The Nevada NSF EPSCoR 2015 Annual Meeting & External Advisory Committee Meeting

Stakeholder Panel Biographies

Lydia Ball headshot

Lydia Ball, Moderator

Formerly Clean Energy Project

Lydia Ball moved to Nevada after working in Ireland in a collage work abroad program. After working for her first campaign in 2002,  she was hired on as a project manager for a Nevada political consulting firm taking her to Vermont, Arkansas, Montana, Alaska, and California managing field operations for ballot initiatives, grassroots lobbying efforts, non-profit member development and fundraising. In 2006, Lydia joined the Sierra Club where she successfully fought three proposed coal fired power plants by organizing public health, business and environmental organizations. Lydia then joined Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s office in the beginning of 2009 were she worked with Nevada businesses and local governments on applications for Recovery Act funds and acted as a liaison for Senator Reid to the energy community. In 2010, Lydia joined Clean Energy Project in Nevada and built the organization as the leading clean energy organization in the Silver State. Lydia has received numerous community leadership awards including Best Green Advocate in 2013.
Rick Eckert headshot

Rick Eckert

Valley Electric Association

Rick Eckert is a financial professional and administrator with more than 30 years of experience in the utility industry. Much of his career has been spent in financial planning and business development. As the executive chief operating officer, Eckert manages the daily activity of the utility while developing VEA’s strategies for growth. He is part of a team that has restructured VEA financially with the creation of Valley Electric Transmission Association, LLC (VETA) and helped VEA gain acceptance as a participating transmission owner in the California Independent System Operator Corporation.

Prior to joining VEA, Eckert began his career with natural gas utilities before spending more than 20 years at Alaska-based Homer Electric Association, Inc., where he held several positions, including departmental management positions for finance, regulatory affairs and business development. He played a key role in the financial restructure of that utility. He also led the initial development of the Nikiski Co-Generation Project and achieved regulatory approval of its contractual agreements.

Eckert served as a gubernatorial appointee to the Alaska Energy Policy Task Force and was the Kenai Peninsula mayoral appointee to the Tri Borough Energy Policy Task Force. His community service has included numerous positions for various commissions, committees and hospital boards.

Greg Helseth headshot

Greg Helseth

Bureau of Land Management

Greg Helseth is the Southern Nevada Renewable Energy Manager (BLM).  Stationed in Las Vegas Greg has been with the BLM for 5 1/2 years managing the Renewable Energy Coordination Office Southern Nevada District. The BLM team, Greg manages; has 1.92 Gigawatts of approved renewable energy and most recently a successful solar energy zone action. Before the BLM, Greg worked as a Mechanical Engineer, Senior Mechanical Engineer, and Engineering Manager for more than 15 years.  Greg is also a graduate from University of Phoenix with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Green and Stainable Enterprise.
Mike Senn catches fish

Mike Senn

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Mike is currently Field Supervisor for the Southern Nevada Field Office for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service with over 25 years of experience working to find solutions to complex natural resource issues. Starting with the Service in 2012, he currently leads the conservation and recovery of imperiled species by developing effective partnerships with government, private and non-profit land owners and managers, and organizations. Mike developed a deep love and appreciation for our natural resources while hunting, fishing and exploring the woods of Northwestern Wisconsin where he grew up. Before starting a career with the Service in 2012, Mike spent over 23 years with the Arizona Game and Fish Department holding a variety of positions and working with local communities throughout Arizona. Initially starting as a game warden, he spent the last 12 years with the Department as the Assistant Director of both, the Field Operations and Wildlife Management Divisions and a member of the Department’s Executive leadership team.  Mike is an avid hunter and angler, and also enjoys cycling, running and adventure motorcycle touring and has two children with his wife, Deborah, of 25 years.

Marilyn Teague headshot

Marilyn Teague

Sempra

Ms. Marilyn Teague leads the Sempra U.S. Gas & Power (USGP) Environmental, Health and Safety group providing environmental permitting and compliance, due diligence, and safety services for various USGP business interests.   Ms. Teague’s experience includes performing environmental due diligence of acquisition and joint venture opportunities, obtaining environmental permits for renewable generation and natural gas infrastructure projects, including air, water, protected species, subsurface, zoning, and conditional use permits and federal rights-of-way.  Ms. Teague supports environmental and safety compliance activities at USGP construction sites and is an environmental and safety resource for the USGP facility operations groups.
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