Clean Energy Access Working Group Bios
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
CLEAN ENERGY ACCESS WORKING GROUP BIOS American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE) and CPUC Low Income Oversight Board To provide an avenue for networking and development for professionals and entrepreneurs in the energy industry; To Identify, develop, and equip the next generation of minority students to take on careers in the energy industry; and To Inform and educate the minority community within California on energy services and technologies that can impact their energy usage and budgets. Patricia Watts | Chair BOD, AABE & President/CEO, FCI Management Consultants Patricia Watts is President and CEO of Faith Com Inc., dba/FCI Management (FCI). Founded in 1998, FCI is a full-service energy/water consulting company offering a broad level of expertise in energy/water efficiency services. Today, FCI is a certified, woman owned, minority, corporation, headquartered in Long Beach, CA with offices in New York and Georgia. Ms. Watts developed her knowledge and skills from an expansive 24-year career in the electric utility industry with Southern California Edison. During which time she held management and supervisory positions in customer service, energy services, marketing, public affairs and community relations. This experience allowed her to acquire an in-depth knowledge of the electric utility industry in both the regulated and deregulated environments. Ms. Watts is very active in the community and illustrates her commitment through work on several boards in the City of Los Angeles and the State of California. She is a member of the Board of Directors and serves as the Treasurer for “Goals for Life” a non-profit organization that provides mentoring programs for at-risk students. She is also a member of the Board of Directors for Community Build, a non-profit community development organization which focuses on bringing capital investments into South Central Los Angeles. Ms. Watts is on the board of the Koreatown Youth Community Center (KYCC) as well as the California Black Chamber of Commerce. She serves as the Chair of the Minority Business Input Committee (MBEIC) which is a subcommittee of the Southern California Minority Business Development Council (SCMBDC). She has been a member of the Low-Income Oversight Board (LIOB) under the CPUC and was recently made Vice President. Ms. Watts has received numerous awards for her work in the energy efficiency community. Ms. Watts majored in Business Management at the University of La Verne, California. She attended the Minority Business Executive Program and the Advanced Minority Business Executive Program, at the Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth University. In June of 2013, Ms. Watts was selected to attend NMSDC’s Advanced Management Education Program, Kellogg Executive Education. Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL. This year, 2017, she was certified as an Energy Efficiency Practitioner. American Solar Advantage American Solar Advantage (ASA), a California-based solar company, is changing the solar industry one client at a time. We provide quality services, utilize top of the line products, and strive to exceed customer expectations every single time. With a combined 30 years' of experience, we bring a wealth of knowledge to every project, completing each one as quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively as possible. ASA employs highly experienced and skilled team members that are committed to providing you with the best experience possible. Over 70% of our business comes from customer referrals because it is our mission and sole focus to exceed your expectations, provide competitive pricing, and to install a system that provides the financial benefits you are hoping for. Bobby D Harris III, PE | Founder and President Bobby Harris is the Founder and President of American Solar Advantage, Inc. (ASA). With more than 15 years of engineering, utility, technology, construction, project management, and executive management expertise, Mr. Harris leads ASA with a vision unparalleled in the industry. With quality engineering, construction, and customer service as the pillars of ASA, Mr. Harris strives to make an impact in the solar industry bringing energy production and customer cost savings to the forefront of the discussion. Bobby Harris manages corporate direction and strategy at ASA, facilitating company activity in sales, marketing, technology, installation, customer satisfaction, and support. He is also responsible for developing ASA’s network marketing division in 2017 providing greater opportunities for individuals to strengthen their leadership and business development skills in this ever-changing, hyper-growing industry. Bobby Harris graduated from the University of California at Riverside (UCR) in 2002, earning his bachelor of science degree in Electrical Engineering. Mr. Harris served in numerous organizations on campus such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), and African Student Union (ASU). Mr. Harris received his professional engineering license in 2009 and his contractor’s license in 2015 making him one of few to hold both licenses simultaneously in the state of California. In addition to leading American Solar Advantage, Inc., Bobby Harris is also the Founder and President of BDH Engineering & Construction where they specialize in electrical and structural engineering consulting and construction installation projects with an emphasis on power distribution and renewable energy. Previously, Mr. Harris served as Principal Engineer and Operations Manager at Riverside Public Utilities (RPU), where his focus on customers, innovation, improved operational efficiency, and technology catapulted him to not only become the first African American to hold these well regarded positions but also the youngest in RPU’s history. “We aren’t just installing solar for the sake of installing solar. Our goal is to produce cheaper cleaner energy to replace our customer’s dependency on higher cost energy while also making a positive impact on our environment” -Bobby Harris Asian Pacific Policy & Planning Council (A3PCON) The Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council (A3PCON) is a coalition of community-based organizations that advocates for the rights and needs of the Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) Community in the greater Los Angeles area, with a particular focus on low income, immigrant, refugee and other disadvantaged sectors of the population. Work includes: Environmental Justice Committee To engage in activities that will encourage and empower API community members to become strong advocates of environmental health, safety, equality and preservation. To continue to advocate feasible and earth-friendly solutions to mitigate and/or eliminate existing harmful conditions, particularly those in API and low-income neighborhoods. To develop strong alliances with other community-based organizations that will provide a united and cohesive position in support of environmental health, safety and equity. Celia Andrade | Director, Energy & Environmental Services Department, PACE and Environmental Justice Committee Co-Chair, A3PCON Celia has more than 20 years’ experience in developing and successfully managing programs and projects in the fields of publishing, marketing and energy efficiency. She was born and raised in Manila, Philippines where she completed her Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Communications from the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. She completed her Master in Public Administration from California State University, Long Beach in one and a half years, earning a 4.0 GPA while working full time. She represents PACE in several community organizations dedicated to promoting API, energy efficiency and environmental justice concerns in various capacities: Co-Chair, A3PCON Environmental Justice Committee; Member, Association of Women in Water, Energy & Environment (AWWEE) Los Angeles Regional Leadership Team; Member, Asian Pacific Community Fund (APCF) Campaign Committee; Member, California Climate Equity Coalition (CCEC) Energy Committee; Member, Asian Pacific American Climate Change Coalition (APACCC); Member, Association of California Community & Energy Services (ACCES); Member, Cal EPA Disadvantaged Community (DAC) Outreach Stakeholder Group; Member, 350.org; Member, CSD LIWP Stakeholder Group; Member, East Los Angeles College (ELAC) Engineering & Technologies Department Advisory Group; Member, Los Angeles (LA)Sustainability PLAn Stakeholder Group; Member, National Association of Professional Women (NAPW). Celia loves to watch TV, movies and read. Her latest craze: watching Korean soaps and historical dramas. Asian Pacific Islander Forward Movement API Forward Movement, formerly known as APIOPA, is a division of Special Service for Groups, Inc. (SSG). We cultivate healthy, long-lasting, and vibrant Asian and Pacific Islander communities through grassroots organizing. Our Mission We cultivate healthy, long-lasting, and vibrant Asian and Pacific Islander communities through grassroots organizing. Our Vision We want a world where Asian and Pacific Islander communities – and all communities of color – have full power to access good health and a healthy environment. Our Team API Forward Movement is driven by advocates who are passionate about health equity, the environment, food access, and social justice. Our core staff collaborates closely with community members, organizational partners, youth activists, researchers, and other local leaders on a