Kurt Stradley

Ken Schilz

Michael Knapp

Jon M. Sonneberg

Jennifer Williams

TONY BAUMERT, INDUSTRY EXPERT, ENVIRONMENTAL, OLSSON

Tony is an ecologist and biologist with expertise in environmental planning and permitting. As a lead scientist, he has worked in several markets including federal, state, and local government clients on transportation, water, energy, and land development projects.

As a project manager or task leader, Tony has worked on projects involving NEPA document preparation, Section 404 permitting, wetland delineation, stream assessments, restoration and mitigation plans, threatened and endangered (T&E) species surveys, invasive species management, and habitat restoration.

Tony has worked with a wide range of clients including municipalities, counties, states, and federal agencies, as well as private clients in the energy and land development sectors, navigating environmental regulations to help turn concepts and ideas into real world solutions.

David L. Bracht, Of Counsel, Kutak Rock , Past Director, nebraska energy office

David has more than 30 years' experience in business, government and law, including private legal practice and senior executive experience in private industry and federal and state government agencies. He advises clients involved in renewable energy development including biofuels, biomass and wind energy, as well as agribusinesses and businesses involved in production and processing of agriculture products.

Previously David was appointed Director of the Nebraska Energy Office by Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts in January 2015. He was a member of the Governor's Cabinet and principal advisor on energy policy, managing agency operations including administration of annual grants of $5 million, a revolving loan energy loan program with $48 million in assets, and State Energy Program activities and various energy efficiency and renewable energy grant programs. He served as Director until August 1, 2018, and then re-joined Kutak Rock after having practiced with the firm from 1997 to 2000.

Claire Burch, Scientist, Olsson

Claire Burch is a Scientist within the Utility Environmental Sciences team at Olsson. In her role, Claire works with clients on the planning and permitting of utility-scale wind and solar projects across the Great Plains region, working on projects from initial site due diligence through construction compliance and monitoring. She has also assisted municipalities, tribal nations, private organizations, and universities with evaluating solar feasibility at a commercial or community scale as well as assisting with grant applications to pursue funding for those projects. Claire is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Oklahoma in Geography and Environmental Sustainability, where her research focuses on the environmental permitting of utility-scale wind and solar development. She is actively engaged in outreach and education opportunities in the renewable energy sector, including her role as President-Elect of the Oklahoma Renewable Energy Council and her previous work managing a research experience for teachers on the University of Oklahoma’s campus. Claire is a new member of the Nebraska Wind and Solar Conference planning committee, joining this year.

Joe francis, FORMER ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, NEBRASKA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

At the end of the very memorable 2020 Joe retired after 45 with the Department of Environment and Energy. Joe was active in the merger of the Nebraska Energy Office and the Department of Environmental Quality and participated in the operations of the energy side of the new Department. Joe is involved in a number of environmental and energy efforts including participating on the Wind and Solar Conference Planning Committee. Joe is active in the Nebraska Land Trust, and serves as Treasurer, and is a member of the Finance Committee of Wachiska Audubon, the local chapter of the National Audubon Society. Joe’s grand children (and “children”) along with visits to his Father-in-law’s farm along with gravel biking and golf have come in handy in delaying many long delayed, waiting for retirement, household projects.

COURTNEY KENNEDY, PE, President, POWER DELIVERY SERVICES, INC.

Courtney is the president of Power Delivery Services, a small business serving Nebraska utilities for 30 years. Courtney has over a decade in the utility industry leading teams and initiatives in the areas of strategy, operations analysis, and alternative energy. She has deep expertise in alternative energy technologies and how they play a crucial role in grid transformation and advancing energy solutions across Nebraska. Courtney holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering & Spanish from Iowa State University, a Master of Business Administration from Creighton University, and holds a Professional Engineering license. She has been an active member of the Nebraska Wind & Solar Conference planning committee since 2018.

Will Kirby, Transportation Sustainability leader, hdr

Will is a Transportation Sustainability Leader at HDR with significant experience on client sustainability and renewable energy projects. As a Transportation Sustainability Leader, Will leads projects or tasks for clients in decarbonization, electrification, sustainability planning, climate action plans, resiliency planning and more. Will serves as a leader in the business group both locally and nationally to collaborate and develop sustainability initiatives across different project and infrastructure types. He has a BS in Civil and Architectural Engineering from Missouri University of Science & Technology, and an MS in Sustainable Systems Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Rich lombardi, nebraska registered lobbyist and public policy director, the advanced power alliance

The Advanced Power Alliance’s efforts in Nebraska are led by veteran lobbyist Richard Lombardi and his company American Communications Group, Inc.

Over the past three decades, every piece of Nebraska renewable energy legislation, enacted by the nation’s only Unicameral Legislature, has had the involvement of Rich Lombardi. This expertise encompasses and includes statutes which eventually created the Nebraska Energy Office, state solar easements, renewable tax credits, regulatory incentives for renewables and specific wind energy legislation passed since 2008 due to the renewable energy industry’s commitment to advocacy in the state.

Aaron miller, Energy Loan and Planning Section Supervisor, nebraska department of environment and energy (ndee)

Aaron has worked at the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (formerly the Nebraska Energy Office) since 2014.  Aaron is responsible for several State financing and grant programs that promote energy efficiency and renewable energy projects including solar and wind energy. Aaron is also involved with providing key statistics and maps for wind and solar projects across the State.

JOSH MOENNING, MAYOR, CITY OF NORFOLK

Josh Moenning is mayor of the city of Norfolk.  He was elected to the Norfolk City Council in 2012, mayor in 2016, and re-elected in 2020.  He’s worked as director of clean energy group New Power Nebraska and owns and operates a small business in the field of renewable energy development. He also assists his family's beef business and has two children, Molly and Henry. He's worked in the Nebraska Legislature, for the U.S. House of Representatives, and as executive director of the infrastructure development group 4 Lanes 4 Nebraska.  Moenning earned a journalism degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and has completed the Harvard Kennedy School's Climate Change Policy: Economics and Politics executive program.  In 2020, he was selected to serve on the board of directors of the National League of Cities. 

David d. rich, sustainable energy manager, nebraska public power district

Mr. Rich has been employed with Nebraska Public Power District for the past 39 years, currently serving as NPPD’s Sustainable Energy Manager. In this position, Dave is responsible for the development and implementation of NPPD's sustainable energy (renewable energy sources and energy efficiency) strategies. These strategies support NPPD's vision and mission by providing safe, cost-effective, and efficient sustainable energy in a manner that provides renewable energy to NPPD’s resource mix and promotes economic development in an environmentally sound manner.  

Michael shonka, president, solar heat & electric, inc.

Michael Shonka with Solar Heat and Electric has 30 years of experience with solar energy projects, including many applications of solar air, water, and electric systems. Solar electric in Nebraska is growing due to increased utility rates and favorable consumer attitudes toward sustainability. The company has a number of firsts in the state: the first net metering installation, community solar project, center pivot system, and solar-heated greenhouse. Shonka is a solar instructor at community colleges in Nebraska and Iowa.

Kurt stradley, engineer, lincoln electric system

Kurt Stradley is an engineer in the resource and transmission planning area at Lincoln Electric System. His responsibilities include monitoring the renewable energy arena. He has been a member of the Nebraska Wind and Solar Conference planning committee for over 10 years. Stradley received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1979 and a Master of Business Administration in 1984, both from the University of Nebraska.

Ken Schilz, Government Affairs Specialist, Nebraska Strategies

Schilz joined Nebraska Strategies after serving for eight years as a Nebraska State Senator, representing ten counties in western Nebraska. Senator Schilz was elected Chairman of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committees and served on the Banking, Commerce and Insurance, Business and Labor, Education, and General Affairs Committees.

Schilz understands the Legislative process in a way that only someone who served in the body can. He is especially skilled at connecting clients with resources across the state. He has worked with various companies to create relationships with communities and other entities to further economic development, entrepreneurship, and job growth within the state. Schilz has excellent relationships with State Senators and is a daily fixture at the Nebraska Capitol.

Before serving in the Legislature, Schilz managed a 20,000 head feed yard for 15 years. He served as president of both Keith County Area Development and Nebraska Water Users and was a member of the Ogallala Planning and Zoning Committee and the Water Policy Task Force representing South Platte Water Users.

Schilz received his B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Schilz and his wife Deb have two children, Jake and Elizabeth.

Michael Knapp, Senior Vice President of Development, Sandhills Energy

Michael Knapp joined Sandhills Energy in 2015. As Senior Vice President of Development he has completed over 1 GW of renewable energy developments across the midwest, with nearly 2 GW currently in development. He has joined the Nebraska Wind and Solar Conference Committee in February 2023. Michael is an elected Village of Cody Board Director, proudly serving in that capacity since 2019.

Jon M. Sunneberg, Utility Scale Alternative Energy Manager, Nebraska Public Power District

Jon is currently the Utility Scale Alternative Energy Manager at Nebraska Public Power District. He has been at the District for 35 years. His background and experience includes power marketing, resource planning and risk manager, and both generation and transmission system operations.  

Jon is a native Nebraskan and holds degrees from Southeast Community College, Bellevue University and an MBA in Finance from University of Nebraska – Lincoln.

Jennifer Williams, Consultant/Registered Lobbyist, American Communications Group, Inc.

Jennifer is the most recent addition to the ACG Team, serving as a consultant and registered lobbyist at the firm. Her professional experience includes serving as a Lancaster County Commissioner, work within state and local government, and ownership of a robust consulting practice that championed the passage of the bond issue to build the West Haymarket and Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln.

She has served in the Lincoln Mayor’s Office as an advisor to Mayor Don Wesely and Chief of Staff to Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird. Her career began as a page and staff member at the Nebraska Unicameral and was followed by work for Governor Ben Nelson in his Policy Research Office. She has served as the Director of Communications for a real estate development company and in numerous roles related to political and non-profit fundraising campaigns. She is an active member and Past President of Lincoln Rotary #14 and has served in leadership roles on several non-profit boards, including the United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County.

She is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Bachelor of Journalism. Jennifer is a downtown Lincoln resident and the mother of two adult children.