MS in Energy Systems Management (ESM) co-hosted an ESM Speaker Series with Young Professionals in Energy (YPE) and Clean Energy Leadership Institute (CELI) at USF’s downtown campus with Justin Pine ESM MS ’19, Rachel Bird and Michael Callahan. The moderator was Irene Boghdadi ESM MS ’20 (expected).

A video recording can be found HERE. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this recording are those of the presenters and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency or business.

Rachel Bird is Borrego Solar’s Director of Policy and Business Development for the West. Based in Oakland, Rachel advocates for policies that create new opportunities for renewable energy deployment. Prior to joining Borrego, Rachel ran a nonprofit focused on advancing California’s renewable energy leadership and worked on political campaigns. Rachel has a B.A. in Public Policy from Duke University.

Michael Callahan represents MCE and its member communities in regulatory proceedings before the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the California Energy Commission (CEC), and at the California State Legislature. He works on a wide range of issues to support MCE’s mission of reducing energy-related greenhouse gas emissions through clean electricity and energy efficiency provided at stable and competitive rates. Michael has a firm knowledge of all aspects of electricity service: market structure, rates, clean energy policies, and procurement. Michael addresses policy challenges to MCE’s innovative energy efficiency programs that expand access to low-income communities. He also advocates for appropriate state policies guiding other customer-facing programs, such as integrated demand-side management and the buildout of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Michael helped launch and served as one of the first members of the California Energy Efficiency Coordinating Committee, a statewide stakeholder forum for energy efficiency programs. He currently volunteers as the Executive Chair of the Advisory Board for a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing alternative dispute resolution education and training among students. Previously, Michael addressed climate change and environmental issues at the California Public Utilities Commission, the Center for Biological Diversity, and the U.S. Department of Energy. Michael received his Juris Doctor from the University of California (UC), Hastings College of the Law, and a Bachelor of Science in environmental and energy policy from UC Davis.

Justin Pine is working at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) as a utility analyst on the CleanPowerSF team. CleanPowerSF, San Francisco’s renewable energy program operated through the SFPUC, serves over 360,000 customers under the CCA model. While duties vary day to day, Justin primarily focuses on rate analysis and program design as well as manages the program’s key commercial accounts. Prior to CleanPowerSF, Justin spent 4 years implementing energy efficiency programs for PG&E and Arizona Public Service (APS) as well as organized for one of Solar Mosaic’s (Mosaic) first crowd-sourced solar installations in Flagstaff, Arizona. Justin received a master’s degree from the University of San Francisco’s Energy Systems Management program and a bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences from Northern Arizona University.

Irene Boghdadi is on a mission to accelerate the deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions in emerging markets. Prior to starting her MS in Energy Systems Management, she had leadership positions at Chemonics Egypt’s Eco-Industrial Department and Cleantech Arabia, two entities pioneering the field in the Middle East.

For more information, contact Hayley Sloan at hsloan@usfca.edu.