Speaker Biographies

Director of Marketing and Communications, NC Sustainable Energy Association

As NCSEA's Director of Marketing and Communications, Matt Abele helps to drive the strategies designed to enhance the brand and scope of NCSEA. This role collaborates with teams across the organization to oversee external communications efforts, media strategy, marketing tactics, and education initiatives. Additionally, Matt serves as the Host of the Squeaky Clean Energy podcast. Prior to joining NCSEA, Matt specialized in marketing and communications for environmental/cleantech organizations at the national and local levels. Matt holds a Master's degree in Communication from North Carolina State University and a Bachelor's degree in Sustainable Technology from Appalachian State University. Additionally, Matt holds a Certificate in Renewable Energy Management along with a NABCEP Entry Level PV Installer Certification.

State President, Duke Energy

Kendal Bowman is president of Duke Energy's utility operations in North Carolina, which serves approximately 3.7 million electric retail customers and 786,000 natural gas customers. She is responsible for the performance of Duke Energy's regulated utilities in North Carolina, along with leading state and local regulatory and government relations, and community affairs. She also manages continued efforts to engage and work with customers and stakeholders across many topics, including North Carolina's clean energy transition.

Before assuming her current position in January 2023, Bowman served as Duke Energy's vice president of regulatory affairs and policy for North Carolina. In this role, she managed the company's presence in all North Carolina regulatory matters before the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC). She provided leadership and direction in the development and implementation of public policy that is in the best interest of the customers and communities served by Duke Energy. Bowman worked closely with policymakers and other stakeholders to find working, sustainable solutions to energy policy needs. In addition, she served as the company's regulatory policy witness in proceedings before the NCUC and other regulatory bodies. Prior to that, Bowman served as deputy general counsel for Duke Energy, managing all legal state regulatory functions for North Carolina. Earlier, she was associate general counsel for Progress Energy, supporting all state regulatory functions for North Carolina and South Carolina. Bowman also spent a decade leading the federal regulatory affairs group and was responsible for all Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), legal, policy and compliance matters for Progress Energy Carolinas and Progress Energy Florida. Bowman has been with the company since 1999. Prior to joining Progress Energy, Bowman was an attorney for Florida Power Corporation.

Bowman serves on the North Carolina Energy Policy Council, a group that advises the governor and General Assembly on legislation and rulemaking that addresses domestic energy exploration, protects the environment and encourages economic development. She also serves on the boards of directors for Advanced Energy Corporation and the NC Chamber.

Bowman earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Virginia and a Juris Doctor from Stetson University College of Law.

Executive Director, Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association

Chris is the Executive Director for Carolinas Clean Energy Business Alliance, a position he has held for the past five years. In this role, Chris manages the CCEBA advocacy and legal teams and all of the policy and regulatory work in North and South Carolina. Chris previously worked for the Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy and at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and approaches the clean energy industry with a business lens. Chris has an undergraduate degree from Oberlin College and a Masters in Business Administration from Case Western Reserve University.

Partner, Bailey & Dixon, LLP

Christina Cress is a partner at the Raleigh law firm of Bailey & Dixon, LLP. Her practice focuses exclusively on energy and utilities regulatory and policy matters, including representing the Carolina Industrial Group for Fair Utility Rates (CIGFUR), a group of many of Duke Energy's and Dominion Energy's largest North Carolina retail customers. Christina is one of 18 attorneys currently certified as a specialist in utilities law by the North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. In addition, she serves as the Vice-Chair of the Utilities Law Specialty Committee. Before returning to private practice, Christina served as a Staff Attorney at the North Carolina Utilities Commission, where she spent the majority of her time advising the Commission regarding electric utility matters, including general rate cases and the implementation of clean energy programs created by the enactment of House Bill 589 in 2017.

NC Clean Energy Technology Center

Center at NC State University, has nearly 30 years of experience in the clean energy field. Steve directs the strategic vision of the Center and its programs, including activities in renewable energy and clean power, energy efficiency and green buildings, and clean transportation. Programmatic work includes technical assistance, economic development, energy policy and workforce training.

Mr. Kalland currently serves on the Boards of Directors of the NC Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA) and the Research Triangle Cleantech Cluster (RTCC), the Advisory Boards of the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) in Washington, DC and the American Solar Grazing Association (ASGA) as well as the Duke Energy (NC) State President;s Advisory Council. He is a member of the NC Clean Transportation Plan Advisory Committee and the North Carolina Taskforce for Offshore Wind Economic Resource Strategies (NC TOWERS), both created though Executive Order by Governor Roy Cooper. He is a past board member of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), the US Combined Heat and Power Association (USCHPA), and NC GreenPower.

Previously, Steve was the director for Government Relations and Grid-Tied Markets at Xantrex Technology, Inc., executive director of the Maryland-DC-Virginia Solar Energy Industries Association (MDV-SEIA), and Director of State Programs and Policy Analysis at the national SEIA. Steve graduated in 1991 from the College of William and Mary and in 1993 from the University of Rochester (NY).

Vice President, Offshore Wind, American Clean Power

Josh Kaplowitz joined ACP in November 2021. In his capacity as Vice President, Offshore Wind, Josh leads the ACP team focused on offshore leasing and permitting, supply chain development, vessel and other maritime issues, tax policy, worker health and safety, and legislation. Prior to joining ACP, Josh served as commercial counsel to GE Renewable Energy's U.S. offshore wind business, and spent 5 years at the U.S. Department of the Interior's Office of the Solicitor as attorney-advisor to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's Offshore Renewable Energy Programs. Josh is also an adjunct professor at George Washington University Law School, where he co-teaches a seminar on offshore wind. Kaplowitz earned his B.A. in Political Science from Yale University and his J.D. from the University of Virginia. He lives in Arlington, Virginia with his wife Andrea and the two thirds of his children who are not yet in college. In his spare time, he enjoys playing ultimate frisbee and table tennis, hiking, doing grassroots organizing, and writing song parodies.

Clean Energy Buyers Association

CEO, ChargerHelp!

Kameale Terry, CEO of ChargerHelp, was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. The daughter of Belizean immigrants Kameale has always had a focus on environmental sustainability and community engagement.

With over a decade of experience in CleanTech, Kameale formed ChargerHelp! with her co-founder Evette Ellis to create a reliable Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure. The CleanTech company, powered by technology, uses data to identify and provide maintenance and repair services for electric vehicle charging stations.

Kameale worked at EV Connect where she was the Director of Programs for the electric vehicle charging station network provider. In that role, she structured and led teams to execute infrastructure projects in the United States, Australia, and Canada for both commercial and government entities. Her notable projects include Electrify America - Phase One program, the Southern California Edison Charge Ready Pilot, and the New York Power Authority portfolio.