2024 SPEER Board of Directors
Saleem Khan, PE, CxA is the president of Texas Energy Engineering Services Inc. (TEESI) with over thirty years of facilities engineering consulting experience. He has a BS in Mechanical Engineering (NWFP-UET, Pakistan) and MS in Industrial Engineering (Oklahoma State University) specializing in facilities planning and design, energy management, engineering economics and management. Mr. Khan has been actively involved in Texas energy management programs for almost 40 years and has conducted energy audits at over 1,000 facilities identifying cost-effective energy efficiency measures. He has managed energy & water efficiency improvements (self-funded, third-party and SECO LoanSTAR funded) from planning, design to implementation with construction cost in excess of $85 million across Texas. Mr. Khan has been the lead engineer on several MEP design projects for new construction and renovations with construction costs over $450 million. In addition, he has implemented commissioning projects at over 10 million square feet of existing & new construction facilities.
Jasmine King-Bush currently serves as Manager for energy efficiency efforts and programs offered by ONE Gas Inc.’s local distribution companies: Kansas Gas Service, Oklahoma Natural Gas and Texas Gas Service. Having being with the organization for over three years, Jasmine has previously worked with Commercial Project team and the Texas Gas Service EE program as supervisor before being entrusted with the program leadership role in April of 2022. Born and raised in the Bay Area of California, Jasmine’s background as a Financial Analyst working on various DOE projects along with her leadership experience within the Diversity and Inclusion and community outreach spaces contribute to her ability to promote engagement, facilitate discourse around hot-button issues and craft a strategic approach to identifying resolutions. Jasmine is a mom to 3 boys, 1 opinionated Shih-Tzu and loves to escape to warm destinations whenever possible.
Cassidy Ellis is New Market Strategy Manager at Ameresco, a leading cleantech integrator and renewable energy asset developer, owner and operator, where she provides strategy, policy, and sustainability support to the company’s South Region. Prior to joining Ameresco, Cassidy ran SPEER’s local government program where she provided outreach, education, and technical assistance on a variety of energy efficiency, clean energy, sustainability and resilience topics. She also brings over a decade of experience as a green building, LEED®, and sustainability consultant for commercial, civic, and healthcare clients.
Cassidy holds an MBA in Sustainable Management from Presidio Graduate School and Bachelor’s degrees in Environmental Science, Policy and Management and History from the University of California, Berkeley.
Charlene Heydinger is president of the Texas PACE Authority, the nonprofit administrator of more than 75 Texas PACE programs. To date, these programs have enabled more than $230 million in new property investment in Texas. Ms. Heydinger also led the legislative effort in support of the Texas PACE Act and the collaboration to create PACE in a Box, the Texas model program of TX-PACE best practices. PACENation recognized Charlene as one of three national 2020 PACE Champions.
On Capitol Hill Charlene served as general counsel to House Republican Leader Bob Michel, minority general counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee, and minority counsel to the House Judiciary and Energy and Commerce Committees. As vice president and Washington counsel for Capital Cities ABC, Inc., Heydinger represented the company’s television and radio networks and owned stations, ESPN, and print interests.
Chris is a senior program manager at CLEAResult with over 10 years of experience in the energy industry. He is responsible for the implementation of multiple energy efficiency programs across a variety of electric utilities in Texas. Prior to CLEAResult, he worked with Austin Energy overseeing federal compliance with the city’s ARRA funded efficiency projects. CLEAResult is the single largest provider of energy solutions in North America, offering energy consulting services that lower load requirements for utilities, reduce energy bills for end users, and minimize environmental burdens on communities. We strive to connect all stakeholders through unique, cost effective program delivery that impacts local energy markets.
Cyrus Reed has served as Conservation Director of the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club since 2008. In that position, he has been the state chapter of Sierra Club’s lead advocate on clean energy, air quality and energy efficiency programs, participating in both regulatory and legislative efforts to improve building codes, increase the use of renewable energy and increase commitments to energy efficiency and demand response through weatherization among other efforts. Reed is also a member of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) Reliability Operations Subcommittee and is a frequent participant in the Demand Side Working Group, as well as the Resource Management Commission at the City of Austin. Reed lives in Austin with a wife and three soccer-playing kids and holds a PhD in Geography from the University of Texas Austin. He is also involved in Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and coaching youth soccer.
Farshad believes that energy is one of the most important issues facing humanity and he also has a passion to find hidden solutions to the world’s energy problems. He is a licensed professional engineer, certified energy manager (CEM), and has a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from University of Waterloo in Canada, and applies his technical knowledge to the area of energy management.
Over 28 years of experience in all areas related to facilities design, construction, testing & balancing, controls, project management, and energy management has given him a deep insight on how all parts of this puzzle fits together. Currently, he serves the state of Texas as the Energy and Engineering Manager at Texas Facilities Commission (TFC). TFC Office of Energy Management is responsible for all activities necessary to conserve and save utilities in state facilities.
Before joining the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA), Jason spent the previous seven years as SPEER’s Building Code Program Manager. Prior to joining SPEER, Jason served as the Building Official for the City of Granbury for five years. He has over 25 years combined experience in building construction, codes and inspection. He maintains 9 ICC certifications, is a Certified Building Official and a Texas Municipal League Leadership Fellow. Jason has an MBA from Texas Tech University (Go Red Raiders!).
Kurt serves as the Vice President of Environmental Advancement at Daikin Comfort Technologies North America. In his role, Kurt works with utilities, regulators, and policy makers to advance high efficiency and environmentally friendly products that Daikin hopes will become standard in the market. Prior to this role, Kurt worked on M&A and other strategic projects for Daikin. He also served as the Project Director for the construction of the third largest manufacturing facility in the US, the Daikin Texas Technology Park in Waller.
Marc has 10 years of new construction, land development, and remodeling experience. He co-founded EIS Lighting after 25 years in restaurant management and associated site construction. His company does AC lighting as well as Solar light design and installation project. Marc has worked on Projects from 1 light to 2,000 lights and poles.
Sara is the Director of Energy Efficiency Services at Austin Energy, leading a 50 person team at the forefront of the energy landscape covering electrification, demand response, weatherization, and deepening the utility relationship with customers as partners in energy management. With a background in mechanical engineering, Sara brings her full breadth of experience with renewable energy technology, over-sees development and policy implementation to the public utility space to push the energy transition to the next level.
As a Project Manager at TRC, Tim is primarily responsible for client relationships, technical analysis, community outreach and project management of high-performance new homes market for TRC Texas electric utility clients. Prior to TRC he founded a consulting firm on three main principles of Innovation, Sustainability and Efficiency. Providing clients with extensive industry knowledge for managing and implementing lasting energy efficient and cost-saving building performance solutions for residential home owners, multifamily property investors and small business owners.
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