Kenneth Wells is a Compton native who is currently reforming and redeveloping underserved inner cities into sustainable green communities. As a Licensed Electrical Contractor as well as a NABCEP Certified PV Professional, Wells has an extensive technical background in solar installations with 9 years of experience. As a volunteer on the Workforce Development Committee of Grid Alternatives, he collaborates with other industry experts to develop training programs for green labor careers.

Christian serves as the Senior Community Outreach Manager for Clean Power Alliance, supporting the organization’s Community Advisory Committee, a 15-member body of customer volunteers who advise the Board of Directors on planning and policy matters. Christian brings a history of working with local governments and community organizations across Southern California. Christian has worked for the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments, comprising 31 cities, three water districts, and three LA County supervisorial districts, where he served as the staff liaison to the Energy and Natural Resources Committee and Homelessness Committee.

He has a strong background in constituent relations, having served as Field Deputy for Pasadena Councilmember John Kennedy. Christian received an associate degree from Mt. San Antonio College, his bachelor’s from San Francisco State University, and his MPA from the University of La Verne.

Alma Marquez was formerly Executive Director of the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice (CCAEJ). During her time with CCAEJ, Marquez developed organizational systems aimed at coalition building to address regional environmental inequities and at bringing CCAEJ to the forefront of key decision-makers in a historically dismissed region. Before joining CCAEJ, Marquez was Executive Director at Water Education for Latino Leaders (WELL). She led the organization to address water inequalities throughout California, especially in the hard-to-reach communities of our state. Despite the challenges this last year has brought due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she was successful in her mission to educate more Latino elected officials on timely regional water topics. Marquez began her professional career as a Community Organizer at the Orange County Congregation Community Organization (OCCCO), an affiliate of PICO Faith In Action International where she learned grassroots community organizing while working on local and statewide campaigns.

Mr. Perkins has grown many startups, including one of the fastest-growing microgrid integration/aggregation companies, Instant ON (IO), to secure over 3.8GW of contracts for microgrid projects across the US. He serves as Director of Strategy and Development for TechFlow, a technology company doing cybersecurity, microgrids, and EV infrastructure work for the US Government.

Outside of work, he is an Island Ambassador for Island Innovations representing Hawaii, a mentor for Scale For ClimateTech’s new Manufacturing & Engineers-in-Residence program, and a member of the California Energy Efficiency Coordinating Committee supporting energy efficiency measures and incentives, among numerous other roles. He is actively engaged in working with Native and Indigenous communities to help with sustainability and resiliency planning.

Andrea Barnier’s work experience within affordable housing spans over 15 years. Currently, she specializes in energy efficiency and sustainability within the multi-family, asset management department of Self-Help Enterprises. In addition to working with IOUs to achieve solar PTO and resolve diverse administrative issues, Barnier has years of experience working with public agencies administering grants, developing and implementing program policies, and advocating for low-income families and individuals.

Andres Ramirez is Policy Director at Pacoima Beautiful, an environmental justice organization based in the Northeast San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles. He has over 12 years of experience advocating for equity in disadvantaged communities (DACs) through community organizing and policy advocacy. Ramirez brings diverse policy expertise and a keen understanding of strengths and needs of DACs. He also serves in the California Public Utilities Commission/California Energy Commission CPUC/CEC Disadvantaged Communities Advisory Group.

Carlos Aguilar is the Director of Organizing at the Coalition for Economic Survival, a grassroots, multi-ethnic, tenants’ rights organization that supports and empowers low and moderate-income renters throughout the greater Los Angeles area. As Director of Organizing, Aguilar strategically manages the organization’s outreach and education efforts to address housing and habitability issues as well as fights against threats to housing security. Aguilar has over 15 years of labor and community organizing experience he uses to ensure that tenants have the right to healthy, safe and affordable housing and are empowered to demand these rights be respected.

Elizabeth Elliott Ambriz is a passionate advocate for equity, particularly in the areas of housing, health, and land rights for Tribal nations and BIPOC communities. With a deep commitment to advancing these causes, she has dedicated her career to designing and implementing equity-driven housing programs from a public health and whole-person healing perspective. Currently, Elizabeth serves as the Housing Director of the Kashia Housing Authority, working closely with the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians of Stewart Point Rancheria. In this role, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a proven track record of success in advancing housing initiatives that prioritize equity and community well-being. With over five years of direct experience in the housing sector and more than two decades of service to tribal communities, Elizabeth brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her work. She understands the unique challenges faced by these communities and is adept at developing innovative and effective solutions. Elizabeth's dedication to equity and her ability to build strong partnerships have earned her a reputation as a trusted leader in her field. Her work has made a tangible impact on the lives of countless individuals, improving their access to safe, affordable, and sustainable housing options. Her expertise and passion will undoubtedly contribute to the advancement of housing, health, and land equity for Tribal nations and BIPOC communities.
 

Jakobi Ewart is the Director of Fundraising for The Niles Foundation, and a realtor that focuses on helping low- to moderate-income families have the same access to resources everyone else has. Being a sustainable individual helps him put these values to practice as he is constantly thinking of how his actions impact others. Ewart is excited to work with SOMAH because of the incredible vision of the program that matches his love of pragmatism and green energy solutions. He is excited to be moving the needle in the right direction.

Jeff Strickland has over a decade of experience developing renewable energy projects nationwide. He currently specializes in standalone energy storage projects that help transform the nation's utility grid to be renewable-based. Before that, Jeff was instrumental in helping affordable housing properties maximize the Multifamily Affordable Solar Housing Program (MASH) and helped affordable housing properties secure the first round of SOMAH funds back in 2019. He has extensive knowledge of the solar industry, especially in the multifamily sector where he has helped roughly 100 properties access solar across the state and in all the IOUs.

Nicole Lim is the Executive Director of the California Indian Museum and Cultural Center. She is Pomo and has worked for the National Indian Justice Center and the California Indian Museum and Cultural Center (CIMCC) since 1996. As Executive Director of the CIMCC, she works to develop exhibits, educational programs and curricular resources that represent Native American perspectives. California Governor Jerry Brown appointed her to the Board of Directors, 4th District Agricultural Association, Sonoma-Marin Fair, where she served from 2013-2017. Lim served as the Vice President of the California Association of Museums (CAM) and formerly co-chaired CAM’s Government Relations committee.

Jon was the owner of Caffery Electric Inc. and First Priority Mortgage, Inc. He owned both businesses from 1985 to 2007. After the mortgage industry fell into disarray, Jon reinvented himself. He began consulting work for College of the Desert, which blossomed into a new career. He then moved his family to Hawaii and worked for the University of Hawaii as a grants administrator. Jon returned to the Coachella Valley in 2014 and joined the College of the Desert as a regional grants director.

Jon earned a B.S. degree in business administration from Colorado Christian University, a master’s degree in adult education from Auburn University and recently completed a doctorate degree for education leadership and management at Capella University.

Jeff is the president of Elements of Earth and Energy.  He is an active General Building (B), Electrical (C-10) and Solar (C-46) contractor licensed by the California State License Board. He is a certified NABCEP PV System Inspector and PV Installation Professional, former registered NABCEP PV Associate Instructor (2019) and volunteer team leader for GRID Alternatives (since 2011).

Since 2016, Jeff has been working for affordable housing developers ensuring the projects become certified as zero net energy (DOE); WaterSense, EnergyStar and Indoor airPLUS (EPA); and LEED Platinum (GBC).  He is a former mentor and trainer for the SCE Energy Upgrade California program, (2012-16). 

Jeff has an innate passion to help provide all California residents with clean air, water, power and fresh, healthy food. He strives to protect public health and safety, improve the financial stability of small businesses in underserved communities, foster local economies through workforce development, promote the healthy living of our communities and positively impact social change. Born and raised in Southern California, he earned his bachelor of arts degree in business economics at UCLA in 1994.  He resides with his wife in Humboldt County, Northern California. 

Senait is the executive director of OC Goes Solar (OCGS), a 501(c)3 community-based organization. OCGS focuses on reducing barriers and increasing access to renewable energy to all homeowners in Orange County, especially in underserved communities. Senait is a founding member of the organization and was instrumental in assisting over 350 homeowners to go solar through the organization’s solarize group discount program. She is a trained solar professional with seven years of consulting experience both in solar and energy efficiency. She is also the vice chair of the Green Ribbon Environmental Committee for the City of Irvine and was part of the team that drafted the “Irvine Achieves Resolution,” which is the city’s declaration of a climate emergency. She also serves on the Citizen Advisory Committee for the newly formed Orange County Power Authority, a community choice aggregator (CCA). A lifelong environmental/climate justice advocate, she is an active member of the Climate Reality Project OC and a member of Orange County Environmental Justice. Senait has a B.A. degree in urban & regional planning from the University of California, Irvine and is also a trained product/industrial designer. 

Mitchell Smith, Ed.D., is a lifelong educator whose career started over 30 years ago as executive director of a nonprofit youth program that gave inner-city youth a chance to succeed academically by placing them in environments more conducive for learning. He provided leadership, guidance and motivation to hundreds of students during his tenure. 

Born and raised in New York City, Smith understands the challenges that urban areas face and gives insight to the teaching methodologies that must be in place for students of all ages to succeed. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts, receiving degrees in educational leadership. Smith has led numerous workshops and training seminars in the areas of workforce education, self-awareness and gang violence prevention. He continues to do motivational speaking engagements to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated youth and adults. For a number of years, Smith was in a corporate career as an educational consultant/sales strategist. McGraw Hill, Pearson Group and Host Learning are several companies that utilized his skills and talents to provide quality educational solutions to its clients. 

Highlighted in Money Magazine in May 2010, Smith made a career change and began to work within the solar industry challenging and training inner city displaced workers to pursue careers in the solar industry. While independently consulting with community-based organizations to develop curriculum and instruction for workforce development, he trained staff and students in solar design and installation. He continues to provide curriculum for workforce development and incorporates harm reduction strategies for youth and adult populations. Smith believes that training and mentoring young men and women effectively to succeed in the workplace should be at the forefront of every discussion concerning our viable future. Currently, he is senior technical training director for Young Community Developers, Inc., a nonprofit organization inspiring and empowering residents in Southeast San Francisco through job readiness training and employment counseling. There he manages curriculum and instruction for their staff and customers.