Ziad Alaywan, P.E. – President and CEO
Ziad Alaywan is the Founder and CEO of ZGlobal Inc. (“ZGlobal”), an Engineering and Energy Consultant firm with its headquarters in Folsom, California. ZGlobal, established in 2005, specializes in energy infrastructure developments, assets management and electricity markets.

In 1996, Mr. Alaywan accepted an interim Independent System Operator (“CAISO”) Staff position as one of the first two employees of the CAISO and was instrumental in the start-up efforts of the CAISO. During the CAISO start-up, Mr. Alaywan managed a $150 million development budget and successfully obtained WECC Balancing Authority certification.

Subsequently, He assumed the responsibility of the Director and Managing Director of Engineering and Operations at the CAISO with responsibility for all grid operator plans for the operation of the transmission system under the control of the CAISO. After the California Energy Crisis, he assumed the role of Managing Director of Market Operations, where he was responsible for the initiation of the re-design of the CAISO markets, while in charge of operating the CAISO markets. This re-design included the energy and ancillary services markets, the congestion management, reliability must run scheduling, real-time and forward markets, including settlements, billing, and metering functions that ultimately led to the implementation of the LMP markets.

Prior to joining the CAISO, Mr. Alaywan joined the Pacific Gas & Electric Company (“PG&E”) in 1986, as a Transmission Planner and subsequently a Senior Operation Engineer and a member of the 7x24 operation staff. He served as a Transmission and Generation Dispatcher, as well as Manager of Real Time Operations of the PG&E Control Area.  During this time Mr. Alaywan was responsible for managing PG&E’s real time grid operations for northern and central California transmission and generation assets.

Ziad was elected as one of two western representatives to the North American Electricity Reliability Corporation (NERC) Operating Committee, in addition to serving on many Western Electricity Coordinating Council (“WECC”) operations, planning, and market committees.

Mr. Alaywan has lectured in the areas of electric market design and operations, privatization and deregulation at the University of Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne, University of Toulouse, École d'Ingénieurs de Purpan,, Stanford University, UC Berkley, and other higher education institutions. He has provided numerous testimonies before FERC, the California State Legislature, the California State Senate, and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. He serves as a Technical Advisor to the European Union on deregulation. He is one of the two founders of the Tres Amigas Superstation project. It is a project that will enable power flow across all three interconnections in North America.

Mr. Alaywan holds a Bachelors and a Masters degree in Electrical Engineering from Montana State University. In 2002, he completed the Executive Management Program at the Haas School of Business, University of California at Berkeley. Mr. Alaywan has written over fifty publications on a variety of academic subjects including high voltage AC power systems, grid operations, market design and operations, firm transmission rights auctions and power system economics, and is a certified Professional Engineer in the State of California and also a Senior IEEE member.

Professional History

• 2001 – 2005            California Independent System Operator, Managing Director, Market Operations responsible for the operations of the $25 billion dollar Energy markets.
• 1999 – 2001            California Independent System Operator, Managing Director, Engineering and  Operations responsible for the operation of the Balancing Authority of the CAISO with peak load of 50,000 MW.
• 1997 – 1999            California Independent System Operator, Director, Market Development, and CAISO Start-up Program Manager responsible for the implementation of all market systems and managed a budget of over $150 million.
• 1996 – 1997            California Restructuring Trust -Chief Engineer, State’s Governor Office. One of the first  three employees of the CAISO, responsible for starting-up the organization from personnel hiring to vendor management.
• 1990 – 1995            Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Manager of Real Time Grid Operation with a peak load  of 20,000 MW.
• 1988 – 1990            Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Senior Operations and Transmission Engineer.
• 1986 – 1988            Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Plant Engineer for two 750 MW gas fired plants.

Certifications/Training/Awards, Honors, and Professional Affiliations

• Twice awarded the “CEO” award for (1) rapid recovery during the 1989 San Francisco earthquake and (2) recognition of effective team work and action taken to avoid a wide spread electric disruption in the Western U.S. in the summer of 1995.

• Presented with an award from the California Governor and CAISO Governing Board for significant efforts in starting up CAISO within one year.
• Senior Member of the Institute of Electric and Electronic Engineering
• Senior Advising member of the Electric Power Research Institute
• Voted to represent the Western Grid on Northern Electric Reliability Council (2002-2005)
• Member of the European Center of Economic and Public Policy- Toulouse, France

Education
B.S. and M.S., Electrical Engineering; 1986, Montana State University (MSU) – Bozeman, MT
Post-doctorate work in HVAC Power System Applications, Optimization, Production Model, Unit Commitment and Power Economics at Montana State University – Bozeman, MT
Completed Haas Business School Executive Program, University of California – Berkeley, CA

Recent Publications
Published over 40 publications on a variety of subjects (visit: www.zglobal.biz).

Expert Witness
Ziad served as an expert witness on numerous cases and arbitrations at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Federal Trading Commission, and California Public Utilities Commission.

Professional Associations
Senior Member of IEEE and Registered Professional Electrical Engineer, California

Armie Perez, P.E. – Senior Vice President, Transmission
Armie has over 40 years of experience in grid, engineering, interconnection planning, and transmission planning. His experience includes conducting power flow, transient stability, and sub-synchronous resonance studies for Edison’s five year Bulk Power program, providing full technical support to Bulk Power and Sub-Transmission Dispatchers, approving generator interconnection studies, managed staff, budget, and directing the California Independent System Operator’s Transmission Planning department.

Professional History

• 2005 – 2008            Vice President of Planning and Infrastructure Development responsible for the California Infrastructure, California Independent System Operator
• 1997 – 2005            Director of Grid Planning, California Independent System Operator
• 1968 – 1997            Various positions under Transmission Planning and System Operations, Southern California Edison

Education
B.S. Physics/Mathematics, Aurora University - Aurora, IL
M.S. Electrical Engineering, University of Southern California - Los Angeles, CA

Professional Associations

• Registered Professional Electrical Engineer in California
• Life Senior Member - Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
• NERC and WECC Planning Committee Chair

Kevin Coffee – Vice President, Energy Markets and Procurement
Kevin Coffee is ZGlobal’s Vice President of Energy Markets and Procurement. Kevin has over 25 years of hands on experience in the energy industry. He has more than 12 years of experience in system analysis applications and electrical design, and spent 5 years directing operations associated with procuring and delivering wholesale power to retail direct access customers. Kevin has over 8 years of experience managing direct energy procurement, transmission assessment, and asset management designed to minimize costs to electricity customers.  

Professional History

• 2010 – Present                        Vice President of Energy Markets and Procurement, ZGlobal Inc.
• 2002 – 2010                         Manager of Electric Procurement , Pacific Gas & Electric Company
• 2001 – 2002                        Director of Operations, ElecTrade
• 1997 – 2001                        Director of Operations, PG&E Energy Services
• 1984 – 1997                        Power Control & Diablo Canyon Power Plant Power Contracts, Pacific Gas & Electric

                           
Education
B.S.E.E., Electrical Engineering, New Mexico State University - Las Cruces, NM
M.S.E.E., Electrical Engineering, New Mexico State University - Las Cruces, NM

Professional Associations
Registered Professional Electrical Engineer in California

Mike McClenahan – Vice President Strategic Development
Mike McClenahan is ZGlobal’s Vice President of Strategic Development. Mike is an expert in Renewable Power economics, contracting and development. He has experience with Power Contracts (tolls, PPA, financing), Energy Trading and Risk Management, and Power System Operations. He was a key participant in Market Design in over 10 US ISO’s, particularly California and Texas. Mike has a strong background in Market Analysis and Business Development.

Professional History

• 2012 – Present                        Vice President of Strategic Development, ZGlobal Inc.
• 2010 – 2011                         Independent Consultant
• 2004 – 2010                        Directory of Procurement and Portfolio Design, San Diego Gas & Electric
• 2002 – 2004                        Manager of Electrical Procurement, San Diego Gas & Electric
• 2000 – 2002                        Director of Market Analysis, Mirant Asia Pacific
• 1999 – 2000                        Manager of Transmission Structuring, Southern Co. Energy Marketing

                           
Education
B.S. in Nautical Industrial Technology - California State University Maritime, 1985

Michael Boas – Grid Infrastructure Specialist
Michael Boas is ZGlobal’s Interconnection Consultant. Prior to joining ZGlobal, Michael was Project Manager of Participating Generator Implementation (PGI) at CAISO. He was responsible for facilitating communication and coordinating implementation activities between eight internal technical groups, CAISO groups, and generation owners, developers and transmission owners to successfully add participating generators, dynamic scheduling resources, and generation pseudo-tie resources to California’s energy portfolio. Prior to that, Michael worked for CAISO as a Contract Implementation Project Manager. He was responsible for developing business process flows with Casewise Corporate Modeler to define implementation of various regulatory contracts, process modeling of various other business functions at CAISO, setting up project schedules for contract implementation using Microsoft Project, project management of Participating Generator Implementation, and other duties as required.

Professional History

• 2012 – Present            Interconnection Consultant, ZGlobal Inc.
• 2006 – 2011            Project Manager, CAISO
• 2005 – 2006            Contract Implementation Project Management, CAISO
• 1989 – 2006            Owner/Manager, Relational Systems Integrators (RSI)

Education
MBA, Management Information Systems, National University, San Diego
Telecommunications Management Certificate, National University, San Diego
BS, Biology with emphasis in Ecology, California State University, San Diego

Edward Fishback – Grid Infrastructure Specialist
Edward Fishback is ZGlobal’s Interconnection Consultant. Prior to joining ZGlobal, Edward served as Project Manager of New Generation Interconnections and Transmission projects at CAISO. Edward’s experience includes three years of project management and job coordination, six years as a Technical Supervisor with PG&E, two years as a Construction Supervisor with PG&E, fourteen years working on electrical test and start-up and six years in Hydro and Substation construction, all within PG&E.

Professional History

• 2012 – Present            Interconnection Consultant, ZGlobal Inc.
• 2001 – 2012            Project Manager, CAISO
• 1995 – 2001            EFT Consulting
• 1993 – 1995            Test Supervisor, Hydro Generation O&M Support Services, PG&E
• 1989 – 1993            Test Supervisor, Hydro Engineering & Constuction, PG&E
• 1988 – 1989            Protection Specialist, PG&E
• 1983 – 1989            Test Supervisor, PG&E
• 1976 – 1982            Technical Foreman, PG&E

Education
Contra Costa Junior College, 1967

Daniel Brin – Vice President, Market Development
Daniel Brin joined ZGlobal as Vice President of Market Development after five years with Barclays Capital. Dan was part of the Barclays' Commodities Group specializing in trading and market analytics of US West power and natural gas markets. Products traded included financial and physical power within the WECC, Henry Hub and western basis natural gas, WECC transmission and CAISO CRRs, and WREGIS tracked Renewable Energy Credits (REC). Prior to working at Barclays Capital, Dan worked at Mirant Corporation from 2001-2006 holding various positions including Commercial Business Analyst, Assets Consultant, and West Real-Time Trader. Dan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Georgia Institute of Technology.

Professional History

• 2011 – Present                        Vice President of Market Development, ZGlobal Inc.
• 2006 – 2010                         West Power Trader, Barclays Capital
• 2001 – 2005                        Business Analyst for Chief Commercial Officer, Mirant Corporation

Education
B.S., Business Management, Georgia Institute of Technology – Atlanta, GA

Brian Rahman, P.E. – ExecutiveDirector of Engineering
Brian Rahman is ZGlobal’s Executive Director of Engineering. Brian has over 18 years of extensive experience providing precise professional applications in areas of management of market systems, operations, design and technology update; project coordination in a variety of utility/energy related disciplines. His expertise includes Hydro and Control Area Operation, Financial Analysis of Transmission and Generation, Implementation of large projects and Renewable Integration.

Brian brings unique skills in combining engineering, operation and energy market implementation and project management where both his technical and managerial skills are efficiently and effectively utilized.

Brian’s skills are centered on project and program management; such as the hundred million dollar CAISO Nodal Market. As the CAISO Nodal Market Program Manager, Brian exhibited leadership in implementing large and complex engineering projects and implementation of processes, technology, and organizational change.

Professional History

• 2006 – Present            Executive Director of Engineering, ZGlobal Inc.
• 1997 – 2006            Manager of Market Operations, California Nodal Market Program Manager and
                                  Manager of Program Office, California Independent System Operator
• 1991 – 1997            Electrical Engineer, Hydro Generation, Project Engineering , Pacific Gas & Electric                             

Education
B.S., Electrical Engineering, Washington State University – Pullman, WA

Professional Associations
Registered Professional Engineer in the State of California

Christine Vangelatos – Director of Analytics
Christine Vangelatos is ZGlobal’s Director of Analytics. Christine has over 18 years of “Real life working knowledge” in managing the day-to-day operations and transactions with the CAISO market design and settlements.  She has extensive experience with implementing large market systems, providing market settlements design, business analysis and financial impact assessments, overseeing infrastructure development, and knowledge of CAISO Tariff.

Christine is an expert in the CAISO nodal market, asset valuation, economic analysis for a variety of generating and transmission assets.  For over eight years Christine successfully managed CAISO Settlements, encompassing several hundred million dollars annually. Christine brings valuable skills in project and program management, while exhibiting leadership in process re-engineering and implementation of processes, technology, and organizational change coupled with front line and industry and/or the functional areas they serve.

Professional History

• 2006 – Present            Director of Analytics, ZGlobal Inc.
• 1997 – 2006            Manager of Market Operations and Manager of Settlement Systems, California Independent System Operator
• 1992 – 1997            Lead Power System Engineer in the System Operation Department and PG&E Representative on various industry forums, Pacific Gas & Electric

Education
B.S., Electrical Engineering, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo, CA
M.S., Computer Information Systems, University of Phoenix - Sacramento, CA

Gary Brown, P.E. – Director of Energy Development
Gary Brown is ZGlobal’s Director of Energy Development. Gary has over 25 years of experience in the direct application of sound, cost-effective engineering principles and project management methodologies. He has extensive experience as a Consulting Engineer and Project Manager, and held responsibilities in engineering management in the design and implementation of plant power and automation systems, communications projects, SCADA, Information Technology, security, and energy management for utilities, industrial, commercial, and institutional facilities. Gary successfully managed projects from design conception and proposal development, to contract management, technical oversight and final implementation and commissioning. He holds specific training and experience in Energy Management, Power Generation, CH&P, I&C, and PLC applications for industrial, utility, and public sector organizations. His experience includes a significant level of construction and field experience for natural gas processing facilities, water and wastewater treatment plants, utility scale renewable energy generation facilities, and communications and control systems for high security facilities and various industrial plant processes. Gary’s expertise includes Large and Small Generator Interconnection (LGIP/SGIP) processes, assessment of interconnection studies and agreements, renewable site assessment, power system analysis, substation and transmission design and asset valuation.

Professional History

• 2008 – Present            Director of Energy Development, ZGlobal Inc.
• 2006 – 2008            Regional Engineering Manager, Brown and Caldwell
• 2001 – 2006            Lead Project Manager , California Independent System Operator
• 1991 – 2001            Group Leader/Principal Engineer, Westin Engineering

Education
MBA, Technology Management, University of Phoenix – Sacramento, CA 
B.S., Electrical Engineering, University of Oklahoma – Norman, OK
A.S., Communications Technology, Community College of the Air Force

Professional Certifications and Associations

• Registered Professional Engineer (Elec.), California
• IEEE Power Engineering Society
• Project Management Certificate - CSU Sacramento
• University of Wisconsin Professional Engineering Development
• Combined Heat and Power (CHP)
• Substation Design
• Power Systems Analysis

Jesse Montaño – Manager of Infrastructure Development
Jesse Montano is ZGlobal’s Manager of Infrastructure Development. Jesse has more than 25 years of experience in the electric industry. Prior to joining ZGlobal, Jesse spent 13 years managing the operation and maintenance of multiple renewable generating facilities in Southern California. In 2001 Jesse joined the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) as a Transmission and Reliability System Operator where he operated IID’s high voltage electric system.

Jesse was promoted and became responsible for managing IID’s Open Access Same Time Information System (OASIS) and adopting an Open Access Transmission Tariff. Jesse was instrumental in the creation and development of WesTTrans.net, the OASIS site boasting 22 transmission providers serving 14 states in the western United States. Jesse chaired the WesTTrans Technical Committee for a period of time.

Jesse also administered short and long term transmission capacity purchases, sales, and interchanges with a number of utility marketers, brokers, and the California ISO. Jesse managed IID’s generator interconnection process and oversaw multiple generators that are now interconnected to the electrical grid.

Jesse eventually managed the IID’s Business Development section where he negotiated multiple Power Purchase Agreements.

Professional History

• 2010 – Present            Manager of Infrastructure Development, ZGlobal Inc.
• 2001 – 2010            Imperial Irrigation District
• 1988 – 2001            Cal Energy Corp. 

Expert Witness
WECC Certified System Operator

Education
Public Accounting, Universidad de Sonora – Hermosillo Sonora, MX.

Mary Jo Cooper – NERC Compliance Director
Mary Jo is ZGlobal’s NERC Compliance Director. Mary Jo has over 16 year experience in the electric utility industry providing regulatory compliance management services, risk and control assessments, auditing, energy modeling, forecasting, and energy management/demand response services.

Mary Jo joined ZGlobal Engineering and Energy Solutions in December of 2010 and has provided NERC Compliance Management services to ZGlobal clients.

Prior to ZGlobal, in 2009 she established a regulatory compliance program for First Winds generation and transmission projects that included a company-wide internal compliance program (ICP). The program ensured compliance with North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) and regional regulatory standards, and timely DOE, EIA, GADDs, WREGIS and ISO mandatory filings. One year later she successfully led the company through a NERC Compliance audit whose auditors found First Wind fully compliant with no recommendations for improvement. In fact the lead auditor publically complimented the program stating “First Wind’s project company had an excellent set of procedures”, which she prepared.

While working at the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), she assisted on a task force to establish the CAISO NERC compliance program while also directly managing over the SAS 70 audit. The SAS 70 audit is similar to NERC compliance in that processes are documented, evidence is collected, and external auditors audit the program. The SAS 70 audit provides reasonable assurance over settlements statements by auditing process controls of the CAISO bid-to-bill processes.

As the elected founding co-chair of the North American Generator Forum she used her leadership, advocacy, and technical skills to assist her electrical generation industry colleagues. The North American Generator Forum is the group that also represents the perspective of over 400 members with generation companies across the United States to the NERC.

She prepared and presented testimonies and worked on policy development on behalf of the CAISO in front of the following:

• California State Senate Committee;
• California State Legislature Committee;
• California Public Utilities Commission;
• Governors Advisors;
• Water Resource Boards, and other industrial forums.

Her published reports include CAISO seasonal assessments and SAS 70 reports.

Professional History

• 2010 – Present            NERC Compliance Director, ZGlobal Inc.
• 2009 – 2010            First Wind
• 2002 – 2009            California Independent System Operator
• 2000 – 2002            Service Resources and Envinta
• 1997 – 2000            Henwood Energy Services
• 1995 – 1997            Honeywell Home and Building Controls
• 1994 – 1995            Bechtel International

Expert Witness
California Public Utility Commission

Education
MBA, California State University Sacramento
B.S., Electrical Electronic Engineering, California State University Sacramento

Professional Associations
Engineer-In-Training: License No. XE091208
Institute of Energy Managers, Certified Energy Manager
Associations of Internal Auditors, Certified Control Self-Assessment
Generator Forum, Founding Co-Chair

Kyle Hoffman – Manager of Energy Scheduling
Kyle Hoffman, most recently Manager of Scheduling, at the California ISO (CISO), has extensive experience in Balancing Authority Area, natural gas pipeline and electric utility operations. At the CAISO Kyle was one of three operations managers responsible for Balancing Authority interchange scheduling, Balancing Authority Area operations inclusive of the Energy Management System (EMS), Outage Coordination, NERC Reliability Standards compliance and the annual self certification process. Kyle was the lead CAISO negotiator for transmission contracts and served as an expert witness for both Grid and Market Operations before FERC.

Kyle is an expert on Interchange Scheduling (e-Tag NERC 1.8.1), NERC Balancing Authority (BAL and MOD) and Interchange Scheduling (INT) standards and the WECC ATEC Inadvertent Interchange payback process. His experience includes Joint Transmission projects with transmission owners who chose not to “join” the CAISO, and negotiations of the related Operating Agreements. Kyle is a subject matter expert on Dynamic Interchange Scheduling and the use of Pseudo Ties, which he developed while with the CISO. He recently co-authored an IEEE article related to the design and use of Pseudo ties in a Locational Marginal Price (LMP) Market. His experience includes work on various environmental initiatives, such as Green House Gases, Once through Cooling and the reliable integration of the State’s 33% Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to meet the 2020 RPS goal.

Kyle was the primary CAISO Operations trainer for Scheduling and Balancing Authority related curriculum, presenting NERC certified courses to CISO floor crews. He served as the CISO governmental relations host for various legislative, environmental and regulatory CAISO visitors, presenting overviews of balancing authority and electric systems operations, as an engineer who could talk and who was sensitive to political and environmental issues.

Prior to joining the CAISO, Mr. Hoffman was an Executive Consultant with Resource Management International, Inc. (now Navigant) and a Division Manager for Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). 

As Sacramento Division Manager, Mr. Hoffman was responsible for geographical gas and electric utility distribution engineering and operations, customer service, marketing and governmental relations.  Previously with PG&E, he designed natural gas pipelines and compressor stations, was responsible for CPUC GO 112 compliance, and held various management positions in engineering, operations, and construction. 

A native of California, Kyle received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Davis. Go Ags!

Professional History

• Manager, Scheduling, California ISO, Grid Operations
• Lead Policy Issues Representative , California ISO, External Affairs
• Manager, Client Account Management, California ISO, Market Services
• Executive Consultant, Resource Management International, Inc. (Navigant)
• Pacific Gas & Electric Company
• Division Manager, Sacramento
• Division Manager, Vaca Valley
• Executive Assistant to the Senior Vice President - Operations, San Francisco
• Executive Assistant to the Vice President Gas Operations, San Francisco
• Senior Gas Transmission Engineer, Revenue Requirements, San Francisco
• Senior Gas Transmission Engineer, Gas System Planning, San Francisco
• Division Gas Superintendent, Humboldt Division, Eureka
• Division Gas Engineer, Humboldt Division, Eureka
• Gas Engineering positions, San Francisco, Fresno, Bakersfield, San Jose

Education
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Davis

Doug Bergman – Chief Economist
Doug Bergman is ZGlobal’s Chief Economist. Prior to joining ZGlobal, Doug spent over 9 years at the CAISO in the Department of Market Monitoring.  In this role, he led or contributed to the development of over 50 reports and analyses of California wholesale power markets, covering economic and cost analysis, identification of market issues and anomalies, and operational issues. Doug is able to distill complex issues into straightforward, salient concepts appropriate for non-technical audiences.

Since joining ZGlobal, Doug has created an income model for an energy storage project, provided expert analysis on business income loss for a damaged power plant, and submitted expert testimony to the California Public Utilities Commission on the benefit of a merchant transmission project.  Doug is also a key member of the ZGlobal GridSelect team, and has provided significant improvements and market intelligence to its proprietary forecast model.

Professional History

• 2001 – 2010            Lead Market Monitoring Specialist and Economist, California Independent System Operator
• 1998 – 2006            Consultant, Economic Analyst

Expert Witness
Qualified as expert witness in economic analysis before U.S. District Court

Education
B.A., Mathematics, University of California – Berkeley, CA
Ph.D., M.A., Economics, University of Arizona – Tucson, AZ

Cameron Bucher – Business and Regulatory Affairs Manager
Cameron Bucher is ZGlobal’s Business and Regulatory Affairs Manager. Prior to joining ZGlobal, Cameron served as Business Development Manager for Ram Power, Inc. In that role, Cameron acted as the local lead on property acquisition, site development and project permitting for the company’s geothermal development activities in Imperial Valley, CA. Cameron also managed the company’s interconnection and transmission assets and assisted in power purchase agreement negotiations with California and Arizona utilities.

Prior to joining Ram Power, Inc., Cameron worked for the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) in its real property division. There, Cameron dealt in both property acquisition and project development for various transmission facilities including the IID’s Midway-Bannister 230kV line and the Desert Southwest Transmission Project (DSWTP). Cameron assisted in development of IID’s RFP/RFO for energy resources procurement and the development of a public/private joint venture program to develop geothermal resources on IID owned property.

Cameron holds a Bachelor’s degree in History of Constitutional Government from San Diego State University and is currently pursuing a law degree. Cameron also serves as a Member of the Board for the Boys and Girls Club of Imperial Valley.

Melissa Vaa – Business Development Manager
Melissa Vaa is ZGlobal’s Business Development Manager. Prior to joining ZGlobal in 2005, Melissa worked for Martha Stewart Omnimedia and Williams-Sonoma Inc. in the eCommerce and Marketing divisions, the team that spearheaded the start up, design and management of the direct commerce business. Melissa was part of the project team that successfully shaped the website and catalog channels for both corporations.

In addition to corporate retail, Melissa worked for the California Independent System Operator in the Market Operations group. At ZGlobal, Melissa's primary responsibilities include business development, product development, client relations, contract negotiation, in addition to managing account receivables and payables for ZGlobal. Melissa has successfully brought together engineers, traders, lawyers, regulators and policy makers through ZGlobal training programs. Melissa attended Chabot College and has participated in various project management courses through the American Management Association.

As a member of the ZGlobal team, Melissa’s focus is on business development, and customer relations, with an emphasis on training, QA/QC programs, project statistics, data management, people management and project management.

Professional History

• 2005 – Present            Business Development Manager, ZGlobal Inc.
• 2002 – 2005            Analyst , California Independent System Operator, Market Operations
• 2000 – 2002            Marketing Analyst , Martha Stewart Omnimedia, eCommerce and Market Division
• 1998 – 2000            Marketing Analyst , Williams-Sonoma Inc., eCommerce Division

Jenny Mueller – Senior Operations Engineer
Jenny Mueller is ZGlobal’s Senior Operations Engineer. Prior to joining ZGlobal, Jenny held a Regional Transmission Engineer position with the California Independent System Operator. As a staff member of the Transmission Planning department, she was responsible for conducting reliability assessment studies to ensure that the grid was operating within NERC Reliability Criteria.  In order to perform these duties, she modeled the transmission system, generation, load, imports and exports of the CAISO Controlled Grid.  As a Regional Transmission Engineer part of her duties were to identify violations, design mitigation plans to mitigate reliability concerns, and ensure reliable operation of the Grid.  She also designed and implemented Operating Procedures that ensured CAISO’s compliance with NERC Reliability Standards arising as a result of planned and forced outages on the transmission system.  She worked with CAISO’s grid operators on a daily basis by setting operating limits on transmission lines, paths, and generation, and assisted grid operators in their daily activities.  She also provided real time engineering support and was engaged in the development of automated computer programs that allowed comprehensive monitoring of transmission system performance.  She participated in large generator interconnection studies in accordance with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (“the Commission’s”) Large Generator Interconnection Process and conducted Local Capacity Requirement studies that calculated the minimum generating capacity required in local pockets of Northern California.

She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering at California State University, Sacramento.  She has also been certified as an Engineer-in-Training by California Board for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors and also by the North American Electricity Reliability Corporation (“NERC”).

Since joining ZGlobal she has expanded her focus to include production cost modeling and economic analysis. She is an expert in area of generation and transmission modeling, transmission studies, reliability analysis, economic analysis, renewable energy and large generation interconnection processes. She has also performed regulatory work at both FERC and the CAISO to assist independent transmission owner project development. Jenny’s expertise in transmission and generation modeling, benefit to cost analysis of various reliability and economic transmission and generating projects, renewable development, ancillary services, pump storage modeling, and intermittent resources is instrumental to ZGlobal.

Professional History

• 2007 – Present             Senior Operations Engineer, ZGlobal
• 2005 – 2007            Regional Transmission Engineer, California Independent System Operator

Education
B.S., Electrical Engineering, California State University - Sacramento, CA

Alex Takahashi, P.E. – Senior Advisor, Electrical Engineering and Design
Alex Takahashi has over 38 years of experience in engineering, design and construction of electrical power generation and distribution facilities for industrial customers, Independent Power Producers (IPP), utility companies and municipalities. His experience includes power plants, electrical and protection system design, construction, start up and commissioning high-voltage substations (69kV-230kV), design, construction and startup, power systems analysis, protective device coordination and arc flash studies.

Professional History

• 1992 – 2005 West Power
• 1990 – 1992 Proven Alternative, Inc.
• 1987 – 1990 California Energy Company, Inc. (IPP)
• 1968 – 1987 Bechtel Incorporated

Education
B.S., Electrical Engineering, California State University - San Francisco, CA

Professional Associations

• Registered Electrical Contractor (C-10), California, Registered General Contractor (A), California, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) & National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE)
• Registered Electrical Engineer : California, New York, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Washington, Texas, Ohio, Connecticut and Louisiana
• IEEE Member - Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
• NSPE Member - National Society of Professional Engineers

Marco Salazar – Power Systems Engineer
Marco Salazar is ZGlobal’s Power Systems Engineer. Marco’s primary responsibilities include development of power flow and transient stability engineering studies, evaluations, performance and economical analysis of the WECC transmission system using GE PSLF and PLEXOS software. Marco draws upon a broad scope of work experience including power operations and electrical design.  His leadership skills, work ethic, and “hands on” experience gained from his time with the U.S. Navy make him an extremely valuable member of the ZGlobal team.

Professional History

• 2009 – Present            Power Systems Engineer, ZGlobal Inc.
• 2008 – 2009            Electrical Technical Designer, LP Consulting Engineers
• 2007 – 2008            Electrical Estimating Assistant, Emard Electric
• 1998 – 2007            Electrician, US Navy

Education
B.S., Electrical Engineering, California State University – Sacramento, CA

Derek Le – Associate Engineer
Derek Le is ZGlobal’s Associate Engineer. Prior to joining ZGlobal, Derek provided project management services to SMUD for their Renewable Source Influence on Load Flow Analysis project.  He also supported the design of a 300-500 kW Photovoltaic System.

Professional History

• 2011 – Present            Associate Engineer, ZGlobal Inc.
• 2010 – 2011            Project Manager, SMUD, Renewable Source Influence on Load Flow Analysis
• 2008 – 2009            Supporting Team Member, SMUD, Design a 300-500 kW Photovoltaic System

Education
B.S., Electrical Engineering, California State University – Sacramento, CA

Sterling Gerritz – Environmental Analyst
Sterling Gerritz is ZGlobal’s Environmental Analyst. Sterling joined ZGlobal after three years of environmental consulting work with URS Corporation. Sterling performs economic asset evaluations for various transmission and power projects, and provides technical and engineering support to the ZGlobal staff which includes project management, land use development, project site assessments, interconnection requests, wetland delineation, biological assessments, engineering fatal flaw analysis, environmental assessments, regulatory compliance and wind & solar power integration. Sterling‘s environmental background provides an up to date and current perspective that is certainly an asset to the ZGlobal team.

Professional History

• 2009 – Present Environmental Analyst, ZGlobal Inc.
• 2006 – 2009 Environmental Scientist & Renewable Energy Planner, URS Corporation
• 2005 – 2006 Student Statistical Analyst, Information Center for the Environment

Education
B.S., Environmental Science, University of California – Davis, CA

Abed Abouel-Joud – Associate Software Engineer
Abed Abouel-Joud is ZGlobal’s Associate Software Engineer. Abed has more than 5 years of experience in the Software Development Field. Abed was the Lead Software Engineer in multiple projects in various fields of business. Abed has provided solutions ranging from Expense Management Systems to advanced and general purpose Web Content Management Systems to High Definition TV Broadcast Systems. Abed was also a partner and a co-founder of WebDnD (Website Design and Development, sarl). He is currently responsible for phasing in in-house solutions to ZGlobal aimed at optimizing, automating, and enhancing the 7-Day Energy Forecast process.

Professional History

• 2010 – Present            Associate Software Engineer, ZGlobal Inc.
• 2009 – 2010             Co-Founder, Software Engineer and Team Leader, WebDnD
• 2008 – 2009             Lead Developer, ART TV
• 2005 – 2008             Software Developer, Penta Web and Software Solutions, DBA

Education
B.S., Computer Sciences – Lebanese International University

Peter Medler – Senior Advisor of Markets and Reliability
Peter Medler is ZGlobal’s Senior Advisor of Markets and Reliability. Peter has over 12 years of energy consulting experience at multiple ISO/RTOs. Prior to ZGlobal, Peter worked as a Consultant at CAISO where he designed and implemented the current CAISO Credit Management System. Peter’s experience includes software functionality design and testing, customer service, revenue forecasting, and auditing.

Professional History

• 2012 – Present            Senior Advisor of Markets and Reliability
• 2004 – 2010             Consultant, California Independent System Operator
• 2000 – 2004            Consultant, ISO New England, The Structure Group, ERCOT
• 2000 – 2004             Consultant, Trimark Associates
• 1998 – 2000            Senior Settlements Analyst , California Independent System Operator

Education
MBA, Olin Business School
BA, St. Lawrence University

Alex Lee – Compliance System Architect
Alex Lee is ZGlobal’s Compliance System Architect. Alex has 15 years of experience as a systems project manager. He is responsible for implementing ZGlobal customized compliance web based software solutions using Microsoft SharePoint 365. Prior to ZGlobal, Alex held many key project management roles to develop, test, and troubleshoot web based software, database, training, workflow, and metrics solutions. 

Professional History

• 2011 – Present            Compliance System Architect, ZGlobal Inc.
• 2007 – 2010            Senior Project Manager, Equilibrium, Inc.
• 2002 – 2006            Project Management Consultant, Warner Music Group, Inc.
• 2000 – 2001            Project Manager, Metapa, Inc.
• 1999 – 2000            Senior Systems Analyst, FasTV, Inc.
• 1995 – 1999            Systems Support Release Analyst, Integrated Decision Systems, Inc.

Education
B.A., Cognitive Studies, California State University Stanislaus

Kushal Patel – Electric Regulatory Engineer Assistant
Kushal Patel is ZGlobal’s Electric Regulatory Engineer Assistant. In this role he creates document compliance procedures and processes, creates compliance forms, workflows, and reports, assists with audit preparation and helps in the development of training materials. 

Jerrod Sweet – Scheduling and Trading Manager
Jerrod Sweet is ZGlobal’s Scheduling and Trading Manager. Jerrod has over 18 years experience working in the energy field overseeing day to day operations and trading power and gas for the Imperial Valley. Prior to ZGlobal, Jerrod worked with the Imperial Irrigation District as a Day Ahead Trader for power and gas.

Professional History

• 2011 – Present            Scheduling and Trading Manager, ZGlobal Inc.
• 2004 – 2011            Day Ahead Trader, Imperial Irrigation District
• 2001 – 2004            Power Dispatcher, Imperial Irrigation District
• 1993 – 2001            Shift Supervisor, OGDEN Geothermal Operations