2023 Finals Speakers
Hear from Joe Curtatone, President of NECEC, Anthony Fiore, Chief Program Officer for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Galen Nelson, Chief Program Officer at the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), Ken Hayes, Executive Director of Cleantech Open, Beth Zonis, Senior Director of Cleantech Open Northeast, and Olivia LaRoche, Program Manager of Cleantech Open Northeast
Before stepping into the role of NECEC President, Joseph A. Curtatone forged a reputation for being one of the most innovative mayors in the United States as the nine-term Mayor of Somerville, MA. That includes Somerville being named one of only 95 cities in the world to make the CDP Cities A-List for climate planning and action. He also spearheaded a comprehensive net-zero action plan for his city with a strong focus on equity. During his tenure, Curtatone embraced data-driven decision making, employed systems-based solutions to community issues and was an innovator in healthy city initiatives. He has forged regional coalitions to tackle issues around transportation, housing and COVID-19 pandemic response. He also worked to establish Somerville as a leader in climate technology, recruiting Greentown Labs to the city, where it has been steadily growing since 2013. Thanks to his pursuit of cutting edge industries, Somerville saw its workforce increase by more than 40% during his tenure as the city became the home to billions of dollars of new economic activity. Curtatone also did significant work to reshape the city. In 2014, Somerville opened the first new station in Greater Boston's core light rail transit system in 27 years, and soon it will open six more new stations as part of the first major expansion of that system since the 1980s. In addition, during his time in office Somerville built a network of more than 40 miles of bicycle lanes inside a city of just 4.1 square miles. He is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School, the New England School of Law and Boston College. A father of four, Curtatone also has been a longtime high school and youth sports coach.
Anthony J. Fiore was appointed Chief Program Officer for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) on January 25, 2023. In this position, Mr. Fiore leads NYSERDA’s cross cutting programmatic strategy, leveraging program and market assessments to optimize sector-specific interventions and economywide strategies to meet the climate goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and execute on New York’s Climate Action Council Scoping Plan – the framework for how New York will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve net-zero emissions, increase renewable energy use, and ensure all communities equitably benefit in the clean energy transition.
Galen Nelson is the Chief Program Officer at the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center where he oversees technology and market development programs and initiatives across the buildings, transportation, and net zero grid sectors. Galen serves on MassCEC’s executive team helping to shape organizational strategy and direction and oversees the organization’s emerging climate finance work. Prior to this role, Galen led MassCEC’s Innovation and Industry Support division, where he created and managed several tech to market and commercialization acceleration programs, including in the microgrid, energy storage, and high-performance building sectors. Prior to joining the MassCEC, Galen led clean energy business and green affordable housing policy and program development efforts at the City of Boston. Galen has nearly 15 years’ experience conceiving, developing, and managing clean energy transition programs and policies at the City and State level often at the intersection of urban planning, economic development, and clean energy.
Ken Hayes helps start-ups grow, get financed and build value. He joined Cleantech Open in 2017 as Executive Director with US National and Global responsibilities for this established startup accelerator. Concurrently, he is Venture Partner and Co-founder of Canyon Creek Capital's Fund II, a VC fund focused on SoCal tech companies from Seed to Series A, with 40+ investments since late 2014. He is also a Director Emeritus of the Pasadena Angels, where he continues to focus on deal sourcing, mentoring entrepreneurs, and performing due diligence. Finally, Ken is a "recovering entrepreneur" who has built and sold several companies in Europe and the USA, in the ed-tech and ad-tech sectors. He earned an MBA at INSEAD, France, and a BA in Economics at Pomona College.
As Senior Director of Cleantech Open Northeast, Beth is passionate about combating climate change, improving environmental equity, and growing the cleantech economy through innovation and entrepreneurship. Her focus is on creating a positive experience for entrepreneurs and mentors, strengthening the diversity of cohorts, enabling startups to calculate their GHG emissions reduction potential, and securing a variety of sponsors that add value to the program and the startups. Beth has experience developing innovation hubs in the Northeast with Cleantech Open, as well as in India and Russia. She has worked at MIT and IBM, run her own marketing and sustainability consulting business, and led business development for a startup that grew from 10 to 1000 employees. She holds a BA, cum laude, from Wellesley College, an MBA from Boston University, a Certificat d’Etudes Politiques from Science Po in Paris, and a Certificate in Sustainable Business from the University of Southern Maine. She speaks French and Spanish. She plays squash, swims, kayaks, and hikes, and enjoys spending time with her family and traveling the world.
Olivia is the Program Manager for Cleantech Open Northeast, NECEC. She has experience working with a variety of environmental organizations, in policy and non-profit groups at both the local and national levels. Olivia holds a Bachelor's degree in International Relations-Political Science from Wellesley College. She is originally from midcoast Maine and has a passion for and commitment to climate change mitigation and business sustainability.