2025 EEA Board Biographies
Board President
Fred Maher
Director, Business Development
CMC Energy Services
As Director of Business Development, Fred Maher steers CMC Energy Services’ business growth and strategic marketing activities, creating multichannel campaigns optimizing lead generation and customer acquisition while working closely with the CMC Board and marketing partners. Prior to joining CMC, Fred served as Internal Communications Manager at Exelon Generation and held leadership roles in communications departments at PECO—where he created and managed all facets of a $5 million project to give homeowners energy reports—and the Klein College of Media and Communication. He has a B.A. in Journalism from Temple University and an M.A. in Mass Media and Communications from Temple University.
Fred serves on the Board of Visitors for Temple University’s Klein College of Communication and is Co-Chair of the DEI Council for the Association of Energy Service Professionals.
Vice President
Alon Abramson
Vice President of Programs
Philadelphia Energy Authority
Alon Abramson joined the Philadelphia Energy Authority in 2017 and currently serves as the Vice President of Programs. In this role, Alon oversees PEA’s suite of residential, commercial, and workforce programs. Residential programs include Solarize Philly, the nation’s largest solarize program, as well as Built to Last, a nationally-recognized program that delivers holistic home improvements to low-income homeowners. Commercial programs are designed to assist non-profit, institutional, and for-profit owners of small to large commercial properties to make economical investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy. PEA’s Workforce programs draw a line between these clean energy projects and labor needs, training local workers to benefit from new job opportunities. These efforts all align with the Philadelphia Energy Authority’s mission to leverage energy as a tool for real social impact by improving the environment, reducing utility costs, and creating jobs.
Treasurer
Peter Krajsa
Co-Chair & Managing Member
National Energy Improvement Fund (NEIF)
Peter Krajsa was a founding board member of KEEA and a Co-Chair and Founder of the National Energy Improvement Fund (NEIF) the nation’s only Certified Benefit Corporation, US Department of Energy Home Improvement Expert lender partner. Pennsylvania-based, NEIF provides energy efficiency and resilience financing programs for home and businesses nationally through partnerships with governments, utilities, manufacturers and contractors. NEIF currently has over 2,000 partners focused on increasing the affordability of energy and resilience improvements. NEIF currently administers financing programs for the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (PEDA) and for several of New Jersey’s utilities.
Peter is a recognized innovator in energy efficiency finance for over two decades. He spear-headed the creation of a number of major national energy finance programs as CEO of AFC First Financial Corporation, a specialty residential energy efficiency lender, operating programs nationally with a network of over 6,000 participating contractors. Peter led the development of the company’s national EnergyLoan® program as one of Fannie Mae’s approved lenders; created the Keystone Home Energy Loan Program in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Treasury Department, DEP and PHFA, which laid the foundation for WHEEL, (Warehouse for Energy Efficiency Loans), the world’s first investment grade rated securitization of a portfolio of unsecured energy loans. Under his leadership, AFC First closed over $500 million in energy efficiency loans, was named by the U.S. DOE as the nation’s first private Home Performance with ENERGY STAR sponsor, selected as one of five national pilot lenders for the HUD PowerSaver program, received the Alliance to Save Energy Andromeda Award and established the Green Energy Training Academy supported by the Rockefeller Foundation. Prior to founding NEIF, he headed national channel business development for the innovative energy lender, Renew Financial, which acquired AFC First in 2015, as part of its national expansion plans.
He holds a B.S. Economics from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Secretary
Joe Nunley
Partner
Green Energy Economics Group
Joe Nunley is a Managing Consultant for Green Energy Economics Group (GEEG). In this role, he is responsible for designing new energy efficiency portfolios, analyzing existing energy efficiency programs and portfolios, performing management consulting for home performance contractors, and continuous improvement process of existing program designs. Prior to joining GEEG, Joe served as the Vice President of Program Services at PSD. In this role Joe led the PSD Program Services Division, which implements Residential, Commercial, and Energy Code Programs throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest. Joe has been in the EE field for 15 years. Prior to joining PSD, he was an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Senior Analyst with UGI Utilities, where he was responsible for managing the commercial and residential natural gas Energy Efficiency and Conservation Programs. Joe was also responsible for emerging technologies, customer satisfaction, and trade ally relations. Joe previously worked as an Energy Efficiency Trade Ally Manager with Puget Sound Energy in Seattle, WA. Prior to that position, Joe spent eight years as the owner of a Harrisburg, PA energy auditing firm, focusing on Utility Low-Income Weatherization Programs, and residential and small commercial energy audits. Rooted in a deep love for building science, Joe is an Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) Certified Energy Manager (CEM) as well as a Building Performance Institute (BPI) Certified Building Analyst.
Jackie Berger
President
APPRISE
Yvette Brown
Industry Expert
Yvette Brown formerly led CMC Energy Service’s utility program marketing, outreach and engineering teams, specializing in creating successful customer engagement strategies and campaigns, and managing utility Trade Ally partnerships. She also served on CMC’s Innovation team, which explored ways to further the company’s services and sought growth opportunities.
With an MBA focused on Marketing and Finance, a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, and more than 25 years of energy leadership experience, Yvette has a unique blend of technical understanding and marketing savvy that results in creating impactful segmentation and messaging for utility customer decision-makers, service providers, and stakeholders. She has extensive experience in sales and marketing across electric, natural gas, and water market sectors including residential, commercial and industrial customers.
Prior to joining CMC Energy, Yvette held management roles at Clean Markets, PJM Interconnection, and she directed marketing for Exelon Energy’s $1 billion electricity commodity business.
Yvette was awarded the Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance Vanguard Award recognizing her contribution as an Energy Champion throughout her career. Yvette is the past President of the Association of Energy Services Professionals Mid-Atlantic Chapter. She earned her MBA from Villanova University and holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Engineering from Swarthmore College.
Yvette is an avid cyclist and is on the board of the Major Taylor Cycling Club of Philadelphia.
Cory Budischak
Associate Dean
Temple University, College of Engineering
Dr. Cory Budischak is an Associate Professor of Instruction in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department and the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs in the College of Engineering. In addition to teaching and leadership, his professional pursuits focus on the transition to 100% renewable energy and what this energy system would look like if implemented. Dr. Budischak has moved from research to using his knowledge in advocacy work and policy implementation for state and national impact.
Dr. Budischak recently joined the Energy Efficiency and Electrification working group of Delaware’s Governor’s Energy Advisory Council (GEAC). The GEAC has set a goal to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030 and eliminate emissions entirely by 2050. Dr. Budischak’s working group examines “current energy efficiency programs, transportation electrification, electric vehicles, building electrification, reliability and other topics raised by members”. Through each meeting, this group will be working towards policy implementation in the state of Delaware.
In considering emissions, Dr. Budischak thinks of the energy system as a whole, as opposed to segmenting energy systems based on type. An example he proposed to the working group was electric vehicle expansion. Emissions will be reduced as electric vehicles become more popular. In addition, electric vehicles can also make renewable energy less expensive by scheduling charging when sunlight or wind are most abundant. Dr. Budischak believes that considering the energy system as a whole is the most productive and cost-effective way to reduce emissions.
In addition to his advocacy work, Dr. Budischak is passionate about effective engineering instruction/support and consistently implements these practices in the classroom. He incorporates problem-based learning, flipping the classroom, design thinking, and teaching through interactive games to reach students who may not have been reached by traditional lectures. In 2023, Dr. Budischak was part of the College of Engineering’s inter-departmental collaboration team that led a workshop on reframing academic rigor to set students up for success in and beyond the classroom. He covers seven undergraduate courses in the College of Engineering, including the first engineering course all students must take: Introduction to Engineering and Engineering Technology. Dr. Budischak’s passion for decarbonizing the energy system provides a forward-thinking viewpoint to his instruction, as he helps his students look towards a future that examines the ramifications of energy production in addition to the production itself.
As a first-generation college graduate, supporting similar students through their college journey is of the utmost importance to Dr. Budischak. Having recently received a $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation alongside Dr. Shawn Fagan, Dr. Budischak helped to establish and run the Temple Sustainable Temple Energy and Power Scholars (STEPS) program. The STEPS program provides support to low-income, high-achieving students interested in electrical engineering. Students in this program gain access to scholarships and mentors throughout their undergraduate experience. Still in its first year, Dr. Budischak looks forward to seeing the positive results from STEPS and helping other schools to develop similar programs.
Cory received his Doctorate in Electrical Engineering from the University of Delaware. He spent 8 years at Delaware Technical and Community College in the Energy Management Department as an Instructor and Department chair before transitioning to his current role at Temple University.
When Cory is not educating or researching, he enjoys backpacking, yoga, volleyball, and hiking with his family.
More information about Cory can be found at www.bit.ly/corybud.
Cornelia Colijn
Executive Director
Kleinman Center for Energy Policy, University of Pennsylvania
Cory Colijn envisions, plans, and manages all center programming, while building connections with students, faculty, and leaders in the energy industry. She joined the Kleinman Center team after serving as the administrative director of Penn’s Professional Programs in Earth and Environmental Science. Prior to coming to Penn, she worked for several Philadelphia-based nonprofits, focusing on the ecological restoration of Philadelphia’s extensive park system.
Colijn holds a master’s degree in applied geoscience and a bachelor’s degree in earth and environmental science, both from the University of Pennsylvania.
Sarah Ralich
Senior Energy & Construction Manager
ACTION-Housing
Sarah Ralich is ACTION-Housing’s Senior Energy & Construction Manager. She works on the Real Estate Development team managing new construction and renovations of affordable multifamily housing. She also manages all energy usage data and retrofits for ACTION’s real estate portfolio.
In addition, Sarah works with policy leaders from around the state, advocating for energy efficiency programs designed for affordable multifamily housing. Sarah also has two years of experience working on The One Stop, ACTION’s multifamily affordable housing energy audit program. She has a BA in Urban Studies from the University of Pittsburgh.
Christine Symington
Executive Director
Sustainable Princeton
Thrilled to dedicate each day to helping Princeton become more sustainable and equitable, Christine brings skills learned in her previous finance industry career to ensure our programs achieve meaningful, evidence-based results. As an adopter of car-free living, Christine is often spotted waking (or biking) down Nassau Street on her way to catch a movie at the Garden Theater.
Kevin Warren
Principal
Warren Energy
Kevin Warren was an original member of the KEEA Board and served for roughly 10 years. Like several other Board members, he has been involved with PA ACT129 since its development and lobbied for its passage prior to KEEA’s official founding. His energy efficiency experience has focused on large multifamily, industrial, and commercial facilities.
Kevin Warren founded and is the principal of Warren Energy. Prior to starting the company, he was co-founder and principal of kW Engineering in Oakland, California. Kevin is a nationally recognized expert on measurement and verification (M&V) and impact evaluation. He is an active member of the Efficiency Valuation Organization’s (EVO) International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol (IPMVP) committee where he is the chair of the IPMVP EM&V subcommittee. Kevin has represented EVO in energy efficiency protocol efforts with NAESB, the World Bank, and ANSI. He is a registered professional engineer in five states and has a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, received in 1993 from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, Solar Energy Laboratory.
Kevin serves on the Pennsylvania Climate Change Advisory Committee, Chester County Energy and Environmental Advisory Board, the Oxford Regional Planning Commission’s Environmental Advisory Council, and the Elk Township Open Space Committee. He is also the President of the Elk Creeks Watershed Association.