List of Speakers
Chris Ayers, Esq.
North Carolina Utilities Commission – Public Staff
Chris Ayers has served as Executive Director of the North Carolina Utilities Commission Public Staff since July 1, 2013. Mr. Ayers serves on the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates (NASUCA) Executive Committee, Consumer Advocates for the PJM States Board of Directors (CAPS), Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) Advisory Council, University of Missouri Financial Research Institute (FRI) Advisory Board, Keystone Energy Board, and New Mexico State University Center for Public Utilities Advisory Council. He previously served as President of NASUCA for three years, Chairman of the FRI Advisory Board, as well as a member of the Critical Consumer Issues Forum Executive Committee, Department of Energy Electricity Advisory Committee, and a two-year term on the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission. From August 2003 to June 2009, he practiced law in Raleigh, North Carolina with the law firm of Hunton & Williams LLP. Mr. Ayers joined the law firm of Poyner Spruill LLP in Raleigh as a partner in June 2009 where he practiced law until July 2013. Mr. Ayers is a native of Rutherford County, North Carolina. He graduated magna cum laude from Duke University and received his Juris Doctor with Honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Mr. Ayers served as a law clerk to the Honorable Linda McGee with the North Carolina Court of Appeals.
Matthew Agen, Esq.
American Gas Association (AGA)
Matthew Agen is Chief Regulatory Counsel, Energy at American Gas Association (AGA). Mr. Agen has over fifteen years of experience in the private sector and with the federal government. He has extensive experience advising and representing natural gas distribution companies, oil pipelines, natural gas pipelines, and electric utilities in a variety of federal regulatory and transactional matters arising under the Natural Gas Act, Interstate Commerce Act, and Federal Power Act before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Mr. Agen has additional experience representing clients before U.S. Courts of Appeals, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), other federal agencies, and state commissions.
Jerry Bonanno, Esq.
Deputy General Counsel, NEI
Jerry is Deputy General Counsel at NEI, the trade association for the commercial nuclear technologies industry. Jerry has nearly 20 years of experience providing counsel on a wide range of nuclear regulatory issues, including NRC’s backfitting rule and use of cost-benefit analysis; emergency planning, access authorization, and physical security; decommissioning planning and funding; spent fuel management; radiation protection; and low-level waste management. Jerry also has significant experience advising on environmental compliance issues that have the potential to impact NRC licensees, including EPA’s implementation of the Toxic Substances Control Act. He has also assisted in representing NEI before U.S. District Courts, U.S. Courts of Appeals, and as amicus curiae before the Supreme Court of the U.S. Before joining NEI in 2008, Jerry was an attorney in the NRC’s Office of the General Counsel, where he counseled NRC staff on all facets of rulemaking and policy development and represented NRC staff in adjudicatory hearings before the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board and the Commission. Jerry holds a BS in environmental sciences and Master of Public Health degree from Rutgers University and earned his JD (Magna Cum Laude, Order of the Coif) from Seton Hall University School of Law.
Jonathan Booe, Esq.
North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB)
Jonathan Booe is the Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of the North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB) and has been working as an attorney for the organization since 2007. As the Chief Operating Officer, Jonathan manages all NAESB staff and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the organization, including all standards development activities undertaken to support the wholesale and retail natural gas and electricity markets. Through his various roles with NAESB, he has worked with hundreds of companies to develop business practice standards, standardized contracts, certification programs, and industry tools that add efficiency, transparency, and security to market processes. Jonathan manages the submission of all regulatory filings and other communications with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), state utility commissions, and other state and federal entities on behalf of NAESB. He also supports the NAESB Board of Directors on corporate governance issues, strategic planning and revenue generation. Jonathan received a Bachelor of Science from Texas A & M University and a Juris Doctorate from South Texas College of Law. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Energy Bar Association and serves as a Vice Chair of the Infrastructure Security Committee for the Infrastructure and Regulated Industries Section of the American Bar Association. Jonathan is also a member of the Coordinating Steering Committee for the National Petroleum Council’s current Greenhouse Gas Emissions Study, the ANSI Board of Directors, and the Green Button Alliance Board of Directors.
E. Brett Breitschwerdt, Esq.
McGuireWoods LLP
Brett Breitschwerdt is a partner in the Raleigh, North Carolina, office of McGuireWoods LLP, a leading international law firm with more than 1,100 lawyers in 21 offices worldwide. He advises public utilities and other clients in implementing strategies and obtaining regulatory approvals to achieve their business goals, including representing clients in regulatory litigation before the North Carolina Utilities Commission and other state public service commissions. Brett has recently led the firm’s representation of major electric utility clients in numerous complex proceedings including multi-jurisdictional integrated resource planning and certificate proceedings for major new generating facilities. Brett also has particular expertise in the growing area of renewable energy regulation, including PURPA implementation, renewable energy procurement and green tariff programs, generator interconnection standard approval and administration, as well as demand side management/energy efficiency program approval and cost recovery. He has also represented clients in traditional base rate and rider cost recovery proceedings, affiliate approvals, electric territorial assignment and other regulatory matters. Brett has been top-ranked by Chambers USA since 2021 and board certified as a specialist in utilities law by the North Carolina State Bar since 2017. He attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville (2004) and received his J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law (2007).
Sam Brumberg, Esq.
Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives (VMDAEC)
Sam Brumberg is the Vice President, Regulatory Affairs & General Counsel, Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperatives (VMDAEC). He joined the Association in 2012 after almost 7 years of private practice at an AmLaw 200 firm. For well over a decade, he has been an advocate for clean, safe, affordable, and reliable energy and broadband for the mid-Atlantic rural area. Sam’s legal practice focuses on legislative and regulatory affairs. He also supports the member utilities and affiliates of the Association. Sam graduated summa cum laude from the University of Richmond, with a bachelor’s degree in political science, and while there was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. Sam studied law at the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary, where he was the managing editor of, and published in, the law school’s Environmental Law and Policy Review. During law school, he served a clerkship at the Virginia State Corporation Commission’s Office of General Counsel. In 2014, he served as Chair of the Virginia State Bar’s Administrative Law Section. He has also served as President for the Energy Bar Association’s Southern Chapter and as a member of the Virginia State Bar’s Administrative Law Section Board of Governors. In 2020, he was a finalist candidate for a judicial appointment to the Virginia State Corporation Commission. In late 2020, the Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware Association of Broadband Cooperatives was created. VMDABC is the nation’s first rural co-op fiber association, whose members now have a unified voice for co-op broadband across the mid-Atlantic. His work has been featured in Vanguard Law Magazine and Executive Counsel Magazine. Sam’s personal interests are aviation, horology, numismatics, Japanology. He lives with his wife and stepson in Short Pump, Virginia.
James H. Cawley, Esq.
James H. Cawley is a lawyer and consultant specializing in public utility law. Previously he served as the Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Commissioner of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (1979-1985; 2005-2015) regulating telecommunications, water, energy, and transportation utility services. While a PaPUC commissioner, he was appointed by the Federal Communications Commission to the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal [Telephone] Service and served as the State Chairman of the Board. He was a partner at law firms Rhoads & Sinon (1996-2005) and LeBoeuf, Lamb, Green & MacRae LLP (1988-1996). For twenty years he was an adjunct professor of federal and state administrative law and appellate advocacy at the Harrisburg campus of Widener University Commonwealth Law School. From 1991 to 1999, he served on the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority, and from 1998 to 2003, he served on the board of directors of Pennsylvania-American Water Company and from 2016 to 2020 on the board of directors of The York Water Company. Early in his career, he served as majority counsel to the Pa. Senate Consumer Affairs Committee and then as chief counsel to the Senate Democratic majority caucus. In 1975-76, he was a major drafter of reforms to Pennsylvania’s public utility laws (including drafting the separate law creating the Office of Consumer Advocate in the Office of Attorney General with its jurisdiction confined to the PaPUC) and then assisted with the codification of those laws into the present Public Utility Code. In 1983, he co-authored a rate case handbook that was updated in 2018; it is available on the PaPUC's website: Ratemaking Guide.
Mignon Clybum
Mignon Clybum served as a member of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from 2009 to 2018. Ms. Clyburn received her Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in banking, finance, and economics from the University of South Carolina in 1984. From 1998 to 2009, Ms. Clyburn was a member of the South Carolina Public Service Commission (PSC), representing South Carolina's 6th congressional district. She was first elected to the post on July 1, 1998, and served as the chair of the Commission from July 2002 to July 2004.
Nanette Edwards, Esq.
Burr & Forman, LLP
Nanette S. Edwards is a partner at Burr & Forman, LLP and is part of the firm’s Regulatory and Government Affairs team where she focuses her practice on communications, government and public sector, energy and public utilities. Nanette has over 27 years of experience in communications and public utility law. Before joining Burr, Nanette was twice appointed by Governor McMaster to serve as Executive Director of the South Carolina Office Regulatory Staff (ORS), the regulatory body representing the public interest before the Public Service Commission of South Carolina. In her role as Executive Director of ORS, she appeared and testified before members of the South Carolina General Assembly both House and Senate, coordinated with state and federal agencies, and provided presentations to consumer, industry and utility groups. In this role, she carried out the responsibilities of Emergency Support Function 12 in coordination with the SC Emergency Management Division (SCEMD). During a disaster in South Carolina, ESF 12 takes the lead on electric and natural gas issues while also providing support with issues concerning railroads and transportation and is responsible for coordinating with energy providers to establish priorities to repair damaged energy systems and to provide temporary, alternate, or interim sources of natural gas supply and electric power. Prior to joining ORS in 2005, she served as vice president and regulatory attorney for ITC^DeltaCom where she represented the company before state and federal agencies and managed regulatory litigation activities. Nanette has extensive experience administering programs, directing operations, handling regulatory litigation and coordinating with lawmakers. Nanette attended Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. Prior to law school, Nanette attended Erskine College, where she graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Business Administration and English. Nanette also participated in exchange programs in St. Andrews, Scotland and Madrid, Spain.
Brian Fitzpatrick
PJM Interconnection
Brian Fitzpatrick is the Principal Fuel Supply Strategist at PJM Interconnection, an organization responsible for managing the electric grid and wholesale electricity markets in the Mid-Atlantic and parts of the Midwest United States. His role involves overseeing fuel supply strategies and ensuring reliable energy supply within the PJM region. Mr. Fitzpatrick has a wealth of experience in the energy industry, having held various positions related to fuel supply, regulatory affairs, and energy efficiency. His expertise plays a crucial role in ensuring a stable and efficient energy supply for millions of consumers in the PJM region.
Lucas Fykes
Data Center Coalition
Lucas Fykes is director of energy policy for the Data Center Coalition (DCC), the membership association serving as the voice of the data center industry. Lucas has represented community choice aggregation providers, clean energy companies, and transportation sector clients in administrative litigation, rulemakings, and other regulatory matters. Lucas’ practice also involved counseling clients on a range of energy and utility law issues, as well as the development and implementation of policies advancing distributed energy resource deployment. Lucas represented utilities and retail electric suppliers before the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, Illinois Commerce Commission, and Appellate Courts in rate case, regulatory compliance, rider, complaint, and rulemaking proceedings. Lucas also has extensive experience consulting and brokering electric and natural gas procurement agreements for commercial, governmental, and residential clients. Lucas served as Chair of the Columbus Bar Association Energy Law Committee, the Ohio Liaison for the Energy Bar Association’s Midwest chapter, and a member of the Energy Bar Association’s Taskforce on Law Students, Young Professionals, and Diversity.
Michael Grant, Esq.
Public Utility Commission of Oregon
Michael Grant is an Administrative Law Judge at the Public Utility Commission of Oregon. He formerly held a role as Executive Director from October, 2018 – July, 2024. Before that, he was the Chief Administrative Law Judge from August 2003 – September 2018. Michael has a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology and Mineralogy from the Ohio State University and a Doctor of Law degree from the University of Oregon School of Law.
Holly Hawkins, Esq.
SERC Reliability Corporation
Holly Hawkins is the Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary at SERC Reliability Corporation. Prior to their current role, Holly served as an Associate General Counsel at North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). Hawkins also has experience as an Associate Attorney at Jackson Walker LLP, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, and Kaye Scholer. Holly began their legal career as a Legal Advisor at the U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration. Hawkins holds a JD from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from San Francisco State University.
Scott Hempling, Esq.
Scott Hempling taught regulatory law to a generation of United States practitioners. He has advised and testified before numerous state utility commissions, and appeared frequently before U.S. congressional and state legislative committees. He has addressed audiences throughout the United States and in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Central America, England, Germany, India, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Peru and Vanuatu. His legal textbook, Regulating Public Utility Performance: The Law of Market Structure, Pricing and Jurisdiction (American Bar Association 2d ed. 2021), has been described as “a joy … for the veteran, essential reading for the newcomer.” His book of essays, Preside or Lead? The Attributes and Actions of Effective Regulators, has been described as “matchless” and “timeless.” His book Regulating Mergers and Acquisitions of U.S. Electric Utilities: Industry Consolidation and Corporate Complication (Edward Elgar Publishing 2020), has been described as “powerful and persuasive . . . a terrific book.” An adjunct professor at Georgetown Law, Hempling is a former Executive Director of the U.S. National Regulatory Research Institute, and a former Administrative Law Judge at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. He received a B.A. cum laude from Yale University in (1) Economics and Political Science and (2) Music, and a J.D. magna cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center.
Michael Kessler, Esq.
Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO)
Mr. Kessler is Managing Assistant General Counsel at the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. At MISO, Michael has worked on major business and regulatory initiatives, including market design issues associated with renewable and distributed resource integration and the changing resource mix. Michael practices before both FERC and state public utility commissions. Prior to joining MISO, he worked at FERC in a non-legal position in the Office of Energy Policy & Innovation; he also worked in the FERC Office of General Counsel immediately after graduating Vermont Law School in 1980. Michael was also a partner in a number of DC energy law firms, including Powell Goldstein, Andrews Kurth and Duane Morris. He also served as General Counsel and Vice President for a start-up retail energy provider during the early days of retail energy competition. Michael currently serves on the Board of the Midwest EBA Chapter.
Carlton Lewis
Horry Telephone Cooperative (HTC Inc.)
Carlton Lewis has been the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Horry Telephone Cooperative (HTC Inc.) located in South Carolina since December 2022. Before that he held positions as Chief Operations Officer 2021 – November 2022, Chief Financial Officer, Comptroller and Manager of Financial Operations. Carlton holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with emphasis in Finance from Coastal Carolina University and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Winthrop University. He is a Certified Management Accountant.
Commissioner Floyd B. McKissick, Jr.
North Carolina Utility Commission
Commissioner McKissick was nominated to serve on the North Carolina Utilities Commission by Governor Roy Cooper for a six-year term commencing July 1, 2019, and expiring June 30, 2029. His nomination was confirmed by the NC Senate and the NC House. Prior to his appointment to the NCUC, he served as a member of the North Carolina Senate for approximately 13 years, where he served as the Senior Deputy Democratic Leader.
Commissioner McKissick is the son of the late civil rights leader and attorney, Floyd B. McKissick, Sr.
He received an A.B. Degree in Geography from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts; a master’s degree in Regional Planning (MRP) from UNC-Chapel Hill, a master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA) from Harvard University, and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) Degree from the Duke University School of Law in Durham, North Carolina.
Douglas Meredith
As John Staurulakis, LLC’s (JSI) Economic Advisor, Douglas Meredith has worked for 30-years evaluating industry and regulatory issues that affect independent and rural telephone companies. Serving as an advocate for rural interests, Douglas participates in a number of national groups and task forces attempting to steer federal and state policy in a direction that will provide rural carriers the same opportunities and safeguards that larger carriers receive. He guides clients through the complex interaction between economics and cost recovery and universal service at the federal and state level. Douglas also serves as an Economic Advisor to the Telecommunications Regulatory Bureau of Puerto Rico.
Prior to joining JSI in 1995, Douglas was an independent research economist in Washington, DC. Douglas graduated with honors from the University of Utah, receiving a B. A. in Economics in 1987. He has also received his M. A. in Economics from the University of Maryland, College Park.
James Bradford Ramsay, Esq.
National Association of Regulatory Commissioners
James (Brad) Ramsay is General Counsel to the National Association of Regulatory Commissioners and is responsible for all association-related legal issues and for managing the Policy Department in all policy, regulatory, and legislative matters where NARUC is active. He directly supports the NARUC Executive Committee and the NARUC Board of Directors. He also directly supports the Telecommunications Committee, the Consumer Affairs Committee, the Water Committee, the Committee on Critical Infrastructure, and sometimes the Electric, Gas, and ERE committees. He is a member of the Senior Management Team and has worked for NARUC since 1990.
Charlotte Mitchell, Esq.
McGuire Woods LLP
Charlotte Mitchell is a partner in the Raleigh, North Carolina, office of McGuireWoods LLP. She is a former Chair of the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC), where she led the state’s economic regulation of investor-owned public utilities. Charlotte was appointed to the NCUC in 2017 and served as Chair from 2019 to 2025. Prior to being appointed to the NCUC, Charlotte was in private practice with a focus on utilities regulation. Charlotte earned her JD from the University of North Carolina School of Law, where she served as a publication and staff editor for the North Carolina Law Review. She also holds an MEM, with a focus on Resource Economics and Policy, from Duke University. Charlotte received her BA from UNC-Chapel Hill, where she was a Morehead Scholar.
Matthew Price, Esq.
Constellation Energy
As Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Constellation, Matthew Price oversees the company’s legal organization, which includes its regulatory and regulatory compliance, corporate and commercial services, litigation and environmental departments. He is also responsible for the direct management of the legal leadership team. Constellation is the nation’s largest supplier of clean energy with more than 32,400 megawatts of generating capacity from nuclear, wind, solar, natural gas and hydro assets. Mr. Price formerly was co-chair of the energy practice at Jenner & Block.
Rick Simpson, Esq.
Wiley Rein LLP
Rick is a Partner at Wiley Rein LLP. He is an experienced trial lawyer and appellate advocate. Rick represents lawyers and other professionals in malpractice claims, defends insurers in coverage and “bad faith” litigation, and represents clients in commercial litigation. He also represents lawyers in disciplinary proceedings, provides legal ethics advice to law firms, has served as an expert witness on legal ethics and insurance coverage, and is Deputy General Counsel at Wiley.
Rick recently completed a three-year term as Chair of the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Lawyers Professional Liability and now serves as a Special Advisor to the Committee. During his tenure as Chair of the Standing Committee, Rick also served as a member of the Coordinating Council of the ABA Center for Professional Responsibility. Previously, Rick served a three-year term as a member of the Standing Committee. He speaks regularly on professional liability and insurance coverage topics.
Rick is an Adjunct Professor at the University of North Carolina School of Law, where he is the co-director of the Supreme Court Program, which operates as a clinic in which students assist in preparing submissions to the United States Supreme Court. From 2003 to 2017, Rick was an Adjunct Instructor in Trial Advocacy at the University of Virginia School of Law.
Governor Josh Stein
North Carolina
Governor Josh Stein’s focus is to create a safer, stronger North Carolina. He is bringing people together to help western North Carolina recover from Hurricane Helene, creating economic opportunity for all North Carolinians, investing in public schools, and keeping people safe. Before becoming Governor, he spent the past eight years serving as North Carolina’s Attorney General. Before his time as Attorney General, Governor Stein served in the state Senate and was a champion for public education, clean energy, and public safety. Governor Stein earned law and public policy degrees from Harvard University and graduated from Dartmouth College and Chapel Hill High School.
Josh Sundt, Esq.
North Carolina Utilities Commission
Josh Sundt is a recent addition to the legal team at the North Carolina Utilities Commission. Before joining the Commission earlier this month, he served as an administrative law judge for the Washington State Office of Administrative Hearings for 15 years, including about 10 years as a managing judge. There he presided over a wide range of case types, including unemployment insurance, childcare licensing, child protective services, electrical board, contractor licensing, cannabis licensing and enforcement, Medicaid, gambling commission, and child support. In 2017, Josh received the Governor’s Award for Leadership in Management for his work leading the in-house development of a unified case management system. He earned his law degree from the University of Washington.
Jonathan Tauber, Esq.
SERC Reliability Corporation
Mr. Tauber is currently the Director of Enforcement at SERC Reliability Corporation. Previously, Jonathan served as Director of Strategic Policy and Advocacy at Consumers Energy and Managing Senior Corporate Counsel at Midcontinent Independent System Operator. Prior to that, Jonathan held various legal positions at the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. Jonathan holds a JD from Capital University Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Criminal Justice from Indiana University Bloomington.
Kenneth Townsend, Professor
Wake Forest Law School
Kenneth Townsend is the Executive Director of Leadership and Character in the Professional Schools, Teaching Professor in the Wake Forest School of Law, and a Presidential Higher Education Fellow. A recipient of the Truman Scholarship for Public Service and the Rhodes Scholarship, he earned a B.A. from Millsaps College, an M.Phil. from the University of Oxford, and a J.D. and M.A.R. from Yale University. Prior to joining Wake Forest, he worked at Millsaps College as Special Assistant to the President, Assistant Professor of Political Science, and Founding Executive Director of the Institute for Professional and Civic Engagement and, before Millsaps, as a Fellow in the University of Mississippi’s Barksdale Honors College and Lott Leadership Institute. A licensed attorney and frequent commentator on public affairs, he has taught courses in ethics, political theory, public policy, and constitutional law at Millsaps College, University of Mississippi, and Yale University. He teaches “Professional Responsibility” and “Leadership and Character in the Law” at the Wake Forest School of Law. His research focuses on the relationship between law and morality, leadership in the law, and the ethical formation of professionals.
Andrew Tubbs, Esq.
Energy Association of Pennsylvania
Andy Tubbs is president and CEO of the Energy Association of Pennsylvania (EAP), where he spearheads EAP’s initiatives to advocate for the energy industry and strengthen collaboration among policymakers, regulators and utility providers. He has extensive state and federal regulatory utility experience, including serving as vice president of external and customer affairs for Columbia Gas of PA, a subsidiary of NiSource. Prior to joining EAP, he led regulatory strategy for corporate initiatives across six states for NiSource. Previously, Andy was an attorney in Post & Schell P.C.’s Energy Practice Group, where his practice focused on representing electric and gas utility clients in a variety of state and federal regulatory and transactional matters before the Pennsylvania PUC and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). He also served as an attorney for the Pennsylvania PUC, where he was actively involved in the Pennsylvania PUC’s efforts to restructure the state’s electric and natural gas industries and served as one of the commission’s primary counsels on federal energy matters before the FERC. In addition, during his tenure at the Pennsylvania PUC, he served as energy counsel for Pennsylvania Commissioner Kim Pizzingrilli. Andy is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, Maryland and U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pittsburgh and his Juris Doctor from Widener University School of Law.
Henry Walker
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP
Henry Walker is a Member of the law firm Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP in Nashville, Tennessee. From 1981 – 1994, he was General Counsel to the Tennessee Public Utility Commission. Mr. Walker was an Assistant District Attorney General in Nashville from 1978-1981 and he is a former law clerk of The Honorable Gilbert S. Merritt of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Mr. Walker has a B.A. from Yale University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
Joseph Witmer, Esq.
Mr. Witmer is currently an independent consultant focused primarily on leveraging a public utility regulatory model to finance broadband networks and to provide service in high-cost areas and particularly for working and lower-income consumers and business as a vehicle for social and economic development. He was counsel to the former Chairman Gladys Brown Dutrieuille at the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PA PUC). His primary emphasis for that ten year period was on telecommunications and broadband, particularly rural broadband deployment and universal access for low-income consumers in rural and urban areas. He previously worked for over 20 years in the Commission’s Law Bureau, the Office of Special Assistants, and as Legal Counsel to former Commissioner Aaron Wilson, Jr. He was Staff Chair of the Middle Atlantic Conference of Regulatory Commissions (MACRUC), a consortium of state public utility commissions from the Mid-Atlantic region, including the District of Columbia and the United States Virgin Islands. He was also Staff Chair of the National Staff Subcommittee of the Telecommunications Committee of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), a national association consisting of the state public utility commissioners and staff from the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. In that capacity, he worked with the state public utility commission staff in the states and territories on matters involving state and federal policy involving telecommunications and broadband, particularly with an interest in net neutrality and market power. He was previously Editor of a NARUC White Paper on Federal Universal Service and Broadband in Rural Areas. He has done presentations for NARUC on public utility regulation, particularly consumer issues and how to finance infrastructure investment using a public utility regulatory model, to state regulators in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, India, Israel, and Kosovo. He was the recent recipient of a Governor's Proclamation in Pennsylvania by the current Governor, Josh Shapiro, for his dedication to facilitating the deployment of broadband networks in Pennsylvania, particularly on an outreach and education campaign for potential private sector bidders for federal support in Pennsylvania that resulted in Pennsylvania bidders receiving over $300 million dollars for investment in high-cost areas in furtherance of economic development. He also received the inaugural award of the Ray Baum Award from NARUC in recognition of his work advancing the public interest in telecommunications and broadband, an award created to honor former Commissioner Ray Baum who worked tirelessly on these and other issues while a commissioner in the State of Oregon and as lead staff person on telecommunications and broadband in the US House of Representatives.
Mr. Witmer studied at Susquehanna University, the University of Detroit-Mercy School of Law, Northeastern University in Boston, and Harvard University’s Extension School. He taught political science for 10 years, including self-designed courses on the Politics of Environmental Protection, the Politics of Integrating Nation-States (the European Union), and the Politics of Genocide. He is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealths of Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. He has retired although he still does part-time legal work for the Office of Special Assistants at the PA PUC.
Lisa Youngers, Esq.
Lisa R. Youngers has more than 30 years providing legal, policy and strategic counsel in the telecommunications, technology and infrastructure space. Most recently, Ms. Youngers served as International General Counsel with Tata Communications, overseeing International commercial contracts, litigation, regulatory, cybersecurity, HR legal, product counsel, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, M&A, and business Integration covering Tata’s business globally. Before joining Tata, Ms. Youngers was President and CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association (FBA) - the only all-fiber trade association in the Americas. Ms. Youngers drove the association’s development, business, and advocacy, representing members around the globe in legislative/ regulatory meetings and industry events, including testifying before the United States Senate, Japan’s Ministry of Telecommunications and speaking at other venues around the world. Before the FBA, Ms. Youngers served as Chief Executive Officer of Nextlink Wireless, LLC, a spectrum management firm and 5G wireless network. Ms. Youngers oversaw all aspects of the business including financial, operational and technical matters, legal/compliance, and M&A activity with a focus on 5G roll-out and a sale of assets to a global MNO. Prior to Nextlink, Ms. Youngers was Vice President and Assistant General Counsel - Federal Affairs/Strategy at XO Communications leading federal policy, regulatory, and legislative activities, regulatory compliance, corporate PR, and messaging for the company. She also was a principal on M&A activities, litigation, crisis management, and other corporate governance. Prior to joining XO, Ms. Youngers was Federal Regulatory Counsel for General Communication, Inc. (“GCI”), and MCI, both in Washington D.C., representing the companies’ interests, respectively, before the FCC on competition, enforcement, wireline, wireless, universal service, telehealth, and school access issues. Ms. Youngers is a former Assistant Attorney General for the state of Minnesota where she served as legal counsel and litigator to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission and an Infrastructure Safety Board. A former television news producer and satellite coordinator, Ms. Youngers is a frequent presenter at industry events and has been quoted in several publications regarding regulatory and public policy matters. Ms. Youngers earned her B.A. from the University of Wisconsin and received her J.D. magna cum laude from Mitchell Hamline College of Law. She is a member of the Minnesota and District of Columbia Bars and currently resides in suburban Washington, DC.
Planning Committee
Elizabeth H. Barnes, Esq.
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
Elizabeth (Betsy) Barnes has been Deputy Chief Counsel in the Law Bureau of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission since July 2022. She is primarily responsible for federal energy matters. Prior to her appointment, she served as an Administrative Law Judge in the Harrisburg office of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission from July 2010 – July 2022. From December 1998 – July 2010, she was Assistant Counsel in the Commission’s Law Bureau. Ms. Barnes holds a B.S. in Marketing/Pre-Law from Juniata College and a J.D. from Widener University Delaware Law School. She is the current Chair of NARUC’s Staff Subcommittee on Law and the Vice President of 2025 NCRA.
Bridgette Frazier, Esq.
Arkansas Public Service Commission
Bridgette Frazier has been an Administrative Law Judge at the Arkansas Public Service Commission since March 2020. Before that, she was a utility attorney from July 2015 – March 2020. Bridgette holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in International Studies from Hendrix College and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law, Fayetteville, Arkansas. She is the Chair of NARUC’s Staff Subcommittee on ALJ and a member of the planning committee for NCRA 2025.
Cheryl Walker Davis
Cheryl Walker Davis is a public utility regulatory expert, legal consultant, and former Director of the Office of Special Assistants at the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. She led the legal/technical development and design of advisory decisions and policy for more than thirty years at the Commission. Cheryl is a graduate of the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law and Gettysburg College. She is an active Alumni of NARUC’s Staff Subcommittee on Law, and part of this year’s 2025 NCRA planning committee.
Nicholas Walstra, Esq.
Public Utilities Commission of Ohio
Nicholas “Nick” Walstra is a Senior Utilities Examiner at the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. He has been an examiner for over 18 years. Nick has a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Sociology from Princeton University and a Juris Doctorate from Capital University, Columbus, Ohio. Nick is the Treasurer of the NCRA 2025.
Louis S. “Sam” Watson, Jr., Esq.
North Carolina Utilities Commission
Mr. Watson is General Counsel for the North Carolina Utilities Commission. He received a law degree, with highest honors, from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law in Washington, D.C., and an undergraduate degree in engineering from North Carolina State University in Raleigh. Mr. Watson is a member of the North Carolina State Bar and the Energy Bar Association, and is a North Carolina State Bar Board Certified Specialist in Utilities Law. Sam has spent nearly 40 years in the electric industry as an engineer and as an attorney. Prior to joining the Utilities Commission, Mr. Watson worked in Knoxville in the legal department of the Tennessee Valley Authority. He also spent several years in private practice in Raleigh representing clients in utility matters before federal and state regulatory authorities. Sam is the President of NCRA 2025.