Office of the Vice President for Research

Mason Baker was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer and General Manager for UAMPS in January 2023.  He joined UAMPS in September 2011 as the Chief Legal Officer and spent his first 12 years of employment involved in the operations of UAMPS’ 18 projects as well as overseeing all legal functions.  Mason holds a Juris Doctorate with a certificate in environment and natural resources law from the University of Utah and a Bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Colorado College. He is the past Chair of the Board of the Salt Lake Climbers Alliance. Mason enjoys spending time with his two young sons and rock climbing throughout the West with his wife and two dogs.
Day 2 - Plenary Panel - Utility Perspectives of Energy Planning for the Future

Gov. Spencer J. Cox is a husband, father, farmer, recovering attorney, and Utah’s 18th governor. He also served as the 2023-2024 chairman of the National Governors Association. Gov. Cox has a long track record of public service, serving as a city councilmember, mayor, county commissioner and state legislator before being appointed as Utah’s lieutenant governor in 2013. He was sworn in as governor on Jan. 4, 2021. During his first term in office, Gov. Cox cut $1.1 billion in taxes, implemented landmark changes in water law, water conservation and infrastructure planning, locked in record funding for education and teachers, enacted universal school choice and secured funds for affordable housing. A long-time advocate for suicide prevention and mental health resources, he’s become a national voice on protecting youth from the harms of social media. He also signed early education and workforce program funding, launched the One Utah Health Collaborative, and expanded opportunities for women, diverse communities and those living in rural parts of the state. With a focus on solutions, Gov. Cox promotes respect in politics and innovation in government, works across party lines to find common ground and regularly participates in hands-on service projects. These elements were the foundation of his NGA Chair’s Initiative, “Disagree Better: Healthy Conflict for Better Policy.” A sixth-generation Utahn, Gov. Cox was born and raised in Fairview, a town of 1,200 in the center of the state. He met First Lady Abby Palmer Cox at age 16 and they married after he returned from serving a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mexico. He attended Snow College, Utah State University and the Washington and Lee University School of Law, then clerked for U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart and worked at a Salt Lake City law firm. Several years later, Gov. Cox and First Lady Cox moved back to Fairview to raise their four children – Gavin, Kaleb, Adam, and Emma Kate – on the family farm. The governor, first lady and Emma Kate currently reside in the Kearns Mansion, also known as the Governor’s Mansion, in Salt Lake City.  

Tim Davis is the Executive Director of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).  For the past fifteen plus years, Davis has led five different state natural resource agencies in Utah and Montana.  As Executive Director Davis leads DEQ as it works to protect and restore Utah’s air, land, and water while supporting the growth of the state.

Before serving as Executive Director, Davis served as Deputy Great Salt Lake Commission and the Director of the Utah Division of Drinking Water. Davis also oversaw the water rights, water resources, drinking water, and water quality programs for the State of Montana for over ten years.

Additionally, Davis has represented Utah and Montana on numerous regional and national boards and commissions including serving as the Yellowstone River Compact Commissioner for the State of Montana, the Chair of the Western States Water Council, and representing the Region 8 states of Utah, Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota on the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators Board of Directors.

Davis grew up in Lander, Wyoming, and spends most of his free time outdoors with his family and their two dogs.

Day 1 - Session: Energy and Environmental Nexus

Stephanie Frohman is the Associate Director of the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water and Air at Utah State University. She brings two decades of state-level leadership, strategy and partner development experience to the role, most recently serving as Senior Vice President of Strategy & Partnership at the Economic Development Corporation of Utah (EDCUtah). A Michigan native, Frohman earned a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan and is currently pursuing a Master of Natural Resources at Utah State University. Prior to EDCUtah, she worked in medical device engineering and software account management, and dedicated a year to AmeriCorps service. She is an avid skier, hiker and world traveler. In 2018, she took an extended leave of absence to backpack the world with her husband and two daughters. She resides in Draper, Utah and can often be found enjoying the South Mountain trails. Established in 2021, the Janet Quinney Lawson Institute for Land, Water, and Air connects researchers from Utah State University with problem solvers and decision-makers around Utah. The institute envisions a state with a high quality of life for our citizens that values and optimizes our state’s shared resources while managing continued growth. We value data-driven decision-making, shared partnerships, and a non-partisan perspective as we share the latest land, water, and air research. For more information on the Institute for Land, Water and Air, please visit: Institute of Land, Water, and Air | USU Day 1 - Session: Energy and Environmental Nexus

Colleen Jones is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Plants, Soils, and Climate at Utah State University and Director of the Environmental Analytical Lab at the Bingham Research Center in Vernal, Utah. An environmental scientist, she leads research at the intersection of air quality, biogeochemistry, and ecosystem health, using drone and remote sensing technologies to address complex environmental challenges.

Her work focuses on monitoring pollutant emissions—particularly volatile organic compounds from oil and gas operations—and assessing their impacts on air quality and public health. She also studies selenium and mercury cycling in wetland and atmospheric systems to inform restoration and management strategies.

Dr. Jones applies drone-based imaging to evaluate post-wildfire recovery and invasive species control, working closely with land management agencies. With over two decades at USU, she has built a research program that connects field science with policy-relevant applications while mentoring students in applied environmental research.

Melanie Frye, President and CEO of WECC, drives the organization's mission to mitigate risks to the reliability and security of the Western Interconnection’s Bulk Power System. She excels in engaging with members, stakeholders, and regulatory bodies, ensuring WECC's positive relationship with NERC and the ERO Enterprise.

Melanie is a transformational leader, crafting WECC’s Invented Future framework and fostering a dynamic internal culture aligned with WECC’s core mission. Her previous roles at WECC include Vice President of Reliability Planning and Performance Analysis, where she led technical and analytical functions, and Vice President of Shared Services, overseeing Human Resources, Finance, IT, Project Management, and Administrative Services. Joining WECC in 2007 as Director of Human Resources, Melanie has continually advanced within the organization.

Before WECC, Melanie was a Senior HR Consultant at PacifiCorp, advising leadership of multiple power generation facilities and supporting over 2,500 employees.

Melanie holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Weber State University and a Utility Executive Course Certificate from the University of Idaho.

Day 1 - Plenary Panel - Electric Transmission Resilience and Expansion

Dick Garlish is the President of Rocky Mountain Power, an electric utility serving over 1.2 million customers in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho. In his role, Dick is responsible for regional strategy and engagement, and leads customer and community affairs, government affairs and the legal department.

Before joining PacifiCorp in 2020, Garlish served as senior vice president and general counsel at Peak Reliability. Earlier in his career, he held several senior positions at Idaho Power Company, including senior counsel, director and general manager. Garlish also served as senior corporate counsel at NorthWestern Energy.

Garlish was raised and educated in the mining city of Butte, Montana, and received his bachelor’s degree from The Evergreen State College and his law degree from the University of Montana School of Law. Prior to entering the energy industry, he served as a law clerk to U.S. District Court Judge Sam E. Haddon of Montana.

Garlish lives in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Day 2 - Plenary Panel - Utility Perspectives of Energy Planning for the Future

Emy Lesofski is the director of the Utah Office of Energy Development (OED)—the state’s primary office for energy and critical mineral development—and energy advisor to Gov. Cox. She was appointed to these roles in October 2024, bringing a wealth of experience in federal appropriations and natural resources policy. As director of OED, Lesofski also oversees the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab (USREL), as well as serving on several boards and committees. She is focused on developing innovative solutions to ensure Utahns have access to affordable, reliable, and secure energy through sound policy, research, education and community outreach.

Prior to her role at OED, Lefoski worked in Washington, D.C. for 24 years as a senior staffer in both houses of Congress and was the Republican staff director of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies.

Lesofski studied political science at BYU and is happy to be back in Utah with her extended family.

Seth directs Utah State University’s Bingham Research Center, located in Vernal, and is a Research Professor in USU's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. He has a doctoral degree in Environmental Science and Health from the University of Nevada, Reno, and his expertise is in atmospheric measurements, instrumentation, and analysis.  Seth's research focuses on the environmental outcomes of energy production.  He and his colleagues at the Center have carried out projects to quantify emissions of organic compounds from various oil and gas sources, understand the conditions that lead to wintertime ozone production in the Rocky Mountain region, and develop computer models of atmospheric emissions and air quality. Seth currently serves on the board of directors for Healthy Communities of Northeastern Utah and the Utah Air Quality Board.

Day 1 - Session: Traditional Energy Landscape

Kent Madsen is a Managing Partner at EPIC Ventures and has been investing in early-stage technology companies for almost 25 yrs. Kent has directly worked on dozens of IPO's and acquisitions.  Previously, Kent served as President, and CEO of MACC Private Equities (NASDAQ: MACC) that provided sub-debt and equity financing to private companies. Prior to that, Kent worked for Ford in the Advanced Technology Group where he developed mathematical and computational models for optimizing vehicles’ aerodynamic and thermodynamic properties and systems. He has also built computational models optimizing power plants, geothermal ponds, and phase- change energy production. Kent has a B.S. in Engineering from U of Pennsylvania, an M.S.E. from U of Michigan, an M.A. in International Studies also from Penn and an M.B.A. from Wharton.

Dwayne McClinton – a proud United States Marine Corps veteran – has spent the past two decades working in renewables, utilities, and government affairs, amassing a wealth of multiindustry experience in the energy sector. In February 2023, his work ethic and knowledge of energy policy resulted in his appointment as Director of the Nevada Office of Energy by Gov. Joe Lombardo.

Prior to his appointment, he served as the Sr. Legislative Advisor for Southwest Gas Corporation, where he advised the company on federal, state, and local policies for the state of Nevada and California. McClinton was also Staff Project Manager and Manager of Operations for Granite Services, where he planned and executed all O&M and warranty activities and Regional Operations Manager for Gamesa North America, where he was responsible for the wind farm activity of over 500 megawatts and a multi-million-dollar annual budget.

In 2017, McClinton was appointed by former Governor Brian Sandoval to the Nevada Commission on Mentoring, and he currently serves on the board of the Committee on Regional Electric Power Cooperation (CREPC), Western Interstate Energy Board (WEIB), Western Regional Partnership (WRP), and the Western Interconnection Regional Advisory Body (WIRAB). He is also a member of the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE) and 100 Black Men of Las Vegas.

Day 2 - Plenary Panel - Importance of Regional Engagement

Megan Nelson is the Policy & External Affairs Director for the Utah Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. She has worked on Western natural resource, environmental, energy, and public land issues for almost 20 years as an attorney, environmental planner, and consultant. In her current role with TNC, she fosters partnerships with government entities, conservation organizations, and private entities and develops state and national policy and public funding. TNC is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature can thrive. Before joining TNC, she developed federal land management plans, facilitated environmental planning efforts, authored federal legislation, managed NEPA for federal agencies and in-house for energy providers, and advocated for conservation. Throughout her career, she has most enjoyed working with diverse groups to find common ground. She is a seventh generation Utahn and holds a Juris Doctor and Natural Resources Law and Policy Certificate from the University of Colorado Law School.

Masood Parvania is the Roger P. Webb Endowed Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Director of Utah Smart Energy Laboratory and the Utah Energy and Power Innovation Center (U-EPIC) at the University of Utah. Dr. Parvania is also the Principal Investigator and Director of the U.S.-Canada Center on Climate-Resilient Western Interconnected Grid (NSF WIRED Global Center) that is co-funded by U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), to develop solutions to safeguarding the Western Interconnection against natural disasters such as wildfire, heatwave and droughts. More info at: http://wiredcenter.org

Day 1 - Plenary Panel - Electric Transmission Resilience and Expansion

Tim Poydenis serves as the co-head of Holland & Knight's Emerging Companies and Venture Capital practice. Mr. Poydenis is based in the firm's Century City office as a corporate attorney. His practice focuses on representing emerging growth companies, venture capital investors, private equity funds and other strategic investors. Above and beyond the legal guidance that Mr. Poydenis provides to clients, he also serves as a strategic business adviser to all of them.

Mr. Poydenis advises companies throughout all stages of their corporate life cycle, from formation to exit, as well as venture capital firms and strategic investors in connection with their investments in these companies. He has significant experience working with startups and growth-stage companies, and advises them on all aspects of formation, fundraisings, acquisitions, exits and corporate governance.

Industry sources and clients often praise Mr. Poydenis on his work, saying:

"He is an impact maker and integral part of our organization, and we are frequently amazed at his creative ability to think outside the box or connect business dots that we missed."

"Tim's blend of empathy, integrity and emotional intelligence are force multipliers in his ability to assist growing companies, and their executives navigate the turbulent and exciting chaos of forming great ideas into strong and thriving businesses."

"Tim is in the upper echelon in terms of his client service leadership, advocacy for our commercial interests and consistent creativity in developing innovative solutions."

In addition, Mr. Poydenis represents clients in the technology market across a variety of industries, including real estate (PropTech), digital health and wellness, clean technology, sports and entertainment, advertising, music, Web3, artificial intelligence (AI), marketing, defense technology, food and beverages, lending and financial services, insurance, and many others. Mr. Poydenis also represents his clients in buy-side and sell-side merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions, which allows him to have a true life-cycle practice for all clients.

Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Mr. Poydenis was a corporate attorney who co-founded a technology companies practice group for a global law firm in its Santa Monica, California, office. In addition, Mr. Poydenis previously was a sports agent for a leading sports agency that focused on the representation of professional baseball players.

Arlo Richard Walje is the CEO of RAW-Energy, Inc. an energy and utility consultancy. He currently is a member of the University of Utah’s Energy Futures Research Engine. Additionally, he is the on the Board of CDI’s renewable natural gas project in Wellington, Utah and Blue Sky Energy’s Board.

He started in the industry as an IBEW journeyman lineman and has held several senior management and executive positions during his utility career. Those positions included CIO of ScottishPower and President and CEO of Rocky Mountain Power. After leaving PacifiCorp Rich was the CEO of Magnum CAES, LLC, responsible for the development of a salt dome based Compressed Air Energy Storage project and Senior Vice President of Business Development for the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems’ small modular reactor Carbon Free Power Project.

Rich has a BS degree in Electrical Engineering, with honors and an MBA, both from the University of Utah, and a Certificate of Completion from the University of Michigan’s electric utility executive program. He was recognized as a distinguished alumnus of the University of Utah’s Electrical and Computer Engineering college and by the Utah Association of Energy Users for his long service and contribution to the electric utility industry.

He was chairman of the Strategic Advisory Committee for the Idaho National Lab’s Homeland Security directorate. He has served on numerous business, non-profit and philanthropic boards including, the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, the Wyoming Business Council, the Economic Development Corporation of Utah, the United Way of Salt Lake and the Salt Lake Chamber.

Dr. Erin Rothwell currently serves as the Vice President for Research, and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the School of Medicine. As vice president for research, Dr. Rothwell oversees 18 research administrative units that support research compliance, regulation policies, grant development pipeline, and safety procedures across campus. Dr. Rothwell received her B.S. degree in Recreation Therapy and M.S. degree in Park & Recreation Management from the University of South Alabama. In 2004, Dr. Rothwell moved to Salt Lake City to pursue her PhD in Recreation Therapy at the University of Utah. She served her Postdoctoral Training in the College of Nursing at the U while studying clinical trials and public health. In 2010, Dr. Rothwell received a competitive fellowship opportunity in the Medical College of Wisconsin where she studied Bioethics. Dr. Rothwell’s research focus is on ethical, social, and legal implications of genetic and technological advancements on individuals and families specifically within newborn screening, prenatal testing, and biobanking.

Sarah Ridel is Assistant Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at Pattern Energy. Prior to joining Pattern, she worked at Skadden and BayWa r.e. Americas. In these roles, she has worked on a broad range of transactions related to the development, construction, and financing of renewable energy and transmission projects, including the SunZia Wind and Transmission Project, the largest clean energy infrastructure project in U.S. history. Sarah also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Kingdom of Tonga and holds a B.A. from the University of Texas – Austin and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Day 1 - Plenary Panel - Electric Transmission Resilience and Expansion