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Leadership Sponsor Program

The Energy and Efficiency Institute (EEI) seeks strategically minded industry leaders to join our efforts to accelerate the development and commercialization of sustainable, equitable, safe and reliable energy solutions. We define success by actual reductions of waste in the energy system. Leadership Sponsors are critical stakeholders in this success. Sectors are represented by executives from leading industry partners in utilities, technology, impact investment, retail, influential advocacy leaders and energy regulators/policy makers.

CORE OUTCOMES

Thought Leadership

Convening leaders in industry, government, non-profits and academia to discuss and tackle society’s energy-related challenges.

Relevant Research

Conducting timely, unbiased, evidence-based research to understand complex energy issues.

Real-World Impact

Driving market adoption at scale through demonstrations and partnerships, and by influencing industry and government decision-makers.

Future Leaders

Producing graduates who will be tomorrow’s energy leaders and experts in government, the private sector and academia.

BOARD OF ADVISORS

EEI brings together industry leaders and policy makers to help with decision-making and facilitate access to cutting-edge innovation.

Advisors have in common a drive to leverage their positions in the marketplace to scale environmental and financial impacts, including addressing underserved market sectors. Advisors help us shape the projects and policies needed to achieve our shared vision in a competitive and dynamic energy landscape.

Ralph Kavanagh at the Board of Advisors meeting

“Serving as the chair of the EEI Board of Advisors gives me the opportunity to work with a diverse set of key thought leaders and stakeholders that are committed to supporting and investing in the Institute’s meaningful work to accelerate California and the world’s ongoing clean energy transition.”

Ralph Cavanagh, Energy Program Co-Director, Natural Resources Defense Council

Ralph Cavanagh (Board Chair)
Energy Co-Director
Natural Resources Defense Council

Mike Delaney
Vice President of Utility Partnerships & Innovation
Pacific Gas and Electric Company

David Duffy
Senior Advisor, Carbon Reduction
Chevron

Dana Golan
Vice President, Customer Services
San Diego Gas & Electric

Ryan Harty
Department Head, Connected & Environmental Business Development
American Honda

Ryohei Hinokuma (Board Liaison)
Director of Market Transformation and Advocacy
Daikin

Philip Hopkins
Managing Director, Head of Renewable Energy & Environmental Finance
Wells Fargo

David Jacot
Director, Efficiency Solutions
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power

Naoki Kamo
President,
Panasonic Life Solutions Company of America

Jawaad Malik
VP Strategy and Sustainability and Chief Environmental Officer
Southern California Gas Company

Scott Martin
Chief Strategy Officer
Sacramento Municipal Utility District

Michael Peevey
Retired
California Public Utilities Commission

Nancy Pfund
Founding & Managing Partner
DBL Partners

Katie Sloan
Vice President, Customer Programs and Services
Southern California Edison

Lee Smith
Vice President of Strategic Marketing, Advocacy & Applications Development
Daikin

Takeyuki Yamaki (Board Liaison)
Chief, Strategic Technology Planning
Panasonic

Takamitsu Yasukouchi (Board Liaison)
General Manager, Liaison Department
Panasonic

LEADERSHIP SPONSOR PROGRAM BENEFITS

EEI is committed to ensuring a mutually beneficial partnership and developing personalized engagements and activities that provide value to industry partners.

Member of the Board of Advisors
This influential group plays an important role in advancing energy solutions to meet corporate, state, national and global energy goals.

Visibility
The Institute hosts guest executives to speak at events, seminars, and courses. Invitations are given to Board members and their designees for such exclusive opportunities. In addition, sponsors are recognized on our monitor displays, website, and printed materials.

Market Intelligence Access
Sponsors enjoy access to the research and technological innovations developed at UC Davis.

Internship and Career Placement
EEI facilitates connections to top UC Davis students who have specialized training in energy and transportation systems.

Prestigious Student Fellowships
Sponsors can allocate a portion of their contribution to name a fellowship. The student fellow will work, under faculty direction, on a project that is of thematic interest to the company. The student will be introduced to the company and present his/her research.

Special Projects
Where there is a strong, shared interest beyond the scope of the Leadership Sponsor or Affiliate Program relationships, supplemental collaborative projects can be explored.

“SMUD benefits greatly from our collaboration with the Energy and Efficiency Institute and its research centers. Through real-world collaborative projects, we leverage the expertise of their faculty, staff, and students as we work to achieve our zero-carbon goal and to deploy integrated solutions that will benefit our customers, California, and the rest of the world. This partnership also gives SMUD the opportunity to invest in the future energy leaders that we and our partners will continue to hire need for the energy transition.”

Scott Martin, Chief Strategy Officer, SMUD

LEADERSHIP SPONSORS PROVIDE A MINIMUM OF $100,000 THAT SUPPORTS


Core Activities

Funding supports the development and commercialization of energy-efficient technologies; energy data collection, analysis and visualization; design, development and management of carbon neutral communities; and competitive funding packages to recruit and train top student talent.

Leveraged Outcomes
Funding helps seed or launch much larger research activities and demonstration projects. Investments from sponsors can generate ratios as high as 30:1 for each dollar contributed.

Outreach and Marketing
Funding enables the Institute to conduct outreach that engages policymakers and key energy stakeholders. Sponsors are full participants in these meetings and events.

ENERGY AND EFFICIENCY INSTITUTE CONTACTS

Ben Finkelor
Executive Director
Energy and Efficiency Institute, UC Davis
530-848-9493
bmfinkelor@ucdavis.edu

Karen M. Block
Executive Director of Development and External Relations
UC Davis Energy and Transportation
510-390-4803
kmblock@ucdavis.edu