KATHLEEN BARRÓN

Barrón serves as executive vice president and chief strategy officer for Constellation, the nation's largest producer of carbon-free energy and the leading competitive retail supplier of energy products and services for 2 million homes and businesses across the United States. In this role, Barrón is responsible for corporate strategy, corporate development, public policy, sustainability, communications, corporate relations and philanthropy for Constellation. She is also part of Constellation's Executive Committee.

Barrón previously served as Exelon's executive vice president for government and regulatory affairs and public policy, where she led the development and implementation of federal, state and regional governmental, regulatory and public policy strategies for Exelon Corporation, the nation's largest producer and distributor of clean energy. She was responsible for identifying and assessing key federal and state policy issues of interest to Exelon, crafting the company's position on such issues, and developing strategies for achieving public policy objectives on behalf of Exelon's customers and businesses. She was also responsible for managing the company's wholesale market design advocacy in each of the regional markets where the company operates.

Prior to joining Exelon, Barrón was the Deputy General Counsel at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), where she advised the Commission on all aspects of its responsibilities and represented the Commission before Congress, government agencies, and industry groups. Previously, Barrón was the FERC's associate general counsel for energy markets, where she led a group of about 90 lawyers on legal and policy matters related to electric power sales and transportation, electric system reliability, corporate regulation of public utilities and natural gas and oil pipeline transportation. Prior to joining FERC, Barrón was in private practice with the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom LLP. There she represented utility and independent power producer clients in proceedings before FERC, U.S. Courts of Appeal, and state utility commissions.

Barrón is married with three children.

STEPHEN BENNETT

Mr. Bennett is the PJM liaison for Illinois and Pennsylvania. In this role, he interacts with state utility commissions, governors’ offices and various legislators on energy and electricity policies in the areas of grid reliability, transmission planning, operations and wholesale markets.

Prior to joining PJM, Mr. Bennett was the Managing Director at Energy Advocacy, LLC, a boutique consultancy focused on regulatory policy in the retail and wholesale energy markets. Mr. Bennett also held management roles in government affairs for both PPL EnergyPlus and Exelon.

Mr. Bennett has a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park.

MARIA S. BOCANEGRA

Maria Bocanegra serves as Chief Legal Officer for the Port of Cleveland. A new and critical role for the Port in its 54-year history, she oversees all legal matters both internally and externally for the Port including its ethics, risk, compliance, labor, contracts, business transactions, bond financing, corporate governance and managing outside counsel. Maria also provides strategic support for the Port's external affairs on federal, state legislative & regulatory matters, including but not limited to environmental, energy and water matters, supply chain and economic development opportunities. She previously served as Commissioner with the Illinois Commerce Commission, regulating investor-owned electric, gas & water utilities in highly complex & technical matters. Her work has been featured in Utility Dive, T&D World and Bloomberg Law. In 2021, Negocio's (pronounced Neh-go-see-os) Now selected her as one of the 50 Most Influential Latinos in Chicagoland.

COMMISSIONER MICHAEL CARRIGAN

Michael T. Carrigan was appointed to the Illinois Commerce Commission by Governor JB Pritzker on January 31, 2020 to a five-year term and confirmed by the Illinois Senate on September 13, 2021.

Before joining the Commission, Carrigan served as an Illinois American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) officer for more than 19 years. He was the IL AFL-CIO President from February 2007 to December 2019, and secretary-treasurer for the seven years prior.

In 1978, he began his career as an apprentice electrician at the Decatur-based IBEW Local 146. He spent the next 22 years rising through the ranks as a journeyman wireman, business agent, and finally as its business manager and financial secretary.

Carrigan formerly served on the National AFL-CIO State Federation and Central Labor Council Advisory Committee and is a former co-chair of the Illinois Building and Construction Trades Committee. He is a former member of the Illinois Prevailing Wage Council Executive Board, and a former advisory member of the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Committee.

He formerly served six years, as Chairman of the 13-state AFL-CIO Central Regions State Federation Organization and was a trustee on the NECA-IBEW Health and Welfare Trust Fund and Pension Fund Boards. He also served as chairman of the South-Central Illinois Telecommunication Council of the IBEW and as president of the Decatur Building Trades Council.

Carrigan was elected to the Decatur City Council in 1995 and served nearly four terms on the council before being appointed mayor of Decatur in July of 2008 to serve out the remaining term (ending in April 2009) of the retiring mayor.

Carrigan earned his Bachelor of Science degree from MacMurray College (Jacksonville) in 1976. He is a member of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) and serves on the Critical Infrastructure Committee and Nuclear Issues – Waste Disposal Subcommittee. Additionally, Commissioner Carrigan is a member of the NARUC-DOE (U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy) Nuclear Energy Partnership (NEP).

JEREMIAH DONER

Jeremiah Doner has been with MISO for 15 years with various roles across the organization.  His current role is in System Planning as the Director of Cost Allocation and Competitive Transmission focusing on MISO’s Reliability Imperative work on long-range transmission planning and cost allocation.

Hired by MISO out of college his first roles focused on transmission cost allocation, including supporting the development of the Multi-Value Project cost allocation methodology.  Additionally, he has supported the South Region integration and MISO’s compliance with Order 1000.  After seven years working in System Planning Jeremiah took multiple roles in different parts of the organization including seams operations, strategy and business development, and most recently external affairs focusing on seams policies and new member integrations.  

Jeremiah holds a B.S. and M.S. in Economics from Illinois State University.

ROBERT HAGGART

Robert Haggart is the Policy Advisor to Illinois Commerce Commission Chair Carrie Zalewski. Before joining the Commission, Robert worked for Advanced Energy Economy (AEE), a national clean energy trade association. At AEE, he led their regulatory and legislative engagement in Illinois. Robert received his Master of Public Policy and undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia where he focused on energy policy and wholesale market reform in the Southeastern United States.

JASON HORWITZ

As head of DCEO’s Policy Development, Planning, & Research bureau, Jason Horwitz oversees agency efforts to identify and implement policies and new programs that accomplish Illinois’ economic development goals. During his three years leading the policy team of the agency, DCEO has put in place and begun to implement a 5-year economic plan; provided over $500 million in relief efforts to support small businesses and entrepreneurs during the pandemic; and deployed innovative new capital grant programs to build infrastructure, commercial development, and training facilities as part of the $45 billion Rebuild Illinois capital plan. He also oversees research initiatives carried out by DCEO and our partners on the Illinois economy, the impact of economic development programs, and best practices for economic development.

Jason previously worked at Anderson Economic Group where he led the firm’s public policy practice as the Director of Public Policy and Economic Analysis. In that role, Jason advised non-profits, governments, and corporate clients on public policy impacts and effective communication of those impacts in the fields of economic development, state and local taxes, pensions, and energy.

COMMISSIONER D. ETHAN KIMBREL

Ethan Kimbrel was appointed to the Illinois Commerce Commission by Governor Bruce Rauner on January 19, 2018 to a five year term.

Commissioner Kimbrel is a member of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), where he holds several roles. He is the Chair of its Committee on Gas, and sits on NARUC’s Board of Directors, the Committee on International Relations, and its Subcommittee on Pipeline Safety. He is also a member of the NARUC-DOE (U.S. Department of Energy) Natural Gas Partnership (NGP) and the NARUC-NASEO (National Association of State Energy Officials) Microgrid State Working Group. Additionally, Commissioner Kimbrel serves on the Board of Directors for the Organization of PJM States, Inc. (OPSI), is a member of OPSI’s Market Monitoring Advisory Committee, and is the Vice Chair of the Independent State Agencies Committee. Commissioner Kimbrel is a member of the GTI Energy Public Interest Advisory Committee, the Center for Public Utilities Advisory Council at New Mexico State University, and the Board of Advisors for the Institute for Regulatory Policy Studies (IRPS) at Illinois State University as well.

Prior to being appointed as Commissioner, Kimbrel served as the Commission’s Chief Administrative Law Judge for nearly three years. In that role, he advised the Administrative Law Judges on questions of law and procedure and reviewed their decisions for legal and factual accuracy and clarity in various electric, natural gas, water, sewer and telecommunications cases initiated by the Commission, regulated public utilities, consumers and other stakeholders in Illinois. He also oversaw the Chief Clerk’s Office and administrative staff. Preceding his position as Chief Administrative Law Judge, Kimbrel served as a Commission Administrative Law Judge for seven years.

Before joining the Commission, Kimbrel practiced in the area of personal injury, appellate, malpractice and commercial litigation. He also served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Leslie E. South in the Illinois Appellate Court, First District, Fourth Division. Commissioner Kimbrel received his law degree from George Washington University and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago.

COMMISSIONER ANN MCCABE

Ann McCabe was appointed to a five-year term at the Illinois Commerce Commission starting February 1, 2022. She previously served on the Commission from March 2012-January 2017.

Prior to returning to the ICC, for two years Ann led the US team at the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP), a non-profit that advises state utility regulators, staff and stakeholders on the clean energy transition. She has over 25 years of energy, climate and environmental policy experience in the public, private and non-profit sectors.

In her prior term, Ann focused on grid modernization, power transformation, regional transmission, and nuclear issues. She was president of the Organization of PJM States, Inc. (OPSI) and of the MidAmerica Regulatory Conference (MARC) boards and chaired the Nuclear Issues Subcommittee of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC).

Ann is on the boards of the Delta Institute, Institute of Regulatory Law and Economics, and GridForward. She has a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Chicago's Harris School and a bachelor’s in political science from Williams College.

KATHERINE MCCORMICK

Kate McCormick is the Assistant Director of Policy at the Illinois Commerce Commission, tracking and advising on federal energy issues, primarily related to MISO and PJM. Prior to joining the Commission, Kate worked on energy policy with the Natural Resources Defense Council followed by work on civic engagement and consulting on sustainable food ventures with City Colleges of Chicago and New Venture Advisors. 

Kate graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania and has master’s degrees in Latin American Studies and Public Policy from Stanford University. She completed an MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business in 2019.

DAVID G. LOOMIS

David G. Loomis is Executive Director of the Institute for Regulatory Policy Studies and Professor of Economics at Illinois State University where he teaches in the Master’s Degree program in electricity, natural gas and telecommunications economics.  He earned his Ph.D. in economics at Temple University.

Prior to joining the faculty at Illinois State University, Dr. Loomis worked at Bell Atlantic (Verizon) for 11 years. 

He has published 38 research articles in leading journals such as Energy Policy, Energy Economics, Electricity Journal, Energy Journal, Review of Industrial Organization, Utilities Policy, Renewable Energy, Environmental Law and Policy Review, Energy, Information Economics and Policy, International Journal of Forecasting, Business Economics and the Journal of Economics Education.

JOHN ROSALES

John R. Rosales was appointed by Governor Bruce Rauner on March 16, 2015 to a four year term on the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). Commissioner Rosales was a member of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC), and Vice Chair of NARUC’s National Electricity Committee. Commissioner Rosales is the current President and member of the board of directors for the Organization of PJM States, Inc. (OPSI). He was Vice Chair for the National Regulatory Research Institute (NRRI), and Vice Chair of the Independent State Agencies Committee (ISAC).  Commissioner Rosales also served as President of the Mid America Regulatory Conference (MARC) 2017 Annual Meeting that was held in Chicago in June of 2017.

Prior to his appointment, Commissioner Rosales was the Vice President of Governmental Affairs for The Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Chicago, and was later promoted to Vice President of Coca-Cola Enterprises. Commissioner Rosales is also a former Director for the Olive-Harvey College South Chicago Learning Center where he managed the satellite campus located on Chicago’s southeast side, and was responsible for the overall operation of the campus, community outreach, and enrollment.

Until his appointment to the ICC, Commissioner Rosales was also a Commissioner for the Cook County Merit Board from 2011. As a member of the board, he was responsible for writing detailed final decisions in cases brought before him in order to adjudicate employee discipline within the Cook County Sheriff’s department.  Commissioner Rosales was also a former member of the Board of Directors for Metropolitan Bank.

Commissioner Rosales earned his bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University. He is a resident of Chicago, an Illinois Literacy Foundation Board Member, and a member of the Azteca Lions Club.

Currently, Commissioner Rosales is the Special Assistant to Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart. John's responsibilities include serving as a liaison between the Courts and the Sheriff's office, as well as monitoring high profile cases like R. Kelly and Jussie Smollett.

DOUG SCOTT

Doug Scott is Vice-President for Energy Systems at the Great Plains Institute. In that role, Scott works on issues involving climate strategy and regulatory response; and issues involving the changing utility business model. Before joining GPI in February of 2015, Scott served as Chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission, and prior to that as Director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Scott’s public service also includes a term as Mayor of Rockford, Illinois; three terms as an Illinois State Representative; and ten years as an attorney for the City of Rockford Legal Department. Scott earned a B.A. with honors from the University of Tulsa, and a J.D. with honors from Marquette University.

ANTHONY STAR

Anthony Star served as Director of the Illinois Power Agency from March 2013 through September 2022 and has recently moved into a new role as Senior Advisor and Interim Chief of the Planning and Procurement Bureau. Anthony’s work at the IPA has included overseeing the development and implementation of plans to procure electricity and clean energy resources for customers of Ameren Illinois, ComEd, and MidAmerican. This includes the Agency’s annual electricity plans for energy and capacity for default service customers, plans for Zero Emissions Credits and Carbon Mitigation Credits, and the Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan which guides the Agency’s renewable resources activities including procurements for utility-scale wind and solar, the Adjustable Block Program to support photovoltaic distributed generation and community solar, and the Illinois Solar for All Program to support low-income photovoltaic projects. These efforts have saved default service customers hundreds of millions of dollars and are supporting the development of thousands of megawatts of new wind and solar resources.

Anthony previously served as a Policy Advisor to two Chairmen of the Illinois Commerce Commission, and before entering government service spent thirteen years at the Center for Neighborhood Technology in a variety of roles working on energy policy and environmental sustainability, culminating in the position of Director of Policy and Evaluation for CNT Energy. He helped start the nation’s first residential real-time pricing program as well as community-based energy efficiency and demand response programs. Anthony holds a BA in History and an MA in Social Sciences from the University of Chicago.

KEVIN WRIGHT

Since January 2009, Kevin Wright has served as President of the Illinois Competitive Energy Association, which represents the leading alternative retail electric and gas suppliers before the  Commission and the General Assembly in preserving and enhancing customer choice and retail competition in the electric and natural gas industries.  ICEA member companies provide energy supply service to residential, municipal aggregation, commercial and industrial, non-profit and public sector customers as a competitive alternative to the incumbent utility’s supply service.

From September 2002 to April 2003, Kevin served as ICC Chairman and as a Commissioner until February 2007.  He was President of the Organization of MISO States, a member of the NARUC's Electricity Committee, and Vice Chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission-State Joint Board on the Energy Policy Act of 2005 for the PJM/MISO Independent System Operator region.  During his 25-year career in Illinois state government, he held various policy, legislative, and executive level positions in the Governor’s Office and Secretary of State’s Office and was Director of the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation.

Kevin holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and a Bachelor’s in Political Science from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. 

CHAIRMAN CARRIE ZALEWSKI

Carrie is a utility regulator, attorney, and trained engineer with over 15 years of experience in environmental and energy regulation with an extensive background in public utility regulation, environmental policy and compliance, wholesale power issues and policy, and corporate governance. Since joining the ICC, she has represented Illinois in national and international policy discussions in the energy regulatory space.

Carrie Zalewski was appointed Chairman of the Illinois Commerce Commission on April 15, 2019, by Governor JB Pritzker to a 5-year term. Chairman Zalewski came to the Commission from the Illinois Pollution Control Board where she had served since 2009. At the Board, Zalewski adjudicated complex environmental cases under the Illinois Environmental Protection Act, shaped critical rulemaking and worked to properly balance the interests of Illinois businesses and residents while protecting Illinois' land, air, and water.

Chairman Zalewski is a member of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners' (NARUC) and serves on the Electricity and the Committee on Regulatory and Industry Diversity. Zalewski Chairs NARUC’s new Commission Chair Council. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Organization of MISO States, and was appointed to the Climate Registry’s Council of Jurisdictions and on the Advisory Board for the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, an arm of the Prairie Research Institute. Zalewski is a member of the EV working group through NARUC and participated in the Midcontinent Transportation Electrification Collaborative.

She earned her Juris Doctor at the Chicago-Kent Law School and her Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with one semester abroad in Durbin, South Africa.

JIM ZOLNIEREK

Jim Zolnierek is the Chief of the Illinois Commerce Commission’s Public Utility Bureau.  During his 22 years at the Commission he has also served as the Policy Division Director, Telecommunications Division Director, Policy Manager and as a Senior Policy Analyst.  Prior to joining the Commission he worked for the Federal Communications Commission, Arizona State University, and University of Nebraska.  He earned his Ph.D. in Economics in 1996, his M.A. in Economics in 1993, and his B.S. in Mathematics in 1990 all from Michigan State University.