As the Director of the Office of Energy & Climate Change, Kathy aims to make it easy for everyone in Dane County (especially you) to make choices that help achieve our ambitious climate goals. Kathy has almost 30 years of experience helping businesses and residents adopt sustainable practices. Prior to joining Dane County, Kathy led Cool Choices where she worked with local governments and private businesses on sustainability efforts for about ten years. Before that she led Focus on Energy, Wisconsin’s statewide energy efficiency and renewable energy program. Kathy has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota, a Master’s from UW-Madison, and a reputation for getting results. Contact Kathy.

Melanie is passionate about finding ways for people and nature to peacefully coexist and mutually thrive. In her role as Climate Specialist she is focused on implementing the recommendations set forth in the Climate Action Plan. She has over ten years of experience facilitating global and regional natural resource management across nonprofit, government, and business. Prior to joining Dane County Melanie was in California where she focused her efforts on land and water conservation statewide through grants and policymaking. Melanie has a Master’s of Science from Illinois State University and a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Delaware. In her free time Melanie loves exploring Madison and nature walks with her two kids and her puppy Pita. Contact Melanie

As the Energy Specialist at the Dane County Office of Energy and Climate Change, Valora advocates for the adoption of decarbonization strategies. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she double majored in Environmental Studies and Geography with an emphasis in people-environment interaction studies. Valora was also a Chancellor’s Scholar and researched habitat conservation and mitigation banking in UW-Madison’s Geography Department. Prior to coming to the OECC, she worked at the local nonprofit Sustain Dane as the Efficiency Navigator and NOAH Outreach Specialist to implement energy efficiency upgrades in low-income multifamily housing. Originally from California, Valora loves animals, fungi, music, science-fiction and vegetarian food. Reach out to Valora to learn more about how she can empower your organization to build a more sustainable, equitable, and resilient future together. Contact Valora

As a U.S. Department of Energy Community Energy Fellow, Eneida supports Dane County’s Energy and Climate Change office with the Home Energy Guides program, through which she coordinates with community-based organizations to help increase Justice40 household participation in energy efficiency programs. Before joining Dane County, Eneida got her Master of Public Policy and B.A. in International Studies from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Eneida feels very passionate about public service, community engagement, and advancing equity locally. She has a special interest in electrification, renewables and utility infrastructure policy. Her prior experience working with disadvantaged communities includes collaborating with the City of Detroit’s Office of Mobility Innovation to create an electric vehicle integration strategy, and serving as an academic interventionist at an East Detroit elementary-middle school. Eneida enjoys sunny weather and can often be found playing tennis outdoors.

 Contact Eneida

Justine is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Environmental Conservation at the University of Wisconsin Madison Nelson Institute for Environmental Conservation. Before beginning her Master’s program, Justine worked as the Education Coordinator with the Sauk County Land Resources and Environment Department. Justine is passionate about community engagement, climate change, and all things conservation. Justine is particularly interested in electrification and energy efficiency improvements. She is committed to integrating climate change resiliency and mitigation into all parts of the conservation conversation. Outside of work and school, Justine enjoys the outdoors, photography, cooking, and working with her family on the family farm.

 Contact Justine

In her role as Climate Data Assistant, Nicole monitors emissions produced through the delivery of Dane County services to ensure the county’s internal operations are on track to becoming carbon neutral across their facility, fleet and land operations by 2030.  As a part-timer with the Office of Energy & Climate Change, Nicole feels fortunate she’s able to spend most of her time in service to her loved ones—both young and old—during this season of life.  Prior to taking a pause in her career, Nicole worked nearly 25 years in both the healthcare and criminal justice industries; she holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Community Health and a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice.  Much of her professional life to date centers around working with data and making complex information easier to understand and use.  Forever a curious and intellectual thinker, she listens to fav podcasts On Being and Your Undivided Attention and is drawn to topics related to Biomimicry, Doughnut Economics, and digital well-being.  Native to rural Wisconsin, her happiest moments of solitude are in the woods listening to songbirds, savoring a mocha at a local coffee shop, or creating something by hand in her garage or kitchen.  Contact Nicole