Building the Future Energy Workforce    NEW!

Initially appointed, Alex Ybarra was later elected in 2019 as the state representative for the 13th District, which encompasses portions of Grant, Kittitas, and Yakima counties.  Alex is the ranking member of the Postsecondary Education Workforce Committee, assistant ranking on the Environment and Energy Committee, and a member of the Labor and Workplace Standards Committee. Alex graduated from Central Washington University with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and also holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. He spent 14 years working for the Rocket Research Company as an engineer for military and aerospace products and 16 years working for Grant County Public Utility District in various leadership and analyst roles.

Alex has worked on several legislative task forces and state commissions, including his 2016 appointment by the governor to the State Commission on Hispanic Affairs. Active in his community, Alex is the former director of the Quincy School Board and also served as the vice president of the Washington State School Directors Association.  Alex is a lifelong resident of Quincy. He has one grown daughter, Micaela.

Brant was hired as the Executive Director of Grant County Economic Development Council in 2017. Brant earned status of a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) in 2023.  Brant's family moved into Grant County in 1975. He and his wife Penny raised both their girls in Moses Lake. They continue to give back to the community, participating in several community organizations. 

Christine has been employed by the Moses Lake School District for the past 39 years. Twelve years teaching Family and Consumer Science, 17 years as the District Vocational Director and the past 10 years at CBTECH.

Boeing-Sutter Professor of Chemical Engineering 

Schwartz is the founding director of the UW Clean Energy Institute (CEI) and the Boeing-Sutter Professor of Chemical Engineering. His research explores transport and reaction in electrochemical systems, including the performance of complex electrodes used in energy storage and conversion. Schwartz served on the Technical Advisory Board for Washington’s Energy Strategy in 2012 and, in 2018, he received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the National Science Foundation. He is a Fellow of the Electrochemical Society and is a board and executive committee member of the Washington CleanTech Alliance. 

Daneen Berry-Guerin has been working in higher education since 2001 after having worked as an accountant for small firms and companies in the Spokane area.  She has been at Big Bend Community College since 2003 and has served as the Dean of Workforce Education since 2015.  Her favorite part of the job is addressing the mission of workforce education by supporting the development of quality education and training to prepare students for growth and success in occupations and careers, which in turn provides business, industry, and our communities with a well-trained, well-prepared workforce. 

Don Kersey is the Moses Lake Plant Manager for Group14 Technologies, the world’s largest manufacturer and supplier of advanced silicon battery material for electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and more. With three decades of manufacturing management experience, Don oversees all Moses Lake operations at Group14’s Battery Active Materials factory (BAM-2), which is on track to finish construction in 2024 and is expected to be the world’s largest factory for advanced silicon battery materials. Before joining Group14, Don was the Plant Manager at Joyson Safety Systems (formerly known as Takata). He also served as executive director at the Port of Moses Lake.

Holly Bringman is the Director of the Apple STEM Network, a regional coalition of K12 and postsecondary educators, industry professionals, community-based organizations, and government agencies working to improve pathways for students to STEM professions. Prior to this role she was the Dean for Math & Sciences at Wenatchee Valley College. She has worked in education for almost 25 years. Half of that time was spent in K12 education and the other half in higher education.

(serving Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Adams, Okanogan Counties)

Lisa has enjoyed 30 years in the workforce development arena beginning with Manpower International in Denver Colorado followed by several years in the non-profit sector as career counselor, Planning & Development Director with the Fresno County Workforce Board, then on to Managing Director for SkillSource in 2000 where she has been practicing life-long learning ever since.  Lisa took over as CEO of the SkillSource Regional Workforce Board in 2022.  She loves living in Washington and enjoys the outdoors, playing music with her band and a round of golf whenever she can.

Monica Brummer, Director of the Pacific Northwest Center of Excellence for Clean Energy, pictured sitting in a hydrogen fueled Toyota Mirai. The Center convenes the interests of the energy industry, its emerging technologies, and labor partners with Washington’s Community and Technical Colleges. We exist to narrow the gap between employer demands for a highly skilled workforce and the colleges' ability to supply work-ready/apprenticeship-ready graduates. Monica serves as the co-chair of a global hydrogen academia work group for the Center for Hydrogen Safety; as Career Connect Washington’s Clean Technology/Energy Sector Co-Leader; and on several advising committees for PNWH2 (hydrogen hub), Capital STEM Alliance, Foundation for Water and Energy Education (FWEE), Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD), and as a member of Washington’s Clean Energy Workforce Advisory Group.  

Rachelle Ames leads the Alliance’s entrepreneur support programs, member engagement and partnership outreach. She has also helped develop the BUILT Cluster, an economic development program focusing on decarbonizing infrastructure and the built environment via industry identified challenges and “coopetition” – cooperative competition.  

Rosendo Alvarado, Sila Nanotechnologies

Rosendo Alvarado is the Sila Nanotechnologies plant manager in Moses Lake, bringing over 30 years of comprehensive manufacturing expertise ranging from the shop floor to leadership. Prior to his current role, Rosendo served as the operations manager for REC Silicon, overseeing operations in Moses Lake. He also spent four years working to lead operations and maintenance in the Butte, Montana facility. With a deep-rooted connection to Moses Lake, his hometown, Rosendo's career journey began in the agricultural sector as a laborer before transitioning to manufacturing. 

Rosendo holds a strong commitment to providing opportunities for individuals in the Columbia Basin to develop essential skills and integrate into the technical workforce. His wealth of knowledge in manufacturing operations, coupled with his passion for fostering growth and empowerment within the community, underscores his dedication to driving positive change and promoting a thriving environment for all. 

Dr. Sara Thompson Tweedy is the 10^th president of Big Bend Community College (BBCC) and the first woman to hold the position. She believes deeply that community colleges provide opportunities for students to transform their lives. As a higher education professional, Sara has provided leadership in enrollment management, student life, and academic advising and support before accepting her current role at BBCC in 2020. Her professional career has spanned a spectrum of service-oriented professions including the United States Army National Guard, the nonprofit sector, and higher education. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Hollins College, a Masters from Yale, and a Doctorate in Management from The University of Maryland University College.

Stan Pichinevskiy currently serves as a Senior Recruiter focusing on the development of college programs for Group14 Technologies. In his role, he is responsible for recruiting talent for the quality control, maintenance, and environmental departments for the battery technology manufacturing plant scheduled to commence operations in July 2024. His career journey began in construction, after which he pursued higher education and dedicated nearly 14 years to workforce development in both college and industry settings. During this period, Stan excelled as a Career Development Manager and Division Manager, offering guidance to students and job seekers in navigating their career paths.

Stan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in English from Eastern Washington University. Residing in Washington, he enjoys spending his leisure time paddleboarding, hiking, and traveling with his family whenever possible.

Dr. Sue Kane is the CEO of NCW Tech Alliance, a regional non-profit that supports technology, entrepreneurship, and STEM education in North Central Washington. She joined NCW Tech Alliance in 2023, after serving as the Executive Director of North Central Educational Service District (NCESD) for six years.

Dr. Kane has a passion for innovation and education, and has been a leader in developing and implementing programs that foster collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving among students, educators, and community partners. She has also been instrumental in advancing the region's tech ecosystem, by connecting local businesses, startups, and institutions with resources, opportunities, and networks.

Todd attended college at EWU and then moved to Western Washington, was self-employed for 7 years and then returned to Central Washington to raise the family. Todd has worked at Employment Security Department (ESD) for close to 15 years now, primarily in WorkSource Central Basin. Currently he is the Regional Director for the Employment Connections Division at ESD in the Central Region.

Dr. Vandana Slatter is a State Representative in the Washington State Legislature, representing the 48th Legislative District, which includes parts of Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland and all of Clyde Hill, Medina, Yarrow Point and Hunts Point. She chairs the House Post Secondary Education & Workforce Committee and serves on the Environment & Energy, and the Appropriations Committees. She also is Co-chair of the Science, Technology and Innovation Caucus, and serves on the Future of Work Task Force, the Electric Airplane Working Group, and the Sustainable Aviation Biofuels Work Group. Her public service activities include advocacy for access to medicine, healthcare, and education. She currently serves on the UW Evans School Advisory Board. Prior to being elected to the Bellevue City Council in 2015, Vandana worked for over 20 years as a clinical scientist in leading biotech/pharma companies Amgen, Genentech/Roche, UCB Pharma & Pharmacia/Pfizer. She also worked as a hospital pharmacist at Battle Creek Health Systems in Michigan. Vandana, her husband Greg and their son have called Bellevue home since 2003.