About Us

Mr. Dewey joined the NYISO in 2000 and has held several pivotal executive roles in Product and Project Management, Strategic Software Development and Quality Assurance. Previously, he spent several years in IT and Network Services for Husky Injection Molding Systems and Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation. He earned a B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Clarkson University, a M.S. in Computer Engineering from Syracuse University, and is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s General Management Program.

Emilie Nelson leads the System Planning, Information Technology and Market Structures organizations of the NYISO with a focus on proactively addressing the evolving challenges of the industry. Ms. Nelson joined the NYISO in 2004 and most recently served as Vice President, Market Operations with a focus on the capacity market, energy market, and demand response areas. She has 20+ years of experience in the power industry and worked for several years in power generation. She earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Tufts University and an M.B.A. from Pace University.

Mr. Fernandez serves as the NYISO’s Chief Legal and Compliance Officer overseeing the company’s legal, regulatory, and compliance strategy. Mr. Fernandez advises the NYISO’s Board of Directors and Senior Leadership Team on federal, state, and local legal issues affecting the company while monitoring the NYISO’s Corporate Compliance Program. Mr. Fernandez has over 30 years' experience in the energy sector. Prior to joining the NYISO in 2000, Mr. Fernandez served as Vice President and Chief Regulatory Counsel for Sithe Energies, Inc., a NYC-based independent power producer. He also served as Senior Specialist Attorney at Long Island Lighting Company, and was associated with the NYC law firm of Cullen and Dykman. Mr. Fernandez began his legal career as a trial attorney with the Internal Revenue Service. Mr. Fernandez holds a B.A. from Stony Brook University, a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School, and an LL.M. in taxation from New York University School of Law.

Diane Egan has been with the NYISO since its inception in 1999 and held key positions at the New York Power Pool that preceded it. She brings 50+ years of energy industry and experience to her role which includes Executive Assistant to the NYISO CEOs and as Secretary to the Board.

Rick Gonzales leads the NYISO's efforts in ensuring reliable, efficient Electricity Market Operations and Grid Reliability Operations. Mr. Gonzales has been with the NYISO since its inception in 1999, and the New York Power Pool which preceded it from 1987. His three plus decades of experience in the electric industry, primarily in power control center and energy market operations encompass a considerable understanding of the energy industry overall. He earned a B.S. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Clarkson University and is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Executive Management Program. Mr. Gonzales also serves as a board member for the Northeast Power Coordinating Council.

Doug Chapman leads the Information Technology group, delivering reliable, innovative products and services to our evolving wholesale electricity markets. Mr. Chapman is also responsible for ensuring system compliance with the NYISO’s federal tariff governance and oversight of communications, facilities and enterprise security. Mr. Chapman joined the NYISO in 2015 and has over three decades of experience in the electric utility industry. He has held key leadership roles with the Mid-Continent Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO), National Grid, and Niagara Mohawk. He earned a M.S. in Computer Engineering from Syracuse University and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Buffalo.

Cheryl Hussey leads the NYISO’s accounting and financial reporting functions, budget development and oversight, treasury management, procurement and contract administration, corporate credit management and customer settlements. Ms. Hussey joined the NYISO in 2008 and spent over 10 years before that, in key leadership roles at Albany Medical Center. She is a Certified Public Accountant and earned a B.S. in Accounting from the State University of New York at Geneseo.

Kevin Lanahan leads the NYISO’s Government Relations; Stakeholder Services; Member Relations; Regulatory Affairs; Media Relations; and Corporate Communications departments. Mr. Lanahan has 20+ years of experience in the energy industry and has provided strategic vision and leadership in his previous positions working for Con Edison, JPMorgan Chase & Co., and National Grid. He holds B.A. degrees in English and Political Science from SUNY Oneonta, and an M.B.A. from Norwich University. He is also a graduate of the Harvard Business School and Con Edison’s Executive Management programs.

Rana Mukerji is responsible for the Market Design, Product and Project Management, Strategic and Business Planning, Research and Development, and Market Training teams. Mr. Mukerji joined the NYISO in 2006. Previously, he spent several years as a global leader for ABB’s Utility T&D Services, Asset Management and Consulting businesses in North Carolina and Zurich. He also played a key role as General Manager for GE’s Power Systems Energy Consulting firm. He earned a B.S in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, a M.S. in Electric Power Engineering and a M.B.A. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is also a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. Mr. Mukerji is also a NY registered Professional Engineer.

Zach Smith is responsible for the oversight and implementation of system planning and strategic initiatives for the New York State Transmission System. These include ensuring a reliable electric grid for the future, identifying economic opportunities for transmission investment beneficial to ratepayers, and implementation of system upgrades to enable public policies. Mr. Smith also oversees the interconnection process through which renewable resources and other new generation technologies reliably connect to the New York State electric grid. Since joining the NYISO in 2004, Mr. Smith has spearheaded numerous renewable integration and transmission planning initiatives through key positions of increasing responsibility, and he actively represents the NYISO on Interregional Coordination Committees. He earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Michigan Technological University.

Ms. Gach oversees the company’s legal department and assists in the development of regulatory and compliance strategy. She advises the company on a wide variety of federal, state, and local legal issues. She served as Senior Attorney at the NYISO from July 2004 to 2010. Prior to that, Ms. Gach was an associate with the law firm of Nixon Peabody LLP, representing clients on energy and utility matters and, previously, an associate in the Washington, DC office of the law firm of Cullen and Dykman. Ms. Gach received her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Albany Law School of Union University where she was the Editor-in-Chief of the Albany Law Journal of Science and Technology. She received a B.A. from the University of Rochester.

Robb Pike is responsible for the NYISO's Installed Capacity Market Operations, Distributed Resources Operations, and Operations Performance and Analysis departments. Over his 20+ years with the NYISO his responsibilities have included managing the evolution of the capacity, energy and congestion rights markets to improve efficiency, and expand market features. He has held an array of roles in engineering, operations, information technology, and project and product management. He earned B.S. and M.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Clarkson University and a MBA from Union College.

Aaron Markham leads the Grid Reliability and Operations team responsible for ensuring the bulk power grid and wholesale energy markets reliably and efficiently respond to the needs of New Yorkers, every minute of every day. Mr. Markham has held positions of increasing responsibility since joining the NYISO in 1999. Most recently, he served as Director of Grid Operations, overseeing power system operations, dispatcher training, and regulatory compliance of reliability standards. Mr. Markham successfully led efforts to integrate wind and solar resources into NYISO dispatch programs; and increase real-time visibility into wind and solar output. He earned a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering Technology from SUNY Polytechnic Institute at Utica-Rome and a Master’s in Business Administration from the College of Saint Rose. He is active with the Northeast Power Coordinating Council (NPCC) and chaired its Task Force of Coordination Operation 2019 - 2020.

Deneen Byrne leads the NYISO’s Human Resources department responsible for development of strategic HR policy and procedure, employee engagement, talent acquisition, compensation, benefits and health and safety programs, training and professional development and performance management. Ms. Byrne joined the NYISO in 2012 and spent over fourteen years before that in key management positions in both the manufacturing and hospitality industries. She earned a degree in Legal Studies from the Sage Colleges of Albany, NY. She is also a Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional and holds a Professional Human Resources Certification from the HR Certification Institute.

Daniel Hill is the former Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Exelon Corporation. He began serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) in April 2013.

As Exelon CIO, he managed all aspects of the corporation’s information technology (IT) and telecommunications functions. He spearheaded the centralization of the company’s IT organization and oversaw implementation of multiple technology initiatives across all Exelon operating companies including the development of Advanced Metering Infrastructure and related smart grid technology.

In 2007, he was named one of Computerworld’s Premier 100 IT Leaders. Mr. Hill was involved in Exelon since its inception in 2000. He was named Vice President and CIO in May 2003 and served as Senior Vice President and CIO from November 2004 until his retirement in March 2012. He previously worked in various technology and management positions at Commonwealth Edison Company, a predecessor to Exelon, from 1983 to 2000. Mr. Hill earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Illinois’ Lewis University.

Ave Bie of Madison, Wisconsin is a former Chair of the Wisconsin Public Service Commission and current partner in the law firm of Quarles & Brady. She began serving as a member of NYISO’s Board of Directors in April 2009. Ms. Bie was a member of the Wisconsin Public Service Commission from 1998 to 2004, where she was a strong advocate for the state’s consumers. She chaired the Commission from 1999 to 2003.

In 25 years of Wisconsin state service, Ms. Bie served in a number of positions including Deputy Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Deputy Secretary of the Department of Regulation and Licensing. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Green Bay Packers, Inc. 

Ms. Bie earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire. 

Mr. Kelley has over 40 years of experience in the electric generation and transmission business. From 2007 to 2008, Mr. Kelley served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the New York Power Authority, the largest state public power organization in the U.S. Most recently, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Peregrine Midstream Partners, LLC, a midstream gas storage entity in Houston, TX. From 2010 to 2013 Mr. Kelley was President and CEO of Midland Cogeneration Venture, a large co-generation project in Midland, MI.

From 2013 to 2014 Mr. Kelley was President and CEO of Fortistar Renewables, based in White Plains, NY, a developer and operator of renewable energy projects. Mr. Kelley, who graduated with honors and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Northeastern University, has significant experience in all areas of power generation, including nuclear, natural gas, coal, hydro, solar and landfill, as well as experience with electric transmission issues. He has served as a chief advisor on power issues to two of New York's governors, and as the chief technical member on the board of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.

Mr. Kelley has been employed by New York State Electric and Gas Corporation, Maine Public Service Company, Empire Energy Corporation, and LS Power Corporation. Mr. Kelley also served as a member of the Lt. Governor's Renewable Energy Task Force, which was responsible for the development and implementation of New York State's renewable energy portfolio. Mr. Kelley is a licensed professional engineer in New York State.

Mark Lynch joined the Board of Directors in April 2018. He brings a wealth of executive and engineering experience from a very successful 41-year career in the energy industry, including serving as President and CEO of the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) from 2005-2008.

Most recently, Mr. Lynch served as President and CEO of New York State Electric and Gas Corporation and Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation — both subsidiaries of AVANGRID, Inc. — from 2009 to 2017. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors for both regulated electricity and natural gas utility companies. From 2001-2004, he served as President of Mirant, New York, an independent power generation company that operated in competitive wholesale electricity markets in New York and New England.

Mr. Lynch’s experience also includes executive positions with Mississippi Power Company and Southern Energy, Inc. While with Southern Energy, he served as Executive President and Chairman of Empresa Electrica del Norte Grande, South America, and held positions in project development and management in Indonesia and North America. Mr. Lynch earned a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree from Villanova University.

Ms. Marrinan has 35 years of energy experience ranging from her entry-level role as a utility Rate Analyst to a Senior Vice President responsible for commercial operations for a large US generation fleet. She has served as a senior commercial executive focused on strategic planning, portfolio risk management and commercial operations in wholesale and retail US electricity markets.

Ms. Marrinan was Senior Vice President, US SBU Commercial for The AES Corporation, where she was responsible for US commercial operations and portfolio strategies for fossil-fired, wind, solar and energy storage resources across the US, and management of the unregulated retail electricity marketing business. Ms. Marrinan also was an officer of the Dayton Power and Light Company, responsible for fuel procurement and power trading, 24-hour real-time generation dispatch, logistics management of physical commodities and the company’s participation in organized ISO/RTO markets. Most recently, Ms. Marrinan serves as Founding Partner of Hanover Strategy Advisors LLC, where she advises a variety of clients on energy strategy, financial, regulatory and market issues.

Ms. Marrinan serves on the Board of Trustees for Goodwill Easter Seals Miami Valley, and as an adjunct professor in Economics and Finance at The University of Dayton School of Business Administration. She previously served as Board Chair of Foodbank Inc. and Cox Arboretum Foundation, and as a Board Member of the Premier Health Plan. Ms. Marrinan holds an MBA from Xavier University and a BS in Business Administration from the University of Dayton.

Mr. Hill has more than 25 years of energy experience. He has served as General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Energy and as Executive Vice President and General Counsel of NRG Energy, Inc. and NRG Yield, Inc. He currently is a Fellow and Adjunct Senior Research Scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University and is a panelist with FedArb. He joined the NYISO Board in April 2020.

At NRG, Mr. Hill was responsible for all legal, regulatory, government affairs, and environmental matters. At DOE, he was responsible for the Department’s legal matters and regulatory activity and had significant involvement with DOE’s federal power marketing administrations, electric policy matters and energy efficiency programs.

From 2009 to 2012, Mr. Hill was a partner at Sidley Austin LLP in Washington, D.C., where he was co-head of the firm’s energy practice.  He also previously was a partner at Wiley, Rein & Fielding in Washington, D.C. He has served on the boards of numerous nonprofit organizations. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Journalism from the University of Missouri and a Juris Doctor from the Northwestern University School of Law.

Mr. Abbas has nearly 30 years of energy and investment experience. Born in Ethiopia, he has lived or worked in New York since 2002 after joining Morgan Stanley in support of its energy and utilities, forest products / natural resources, and technology groups.

He is a founder of Direct Investment Development, a real estate investment firm based in New York City that is focused on sustainable development in underserved urban communities in the U.S.  He was also a founding partner of Twenty First Century Utilities, whose mission was to transform regulated utilities to a model of mass adoption of clean, low-cost, energy-producing and energy efficient technologies.

Mr. Abbas worked for Southern Company as a cooperative engineer while attending Auburn University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering.  He also holds a Master of Business Administration in finance and accounting from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.  

A New Yorker, Mr. Oates has more than 35 years of experience in the energy industry. He served various roles of increasing responsibility during his 33 years with Con Edison. Most recently Mr. Oates was Chairman of Con Edison Clean Energy Businesses (CEB), focusing on clean energy infrastructure investments. Under Mr. Oates’ leadership Con Edison’s CEB became the second largest solar energy producer in North America.

Mr. Oates also was Chairman, President and CEO of Con Edison Transmission, a subsidiary targeting federally regulated transmission infrastructure investments. Spanning his distinguished career with Con Edison he also served as Senior Vice President, Shared Services; Vice President, Energy Management; Treasurer; and Vice President, Electric Operations.

Mr. Oates holds Bachelor of Engineering and Master of Engineering degrees from Manhattan College, and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Fordham University. He served in various other Board of Director roles including as Chairman of the Honeoye Storage Corporation, and Vice Chairman, President and Treasurer of Arts Westchester.

Ms. Talberg has over 25 years of experience in the energy and environmental fields, with an emphasis on utility regulation and electricity markets. As a former state commissioner and former adviser to commissioners at the Texas and Michigan commissions, she has a unique appreciation for the importance of market design, infrastructure planning, pragmatic regulation, and stakeholder engagement.

From 2013 through 2020, Ms. Talberg served as a Commissioner on the Michigan Public Service Commission. As Chair from 2016 until 2020, Ms. Talberg led the agency in formulating strategic priorities, oversaw approximately 180 employees, and managed a $25 million budget. She also represented the organization on various state, regional and national boards and committees. Ms. Talberg has previously served as an Unaffiliated Board Member of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas and Michigan’s Interagency Environmental Justice Task Force. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Natural Resources Policy Studies from Michigan State University and a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin.