Guiding communities towards sustainability and resilience

Who We Are

Our History

Michigan Energy Options (MEO) has been dedicated to sustainability and energy conservation for over 40 years. Since its founding in 1978, MEO has been at the forefront of promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy programs in Michigan communities. MEO has a rich history of providing unbiased expertise, research, and results-driven programs while working collaboratively with local governments, businesses, and community leaders. MEO’s legacy of leadership in energy conservation began with Urban Options, a pioneering energy nonprofit in Michigan, and has continued to evolve with MEO’s commitment to guiding communities towards sustainability and resilience.

Our mission

MEO’s daily mission is to guide communities towards sustainability and resilience through the adoption of energy efficiency and renewable energy. We do this by providing our unbiased expertise, research, and results-driven programs to help communities reduce their carbon footprint, save energy, and save money. We are committed to promoting a sustainable future that benefits both the environment and the economy by working collaboratively with local governments, businesses, and community leaders.

Our values

At MEO, we are committed to upholding values that reflect our mission and dedication to sustainability. We believe in transparency, accountability, and collaboration in all of our programs and projects. Our team is dedicated to providing unbiased expertise that is rooted in research and data-driven analysis. We also value inclusivity and diversity, and believe that sustainability is achievable for all communities. We are committed to advancing sustainability and resilience by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting energy conservation, and working collaboratively with local governments, businesses, and community leaders to create a sustainable future.

STAFF

John A. Kinch, PhD

Executive Director

Michael J. Larson, MPA

Assistant Director

Brandon Kawalec

Sr. Programs Manager

Angela Marez

Program Manager

Lauren Chapman

Program Coordinator

Bob Tinker, LEED AP, RA

Technical Energy Consultant

Nicki Rossi

Program Support Specialist

Board of Directors

Kait Wyckoff

President

Kris Spaulding
Vice President

Deb Dynako
Secretary

Jen Tucker
Treasurer

Laura Chappelle, JD

Chuck Hookham

Mary Ellen Mika

Brad Neumann, AICP

Phares A. Noel, PhD

Kris Spaulding

Program Director
Northern Initiatives

Kris Spaulding is Program Director at Northern Initiatives, a Michigan-based CDFI dedicated to supporting small businesses across the state. She leads the development of a climate lending program designed to expand access to clean energy technologies in rural and low-income communities.

As co-owner of Brewery Vivant and Broad Leaf Brewery + Spirits, Kris brings an entrepreneurial perspective to her community development work. Before launching the first LEED-certified brewery in 2010, she worked on Herman Miller’s Design for Environment team, ensuring products met rigorous environmental standards.

Kris holds a BS in Natural Resources and the Environment from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Grand Valley State University. When she’s not building climate resilience in Michigan communities, she is most likely found laughing with her family, reading, cooking, or running.

Brad Neumann

Senior Extension Educator
Michigan State University Extension

Brad Neumann is a Senior Extension Educator with Michigan State University. Brad is based in Marquette County and serves as an educational resource for local and tribal governments across the UP in the areas of land use and good governance. He has delivered local government education on siting and regulation of renewable energy systems since the state’s first renewable portfolio standard in 2008 and is coauthor of Planning & Zoning for Solar Energy Systems: A Guide for Michigan Local Governments. Brad is a member of the Michigan Association of Planning and the American Institute of Certified Planners. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Eastern Upper Peninsula Regional Planning and Development Commission and the steering committee of the Marquette County Climate Adaptation Task Force. He has a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Northern Michigan University with majors in Land Use Planning; and Economics, plus a Master’s of Science in Natural Resource Economics and Policy from the University of Maine.

Laura Chappelle, JD

Partner
Potomac Law Group

Laura Chappelle is a partner at the Potomac Law Group. Her practice focuses on regulatory and legal policy issues involving state and federal energy sectors. She has more than 25 years of experience in state, wholesale and regional energy issues. Laura previously served as a chairman and commissioner with the Michigan Public Service Commission from 2000–2007.  Prior to that, she was deputy legal counsel and regulatory policy advisor to Michigan Governor John Engler, assistant legal counsel for Michigan Speaker of the House Paul Hillegonds, and a regulatory policy advisor and legal counsel for both the Michigan House and Senate. 

Ms. Chappelle represents clients before the Michigan Public Service Commission, including energy suppliers and marketers, independent power producers, manufacturers, agricultural processors, public entities and institutions, and trade associations representing competitive power supply and business interests. She is also active in state energy matters in both PJM and MISO regions, as well as representing clients before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

Laura is the proud parent of four children: two of whom are attorneys; one who recently graduated from law school; and her youngest, a junior at George Washington University, who is working as an intern with GWU’s Sustainability Department. Laura recently moved from mid-Michigan to Holland and is enjoying being close to the Lakeshore and exploring West Michigan.

Kait Wyckoff

Vice President of Program Operations
Collective Clean Energy Fund

Kait Wyckoff – Chief Programs Officer, Collective Clean Energy Fund

 

Kait Wyckoff is a sharp problem solver with a passion for untangling complexity and instilling order amidst chaos. As Chief Programs Officer at Collective Clean Energy Fund (CCEF), Kait leads the organization’s program strategy and delivery, oversees day-to-day operations, streamlines processes, and ensures alignment between programs and strategic goals. Serving communities across EPA Region 8, CCEF is committed to promoting equitable access to clean energy solutions. Kait plays a pivotal role in driving operational efficiency, advancing innovative financing models such as on-bill repayment, fostering talent development, and enhancing stakeholder reporting to advance the fund’s mission and impact. In her role, Kait works closely with utilities, state and local governments, lenders, community-based organizations, and national partners to design and implement scalable, customer-centered clean energy programs.

Previously, as Director of Operations for Michigan Saves—the state’s pioneering nonprofit green bank—Kait streamlined operations and cultivated partnerships with private lenders to make energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements more accessible to Michigan residents and businesses. She also spearheaded projects like the National Green Energy Network, demonstrating her dedication to sustainability and community impact.

Kait thrives in dynamic environments, blending analytical prowess with collaborative problem-solving to drive meaningful change. Beyond her professional pursuits, Kait enjoys experimenting with new recipes, tackling home renovation projects, and spending quality time with her family in northern Michigan. 

Deb Dynako

Director of Partnership Development
Energy Infrastructure Partners

Deb Dynako serves as Director of Partnership Development at Energy Infrastructure Partners, where she leads strategic partnerships that advance large-scale energy efficiency and decarbonization initiatives nationwide. With more than a decade of experience in the energy efficiency and carbon reduction sector, Deb brings a collaborative, relationship-centered approach to her work partnering with utilities, government agencies, community organizations, and industry leaders to move innovative, high-impact solutions from idea to implementation.

Recognized as a trusted collaborator and thoughtful leader, Deb connects partnership development, market strategy, and communications to deliver meaningful, measurable outcomes. She is guided by a strong commitment to equitable energy efficiency and sustainability and is especially motivated by expanding access and benefits for historically disinvested communities. Deb is based in the Chicago area.
Phares A. Noel, PhD

President
Diversified Engineering Concepts, LLC

Dr. Phares A. Noel II is the President of Diversified Engineering Concepts, LLC, and is a seasoned engineering executive with over 30 years of both practical and theoretical experience in the field of both systems engineering and automation across various areas ranging from electrical power generation to automotive manufacturing. Having spent the last 20 years of his career in the automotive sector, Phares has been involved in all aspects of design and installation of automated manufacturing systems as well as the CAX tools that support them.

Phares is currently an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering at Oakland University, Rochester, MI., as well as a member of the Board of Advisers for software firm GrafiCalc of San Jose, California. In addition, he is also a member of The Center for Understanding Change (C4UC), a research think tank focused on the application of system dynamic modeling and simulation in the area of risk mitigation for global enterprises and critical infrastructure. He is also a licensed Professional Engineer registered in the States of Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and Florida. He also holds certifications as a Certified Energy Manager (CEM) and a Certified Demand Side Manager (CDM). Phares lives in southeast Michigan.

Clara Guggemos

Community Energy Specialist

Clara joined MEO in August 2021 and currently works as the Community Energy Specialist for the Lansing Board of Water & Light’s Hometown Energy Savers program. Clara is pursuing degrees in energy management and building construction through the Lansing Community College Alternative Energy Program. In their free time, Clara enjoys embroidering, mountain biking, and kayaking.

Kimberly Sterner

Program Support Specialist

Kimberly joined MEO in 2022 and currently serves as the Program Support Specialist. Kimberly is a graduate of Central Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology. Prior to joining MEO, she worked on programs that assisted low-income individuals in finding necessary local resources. In her free-time, Kim enjoys hiking, landscaping, and spending time around animals.

Nicki Rossi

Program Support Specialist

Nicki joined MEO in October of 2022 and currently serves as the Program Support Specialist.  She feels her position is allowing her to give back in a small way to the community and the environment.  Nicki previously spent 14 years in Property Management as a Multi-Site Community Manager and then went on to work in senior home care, providing care and companionship to elderly clients.  She enjoys being up north with her family and two dogs.  Her northern home allows her to enjoy all that nature provides: bird watching, kayaking, leisurely walks on wooded trails, and, of course, lake life.

Bob Tinker
Technical Energy Consultant

Bob Tinker is a long-time supporter of Michigan Energy Options and a technical consultant for our commercial energy services. Bob is a registered architect in the State of Michigan specializing in energy efficient building design, construction and operations—including the use of solar energy in buildings. He has been partner and president in two architectural firms over his career. Tinker Energy, Bob’s current business, provides commercial energy audits for government and utility programs. Bob maintains a daily yoga and meditation practice to keep his personal energy tuned and focused.

More about Bob at LinkedIn

Lauren Chapman
Program Coordinator

Lauren joined MEO in May 2019 and currently serves as Program Coordinator for the Lansing Board of Water & Light’s (BWL) Hometown Energy Savers program. Lauren primarily runs the High Efficiency Products rebate program for both BWL and the Upper Peninsula’s Energy Innovations Collaborative program. In their free time, Lauren enjoys reading, board games, horror movies, and spending time outdoors.

Angela Marez

Program Manager

Angela joined MEO in 2021 and serves as a Program Manager for Energy Smart, Energy Optimization, and the Lansing Board of Water & Light’s Hometown Energy Savers. Prior to joining MEO, she served as a multi-family Property Manager with experience in tax-credit and low-income programs.  In her free time, Angela enjoys camping, gardening, and raising Monarch butterflies.

Brandon Kawalec
Program Manager

Brandon Kawalec joined MEO in 2015 and currently manages the Lansing Board of Water & Light’s Hometown Energy Savers residential programs. Brandon is a Michigan State University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Agriscience. Brandon enjoys bicycling, tennis and golf in his free time.

Michael Larson
Assistant Director

Michael J. Larson oversees the daily operations of Michigan Energy Options and manages projects across the state. Michael’s duties include clean energy consulting, oversight of utility energy waste reduction programs, and leading MEO’s community engagement on energy issues in the U.P. Michael has a Master of Public Administration and has been working with MEO since 2011. He currently serves as a Commissioner for the City of Marquette and as a board member for Michigan Saves, a nonprofit green bank.

More about Michael at LinkedIn

John A. Kinch, PhD
Executive Director

John A. Kinch, PhD, directs the strategic and daily operations of Michigan Energy Options emphasizing innovative and collaborative projects between the public and private sectors. Kinch is a US Department of Energy SunShot advisor and a municipal-certified solar expert by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. He has served on numerous nonprofit and governmental boards, including being chair of the City of East Lansing Commission on the Environment, a member of the Michigan Governor’s Energy Excellence Awards, a Vice President on the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association board and on advisory board for Highland Carbon. Kinch has volunteered at the Grand Rapids Community Food Club, among other social service organizations. He served as the inaugural “Executive in Residence” at Grand Valley State University’s Seidman College of Business in 2022 and continues to guest lecture and teach. He has most recently been appointed to the Grand Haven Sustainability and Energy Commission.

More about John at LinkedIn

Chuck Hookham

President
Arbor Consultants, PC

Chuck Hookham, PE, is president of Arbor Consultants, PC in Ann Arbor, with over 40 years experience in the Power and Energy sector ranging from design and construction of all forms of generation through transmission and distribution planning, energy storage, siting/permitting, and operations and maintenance in multiple continents. He has been involved locally in utility-scale wind and solar PV projects throughout Michigan, was involved in Fermi II design/commissioning, and led the conversion of a wind farm to USA’s third wind/solar/battery hybrid, as well as managing multiple microgrid, distributed energy, and cogeneration facilities. He is an engineering graduate of the University of Illinois, has an MBA, and completed other post-graduate work in the energy space. Current projects include decarbonization of buildings and expansion of renewable energy/storage applications.

Jen Tucker
Senior Community Development Manger Michigan Economic Development Corporation

Jen serves the Upper Peninsula as the Community Development Manager at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.  With over 12 years of experience working in community development in the UP, and over 19 years of experience as a snow shoveling resident of the region, she works to achieve Yooper status.  She is armed with experience working at the local, county and state level, and has enjoyed a wide variety of other professional opportunities including wildland firefighting, instructing earth science courses, fundraising, and event planning. Jen attended Northern Michigan University for Environmental Conservation and Eastern Michigan University for Urban and Regional Planning. Jen spends most of her free time outside in the Great Lakes State, playing with her dog Peete, watching football, and working on her house. Her passion for music and cooking keep her thinking creatively and trying new things in all aspects of her life.

Mary Ellen Mika

Director of Global Compliance and Sustainability
Steelcase Inc.

Mary Ellen Mika is Director of Global Compliance & Sustainability for Steelcase Inc., the global leader in the office furniture industry. She leads a team responsible for the company’s energy, renewable energy, and climate change response strategies including the development of science-based targets for greenhouse gas emissions; managing compliance with environmental regulatory requirements for products, facilities, and operations including implementation of the company’s ISO 14001 environmental management system and addressing environmental due diligence for potential acquisitions; pursuing product certifications for sustainability and indoor air quality; tracking and reporting waste, water, energy, recycling and composting efforts and setting goals for continuous improvement. Mary Ellen is a LEED-accredited professional and recently served on the Materials and Resources Technical Advisory Group for U.S. Green Building Council. She has a B.S. in Biochemistry, an M.A. in Counseling Psychology, and over thirty years of experience in environmental consulting and industry.

Dr. Jessica Thompson
Associate Professor Northern Michigan University

Jes Thompson teaches courses in environmental communication and public relations. She is a trained facilitator and earned a graduate certificate in Adaptive Management of Environmental Systems at the University of Utah, where she earned an interdisciplinary doctoral degree in environmental communication. Her research is focused on communication about complex ecological issues, including climate change (check out her TEDx talk). Recent research projects include working with interdisciplinary teams studying climate resilience in Mongolia, ecosystem services in the Gulf of Mexico, and building communication capacity for climate change engagement at National Parks and USFWS Wildlife Refuges across the US.

Nathalie Osborn
Chief Energizer Positively Powered Professional Development

With a passion for connecting people, performance, and purpose, Nathalie Osborn draws on an accomplished career in consultative sales, strategic program design, and culture transformation to energize individuals and organizations. A self-described “fun-loving enginerd” who blends who blends technical expertise with a dynamic, people-centered approach to elevate leadership, boost productivity, and amplify employee engagement to spark lasting change.She has supported the successful implementation of over $500M in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainability initiatives—translating technical expertise into meaningful impact.

As co-author of Ignite Your Leadership, Nathalie is also a sought-after speaker and facilitator who empowers professionals to recharge their leadership, realign with their values, and lead with clarity, confidence, and authenticity.

Abby Corso
Chief Program Officer Elevate Energy

Abigail is the Chief Strategy Officer at Elevate Energy, located in Chicago, Illinois. In this role, she oversees Elevate’s strategy in developing new programs nationwide from energy efficiency, solar, and planning including building up Elevate’s existing dynamic pricing and flagship multifamily building retrofit programs. Prior to this role, she served as Chief Program Officer and Director of New Market Initiatives, and was responsible for expanding Elevate’s affordable multifamily energy efficiency programs into new markets outside of the Chicago region including Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, and Oregon. Prior to joining Elevate Energy in 2012, Abigail was a Managing Director at the Delta Institute where she managed Delta’s sustainability consulting and industrial pollution prevention and energy efficiency program areas which included developing energy efficiency loan products for various Midwest initiatives.

Nick Occhipinti

Affairs Director
Michigan League of Conservation Voters

Nick Occhipinti is the State Government Affairs Director for the Michigan League of Conservation Voters.  Nick has a broad range of environmental policy experience having served as the Policy and Community Activism Director for the West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC), worked as a staffer for the Chair of Hawaii’s State Senate Energy and Environment Committee, in Lansing for the Granholm administration, and at the Rocky Mountain Institute.  He has also worked directly in communities as a field organizer for the Obama campaign in 2008 and as a Corps Member for AmeriCorps’ National Civilian Community Corps. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a degree in Political Science and a Masters degree in Public Policy.

Todd Parker
Director of Programs Michigan Saves

Todd Parker is the customer service manager for Michigan Saves, a multimillion-dollar nonprofit organization managed by Public Sector Consultants whose mission is to stimulate and support investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy systems in homes, businesses, and public buildings. He assists homeowners and business owners, oversees a network of authorized contractors, supports new program development and operational management, evaluates and improves quality assurance efforts, and analyzes data on loan trends. Todd wants people to spend as little money as possible on energy, so that they can spend money on the things that truly matter – family, experiences, personal well-being. Todd is a proud alumnus of Michigan State University and the Vermont Law School.