José L. Pérez
President & CEO
José L. Pérez co-founded the first council of its kind, the California Utilities Diversity Council (CUDC) in 2003, with Michael R. Peevey, who is former president of the California Public Utilities Commission. The CUDC set new benchmarks and led to new achievements in diversity by California-regulated companies. In 2008, José co-founded another first council of its kind, the National Utilities Diversity Council (NUDC), and served as its president for three years creating national awareness and synergistic efforts toward reaching diversity goals.
Mr. Pérez has provided visionary leadership in promoting diversity in the new energy economy from Sacramento, California to Washington, DC. José is a national speaker on diversity, public policy, community and business partnerships, and finance in the energy and utility industries. He has presented at the National Association of Hispanics Publications in Washington D.C., National Association of Regulated Utility Commissioners (NARUC) in Denver and San Francisco, National Council of La Raza in New Orleans and the Mexican American Engineering Society in San Diego. In 2014, José was featured in as one of the nation’s “Most Influential Latinos in Energy” in Latino Leaders, a national printed publication.
In 1996, José founded the Latino Journal, a non-partisan publication focused on independent analyses of public policy and government from a Latino perspective. José earned his degree in Government from California State University, Sacramento and a Certificate on Corporate Governance from the Graduate School of Business at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA.
José L. Pérez co-founded the first council of its kind, the California Utilities Diversity Council (CUDC) in 2003, with Michael R. Peevey, who is former president of the California Public Utilities Commission. The CUDC set new benchmarks and led to new achievements in diversity by California-regulated companies. In 2008, José co-founded another first council of its kind, the National Utilities Diversity Council (NUDC), and served as its president for three years creating national awareness and synergistic efforts toward reaching diversity goals.
Mr. Pérez has provided visionary leadership in promoting diversity in the new energy economy from Sacramento, California to Washington, DC. José is a national speaker on diversity, public policy, community and business partnerships, and finance in the energy and utility industries. He has presented at the National Association of Hispanics Publications in Washington D.C., National Association of Regulated Utility Commissioners (NARUC) in Denver and San Francisco, National Council of La Raza in New Orleans and the Mexican American Engineering Society in San Diego. In 2014, José was featured in as one of the nation’s “Most Influential Latinos in Energy” in Latino Leaders, a national printed publication.
In 1996, José founded the Latino Journal, a non-partisan publication focused on independent analyses of public policy and government from a Latino perspective. José earned his degree in Government from California State University, Sacramento and a Certificate on Corporate Governance from the Graduate School of Business at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA.
Nancy Zarenda
Vice President & Treasurer
An accomplished specialist in language policy and Spanish language services, Nancy is taking the lead on Hispanics In Energy’s language access pillar to better serve multilingual energy consumers and ratepayers. Nancy was a key contributor to the U.S. Department of Energy publication, Conocimiento de Energía (Energy Literacy), led the development of Language Access Principles adopted by the California Public Utilities Commission, and served as a subject matter expert on limited-English proficient consumer issues. She co-founded California Utilities Diversity Council and served as co-vice chair and in-language advisor.
Nancy and her professional team provide language access solutions to public officials, utility and energy companies, and the private sector. She developed and directed Spanish language training for law enforcement leadership and academies and served as a language/cross cultural consultant to government and corporate executives and teams. Nancy has served in leadership roles on local, state, national, and international boards and was a gubernatorial and state constitutional officer appointee in two California administrations.
Latino Leaders magazine named Nancy as one of America’s Top 100 Latinas in Energy in 2019. She is also a recipient of U.S. Congressional Special Recognition as Outstanding Hispanic American Educator for promoting multilingualism and Spanish language programs.
An accomplished specialist in language policy and Spanish language services, Nancy is taking the lead on Hispanics In Energy’s language access pillar to better serve multilingual energy consumers and ratepayers. Nancy was a key contributor to the U.S. Department of Energy publication, Conocimiento de Energía (Energy Literacy), led the development of Language Access Principles adopted by the California Public Utilities Commission, and served as a subject matter expert on limited-English proficient consumer issues. She co-founded California Utilities Diversity Council and served as co-vice chair and in-language advisor.
Nancy and her professional team provide language access solutions to public officials, utility and energy companies, and the private sector. She developed and directed Spanish language training for law enforcement leadership and academies and served as a language/cross cultural consultant to government and corporate executives and teams. Nancy has served in leadership roles on local, state, national, and international boards and was a gubernatorial and state constitutional officer appointee in two California administrations.
Latino Leaders magazine named Nancy as one of America’s Top 100 Latinas in Energy in 2019. She is also a recipient of U.S. Congressional Special Recognition as Outstanding Hispanic American Educator for promoting multilingualism and Spanish language programs.
Olman Valverde, Esq.
Secretary
Olman Valverde is an experienced business attorney and handles real estate and transactional issues in the oil and gas industry. Representative matters in this practice area include the purchase and sale of oil and gas leases, title examination related to oil and gas rights, project finance transactions related to exploration and development projects, and litigation related to land rights, leases and production activities. His clients include energy companies, technology start-ups, real estate developers, engineering firms, public utilities, and government agencies.
Mr. Valverde earned a Juris Doctorate at Boston College Law School in Massachusetts, and Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies at University of California at Santa Cruz. He has served on local, state, national and international business and civic boards including as General Counsel to Latino Peace Officers Association of CA, Costa Rica-United States Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles Association of Professional Landmen, and currently as President of Board of Directors, Los Angeles County Education Foundation.
Olman Valverde is an experienced business attorney and handles real estate and transactional issues in the oil and gas industry. Representative matters in this practice area include the purchase and sale of oil and gas leases, title examination related to oil and gas rights, project finance transactions related to exploration and development projects, and litigation related to land rights, leases and production activities. His clients include energy companies, technology start-ups, real estate developers, engineering firms, public utilities, and government agencies.
Mr. Valverde earned a Juris Doctorate at Boston College Law School in Massachusetts, and Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies at University of California at Santa Cruz. He has served on local, state, national and international business and civic boards including as General Counsel to Latino Peace Officers Association of CA, Costa Rica-United States Chamber of Commerce, Los Angeles Association of Professional Landmen, and currently as President of Board of Directors, Los Angeles County Education Foundation.
Joseph Domínguez
Chairman
Joseph Dominguez is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Constellation, which employs 13,000 workers, has generating capacity of more than 32,400 megawatts and serves more than 20 million homes and businesses with clean energy. With revenues of more than $17 billion and total assets of $49 billion, Constellation comprises both the nation's lowest-carbon fleet among large power producers and the largest competitive energy supplier. Together, they are America's clean energy leader, producing over 10% of the nation's clean energy and helping America transition to a clean, sustainable future.
As CEO, Dominguez oversees Constellation’s clean energy fleet of nuclear, wind, solar, hydroelectric and natural gas facilities in 19 states, and the nation's top competitive retail and commodities business, which provides electricity, natural gas and other energy-related products and services to two million residential, public sector and business customers nationwide, including more than three-fourths of the Fortune 100.
Previously, Dominguez served as CEO of ComEd, an Exelon company, which powers the lives of more than four million residential and business customers, or 70 percent of Illinois’ population. In that role, he was responsible for the safe and reliable delivery of electricity to customers and oversight of the management of the electric grid for over four million customers in Chicago and most of northern Illinois.
Prior to joining ComEd, Dominguez served as executive vice president of governmental and regulatory affairs and public policy for Exelon, where he led the development and implementation of federal, state, and regional governmental, regulatory, and public policy strategies.
Prior to joining Exelon, Dominguez was a partner in the law firm of White and Williams, LLP, with a broad-based litigation practice counseling large and small corporations, institutions, and government entities. He is a former assistant U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Dominguez serves on several boards of directors and councils and the Rutgers Law School Corporate Governance Advisory Board. He cofounded the Association of Latino Energy and Environmental Professionals, an organization focused on ensuring the Latino voice is heard in the energy and environmental industries, in 2011.
Dominguez received the Michael K. Smith Excellence in Service Award from the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Adelante Award from APM, the Delaware Valley’s Most Influential Latinos Award, the Visionary Hispanic Energy Leaders Award, and the nuclear energy industry’s most prestigious award, the William S. Lee Award for Industry Leadership. Dominguez is an inductee of Rutgers-Camden’s Finest and a past Honoree of the Hispanic Bar Association of PA Legal Fund (HBALEF).
Dominguez earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and his law degree with distinctions from Rutgers University School of Law.
Joseph Dominguez is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Constellation, which employs 13,000 workers, has generating capacity of more than 32,400 megawatts and serves more than 20 million homes and businesses with clean energy. With revenues of more than $17 billion and total assets of $49 billion, Constellation comprises both the nation's lowest-carbon fleet among large power producers and the largest competitive energy supplier. Together, they are America's clean energy leader, producing over 10% of the nation's clean energy and helping America transition to a clean, sustainable future.
As CEO, Dominguez oversees Constellation’s clean energy fleet of nuclear, wind, solar, hydroelectric and natural gas facilities in 19 states, and the nation's top competitive retail and commodities business, which provides electricity, natural gas and other energy-related products and services to two million residential, public sector and business customers nationwide, including more than three-fourths of the Fortune 100.
Previously, Dominguez served as CEO of ComEd, an Exelon company, which powers the lives of more than four million residential and business customers, or 70 percent of Illinois’ population. In that role, he was responsible for the safe and reliable delivery of electricity to customers and oversight of the management of the electric grid for over four million customers in Chicago and most of northern Illinois.
Prior to joining ComEd, Dominguez served as executive vice president of governmental and regulatory affairs and public policy for Exelon, where he led the development and implementation of federal, state, and regional governmental, regulatory, and public policy strategies.
Prior to joining Exelon, Dominguez was a partner in the law firm of White and Williams, LLP, with a broad-based litigation practice counseling large and small corporations, institutions, and government entities. He is a former assistant U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Dominguez serves on several boards of directors and councils and the Rutgers Law School Corporate Governance Advisory Board. He cofounded the Association of Latino Energy and Environmental Professionals, an organization focused on ensuring the Latino voice is heard in the energy and environmental industries, in 2011.
Dominguez received the Michael K. Smith Excellence in Service Award from the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Adelante Award from APM, the Delaware Valley’s Most Influential Latinos Award, the Visionary Hispanic Energy Leaders Award, and the nuclear energy industry’s most prestigious award, the William S. Lee Award for Industry Leadership. Dominguez is an inductee of Rutgers-Camden’s Finest and a past Honoree of the Hispanic Bar Association of PA Legal Fund (HBALEF).
Dominguez earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and his law degree with distinctions from Rutgers University School of Law.
Hon. Nelson Díaz
Vice Chairman
The Honorable Nelson Diaz concentrates his practice in the areas of litigation, dispute resolution, public housing issues and government relations. He has represented public entities, corporations, hospitals, banks, and non-profit organizations in both state and federal courts.
Nelson served as a judge for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas from 1981 through 1993. He was the youngest judge elected to the Court and the first Latino judge in Pennsylvania history.
In addition to his legal practice, Nelson served as the city solicitor of Philadelphia and was appointed by President Clinton to be the general counsel for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, where he focused on reforming public and mixed-use housing programs. Nelson also served as a White House Fellow as special assistant to Vice President Walter Mondale.
Nelson is the author of Not from Here, Not from There/No soy de aquí, ni de allá, an autobiography, success story and vehicle for US Latinos to manifest their American dream.
The Honorable Nelson Diaz concentrates his practice in the areas of litigation, dispute resolution, public housing issues and government relations. He has represented public entities, corporations, hospitals, banks, and non-profit organizations in both state and federal courts.
Nelson served as a judge for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas from 1981 through 1993. He was the youngest judge elected to the Court and the first Latino judge in Pennsylvania history.
In addition to his legal practice, Nelson served as the city solicitor of Philadelphia and was appointed by President Clinton to be the general counsel for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, where he focused on reforming public and mixed-use housing programs. Nelson also served as a White House Fellow as special assistant to Vice President Walter Mondale.
Nelson is the author of Not from Here, Not from There/No soy de aquí, ni de allá, an autobiography, success story and vehicle for US Latinos to manifest their American dream.
Lewis Binswanger
Vice Chairman
Lewis Binswanger is senior vice president of Government, Regulatory and External Affairs at ComEd. He leads governmental affairs, external affairs, regulatory strategy and affairs, energy acquisition and strategy, and economic and workforce development. He also oversees the corporate relations function, which manages ComEd’s relationships with civic and charitable organizations. He also serves as a member of the ComEd Management Committee and has 40 years of utility industry experience.
ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ: EXC). ComEd delivers electricity to more than 9 million people across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state’s population.
Lewis Binswanger previously served as Vice President External Affairs at Nicor Gas where he developed, oversaw and directed the regulatory and legislative policy, strategy and planning in the State of Illinois. He represented the business interests of the company within the regulatory and legislative environment and served as a key strategic advisory to the Enterprise. Binswanger led a team of regulatory specialists engaged in the formulation of regulatory solutions and strategies designed to achieve the financial and operational goals and objectives of the Company. He directed the legislative team and external lobbyists to establish company policy regarding state legislation.
Prior to joining Nicor Gas, served as Senior Vice President Legal, Governmental and Regulatory Affairs at Source Gas, led Business and Regulatory Affairs at TECO Energy and served in high level management and regulatory roles in other energy enterprises.
Binswanger serves as Board Member of the American Red Cross, Advisory Council Member of the Institute for Regulatory Policy Studies and as Advisory Council Member of the Center for Public Utilities, New Mexico State University. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronics Engineering at the University of Texas at El Paso.
Lewis Binswanger is senior vice president of Government, Regulatory and External Affairs at ComEd. He leads governmental affairs, external affairs, regulatory strategy and affairs, energy acquisition and strategy, and economic and workforce development. He also oversees the corporate relations function, which manages ComEd’s relationships with civic and charitable organizations. He also serves as a member of the ComEd Management Committee and has 40 years of utility industry experience.
ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ: EXC). ComEd delivers electricity to more than 9 million people across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state’s population.
Lewis Binswanger previously served as Vice President External Affairs at Nicor Gas where he developed, oversaw and directed the regulatory and legislative policy, strategy and planning in the State of Illinois. He represented the business interests of the company within the regulatory and legislative environment and served as a key strategic advisory to the Enterprise. Binswanger led a team of regulatory specialists engaged in the formulation of regulatory solutions and strategies designed to achieve the financial and operational goals and objectives of the Company. He directed the legislative team and external lobbyists to establish company policy regarding state legislation.
Prior to joining Nicor Gas, served as Senior Vice President Legal, Governmental and Regulatory Affairs at Source Gas, led Business and Regulatory Affairs at TECO Energy and served in high level management and regulatory roles in other energy enterprises.
Binswanger serves as Board Member of the American Red Cross, Advisory Council Member of the Institute for Regulatory Policy Studies and as Advisory Council Member of the Center for Public Utilities, New Mexico State University. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronics Engineering at the University of Texas at El Paso.
Dennis Arriola
Vice Chairman
Dennis V. Arriola is an Operating Partner at Sandbrook Capital, a global private equity firm focused on investments transforming the world’s energy infrastructure. He previously served as chief executive officer of Avangrid, Inc., a publicly traded utility and renewable energy company, from 2020 until 2022. He joined Avangrid from Sempra Energy, a publicly traded utility and energy infrastructure company, where he served as executive vice president and group president, and chief sustainability officer. Throughout his career, Mr. Arriola has served in a broad range of leadership positions in gas and electric utilities as well as renewables, including as chairman, president and chief executive officer of Southern California Gas Co., senior vice president and chief financial officer of both San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas Co., vice president of communications and investor relations for Sempra, and regional vice president and general manager of Sempra’s South American operations. He was previously the executive vice president and chief financial officer of SunPower Corporation, a Silicon Valley-based solar technology company.
Mr. Arriola currently serves on the board of directors of ConocoPhillips, Meritage Homes, Commercial Metals Company and the Automobile Club of Southern California. He also serves on the board of directors of Hispanics In Energy, a national non-profit organization focused on increasing Hispanic engagement in the energy industry. He previously served on the boards of Avangrid, Inc., the California Latino Economic Institute, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the California Business Roundtable, the Edison Electric Institute, and the boards of several Sempra operating companies, including Infraestructura Energética Nova, a publicly traded company in Mexico, Luz del Sur SAA, a publicly traded company in Peru, and Chilquinta Energía in Chile.
Mr. Arriola received his A.B. in Economics from Stanford University and his MBA from Harvard University.
Dennis V. Arriola is an Operating Partner at Sandbrook Capital, a global private equity firm focused on investments transforming the world’s energy infrastructure. He previously served as chief executive officer of Avangrid, Inc., a publicly traded utility and renewable energy company, from 2020 until 2022. He joined Avangrid from Sempra Energy, a publicly traded utility and energy infrastructure company, where he served as executive vice president and group president, and chief sustainability officer. Throughout his career, Mr. Arriola has served in a broad range of leadership positions in gas and electric utilities as well as renewables, including as chairman, president and chief executive officer of Southern California Gas Co., senior vice president and chief financial officer of both San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas Co., vice president of communications and investor relations for Sempra, and regional vice president and general manager of Sempra’s South American operations. He was previously the executive vice president and chief financial officer of SunPower Corporation, a Silicon Valley-based solar technology company.
Mr. Arriola currently serves on the board of directors of ConocoPhillips, Meritage Homes, Commercial Metals Company and the Automobile Club of Southern California. He also serves on the board of directors of Hispanics In Energy, a national non-profit organization focused on increasing Hispanic engagement in the energy industry. He previously served on the boards of Avangrid, Inc., the California Latino Economic Institute, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the California Business Roundtable, the Edison Electric Institute, and the boards of several Sempra operating companies, including Infraestructura Energética Nova, a publicly traded company in Mexico, Luz del Sur SAA, a publicly traded company in Peru, and Chilquinta Energía in Chile.
Mr. Arriola received his A.B. in Economics from Stanford University and his MBA from Harvard University.
Jose F. Niño
Member, Board of Directors
Over the past thirty years Jose Niño has built a National and International business development company.
His company El Niño Group, LLC has a long and productive history growing and serving as the primary connection in establishing partnerships, opportunities for business development, certifications, and strategic planning for clients.
Recently he assisted Micro-Tech, based in Vienna, Virginia to obtain a $50 Billion IDIQ (Indefinite Demand Indefinite Quantity) Government wide contract along with nine other companies. The agreement is to do the re-infrastructure of the US Government’s Telecom and IT systems.
Mr. Niño has many years of experience in working with entrepreneurs, the federal government, corporations in the US, Latin America, the Hispanic and ethnic communities. He was a founding member, President/CEO of the US Hispanic Chambers of Commerce (USHCC). He expanded the Chamber from less than 30 Chambers to more than 258 representing the interest of more than 1.3 million US Hispanic owned businesses. By building the brand, institutionalizing, and endowing programs for perpetual growth, USHCC provided the climate to foster more businesses and more customers. Now a significant force within the US economy, the USHCC promotes the economic growth and development of Hispanic entrepreneurs nationwide.
Mr. Niño serves on the National Executive Committee for the Boy Scouts of America, Vol. Executive Director for One World Literacy Foundation, Board member of the US-Mexico Chamber of Commerce and Advisory Member for Hispanics in Energy. Between his duties he remains an avid hunter and outdoorsman.
He is a former Advisory Board Member for Small Business of the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank.
A University of Maryland graduate, Mr. Niño lives in Montgomery Village, Maryland, with his wife Theresa and their daughter Angela. They have two married daughters and four grandchildren.
Over the past thirty years Jose Niño has built a National and International business development company.
His company El Niño Group, LLC has a long and productive history growing and serving as the primary connection in establishing partnerships, opportunities for business development, certifications, and strategic planning for clients.
Recently he assisted Micro-Tech, based in Vienna, Virginia to obtain a $50 Billion IDIQ (Indefinite Demand Indefinite Quantity) Government wide contract along with nine other companies. The agreement is to do the re-infrastructure of the US Government’s Telecom and IT systems.
Mr. Niño has many years of experience in working with entrepreneurs, the federal government, corporations in the US, Latin America, the Hispanic and ethnic communities. He was a founding member, President/CEO of the US Hispanic Chambers of Commerce (USHCC). He expanded the Chamber from less than 30 Chambers to more than 258 representing the interest of more than 1.3 million US Hispanic owned businesses. By building the brand, institutionalizing, and endowing programs for perpetual growth, USHCC provided the climate to foster more businesses and more customers. Now a significant force within the US economy, the USHCC promotes the economic growth and development of Hispanic entrepreneurs nationwide.
Mr. Niño serves on the National Executive Committee for the Boy Scouts of America, Vol. Executive Director for One World Literacy Foundation, Board member of the US-Mexico Chamber of Commerce and Advisory Member for Hispanics in Energy. Between his duties he remains an avid hunter and outdoorsman.
He is a former Advisory Board Member for Small Business of the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank.
A University of Maryland graduate, Mr. Niño lives in Montgomery Village, Maryland, with his wife Theresa and their daughter Angela. They have two married daughters and four grandchildren.
Maria Pia Tamburri
Member, Board of Directors
Maria Pia Tamburri is vice president - Intergovernmental Affairs, Dominion Energy Services, Inc.
She is responsible for the strategic oversight and development of the company’s relationships with non-governmental and advocacy organizations across Dominion Energy’s footprint, and leading the company’s work with public policy partners. Tamburri joined Dominion Energy in 2019 as senior community engagement policy director, and became director-Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Employee Engagement in 2020. She was promoted to vice president–Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Employee Engagement in 2022 and assumed her current position in August 2023.
Prior to joining Dominion Energy, she led global public affairs and crisis management for Allegion, plc. in Carmel, Ind., and previously lived in Germany where she served as the chief of strategic outreach initiatives for U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Department of Defense. From 2001 to 2008, Tamburri held a variety of roles in the administration of President George W. Bush, where she worked as senior advisor for public diplomacy and public affairs at the Department of State’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs and director of specialty media and Hispanic spokesperson in the White House Office of Media Affairs. She also served in the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Earlier in her career, she worked in the U.S. House Judiciary Committee and House Government Reform Committee.
Tamburri serves on the board of directors for Hispanics in Energy, Virginia Ready, the New College Institute, and is a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Corporate and Philanthropic Council. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Florida International University in Miami, Florida and studied Latin American politics at the Universidad de Belgrano in her native city of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Maria Pia Tamburri is vice president - Intergovernmental Affairs, Dominion Energy Services, Inc.
She is responsible for the strategic oversight and development of the company’s relationships with non-governmental and advocacy organizations across Dominion Energy’s footprint, and leading the company’s work with public policy partners. Tamburri joined Dominion Energy in 2019 as senior community engagement policy director, and became director-Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Employee Engagement in 2020. She was promoted to vice president–Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Employee Engagement in 2022 and assumed her current position in August 2023.
Prior to joining Dominion Energy, she led global public affairs and crisis management for Allegion, plc. in Carmel, Ind., and previously lived in Germany where she served as the chief of strategic outreach initiatives for U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Department of Defense. From 2001 to 2008, Tamburri held a variety of roles in the administration of President George W. Bush, where she worked as senior advisor for public diplomacy and public affairs at the Department of State’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs and director of specialty media and Hispanic spokesperson in the White House Office of Media Affairs. She also served in the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Earlier in her career, she worked in the U.S. House Judiciary Committee and House Government Reform Committee.
Tamburri serves on the board of directors for Hispanics in Energy, Virginia Ready, the New College Institute, and is a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Corporate and Philanthropic Council. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Florida International University in Miami, Florida and studied Latin American politics at the Universidad de Belgrano in her native city of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Deanna Rodriguez
Member, Board of Directors
Deanna Rodriguez is the president and CEO of Entergy New Orleans, which provides electric and gas service to over 211,000 customers. Since assuming the role in 2021, she has overseen operations, financial performance, customer service, regulatory affairs, and charitable initiatives.
Rodriguez has held various leadership roles at Entergy, including vice president of regulatory and public affairs for Entergy Texas and regulatory affairs for Entergy New Orleans, where she helped launch the Energy Smart efficiency program. Earlier, she led the creation of the Entergy Charitable Foundation and Community Connectors volunteer program, and secured $200 million in recovery funding post-Hurricane Katrina.
Before joining Entergy in 1994, she was the minority affairs liaison for the State Bar of Texas, where she founded the Texas Minority Counsel Program.
She serves on several other non-profit boards, including the National WWII Museum and Children’s Hospital New Orleans. Rodriguez holds a master’s degree in public affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs and a bachelor’s in government from The University of Texas at Austin.
Entergy New Orleans is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation, a Fortune 500 company serving 3 million customers across four states with a focus on reliability, clean energy, and community impact.
Deanna Rodriguez is the president and CEO of Entergy New Orleans, which provides electric and gas service to over 211,000 customers. Since assuming the role in 2021, she has overseen operations, financial performance, customer service, regulatory affairs, and charitable initiatives.
Rodriguez has held various leadership roles at Entergy, including vice president of regulatory and public affairs for Entergy Texas and regulatory affairs for Entergy New Orleans, where she helped launch the Energy Smart efficiency program. Earlier, she led the creation of the Entergy Charitable Foundation and Community Connectors volunteer program, and secured $200 million in recovery funding post-Hurricane Katrina.
Before joining Entergy in 1994, she was the minority affairs liaison for the State Bar of Texas, where she founded the Texas Minority Counsel Program.
She serves on several other non-profit boards, including the National WWII Museum and Children’s Hospital New Orleans. Rodriguez holds a master’s degree in public affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs and a bachelor’s in government from The University of Texas at Austin.
Entergy New Orleans is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation, a Fortune 500 company serving 3 million customers across four states with a focus on reliability, clean energy, and community impact.
Francisco León
Member, Board of Directors
Mr. León is the President and Chief Executive Officer of California Resources Corporation and has served on its Board of Directors since April 2023. He previously served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of CRC from August 2020 to April 2023. Mr. León originally joined CRC in 2014 during the spin-off from Occidental Petroleum as Vice President of Portfolio Management and Strategic Planning. In 2018, Mr. León was named Vice President of Corporate Development where he oversaw all acquisition and divestiture activities for the company. Prior to joining CRC, Mr. León worked at Occidental Petroleum Corporation where he held various roles in Finance, Planning and U.S. and International Business Development areas. Mr. León started his career with Petrie Parkman & Co., Inc., an energy-focused boutique investment banking firm. Mr. León holds an M.B.A. from the University of Texas, Austin and a Bachelor of Arts in International Business from San Diego State University and CETYS Universidad in Mexico.
From 2019 to 2022, he served on the Board of the Union Rescue Mission of Los Angeles which is one of the largest privately run homeless shelters in the U.S. Since the Fall of 2022, Mr. León serves on the Board of the American Red Cross - LA Chapter and on the Advisory Board of the McCombs School of Business.
Mr. León is the President and Chief Executive Officer of California Resources Corporation and has served on its Board of Directors since April 2023. He previously served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of CRC from August 2020 to April 2023. Mr. León originally joined CRC in 2014 during the spin-off from Occidental Petroleum as Vice President of Portfolio Management and Strategic Planning. In 2018, Mr. León was named Vice President of Corporate Development where he oversaw all acquisition and divestiture activities for the company. Prior to joining CRC, Mr. León worked at Occidental Petroleum Corporation where he held various roles in Finance, Planning and U.S. and International Business Development areas. Mr. León started his career with Petrie Parkman & Co., Inc., an energy-focused boutique investment banking firm. Mr. León holds an M.B.A. from the University of Texas, Austin and a Bachelor of Arts in International Business from San Diego State University and CETYS Universidad in Mexico.
From 2019 to 2022, he served on the Board of the Union Rescue Mission of Los Angeles which is one of the largest privately run homeless shelters in the U.S. Since the Fall of 2022, Mr. León serves on the Board of the American Red Cross - LA Chapter and on the Advisory Board of the McCombs School of Business.
MARTíN MONTES
General Counsel
Martín Montes is an accomplished lawyer and business executive with three decades of experience helping clients navigate legal, regulatory, economic development and government relations strategies globally. He has managed cross-functional, multidisciplinary teams to achieve client success across a diverse and complex international, federal, state, and local legislative and regulatory landscape.
Martín leads the Chicago office Government Services and Finance team and is a member of the firm’s Federal Relations lobbying practice group. He is a trusted adviser to a range of industries, including energy, utility, retail, data centers, technology, manufacturing, higher education and healthcare. As advancements in emerging technologies — such as quantum computing and AI — intersect with regulatory and economic development policies, Martín helps clients navigate compliance requirements and strategic opportunities at the federal, state, and international levels.
Martín Montes is an accomplished lawyer and business executive with three decades of experience helping clients navigate legal, regulatory, economic development and government relations strategies globally. He has managed cross-functional, multidisciplinary teams to achieve client success across a diverse and complex international, federal, state, and local legislative and regulatory landscape.
Martín leads the Chicago office Government Services and Finance team and is a member of the firm’s Federal Relations lobbying practice group. He is a trusted adviser to a range of industries, including energy, utility, retail, data centers, technology, manufacturing, higher education and healthcare. As advancements in emerging technologies — such as quantum computing and AI — intersect with regulatory and economic development policies, Martín helps clients navigate compliance requirements and strategic opportunities at the federal, state, and international levels.
Zack Váldez, Ph.D.
Energy STEM Education Advisor
Zack is a leader in the future of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) in America by promoting the next generation of Hispanics in STEM through his experience in energy research, academic achievements and professional alliances. He is breaking ground by increasing access and awareness of educational and professional opportunities with the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.
Zack managed and led interdisciplinary energy research projects throughout his academic commitment from liquid-nitrogen powered vehicles during his bachelor’s degrees in Engineering and Physics, to sustainable agricultural biofuel development for his Ph.D. thesis at Baylor University. In 2010, he worked with Southwest Research Institute on thermodynamic properties of cracking heavy crudes and continued in Oil and Gas research through graduate school focusing on big data, neural networks, and petrochemical algorithms to understand rock mechanical properties and drilling anomalies in horizontal drilling programs.
Zack is a McNair Scholar, National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, Securing America’s Future Energy Fellow, and Congressional Science and Technology Policy Fellow, which led him to working directly in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in Washington D.C.
Zack is a leader in the future of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) in America by promoting the next generation of Hispanics in STEM through his experience in energy research, academic achievements and professional alliances. He is breaking ground by increasing access and awareness of educational and professional opportunities with the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.
Zack managed and led interdisciplinary energy research projects throughout his academic commitment from liquid-nitrogen powered vehicles during his bachelor’s degrees in Engineering and Physics, to sustainable agricultural biofuel development for his Ph.D. thesis at Baylor University. In 2010, he worked with Southwest Research Institute on thermodynamic properties of cracking heavy crudes and continued in Oil and Gas research through graduate school focusing on big data, neural networks, and petrochemical algorithms to understand rock mechanical properties and drilling anomalies in horizontal drilling programs.
Zack is a McNair Scholar, National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, Securing America’s Future Energy Fellow, and Congressional Science and Technology Policy Fellow, which led him to working directly in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in Washington D.C.