ABOUT US

Jeremy Hayward serves as the President of Redding Rancheria Economic Development Corp (RREDCO), where his astute leadership has been evident over the past 4 years, alongside his decade-long commitment to his Tribe. With a bachelor’s degree in business, Jeremy has chaired the investment committee and served as a dedicated board member for over ten years. Beyond his professional achievements, he is a devoted husband to Jennifer and a caring father of two. Jeremy's passion for sustainability is reflected in his focus on green energy projects, particularly in biomass to hydrogen and solar initiatives for the past 3 years. He has also contributed significantly to tribal governance, serving on the tribal council for 4 years and actively supporting non-profit organizations benefiting tribal communities without electricity. Jeremy's journey in tribal service began at the age of 14, and he is widely recognized for his strong leadership, forward-thinking objectives, and ability to unite people toward shaping a better future for the next seven generations.

Ken Ahmann is the COO of Colusa Indian Energy, the only Tribally owned microgrid and cogeneration power plant developer in the nation. Ken has worked in Indian Country for two decades as the creator and Director of the Tribal Utility Authority for the Colusa Indian Community. He is an evangelist for Tribal energy sovereignty who seeks to help empower Tribes from coast to coast to hold control of their own energy futures. Ken is Vice Chairman of the board of Tribal Energy Solutions, a non-profit whose mission is to electrify the 13,000+ families with no access to electricity across the Navajo Nation. Ken also serves on the Colusa Indian Community’s Economic Development Corporation Board and on the Developer Advisory Council for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Ken is a San Diego State University alum with degrees in Business Administration, Political Science, and Interdisciplinary Studies, and he holds numerous energy industry certifications. His extensive experience includes constructing, operating, and managing over 50 cogeneration microgrids across the country.

Eric was formerly the Supervising Northern Program Manager for Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s Electric Transmission Vegetation Management Program. During his 20 years with PG&E (8 as a contractor), he held roles of increasing responsibility in both Electric Transmission, and Distribution. Eric and colleagues were awarded (2) Richard A. Clarke Champion awards for Environmental Leadership; American River Pollinator Partnership Project (2014) and Electric Transmission Right-of-Way Stewardship Accreditation (2015). 2020 SMUD Power Done Right Award, Wildfire Mitigation Plan Team. Eric served as President of the Utility Arborist Association (UAA) in 2019/20;President Elect 2018/19, Vice President in 2017, and has been a Western Region Representative since 2015. Eric has been actively involved in the North American Transmission Forum (NATF) since 2009, leading and participating in Vegetation Management Peer Reviews across North America. Eric is currently on the NATF Vegetation Management Core Team, Reliability Action Response (RAT), and Co-Chairs the NATF Vegetation Management Practices Team. Under invite, Eric participated as a subject matter expert on the Wildlife Habitat Council’s Integrated Vegetation Management Project Guidance Team in 2015. Since 2017, he has served as Director for Eldorado County Fire Safe Council, where he contributes as a utility representative. Eric has a B.S. in Natural Resource Management with emphasis in Forestry and Range Management from University of Nevada-Reno (1998). He is a Certified Arborist through the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). Also recently Eric was invited to represent statewide California Publicly Owned Utilities on the newly established (2024) Wildfire Forecast & Threat Intelligence Integration Center Eric has over 28 years of experience working in the Vegetation Management industry, which includes areas of industrial forestry, range management, and utility forestry respectively.

Monica Paradise is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) in Pendleton, Oregon. Monica is employed by Aurora Sovereign Venture Advisors (SVA), LLC as a senior advisor. In her role at Aurora SVA, she provides grant writing administration and management and supports Tribes in their community engagement efforts. Before starting her role at Aurora SVA, she worked for CTUIR for seven years in various financial capacities allowing her to work with multiple CTUIR departments and external grant agencies. This experience has led her to develop an excellent knowledge base of grant management, compliance, and target budgets while adhering to federal, state, and tribal rules and regulations. She has a well-rounded educational background in business, accounting, and law. Monica holds a bachelor's degree in business administration-Accounting Concentration and a Master Legal Studies-Indigenous People’s Law. Monica actively serves on a number of committees in her community, these include: CTUIR science and technology committee, CTUIR Headstart Policy Council, CTUIR Nixyaawii Community Financial Services Board, Eastern Oregon Women’s Coalition Board of Directors, and in July of 2024 she was appointed by Oregon Governor Tina Kotek to the Greater Eastern Oregon Regional Solutions Advisory committee as a Tribal representative. Monica is detail-oriented, adheres to policy, and reaches benchmarks to achieve goals. She is passionate about her Tribal community and welcomes the opportunity to deliver economic growth and strengthen Tribal sovereignty and sufficiency.

Deenise Becenti, a member of the Navajo Nation, serves as the Government and Public Affairs Manager for the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA), the largest multi-utility owned and operated by an American Indian tribe. A graduate of the University of New Mexico with a B.F.A., Deenise began her career as a multimedia journalist, driven by a passion to share the stories of her people. With 25 years of dedicated service at NTUA, she has championed communication efforts to address and bring visibility to the utility needs of the Navajo Nation. Her work includes spearheading initiatives like Light Up Navajo, a humanitarian program that seeks to provide electricity to homes currently without access, underscoring her commitment to improving infrastructure for her community.

Professor Lawrence J. Kahn is a dynamic leader with extensive experience in founding and scaling businesses and transforming small enterprises into larger organizations. A self-described workaholic, he relentlessly pursues efficiency and innovation, always seeking new ways to drive progress without compromising health, safety, or the environment. An avid learner, he has focused much of his career on "trees and seas," reflecting his dedication to environmental and maritime issues. Larry is admitted to the bars of New York and New Jersey and holds Proctor Member status with The Maritime Law Association of the United States, where he has held leadership roles and frequently presented scholarly work. He has also contributed to the International Bar Association's Maritime and Transport Law Committee. As an Adjunct Professor at Tulane University Law School, Larry is at the forefront of exploring the laws and policies related to utility vegetation management, a field that intersects with energy and environmental law. Through the Utility Vegetation Management Institute, Tulane has become a leading center for research and advocacy in this area, promoting environmental protection, energy reliability, and worker safety. Larry and his law students are actively working on Indigenous issues related to energy infrastructure on tribal lands. Together, they address the unique regulatory and environmental challenges faced by Indigenous communities, focusing on approaches that respect tribal sovereignty, protect natural resources, and ensure reliable access to energy. In 2024, Larry was honored with the Education Award at the 25th annual Trees & Utilities Conference in Fort Worth, Texas, hosted by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Utility Arborist Association.