Session 3: Voice of the Workforce Past, Present, and Future

Sam Fortino, Mechanical Services Supervisor for Michigan State University. My team handles the distribution of our steam, water, sanitary and storm systems, we have 15 miles of steam tunnels and our responsability begins once the steam leave our power plant. We run 90lbs steam across campus and then knockdown to 10-12lbs at the buildings. I have worked for MSU for 12 years, this is my 4th conference

My name is David Hermes, the Utilities Distribution Manager at the University of Virginia. With over two decades of combined mechanical, project management, and trades experience, I oversee and maintain daily continuity of operations for the thermal distributions systems serving research facilities, medical center, and the academic footprint. I also manage a robust preventative maintenance program for all our distribution assets.

Vincenzo Lupo is a Mechanical Engineering Technician with the Architect of the Capitol, Capitol Power Plant. Mr. Lupo has over 26 years’ experience as a steamfitter, tunnel inspector and stationary engineer and has worked in the Capitol Power Plant utility distribution system for the past 15 years. He started his work with the AOC as a government contractor and is now an AOC employee and is responsible to oversee tunnel system operations and maintenance. Mr. Lupo hold licenses and certifications in HVAC, plumbing and backflow prevention and is a licensed DC 3rd Class Stationary Engineer. He also holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in Mass Communication from Towson University.

John Giamarino, Chief Engineer, Central Operations, Steam & Gas Engineering at Con Edison.
John joined Con Edison in 1990 as a management intern. He has held positions of increasing responsibility such as maintenance supervisor, Power Generation Maintenance – Field Operations; engineer, Fossil Power Engineering, East River Station, and Steam Engineering; and senior engineer, Steam Engineering and Project Engineering. He was also project specialist, project manager, maintenance manager, and operations manager at East River Station.
John is an experienced, customer-centric leader who knows how to create positive relationships and a culture focused on operational excellence.
John earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo and Master of Business Administration in finance from Fordham University. He is a graduate of Business Academy XVIII.

Cameron Ratliff is the Associate Director of Utilities at the University of Virginia where Cameron leads a team of 27 employees who operate and maintain over 220+ miles of piping which includes steam, condensate, MTHW, LTHW, chilled water, domestic water, reclaim water, sanitary sewer and storm water and seven miles of tunnels.
Prior to UVA Cameron spent 20+ years in the construction industry as a project superintendent completing numerous projects across the country. This experience and has enabled the UVA Utilities team to self-perform over $5 million annually of utility distribution and mechanical project work.
Cameron strives for continuous improvement of the team, the infrastructure and ensures the safe and sustainable operation of the Energy and Utility systems at UVA.

A seasoned engineering professional with extensive experience in the district energy and electric generation industry over the past 25 years, Don Silvia serves as Regional Vice President of Northeast Operations at Vicinity Energy. With a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) from Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Don is a Certified Energy Manager (CEM) and a Certified Building Commissioning Professional (CBCP) through the Association of Energy Engineers. Additionally, he holds a First Class Stationary Engineer license from the State of Maine.
As Regional Vice President of Northeast Operations, Don manages Vicinity's district energy operations in both Cambridge and Boston, including the implementation of Vicinities electrification efforts in Boston and Cambridge.

Megan is a recent MIT Sloan School of Management graduate who is exploring how educational systems, industry, governments, and communities-at-large can work together on energy challenges – and engage youth while doing so. During her time at MIT, she competed in Department of Energy competitions with geothermal solutions, worked with the MIT Office of Sustainability on student engagement, MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative on climate education (including a k-12 geothermal systems curriculum), and MIT D-Lab on supporting student projects for a TENs college introductory course modeled after the Certified GeoExchange Designer Course. She has contributed to a student-alumni proposal to decarbonize MIT’s campus by 2035 through thermal energy networks. Megan recently started working with The GreyEdge Group — a consulting firm that specializes in district scale heat pump systems and includes many experts who have shaped the geothermal and TENs industry. Megan currently sits on the Cambridge Climate Committee, and is co-leading an initiative to build a community of students across the greater Boston area to contribute to campus and city climate goals. She is also interested in workforce development, specifically through creating more real-world opportunities for students.

As Campus Energy Manager at the University of New Hampshire, Matt serves as the lead advocate for energy conservation, decarbonization, and strategic energy management across the Durham campus. He holds credentials as a Certified Energy Manager (CEM) and LEED Accredited Professional (BD+C), with a focus on integrating sustainability into capital planning and operations.

Matt graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 2017 with dual a B.S. degree in Environmental & Resource Economics and Sustainability. He is currently pursuing an MBA with a focus in Analytics at UNH.

With a background spanning energy analysis, project management, utility incentive strategy, stakeholder engagement, and building system optimization, Matt brings a practical, data-driven approach to campus-wide energy initiatives. As a Co-Chair for IDEA’s Young Professionals Group (YPG), he is passionate about empowering the next generation of energy leaders through collaboration, mentorship, and innovation.

My name is Bohdan Fostakovskyy and I have been working at Ramboll for just under 3 years as a mechanical engineer as part of their District Energy group ever since graduating from Hofstra University in 2023. I am currently an Engineer in Training, and I previously interned for a few other construction management and engineering design firms throughout college. I am eager to continue developing my career as I gain more technical experience in the district energy industry.

Scarlet Seymour is a Mechanical Engineering Associate with the University of Virginia’s Energy and Engineering group. She has six years of experience working across higher‑education facilities and utility systems. CampusEnergy2026 will be her first IDEA event, and she looks forward to connecting with peers in the district energy community.

John Streiff is an Outside Representative for Kerotest Manufacturing, located in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. John lives just outside of Pittsburgh with his wife, Jamie, and their three children. John's role at Kerotest is to undertand the role of Isolation Valves in DE and bridge the gap between the Natural Gas and Energy Sector requirements. Kerotest specializes is Nuclear Valves, Isolation Valves, Balancing Valves and many other products required for DHC and Data Centers.

Jennifer Meisenhelder is the Associate Director of Construction at the University of Florida. She began her career in consulting where she focused on design and construction of large and complex municipal utility projects. At the University of Florida, Jennifer directed large infrastructure projects, utility planning and the operational aspects of steam and chilled water distribution, before moving to large capital construction. Jennifer has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Resource Management from the Pennsylvania State University, a Master of Science degree in Environmental Engineering from the Technical University of Denmark, a MBA from the University of Florida and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Florida.

Frank A. Cuomo is the Director of Commodity Operations at Con Edison, where he oversees a substantial annual portfolio of approximately $500 million. He began his engineering career in the consulting industry before joining Con Edison in 2011. Over the years, he has held various positions within Con Edison Steam Operations, including project manager and general manager. Frank is a NYS Licensed Professional Engineer, a graduate of Manhattan College School of Engineering, and holds an MBA from the Baruch Zicklin School of Business. He has also served as an adjunct professor at NYU Shack Institute of Real Estate.

Frank's expertise lies in customer energy use and system design. He has collaborated with numerous customers, stakeholders, and industry partners to explore paths towards a Clean Energy Future. Notably, he led the Future of Renewable Steam Team (FIRST), a company initiative focused on decarbonization efforts.

As a subject matter expert in Steam Operations and customer building systems, Frank is known for his ability to cultivate positive relationships with stakeholders and communicate complex business topics effectively. He has also served as Incident Commander during large-scale emergency events.

In his current role, Frank ensures the seamless procurement and scheduling of energy commodities, maintaining 24/7 operations to meet customer energy demands. His strategies in gas planning and regulatory proceedings reflect his competencies in networking, customer energy systems, and overall energy distribution, essential for steering the company towards a sustainable future