Session 4: Energy Horizons: From Fuels to Forward Vision

Rick has been with RMF for over 30 years and held several engineering and business leadership positions during his tenure. He is currently serving the role of president and is responsible for the executive management and technical leadership of the firm. As a practicing registered engineer, Rick continues to take a hands-on role with major RMF projects. He enjoys being in the field to maintain connectivity to the projects and individuals the company serves. Rick has a passion for District Energy System design, construction and operation. He continues to actively participate in the condition assessment and inspection of steam generating equipment and systems. Rick’s passion for engineering and district energy systems has afforded him the opportunity to lead and contribute to many of RMF’s most complex projects. He is well known for his exceptional client service and advocacy of innovation, sustainability, and quality initiatives. Rick’s active engagement with clients brings their best interest and the latest technologies to the forefront of all projects. Rick holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland College Park and a Master of Engineering degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is a Graduate of General Electric's (currently Ge Vernova) Edison Engineering Program. He also holds two patents for Dry Low NOx combustion technology.

Andrew Harkness is the Director of Operations at Lifecycle Renewables, Inc. headquartered near Boston, where he oversees multiple biofuel processing plants, leading all fuel production activities and capital projects. With over 20 years of experience in all operational areas of the biodiesel/biofuel business, he specializes in plant design and build, value engineering, process improvement, and capital project management. Prior to his current role, Andrew founded and led a biodiesel business which he later sold to Smartfuel America where he continued to lead operations, and earned his MBA from Endicott College.

Christina Joyce is the founder and CEO of Eurotech Ventures, a New York-based zero-carbon project developer. Eurotech licenses European nuclear SMR, methane pyrolysis (turquoise hydrogen) and thermal energy storage technology and deploys projects across North American district energy, utility, industrial manufacturing and campus energy to deliver reliable, zero-carbon heat, steam and power. Eurotech is an authorized NYSERDA Heat Recovery Contractor and Manufacturer Growth Initiative grant recipient and a Clean Fight NY Energy Storage Deployment Accelerator cohort member. We lead business development, customer contracting, feasibility studies, EPC contracting & management, OEM procurement, project financing, project management, federal and state grants and tax incentives, and customs and logistics for some the world’s most admired companies. Ms. Joyce has a 30 year track record of developing and accelerating clean energy, healthcare, technology and media businesses with exits totaling $300 million and sales exceeding $1 billion ARR, leading complex projects and businesses to success across multiple industries.

Rohan Sinha is Director of Energy Commodities and Contracts at Vicinity Energy, where he oversees fuel procurement, hedging strategy, and renewable energy portfolios across multiple district energy systems in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. His work focuses on navigating volatile energy markets, managing commodity price risk, and integrating low-carbon solutions including electric boilers, renewable energy credits, and emerging clean-fuel technologies into large-scale thermal networks. Rohan brings experience across natural gas markets, power procurement, environmental products, and structured energy transactions, with a practical focus on aligning commercial strategy with operational reliability and decarbonization goals. He frequently collaborates with plant operations, finance, and regulatory stakeholders to translate complex market dynamics into actionable energy strategies. He holds a degree from Southern Methodist University and is based in the Greater Boston area.

Saul Kinter is the Senior Adviser for Energy Management at DC Water. He holds a BSE degree from Princeton University, where his thesis described a new model for distributing surface water according to the Texas water rights system, and has published or spoken on a wide-ranging set of topics, including climate variability, ocean-atmosphere gas transfer, the value of water conservation, and wastewater thermal energy. At DC Water, he developed the Bloom biosolids marketing program, and is currently responsible for developing energy projects and purchasing energy.

Mary is the Associate Vice-President, Facilities Management at Brock University, a higher education institution in Ontario, Canada. In this role, Mary provides leadership to a team of nearly 150 people who maintain and operate over $1.6B in assets. Mary has helped embed sustainability across the whole portfolio, which includes: Capital projects, project management, utilities, maintenance, vehicles and compliance.
For over 15 years, Mary has worked in the university sector, holding roles of Director, Asset Management & Utilities and Director, Sustainability & Asset Management, Energy & Carbon Manager and Environmental Project Coordinator. Via these roles, Mary has developed and advanced environmental, sustainability and utilities’ goals. She has been an active participant in the fight against climate change, implementing numerous energy efficiency and carbon management projects that have saved over 10 million dollars while reducing organizations’ carbon footprints.
Mary’s professional experience includes several years working on research and development, specializing on image processing and automation to assist medical personnel in the early detection of cancer. She also has experience in the consulting field, where she worked with small and medium enterprises in developing competitiveness strategies based on technology management and innovation.
Mary also believes in the power of collaboration; for over a decade she has been involved with OAPPA (Ontario Association of Physical Plant Administrators), a professional group of leaders in the facilities management sector. She has been particularly involved with the Energy sub-committee, of which she became the chair in 2024.
In terms of education, Mary holds a bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering and a Masters degree (Technology management) from the Tecnologico de Monterrey. In addition, she holds a Masters of Environment and Sustainability from Western University and is both a Certified Energy Manager and a Certified Measurement & Verification Professional by the Association of Energy Engineers.

David Woodson is the Executive Director of Campus, Energy, Utilities, and Operations at the University of Washington where he is leading the effort to decarbonize the district heating system at the flagship Seattle campus. David previously had as similar role at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and now is enjoying the opportunity to apply the lessons learned from UBC at UW. David is a UW Alum (Aero and Astro ‘91) and has his MBA ‘06 from UBC. David is presently the Vice-Chair of the International District Energy Association (IDEA).

Joanna Yager is an accomplished leader in the energy industry with 18 years of technical experience. She began her journey at Con Edison as a mechanical controls engineer developing projects at the company’s steam and electric generating facilities. As a Senior System Operator responsible for operating the bulk transmission system, she thrived in dynamic environments and adapted well to new challenges. Her role as Section Manager in Gas Operations strengthened her decision-making skills by relying on data to navigate complex situations effectively. As a Project Manager in Transmission Project Development, she utilized her action-oriented leadership strength to drive results and ensure strong credibility with external stakeholders. Mentorship has become an integral component of her professional development, and she champions formal and informal employee development programs to foster a culture of continuous learning and professional growth. Joanna believes that empowering others is necessary for organizational growth and invests time in coaching, skill-building, and advancing a positive work environment. Outside of work, Joanna enjoys reading books, doing jigsaw puzzles, and spending time with her husband, son, and daughter at their home in Westchester County, NY.

Christopher Potter is the Executive Director of Utilities and Power Plant Operations at the Architect of the Capitol in Washington, D.C. and is responsible for the management of the district energy system serving the buildings on and around Capitol Hill. Chris has been with the AOC since 2005. Prior to that, he worked at the General Services Administration district energy system also in Washington DC. Chris has a Master's degree in Public Administration from American University, a Master’s degree in Engineering Management from Catholic University, and a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland.