Margie Gardner is the Executive Director of the California Energy Efficiency Industry Council.
Ms. Gardner joined the Efficiency Council in 2012 after three decades developing energy efficiency and other clean energy alternatives in the Pacific Northwest and California. Before the Efficiency Council, she was CEO of the entrepreneurial nonprofit Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) working on renewable energy, climate change, and watershed restoration. Prior to BEF, she founded and led for over a decade the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA), an award-winning, multi-state organization that transforms markets for energy-efficiency. Before NEEA, she developed and promoted energy-efficiency initiatives in Washington, Oregon, Montana and Idaho at the Northwest Power Planning & Conservation Council. Ms. Gardner began her career at Natural Resources Defense Council in California.
Ms. Gardner has served on numerous boards including the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, the Northwest Energy Coalition, Renewables Northwest Project, and the Climate Trust.
Melanie Gillette is the Senior Policy Director of the California Energy Efficiency Industry Council.
Melanie Gillette was on the Board of the Efficiency Council in 2015-2016 and now joins the Council’s policy staff. Before joining the Efficiency Council, Melanie was the Director of Western Regulatory Affairs for EnerNOC and focused on energy efficiency, demand response and demand side resource integration issues in California and the Northwest. Prior to EnerNOC, Melanie was Director of Regulatory Affairs for Duke Energy North America.
Melanie began her career at Navigant Consulting and has over 20 years of experience in the California energy industry. She has actively participated in proceedings at the California Public Utilities Commission, California Energy Commission, California Independent System Operator and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission with a focus on advocating for market designs and regulatory processes that increase opportunities for both existing demand side resources and emerging technologies.
Kellie Smith is the Policy Director for the California Energy Efficiency Industry Council. Prior to serving in this capacity, Kellie worked in the California State Legislature for more than 20 years including service as Chief Consultant to the California State Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities, and Communications. In this capacity Kellie worked extensively on energy policy related to climate change including the Renewables Portfolio Standard, energy efficiency, and expanding programs for distributed generation technologies and also advised the State Senate on regulatory issues concerning oversight of the California Public Utilities Commission, California Energy Commission, and the California Independent System Operator. Prior to her role on the Senate Energy Committee, Kellie served as Principal Consultant to Senator Jack O’Connell where she worked on a broad array of legislation with a focus on environmental and educational issues and the state budget.
Kellie earned a B.A. in Political Science from the California State University, Chico and a Juris Doctorate degree from the McGeorge School of Law.
Kira Kimick is the Marketing and Member Services Manager of the California Energy Efficiency Industry Council.
Kira joined the Efficiency Council in 2015 and brings over a decade of marketing experience to the position. Her goal is to ensure Efficiency Council services are valuable to members. She has experience in conference and trade show management, social media, website management, and graphic design.
She began her career in marketing in 2003 and has worked in the data analysis, real estate and wine industries.
