Staff
WIEB Office; 720-897-4600
1600 Broadway, Suite 1020,
Denver, Colorado 80202
Gia Anguiano
Gia serves as the Program Associate – Markets and Resource Adequacy at WIEB. Gia provides staff support and expertise to the Committee of State Representatives (COSR) for the Western Power Pool’s Western Resource Adequacy Program (WRAP) as well the Markets+ State Committee (MSC). She is also responsible for assisting the Western Interconnection Regional Advisory Body (WIRAB) and other WIEB Committees and for providing technical and policy analysis regarding existing and potential resource adequacy in the West. Prior to joining the team at WIEB, Gia served as a Policy and Legislative Analyst for an emergency management and crisis consulting firm on COVID-19 recovery in communities across the U.S. and as a Policy Analyst for the Public Affairs team at Salt River Project. Gia holds a M.A. in Policy Studies from the University of Washington, a B.S. in Economics from Arizona State University, and a B.A. in Political Science from Arizona State University.
Robin Arnold
Robin serves as the Director of State, Federal, and International Affairs at WIEB providing support for the WIEB Board of Directors and the Committee on Regional Electric Power Cooperation (CREPC). She is also responsible for coordination with partners and stakeholders, including the US Department of Energy and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Prior to joining the team at WIEB, Robin worked as the Markets & Transmission Director at Renewable Northwest and served the State of Montana for seven years as a policy and regulatory analyst at the Public Service Commission. Robin holds an MScEcon in Political Science from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth and a B.A. in International Affairs from Sweet Briar College.
Eric Baran
Eric Baran serves as the Senior Program Manager – Electric System Reliability at WIEB. He supports the Western Interconnection Regional Advisory Body (WIRAB) by providing analysis and guidance on policies related to governance, operational performance, situational awareness, and essential reliability services in the Western Interconnection. He also offers technical expertise across WIEB’s program areas. Previously, Eric worked in Power Supply and Engineering at Allegheny Electric Cooperative, Inc. in Pennsylvania. He holds a B.S. and M.E. in Mechanical and Energy Systems Engineering from Lehigh University and an M.P.A. in Environmental Policy, Management, and Law from the University of Colorado – Denver.
Aaron Beard
Aaron serves as the Policy Analyst – Energy and Nuclear Programs at WIEB. Aaron provides staff and project support for both the nuclear and electricity programs of the WIEB, ensuring smooth operations within these programs. This largely entails project administration as well as research and policy analysis related to the respective projects. Aaron holds an MSc in International Development Studies from the University of Amsterdam, and a B.A. in History and International Relations from Erasmus University Rotterdam and the National University of Singapore.
Lisa Brohaugh
[email protected]; 720-897-4600 ext. 200
Lisa serves as Director of Finance and Administration for WIEB. She provides advice on budgetary and financial matters to the Executive Director, WIEB Board, and the Western Interconnection Regional Advisory Body (WIRAB). This includes preparing annual budgets and audit reports for both WIEB and WIRAB. In addition to maintaining financial and accounting databases, she also manages the Human Resources Department of WIEB. Prior to joining the WIEB team, she had an extensive accounting and finance background in the Telecom Industry as Controller for a Verizon Wireless Premium Retailer in California. Lisa holds an A.A. in Economics and B.S. in Business Administration/Accounting from the California State University Northridge and the University of Phoenix.
Additionally, Lisa serves as WIEB’s designated point of contact for all matter related to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), including compliance with Federal civil rights laws and the handling of non-discrimination related matters within the Western Interstate Energy Board.
Sarah Hegge
Sarah serves as the Office Manager for WIEB by providing general office and administrative operations support. She has a strong strategic mindset for promoting efficiencies and streamlined workflows to help provide assistance for the office. Sarah has previous experience in the Food & Beverage Industry where she obtained double A.S. in Science for Culinary Arts and Baking & Pastry Arts at Johnson & Wales University in Denver, Colorado. Focusing on future goals of entrepreneurship, Sarah has continually focused on growth and business development to provide operational success leading her to continue education at University of Colorado Denver with an Executive Masters in Business Administration.
Bonnie Lamond
Bonnie Lamond serves as the Program Manager of Wholesale Electricity Markets at WIEB. Bonnie manages and provides support to the Western Energy Markets Body of State Regulators on policy matters relating to wholesale electricity development in the West. Bonnie has over fifteen years of experience in energy policy and regulation. Prior to joining the team at WIEB, Bonnie worked in the long duration energy storage industry, advancing state and wholesale electricity market reform across the United States. Bonnie also has experience in the regulated utility industry as well as in upstream oil and gas exploration and production.
Marissa Moers
Marissa serves as the Reliability Analyst at the Western Interstate Energy Board (WIEB). She provides staff support to the Western Interconnection Regional Advisory Board (WIRAB) and is responsible for providing technical analysis and guidance on issues impacting grid reliability in the Western Interconnection. Marissa has over 7 years of experience working on grid reliability challenges for federal and state government agencies. Prior to joining the team at WIEB, Marissa worked as an analyst at the U.S. Department of Energy, Grid Deployment Office. Marissa holds a B.A. in Natural Resource Economics and Minors in Political Science and Sustainability from Boise State University.
Laura Rennick
Laura is the Executive Director at WIEB. Laura was previously WIEB’s Director of State, Federal, and International Affairs supporting the WIEB Board of Directors, CREPC, and coordination with partners and stakeholders including US DOE and FERC. Prior to joining WIEB, Laura served the State of Montana for 17 years, including as the Bureau Chief of the Montana Energy Office and the Deputy Administrator for the Water Resources Division. Laura holds a Masters in Science and Engineering Management from Montana State University, B.A. in French and Environmental Studies from Carroll College, and an A.S. in Business from the University of Montana.
Additionally, Laura also serves as a point of contact for WIEB’s EEOC procedures in addition to the primary point of contact, Lisa Brohaugh, Director of Finance and Administration.
Melanie Snyder
Melanie serves as the Nuclear Energy Policy Senior Program Manager for WIEB’s high-level radioactive waste program and Committee, which includes state representatives from up to twelve Western states. Together with the Committee, Melanie engages with the U.S. Department of Energy, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and other state regional and tribal groups on the transportation component of the nation’s program for disposition of commercial spent nuclear fuel and high-level defense waste. Melanie holds a JD from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, and a B.S. in chemistry, also from the University of Denver.
Anna Strange
Anna serves as WIEB’s Events and Communications Manager. She is a seasoned event designer and project producer with over 15 years of experience working with various nonprofit organizations, corporations, and government agencies. Her portfolio spans virtual and in-person conferences, festivals, magazine publications, brand launches, content strategy and creative direction, and advertising campaigns. Anna is a connector of people and ideas. She holds a B.S. in Recreation Management from Brigham Young University Marriott School of Business.
Christopher Zawora
Chris serves as a Wholesale Electricity Market Analyst at the Western Interstate Energy Board (WIEB). He provides staff support to the Western Energy Imbalance Market Body of State Regulators. He is also responsible for providing technical analysis of economic performance and reliability of wholesale electricity markets in the Western U.S. Prior to joining the team at WIEB, Chris worked as a data scientist at the New York City Council performing data analyses to inform legislation. Chris holds an MA in economics from CUNY – John Jay College and a BS in computer science from Georgetown University.