Introducing the 2026 AEE Fellows

Congratulations to the 2026 Fellows who have made significant contributions in the fields of energy management, energy efficiency, sustainability, and alternative energy. Your dedication and impact are truly commendable!

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Alain Aoun is a multidisciplinary expert and entrepreneur with an exceptional academic background and over 20 years of experience in construction, energy, and digital transformation. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, a diploma in Blockchain and Cryptocurrency, several master’s degrees in Industrial Computing, Electrical Engineering, and Renewable Energies, and a Ph.D. in Engineering.

A visionary and innovator, Alain is the founder and director of several companies, including two startups focused on integrating emerging technologies in construction, energy, hydrogen, and digital fields while addressing sustainability and efficiency challenges. He has led large-scale projects across the Middle East, Europe, North America, and Africa, and currently serves as Chief Technology and Innovation Officer (CTIO) of META WATT, a company at the forefront of advanced technology integration in the energy and industrial sectors. He is also a partner at ENEO CT, an official AEE Training Partner, and an affiliated researcher at CNIMI–UQTR, a leading centre for smart industrial solutions.

Alain combines technical expertise with sharp business acumen, and his ability to anticipate trends and lead high-impact projects has made him an influential figure in his field. He is an active member of several international boards and committees, including AEE and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), contributing to global energy and sustainability policy. He holds 11 AEE certificates and is a certified AEE trainer, sharing his knowledge with professionals and companies aiming to enhance their energy performance.

Passionate about personal development and knowledge sharing, Alain is a speaker, public orator, and career coach guiding young professionals toward fulfilling careers. A prolific writer, he has authored several books and scientific publications on topics such as smart grids, blockchain, and digital transformation, and continues to mentor and inspire the next generation of professionals.

Bethany Giordano

Bethany Giordano has been a Certified Energy Manager for 20 years and a Certified Energy Auditor for 14 years. However, her passion for promoting energy efficiency and environmental sustainability began with her first Toyota co-op in 1999. Bethany holds an M.S. in Chemical Engineering and an MBA from the University of Louisville (UofL) Speed Engineering School and UofL Business School, respectively. Her career spans 24 years of energy management, water stewardship, and environmental leadership.

She began her career with Toyota Motor Manufacturing KY (TMMK) in 2002 and spent the first two decades working as a water and energy specialist on the energy management team and as an environmental leader on many projects and activities. In 2020, Bethany transferred to Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) Joining the Facilities Standards and Specifications Team. Here she focused on renewal of facility equipment and standards enhancements. Bethany was promoted to project management in 2023 when she became a part of the Regulatory Affairs and Environmental Sustainability Group. As a Carbon Neutrality Consultant at Toyota Motor North America, Inc. (TMNA), she focuses on Carbon Neutrality for all TMNA Sites by 2035 along with other Environmental Sustainability Initiatives.

Bethany is passionate about local volunteering, professional mentoring, living nature positive, respect for people, and encouraging youth to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). She currently serves on the Board of the Council for Women in Energy and Environmental Leadership (CWEEL) and is the Sponsorships and Fundraising Committee Chair. Bethany has her AEE CEM (2006) and her CEA (2012) as well as the Energy Advocate Certificate. She is a Lifetime AEE member and a Legend in Energy having received both the Region 3 (2011) and International (2012) Young Professional Energy Engineer of the Year Award. Bethany’s diligent pursuit of energy awareness, environmental respect, and AEE networking has earned her recognition as an AEE Fellow.

John Barton

Bethany Giordano has been a Certified Energy Manager for 20 years and a Certified Energy Auditor for 14 years. However, her passion for promoting energy efficiency and environmental sustainability began with her first Toyota co-op in 1999. Bethany holds an M.S. in Chemical Engineering and an MBA from the University of Louisville (UofL) Speed Engineering School and UofL Business School, respectively. Her career spans 24 years of energy management, water stewardship, and environmental leadership.

She began her career with Toyota Motor Manufacturing KY (TMMK) in 2002 and spent the first two decades working as a water and energy specialist on the energy management team and as an environmental leader on many projects and activities. In 2020, Bethany transferred to Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) Joining the Facilities Standards and Specifications Team. Here she focused on renewal of facility equipment and standards enhancements. Bethany was promoted to project management in 2023 when she became a part of the Regulatory Affairs and Environmental Sustainability Group. As a Carbon Neutrality Consultant at Toyota Motor North America, Inc. (TMNA), she focuses on Carbon Neutrality for all TMNA Sites by 2035 along with other Environmental Sustainability Initiatives.

Bethany is passionate about local volunteering, professional mentoring, living nature positive, respect for people, and encouraging youth to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). She currently serves on the Board of the Council for Women in Energy and Environmental Leadership (CWEEL) and is the Sponsorships and Fundraising Committee Chair. Bethany has her AEE CEM (2006) and her CEA (2012) as well as the Energy Advocate Certificate. She is a Lifetime AEE member and a Legend in Energy having received both the Region 3 (2011) and International (2012) Young Professional Energy Engineer of the Year Award. Bethany’s diligent pursuit of energy awareness, environmental respect, and AEE networking has earned her recognition as an AEE Fellow.

Robert Berninger

Robert (Bob) Berninger is the Director of Plant Operations, Energy and Engineering at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). In his 20 years with MSKCC, Bob has held various positions, progressing from Energy Manager — overseeing and implementing energy conservation projects — to Plant Operations Manager, and currently Director of Plant Operations, Energy & Engineering, managing the day-to-day operations of the HVAC systems and staff, overseeing energy management systems and energy budgets, and exploring and implementing energy conservation measures. Prior to this position, he was Assistant Manager of the Physical Plant at Columbia University.

He holds a B.E. in Marine Engineering from SUNY Maritime College. Robert is a Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Certified Energy Auditor (CEA), and a Certified Sustainable Development Professional (CSDP). He also holds a United States Coast Guard Chief Engineer’s Steam and First-Class Engineer Motor License. He is a member of the Association of Energy Engineers and a past President of the New York City Chapter of AEE. Bob was named International Energy Manager of the Year in 2016 by the Association of Energy Engineers, and was also named a Trailblazer in Clean Energy by City & State New York in 2024.

Dr. Roland R. Clarke, PhD, SMIEEE

Dr. Roland R. Clarke is a distinguished energy professional, engineer, and policy expert with over four decades of experience in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and utility regulation. He currently serves as Managing Director of Clarke Energy Associates and CEO of Clarke Energy Inc., roles he has held since 2008, and is also a Technical Project Manager for an Electric Vehicle Battery Reuse project in Barbados.

Throughout his career, Dr. Clarke has helped shape energy policy and infrastructure across the Caribbean and the Americas. As a Renewable Energy Financing Expert for the World Bank embedded with the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), his work catalyzed the launch of the Resilient Renewable Energy Infrastructure Investment Facility (RREIIF), mobilizing substantial private-sector financing for regional grid modernization, battery energy storage, and renewable integration. Previously, at the CARICOM Secretariat, he served as Project Manager for the Caribbean Renewable Energy Development Programme (CREDP) and coordinated the CARICOM Task Force on Regional Energy Policy, which led to the creation of the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE).

His advisory work has directly influenced national utility transformation, including the strategic planning behind consolidating three state-owned oil and gas enterprises into the Barbados National Energy Company (BNEC) in support of the country’s 100 percent renewable energy policy, and the modernization of Barbados’ power sector through the Electric Light and Power Act (ELPA) 2015. He also authored the 2017 Draft National Energy Policy of Guyana.

A Certified RETScreen Expert (CRE) and trainer, Dr. Clarke specializes in techno-economic, financial, and greenhouse gas reduction modeling for clean energy projects. He authored two books on Green Building Procurement for Public Managers, commissioned by the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) and published by the UN Environment Programme, and regularly publishes on AI in the energy sector, climate negotiations, and utility resource planning.

Dr. Clarke holds a Ph.D. in Energy Management and Policy from the University of Pennsylvania, an M.Sc. in Alternative Energy for Developing Countries from the University of Reading, and a B.Sc. in Natural Sciences from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill. AEE named him Energy Engineer of the Year for Latin America and the Caribbean in 2019 and inducted him as an AEE Legend in Energy in 2023; he is also a Senior Member of the IEEE and mentors young engineering professionals globally.

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Sharon Nolen has an extensive background in energy efficiency and sustainability in the chemicals industry, collaborating with government, academia, and industry to move energy goals forward. Sharon recently retired from Eastman after 36 years as an Eastman Fellow and program manager for Global Natural Resource Management. Throughout her tenure at Eastman, Sharon played a pivotal role in driving energy efficiency and sustainability improvements, earning Eastman many awards, including the ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year award for eight consecutive years, ACC Exceptional Merit Energy Efficiency Awards, the Department of Energy Better Projects and Practice Awards. In 2024, Sharon was named by the US Department of Energy Secretary to serve as Chair of the newly established Industrial Technology Innovation Advisory Committee. She also served on the inaugural Industrial Advisory Board for the cross-sectoral National Alliance for Water Innovation.

Sharon has authored numerous publications and shared her expertise through many conference presentations. She was named the 2019 International Energy Manager of the Year by the Association of Energy Engineers and received the American Institute of Chemical Engineers’ Energy and Sustainability Award in 2020. Sharon is a Professional Engineer and a Certified Energy Manager. A dedicated advocate for energy efficiency and sustainability, Sharon continues her commitment to driving meaningful change through creative solutions and responsible practices.