![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.aeecenter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Unruh-Timothy.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nDr. Timothy D. Unruh<\/strong> is the Executive Director of the National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO). In this role, he manages the representation of its member Energy Service Companies. NAESCO provides advocacy for the industry at the Federal, State and Local levels, and provides for member company Accreditation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prior to this role, Dr. Unruh was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Renewable Power at the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Office of the US Department of Energy (DOE). Also while at the DOE EERE, Dr. Unruh Directed the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP). Dr. Unruh was formerly director of operations for ConEdison Solutions where he led a team of engineers and project managers to implement energy savings projects within government and private installations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Unruh has a doctorate, master\u2019s, and bachelor\u2019s degrees in electrical engineering from Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u0625\u0631\u064a\u0643 \u0623\u0648\u0644\u064a\u0641\u0631<\/strong>, a passionate energy conservationist, is the Founder of Earthwide, LLC, an Energy and Sustainability Master Planning Company in McLean, VA. Eric has over 35 years of energy conservation experience, starting his career with the federal government to help launch EPA\u2019s Energy Star Buildings Program. Mr. Oliver has conducted several dozen energy-training seminars, created energy awareness and education campaigns, and presented and moderated at numerous energy conferences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A licensed professional engineer in Virginia and Maryland, he served as President of the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) in 2023 and was a former President of the National Capitol Chapter. He has served on the Board of Directors of the National Capitol Region Chapter of the US Green Buildings Council (USGBC-NCR), and is a former Board Chairman of the Virginia Sustainable Building Network (VSBN). Mr. Oliver holds a Master\u2019s degree in Building Technology and a Bachelor of Architecture from MIT. In 2019, Mr. Oliver was inducted into the National Energy Managers Hall of Fame by the Association of Energy Engineers for a lifetime of achievement and leadership<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u0643\u0631\u064a\u0633\u062a\u064a \u0643\u0627\u0646\u0648\u0646<\/strong> has been a Certified Energy Manager for 15 years of the quarter century she\u2019s spent promoting energy efficiency, sustainability, and utility management. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with a Physics minor and was inducted into Tau Beta Pi at the University of Arkansas in 1997, where she studied civil engineering. Her career spans leadership roles in deregulated energy procurement, utility rate modeling, and energy program development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the early days of Texas electric deregulation, she represented more than 120 Texas cities in policy meetings at ERCOT and the PUCT to safeguard municipality interests. She later leveraged her expertise in retail market economics, rate schedule optimization, and building energy management to assemble a team of engineers and energy managers for an expressed purpose. Together, they designed and launched a comprehensive national energy management program from the ground up. Christy\u2019s cross-disciplinary approach\u2014grounded in technical skill, policy insight, and client education\u2014has earned her speaking invitations at major industry conferences for years and now recognition as an AEE Fellow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a Solutions Consultant at Yardi Energy, she leads sales and consulting efforts for advanced energy automation technologies, helping clients achieve goals in real-time data analytics, automated submetering solutions, whole building data, and demand management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Association of Energy Engineers and as Mentorship Program Chair for the Council on Women in Energy & Environmental Leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elizabeth Dutrow<\/strong> led the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s ENERGY STAR program for industry until June, where she spearheaded a voluntary partnership with manufacturers to enhance energy efficiency across their operations. Her strategic approach to engaging industry and securing executive-level support enabled more than 800 corporations to develop and sustain effective energy management programs. Under Ms. Dutrow\u2019s leadership, major industries became active participants in the ENERGY STAR initiative\u2014benchmarking their plants\u2019 energy performance on a national scale and identifying actionable opportunities for improvement. Now retired from the EPA, Ms. Dutrow is beginning a new chapter as an energy consultant. She holds a degree in chemistry and is a Certified Energy Manager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Donald Edwards,<\/strong> C.E.M., C.P.Q., C.E.A., C.D.S.M., EA, M.S.A., M.S.A.E.T., has been a long-term member and participates with the Association of Energy Engineers and the East Michigan Chapter of the Association of Energy Engineers (EMAEE), where he leads the Technology & Training Committee and is co-managing the group\u2019s transitioning to a new website solution. He holds four certifications from the AEE and an Energy Advocate (EA) Certification of Endorsement from SAIC. Donald was named Renewable Energy Innovator of the Year in 2009 (AEE) and Energy Manager of the Year in 2009 (EMAEE).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Donald recently retired as Principal Energy Manager from DTE Energy. In total, Donald has 45 years of combined work experience. He has implemented countless energy efficiency projects and supported clients with their decarbonization goals. Donald holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, a M.S. in Administration from Central Michigan University, and a M.S. in Alternative Energy Technology from Wayne State University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My journey with the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) commenced in 2000, when I completed the Certified Energy Manager (CEM) course and examination, recognizing its significance to my career objectives. By that time, I had already accumulated many years of experience in the electrical utility sector, leading in energy. For 24 years, the CEM certification was directly related to my duties and very highly valued by clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I have been an active member of the local Michigan East Chapter AEE for decades, attending and participating in meetings, as well as assisting with the planning and coordination of regular meetings. My involvement includes committee leadership responsibilities, participation in collaborative projects which have contributed to the development of my skills, and professional networking within the energy community. Excellence in energy leadership and knowledge sharing has always been a guiding principle in my career. I have actively contributed at the AEE level, multiple times, as a conference speaker and poster presenter at AEE conferences, sharing insights, and experiences with fellow peers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n AEE\u2019s Legends of Energy Gala\u2019s activities are impressive! One of my most memorable Legends of Energy Gala occurred at Ole Red during the 2024 AEE World Conference in Nashville, TN. During this event, I had the unique opportunity to join the band for an impromptu electric guitar performance. This experience was both exciting and rewarding, allowing me to connect with fellow energy professionals in a fun and informal setting. I am grateful for the chance to share my musical passion with the AEE community and appreciate the opportunity to be part of such a special event. Over the years, AEE has become the core of my professional family, offering me invaluable opportunities to gain experience, learn, and engage with fellow energy professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ali Hussain Al-Qahtani<\/strong> is a distinguished energy professional with over two decades of leadership in energy efficiency and sustainability. As Manager of the New Energies Engineering Division at Saudi Aramco, he has spearheaded transformative initiatives in low-carbon hydrogen production, carbon capture technologies, and renewable energy integration. Mr. Al-Qahtani holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toledo and a Master of Science in Energy Studies from the University of Melbourne. He is a Certified Energy Manager and a recognized thought leader, having authored numerous technical papers and contributed to international conferences and publications. His foundational role in establishing and leading Saudi Aramco\u2019s Corporate Energy Management Program has set industry benchmarks for operational excellence and environmental stewardship. His contributions have earned him multiple national and international honors, including prestigious awards from the Association of Energy Engineers and Saudi Aramco\u2019s Excellent Award. His career reflects dedication to advancing the global energy landscape through innovation, mentorship, and strategic vision. Lastly, He played major role in introducing AEE Chapter in Saudi Arabia as he served as President of AEE Saudi Chapter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kanchana Marasinghe<\/strong> is a recognized energy professional with over 20 years of experience in energy industry roles spanning government, industrial, dairy, and textile manufacturing sectors. He currently leads Innovation & Technology at the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) in New Zealand, where he has been instrumental in designing and delivering programmers that accelerate energy efficiency, decarbonization, and the uptake of innovative clean energy technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kanchana has held senior roles across multiple industries, including Fonterra and Hayleys Industrial Solutions, where he successfully delivered large-scale energy transition projects. His expertise lies in strategy development, innovation, introducing new clean technologies and implementation, program and project management, and stakeholder engagement to drive impactful change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An internationally recognized Certified Energy Manager (CEM, CMVP), Kanchana has contributed to the advancement of industrial decarbonization and renewable energy integration in New Zealand and abroad. He was inducted into the Legends of Energy by the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) in 2023 in recognition of his leadership and impact in the energy sector. He also represents New Zealand in IEA task groups such as High Temperature Heat Pumps and Biomass Combustion and serves on the Australia-New Zealand Standards committee for ISO 50001 energy management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Saqib Sajjad<\/strong> is a global visionary driving the energy transition, with over 25 years of transformative leadership in industrial energy efficiency, decarbonization, and sustainability. As Sustainability Manager at ADNOC Gas, one of the world\u2019s largest integrated gas companies, he leads a decarbonization portfolio worth more than USD 1 billion. Under his guidance, the company has realized over 10% improvement in energy efficiency and a 4% reduction in GHG emissions intensity, with gains continuing to grow, setting new standards for sustainable industrial performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A true innovator, Saqib has reshaped how sustainability is embedded into industrial capital projects. He pioneered an assured energy optimization framework that delivered USD 150 million in lifecycle OPEX savings at the CO\u2082 Recovery and Injection Project, one of the region\u2019s largest CCUS project, and introduced unit-level benchmarking methodologies identifying more than USD 10 million in energy savings. As a global advocate for renewable integration, he championed direct solar thermal integration into oil and gas thermal networks, presenting his work across four countries and redefining the potential of renewables in energy-intensive industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beyond technical excellence, Saqib has transformed workforce readiness through the Energy Efficiency Competency Framework, now evolved into a Net-Zero skills development program. With around 50 conference papers and international awards, including Energy Engineer of the Year Award (2016), National Excellence Award (2017), Best Paper Award, SOGAT (2019), and Energy Innovator of the Year International Award (2020), Saqib continues to inspire innovation, collaboration, and global progress toward a cleaner, resilient energy future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u202fAEE, founded in 1977, is a non-profit association of 17,000 members and 32,000 active certifications in over 133 countries, dedicated to energy savings. AEE has been a leader in energy management for 40+ years, offering accredited and internationally recognized\u202fcertification programs<\/a>,\u202fmembership<\/a>, and\u202ftraining<\/a>.\u202f <\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":4267,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","topic":[],"class_list":["post-43173","aee-news","type-aee-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aeecenter.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/aee-news\/43173","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aeecenter.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/aee-news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aeecenter.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/aee-news"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aeecenter.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43173"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aeecenter.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4267"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aeecenter.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43173"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aeecenter.org\/ar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic?post=43173"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Eric Oliver, PE, CEM, LEED AP<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.aeecenter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Eric-Oliver.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nChristy Cannon, CEM<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.aeecenter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Christy-Cannon--881x1024.jpg\"){kind=spacer}
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nElizabeth Dutrow, CEM<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.aeecenter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Screen-Shot-2025-09-09-at-14.45.19.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nDonald B. Edwards, CEM, CPQ, CEA, CDSM, EA, MSA, MSAET<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.aeecenter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Donald-Edwards-819x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nMy AEE Story:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Al Qahtani, CEM<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.aeecenter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Al-Qahtani-769x1024.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nKanchana Marasinghe, CEM, CMVP<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.aeecenter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Kanchana-Marasinghe-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nSaqib Sajjad<\/h2>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.aeecenter.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Saqib-Sajjad.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nAbout the Association of Energy Engineers:\u202f <\/h3>\n\n\n\n