Association of Energy Engineers Announces 2027 Slate of Incoming Officers 

The Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) is proud to announce its 2027 Slate of Incoming Officers, a group of accomplished leaders whose experience spans energy management, sustainability, building performance, and engineering innovation around the world. The incoming officers will be formally inducted during AEE’s Annual Chapter Leadership Meeting on Tuesday, September 15, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL, USA. Members unable to attend in person are welcome to join the induction ceremony virtually. 

Below is an introduction to the incoming leadership team. 

Incoming Board of Directors 

President: Ziad Haddad, CEM, CEA, CBCP, CWEP, CAP, PCF, 50001CP 

Ziad is highly energetic and intelligent. His extensive experience and leadership within the energy and sustainability sectors make him a compelling candidate for the role of President of the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE).​ With over 25 years in the energy industry, Ziad has demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing sustainable practices. He co-founded OPUS Energy, a sustainable engineering and energy services company, and currently serves as the Senior Director of Physical Plant at the Lebanese American University, where he oversees design, commissioning, operations, maintenance and environmental sustainability initiatives on the Byblos campus. ​ Ziad’s involvement with AEE is notable; he co-established the Lebanese Chapter in 2017 and has served as its president, leading the chapter through challenging times and achieving significant milestones. His contributions include developing AEE’s “Lead Your Life and Energy Career” training program and contributing to certifications such as the Certified Energy Manager (CEM) and Certified Building Commissioning Professional (CBCP) and establishing an AEE internship program in energy and sustainability that continues to prepare for the work force over 100 young professionals yearly. ​ His expertise is recognized internationally, having consulted for major institutions such as the World Bank, the European Union, and Aramco. He has also contributed to numerous sustainability and energy efficiency projects under various green building certification schemes, including LEED, BREEAM, and EDGE. ​ Ziad’s dedication to professional development and education in energy efficiency, combined with his strategic leadership and global perspective, align well with the responsibilities of the President role at AEE.

President-Elect: Dr. Hicham Lahmidi, CMVP, CBCP, CEM, CEA, 50001CP 

Dr. Hicham Lahmidi is an engineering executive and researcher with deep expertise in energy management, sustainability, and technical leadership. Since November 2023, he has served as Chief Technical Officer at HandZ Solutions in Paris, leading engineering initiatives and training programs in energy management, measurement and verification, and renewable energy design, including solar, hydrogen, and biogas projects. He previously served as Chief Operating Officer at Elithis Solutions, managing a €9 million profit center across eight agencies in France and Asia and overseeing a team of 80 professionals. 

Dr. Lahmidi currently serves as President of AEE’s French Chapter and, for the past three years, as Vice President for Western Europe. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles at LNE (the National Laboratory for Testing), Bureau Veritas Solutions, and CSTB, where his work included transposing the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) in Europe and helping develop the Effinergie low-energy label. He holds a PhD in Engineering Sciences from the University of Perpignan, a Master’s degree from ENSEM Nancy, and is fluent in French, English, and Arabic.

Secretary: Kristin Gustafson, CEM, REP 

Kristin Gustafson is a Principal at Eide Bailly and a Licensed Professional Engineer in all 50 states, with more than 20 years of experience in energy efficiency, building performance, and incentive-driven decarbonization. She leads the firm’s Sustainability and Energy Incentives practice, guiding clients through federal energy tax incentives such as 179D Commercial Building Energy Efficiency Deductions, 45L Residential Energy Credits, and Investment Tax Credits for renewable energy. 

A longtime contributor to AEE at both the regional and national levels, Kristin previously served as local President of the AEE Pacific Northwest chapter and has served as Regional Vice President for the Western US since 2024.

Incoming Regional Vice Presidents 

RVP, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast U.S.: Kelley Whalen, EEP 

Kelley Whalen has served as Energy Manager at ADTRAN for more than 18 years, overseeing energy strategy for the company’s 1-million-square-foot campus of offices, distribution centers, and manufacturing space. He built ADTRAN’s energy management program from the ground up, implementing more than 100 energy conservation measures — including chilled-water plant upgrades, daylight-harvesting analysis, demand-controlled ventilation, retro-commissioning, and LED retrofits — that reduced the facility’s energy use intensity by 44%, from 134 to 75. 

Kelley also serves as Vice President of the AEE Huntsville Chapter, sits on the Board of Directors of the Association of Valley Industries, and serves on the ASHRAE North Alabama Board of Governors. His work has earned him the AEE Region II Energy Manager of the Year award and the ASHRAE 2019 Region VII Regional Technology Award.

RVP, Western U.S.: Heather Benner, CEM 

Heather Benner brings more than 25 years of energy engineering leadership to the role, with a career focused on advancing energy efficiency, sustainability, and professional development across Northern California. She leads a team of energy construction professionals delivering demand-reduction and renewable energy programs for education, government, commercial, and industrial clients. 

Heather has been an active member of AEE’s Northern California Chapter (Nor Cal AEE) since early in her career, earning her CEM credential in 2017, joining the chapter’s Board of Directors in 2020, and becoming Chapter President in 2022. Under her leadership, Nor Cal AEE has doubled its membership, sponsored a student chapter for three consecutive years, and earned six AEE National Chapter Awards over the past six years.