Stanford’s Energy Story: Present and Future

Bios:

Gerry Hamilton directs the activities of the Facilities Energy Management (FEM) team, which includes the operation of campus Building Management Systems, oversight of the University’s Sustainable IT program, and supervision of Energy Retrofit Projects.  Gerry ensures that buildings and associated processes are operated efficiently and that new facilities incorporate best practices for energy use. Before joining Stanford, Gerry was the Director of Technology Applications at Global Energy Partners in Walnut Creek, CA. His team provided energy management services to utility and industrial clients across North America. Typical projects included technology assessments and field demonstrations, facility audits, technical and market potential studies, and greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies. Prior to Global Energy Partners, Gerry was a Senior Project Manager in PG&E’s Customer Energy Efficiency group. While there he led the development of multiple new demand-side management programs targeting commercial and industrial customers. These programs promoted the adoption of technologies and practices to use energy more efficiently and to reduce peak electrical demand.  Gerry holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering as well as an M.B.A. from Santa Clara University. He is also a registered professional engineer in California. 

Fahmida Ahmed leads the Office of Sustainability and the campus program Sustainable Stanford (sustainable.stanford.edu).  She co-chairs the Sustainability Working Group, connects the Working Teams, coordinates implementation of sustainability programs, supports long term climate and infrastructure planning, and manages the office’s communications programs.  Before Stanford, she was the Sustainability Specialist at UC Berkeley, where she designed and managed their climate program (climateaction.berkeley.edu) that delivered UC Berkeley’s climate plan.  Fahmida earned a B.A. in Economics from Smith College and Master’s in Environmental Science and Management from the Bren School in UC Santa Barbara. Her academic apprenticeships include positions in National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.  Prior to her career in sustainability, Fahmida has worked in financial services and high-tech.  As a marketing manager in Siebel Systems (Now Oracle Inc) and project manager in Providian Financial (now Washington Mutual), her initiatives focused on strategic efforts in product testing and designing sales tools.

Joe Stagner is a registered professional engineer with over 30 years experience in facilities management.  He serves as Executive Director of the Department of Sustainability and Energy Management at Stanford University, where he is responsible for advancing sustainability in campus operations through leadership of the university’s utility, transportation and the interdisciplinary Sustainable Stanford programs.  Prior to joining Stanford Joe served on the senior facilities management team at the University of California, Davis for 14 years.  In addition to operating and maintaining campus facilities Joe worked with UC Davis faculty to create, test, and market innovative environmental technologies including novel methods for biogas production, reclaimed water use, landfill gas to energy, soil and groundwater remediation.  At UC Davis Joseph received US Patent No. 5,620,593 for the Multi-Stage In-Well Aerator (MIA) method of in-situ remediation of contaminated groundwater.  Before joining UC Davis Joe worked 15 years with the Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Morrison Knudsen Company, and Sacramento County Public Works Department in various facilities and utilities engineering capacities.