Our Team

Eriq is a descendant of the Indigenous Peoples of North America (Mexican (Spanish and Indigenous), Dine’ and Pueblo roots) whose education and life has spanned throughout the United States. Eriq grew up an Urban Indian not knowing what that meant to be Indigenous until much later in life. It wasn’t until his early twenties that he started to explore and develop what it meant to be an Indigenous individual; community, culture, spirituality, family, food, and a connection to mother earth. This helped him realize his passion is in service to Indigenous communities and he’s honored to be part of the Spark Northwest team. Eriq will work with communities in the Pacific Northwest to realize their clean energy goals.

Andrea loves making connections between people and ideas. She values the “both/and” nature of Spark Northwest: working at the intersection of energy and justice, building tangible projects and promoting systemic change. Prior to working in clean energy, Andrea was a lawyer and a social justice grant maker. She’s a proud graduate of the Equal Justice Leadership Academy, which hones advocacy skills to address racism and poverty. A native of Oregon and long-time Seattle resident, Andrea loves exploring the region. On weekends you might find her hiking in the Cascades, walking her dog on Alki Beach or sampling a fresh hops brew in Eastern Washington. 

Lindsey holds an Energy Policy and Management degree from Western Washington University and an Energy Technology degree from Bellingham Technical College. These studies combined with her experience managing residential and commercial solar installations, have given her the ability tackle challenges from both a technical and policy-driven perspective. Her strong commitment to equity is demonstrated through her work with diverse clients, including Tribal communities and nonprofits. Lindsey’s dedication to clean energy and social justice is further highlighted by her experience as a Mickey Leland Energy Fellow at the Department of Energy Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and her peer mentor role in the TRIO Program at Bellingham Technical College, where she helped historically disadvantaged students navigate the college system. Outside of work, you’ll find Lindsey exploring local trails, skiing, playing music, and traveling. 

Elaine joined Spark Northwest to support the finance team. She holds a bachelor’s degree in food engineering from the University of Campinas, in Brazil. Before discovering her interest in accounting, she worked in the area of food production and food safety & quality assurance. Her first contact with accounting was through a volunteer opportunity with a nonprofit that bridges the tech business communities of Silicon Valley & Brazil. She is currently pursuing her AA degree in Accounting with Bellevue College. Outside of work, Elaine spends her time taking care of her family and their dog, studying, volunteering, and enjoying the outdoors. You may bump into her if you visit the Issaquah area, where she does most of her shopping and outings with her family and friends.

Mia manages multiple clean energy projects including our Rural Renewables Program. Mia has over 20 years of experience working in the renewable energy industry conducting technical feasibility studies of utility-scale wind farms, due diligence reviews of wind turbine supply and maintenance contracts, project management of proposals and budgets, and hands-on installation of residential solar and wind power equipment. Mia also co-founded a national group encouraging the participation and advancement of women in the wind energy industry and completed volunteer work in Central and South America where she helped to install and maintain solar electric lighting systems in rural communities. Mia holds a B.A. in Mathematics from Grinnell College and an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. When not at work, you can find Mia tending her farm. 

Erika joined the Spark Northwest team to accelerate the Just Transition to green energy. Raised in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, Erika is a storyteller, organizer, and fundraiser. She comes to Spark with over a decade of experience designing multimedia communications and fundraising campaigns to drive legislative and on-the-ground victories for environmental and social justice.

Before joining Spark, she helped craft award-winning books, museum exhibits and impact campaigns at nonprofit publisher Braided River, and worked on the IMAX film The Arctic: Our Last Great Wilderness. She is passionate about convening diverse stakeholders, local community leaders and visionary funders to drive solutions to our climate and biodiversity crisis and believes in the transformative power of community ownership. She serves on the boards of Washington financing co-op Salish Sea Cooperative Finance and also Conor Byrne Cooperative, a community-owned music venue in Seattle. In her spare time, she makes music and loves to hike, surf, and relish the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

Born in the Philippines and relocated to Portland, Oregon, at the age of 9, Haya has always had a deep passion for the outdoors. She enjoyed playing outside in her subdivision and the pristine beaches of the Philippines to camping and hiking across Oregon and Washington. With over a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector, Haya has dedicated her career to advancing equitable access, a cause which she is deeply committed to. Outside of her professional endeavors, Haya is an avid crafter who enjoys DIY furniture projects, graphic design, and customizing tumblers and gift boxes. She also enjoys watching anime and Asian dramas, loves spending time with her four cats, and takes pleasure in tending to her houseplants. Haya is thrilled to join Spark Northwest to collaborate with communities in developing sustainable clean energy solutions. 

Line is passionate about sustainable development and expanding access to essential services for underserved communities worldwide. Before joining Spark Northwest, she served as Operations Director at Amplio, a Seattle-based NGO that provides simple, cost-effective, technology-based solutions to empower low-literacy communities with access to knowledge. In 2016, Line received the Cross Operational Excellence Award from InsideNGO in recognition of her dedication to building and enhancing operational efficiency. She holds an MBA in Financial Management from Iona College, NY and a Master’s degree in Sustainable Development with a concentration in Agricultural Economics from Montpellier, France. Fluent in French, Italian, and English, Line brings a global perspective to her work. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring local restaurants, traveling, and staying active through exercise.

Raised in a ski town in the Rocky Mountain West, Jonnie has a profound love for the outdoors. After earning degrees in Psychology and Dance from Boise State University, she worked abroad in education before moving to Seattle, where she shifted her focus to climate and sustainability. With experience in bio-based building materials, Jonnie is excited to make a meaningful impact through community-focused initiatives at Spark Northwest.

Veena’s career started as an engineer and project manager in the corporate sector at Procter & Gamble, before she earned her MBA to become an entrepreneur and focus on social impact work. In 2013, she founded Project Feast, a successful nonprofit that prepares refugee and immigrant cooks for jobs in the food industry. Her passion for environmental sustainability was renewed when she co-designed her family home in Seattle to meet the highest green building standard. Veena holds a BSc in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from University of Washington Foster School of Business. She is mom to twins in third grade. In her spare time, she is an amateur gardener, learning and practicing the principles of permaculture. Originally from India and having lived in the US Midwest and in Germany, Veena has called Seattle home since 2007.

Living internationally for much of her life equipped Johanna to work effectively within complex, multicultural environments. Johanna built a diverse career, managing projects across multiple industries, while always grounding her work in the desire to connect people and communities to needed resources. She served as a Peace Corps volunteer in rural Zambia, working with farmers on environmental projects. While in Zambia she also worked with a group of women to launch a basket-weaving craft-cooperative. Now based in Spokane, Johanna is excited to join the Spark Northwest team and eager to leverage her unique skillset to work with local communities building sustainable, clean energy projects. When not at work you can find Johanna gardening with her dogs, wandering about in nature, or snuggled up with a good book and a hot cup of tea.

John got his start in climate and clean energy as a Green New Deal volunteer organizer with Minnesota 350. He holds an M.S. in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy from the University of Minnesota. In his role at Spark Northwest John advocates for a clean energy transition that transfers power and wealth to low-income, BIPOC, and rural communities. Outside of work he spends most of his time running, rock climbing, going to concerts, and making art.  

Kyle is a full-time Executive Coach who supports mission-driven leaders from all sectors as they navigate the intersection of who they are and how they lead. Through coaching, Kyle helps leaders become even more intentional about embracing their mission, impact, and values as they navigate transition, scale, and complexity. Prior to coaching, Kyle spent 17 years with Fortune 50 tech companies, including Microsoft and AWS, where he held leadership positions in operations, HR, IT, and organizational development. Kyle also served four years as Executive Director of City Year Seattle/King County which reframed his connection to service, social justice, and equity. Kyle was raised in Washington State and enjoys spending time with his wife and dog, playing nerdy board games, and pursuing a life-long commitment to learning, fitness, and travel. 

Jonathan Hill is a Senior Finance Manager at the Gates Foundation, supporting its Global Development division that focuses on improving the delivery of high-impact health products and services to communities around the world. He is a seasoned nonprofit management professional with strengths in strategy, finance, and operations. He is passionate about collaborating with diverse stakeholders to find common ground and pursue meaningful change. In previous roles, Jonathan was Vice President for Strategy at Counterpart International, was an independent consultant to development programs and organizations, and spent over a decade at the global development firm DAI. While his career focuses internationally, Jonathan volunteers locally, having previously held board positions with Project Feast in Kent and Kids4Peace in Seattle. He has a BA from Claremont McKenna College and an MBA from the University of Washington.

Josh Khanna is currently Director Global Operations for Real Estate at Expedia, Inc. Her prior responsibilities have included the site development and construction for the EG Seattle Campus, from campus master plan to management of the site and planned amenities. Previously, Josh was the Regional Lead for the Asia Pacific region for Expedia, Inc. She has 15+ years’ experience in domestic and international corporate real estate including planning, strategy, design, construction, and facilities coordination. Josh holds a BFA in Applied Arts (College of Art, New Delhi), BTech in Interior Design (Chelsea School of Design, London) and a Professional Designation in Interior Design (UCLA). Within real estate development, Josh has been focused on sustainable practices and creating an inclusive workplace. She was inspired to join the board after discovering how Spark Northwest’s vision overlays social justice with renewable energy.

Ali is a field organizer, business owner and equity specialist who has worked on climate change and environmental projects in the US, China, Germany and Brazil. She looks at ways that people can work together and educate future generations to be the change, with the knowledge that we only have one planet, and exploring how to uphold the values of community while learning what is truly meant by living in a diverse world, with equity and inclusion for years to come. Ali served as Climate Reality WA State Chapters coalition lead, Climate Reality King County Chapter past Co Chair, among other projects and campaigns bringing together climate and justice concerns. Most recently worked on policy during our Washington State Session, focused on community air quality, weatherization, and health. She also is working on regenerative agriculture and electrification for the 2023 farm bill and serves as the National Building Electrification Networks, Equity team lead facilitator along with induction cooking for healthier home demonstrations and health and equity specialist consulting with Climate Solution and Seattle City Light as well as a coalition member with the King County International Airport Community Coalition (KCIACC) Working on air quality and community benefits agreements ordinance for airport communities in collaboration with KCIA. 

Dr. June Lukuyu is an Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Washington, Seattle Campus. She is passionate about developing and planning for inclusive, sustainable, and integrated energy systems and technologies in underserved communities, centering on equity, social development and human empowerment. She has extensive experience leading multiple engaged research activities in East Africa focused on energy access and community energy development. She also brings prior experience working with various stakeholders in East Africa and coordinating across different disciplinary and sectoral perspectives. She holds a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and an MSc in Renewable Energy Systems Technology from Loughborough University (UK). Beyond work, June enjoys traveling, exploring different foods and recipes, and decorating. 

Leah is a founding partner of Allied8 Architects, a generalist firm with a strong focus on housing innovation, housing justice and policy. For decades Allied8 had been active advisors/architects to developers and in 2019, Leah created a development arm at Allied8 with the purpose of solving big policy problems with small-scale projects that are replicable. Leah is a regular design studio critic and has been a lecturer at the University of Washington School of Architecture. She is an active member of the American Institute of Architects and the Northwest Eco Building Guild, Seattle Chapters. She has maintained her WA State architectural license since 2003.

John Mi covers hydrogen strategy and sustainable technology partnerships at Amazon. Before joining Amazon, he held various leadership roles at large renewable energy companies, with the latest being Director of Community Solar at SunPower. His professional experience has focused primarily on the financing and business development of innovative energy solutions. He is passionate about environmental equality and corporate sustainability. John holds two tree-hugger degrees, a MA in Environmental and Resource Economics from Duke University and a BA in Environmental Science from the Colorado College.

Vineet Parkhe is the Chief Technology Officer at National Renewable Solutions, a utility-scale renewables, energy storage, and transmission developer. Before joining NRS, he spent over a decade at DNV where he advised developers and financiers on transactions of 10+ gigawatts of renewable energy projects. Vineet lives in Seattle, and spends his spare time enjoying the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, and volunteering with Outdoors for All.

Donald Williams is an enrolled Umatilla Tribal Member, and Principal Consultant/CEO of From the Light Consulting, a Tribal member owned energy consulting firm. Mr. Williams has been working in the energy sector for 10 years. During this time, he has gained valuable experience ranging from technical grant writing, project management, development, and consultation to tribal, state, federal agencies and NGO’s. Donald is an advocate of renewable energy policy and Tribal Energy sovereignty in the Pacific Northwest Tribal communities. Donald has also performed as an Energy Advisor, Trade Ally manager, and Tribal Liaison with Energy Trust of Oregon, where he developed the Tribal strategic communication plan with Energy Trust of Oregon, worked with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, he is currently working to provide energy services and consultation to both Tribal and rural communities with From the Light Consulting.  

Jennifer is an electricity infrastructure advisor at PNNL. She leads energy equity and justice work that includes grid and regulatory projects incorporating decarbonization, equity, and resilience objectives into grid planning, and the Energy Storage for Social Equity (ES4SE) Initiative, a community technical assistance program. Relevant prior experience includes 20+ years of energy and engineering expertise in building engineering design, renewable energy planning at Hawaiian Electric Company and energy efficiency management at Puget Sound Energy (PSE). She managed PSE’s transmission engineering team and HDR’s Washington State Power Delivery team that comprised of transmission, distribution, and substation engineering teams. As a Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) she provides a unique perspective of underrepresented and unrecognized communities in the energy transition work DOE and Labs are supporting and leading. She enjoys traveling, spending time outdoors, and bouldering. 

Kelly’s primary focus is human health and resiliency in the face of climate effects. She was a founding member of the University of Washington Center for Health and the Global Environment, co-authored a scientific review of the health co-benefits of climate mitigation, and serves as board president for Ren Che Foundation which invests in mitigation of the impact of our changing climate on human and environmental health. Kelly also has an MS in public health and was a member of the Strategic Development Team at the Washington Department of Health during the recent COVID-19 Vaccine rollout. She enjoys strategy consulting particularly for growth-stage nonprofit organizations.

Kelly engages in collective philanthropy in service of BIPOC led and BIPOC serving organizations in King County as a partner at SVP Seattle. She has been a long-time supporter of Spark Northwest and is honored to deepen her engaged in Spark Northwest’s mission as a member of the External Engagement Team.

Kelly made the Pacific Northwest home in 2006. She enjoys experiencing all our region has to offer, especially the water and the woods, with her husband Michael and three daughters.

Yawei Hao is an AWS Operations Manager where he manages a team of support engineers who provides professional technical support for AWS customers around the world. He is also a public speaker at AWS Summit as well as Amazon Twitch Live events. Yawei’s interest in energy issues has come from his family influence where one of his uncles has been working in energy sectors since 1990s. Yawei holds a M.S. in Telecommunication System Management from Northeastern University and a B.S. in Optical Science from Sichuan University in China. He likes swimming in his free time. 

Simeiqi works at the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology focusing on the Ecological Civilization project. She is passionate about ecology, spirituality, and peacebuilding and is interested in exploring creative ways to build ecological and religious literacy, while fostering dialogue between diverse global communities. Simeiqi has extensive experience in inclusive and justice-oriented education. As a social worker, she has worked with disfranchised individuals and communities, especially those of color, to advocate for accessibility and equity.  Simieqi holds a Ph.D. in Christian social ethics from Drew University Theological School, a Master of Arts in Theology and Ministry from Brite Divinity School, a Master of Social Work and a graduate certificate in Women and Gender Studies from Texas Christian University, and a Bachelor of Science in Materials Physics from Sichuan University. 

Dr. June Lukuyu is an Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Washington, Seattle Campus. She is passionate about developing and planning for inclusive, sustainable, and integrated energy systems and technologies in underserved communities, centering on equity, social development and human empowerment. She has extensive experience leading multiple engaged research activities in East Africa focused on energy access and community energy development. She also brings prior experience working with various stakeholders in East Africa and coordinating across different disciplinary and sectoral perspectives. She holds a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and an MSc in Renewable Energy Systems Technology from Loughborough University (UK). Beyond work, June enjoys traveling, exploring different foods and recipes, and decorating. 

Brian McCartan has over 30 years experience, including as CFO at Sound Transit and the University of Washington.  Brian provides climate finance advisory services to state and local governments, also working with ICLEI, C40, Climate Bonds Initiative, UW Climate Risk Lab and Climate Solutions International.

John Mi covers hydrogen strategy and sustainable technology partnerships at Amazon. Before joining Amazon, he held various leadership roles at large renewable energy companies, with the latest being Director of Community Solar at SunPower. His professional experience has focused primarily on the financing and business development of innovative energy solutions. He is passionate about environmental equality and corporate sustainability. John holds two tree-hugger degrees, a MA in Environmental and Resource Economics from Duke University and a BA in Environmental Science from the Colorado College.

Joe has been working in the energy industry for over 18 years in different capacities. He began with a small EE program management firm and then moved on to Puget Sound Energy, where he managed commercial HVAC programs. He then moved on to a local HVAC controls firm, coordinating their work with utility programs and helping utilities design rebate programs for their technology. During that period, he also helped with the Western HVAC Performance Alliance to manage groups and eventually worked as Treasurer and Chair of the Board of Directors. Experience there helped lead to a proposal that was submitted to the CLEEN Project, and was one of the top three vote-getters for the Cooling Ideas: Protecting our Communities from Extreme Heat section. The proposal was focused on HVAC technician training and apprenticeships for disadvantaged groups. Currently Joe is at a Demand Response startup firm helping to get the Energy Markets division off the ground and running in California and Texas. He has a MA in International Environmental Policy with a focus on energy and climate changes issues. 

Matt is an experienced business leader in the cooperative foods industry. He has led the Astoria Co-op, a growing natural foods co-op, for the past 15 years. The Astoria Co-op recently completed a major expansion and relocation to a new facility with a 50kW solar array and EV chargers. Spark Northwest assisted in the grant applications that led to the success of these green energy additions. His experience running a sustainability-focused business includes project management, fundraising, financial and strategic planning, and community engagement. Matt has served as a National Co-op Grocers board member, a purchasing co-op with over 150 food co-op members across the country. He recently served as an External Evaluation Committee member for the Oregon Department of Energy’s Community Renewable Energy Grant Program. He has a Master of Non-Profit and International Development Management degree from the University of California, San Diego. Matt has a strong passion for the clean energy transition in the Pacific Northwest. When he is not at the co-op, he runs local trails and spends time with his wife, Holly, and his seven-year-old daughter, Ruby. 

Donald Williams is an enrolled Umatilla Tribal Member, and Principal Consultant/CEO of From the Light Consulting, a Tribal member owned energy consulting firm. Mr. Williams has been working in the energy sector for 10 years. During this time, he has gained valuable experience ranging from technical grant writing, project management, development, and consultation to tribal, state, federal agencies and NGO’s. Donald is an advocate of renewable energy policy and Tribal Energy sovereignty in the Pacific Northwest Tribal communities. Donald has also performed as an Energy Advisor, Trade Ally manager, and Tribal Liaison with Energy Trust of Oregon, where he developed the Tribal strategic communication plan with Energy Trust of Oregon, worked with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, he is currently working to provide energy services and consultation to both Tribal and rural communities with From the Light Consulting.  

Jennifer is an electricity infrastructure advisor at PNNL. She leads energy equity and justice work that includes grid and regulatory projects incorporating decarbonization, equity, and resilience objectives into grid planning, and the Energy Storage for Social Equity (ES4SE) Initiative, a community technical assistance program. Relevant prior experience includes 20+ years of energy and engineering expertise in building engineering design, renewable energy planning at Hawaiian Electric Company and energy efficiency management at Puget Sound Energy (PSE). She managed PSE’s transmission engineering team and HDR’s Washington State Power Delivery team that comprised of transmission, distribution, and substation engineering teams. As a Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) she provides a unique perspective of underrepresented and unrecognized communities in the energy transition work DOE and Labs are supporting and leading. She enjoys traveling, spending time outdoors, and bouldering.