staff

**timothy denherder-thomas: General manager**

Timothy is the co-founder and General Manager of Cooperative Energy Futures CEF), an energy efficiency and community-owned clean energy cooperative serving members across Minnesota since 2009. Timothy has also helped build local control over energy decision-making in Minneapolis through the Minneapolis Clean Energy Partnership as a member of the partnership’s Energy Vision Advisory Committee and supports energy democracy nationally through the People’s Solar Energy Fund and the PowerShift Network.

Charlie Rybak: Chief Operating Officer

Charlie Rybak has spent more than a decade working in growth & digital strategy for startups, clean energy companies, political organizations, and media companies. Prior to CEF, he was running a solo consulting firm and co-founded Southwest Voices, a local news publication in Minneapolis.
While he is originally from (and in love with) Minneapolis, his work experience includes stints in Washington, D.C. and San Francisco. When he's not working, you can find him cooking, gardening, getting his heart broken by a myriad of Minnesota sports teams, or going on hikes with his wife, Ashley, and their dog, Larry.

Bruce konewko:
business/Marketing
director

Bruce works with our businesses and residents to help show them the financial, environmental, and long-term investment opportunities that community-owned solar projects bring them. His primary focus includes our business development & marketing of CEF’s Community Solar Garden program. This includes; project management of our solar portfolio, including; site assessment, site acquisition, 3rd party lease negotiations, permitting & zoning, and community outreach and engagement. He helps manage our cooperative partnerships with solar contractors, system designers, as well as local utility and government agencies.

Mary kay Olson:
operations/subscriptions
director

Mary Kay brings outreach and operational administration skills to her role at CEF, where she manages the overall subscription process including working with our collaborating organizations such as Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light who are assisting in securing subscribers. Mary Kay has worked in a variety of organizations, starting in affordable housing, then following the emerging green building industry into construction. She balances her CEF work currently with her work at a progressive church supporting the overall operations and facilities oversight of an historical St. Paul church campus.

**Kyle Samejima:**
Community Outreach and Engagement Team Manager

Kyle Samejima graduated from the University of MN in 2017 (on Mother’s Day with her daughter) with a degree in sustainability and communication. Since then, Kyle has worked in the renewable energy field, developing deep collaborative relationships with Twin Cities groups and organizations to address our climate crisis. She focuses on community solar as a tool for environmental justice and energy democracy. CEF gives her the opportunity to bring deeper change and build community wealth of all kinds.Kyle is originally from Philadelphia and misses the East Coast and her family. She lived in Arizona and Japan before settling in Minneapolis, where she raised her three amazing daughters. She now lives in the Northrop neighborhood of Minneapolis.
Kyle loves spending time with her granddaughter and family, gardening, reusing and repurposing everything imaginable, and being grateful for the incredible planet we live on.

pouya najmaie:
pOLICY/finance
Director

Pouya studied Environmental Science (with a concentration on policy and law) at the University of Minnesota and then went on to the U of M’s Hubert H. Humphrey Institute for Public Policy where he studied Science, Technology and Environmental Policy. He leads CEF’s policy and regulatory initiatives. In this capacity Pouya deals with legislators, non-profits, regulatory bodies (like the Public Utilities Commission and the Department of Commerce), and utilities, as well as activating members and subscribers to take political/regulatory actions. Pouya is also taking the lead on development of our new website. He is also consultant regarding developing/monitoring CEF’s current and long-term financial investment opportunities.

Dan Grantier:
project develpoment Manager

Dan studied Environmental Design at the Huxley College of Western Washington University with the intention of working in sustainable building and community design. Then, through an exciting path over a couple of years, started a career in the Fire Service in Lynnwood, Washington. Anticipating an early retirement to move out to MN to be with family, Dan started studying solar PV for his second career. Once in MN, Dan started working with a local residential installer in operations and then was excited to join the CEF team in Development. In this role, Dan takes projects through interconnection, permitting, construction, energization, and ongoing operations and maintenance working with a variety of industry partners.

Allye doyle:
communications director

Allye brings her passion for communications and community engagement to her role as Communications Director at Cooperative Energy Futures. With a Journalism degree from NDSU and experience as a radio news anchor, digital producer at KARE 11, and social media and marketing in real estate, Allye leverages her expertise to expand CEF's reach and strengthen its brand. She is dedicated to connecting with more subscribers, host sites, and landowners while enhancing CEF's social media presence. Allye's eye for detail and enthusiasm for building community make her a valued member of the team.

Audrey pallmeyer:
Program developer

Audrey studied Environment and Sustainability as well as Social Work at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. She has worked in various direct service, project management, and program development roles within the nonprofit sector. Audrey joined CEF in 2024 as a Program Developer, and is excited to apply her experience and passion to the clean energy sector.
Originally from Minneapolis, Audrey has lived and worked in New York, DC, Florida, and Michigan. She currently resides in South Minneapolis, and can often be found at one of the many dog parks in Minneapolis with her dog, Noodle.

Dana gustafson:
affordable solar
program manager

Dana studied Economics and Political Science at Macalester College, and has been working in the renewable energy industry for 2 years. She began her career as an Asset Management Analyst for a utility-scale developer, focused on overseeing major solar and battery storage construction projects through their transition from development into operations. She is passionate about translating her skills in business into real and accessible community value, especially at home in Minnesota. At CEF, Dana manages the Affordable Solar Program, which offers the benefits of rooftop solar to low income renters and affordable housing providers all without debt or upfront cost. She works closely with construction, financing, interconnection, and real estate partners to ensure projects in the Affordable Solar Program proceed successfully from initial site evaluations through 25+ years of operation.

Rukia Abdi:
Outreach & Engagement Representative

Rukia Abdi serves as our Lead Outreach & Engagement Representative, bringing with her over a decade of experience in community outreach and organizing. Her journey began as a lead Community Organizer at Crossing Barriers, where she worked closely with Somali, Latino, Hmong, and Oromo communities affected by educational challenges. At Crossing Barriers, Rukia organized and led groups of students and parents, teaching them how to advocate for themselves. Later, as a Community Engagement Specialist at Grassroots Solutions, she led a statewide project supported by Minnesota Philanthropy Partners, engaging communities of various backgrounds and faiths to develop solutions for a better Minnesota. In her recent role as Employment and Engagement Coordinator at Community Action Partnership of Hennepin County, Rukia designed and facilitated community-based employment readiness workshops, empowering individuals to achieve economic growth and escape poverty through skill-building and job readiness training. Rukia's passion lies in inspiring and empowering underrepresented communities in Minnesota. She is thrilled about the opportunity to contribute to Cooperative Energy Future's (CEF) mission and make a meaningful impact on the journey towards clean, local, and community-owned energy solutions.

Bryn Shank:
outreach & engagement representative

Bryn has been a longtime member and admirer of Cooperative Energy Futures (CEF). He first heard of CEF when he was a part of Youth Environmental Activists of Minnesota (YEA!MN) in High School. YEA!MN is where he gained a passion for social justice and addressing the climate crisis. Bryn came to work at CEF after a stint at the Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) where he spent close to four years doing residential energy audits as part of the Home Energy Squad (HES). While at CEE he also gained his NABCEP PV Associate certification as a way to increase his knowledge of solar energy. Bryn is excited to bring his skills and experience to the Outreach and Engagement Representative! In this role he helps walk potential community solar subscribers through the subscription process, coordinates outreach and engagement efforts and acts as a liaison between co-op members and the rest of the staff/board. Bryn is looking forward to meeting more members and advancing CEF’s mission of energy democracy.

Sebastian Rivera:
outreach & engagement representative

Sebastian Rivera, a dynamic force of Puerto Rican and Italian heritage, is a visionary multimedia artist and dedicated community leader. With a rich background spanning eight years of local and national activism, he has championed various causes, serving as a grassroots organizer, national trainer, and legislative lobbyist.
He has worked in the energy field in diverse ways. He has participated in legislative work targeting PUC legislative impact, and has created a digital comic book informing community members about our energy systems, among other community impactful work.
Rivera's artistic journey is marked by a profound commitment to collaboration with marginalized communities, using public art as a vehicle to amplify their voices and aspirations. Through his work, he seeks to ignite critical introspection and empower individuals to harness their own potential.
Now, as the freshly appointed Outreach and Engagement Representative for CEF, Rivera is poised to leverage his expertise and passion to foster meaningful connections and drive positive change within the community.

board of directors

CHAIR

Sachiko Graber

Sachi is the Climate Policy Manager for The Nature Conservancy in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Her work focuses on supporting climate mitigation and adaptation action that help communities to thrive. She is committed to the climate and environmental justice movements, which reflect the need to center local communities and community engagement. Sachi's experience in renewable energy stems from her prior work with RMI, where she focused on the technical and economic viability of small-scale solar installations and opportunity for community-centered models.

vice-chair

Rizwan bankwala

Rizwan's professional background is in finance. His work spans a variety of industries, including project finance, commercial real estate, and valuation. He is an avid canoeist, skiier & rower. Rizwan graduated from the University of St Thomas.

SECRETARY

sean mcloughlin

Sean McLoughlin has been a green builder for 25 years. He is also a concerned father and a climate activist. He was drawn to CEF because of its commitment to creating access to solar for people with low and moderate incomes. Sean strongly feels that organized human life needs to be preserved for his child’s generation, and their children. In 2016, he converted a 123 year old house in North Minneapolis to near carbon neutrality, a project that won Gold Status from the Green Home Institute.

Treasurer

Whitney terrill

Whitney Terrill serves as the Environmental Justice Program Manager at Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light, where she designs, coordinates, and facilitates community-based programming for MNIPL, coalitions, and other communities. Her work focuses on many topics in the environmental justice movement from just solar and clean energy, to fossil fuel resistance and clean water, to equitable planning and policy, and interfaith dialogue and racial justice.

Whitney also brings over 12 years of professional experience in public and private sectors. She received her undergraduate degree in sociology from Hampton University and Executive Certificates in conservation and environmental sustainability from Columbia University (NY) and in social impact strategies from the University of Pennsylvania (PA). Whitney is also a LEED Green Associate.

Whitney was a participant in the North High School rooftop leasing program and began serving on the Cooperative Energy Futures board in May 2022. Similar to other board members, Whitney is be proud to be part of the movement towards energy democracy personally and professionally.

Holly Buchanan photo.jpg — Holly Buchanan

Holly Buchanan earned her graduate degree in Conservation Biology from the University of Minnesota and applied those skills to help slow and reverse the loss of biodiversity in Minnesota through land acquisition and habitat restoration. Now more than ever she intends to contribute to work that is advancing the transition to 100% renewable energy in Minnesota.
She became a member of Cooperative Energy Futures in 2014 as a participant in the Gopher Solar rooftop leasing program and joined the CEF Board in 2021. She is be proud to be part of the movement to build an inclusive, decentralized and climate-resilient renewable energy system in Minnesota.

20190808_170214~2.jpg — keith Dent

Keith works as a Solar Project Manager and has been very active in the solar industry for the past 7 years. Keith has led numerous solar PV installations, including work on several of CEF’s first rooftop community solar gardens. The gardens he’s helped bring online include; Shiloh Temple, City of Edina Public Works Building and Pax Christi Church.
Keith is also the founder of Just B Solar, a youth solar outreach and community engagement program that uses creative and interactive hands-ons sessions and field trips to help proactively teach our kids the vital importance of renewable energy in their lives. He’s dedicated to giving our children a healthier environment in which they can thrive.

AKR_0017 Web.jpg — Roger Steinkamp

Roger is currently retired, living in Faribault, MN. Roger has worked with Land O’Lakes, Inc. international division organizing cooperatives in Montenegro and Rwanda. He earned his PhD in Education at the University of MN. He served as admissions director for St Thomas University for the MBA program and has founded a value chain from farm to table making specialty cheeses. He taught agriculture and worked in extension for over 20 years. He is keenly aware of the effects of climate change and wants to apply the skills honed over the past 4 decades in the US and overseas to mitigating climate change and social issues. Roger was elected to the CEF board in 2020.