Rhone Resch - President

At SEIA, Rhone is responsible for all aspects of the association’s operations and implementation of SEIA’s strategic priorities. Rhone is a registered lobbyist with more than 15 years of experience working in clean energy development and climate change issues. Prior to coming to SEIA, he was Senior Vice President of the Natural Gas Supply Association, a trade association that represents both major and independent companies that produce and market natural gas. In addition, he has served as Program Manager at the EPA's Climate Protection Division in the Office of Air and Radiation, developing energy efficiency programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and hazardous air pollutants from the petroleum industry.

He has also supported the U.S. Department of Energy's Environmental Management Program, evaluating the energy efficiency of industrial operations and reviewing regulatory compliance with respect to Superfund, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Toxic Substance Control Act, as well as the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

He holds an MPA in Management from Syracuse University's Maxwell School, a Master of Environmental Engineering from SUNY Syracuse, and a B.A. from the University of Michigan. He lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife Lisa and two children.

Rhone lives in a solar - powered home in Washington, DC - click here to see a live feed from the system. (You may need to temporarily disable popup blocker software.)

John Stanton - Vice-President of Government Affairs

John is responsible for government affairs at SEIA. He staffs the government affairs committee which develops and executes policy campaigns on taxation, appropriations, energy and climate issues dominated by congressional and executive branch lobbying, grassroots outreach and media strategies. Formerly Vice President for Energy, Climate and Transportation Programs at the National Environmental Trust, John is a registered lobbyist and previously served as Legislative Counsel at the US Environmental Protection Agency and New Jersey Deputy Attorney General. John also served as Counsel and Director of the Energy and Environment Committee at the National Conference of State Legislatures. He earned his B.A. from Tulane University, J.D. from Georgetown University Law School, clerked for Judge Edward Beglin and is a Member of the New Jersey and District of Columbia Bar Associations.

John resides in Chevy Chase with his family where his other passions include running, golfing, camping, food and wine.

Monique Hanis - Director of Communications

Monique is responsible for all communications in support of the association's strategic priorities and lobbying efforts. She has more than 18 years experience in marketing and communications for the financial services industry. As senior vice president for Marketing & Business Development at America's Community Bankers, Monique built and managed the marketing team and drove rebranding of the $34 million trade group. She also wrote, edited and published several industry books, surveys and articles. Previously she held similar positions at Mortgage Bankers Association, Independent Community Bankers Association, and Bankers Trust in NY. She received her B.A. in Economics and French from Rutgers University and her MBA with Finance concentration from Thunderbird School for Global Management.

Monique lives in a 2.7 kW and hot water solar-powered home in Arlington, Virginia, with her family. She enjoys running, gardening, and cooking.

Scott Hennessey - Manager for Climate and Energy Markets

Scott Hennessey joined SEIA in December of 2006.  Previously, he was the Special Assistant to the Chairman of The Brattle Group, an economic and environmental consulting firm.  His background includes experience in civil litigation, social justice, and environmental policy.  He received his JD from Boston College Law School and a BA in Politics from Oberlin College.

During his first year at SEIA, Scott was the Manager of Policy and Research, responsible for coordinating market and industry data for use by both the Government Affairs and Public Affairs divisions.  Currently, Scott is Manager for Climate and Energy Markets.  He is responsible for the association’s work on climate change legislation and renewable portfolio standards.  Additionally, Scott is the staff lead for SEIA’s Global Warming Task Force.

Scott enjoys cycling, guitar, disassembling computers, and watching the New England Patriots.

Karen Nedbal - Director of Membership

Karen is responsible for all membership recruitment and retention. She has more than 10 years experience in product, service, trade show, membership and direct mail marketing. Previously, she was Director of Membership and Marketing for the American Educational Research Association. She has also held the positions of Membership Marketing Associate at the American Association for the Advancement of Science and Director of Marketing and Enrollment at the American Language Academy. Karen received her B.A. in International Affairs from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Karen lives in Vienna, Virginia. She is fluent in German and Mandarin Chinese, and loves traveling with her husband to Ireland.

Shannon M. Watson, CMP - Director of Meetings

Shannon is responsible for all conception, strategy, planning and implementation of SEIA’s events and events in which SEIA participates. Shannon has worked in hospitality for 15 years, in restaurants, hotels and catering businesses. She worked for the Association of Fundraising Professionals from 1998 – 2007, and recently joined SEIA as its Director of Meetings. Ms. Watson graduated from the University of Richmond with a degree in English and Speech Communication, and she graduated with high honors from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y. She has been a Certified Meeting Professional since 2001. She served as co-chair of the Association of Meeting Professionals in 2003-04 and is currently serving as chair of the Meetings & Expositions Council for the American Society of Association Executives.

In her spare time, she enjoys poker tournaments, running, reading and family gatherings.

Katherine Gensler - Manager of Regulatory and Legislative Affairs

Katherine heads SEIA's work on transmission, interconnection, net-metering and appropriations. Previously, she worked for five years at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission both in Washington, D.C., and in Folsom, Calif., where she advised the Commission on the redesign of market rules governing electricity sales in California and the West. She holds her Masters of Public Affairs from Indiana University and her Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin.

In her spare time, Katherine runs half-marathons, hikes and cheers for her beloved Wisconsin Badgers.

Jared Blanton - Assistant Manager of Communications/Webmaster

Jared supports all SEIA communications in support of the association's strategic priorities and lobbying efforts. He worked for more than two years on U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel's (R-NE) staff. As a member of Senator Hagel's press team, Jared worked with international, national, and Nebraska media to advance the Senator's legislative priorities. He also advised the Senator on agriculture and natural resource policy. Jared received his B.S. in Political Science and Journalism from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Jared enjoys cycling, flag football, poker tournaments, traveling to Bruce Springsteen concerts and rooting for the Nebraska Huskers.