As Vice President of Engagement, Megan Baker leads development and execution of GBI’s global marketing and communications strategy. Since joining GBI in 2017, she has advanced through roles in client services, business development, and education, assuming her current position in 2023. A strong advocate for accessible, sustainable, and resilient buildings, Megan builds strategic partnerships, identifies recognition opportunities, and expands markets for GBI’s flagship programs, Green Globes and Ascent. Her outreach helped GBI reach nearly one billion certified square feet in 2025 and quadruple membership in three years. Megan leads GBI’s data center market development and serves as a Nomad Futurist Ambassador. She is a 2024 IM100 Award recipient and holds an MBA from Regis University and a BA from University of Mary Washington.

Chet has been with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) since 2014, beginning his career as a regional labor market analyst focused on delivering data-driven insights to support workforce and economic initiatives. In 2021, he was promoted to Business Development Manager for Northwest Minnesota, where he partners with individual businesses, industry sector leaders, economic development organizations, and consultants to strengthen and grow the regional economy. In this role, Chet works to attract new investment, support business expansion, and connect employers with key resources. He also leads coordination of Minnesota Business First Stop, an interagency collaboration that helps developers and businesses better understand and navigate Minnesota’s regulatory environment, streamlining project timelines and improving communication across state agencies. Prior to joining DEED, Chet earned a degree from the Humphrey School of Public Affairs in 2013. He also held positions with the University of Minnesota and the U.S. Department of State. In addition, Chet served in the Minnesota National Guard as a Civil Affairs Non-Commissioned Officer, gaining valuable leadership, communication, and problem-solving experience that continues to inform his work today.

Lisa Bodine is an accomplished executive with more than 25 years of experience helping organizations develop and execute strategies that elevate brands, strengthen communications, and support successful market entry. She manages senior client relationships across the mining, manufacturing, and energy sectors and is highly regarded for her ability to lead complex initiatives that involve environmental, regulatory, or political sensitivities. Lisa specializes in vision-driven strategic planning, facilitating workshops that align leadership teams around stakeholder engagement, financial performance, revenue growth, and customer service objectives. She works closely with executive teams to design and deploy comprehensive approaches to industrial development projects, leveraging a deep understanding of local and state dynamics. Her expertise includes stakeholder engagement, strategic communications, and content strategy development, crafting targeted messages that resonate with diverse audiences and drive both revenue and reputation. A seasoned leader, Lisa is also skilled in building, managing, and mentoring high-performing teams, fostering cohesive cultures, and developing future leaders through collaboration and accountability.

Emily Bowers is the founder and principal of Fordwell Strategies, bringing more than a decade of experience in state and local policy, legislative strategy, and client advocacy. Her expertise spans across the built environment, labor, energy, sustainability, and tax policy—allowing her to navigate complex issues with both technical skill and strategic insight. Emily’s approach goes beyond policy papers and legislative calendars: she believes the most effective change begins with the people it impacts.

Dan is responsible for driving Oppidan’s data center growth by sourcing new development needs, powered land, and new capital partners. He is instrumental in the execution of the development process including project strategy, site qualification, and attaining entitlements. Dan's 15 years of data center industry experience is focused on advising investors on leasing and acquisition decisions, and marketing available capacity. He has held leadership roles at CBRE, ViaWest and i.s.a.

Adam Driscoll is a Vice President and Senior Environmental Engineer in Barr’s Minneapolis office. He is in his 20th year as an environmental professional, with his time split between Barr and 3M Company. He supports clients across the country representing a variety of industries, in areas which include complex air quality permitting, regulatory compliance, and multimedia auditing. Adam has served clients in the power generation industry throughout his tenure and, in recent years, has applied that experience to support new generation projects across the country for independent developers and regulated utilities alike. Adam has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of North Dakota and is a registered professional engineer in Minnesota, Michigan, and Florida.

As President and CEO of Ever-Green Energy and its parent company, District Energy St. Paul, Luke Gaalswyk leads a growing team focused on advancing sustainable building heating and cooling solutions. Under his leadership, Ever-Green has expanded its footprint across the Twin Cities and increased its capacity to deliver innovative approaches such as networked geothermal systems and waste heat recycling from wastewater treatment facilities and data centers. Prior to joining Ever-Green, Luke held leadership roles in the power generation and district energy sectors with Xcel Energy and NRG Thermal (now Cordia). He has worked in energy, operations, and engineering since 2007, building on the leadership foundation developed as an officer in the United States Air Force. Luke serves on the boards of the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce and the Saint Paul Downtown Alliance and is a drill-status member of the Minnesota Air National Guard. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering.

Jason brings 18 years of experience in the construction industry, including 16 years with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49, Minnesota’s largest construction union representing more than 15,000 members. He spent nearly a decade as Legislative Director before being elected Business Manager, leading the union’s operations and strategy. Throughout his tenure, Jason played a key role in permitting and securing funding for major regional projects, including sports stadiums, oil and gas pipelines, mining, wind and solar developments, large-scale industrial facilities, and transportation infrastructure. In late 2024, Jason transitioned to the private sector, accepting a newly created leadership role as Director of Labor Relations and Government Affairs for Ames Construction. Ames is a union contractor and one of the largest heavy civil contractors in the United States, with more than $2 billion in annual revenue. Jason offers a unique perspective shaped by senior-level experience in organized labor, government relations, and business leadership.

David Hryvniak is a Senior Project Manager in Richmond, VA, supporting the Sustainable Buildings team within Project and Development Services. David leads project teams to assess sustainability goals, implement strategies appropriate for projects, and document accomplishments. His work at JLL includes certification management, sustainability strategy, and sustainability program management for a variety of project types including portfolio-wide initiatives. David leads teams to manage sustainability programs for new construction projects as well as existing buildings and operations. Experience David has over 11 years of industry experience in green building certification management, building energy efficiency and decarbonization, daylight modeling, waste management programs, and biodiversity. He has contributed to hundreds of certification projects including programs such as LEED, WELL, Fitwel, Zero Carbon, Green Globes, TRUE, ENERGY STAR, IgCC, Enterprise Green Communities, NGBS, and NWF Certified Wildlife Habitat. Industries and building types include office, retail, data centers, higher education, life sciences, and more.

Thom brings more than 23 years of experience as a Project Manager and Mechanical Engineer specializing in the data center industry. He plays a key role in evaluating, comparing, and selecting mechanical systems for mission-critical facilities of all sizes, ensuring reliability, performance, and long-term efficiency. Throughout his career, Thom has partnered closely with developers, facility engineers, and IT teams to define project requirements and deliver solutions that align with operational goals and evolving technology needs across data centers nationwide. As a long-standing board member of the Minnesota Chapter of AFCOM, Thom is passionate about advancing education and collaboration within the data center community and supporting professional development at the local and regional levels. He is a certified Data Center Energy Practitioner (DCEP) through the U.S. Department of Energy and brings strong technical expertise in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), using advanced modeling to optimize airflow, cooling performance, and thermal management. Thom is committed to driving innovation and sustainability, consistently working to improve energy efficiency and help facilities achieve industry-leading Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) targets.

Sarah Johnson is a senior environmental consultant at Barr Engineering, recognized for her expertise in guiding project teams in siting and designing development projects that responsibly avoid, minimize, and mitigate environmental impacts. As a trusted advisor, she regularly assists both governmental units and project proposers in meeting the documentation requirements of Minnesota’s Environmental Policy Act. Drawing on her deep understanding of both private and public sector perspectives, Sarah is known for skillfully shepherding projects from initial concept through successful permitting.

Dan King is Chief Technology Officer of Darcy Solutions. Darcy develops innovative groundwater-based geothermal heating and cooling systems that deliver low-carbon, resilient thermal energy for buildings and campuses. Prior to joining Darcy, Dan worked at Xcel Energy in both product development and community relations, and has also held government and non-profit positions across the energy sector. He spent three years as a Science & Technology Policy Fellow in the Geothermal Technologies Office of the U.S. Department of Energy in Washington, DC, where he advised senior agency leadership on strategy for federal R&D investments. Earlier in his career, Dan was a research scientist with expertise in structural geology and rock physics. Dan holds a Ph.D. in geophysics from the University of Minnesota, an M.Sc. in geology from the University of Vermont, and a B.S. in geology from Brown University.

Tiffany Kovaleski is the Founder and CEO of The GOR Group, a mission critical focused firm operating at the intersection of workforce development within the data center ecosystem. Her veteran led team brings over 100 years of combined service and translates real world execution into scalable staffing through increased representation of women and the military veteran community, training capabilities that leverage state of the art AI to scale teams of any size, and partner of a global .waterless micro data center enabling scalable and sustainable power infrastructure through an integrated development arm. Tiffany is a recognized voice in expanding the mission critical workforce. She serves on the AFCOM Minnesota Board and iMason Armed Forces and iMason Women, where she convenes owners, operators, utilities, developers, and industry partners to advance Minnesota and global data center initiatives. At her core, Tiffany is a Minnesota mom and wife committed to building strong communities and a more sustainable future for the next generation.

As a former Murray County Commissioner in Minnesota’s wind belt and a participating landowner in two utility scale energy projects, Molly Malone brings on the ground experience with development in rural communities. She has attended dozens of meetings on data center development across the upper Midwest and has witnessed firsthand what works and what doesn't. She will provide candid insight and recommendations for better policy making and collaborative development in rural areas.

Lucas Mistelske is a passionate executive with a proven track record of leading strategic initiatives that expand market reach, strengthen organizational excellence, and drive profitable growth. A skilled communicator and relationship builder, Lucas brings more than 25 years of leadership experience across the manufacturing and technology sectors, helping executive teams build lasting talent, retention, and value. Lucas works directly with senior leaders to guide complex industrial development and expansion projects, leveraging deep insight into local and state dynamics alongside Giant’s full-service capabilities to deliver end-to-end solutions or augment existing teams. He partners with organizations to redesign operations, elevate service delivery, and create client experiences that deepen loyalty and accelerate ROI through data-driven, human-centered approaches. In addition, Lucas helps organizations cultivate strong cultures, align teams, and develop high-performing talent pipelines. He also leads strategic stakeholder engagement efforts, crafting thoughtful, values-driven communications that navigate policy, regulation, and commerce to influence key audiences and support sustainable growth.

Charlie Sellars is the Director of Sustainability for Cloud Operations and Innovation at Microsoft. In his role, he is responsible for ensuring Microsoft’s data center operations enable the company to achieve its moonshot goals to become Carbon Negative, Water Positive, Zero Waste, and Protect Ecosystems by 2030. As part of his role, Charlie serves as a governing body member of the iMasons Climate Accord, an industry coalition united to decarbonize the digital infrastructure that underpins the next generation of cloud and AI services. He has also been a Director of Sustainability for Microsoft’s Devices business, helping launch several sustainability-forward products ranging from new Windows AI PCs with repairable and recycled components to the Ocean Plastic Mouse. Charlie is also the author of the award-winning book What We Can Do: A Climate Optimist’s Guide to Sustainable Living. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Physics from Williams College and lives in Minnesota to be closer to the snow.

Patrick Sims is a General Manager for Adolfson & Peterson Construction, where he leads the Duluth office and oversees operations across northern Minnesota, including the Iron Range, while also supporting AP’s work in North Dakota. With more than 30 years of experience in the construction industry, Patrick brings a strong understanding of the full project lifecycle and a commitment to client-focused delivery. Patrick began his career as a carpenter, gaining hands-on field experience that led to roles in project management and later preconstruction, where he developed a deep appreciation for early planning, collaboration, and clear communication. This well-rounded background allows him to approach projects with both practical insight and strategic perspective. In his current role, Patrick is responsible for business performance, client relationships, team development, safety, community involvement, and operational efficiency. He also played a key role in AP’s expansion into North Dakota and takes pride in building trusted, long-term client relationships

Lindsay T. Smith has spent more than a decade with Geronimo Power, beginning her career as an associate and advancing to Vice President of External Affairs & Communications. In her current role, she leads the company’s Marketing & Communications, State Regulatory and Legislative Policy, and Community Engagement functions. Lindsay built and scaled Geronimo Power’s Marketing & Communications and Community Engagement departments from the ground up, helping bring the company’s community-centered values and brand to life. Her responsibilities span internal and external communications, brand strategy, state policy, local stakeholder engagement, and impactful charitable initiatives, all focused on elevating the company’s corporate presence. Prior to Geronimo Power, Lindsay held roles at Genus Technologies and in the performing arts sector, gaining broad experience in sales, marketing, and management. She earned her MBA from University at Albany and holds degrees from Skidmore College, graduating Cum Laude with Honors.

Mr. Wichuk brings more than 20 years of experience in financial management, executive leadership, and corporate strategy across the energy and infrastructure sectors. Prior to joining Teverra, he served as Chief Financial Officer of RNWBL, a pure-play renewable energy services company operating in the U.S. and Canada. Earlier, he held progressive leadership roles at Premier Corex, advancing from CFO to President & CEO while supporting oil & gas and energy transition initiatives. He also served as Vice President of Finance and Chief Operating Officer at PTW Energy Services. From 2005 to 2015, Mr. Wichuk held multiple finance roles at Trican Well Service, ultimately becoming Senior Finance Director for North America. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Alberta and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) in Canada.