Associate Director

Todd Rusk

Todd Rusk is the Associate Director at the EnergySense Resilience Center. Todd has led EnergySense since 2024, directing the staff of 16 to successful completion of $2.5M+ per year in externally funded programs, and overseeing the team through a major organizational move into VPEDI, from the prior administrative home unit in College of Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is responsible for oversight of the staff and the delivery of the unit’s energy, climate, and sustainability programs.

Todd has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. For the past 25+ years, he has focused his career to provide energy and environmental technical support for communities, institutions, businesses, and government agencies. Current and recent work includes energy audits for buildings and water treatment processes, energy and climate action planning for large government agencies and for communities, solar feasibility assessment and implementation support, and program launch and operational support for statewide clean energy workforce and contractor development programs.

Todd has led energy audits in buildings of all sector types and energy / water savings technical assistance for the manufacturing sector. Todd’s first competitive federal funding award was for collaborative research on the use of metal finishing sludge as a raw material for iron phosphate glass in applications including encapsulation of radioactive waste. One memorable early career experience involved suiting up to physically enter a sump of contaminated metal working fluid, in support of an in-process chemical recycling project at a manufacturing plant for heavy construction equipment.

Previously, Todd was Associate Director at the Smart Energy Design Assistance Center (SEDAC), where he worked since 2013. His current career trajectory began at the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, working on energy and environmental technical assistance for the manufacturing sector. Other professional experiences include working as a construction hand for passive house building, a farm hand for local vegetable production, a quality control inspector at a steel wire product manufacturer, a food service worker, a custodian, and a gas attendant – oil changer – tire repairer at a full-service gas station.

In his free time, Todd cultivates a 1,300 square foot garden of fruits and vegetables, and he enjoys spending time with family and friends, especially when it involves cooking, eating, music, or travel.

Associate Technical Director

Shawn Maurer

As the technical lead at EnergySense Resilience Center, Shawn Maurer reviews energy calculations, develops estimation methodologies for various programs, and ensures consistency and accuracy in EnergySense’s work. Shawn also assists with training for other technical work, such as conducting site visits and completing reports. As a member of the leadership team, Shawn also helps with general oversight of EnergySense’s technical operations and the feasibility of serving new projects in coordination with the other leadership members.

Shawn is a licensed Mechanical Engineer and a Certified Energy Manger with 15 years of experience in the energy efficiency industry and a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Louisville. Prior to working at EnergySense, Shawn interned with Siemen’s Building Technologies on performance contracts with University campuses and was a RESNET certified HERS Rating Technician and Building Performance Institute certified Building Analyst conducting residential energy assessments and completing minor air sealing and insulation work to help homeowners save money and new construction builders comply with ENERGY STAR Homes standards. Shawn’s experience with energy assessments and client interactions paved the way for his first employment period with EnergySense as a building energy specialist.

Shawn briefly left the University to work as a 3^rd-party on-site energy manager for a local school district in 2016. In 2017, Shawn moved to the University of Kentucky Medical Center to work as an energy manager for the same 3^rd party company. While at UK, Shawn learned about complex building control systems, district heating and cooling, and how to engage change within large organizations. Shawn brought these experiences back to EnergySense in 2019 when he returned as a Senior Energy Specialist, soon filling the role of technical director when the previous director retired.

Assistant Director

Cassie Carroll

Cassie Carroll brings extensive experience in developing and leading impactful resilience programs that enhance organization and business operational efficiency and bolster local economic resilience. With experience in community-based outreach & engagement, program development, and strategic relationship building, she brings an innovative approach to efficiency and environmental initiatives to EnergySense Resilience Center.

She serves in a leadership role for the organization, while overseeing three core resiliency programs: the Illinois Green Business Program (6 projects), implementation of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Climate Action Plan, and community engagement under the Illinois EPA Public Water Infrastructure Program. Leveraging her multifaceted experience, she excels at identifying and understanding organizational needs and translating them into actionable, impactful programs.  She enjoys working hands-on with partners, organizations, and businesses to identify efficiency & resiliency opportunities, provide leadership and support for successful implementation, and amplify key successes.

Cassie’s work at EnergySense is a small part of her larger involvement in sustainability & resiliency efforts throughout the state and nationally, which includes founding the Illinois Green Business Association in 2008 and co-leading the Green Business Engagement National Network since 2015, a consortium of over 30 green business programs in 16 states working to expand resilient business practices nationwide. She also supports the St. Thomas More Interact Club on behalf of Champaign West Rotary and serves on the Board of Trustees for the University YMCA.

In her spare time, she enjoys growing vegetables and flowers, sketching in nature, and hiking with her husband and dog, Roscoe.

Assistant Director

Ryan Siegel

Ryan Siegel is an Assistant Director at EnergySense Resilience Center, consulting with public entities in Illinois to identify ways to improve the efficiency of their facilities. Ryan heads the Energy Code Technical Support program and is the lead trainer and energy code expert for EnergySense’s Energy Code Training Program. 

“What I find most satisfying about my job is learning new things and passing along what I’ve learned to others.” 

Ryan became interested in energy efficiency because it reflected the values he was raised with: frugality, investing in the future, and good stewardship of resources. 

Ryan holds a B.S. in Business and an MBA, both from Eastern Illinois University. He became a Certified Energy Manager in April 2012 and a Licensed Electrician in January 2017. 

Ryan enjoys carpentry, building repair, maintenance, finance, theater, and music.

Energy Research Program Manager

Devin Day

Devin Day, EnergySense’s Energy Research Program Manager, is motivated by a desire to create a more equitable energy landscape, particularly for people in economically or environmentally distressed communities.

“I became interested in energy efficiency because it has the potential to help people who are most impacted by pollution, climate change, and wasteful or inadequate public spending.”

By engaging with and learning from community members and other stakeholders, Devin connects economically distressed communities to public workforce training and energy efficiency programming opportunities, resulting in meaningful financial, health, and safety benefits. Devin feels strongly that racial and social equity must be core to reshaping the energy landscape, appreciating and protecting the environment, and planning for climate change.

Devin has a Master’s of Urban Planning from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (his focus: community development for social justice, economic development, and transnational planning) and a BA in international relations from Knox College (he studied abroad in Yemen). Before joining EnergySense, he worked with the Building Research Council, where he engaged Illinois public housing authority management to facilitate the use of smart energy efficiency technologies.

Assistant Director

Stacy Gloss

Stacy Gloss joined EnergySense as a Senior Program Manager in 2022 to lead program management for multiple on-going energy efficiency projects with activities ranging from proposal writing and project development to project management and reporting.

Stacy began working at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2014 as a Research Specialist at the Indoor Climate Research & Training group in the Applied Research Institute. She was promoted to Manager of Special Research Projects and Programs in 2020.

Early in her career Stacy combined her interests in community service, sustainability and energy efficiency by volunteering as an AmeriCorps VISTA for two years, first as the Community Energy Efficiency Coordinator at the Pine Mountain Settlement School in Harlan County, KY and later, a Weatherization Assistant at the Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee.

 “Getting to know our project partners, discovering their priorities and ideals, is something that makes me excited to come to work. The best days at work are site visits with program managers and directors to learn about their operations and how our research or recommendations will help them accomplish their goals.”

On the University of Illinois campus, Stacy is appointed by the Illinois Institute for Sustainability, Energy and Environment to serve as the Illinois Climate Acton Plan (iCAP) Resilience Commitment Coordinator and will serve as chairperson for the iCAP Resilience Team during the 2022-2023 school year.  Stacy also serves as the Chair of the Urbana Sustainability Advisory Commission.

Stacy graduated with a M.A. in Appalachian Studies with a Concentration in Sustainable Development from Appalachian State University in Boone, NC in 2009.  She also received her M.S. in Management (2004) and B.S. in Psychology (2003) from the University of Florida in Gainesville.

Stacy is interested in topics such as energy efficiency, home performance, weatherization, indoor air quality, energy resilience, renewable energy, decarbonization, electrification and campus and community sustainability.  While not actively engaging others on sustainability and energy efficiency, Stacy unwinds with competitive sailing with the Clinton Lake Sailing Association in Illinois. She and her husband own a Thistle, a high-performance one-design racing sailboat, named Knot Before Noon.

Business Development Specialist

Anthony Santarelli

Anthony Santarelli supports EnergySense’s statewide programs through partnership development, outreach, and strategic guidance across a range of energy and sustainability initiatives. He manages relationships with clients, municipal partners, business associations, and community groups, with a particular focus on expanding participation in sustainable business engagement programs such as the Illinois Green Business Program. His work advances EnergySense’s mission within the Illinois Innovation Network building stronger connections and delivering impactful solutions across Illinois.

Anthony directly manages a community-based green business program and contributes to several other EnergySense initiatives, drawing on his experience in outreach, consulting, and program design. He regularly works with businesses to assess opportunities, share best practices, and guide sustainability improvements. He also helps shape communications strategies and creates educational materials, including video content and digital media, to strengthen engagement and highlight the impact of EnergySense’s work.

With more than 15 years of experience in sustainability and business engagement, Anthony has developed a strong foundation in program development and relationship-building. Earlier in his career, he co-founded the Illinois Green Business Association, where he helped develop statewide green business certification standards in collaboration with industry experts, led a small-business energy efficiency program, and built partnerships that scaled sustainability efforts across Illinois. He is an experienced public speaker and facilitator who enjoys collaborating with people to create solutions that benefit both businesses and the environment.

Anthony also serves on the leadership team of the Chicago Sustainability Task Force, a network of environmental professionals dedicated to addressing sustainability challenges through local action. Through his involvement, he connects innovative green businesses and sustainability leaders statewide, helping organizations exchange knowledge and collaborate on building a more sustainable future.

Anthony holds a degree in Environmental Economics and Policy from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling to beaches around the world and making funky music with friends.

Energy Engineer

Robert Schlorff

Robert Schlorff joined EnergySense Resilience Center in August of 2022. He works as part of the technical support staff on energy code compliance, energy assessments, site visits and educational content including webinars, publications, online modules and workshops.  

Robert became a licensed Architect in the state of Illinois in February of 2020. He received a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies in 2015 and a Master of Architecture in 2018, both from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. During graduate school Robert became a teaching assistant at the University of Illinois School of Architecture and helped to develop and teach new freshman level architecture courses in fall of 2017 and spring of 2018. After graduation Robert returned as an adjunct professor in the fall of 2019 and spring of 2021 teaching junior level architecture studio courses.

Robert pursued an architectural education in order to follow his childhood curiosities about how the world, and in particular buildings work. After school and a few years of traditional architecture practice, working primarily on commercial buildings and tenant fit-out projects, Robert decided to dig deeper into the topic of building science to better understand the design of resilient and efficient structures. Robert’s work at EnergySense allows him to research the latest concepts and technologies that result in sustainable buildings and gives him the opportunity to share this knowledge with a broad audience. As one of the primary presenters and content developers for the Illinois energy code training program Robert is able to engage the Illinois design community, share information and resources, explain why building energy codes exist, and help to translate their requirements into plain English. By taking part in energy efficiency assessments for community colleges, municipalities, and businesses across the state Robert is able to walk through existing buildings with owners and facility personnel to share insights and new ideas or technologies that may help improve their operations and result in increased efficiency and resiliency. Through this work, Robert’s drive is to help improve new and existing buildings so they can continue serving our communities for generations to come.   

Program Data & Reporting Coordinator

Abby Woodruff

Abby Woodruff has served as  Data and Reporting Coordinator at EnergySense Resilience Center since 2016 and is responsible for much of their behind-the-scenes operations. She provides support for many EnergySense programs, including data collection and quality control, deliverable tracking, report development and delivery, and financial administration. She also coordinates EnergySense’s website, video conferencing, information technology, and office operations.

After a career as a CPA, Abby transitioned to environmental work as operations manager for a group of faculty and graduate students at the Carnegie Institution for Science’s Department of Global Ecology at Stanford University. She has a BS in Earth and Environmental Sciences from the University of Michigan and a MS in Accountancy from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign. She is a Licensed Registered CPA in Illinois.

In her spare time, Abby enjoys spending time with her adult children in Chicago and extended family in Michigan.

Publications Coordinator

Rich Foss

Rich Foss joined EnergySense in March 2023. He has been a college English teacher at several colleges across the United States and over the course of a 25-year teaching career has taught literature and film courses, College Writing 1 and 2, remedial, and advanced writing courses, as well as Business Writing, Writing for Law Enforcement, and Creative Writing.

“Working at EnergySense, I have been able to repurpose my writing and teaching knowledge and skills, and my volunteer experience to help accomplish important work. EnergySense has granted me a wealth of new knowledge, and new skills and become well-practiced at those skills in this new role through daily collaboration with my talented and generous colleagues.”

Rich works on a wide range of projects, helping each project manager with writing, editing, researching. Rich works on the development and composition of a wide range of documents from technical analysis to blogs to social media and the newsletter, writing and editing our website, social media posts, and creating and editing various documents.

He is married and has three kids.  He’s interested in teaching, reading, coaching soccer, cheering on the Bulls and Bears, but mostly spending time with his family. The arrival of his daughter Zoey caused Rich to more closely examine the science on climate change. The alarming facts encouraged him to begin working to help solve the climate crisis, first by teaching a climate themed writing course at Lewis University, and as a volunteer member of the climate action group 350 Chicago and now working for EnergySense He received his PhD from Western Michigan University in English and Poetry Writing in 2007.

Workforce Program Specialist

Gia Suggs

Dr. Gia Suggs is an EnergySense consultant, with a specific area of expertise in workforce development. She brings over 25 years of experience as an organization development professional, adult learner expert, skilled instructional designer, and professional coach.

Dr. Gia has a proven track record of effectively assessing organizational needs, developing and implementing recommendations for improved outcomes, and evaluating results. Highly engaging and extremely influential, Dr. Gia works with identified partners to design highly successful organization development interventions and operationalize processes.

Her recent work focuses on providing support to government, community-based organizations, and coalitions that receive DCEO funding to help create a robust pipeline of Illinois residents who are excited and qualified to enter the climate, construction, and building trades.

Gia is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health. She served for seven years on the board of the Association for Talen Development Chicago Chapter (ATDChi) as the Director of Professional Development Networks (PDNs).  She is currently an executive board member of Young Invincibles (YI). Of all her roles, she is most proud of being GiGi to two beautiful young girls and quite the handsome little boy.

Dr. Suggs is also a loyal and dedicated fan of the Beloved Chicago Bears!

Net Zero & Sustainability Research Coordinator

David Nguyen

David Nguyen serves as the Net Zero & Sustainability Research Coordinator, working to promote and facilitate climate action planning initiatives with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. He also supports the IGEN EBECC program through event coordination and goal tracking.

David had previously served as a research assistant at the University of Illinois’s Institute of Genomic Biology. He became interested in sustainability after working with the lab’s genetically modified crop programs. Outside of the university, David has held positions with both the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts and the Illinois Department of Agriculture. During this period, he gained experience in conservation software and engineering programs to assist landowners in implementing regenerative agricultural practices, contributing to conservation initiatives like the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy.

David received his bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Outside of the office, David enjoys learning about natural history, frequently reading the latest news in zoology and paleontology topics.

Energy Engineering Research Specialist

Grishma Dahal

Grishma Raj Dahal, EIT, is an Energy Engineering Research Specialist at EnergySense Resilience Center. His background is in distributed clean energy, energy efficiency, energy policy, and energy economics. His work has included research on vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and building electrification projects, financial modeling for solar and battery investments in disadvantaged communities, and predictive modeling for renewable energy integration. He holds a Master’s in Energy Technology and Policy from Cal Poly Humboldt and undergraduate degree in Agricultural Engineering (Renewable Energy Focus) from Institute of Engineering (IOE), Nepal.

Outside of work, Grishma enjoys soccer, chess, hiking, watching movies, learning about space science, connecting with nature, and just casually discussing random topics with friends.  He also enjoys watching YouTube videos. For example – Siberian wilderness and how people live in such an extreme climate, human habitants in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, and mysterious events that were never decoded.

Green Business Outreach Specialist

Jennifer Rebollo

Jennifer Rebollo, also known as Jai, is EnergySense’s Green Business Outreach Specialist, amplifying EnergySense’s mission and programs to small businesses in Illinois. Jai received her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the University of Tampa in 2024. She also studied Film and Media Arts during her undergraduate years, developing a passion for both film and environmental topics.

As a Mexican American, Jai holds a strong sense of cultural identity, which she explores through her creative works in her free time. She enjoys mediums such as scriptwriting, filmmaking, beadwork, and more. She continues to engage with the local film community through various roles, including working as a projectionist at the Chicago Underground Film Festival (CUFF).

As both an environmentalist and filmmaker, Jai hopes to create educational and entertaining films for the public.

“As I got older, I realized that it is difficult to find media that mixes educational and entertaining content so the public can watch without feeling like they are in a BIO 101 class. This is what made me want to combine both interests of mine.”

Energy Code Trainer

Tommy Zakrzewski

Dr. Tommy Zakrzewski serves as an Academic Energy Code Trainer working to engage diverse stakeholders in program outreach and educational activities. He earned his PhD in Civil Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in August 2017.

Dr. Zakrzewski’s professional experience includes over 18 years of blending architectural design and engineering principles in the built environment. He works collaboratively to optimize the physical characteristics of buildings and integrates high-performance building systems to balance energy demands, exploit natural energy sources and minimize the reliance on carbon-based energy sources. As a subject matter expert in sustainable design and building engineering physics, he investigates areas of natural science that relate to the performance of buildings, architectural form and envelopes and their indoor and outdoor environments and contributors such as biology, materials science, and the psychology and comfort of humans.

Additionally, Dr. Zakrzewski is an Adjunct Professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology within the Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering. His course offerings include Building Enclosure Design and Applied Building Energy Modeling. He also serves on the current IBPSA-USA Board of Directors and as a member of the USGBC LEED Energy & Atmosphere Technical Advisory Group (TAG).