The Academy — Team
Team
Meet The People

The Academy
Team

Identify · Implement · Track Training

The people who run, govern, advise, and advocate for The Academy — from program operations to active governance to grassroots advocacy — spanning every operating company we serve.

4
Admin Team
29
Board Members
18
Emeritus Members
5
Ambassadors
Program Operations

Admin Team

The Academy Admin Team handles day-to-day program operations — coordinating training delivery, supporting Board decisions, and keeping the program running smoothly across every operating company we serve.

04 Members
Mike Olds
Vice President – Operations Support
Vacaville, CA
Ops Support
Thiel Harryman
Vice President of Operations
Benicia, CA
Executive
Maddie Harte
Human Resources Specialist
Benicia, CA
Human Resources
Ally Ballinger
Marketing Administrator
Benicia, CA
Ops Support
Program Operations

The Admin Team is the engine behind every Academy initiative — turning Board decisions into action and keeping training delivery on track for every operating company.

Active Governance

Board Members

The Academy Board brings together leaders from across our operating companies who actively govern, shape, and steward the program's direction. Each member holds a voting seat on key decisions about curriculum, competency pathways, and how training is delivered to every employee.

29 Members
Eric Simmons
Yard Foreman
Benicia, CA
Fleet
Tatiana Orozco Calderon
Accounts Payable Specialist
Benicia, CA
Accounting
Citadel Magday
Safety Admin Manager
Benicia, CA
Safety
Denise Salva
Senior Project Manager
Benicia, CA
Electric Line
Stephanie Brandt
Junior Staff Accountant
Benicia, CA
Accounting
Monica Diggs
Project Manager
Kapolei, HI
Project Management
Jordan Gall
Project Manager
Benicia, CA
NorCal Gas
Alex Layeghi
Project Engineer
Benicia, CA
Electric Transmission
Adrian Segura
Foreman
Benicia, CA
NorCal Gas
Chris Troia
Equipment Manager
Benicia, CA
Fleet
Art DeLeon
Director of DOT
Benicia, CA
DOT
Dallas Marshall
Business Operations Manager
Vacaville, CA
PG&E
Robert O’Brien
Safety Manager
Kapolei, HI
Safety
Chase Norlin
SVP – Operations
Escondido, CA
Executive
Daisy Hernandez
Office Manager
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
SCE
Nancy Merletter
Director of Operations, Finance
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Finance
Crystal Vallecillo
Project Coordinator
Escondido, CA
SDG&E
Tanner Lewis
Senior Project Manager
Vacaville, CA
PG&E
Katrina Smith
Regional Controller
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Finance
Mike Lagier
Project Coordinator
Vacaville, CA
PG&E
Elisa Dombrowski
AP / AR Manager
Benicia, CA
Accounting
Kenna Neal
Business Manager
Escondido, CA
SDG&E
Greg Keyser
Fleet Operations Manager
Escondido, CA
Fleet
Jess Mereno
Project Manager
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Substation / BESS
Paige Owen
Project Controls Coordinator
Benicia, CA
Project Controls
Robert Hartsock
Project Manager
Ontario, CA
SoCal Gas
Lynn Goins
AP Specialist
Benicia, CA
Accounting
Maria Alarcon
Payroll Manager
Benicia, CA
Payroll
Nathan Ono
Project Manager / Estimator
Fontana, CA
EV / Civil
The Board's Charge

Board Members are the stewards of The Academy's mission. Their decisions shape how every employee across our operating companies learns, grows, and builds the competencies needed to perform safely and effectively.

Distinguished Advisory

Emeritus Members

Emeritus Board Members are individuals recognized for distinguished service to The Academy and lasting contributions to employee development across our operating companies. They serve in an advisory capacity, sharing institutional knowledge and mentoring the next generation of leaders.

18 Members
Ken Villarete
Field Safety Training Manager
Benicia, CA
Safety
Brittany Warner
Human Resources Manager
Benicia, CA
Human Resources
Rocky Baker
OQ / Quality Compliance Manager
Ontario, CA
Quality
Kevin Salazar
OQ Quality & Compliance Specialist
Benicia, CA
Quality
Anthony Stearns
Application Solutions Lead
Remote
Information Technology
Samantha Poling
Project Manager
Benicia, CA
Electric Civil
Tammy Nguyen
Program Coordinator
Benicia, CA
Project Controls
Darrel “Blu” Sanders
Sr. OQ Instructor / Quality Inspector
Benicia, CA
Quality
Sam Corum
Human Resources Coordinator
Benicia, CA
Human Resources
Erika Stewart
Associate Project Manager
Benicia, CA
Electric Transmission
Brian Donecker
Vice President of Health & Safety
Benicia, CA
Safety
Bianca Rodriguez
Senior Project Manager
Benicia, CA
Electric Transmission
Michell Remley
Project Manager
Benicia, CA
Electric Transmission
Kamaile Aluli
Project Manager
Kapolei, HI
Project Management
Kimberly Beaver
Office Manager
Kapolei, HI
Administration
Josh DeLeon
Director of Fleet
Benicia, CA
Fleet
Sergon Attisha
Director of Operations Northern California
Benicia, CA
NorCal Gas
Akhilesh Charitra
DOT Administrator
Benicia, CA
DOT
The Emeritus Legacy

The Emeritus role ensures that institutional knowledge is preserved, passed forward, and continuously used to strengthen The Academy's ability to equip every employee with the tools, knowledge, and skills they need.

Community Engagement

Academy Ambassadors

Ambassadors are The Academy's frontline advocates — employees who believe in workforce development and carry the program's mission into their teams, job sites, and operating companies. They model a culture of continuous learning every day.

05 Members
Ray Lemen
Director of Operations Support
Benicia, CA
Ops Support
Dave Smith
Superintendent
Benicia, CA
NorCal Gas
Mark Pracanica
Director of Operations, Southern California
Ontario, CA
Ops Support
Ryan “Ted” Griffith
General Superintendent
Benicia, CA
Electric Civil
Joe Froome
Director of Health and Safety
Benicia, CA
Safety
The Ambassador's Reach

Ambassadors are the human connection between The Academy and the workforce. Their enthusiasm, visibility, and everyday example turn a training program into a living culture of growth and excellence.