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.

5
Admin Team
18
Board Members
17
Emeritus Members
6
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.

05 Members
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
Yong Gao
Jr. Business Intelligence Analyst
Benicia, CA
Information Technology
Luke Elliott
Ops Support Senior 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 Underground Construction and Island Mechanical 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.

18 Members
Adrian Segura
Superintendent
Benicia, CA
NorCal Gas
Alex Layeghi
Project Engineer
Benicia, CA
Electric Transmission
Art DeLeon
Director of DOT
Benicia, CA
DOT
Chris Troia
Equipment Manager
Benicia, CA
Fleet
Citadel Magday
Safety Admin Manager
Benicia, CA
Safety
Denise Salva
Senior Project Manager
Benicia, CA
Electric Line
Devin Lagorio
Estimator
Escondido, CA
Preconstruction
Elisa Dombrowski
AP / AR Manager
Benicia, CA
Accounting
Eric Simmons
Yard Foreman
Benicia, CA
Fleet
Jordan Gall
Sr. Project Manager
Benicia, CA
NorCal Gas
Lynn Goins
AP Specialist
Benicia, CA
Accounting
Maria Alarcon
Payroll Manager
Benicia, CA
Payroll
Monica Diggs
Project Manager
Kapolei, HI
Operations
Paige Owen
Project Controls Coordinator
Benicia, CA
Project Controls
Robert Hartsock
Sr. Project Manager
Ontario, CA
SoCal Gas
Robert O’Brien
Safety Manager
Kapolei, HI
Safety
Samantha Poling
Project Manager
Benicia, CA
Electric Civil
Will Cope
Director, Electric Civil
Benicia, CA
Electric 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.

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

06 Members
Brian Bohannon
Superintendent
Placerville, CA
Electric Civil
Dave Smith
Superintendent
Benicia, CA
NorCal Gas
Joe Froome
Director of Health and Safety
Benicia, CA
Safety
Mark Pracanica
Director of Operations, Southern California
Ontario, CA
Ops Support
Ray Lemen
Director of Operations Support
Benicia, CA
Ops Support
Ryan “Ted” Griffith
General Superintendent
Benicia, CA
Electric Civil
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.