Powering the Future: Opportunities and Challenges by Growing Energy Demand

Powering the Future: Opportunities and Challenges Created by Growing Energy Demand. A Panel Discussion hosted by WRISE Colorado, WiMCO, and root/edge

Join us for a morning of conversation, connection, and breakfast as leaders from across energy, infrastructure, and technology come together to discuss one of the most pressing questions facing the power sector today: how is the energy mix evolving to meet rapidly accelerating demand?

As digital infrastructure growth and the shift toward electrifications continues to accelerate, the demand for energy resources in the United States is moving to outpace supply. The panel will discuss the new opportunities and complex challenges that demand growth is creating for generation and infrastructure development, grid reliability, the utility regulatory environment, and project financing.

Date: Thursday, June 11, 2026

Time: 8:00 – 10:00 AM MT (networking and breakfast before and after the panel)

Location: RES Americas offices, 1601 19th Street, Denver, CO. Suite 300. Enter the building on the 19th st side, or through McGregor square. The "McGregor Square offices" has a front desk on the 19th st side. There is a front desk person who can help direct.

Parking: LAZ Parking at 1899 Wynkoop is the closest to the event.

This event is open to professionals working across energy, power, and infrastructure.

Space is limited so please be sure to register ASAP via WRISE Colorado's Eventbrite page

Panelists:

Colleen Christmas-Garner, MBA Colleen is a Denver-based energy executive with over 26 years of experience spanning power engineering, EPC project management, and utility-scale renewable energy development. As Director of Development at Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc., she leads wind and solar initiatives across major U.S. markets including SPP, ERCOT, MISO, PJM, WECC, and SERC. Her career path from electrical engineer to development leader gives her a rare combination of technical depth and commercial strategy, with expertise in interconnection, permitting, portfolio financial modeling, and stakeholder engagement. https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-christmas-garner-mba-70b08413/

Leah Kaffine Leah is a Principal of Energy Strategy at CoreWeave, where she provides technical leadership across power and infrastructure strategy with a focus on load interconnection and energy market participation. Her career spans wholesale electricity markets, quantitative modeling, and energy systems planning across organizations including Pattern Energy, Hitachi Energy, GE Power, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. She is known for translating complex grid and market dynamics into actionable, real-world decisions. https://www.linkedin.com/in/lkaffine/

Jessica Diorio Jessica is a Vice President at RCLCO Fund Advisors, where she supports institutional real estate investors through customized consulting and advisory solutions grounded in deep analytical expertise. Her 15-plus year career includes senior roles at Black Creek Group, HFF, and CBRE Global Investors, with experience spanning acquisitions, asset management, and investment sales across major U.S. markets. She holds a master's degree in Real Estate from Georgetown University and a BA in Economics and International Studies from Boston College. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicadickinson/

Alice Yake (Jackson) Alice is a VP of GRIDS at Breakthrough Energy, where her team is working to accelerate the global transition to zero-carbon electricity by developing shared datasets, scalable tools, and repeatable processes for grid design and operations. Before joining Breakthrough Energy, she spent 14 years at Xcel Energy in progressive leadership roles, including President of Xcel Energy Colorado and SVP and Chief Planning Officer, where she oversaw system strategy, regulatory affairs, and long-range planning. With a career rooted in energy trading, regulation, and grid operations across ERCOT, SPP, and beyond, Alice brings a rare blend of technical, commercial, and executive leadership to the energy transition. https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicekyake/

Chelsea Williams is the Co-Founder and CFO of Data Center Energy Solutions, where she focuses on developing powered land for the next generation of AI and hyperscale data center infrastructure. With more than 13 years of experience in energy finance, corporate development, strategy, and infrastructure transactions, she has helped lead over $1 billion in capital markets and strategic deals across the energy sector. Chelsea is passionate about bridging energy and technology to accelerate scalable, reliable power solutions for the AI economy. She is a Denver-based professional, a mom, a Colorado State University graduate, and mentor to female founders.https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-williams-6379272b/

Moderated by: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindyprefling/Mindy Prefling Mindy is the Managing Partner of root/edge, a boutique recruitment firm focused on clean energy, power infrastructure, and digital infrastructure. With nearly 15 years in talent and leadership search, she has built a reputation for connecting high-impact professionals with mission-driven organizations across the energy sector. A two-time SIA honoree recognized for both influence and DE&I leadership, Mindy brings a people-first, data-driven approach to building teams that are ready for the future of energy.

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