RENEW Wisconsin is a nonprofit organization that promotes renewable energy in Wisconsin. We work on policies and programs that expand solar power, wind power, renewable fuels, local hydropower, building electrification, energy storage, and electric vehicles. Since 1991 we have been a champion for clean energy solutions in the Badger State.
Why do we support renewable energy?

It’s made in Wisconsin. We’re proud of our state and what we make here. We believe we can use our own resources to produce our own energy.

It’s good for our economy. Transitioning to renewable energy will create thousands of good-paying local jobs and keep our energy dollars in Wisconsin.

It saves money for our businesses and families. Renewable sources like wind and solar are the most cost-effective way to generate electricity, which saves money for everyone.

It means protecting our water and lands. Clean energy helps to preserve Wisconsin’s resources for future generations.
Our Team
Our Staff and Board of Directors bring a diverse set of passions and skills to fulfill our shared vision of renewable energy powering a prosperous Wisconsin.

Heather Allen
Policy Advisor
608-255-4044, ext. 1
email Heather
Growing up in Madison, WI, I developed a deep appreciation for the natural environment and, ultimately, a career focused on science and policy.
full bio
After earning my Master’s in International Environmental Policy at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, I worked in Washington D.C. at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and later at the Natural Resources Defense Council. In these roles, I advanced international scientific cooperation, strategies to adapt to climate change, and efforts to promote access to safe water and sanitation worldwide. After migrating back to Madison, I managed policy and programs for the Clean Lakes Alliance, served as the Legislative Analyst for the City of Madison, and joined Renew in 2018. I am excited to be part of the global transformation to clean energy while building momentum for renewables in my home state.

Jodi Jean Amble
Deputy Director / Communications Director
608-255-4044, ext. 3
email Jodi
I’m proud to be working with this tenacious and talented team to help build a cleaner, stronger, and smarter Wisconsin.
full bio
I joined RENEW in June 2017 as the communications and events lead. I was the Marketing Coordinator at Norcon, Inc., a general contractor in Chicago, for eight years, where I managed all of the firm’s marketing efforts, initiated a recycling program, and supported their build-out and relocation to a LEED Gold Certified office building. My husband Aaron and I moved our family from Chicago at the end of 2015 and we’re so happy to be “back home” with our daughter Ada (b. 09.18.14) and son Enzo (b. 06.26.16). In addition, I’m proud to be working with this tenacious and talented team to help build a cleaner, stronger, and smarter Wisconsin. When not at RENEW, you can find me exploring the city with my family or singing with some of Madison’s finest musicians.

Christina Burzinski
Administrative Coordinator
608-255-4044, ext. 6
email Christina
I have always wanted to work helping others and the environment, so this position is the perfect niche. While I may be new to the renewable energy sector, I am excited to learn more and help connect individuals, nonprofits, and other businesses to RENEW’s various programs.
full bio
I grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, so I know how important clean energy is to our environment and community. After high school, I studied Religion and Communications at MATC and Luther College. In 2020, I graduated from Madison College with my Associate’s Degree in Business Management. I have worked for the last 16 years in nonprofit and religious sectors, and I am excited to start my career with RENEW continuing to help our community. Outside of work, I serve on the Board of Directors for Access to Independence, a local nonprofit working to help support people with disabilities (and their families) to access services and tools that allow them to live fuller, richer lives. I have always wanted to work helping others and the environment, so this position is the perfect niche. While I may be new to the renewable energy sector, I am excited to learn more and help connect individuals, nonprofits, and other businesses to RENEW’s various programs.

Lauren Cohen
Program Coordinator
608-255-4044, ext. 11
email Lauren
I’m incredibly excited to have joined such a knowledgeable and committed team that shares my passion for the environment and works toward building a more sustainable future for the state of Wisconsin.
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I grew up in Scottsdale, AZ, and moved to Wisconsin in 2018, where I attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison. There, I studied Psychology and Conservation Biology while receiving a minor in Environmental Studies. I graduated in December of 2021 and have since worked in retail. I am thrilled to begin my career with RENEW, utilizing my skills in connecting with individuals and communities while growing and refining my passion for environmentalism. I am excited to learn more about renewable energy and its possibilities in the state of Wisconsin. Outside of work, you can almost always find me outside: running, hiking, or just walking around, exploring all that Madison has to offer.

Jaime Craig
Development Director
608-255-4044, ext. 7
email Jaime
I’m thrilled to work for an organization where I can utilize my skills while satisfying my love of environmental issues and the personal responsibility I feel toward my community and the planet.
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I was raised in the Milwaukee area and have always been a lover of all things Wisconsin. I enjoy the natural beauty of our state parks and many rivers and spend my free time exploring the state with my family. After earning my bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, I spent much of my career as a Corporate Event Planner in the Madison and Milwaukee areas. In addition, I ran a CSA and market garden with my family in Green County, Wisconsin, for almost a decade. I am currently working on obtaining my Masters in Communications from UW- Madison. When the pandemic hit, I decided to reevaluate and make a career change into renewable energy. I’m thrilled to work for an organization where I can utilize my skills while satisfying my love of environmental issues and the personal responsibility I feel toward my community and the planet. When not working, you will find me hiking and camping with my husband and five children, canning and cooking our garden veggies, and working on stained glass art, one of my favorite hobbies.

Sam Dunaiski
Executive Director
608-255-4044, ext. 5
email Sam
I’m thrilled to be using my knowledge and background to help move Wisconsin toward a clean, sustainable energy future.
full bio
I grew up outside Duluth, MN on a 42.5-acre Christmas tree farm that my parents still live on. In college, I attended University of Wisconsin-Madison where I earned my bachelors in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. Before joining RENEW in 2018, I worked as a meteorologist making forecasts for utilities, radio stations, farming groups, and other clients across the central U.S. My work led me to become very passionate about climate change, and when my family moved from the Twin Cities back to Madison, I decided to make a career change. I’m thrilled to be using my knowledge and background to help move Wisconsin toward a clean, sustainable energy future. In my spare time, I love to run, ski, and cook. I also enjoy camping trips with my wife, Maggie, and our son Ted, who was born in 2013.

Heather Hanson
Accounting Manager
608-255-4044, ext. 10
email Heather
I joined RENEW in October 2022 and am thrilled to be working for a nonprofit focused on renewable energy in Wisconsin.
full bio
I grew up in St. Paul, MN and first moved to Madison in 2004 to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I graduated in 2008 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and spent the first 10 years of my career as a Manufacturing Engineer and Continuous Improvement Leader. We moved back to Madison in 2014, and I joined a nonprofit board of directors. This volunteer experience led to my career pivot to nonprofit finance in 2020 and have since received a Nonprofit Accounting Professional certificate. I joined RENEW in October 2022 and am thrilled to be working for a nonprofit focused on renewable energy in Wisconsin. When not at RENEW, our family loves to adventure. You can find my partner and me along with our 3 kids, ages 10, 8, and 6, exploring Madison by bike or hiking in the woods.

Julia Holzschuh
Communications and Events Coordinator
608-255-4044, ext. 12
email Julia
I grew up in Wisconsin and have always been passionate about the environment, which makes having a career at RENEW all the more exciting and satisfying.
full bio
I joined the RENEW team in January of 2023 after graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in Public Relations and Political Science and moving to Madison. I grew up in Wisconsin and have always been passionate about the environment, which makes having a career at RENEW all the more exciting and satisfying. I’m excited to see what I can learn from RENEW’s team and cannot wait to learn more about renewable opportunities and the renewable energy community! I enjoy spoiling my cats, Mai and Milo, drawing, or finding my newest comfort candle in my free time.

Andrew Kell
Policy Director
608-255-4044, ext. 8
email Andrew
I believe that renewable energy is the key to bring communities together, decarbonize our energy infrastructure, and create economic development throughout Wisconsin.
full bio
I grew up in a small rural town north of Green Bay, and not long after getting an English degree at UW-Oshkosh, I served in Peace Corps-Kazakhstan. Upon returning to Wisconsin from abroad, I decided to further my education in energy and environmental policy and completed a graduate degree through the La Follette School of Public Affairs at UW-Madison. After grad school, I worked ten years at the Public Service Commission, where I concentrated on renewable energy policy, wholesale electricity markets, and retail rate design. I’m excited to be a new team member at RENEW Wisconsin and continue doing the good work on policies that push renewable energy and electric vehicle infrastructure forward.

Francisco J. Sayu
Emerging Technology Director
608-255-4044, ext. 9
email Francisco
I am grateful to call Wisconsin home, and I am thrilled to play a role in our transition to clean, renewable, and affordable energy.
full bio
I moved to Madison to attend the University of Wisconsin and discovered my passion for sustainability as a young engineer working in health care facilities throughout the Midwest. I returned to the University of Wisconsin in 2013 to earn my Master’s in Sustainable Systems Engineering and have dedicated my career to advancing energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Before Joining RENEW, I served as the Program Manager for the Focus on Energy® New Construction Solution, a statewide program that empowers the people and businesses of Wisconsin to make decisions that save energy and money.
In addition to my work at RENEW, I am the Founder of BikEquity Inc, a nonprofit organization that provides resources, mentorship, and education so that everyone can enjoy cycling regardless of income, age, race, or ability.
I am grateful to call Wisconsin home, and I am thrilled to play a role in our transition to clean, renewable, and affordable energy. When not at RENEW, you can find me swimming at Spirit Lake (aka Devil’s Lake) or playing in the backyard with my wife, kids, dogs, and chickens.

Michael Vickerman
Clean Energy Deployment Manager
608-255-4044, ext. 2
email Michael
Renewable energy is no longer an alternative, but the real deal, and an agricultural and a manufacturing state like Wisconsin should embrace it with open arms.
full bio
I was hired by RENEW back in 1991 to manage an intervention before the Public Service Commission, and I feel privileged to have worked for the organization ever since. It has truly been a fantastic learning experience. In my 23 years with RENEW, the renewable energy arena has blossomed from an idealistic endeavor on the margins to a mainstream business activity. Renewable energy is no longer an alternative, but the real deal, and an agricultural and a manufacturing state like Wisconsin should embrace it with open arms. I am a long-time Wisconsinite, starting at age seven when my family moved to Milwaukee. A graduate of UW-Madison in 1978, I live in Madison with my wife Pamela. Now that our son is grown and living in Chicago, we spend many days circulating around town on our bicycles and venturing into the Dane County countryside. We also make extensive use of the sunlight radiating on our East Side residence to grow vegetables and dry clothes outside, as well as heat the water and power the household inside.

Beata Wierzba
Government Affairs Director
608-255-4044, ext. 4
email Beata
I joined RENEW as Director of Government Affairs in February of 2023. My past roles focused on advancing legislative proposals and statewide policy changes, fueling my passion for advocacy. I look forward to working for this great organization to advance renewable energy.
full bio
I joined RENEW as Director of Government Affairs in February of 2023. My past roles focused on advancing legislative proposals and statewide policy changes, fueling my passion for advocacy. I look forward to working for this great organization to advance renewable energy. Energy and utility-related issues are not new to me as I worked for the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association at the state level, as well as the national group, for 17 years. My accomplishments include helping 28 proposals become law during that time. My experience also includes building member engagement, political involvement, event planning and fostering lasting relationships with elected officials.
Prior to lobbying, I worked in the state legislature for several years, starting as a senate messenger while earning my sociology degree from UW-Madison, followed by various roles including staffing the agriculture committee.
When not working, I enjoy spending time with my family, gardening, and traveling.
RENEW Board of Directors
Amy Seebooth-Wilson • President
Platteville, WI
Jim Funk • Vice President
Winneconne, WI
Mike Barnett • Treasurer
Madison, WI
Beth Esser • Secretary
Monona, WI
Mike Cornell
Hartland, WI
Samara Hamzé
Stevens Point, WI
Alicia Leinberger
Viroqua, WI
Mariah Lynne
Albert Lea, MN
Jessica Niekrasz
Chicago, IL
Lauren Reeg
Boulder, CO
Josh Stolzenberg
Wausau, WI
Eric Udelhofen
Madison, WI
Ken Walz
Madison, WI
Niels Wolter
Madison, WI
DIRECTOR EMERITUS • Lifetime • Non-voting
Don Wichert
Madison, WI