Jennifer Rouda - Founder & Principal
Jennifer has more than 25 years of experience in strategic environmental planning and risk mitigation for electric transmission, clean energy, and storage industries. She currently supports multiple renewable energy projects and initiatives, and her clients have included HP, Inc., The Nature Conservancy, Adapture Renewables, Atlantica, Rye Development, Radia, JERA, Southern California Edison, National Grid, Roeslein, Sempra Renewables, the Hoopa Valley Tribe, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, Yakama Power, and Warm Springs Power & Water Enterprises. Jennifer is adept at building and supervising large teams, working on executive strategic initiatives, and overseeing innovative energy projects, plans, and programs. Her skills include energy project risk assessment, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) planning, electric transmission route selection, renewables siting and permitting, and due diligence. She was formerly the head of technical and financial assistance for the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy, a developer for Navajo Power, PBC, the vice president of environmental development for Abengoa T&I, a global project account manager for CH2M Hill Engineering, and a principal planner at Ecology and Environment, Inc. She currently serves on the boards of Solar Oregon and Sustainable Northwest and is pursuing a PhD in engineering sciences part-time at the University of Oxford. Refer to LinkedIn for further details about Jennifer's background and experience, and here for project feedback received.
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David Harper - Executive Officer & Tribal Liaison
David has more than 30 years of experience in Indigenous governance, cultural preservation, and policy development. As an executive officer and Tribal liaison for 7Skyline, he has led Tribal outreach efforts for utility-scale solar and energy storage projects with more than 50 Tribes throughout the Western United States, always with the same purpose: to ensure decision-making remains rooted in Tribal sovereignty, traditions, and collective strength with a focus on serving the people today and in future generations. David also directed Tribal engagement efforts for the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and served as the development Tribal liaison for Navajo Power, PBC. A member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, David was the first director of their Tribal Historic Preservation Office (THPO), establishing the office, developing its codes and ordinances, and securing $9 million in funding in its first year and $6 million in its second, ensuring long-term cultural preservation and governance autonomy. As both a consultant and THPO director, David has worked on many Western energy projects, including the Genesis Solar Energy Project with NextEra Energy, the Blythe Solar I and II Projects with First Solar, the Desert Quartzite Solar Project with Renewable Energy, the Palen Solar Project with EDF Renewable Energy, and Swan Lake North Pumped Storage. He has established cultural monitoring program budgets, scopes of work, and schedules and handled contracting arrangements for extensive Tribal cultural monitoring programs. He co-authored Voices From the West: Findings from Interviews Regarding Energy on Tribal Lands with The Nature Conservancy, focusing on Indigenous stewardship and conservation efforts.
David is currently active in the campaign to protect the Chuckwalla National Monument, collaborating with stakeholders led by Former Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. He authored the Proclamation for Chuckwalla, advocating for Indigenous land rights and protection of the sacred space. In 2024, he was one of 87 Indigenous leaders from 35 countries behind the Conference on Indigenous Peoples and the Just Transition, held alongside the 23rd Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. In 2015, David partnered with the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) to develop reburial rights and cultural consultation protocols later adopted by NCAI. In 1987, he was appointed as a traditional spokesman for the Mohave people, a position he holds to this day. David was also a founding board member and chairman of Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice and served on the board of the Betty Ford Center and as the chairman of the Colorado River branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Refer to LinkedIn for further details about David’s background and experience.
Alisha O’Connell - Vice President & Interconnection Manager
An enrolled member of the Penobscot Nation and a Passamaquoddy Tribal member, Alisha is part of 7Skyline’s leadership team, responsible for business and staff development, as well as day-to-day staff and project management. She also manages Tribal grant and technical assistance projects alongside 7Skyline partner technical organizations. Within the past year, she has assisted Tribes in securing one of the Department of Energy’s Energy Transitions Initiative Partnership Project (ETIPP) technical assistance awards, multiple grants and philanthropic funding opportunities. Alisha presented Powering Sovereignty: How Tribal Nations Navigate Energy Discrimination to Build Resilient Communities at the Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE) Leadership Forum in Washington, DC. She also led the coordination for Power Up Community Energy Symposiums with the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point and the Penobscot Nation at Indian Island.
Previously, Alisha worked as the policy program manager with the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy following eight years in public health. She gained valuable experience with the Immunization Division at DC Health, where she helped set and implement strategic priorities for the Vaccines for Children Program and analyzed the District of Columbia’s COVID-19 vaccine rates during the pandemic response. Alisha holds bachelor's degrees in economics and biology and a master’s in public health with a concentration in health policy and management. She has maintained her Project Management Professional credential since 2021. Alisha is a member of the board of St. Regis Solar Hydrogen, The Nature Conservancy's Renewable Energy for People and Planet Standards steering committee, and WRISE. Refer to LinkedIn for further details about Alisha's background and experience.
William Peterson - Finance & Human Resources Manager
Bill joined 7Skyline at its inception in 2016 and currently manages the company's financial and human resource functions. He brings forty years of financial leadership experience at a variety of firms and organizations. Previously the branch manager for Portland Teachers Credit Union in Hillsboro, Oregon, Bill has also served in management roles at First Interstate Bank of Oregon, First National Bank of Oregon, H&R Block, and Century 21 Real Estate in Oregon.
Rob Peterson - Senior Projects & Administrative Manager
Rob is part of 7Skyline’s leadership team, overseeing 7Skyline financial, contracting, and administrative management, as well as serving as a project manager for complex energy permitting projects. Rob has 15 years of experience managing environmental reviews for energy infrastructure projects and a PhD in education. Before joining 7Skyline, he was a supervisor in the California Public Utility Commission’s California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance section. He has a diverse background in utility regulation and policy development, energy consulting, public outreach, environmental planning (CEQA and National Environmental Policy Act [NEPA]), research, publishing, and technical training. At 7Skyline, he supports renewable energy siting efforts for Tribal nations and developers, the development of reports, energy project documentation, and grant applications and management. His current projects include an innovative $155-million, up to 200-megawatt Tribe-owned, -constructed, and -operated solar facility being developed by the Yakama Nation’s Tribal utility, Yakama Power. Rob is involved in securing grant funding and supporting the NEPA review process. Refer to LinkedIn for further details about Rob’s background and experience.
Kristin Weinberger - Senior Editor
Kristin has more than 25 years of experience in editing and project management and eight years of experience specific to energy planning. Since joining 7Skyline, she has helped Tribes, Tribal enterprises, and developers collaborating with Tribes produce grant applications, energy plans, and planning documents. Since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, Kristin has been an integral part of developing applications for federal, state, and philanthropic funding opportunities awarded more than $12 million, including through the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Indian Economic Development's Tribal Electrification Program. She also supports innovative Tribe-owned utility-scale energy projects, including one with a National Environmental Policy Act process initiated in 2024.
At the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy, Kristin assisted senior leadership in collaborating with Tribes and Tribal organizations on grants designed to promote their renewable energy and energy sovereignty goals and was part of the team that wrote a winning Solar for All application. Previously, she provided project support to Terabase Engineering and Navajo Power. Before joining 7Skyline's energy consulting team in 2016, Kristin worked for Addison-Wesley Professional and Cisco Press, as well as other professional publishers, technology companies, and consultancies. She earned a bachelor's degree with high honors in English from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master's degree in English language and literature from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Refer to LinkedIn for further details about Kristin’s background and experience.
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Thomas Tortez, Jr. - Senior Tribal Liaison
Thomas was twice elected Tribal Council Chairman of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, serving from 2017 to 2024. He also co-chaired the Legislative Committee, chaired the Tribal Employment Rights Commission, and was the Tribal Council Treasurer from 2013 to 2017. His mission as chairman was to plan for the future of Torres Martinez by advancing and expanding opportunities for economic development; providing quality educational experiences with improved retention rates for Native youth in high school, college, and vocational education; promoting healthy lifestyles for the community; and investing in public safety through increased resources for Tribal law enforcement. Thomas has served on several boards of directors, including the Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association’s and as president of the Salton Sea Authority’s and secretary of the California Tribal Business Alliance’s. With the Salton Sea Authority, California Natural Resources Agency, and California state legislators, he successfully advocated for the commitment of $80.5 million in the state budget for the restoration of the Salton Sea.
After earning his bachelor’s degree from Coleman University, Thomas served in the U.S. Navy as an avionics technician for the F-14 Tomcat Fighter Aircraft Navy Squadron VF-302 and on the U.S.S. Enterprise Aircraft Carrier. Following his military service, he joined the civil service on North Island Naval Air Base, San Diego, and was charged with training personnel for the S3A Anti-Submarine Warfare Aircraft via Flight Simulator maneuvers. Utilizing skills developed in the military, Thomas then served as a Wildland Firefighter for the Bureau of Indian Affairs for several years before working for the Torres Martinez Regulatory Gaming Commission and as the Tribal administrator for the Mountain Cahuilla. Refer to LinkedIn for further details about Thomas's background and experience.
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Bob Stuart - Senior Transmission Engineering Advisor
Bob is an internationally recognized expert with 50+ years of experience in transmission system operation and system protection design and application for generation, transmission, and distribution. He advises clients on the interconnection process, files interconnection requests, and runs power flow studies to determine potential transmission capacity. Bob has supported multiple Tribes, including the Hopi Tribe, in submitting Department of Energy grant proposals for transmission and utility-scale solar projects and has provided on-call transmission planning support for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs since 2022 and for Yakama Power since 2023. Bob provided transmission planning services to the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy, a national 501(c)(3) supporting Tribes in their green energy transitions, and has consulted for Navajo Power PBC, rPlus Energies, Onyx Renewables, and ZGlobal.
Bob has worked with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to further the development of interconnection transmission systems in East Africa and developed a master plan for the Beale Air Force Base being implemented today with a significant reduction in the number of outages on the base. He was the principal investigator for a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project supporting NASA's Manned Mission to MARS project. He served as the transmission team lead for the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) in investigating the August 14, 2003, Northeast Blackout and won the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) Outstanding Contributor Award for his work as the chair of the Operating Capability Study Group investigating the August 10, 1996, Western Grid Blackout, an investigation that led to the development of the methodology and procedures to restore the reliable operation of the Western United States electrical grid.
During a 35-year career as the manager of operations engineering for Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), Bob successfully championed the application of microprocessor technology for system protection and fault-tolerant remedial action schemes. He led the effort to design and implement special protection and remedial action schemes to prevent blackouts and was responsible for the development of unique operating procedures utilizing the dispatch of generation for San Francisco Bay Area reliability and helped in the development of PG&E's three-stage electric emergency plan.
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Marissa Sisk - Tribal Energy Manager
A citizen of the Muscogee Nation, Marissa supports Tribal energy program development and project management, including site selection, feasibility studies, request for proposal (RFP) development, grant applications and management, environmental planning, and community engagement. With expertise in policy research, science communication, and stakeholder engagement, she is committed to bridging the Tribal energy gap and advancing Tribal goals of energy independence through a holistic approach that prioritizes Tribal leadership, transparency, and culturally grounded solutions.
Marissa holds a Master of Environmental Science and Management from the Bren School at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), where she specialized in energy and climate with a focus on environmental innovation and entrepreneurship. During her studies, she co-founded Sunstone Energy, leading a team in developing solar and battery microgrids for Tribal communities. She has worked as a senior manager of Tribal energy systems at Sovereign Energy, developing Tribe-led energy strategies, and as an Indigenous microgrid developer intern at GC Green, where she contributed to securing $100 million in Tribal microgrid funding.
From 2023 to 2024, Marissa was a Tribal Energy Innovators Fellow at GRID Alternatives, securing $25,000 to research Tribal energy inequities while participating in federal networking and microgrid training opportunities. In 2024, she completed the Arizona State University Laboratory for Energy And Power Solutions (LEAPS) Microgrid Boot Camp, an intensive 20-hour training in microgrid feasibility analysis, electrical design, and hands-on system operations. Marissa has presented at multiple conferences, including UCSB's Environmental Justice Symposium, and was a semi-finalist for MIT SOLVE's 2023 Indigenous Communities Fellowship. Her work has been featured in Santa Barbara Bluedot Living and CNET Zero. Refer to LinkedIn for further details about Marissa’s background and experience.
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Sheiyenne Baloo-Seegmiller - Finance & Tax Project Manager
An enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, Sheiyenne splits her time between Texas and Arizona as she serves as a liaison to Tribes in Arizona, California, and Oklahoma. She has worked on solar and storage, microgrid, energy efficiency, and food sovereignty projects, advising Tribes on project development and funding through federal, state, and philanthropic grants and financing. She has helped Tribes apply for and secure multiple grant awards including funding for microgrids and capacity building. Sheiyenne spends a significant amount of time in Tribal communities, coordinating and leading 7Skyline’s participation in meetings and events with Tribal members, Tribal leadership, and project stakeholders. She has also spoken about overcoming barriers to Tribal energy sovereignty at the Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE) Leadership Forum in Washington DC, about energy development in Indian Country as part of a Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA) webinar series, and about Indigenous community benefits plans at the American Clean Power Association’s Siting and Permitting Conference.
Previously, Sheiyenne oversaw tax policy outreach for the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy and advised clients on personal, business, and fiduciary taxes as the senior operations manager for a boutique tax and accounting firm. She graduated from Brigham Young University (BYU) with a bachelor's degree in political science and a minor in American Indian studies. While at BYU, she served as the 2019-2020 Miss Indian BYU, participated in several internships among the Salt Lake urban Indian population, and drafted House Bill 116, establishing the state of Utah's Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls Task Force. Her bill passed in March 2020. Following graduation, she was appointed to the Utah Direct-Entry Midwifery Licensing Board by Governor Spencer Cox. In 2022, she graduated summa cum laude from the University of Oklahoma master's program in legal studies with an emphasis in Indigenous peoples’ law. Sheiyenne is a member of WRISE and currently serves on the outreach committee for the Latter-day Saint Earth Stewardship 501(c)(3) organization, creating social media content and organizing events. Refer to LinkedIn for further details about Sheiyenne's background and experience.
Angelina Papakee - Energy Project Manager
A descendant of the Meskwaki Nation of Iowa, Angelina is currently supporting the development of a 500+ megawatt solar project and served as the team lead for an energy audit and the development of an extensive Tribal energy plan. She recently completed a report with The Nature Conservancy on Arizona Tribes’ development of clean energy initiatives based on interviews with eight diverse Tribes across the state. Angelina works with Tribes to secure funding for their energy priorities, building grant application checklists, writing grant applications, and monitoring application alignment with funding opportunity goals and requirements. Angelina also pursues business development opportunities on behalf of 7Skyline and designs 7Skyline’s presentations to engage Tribal communities on various energy topics. Her accomplishments include managing energy projects with Tribes in Oklahoma, Idaho, Minnesota, New York, and Wisconsin.
Previously, as a program coordinator for the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Angelina launched the Alliance’s preferred provider program. She developed and vetted a comprehensive network of renewable energy service providers and leveraged customer relationship management (CRM) software to build strong partnerships with Tribal entities. Angelina earned a bachelor's degree in American studies with a concentration in urban and Indigenous studies from Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She is a member of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition (NABS), based in Minneapolis. Refer to LinkedIn for further details about Angelina's background and experience.
Sydney Harper - Tribal Liaison & Project Manager
A member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes, Sydney received her bachelor’s degree in American Indian studies from Haskell Indian Nations University. At 7Skyline, Sydney has been involved in coordinating stakeholder events, including 7Skyline’s Power Up Symposiums, which are Tribal community engagement and education events planned in partnership with host Tribes to advance renewable energy initiatives. She works on the ground with Tribal leaders and community members who are the energy champions for their communities, helping support their efforts and secure the funding awards they need to implement clean energy programs. She recently led engagement with eight Arizona Tribes on a project for The Nature Conservancy regarding clean energy initiatives. Sydney is also a participant in Yale University’s Financing and Deploying Clean Energy Certificate Program.
Previously, Sydney served as a program associate with the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy and as a house manager and case coordinator for the O’Connell Children’s Shelter in Lawrence, Kansas. Sydney worked her way through college at the Lawrence Boys and Girls Club, completing two terms with AmeriCorps. She also served as a youth care worker for children aged 10-18 and a food service coordinator for the O'Connell Children’s Shelter. Refer to LinkedIn for further details about Sydney's background and experience.
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Shawni Laffoon - Grants Manager
Shawni is a member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) who brings to the 7Skyline team ten years of experience working for CRIT, where her responsibilities included researching and writing grant applications and developing partnerships with local organizations and agencies and federal programs. Her work for 7Skyline has focused on building relationships and collaborating with clients, researching funding opportunities, grant writing and compliance, and application submission. In her first month at 7Skyline, Shawni secured $250,000 in funding for a microgrid feasibility study. She is currently supporting Tribal energy programs in Nevada, Arizona, South Dakota, and Idaho. Shawni earned a bachelor's degree in health sciences from Arizona State University and an associate's degree in exercise science from Mesa Community College. She is sponsored by The Nature Conservancy as a participant in the first cohort of the Arizona Sustainable Economic Development Learning Lab supported by the Flinn Foundation and other organizations. Refer to LinkedIn for further details about Shawni's background and experience.
Montena Small - Associate Planner & Grant Writer
Montena plays a pivotal role at 7Skyline, managing and coordinating a wide range of Tribal projects and collaborating with 7Skyline partner technical organizations and stakeholders to ensure projects align with Tribal resilience, sovereignty, and sustainability goals. She has served as a project manager for a solar generation and battery storage project in the Pacific Northwest and has led community outreach planning efforts and organized site visits supporting Tribes' energy activities and engagements. Montena also assesses the potential of grant opportunities to fund projects and builds tools for Tribes and grant writers to use in ensuring that grant applications align with the opportunities. She was a key member of 7Skyline teams that helped Tribal clients win more than $2.9 million in grant funding for infrastructure development, feasibility studies, and capacity building, including funds from the Department of Energy and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Montena continues to expand her technical skill set, having recently completed a course on Basic Distributed Energy Resources & Microgrid Design Modelling Knowledge with Xendee from the Arizona State University Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering. She is also participating in the Movement Communications Academy's Oregon Communications Fundamentals Academy. Refer to LinkedIn for further details about Montena's background and experience.
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Katherine Sanchez - Energy Regulations and Law Intern
Katherine is a high school senior interested in law and environmental sustainability. She is an aspiring corporate lawyer passionate about helping people understand the rules that shape their lives. She has experience in community outreach to minority populations and is proficient in effectively communicating complex ideas.