The Future of Energy

Join us for an illuminating evening about the future of energy in our community and around the world. Speakers will discuss the technology needed to electrify the North Shore, innovative climate solutions, and the economic impacts of electrification locally and globally. In addition to speakers there will be a Q&A session, please come with questions. Refreshments Provided. Doors Open at 5:30pm, Speakers at 6pm

Michelle Carr – CEO, Evergreen Climate Innovations 

Evergreen Climate Innovations is dedicated to rapidly decarbonizing the way we live by finding, funding and growing climate technology in the Greater Midwest. Michelle Carr is the Chief Executive Officer and brings years of executive, operating and fundraising experience in the financial, environmental and climate technology sectors. 

Prior to leading Evergreen, Michelle was the Illinois Director for The Nature Conservancy (TNC) a global science-based nonprofit founded in 1951 through grassroots action. While at TNC, Carr made marked progress in bridging the gap between conservation and economic decisions to influence solutions at a regional and global scale. Prior to TNC, Michelle was at Goldman Sachs for 16 years, leading an investment team where her clients included entrepreneurs, chief executive officers, families, foundations and endowments.

Milan Dotlich – Vice President and General Manager, Energy and Industrial Automation

Milan Dotlich is the vice president and general manager of the Energy and Industrial Automation group at UL Solutions. He leads UL Solutions’ testing, inspection and certification services business for Power and Automation, Hazardous Locations, Renewable Energy, Field Evaluations, and Industrial Functional Safety and Security.  

Milan joined UL Solutions in 2000 and started his UL career as a project engineer and has held increasingly more significant roles in sales, engineering, business development, operations and general management, covering a variety of industries, including electrical infrastructure, physical and cybersecurity, life safety and distributed energy. He is currently leading UL Solutions’ largest capital project to date – an advanced industrial and electric vehicle battery laboratory in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Milan has deep expertise in electrical infrastructure, including power distribution, solar, wind, automation and battery products. He often speaks on energy transition and clean energy topics, including electrification, EV integration and microgrids.

Milan has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and chemical engineering from Purdue University and a master’s in business administration with a concentration in finance from DePaul University. He has completed UL’s Lean, Global, Advanced Technical and Executive Leadership Programs and recently finished MIT’s Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy course.

Nancy Economou – Founder/CEO Watts of Love, Inventor-USPTO Patent Holder

Recipient of the 2024 Red Cross Global Citizenship Award, Nancy Economou is a leader, CEO, inventor, and public speaker. Nancy is the founder and CEO of Watts of Love, a global nonprofit with a mission to break the cycle of poverty through financial literacy and solar light to the nearly 1 billion people living without electricity.

Nancy identified a surprising and simple solution to end poverty. She designed and patented a unique, durable, and long-lasting solar light. With an education model that teaches how this light is the key to unlocking self-worth and financial freedom, Watts of Love shows third-world communities how this solar light and financial literacy training can alleviate poverty in one generation.

Thank you to our generous forum sponsors: UL, PCA and Heartland Charging Services.