Featured Speakers
Peter Davidson
Executive Director, Loan Programs Office
U.S. Department of Energy
Peter Davidson was appointed by the Obama Administration to serve as the executive director of the Loan Programs Office (LPO) at the U.S. Department of Energy. Mr. Davidson leads the DOE’s multi-billion dollar federal loan program for traditional and alternative energy, financing a wide range of fossil, nuclear, solar, wind, geothermal, efficiency and biomass energy projects. He also heads the federal loan program for U.S. advanced automotive manufacturing technology projects.
Prior to leading LPO, Mr. Davidson was senior advisor for energy and economic development at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Before this, from 2009 to 2011, he was the executive director of New York State’s economic development agency, the Empire State Development Corporation, where he oversaw public/private partnerships.
Prior to his government service, Mr. Davidson was an entrepreneur who founded and managed six companies in the newspaper, broadcasting, out-of-home, advertising and marketing research businesses, many of which focused on Hispanic consumers. From 1989 to 2000, he was the owner and president of el diario/La Prensa, the leading Spanish language newspaper in NewYork. Earlier in his career, Mr. Davidson was an executive in the investment banking division of Morgan Stanley & Co.
Michael B. Bemis
Chair, Board of Directors
New York Independent System Operator
Michael B. Bemis of Madison, Mississippi, has over three decades of experience as an executive in the electric utility industry. He began serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) in April 2009. He became Board Chair in April 2014, after previously serving as Vice Chair.
He served Exelon Corporation as President of Exelon Power and President of Energy Delivery, responsible for the company’s transmission, distribution, and customer service functions. Exelon distributes electricity and gas to approximately 5.4 million customers in Illinois and Pennsylvania.
Prior to joining Exelon, Mr. Bemis worked nearly two decades with Entergy Corporation in a number of executive positions including Executive Vice-President of International Operations, serving as Chief Executive Officer of London Electricity, with responsibility for Entergy’s International businesses in the United Kingdom, Australia, and Argentina. He also served as Executive Vice-President of Customer and Retail Service; as President and Chief Operating Officer for Mississippi Power & Light, Louisiana Power & Light, and New Orleans Public Service; and as Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer for Arkansas Power & Light.
Prior to entering the energy industry, he was a partner with Deloitte, Haskin and Sells, where he was designated firm specialist in the electric utility industry.
Mr. Bemis earned a Bachelor’s of Science in accounting from the University of Southern Mississippi and attended a number of executive development programs, including Harvard’s Advanced Management Program.
Stephen G. Whitley
President & Chief Executive Officer
Stephen G. Whitley, President and Chief Executive Officer of the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO), is a veteran of the energy industry with extensive experience in bulk power system planning and operations. He joined the NYISO in July 2008.
Before coming to the NYISO, Mr. Whitley served for seven years as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of ISO New England (ISO-NE). He was responsible for system planning, system operations, market operations, settlements, customer service, and North American Electric Reliability Corporation/Northeast Power Coordinating Council (NERC/NPCC) compliance for the six-state region. He previously served as ISO-NE Vice President, System Operations, from 2000 to 2001. In New England, he lead the establishment of a regional planning process which resulted in the construction of new Extra-High Voltage (EHV) transmission in all six New England states and new interconnections with New York State and New Brunswick.
He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Tennessee Technological University prior to beginning his electricity industry career with the TVA.
Mr. Whitley is a retired Colonel in the U. S. Army Reserve and the former commanding officer of the 3397th Garrison Support Unit, Chattanooga, Tennessee. He retired after a distinguished 30-year career, which included active duty during Operation Desert Storm at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Make your overnight room reservations now! The Gideon Putnam will quickly SELL OUT! Our room block ENDS Friday, August 13, 2021. Rooms are available at $174 for those staying overnight on Monday, September 13. The Hotel may provide room rate extension for anyone arriving the day before. Room block expires August 13, 2021.
Golf and conference attendees should call the Gideon directly at (866) 746-1077 and refer to the Independent Power Producers of New York.
Online reservations are NOT available - to receive the discounted rate you MUST call the hotel directly. Thank you .
Please know that it is very important to the association that attendees BOOK their overnight rooms in the room block so we are not hit with attrition fees for unsold rooms as part of our contract. While we understand there are other hotels in the area with rewards and points, we encourage you to support IPPNY by booking in the block! Thank you!
