Our Team
Shara Mohtadi, Co-Founder
Shara Mohtadi, Co-Founder
Shara Mohtadi, Co-Founder
Shara has spent her career in state and federal climate policy, international climate diplomacy, and philanthropy. She was most recently the Chief of Staff for the $4B Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), US Department of Energy. She also led a portfolio of international climate-focused grants and strategies at Bloomberg Philanthropies. She previously served as senior advisor to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), leading community engagement efforts. During the Obama Administration, Shara served as an advisor for the climate portfolio at the White House, Office of Management and Budget. The daughter of Iranian immigrants, she was born and raised in Minnesota, and lives in Washington, DC with her husband and their Siberian cat.
Sam Ricketts, Co-Founder
Shara Mohtadi, Co-Founder
Shara Mohtadi, Co-Founder
Sam has worked to advance clean energy and climate progress at the federal and state levels for the past decade and a half. He is a former longtime adviser to Governor Jay Inslee, including serving for five years in the Washington state governor’s office, and leading climate policy and strategy for Inslee’s influential 2020 presidential campaign. Sam was the first executive director of the Congressional Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition (SEEC). Most recently, he co-founded and was head of policy for the climate advocacy organization Evergreen Action. Sam also serves as a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress (CAP), where he led CAP’s State-Federal Climate Initiative. Sam hails from Seattle, and now lives in Washington, DC with his wife and two children.
Bennett Byerley, Advisor
Melissa Cheatham, State Support Center Program Manager
Melissa Cheatham, State Support Center Program Manager
Bennett is a co-founder and COO at Verb Energy, Inc, and he is completing a Master's in Sustainability Management from Columbia. Bennett and his co-founders built Verb into a rapidly growing national brand that makes caffeinated energy bars and other food & beverage products. He has overseen business operations, supply chain, team buildin
Bennett is a co-founder and COO at Verb Energy, Inc, and he is completing a Master's in Sustainability Management from Columbia. Bennett and his co-founders built Verb into a rapidly growing national brand that makes caffeinated energy bars and other food & beverage products. He has overseen business operations, supply chain, team building, and other functions. At Columbia, Bennett works with the Legal Pathways to Deep Decarbonization Model Law Project (lpdd.org) to streamline the drafting of state climate legislation. Originally from North Carolina, he now lives in New York with his fiancée.
Melissa Cheatham, State Support Center Program Manager
Melissa Cheatham, State Support Center Program Manager
Melissa Cheatham, State Support Center Program Manager
Melissa has worked to advance the clean energy transformation in both local and federal government. She served as Professional Staff for the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Energy and Environment Subcommittee under Chairman Henry Waxman and previously worked in the Washington, DC office of the Natural Resources Defense Council. Meli
Melissa has worked to advance the clean energy transformation in both local and federal government. She served as Professional Staff for the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Energy and Environment Subcommittee under Chairman Henry Waxman and previously worked in the Washington, DC office of the Natural Resources Defense Council. Melissa has been a champion for local climate action and is an elected City Council Member in Overland Park, Kansas, where she lives with her husband and two children.
Franz Hochstrasser, Senior Advisor
Melissa Cheatham, State Support Center Program Manager
Franz Hochstrasser, Senior Advisor
Franz is the Founding CEO and Co-founder of the climate investment platform Raise Green and New Haven Community Solar. With over 15 years of experience, He spent 8 years in the Obama Administration, as Senior Advisor to the Special Envoy for Climate Change at the State Department, where he played a key role in negotiating the Paris Agreem
Franz is the Founding CEO and Co-founder of the climate investment platform Raise Green and New Haven Community Solar. With over 15 years of experience, He spent 8 years in the Obama Administration, as Senior Advisor to the Special Envoy for Climate Change at the State Department, where he played a key role in negotiating the Paris Agreement. His previous roles include working on energy, environment, and climate policy at the White House CEQ, and conservation, energy, food security, data, and science policy at the USDA. Franz also worked on Obama’s presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2012.
Sandie Raines, Chief of Staff
Sandie Raines, Chief of Staff
Sandie Raines, Chief of Staff
Sandie has centered equity, innovation, and community in her work to advance change in both campaigns and clean energy. She served as an advisor for the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy and was previously in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy where she focused on a variety of areas including industrial decarbonization and
Sandie has centered equity, innovation, and community in her work to advance change in both campaigns and clean energy. She served as an advisor for the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy and was previously in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy where she focused on a variety of areas including industrial decarbonization and inclusive innovation. Prior to joining the Administration, Sandie worked for the 2020 presidential campaign in a variety of roles in both Michigan and Iowa. She is a former professional runner and has represented Team U.S.A. in international competitions. Originally from Texas, Sandie now lives in Washington D.C, and continues to be an avid track and field fan.
Andrea Siezar, Operations Coordinator
Sandie Raines, Chief of Staff
Sandie Raines, Chief of Staff
Andrea is a seasoned professional who has extensive experience managing operations within the BPO and Hospitality industries. Andrea has overseen various critical departments, including Finances, Quality Assurance, and Workforce Management. Her educational background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Tourism and Hospitality Business Adminis
Andrea is a seasoned professional who has extensive experience managing operations within the BPO and Hospitality industries. Andrea has overseen various critical departments, including Finances, Quality Assurance, and Workforce Management. Her educational background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Tourism and Hospitality Business Administration and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from Keiser University. Hailing from Managua, Nicaragua, where she lives with her husband, she provides remote support to our team.