Our Leadership
ILLUME’s Leadership Team and Advisory Board are committed to advancing impactful policies and solutions that foster technical innovation, accessibility, and resilience in our energy systems.
Our Founders
Anne Dougherty, Founder and Co-Owner
Anne Dougherty sets the vision for ILLUME’s market and services strategy, brand, and business development pursuits, establishing the company as a trusted leader in the energy sector. Long regarded for her ability to identify the zeitgeist, craft long-term strategies, and speak across expert and business environments, Anne consistently drives ILLUME’s mission to build industry-changing approaches and human-centered energy solutions across multiple utility verticals and investments. Her leadership goes beyond these areas; Anne drives ILLUME to create dynamic spaces for creative problem-solving by building empowering, value-added engagements for our clients and partners. Anne is deeply committed to human-focused innovation across services and technologies, ensuring that ILLUME’s work and client engagements address the most pressing needs of our industry while balancing utility business, customer, community needs with ambitious regulatory goals.
Anne serves as a Presidential Advisor to the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance, as a Director on the Executive Committee for the Arizona Technology Council, a Director for Groundswell Capital, Arizona’s Green Bank, and as the Board Chair of the LGBTQ+ Alliance Fund of Southern Arizona
Sara Conzemius, Founder and Co-Owner
Sara Conzemius drives the strategy for ILLUME’s financial, legal, and operational efforts with a focus on fostering excellence and innovation. Renowned for her award-winning tactical strategy development, Sara has set the industry standard for organizational governance and operational efficiency. Beyond her leadership within ILLUME, Sara plays a pivotal role in shaping the broader energy industry through her active board service and strategic advising. She is a master connector, building relationships that advance collaboration across organizations and sectors. Sara’s expertise in energy program design, policy, and evaluation has positioned ILLUME as a leader in driving market transformation, while her mentorship and organizational development initiatives ensure a lasting legacy of excellence in the energy field. Through her visionary leadership, Sara continues to elevate both ILLUME and the energy industry as a whole.
Sara serves as a Director on the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance’s Executive Committee as Secretary, and served as a member and then Chairperson of the Board for the Association of Energy Service Professionals (AESP), Chairperson of the Energy Efficiency Working Group for the Dane County Office of Energy and Climate, and Advisor on the development of the State of Wisconsin’s Climate Action Plan’s Equity First Directive, supporting the development of the State of Wisconsin’s first Green Bank on the Green Ribbon Commission.
Together, Anne and Sara developed a groundbreaking organization through an intentional and well-executed strategy that they jointly define and carry out with ILLUME’s company leadership.
Our Executive Team
Laura Schauer, Executive Vice President, Operations
Laura Schauer drives ILLUME’s company-wide operations and ensures the seamless delivery of strategies across diverse portfolios and projects. With over 25 years of experience leading complex research and evaluation initiatives, Laura exemplifies operational excellence, fostering a culture of precision, creativity, and client-centric focus. Her leadership ensures that ILLUME consistently delivers best-in-class solutions while refining internal policies and processes to exceed industry standards. Laura’s expertise in managing multi-million-dollar studies and her commitment to high-impact results have positioned ILLUME as a trusted partner in advancing innovative and effective energy solutions.
Laura has served two terms on the Association for Energy Service Professionals (AESP) Board of Directors, including Secretary of the AESP Executive Committee.
Jes Rivas, Executive Vice President, Revenue
Jes Rivas spearheads ILLUME’s revenue growth by identifying and developing emerging areas of expertise to position the company for sustained success and to apply ILLUME’s unique lens to fields of practice that demand innovation. As a seasoned expert in building systems, electrification, and grid-edge technologies, Jes plays a critical role in ensuring that ILLUME remains at the forefront of innovation in the energy sector. Her deep technical knowledge and market insight enable the company to deliver cutting-edge solutions tailored to the evolving needs of clients and the energy industry. Jes’s leadership drives ILLUME’s expansion into new markets and solidifies its reputation as a forward-thinking, industry-leading firm.
Jes serves as a Voting Member of the Pacific Northwest Power Council’s Regional Technical Forum, on the Planning Committee for the International Energy Program Evaluation Conference (IEPEC), and as Board Secretary for United States Roller Derby.
Eileen Hannigan, Vice President, Talent
Eileen Hannigan leads ILLUME’s comprehensive talent development strategy, shaping the future of the organization and the energy industry. With a focus on building and nurturing top-tier talent, Eileen oversees the company’s training curriculum, mentorship programs, and leadership development initiatives. Her ability to cultivate expertise across qualitative, quantitative, and project delivery disciplines ensures that ILLUME remains a center of excellence for professional growth and innovation. Through her visionary leadership, Eileen empowers employees at all levels, driving ILLUME’s mission to deliver high-quality, impactful energy solutions while fostering a culture of continuous learning and leadership development.
Eileen is a past-president and current member of the board of directors of Citizens Utility Board (CUB) Wisconsin.
Don Smith, Vice President, Finance and IT
Don Smith leads ILLUME’s financial operations and IT strategies with a focus on driving organizational efficiency and operational excellence. With over 20 years of finance and operations management experience, Don transforms complex data into actionable insights that guide strategic decision-making and enhance ILLUME’s business performance. His collaborative leadership style and ability to integrate technology and financial expertise ensure the company’s infrastructure is robust and adaptive.
By fostering strong partnerships within ILLUME and leveraging innovative IT solutions, Don supports the company’s mission to deliver exceptional client value while maintaining a solid foundation for future growth.
Our Principals
Leigh Michael, Principal
Leigh Michael offers more than 10 years of experience in energy policy and programs with a focus on addressing disparities in access, participation, and resilience. She excels at foundational projects that help clients understand the ‘current state’ of their initiatives and roadmap actionable solutions to reach their desired ‘future state.’
Leigh began her career designing and implementing sustainability programs and uses this context to support clients in delivering insights grounded in feasibility. Leigh understands that research should be in service of equity and applies a nuanced lens to help her clients understand—and act upon—their stakeholders’ unmet needs. When Leigh isn’t interpreting stakeholder insights, she’s likely backpacking around (beautiful!) Washington State or making things with clay.
Sarah Gibson, Principal, Marketing, Engagement, & Business Development
Sarah Gibson has over 22 years of experience in marketing, brand development and engagement programs across a breadth of sectors. Her strategic approach focuses on grounding messaging in human insights and identifying opportunities for engagement that create change and spur action. Her philosophy is that there is no “business-to-business” or “business-to-consumer” marketing. Instead, we are all responsible for creating authentic human engagement in our relationships with partners, clients, customers, and each other. Sarah has led brand and creative teams to serve clients in the energy sector including NYSERDA, PG&E, SDG&E, Focus on Energy, and VEIC.
Her energy experience is complemented by her work with clients in aligned industries such as architecture, engineering, sustainability communications, and nonprofits. She’s held senior positions in advertising and brand agencies and was formerly Chief Marketing Officer for a national architecture and engineering firm. Sarah serves on the Advancement Committee for the Hillside Children’s Center and is a volunteer coach with the Rochester Area Junior Roller Derby (Coach Susan B. Agony). When not working, She can be found at roller derby bouts coaching her daughter Cora (Belladonna) and her teammates, reading novels and finding the nearest beach.
Our Advisory Board
ILLUME’s Advisory Board is exceptionally positioned to support Founders Anne and Sara in steering the organization’s strategic direction through their diverse expertise and proven leadership in the energy sector.
With Paul Schueller’s innovation in energy efficiency, Shelley Fiddler’s deep understanding of legislative and federal policy, Val Jensen’s executive experience in utility strategy, and Patricia Stanton’s expertise in state energy offices and advocacy for sustainable energy solutions, our board offers a comprehensive approach to tackling complex energy challenges. We are proud to have this group of advisors to help ILLUME advance our mission.
Paul Schueller, Franklin Energy
Paul Schueller, founder of Franklin Energy, brings over 30 years of expertise in energy efficiency and grid optimization to his role as an advisory board member at ILLUME Advising. His leadership has driven impactful solutions for utilities across North America, transforming Franklin Energy into a leader since its inception in 1994, with innovations like the NGAGE™ platform.
Shelley Fidler, Van Ness Feldman
Shelley Fiddler, Senior Policy Advisor at Van Ness Feldman, brings nearly 40 years of expertise in legislative policy and energy advocacy to support ILLUME Advising’s strategic direction. With extensive Washington experience, she offers solutions to complex public policy and regulatory challenges, having served six years in the Clinton White House and 20 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, concluding as Staff Director at the Subcommittee on Energy and Power.
Val Jensen, Retired from Exelon Utilities
Val Jensen, former Senior Vice President at Exelon, contributes decades of executive experience in utility strategy, customer engagement, and energy policy to ILLUME Advising’s Advisory Board. With over 40 years in the energy industry, he led technology and business strategy development at Exelon Utilities, supporting policy and coordinating strategy for Exelon’s operating utilities.
Patricia Stanton, E4TheFuture
Patricia Stanton, Executive Director at E4TheFuture, brings a wealth of experience from government, private sectors, and nonprofits to lead the organization in building its legacy. As a nationally recognized expert in regulatory policy analysis and advocacy, she tirelessly works to improve public policies on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and demand resources.
Areas of Expertise
– Affordability, Access, & Resilience
– Emerging Opportunities
– Evaluation & Success Planning
– Human Insights
Our Services
– Policy Support
– Customer Engagement & Education
– Program & Solution Design
– Evaluation Consulting