Agenda-at-a-Glance

We will kick off this year’s Policy Symposium with a timely keynote address by Scott Jennings, CNN Contributor and Former U.S. Presidential Advisor. Scott uses his extensive experience navigating high-stakes political campaigns, advising top leaders, and crafting impactful messaging to shed light on leadership and the evolving landscape of American governance. With a unique position as both a political insider and a media personality, Scott is a sought-after voice on national and international platforms.

Congressional staff arguably are the real policymakers in Washington and have a major say in who and what goes before the representatives and senators. This panel of current and former staff will discuss how the “legislative sausage” is made, with a heavy emphasis on energy and environment policy in the 119th Congress amid a Republican trifecta.  

Moderated by: Samantha Slater, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs, AHRI 

Panelists:     

• Annie Brody, Business Coalition Director, Office of the House Majority Whip, U.S. House of Representatives
• Clara Cargile, Professional Staff Member, Majority, House Committee on Energy and Commerce, U.S. House of Representatives
• Jake Kennedy, Senior Professional Staff Member, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, U.S. Senate
• Victoria Lombardo, Professional Staff Member, Majority, Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate 

Changes in administrations can significantly impact the business community. At the start of the second Trump Administration, this panel of current and former agency staff will discuss the impact of new energy, environment, trade, and tariff policies on business and manufacturing, and what we can expect in the near-term and beyond.

Moderated by: Samantha Slater, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs, AHRI

Panelists:        

• Aaron Szabo, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Lou Hrkman, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy
• Dr. Oliver McPherson-Smith, Director for New International Ventures, Double Eagle Natural Resources

Join us for a fireside chat over lunch and hear from AHRI President and CEO Steve Yurek and Chris LaCivita, co-campaign manager for President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign and former Chief Operating Officer at the Republican National Committee. A seasoned political consultant, Chris has built a distinguished career spanning over three decades in Republican Party politics. His ability to analyze the state of the country, interpret polling data, and predict political shifts – combined with his insights into President Trump’s plans for the coming years – make him a valuable resource for understanding and navigating new political territory.

The second Trump Administration will bring significant changes to tariff policy in the U.S., as we’ve already seen. This panel will take an in-depth look at tariff policy changes and how tariffs could impact AHRI member companies.

Moderated by: Makenzie Horrigan, Senior Manager, International and Domestic Policy, AHRI

Panelists:

• Anne McKinney, Vice President, Americas, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
• Jonathan Gold, Vice President, Supply Chain and Customs Policy, National Retail Federation
• Josh Zive, Senior Principal, Bracewell
• Paul Nathanson, Senior Principal, Bracewell
• Tiffany Smith, Vice President, Global Trade Policy, National Foreign Trade Council

Energy efficiency advocates and environmental NGOs will discuss their thoughts on the 119th Congress, the second Trump Administration, as well as potential state and local government activities in the environmental space. The panel will preview 2025 and beyond in states and in the federal government, particularly the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Moderated by: Nicole Colantonio, Director, Regulatory Affairs, AHRI

• Andrew deLaski , Executive Director, Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP), American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)
• Christina Baworowsky, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions
• David Doniger, Senior Attorney and Strategist, Climate and Energy Program, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
• Mary Anderson, Principal Program Manager, Pacific Gas & Electric
• Rachel Golden, Senior Principal, RMI

Join AHRI staff and fellow meeting attendees as we kick off the networking portion of the 2025 Policy Symposium with our Welcome Reception. Don’t miss this valuable opportunity to network and connect with your industry peers.