Rikki Seguin
Executive Director
Rikki Seguin joined Interwest as the Executive Director in April 2019, overseeing the organization’s six-state strategic agenda, managing Interwest’s team of policy and technical experts and building political power for the renewable energy industry. With a long history working as a coalition-builder, Rikki works to develop consensus positions across the industry and within Interwest’s diverse membership.
Prior to joining Interwest, Rikki oversaw the development and implementation of a regional policy agenda to support the responsible development of renewable energy across the Pacific Northwest. Rikki also worked as a community organizer in New Mexico, California, Texas and Oregon, focusing on clean energy and climate campaigns. Rikki has worked to develop and pass numerous renewable energy policies related to utility resource procurement, land use and siting, tax treatment, transmission line development and community solar. Rikki holds degrees in Physics and Astronomy from the University of Florida.
Rikki is based in Albuquerque, NM.
Ben Fitch-Fleischmann
Markets & Transmission Director
Ben joined Interwest as the Markets and Transmission Director in October 2023 to lead the organization’s engagement with regional market development and transmission planning issues across the West. With extensive experience conducting rigorous analyses and also explaining technical issues and results to a wide range of audiences, Ben places a high priority on ensuring that differences in technical knowledge do not hinder collaboration.
Prior to joining Interwest, Ben received his PhD in economics from the University of Oregon and managed the markets and analytics team for Northwestern Energy Transmission, representing Northwestern in regional transmission planning conversations and the EDAM and Markets+ initiatives. Prior to that, he led Northwestern’s IRP team for 3 years. Ben has also worked as a consultant for clients including state regulatory commissions, investor-owned utilities, pumped storage developers and consumer advocates. He also served as a staff economist for the Oregon PUC.
Ben is based in Missoula, MT, with his wife and young son.
Remy Franklin
Senior Analyst – Markets, Transmission, and Regulatory
Remy Franklin joined Interwest as a Senior Analyst in June 2025, where he leads analysis and advocacy to advance proactive transmission planning, renewable energy development, and competitive electricity markets. As a social scientist with a background in energy policy, Remy works to align utilities, regulators, and stakeholders around strategies for building a clean, regional grid that powers thriving Western communities.
Prior to this role, Remy worked with Interwest through RMI’s Transmission Advocacy Fellowship and co-authored a report on how Western utilities can better evaluate transmission expansion opportunities in integrated resource plans. His previous work includes climate and energy advocacy, university teaching and curriculum development at the University of California Center for Climate Justice. Remy holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Dartmouth College and an M.A. in Human Geography from the University of Arizona, where he published research on utility regulation, distributed solar, and energy justice.
Remy is based in Taos, NM.
Hunter Holman
Regulatory Director
Hunter Holman joined Interwest in December 2024 and directs the organization’s regulatory engagement across the region. He focuses on expanding renewable energy markets and educating utilities, businesses and consumers about the integration and benefits of renewable energy.
Prior to joining Interwest, Hunter worked at Western Resource Advocates as the team lead in Nevada, engaging in resource planning and procurement dockets before the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada to promote renewable energy development and as the Senior Regional Attorney for the Clean Energy Team working on rate cases and resource planning dockets across the Intermountain West. Before his time at WRA, Hunter worked as a Staff Attorney for Utah Clean Energy where he engaged in electric and gas utility proceedings before the Utah Public Service Commission. Hunter holds a B.S. in Political Science from the University of Utah and a J.D. from Suffolk University.
Hunter is based in Salt Lake City, UT.
Chris Leger
Staff Attorney
Chris joined Interwest as a staff attorney in September 2021, working on regulatory advocacy to promote the transition to clean electricity, expand renewable energy markets and promote education about renewable energy integration and its benefits for both utilities and electricity consumers.
Prior to joining Interwest, he was Deputy Administrator and Counsel representing utility consumers for the Wyoming Office of Consumer Advocate. Chris holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the University of Wyoming and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Wyoming College of Law. He is licensed to practice law in Wyoming, Colorado and the District of Columbia. Prior to his current utility regulatory practice, he spent several years in Washington DC working on criminal and civil pharmaceutical cases as well as a brief stint in Hong Kong and Macau, working on various international matters.
Chris is based in Cheyenne, WY.
Monika Leininger
Policy Manager
Monika joined Interwest as a policy manager in December 2025, working on managing Interwest’s policy priorities in Arizona, Colorado and Wyoming. She brings nearly a decade of experience in natural resource policy and conservation across rural and conservative regions of the West.
Prior to joining Interwest, Monika worked with The Nature Conservancy in Wyoming, focusing on carbon management, renewable energy siting and land‑use policy. She has been recognized for building bipartisan coalitions, engaging diverse stakeholders and advancing pragmatic, durable policy solutions.
Monika is based in Lander, WY.
Chris Menges
Siting & Permitting Senior Manager
Chris Menges joined Interwest as the Senior Manager of Siting and Permitting in December 2024 to lead the development of a timely and critical siting and permitting program, and advance corresponding legislative and regulatory outcomes across the Intermountain West. With over 15 years of experience working with a broad diversity of stakeholders to advance durable climate and clean energy solutions at the local and state level, Chris is adept at building coalitions, consensus and novel solutions on emergent, intersectional issues.
Prior to joining Interwest, Chris directed the climate program at The Nature Conservancy in Colorado where he led the development and implementation of a portfolio of programmatic and policy strategies to help enable the state’s ambitious clean energy goals. This included co-leading a coalition to identify policy opportunities to improve siting and permitting outcomes for clean energy projects in the state. Chris also managed climate and sustainability programs at the City of Aspen for eight years, where he supported operational decarbonization, community-wide planning, state policy engagement and national network development.
Chris holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Policy and a Master of Science in Climate Science and Solutions from Northern Arizona University.
Chris is based in Aspen, CO.
Lisa Tormoen Hickey
Senior Consultant
Lisa Tormoen Hickey is Interwest’s Senior Consultant on a variety of issues around the organization’s footprint, and has been with the Interwest team in various roles since 2009. Lisa works to expand renewable energy markets, promoting education about renewable energy integration and benefits for utilities, commercial interests and electricity consumers. She seeks to identify areas where policy can be improved to promote the transition to clean electricity generated from advanced technologies and to support associated transmission expansion throughout the Intermountain West. She is especially interested in promoting economic development benefits in rural areas.
Lisa advises numerous nonprofit and business organizations, and has served on the boards of several nonprofits in the Pikes Peak Region, including those promoting land conservation, trails and open space, bicycling and choral music. Hickey previously served as Transportation Commissioner for the Ninth District of Colorado and as a member of the Colorado Transmission Siting Task Force, representing renewable energy interests.
Lisa is based in Colorado Springs, CO.
Stan Barnes
Arizona Policy Consultant
Stan Barnes is a native Arizonan and founder of Copper State Consulting Group. For the past 32 years, Barnes has been involved in virtually every facet of key political and media-related issues and is viewed as a seasoned veteran of both state and local public affairs battles in Arizona.
Before establishing the firm, Barnes served six years in the Arizona Legislature – first in the State House of Representatives where he was elected in 1988 as the youngest member of the 39th Legislature. He served as Chairman of the Natural Resources & Agriculture Committee, where he was appointed in only his second term in office. Barnes was elected to the Arizona Senate in 1994 and served as Chairman of the Government Reform Committee. In addition to running his practice, Barnes is a highly regarded political commentator, regularly appearing on Arizona television and radio news programs, as well as frequent guest editorials in state and local newspapers.
Stan is based in Phoenix, AZ.
Ian Calkins
Arizona Policy Consultant
Ian Calkins has two decades of experience helping corporate energy clients receive necessary local, state and federal permits and approvals to construct utility-scale generation and transmission infrastructure projects across Arizona. These efforts include a host of strategies and tactics including political relationships, third-party support, public engagement and opposition mitigation.
Additionally, Ian’s hand is on the pulse of the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) and the State’s three major electric utilities (APS, SRP and TEP) having spent years fostering relationships, influencing energy policy and engaging on behalf of energy clients. Prior to Copper State, he served as the lobbyist for the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce. In his past life, he worked in Washington, D.C. in various public policy and government affairs roles including Legislative Director for the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and Director of State Relations for the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA).
Ian is based in Phoenix, AZ.
Brett Moore
Colorado Lobbyist
Brett began lobbying for Interwest in 2012 when he joined Charles and Solomon Malick’s lobbying team, which had been representing the association since its early days in Colorado. Since then, he has represented Interwest’s interests on a sweeping variety of clean and renewable energy legislation, as the industry has dramatically grown and changed in the state in the subsequent years.
With a track record of delivering results in communities across Colorado and at the state capitol in Denver, Brett Moore started his career as a non-partisan clerk at the Colorado General Assembly. Shortly thereafter, he founded OnTheBallot Consulting, a Denver-based lobbying and political consulting firm, where he has achieved legislative wins by building strong relationships with elected officials, staff, and other government affairs professionals. His clients are non-profits, businesses, trade associations, and local governments whose voices are amplified by his representation.
He hails from a family of farmers and ranchers in western Kansas. He holds Bachelor’s Degrees in Political Science and Communications Studies from the University of Kansas.
Brett is based in Denver, CO.
Sol Malick
Colorado Lobbyist
Solomon Malick, a native of Colorado, has been a professional contract lobbyist in Colorado since 2005 and is the principal of Peak Government Affairs LTD. (PGA). He graduated with honors from Metro State University with a degree in political science, and his professional background includes working as an emergency medical technician and wild land firefighter in southwest Colorado.
Sol moved to Denver to work for his father, Chuck Malick, in 2005 to begin his lobbying/political advocacy career. The Malick duo started representing Interwest Energy Alliance in 2007 under Craig Cox with Tracee Bentley, and in 2012, Brett Moore joined the team and began to help move the Interwest agenda in a bi-partisan manner when Tracee transitioned out.
Over the past 13 years, Peak Government Affairs and OnTheBallot Consulting have moved the renewable industry forward with Interwest at the helm using sound strategy, solid legislative and administrative relationships, and deep policy expertise.
Sol is based in Denver, CO.
Kyle Davis
Nevada Lobbyist
Interwest is represented by Kyle Davis of Pinyon Public Affairs, a full-service strategic communications firm that empowers client success and delivers measurable results in Nevada’s complex and changing political landscape. Kyle is an experienced lobbyist and political strategist working at all levels of government in Nevada.
Kyle has successfully navigated difficult issues through the Nevada Legislature, including landmark legislation dealing with energy, public lands, transportation, wildlife, land-use planning, water and public health. Kyle regularly works with a broad set of stakeholders to bring disparate interests together for common-sense solutions. Kyle has been an independent contract lobbyist since 2013, representing a variety of clients across a range of issue areas. Prior to that, Kyle served as the Policy & Political Director for the Nevada Conservation League, where he directed the organization’s program work for nearly seven years. Kyle has been a registered lobbyist at the Nevada Legislature since 2007 and has worked in the political space for more than 20 years.
Kyle is based in Reno, NV.
Joan Drake
New Mexico Local Counsel
Interwest is represented before the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission by Joan Drake of Modrall Sperling. Joan has assisted clients for 20 years as a lawyer on utility regulation and environmental permitting matters.
In utility matters, Joan represents clients on matters involving state and federal regulation of electric and gas utility rates and service, facility siting, wholesale and retail sales, utility acquisition, renewable energy development, PPAs and ESAs, QF issues, electric transmission and interconnection, gas pipelines, power purchase and service agreements and energy efficiency. In addition to representing clients on individual matters before the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (“PRC”), Joan monitors and updates her clients on regulatory and legislative developments of interest to energy, utility and transmission companies doing business in New Mexico and throughout the West. Best Lawyers in America has recognized Joan in Energy Regulatory Law since 2017. She presents frequently on environmental law and regulatory issues. Joan currently serves as Chair of the Utility Service Group and Co-Chair of the Renewable Energy Service Group.
Joan is based in Albuquerque, NM.
Rikki-Lee Chavez
New Mexico Lobbyist
Rikki-Lee Chavez is the founder and owner of Capitol Counsel and Consulting, a premier government relations firm in New Mexico. The practice focuses on a myriad of subject areas as well as providing education on ethics and compliance in political spaces.
Rikki-Lee is a life-long New Mexican who entered politics after working for the New Mexico Legislature during a gap year between obtaining degrees in Print Journalism and Spanish and attending the University of New Mexico School of Law. Rikki-Lee is a member of the New Mexico State Bar and is dedicated to advocating on behalf of her clients for the creation of best policies and practices in New Mexico.
Rikki-Lee is based in Santa Fe, NM.
Angela J. Pitale
Senior Tax Policy Advisor
Angela joined the state government affairs firm of MultiState Associates in July of 2022 as Senior Tax Policy Advisor to help clients identify and advance state tax policy objectives. In that time she has been a consultant with Interwest on tax legislative matters in Interwest’s six state footprint.
Prior to joining MultiState, Angela spent nearly 25 years in various tax and accounting roles with NextEra Energy, the world’s largest developer, owner and operator of renewable energy from solar and wind, and the owner of Florida Power & Light, one of the largest utilities in the country. In her role there as Senior Director of State Tax Policy, Angela successfully advanced several policy initiatives benefitting the company, the renewable energy industry and the corporate community in general and helped to defeat a number of unfavorable tax policy initiatives.
Angela is a CPA and has a Master of Accounting degree with Tax specialization from Florida Atlantic University. Prior to joining NextEra Energy, Angela began her career in tax with KPMG in West Palm Beach, Florida. She has served on the Legislative Steering Committee of the Council On State Taxation, Chaired the SALT Committee of Tax Executives Institute, has been an active participant in the SALT Task Force of the National Conference of State Legislatures and has been active on multiple Tax Committees of state Business Chambers and renewable energy trade groups.
Angela is based in North Palm Beach, FL.
Chase Everton
Utah Lobbyist
Chase is a Partner at Lincoln Hill Partners, which represents Interwest in Utah. Chase has over a decade of experience as a lobbyist at the federal, state, and local levels. He has worked for associations, as an in-house lobbyist where he managed multi-state government relations efforts, including working with legislative bodies and attorneys general, and as a contract lobbyist.
Chase received a B.S. in Political Science from the University of Utah. When not at the Capitol, you will find Chase golfing and fly fishing in Utah’s beautiful rivers.
Chase is based in Salt Lake City, UT.
Lincoln Shurtz
Utah Lobbyist
Lincoln is a Partner at Lincoln Hill Partners, which represents Interwest in Utah. Lincoln has over two decades of experience advancing client priorities in both the public and private sectors. Before beginning his lobbying career, Lincoln served for four years in active military service in the US Army as a tank commander.
The skills and political acumen he developed leading a platoon helped shape his career path. Lincoln received degrees in Political Science and Economics from the University of Utah, where he is a lecturer in the MPA program. When not working, he can be found heliskiing in Utah and Canada and spending time with his family.
Lincoln is based in Salt Lake City, UT.
Casey Hill
Utah Lobbyist
Casey is a Partner at Lincoln Hill Partners, which represents Interwest in Utah. Casey represents and lobbies for interests in real estate development, environmental, healthcare, insurance, energy, legal, and pharmaceutical industries.
Casey holds a B.S. Degree in History and Political Science from Weber State University and an M.B.A. from the Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah.
Casey is based in Salt Lake City, UT.
Ginger Ramos
Administrative Support
For questions regarding listservs, email deliverability and anything else regarding your Interwest membership, please contact Ginger.
Ginger is based in Austin, TX.