Mr. Vivek Talvadkar is the Senior Vice President of NRECA International Programs. In this capacity, Mr. Talvadkar heads up NRECA’s three non-profit subsidiaries, continuing to focus on community-based and consumer-driven electrification approaches.

Mr. Talvadkar’s previous professional experience includes twenty-five years at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group. His last position was as Director of Power Investments where he was responsible for formulating and implementing IFC’s global strategy for worldwide energy sector investments and managing a $2 billion investment portfolio.

Mr. Talvadkar received his M.BA from Harvard Business School, his M.S. from Cornell University, and his B.A. from the Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay, India.

Dr. Dan Waddle is NRECA International Programs’ Vice President of Operations. He is an expert in rural electrification project and program design with more than 25 years of experience in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. He has extensive experience in small to medium scale power generation, including grid-connected and off-grid technologies, and has extensive experience in load forecasting, financial analysis, and geographic information systems applications for rural electrification planning and analysis. Dr. Waddle has managed numerous projects funded by USAID, the U.S. Department of Energy, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and numerous local sponsors.

Dr. Waddle received his Doctorate of Engineering from Texas A&M University, and his M.S. and B.S. from Virginia Polytechnic and State University.

Mr. Nicholas Allen is a Rural Electrification Engineer for NRECA International. Prior to joining NRECA he worked for a private renewable energy finance firm. Mr. Allen is also a returned Peace Corps volunteer from the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. Mr. Allen received his M.A. in International Environmental Policy from the Monterey Institute of International Studies and his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh University.

Mr. Hugo Arriaza is NRECA International’s Country Director in Guatemala. Mr. Arriaza has over 20 years of experience in the design and execution of NRECA International’s rural electrification programs in Guatemala and other countries in Central American.

Mr. Arriaza routinely conducts country assessments and prepares of national strategies with an emphasis on institutional coordination in to support local governments and entrepreneurs in their investments. Mr. Arriaza has extensive experience and a dynamic skill set in renewable energy, productive uses, field surveys, project assessment, and micro financing models for entrepreneurial development.

Mr. Arriaza received his M.S. and his B.S from San Carlos University in Guatemala.

Judy Burnett joins NRECA as a Cooperative Institutional Advisor, Rural Electric Development Program (REDP) in Bangladesh. Judy has a lot of background in the cooperative world. She previously was a Manager, Economic Development for Electric Power Board in Chattanooga, TN; an Energy Service Advisor for College Park Power in Atlanta, GA. A Member Services Specialist for NRECA International Ltd in Bangladesh; a Customer Service Manager for Tennessee Valley Authority in Huntsville, AL; and a Member Services Representative for Holston Electric Cooperative in Rogersville, TN. She received her Masters of Education from Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA and her Bachelor of Science degree from East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, TN.

Mr. Van Coevering is the Senior Utility Specialist for NRECA International Programs. He has over thirty years of experience in utility engineering, energy efficiency research, and engineering management. He also has over twenty years experience in the planning, design, engineering, construction, and maintenance of electric utility power systems both in the US and overseas, including biomass and coal-fired steam power plants and diesel- and gas-fired reciprocating engine power plants.

Mr. VanCoevering has worked with utilities in Latin America and Asia on topics as diverse as development of distributed generation, steam power plant design and operation, transmission system protection, development of maintenance procedures for distribution systems and design of underground distribution networks. He has also been responsible for projects aimed at improving outage and loss performance, introducing transformer loss evaluation as a purchasing strategy and the optimum application of capacitors to improve system losses and voltage performance.

Mr. VanCoevering received his M.E. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and his B.S. from University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.

Mr. Dalton is NRECA International’s Construction Manager for the Sudan Market town electrification project. Mr. Dalton has over 30 years of experience in the power line industry. He has worked as a line hand or foreman for Cooperatives in the USA and for NRECA abroad. He has worked with NRECA in many countries including El Salvador, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Uruguay and currently Sudan. As part of his duties he has designed lines, supervised construction, trained linemen and engineers in line design and construction techniques. He has worked closely with Mr. Myk Manon in the past assisting as he managed USAID-funded programs in Southern Sudan, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Bolivia, and Nicaragua that encompass rural line design, construction and supervision; utility organizational development, privatization analysis, and training support.

Mr. Ellinger joins NRECA International following a long career with the Rural Electrification Program in the United States. He is currently serving as NRECA International’s Chief of Party for the Rural Electrification Development Program (REDP) in Bangladesh.

Mr. Ellinger has close to 25 years experience working as both a General Manger and staff person at distribution cooperatives in Pennsylvania and Ohio. He also served in senior positions with the US Department of Agriculture Rural Utility Service (RUS) - formerly Rural Electrification Administration (REA) – culminating in his service as Director, Southern Regional Division – Electric Program, where he managed and directed the activities of the engineering and operations branches in the Washington HQ office and provided supervision and direction to field representatives located throughout 20+ states and territories assigned to the Division.

Mr. Ellinger participated in an international executive exchange program with the Government of India which included travel to India, evaluation of the rural electrification program and developing an educational plan to provide an understanding of the USDA’s Rural Development best practices in an effort to improve the delivery of electricity to rural India and foster improved economic development and business expansion opportunities in agriculture. He spearheaded a joint effort with the UDSA Rural Business / Cooperative Services to establish a cooperative education and training program for Indian utility professionals.

Mr. Ellinger received his A.S. from Pennsylvania State University and his B.A. from Ohio Dominican University.

Mr. Ford is NRECA International’s Country Director in Bangladesh. He has over 30 years of professional experience, including more than twenty years of experience with various aspects of international power distribution projects including the areas of management, finance, engineering, construction, operations, customer service, and training.

Mr. Ford previously served as Chief of Party/Team Leader for a major USAID-funded technical assistance effort in Bangladesh. Since returning to Bangladesh in 1996, he is been directly involved in the design and development of three major technical assistance projects for the Bangladesh RE Program having a value of more than $25 million. Mr. Ford has significant international experience in the area of large-scale manpower development projects within the electric utility sector, having worked as a training advisor both in Bangladesh and Pakistan. He has also contributed to rural electrification project activities in countries throughout South Asia and Latin America.

Mr. Ford received his M.S. from Fitchburg State College and his B.S. from State University of New York.

Mr. Eric Gibbs is a Senior Program Manager based in NRECA International’s headquarters in Arlington, VA. Mr. Gibbs has over 10 years of experience in international energy development, including national and regional market assessments, project economic and financial analysis, contract negotiation, project management, and strategic planning and business development. Mr. Gibbs has served as the lead economic analyst on several rural electrification projects and in this capacity has designed survey instruments, coordinated field work, developed and managed the project database, and conducted the economic analysis of the project.

Mr. Gibbs has managed energy use surveys and economic analysis for projects in Southern Sudan, Uganda, India, and Bolivia. Mr. Gibbs recently co-authored a definitive technical guide on the approach, methodology, and implementation of energy use and consumer willingness to pay surveys in developing countries, and has developed and refined database and quantitative models to facilitate analysis.

Mr. Gibbs received his M.A. from John’s Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and his B.A. from the University of New Hampshire.

Mrs. Ingrid Hunsicker is the NRECA International Foundation’s Senior Program Manager. She has worked for NRECA International Programs for 10 years. In her current position she coordinates programs for Foundation Projects under grants awarded by USAID and other organizations. Mrs. Hunsicker joined NRECA in 1996 as an Administrator for the Guatemala Regional Office. She supervised the financial and procurement operations of the Office.

Mrs. Hunsicker has completed advanced courses in Business and Financial Management at Francisco Marroquín University as well as three semesters of chemical-biology courses at Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala.

Mr. David Kittelson is NRECA International’s Country Director for Dominican Republic. Prior to this engagement, Mr. Kittelson occupied various positions in NRECA’s overseas offices since 1991, including technical and managerial positions in Bolivia, Central America, and Southern Sudan.

Mr. Kittelson has technical proficiency in renewable energy project design, productive use project design, and end-use design experience for conventional electrification programs. Mr. Kittelson also has extensive experience in organizing and supervising fieldwork for willingness to pay, economic benefit, and demand studies and has acquired the basic knowledge and skills needed for electric line design and construction supervision.

Mr. Kittelson received his M.S. and B.S. from Texas A&M University.

Ms. Leeto Mach is the Program Administration Assistantfor NRECA’s International Program. Ms. Mach has been with NRECA for over 31 years. A native of Vietnam, Ms. Mach previously worked on a USAID funded NRECA project in Vietnam that provided electricity three cooperatives in rural areas. Because of the War in Vietnam, Ms. escaped to the U.S. and her former supervisor, Dan Miller, from NRECA Vietnam project sponsored her stay in the U.S. When David Venables, the program coordinator then for NRECA International Programs, heard about Ms. Mach plight, he offered her a position in the Washington Office. Ms. Mach has been with NRECA’s International Program ever since.

Mr. Manon is NRECA International’s Engineer and Operation Manager for Nigeria project. Mr. Manon has over 35 years of experience in supervising and managing rural electrification assignments for government and private clients. Mr. Manon has managed USAID-funded programs in Southern Sudan, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Bolivia, and Nicaragua that encompass rural line design, construction and supervision; utility organizational development, privatization analysis, and training support.

Mr. Manon has developed work plans, coordinated task assignments with multiple subcontractors, provided overall substantive administrative and logistical support to short term and long term teams in developing countries focusing on donor agencies’ strategic objectives and targets and indicators. Mr. Manon has a strong cooperative sector background in promoting rural electrification projects utilizing innovative technology in developing countries.

Mr. Manon received his M.S. and B.S. University of California, Davis.

Katalina graduated from the University of Washington in 2007 B.A. in International Studies with a focus on development and human rights. During her time in Seattle she worked on the promotion of fair trade coffee coming from cooperative farms on her campus and in the local Seattle community. After graduating she spent a year as a community organizer in the hotel industry in Washington D.C. before deciding to switch gears. The Hill was a place that greatly interested her and so she decided to intern for Congresswoman DeGette, the vice-chair of the Energy and Commerce committee for the House of Representatives. She had great experience learning more about the legislative process, before joining NRECA International.

Mr. Fernando Mercado is NRECA International’s Country Director in Bolivia. Mr. Mercado has over 15 years of experience in the energy sector with significant experience and expertise in management and operations of rural electric utilities.

Mr. Mercado has supervised construction projects, developed and executed financial restructuring plans for rural utilities, and participated in several project design and analysis activities for rural electrification projects in Bolivia and other countries in Latin America. He has technical training in conventional electrification systems, and renewable energy systems (including solar photovoltaic, wind, and small hydroelectric technologies).

Mr. Mercado received his M.S. from University of Arkansas and his B.S. from Federal University of Santa Maria.

Mr. Francis Mills IV is the Electrification Engineer for NRECA International Programs. Following a stint in the private sector as an engineer at the product design firm IDEO, Mr. Mills has played a wide variety of roles in international development, academia, public education, technology development, and the non-profit sector.

Mr. Mills received his MPhil in Engineering for Sustainable Development from the University of Cambridge and his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University.

Ms. Rajeena Shakya, a native from Nepal, joined the organization in 2007. She comes from Alliance to Save Energy where she worked as a Senior Public and Corporate Relations Associate for nearly three years. She has background in energy-efficiency. Ms. Shakya received her Bachelor of Arts from Randolph Macon Woman's College in International Studies and Political Science.

James Walsh joins NRECA as a Senior Representative, Key Accounts and Long-Term Planning. James has eighteen years experience in design, management and evaluation of international development projects. Most recently he worked for three years as an independent project design consultant based in Antananarivo, Madagascar. Also recently served for six years in USAID’s Sudan Field Office; manager of economic growth and environment projects in Southern Sudan. Prior overseas postings with USAID included Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire (covering multiple countries in West Africa) and Moscow, Russia. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Chicago.