Board of Directors
As an independent public financing authority, the Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority is governed by a Board of Directors. There are 13 members serving on the MnCIFA Board, representing a range of communities and organizations, as designated in MnCIFA statute. The members are appointed by the Governor and serve limited terms.
Board Chair and Vice Chair
The Board of Directors elects a chair and vice-chair by majority vote of the members present.
Board Chair: Bali Kumar, Chief Operating Officer, PACE Loan Group
Board Vice Chair: Jenna Warmuth, Regulatory Director, Advanced Energy United
Board Committees
Credit Committee
Chair: Julia Nelmark
Members: Joe Fowler, Lisa Hughes, Marcus Mills, Katherine Teiken
Direct Appointments
Six appointees are direct appointments by organizations, with board member appointees as follows:
Minnesota Commerce Commissioner, or designee:
Lissa Pawlisch , Assistant Commissioner, Energy Resources Division, Minnesota Department of Commerce
Minnesota Labor and Industry Commissioner, or designee:
Kate Perushek, Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
Minnesota Pollution Control Commissioner, or designee:
Frank Kohlasch, Assistant Commissioner for Air and Climate Policy, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Minnesota Employment and Economic Development Commissioner, or designee:
Lisa Hughes, Business Development Manager, Cleantech Industry Specialist, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Minnesota Housing Finance Agency Commissioner, or designee:
Katherine Teiken, Climate Policy Director, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency
Minnesota Indian Affairs Council Chair or designee:
MIAC Board Chair Robert "Bobby" Deschampe
Representative Appointments
Seven additional members appointed by the governor are representatives in the following areas:
Municipal electric utility or cooperative electric association:
Tessa Haagenson, Vice President of Power Supply and Business Development, Connexus Energy
Labor organization, representing a labor union with experience working on clean energy projects:
Joe Fowler, Business Manager, Construction & General Laborers Union Local 563
Expertise in impact of climate change on Minnesota communities, particularly low-income communities:
Jenna Warmuth, Regulatory Director, Advanced Energy United
Expertise in financing projects at a community bank, credit union, community development institution, or local government:
Julia Nelmark, President and CEO, Midwest Minnesota Community Development Corporation; CEO, White Earth Investment Initiative
Expertise in sustainable development and energy conservation:
Axaule Sultanova, Development and M&A Lead, Aspenall Energies Services
Expertise in environmental justice:
Marcus Mills, Senior Policy Impact Associate, African American Leadership Forum
Expertise in investment fund management or financing and deploying clean energy technologies:
Bali Kumar, Chief Operating Officer, PACE Loan Group
For more about board appointments and members, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State Boards & Commissions:
MnCIFA Board of Directors.