Board of Directors & Staff

Mike Kruger, President & CEO

EMAIL: mkruger@cossa.co

Mike has served as the President and CEO of COSSA since October 2018. Previously, he was the Director of Communications for the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) in Washington, DC. He oversaw all public communications for the organization, including public speaking engagements, research reports and the annual SEPA Power Players Awards program. Prior to joining SEPA, Kruger was the Deputy Director of Communications for the U.S. Department of Commerce under the Obama Administration. He also served on the communications staff for the U.S. House of Representatives Education and Labor Committee. Kruger earned a Master of Arts in Education and Social Justice from the University of London and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Western Washington University. When he’s not explaining the wonders of the electric grid, you can find him watching baseball.

Stefanie Bednar, Membership Director

EMAIL: sbednar@cossa.co

Stefanie comes to COSSA after spending several years in the solar and storage industry. Her areas of expertise include residential and commercial rooftop solar. She’s no stranger to navigating the ins-and-outs of Colorado’s multiple AHJs. In addition to her solar background, Stefanie brings with her over a decade of experience in marketing and event planning. Her unique combination of skills provide the perfect base to offer valuable support to members of COSSA.

Stefanie graduated with honors from the University of Denver, where she was heavily involved in launching the college’s Sustainability Committee and helped implement composting on campus.  She also holds a certificate in Multi-Media Graphic Design from the Community College of Denver.

Outside of work, Stefanie enjoys exploring Colorado on her dirt bike, camping with friends and traveling. She is actively involved in her community, volunteering with the Arvada Festivals Commission on their Audio/Visual team.

Jeremiah Garrick, Manager of Community Engagement and Strategy

EMAIL: jgarrick@cossa.co

Jeremiah joined the COSSA team full-time in 2022 as their Local Community Liaison, after completing his Bachelor of Science degree in Energy and Sustainability Policy at The Pennsylvania State University. Being born and raised in Colorado, Jeremiah’s education largely focused on Colorado’s local and state-level energy policy, changes to our climate, and current industry practices. Jeremiah’s connections with local governments through sustainability initiatives, knowledge of Colorado’s renewable energy industry, and passion for lowering carbon emissions drove his efforts to seek an internship with COSSA prior to him joining the team full-time.

Previously, Jeremiah attended The University of Colorado Boulder, Leeds School of Business with both honors and scholar designations. He traveled to South Africa to volunteer at and help design a new management structure for a daycare in Soweto. Following this, Jeremiah continued on, solo-backpacking the Garden Route and parts of Zimbabwe and Egypt. Through his experiences and travels, he gained a much greater understanding of the importance of transitioning to sources of clean, reliable, and renewable energy at both a local and state level.

Jeremiah transferred to Penn State in 2019 and changed his degree path to Energy and Sustainability Policy. Throughout college, he worked at various restaurants, in just about every position, learning customer service, teamwork, and communication skills. When he isn’t thinking about renewable energy or politics, Jeremiah is an avid hobbyist, plant collector, car enthusiast, podcast listener, and pinball enjoyer.

Ellen Kutzer, General Counsel

EMAIL: ekutzer@cossa.co

Ellen Howard Kutzer is an accomplished attorney with a strong background in environmental and energy law. With over a decade of legal experience, she has made significant contributions to the renewable energy sector and has played a vital role in shaping policies and regulations in Colorado.

As General Counsel for COSSA, Ellen utilizes her extensive knowledge of electric utility law, renewable energy policy, and clean energy technologies to advocate for the advancement of the technologies that are the lynchpin of Colorado’s clean energy transition. In her role, Ellen oversees legal affairs, supporting the association’s initiatives to promote solar and storage adoption and develop new market opportunities.

Prior to her position at COSSA, Ellen served as a Senior Staff Attorney at Western Resource Advocates, a prominent environmental organization, where she advised on a variety of electric utility regulatory issues, including resource planning, ratemaking, renewable resource acquisition, and transportation electrification. She has also held significant roles within state government in both California and Colorado, including positions at Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, and the California State Water Resources Control Board Office of Enforcement. Before becoming a lawyer, Ellen also worked for many years as a wildlife biologist in Southern California, performing numerous environmental surveys for clients, including several large-scale solar generation developments and transmission expansion projects. She is a graduate of the University of California-Davis King Hall School of Law and the University of Colorado-Boulder.

Ellen’s commitment to her field extends beyond her professional roles. She served on the Board of Directors of the Women’s Energy Network Colorado, fostering connections and promoting the professional development of women in the energy industry. She is currently a member of the Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE) and the Energy Bar Association. When not at work, Ellen tries to spend as much time as possible enjoying the outdoors while skiing, rock climbing, biking, or trail running.

Mac Scott, Communications Director

EMAIL: mscott@cossa.co

Mac is a Salt Lake City native turned Aspen adventurer. With degrees in Political Science and Strategic Communications from the University of Utah, Mac has found his niche in the energy industry. For the past decade, he has focused his efforts on promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy through strategic communications for various nonprofit organizations.

In his free time, Mac is an avid supporter of his local public radio station, KDNK Community Access Radio, and can often be found soaking up the sounds of up-and-coming artists at live shows. He also enjoys exploring the great outdoors, whether it’s through backpacking, skiing, disc golf, or any other activity that allows him to play outside.

Whether he’s hitting the dusty desert trails or brainstorming new ways to get people excited about renewable energy, Mac is always up for a challenge and ready to make a positive impact.