Inspiring Tomorrow’s Energy Workforce Panelists
Ruth Prideauz
Ruth Prideaux is director-Renewable Energy.
She is responsible for the operations and maintenance of Dominion Energy’s utility scale solar and storage generation fleet currently at 2.2GW generating from 55+ power stations in 5 states. She has experience in power plant safety and fleet performance energy expectations, and managing O&M budgets. She is responsible for directing the company’s strategic change from third party O&M vendors to one that will rely on a new in house O&M team.
Prideaux joined DE in 1990 as an engineer I. She progressed to hold the positions of engineer II and III and worked in Nuclear Licensing, Nuclear Emergency Preparedness and Energy Efficiency. Beginning in 2001, she served as Generation Business Development Manager, Energy Marketing Manager and senior business development manager. She was named manager-Merchant Operations in 2005 and supported DE E&P divestiture activities in 2005. She was named manager-Generation Construction in 2007 and director–Project Construction in 2011. She has experience leading teams focused on engineering, procurement and construction contract negotiation, project management, environmental permitting, state regulatory approvals to achieve project schedule, budget, and performance guarantees She was responsible for design, construction and commissioning activities of photovoltaic utility-scale and distributed solar generation, with more than 3 GW in 10 states, and over 700 MW of projects in active construction with a capital approved budget of approx $1.6B to serve Dominion Energy (DE) regulated and unregulated businesses. During her time in Project Construction, she held roles to support renewable energy projects for offshore wind, energy storage and utility scale and distributed solar development, and participated in DE Environmental Justice Policy working group.
She received her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Virginia Tech, is a registered Professional Engineer in Virginia, and holds an AP LEED professional certification. She is an active member of the Society of Women Engineers, was a member of the Leadership Metro Richmond class of 2019, and serves on the board of Ronald McDonald House Charities – Richmond, and SHINE, a public-private initial working to advance workforce development for the solar sector in Virginia.
April Wade
April Wade is the Executive Director of the Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium (VNEC) and the founder and President of Wade Strategic Communications (WSC), a public affairs firm. As E.D. for VNEC, Wade represents the nuclear industry in the commonwealth, advocating for additional opportunities in commercial power, nuclear medicine, academic research, and defense applications of nuclear energy.
WSC works with corporate and non-profit clients to develop goal-oriented strategies for navigating the state and federal political processes and communicating with stakeholder audiences. In more than 20 years as a Public Affairs practitioner, April has worked with clients ranging from oil and gas services firms, the nuclear power industry, rare earth mining, local and county governments, and women’s causes.
Prior to founding Wade Strategic Communications, April served as the Communications Director for Louisiana Energy Services (LES/URENCO) on the National Enrichment Facility – the first major nuclear facility to be licensed in more than 30 years and the first ever to receive a combined construction and operating license from the Nuclear Regulatory Committee.
Wade has done public relations and public affairs work for such clients as Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Devon Energy, the New Mexico Oil & Gas Association and Phillip Morris (Altria); and political fundraising and event planning for Representative Heather Wilson, the Republican Party of New Mexico and Representative Bill Redmond.
Wade’s specialties include: corporate communications, stakeholder relations, government affairs, fundraising, event planning and management, and grassroots organizing.
Braden Croy
Braden Croy, program director at the Dominion Energy Innovation Center, has 10+ years building entrepreneurship programs at R1 research institutions and private organizations; taking the Syracuse University Blackstone LaunchPad from 0-4000 entrepreneurs in 3 years and growing the DEIC’s energy entrepreneurship footprint across the Commonwealth.
He has presented training on innovation ecosystem development internationally (China, Indonesia) and published a novel entrepreneurship ecosystem canvassing method. He has coached 500+ entrepreneurs from idea stage to acquisition.
Kate Staples
Kate Staples is Director of Electrification for Dominion Energy. Previously, she developed and implemented renewable and demand side management programs for Dominion Energy’s residential and non-residential customers.
She received her Bachelor of Science in Business from Virginia Tech and her MBA from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is a Six Sigma Green Belt and received her Certified Energy Manager certification in 2014.
Dana Willingham
Dana has worked in the natural gas industry for 15 years. He has held roles in gas operations, training, measurement engineering, and gas transmission construction. He joined NiSource in 2017, and has held varying roles in their training organization before assuming his current role of Director of Training Execution, supporting the six NiSource operating companies.
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