2016 Conference Acknowledgements

Robert Catell
Chairman of the Board, Advanced Energy Center
Chairman, NYS Smart Grid Consortium

Mr. Catell was formerly the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of KeySpan Corporation and KeySpan Energy Delivery, the former Brooklyn Union Gas. His career with Brooklyn Union Gas started in 1958. Following National Grid’s acquisition of KeySpan Corporation, Mr. Catell became Chairman of National Grid, U.S. and Deputy Chairman of National Grid plc.

He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of the Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center (AERTC) at Stony Brook University, New York State Smart Grid Consortium, Cristo Rey Brooklyn High School, Futures in Education Endowment Fund, the New York Energy Policy Institute’s Advisory Council (NYEPI). Mr. Catell serves on the Board of the following governmental organization:  NYS Economic Development Power Allocation Board (EDPAB).

He also serves on the Board of the following not for profit organizations: Brooklyn Community Foundation, City College of New York 21st Century Foundation, Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership, Department of Education; Diocese of Rockville Centre, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, National Grid Foundation, St. Francis Hospital Foundation, Tomorrow’s Hope Foundation, and the New York City Police Foundation.

Mr. Catell serves on the Board of the following business organizations:  American Vanadium Corp. (AVC), Atmos Air Solutions, BioRestorative Therapies, Long Island Angel Network (LIAN), Long Island Association
(LIA), National Petroleum Council, the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS), ThermoLift Inc., and the Water Company, LLC.
He serves on the Advisory Board for:  Advanced Power North America (APNA), Applied DNA Sciences Inc., Atmos Air Solutions, CAI Investments,  the Center for Urban Sciences & Progress (CUSP), EC Infosystems, Our Energy Policy Foundation, Posillico Inc., SUNY Farmingdale, the President’s Advisory Council at Adelphi University, VNG.CO, and the Winthrop Hospital Board of Regents.

Mr. Catell is an Executive in Residence at Hofstra University and was named the first “John J. Phelan, Jr. Fellow” of the Robert B. Willumstad School of Business at Adelphi University.

Mr. Catell is a former Chairman of the American Gas Association, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, KEYERA Energy Management Ltd., Long Island Association, Partnership for New York City, Inc., U.S. Energy Association (USEA), Business Council of NYS, the Advisory Board of the City College of New York’s School of Engineering, and the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership.

Mr. Catell was a former board member of: the Brooklyn Public Library Foundation, Edison Electric Institute (EEI), Energy Association of NYS, Long Island Foreign Affairs Forum, New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA), the advisory board of HeartShare for Human Services, and the Brooklyn Law School (Member Emeritus).
Mr. Catell is a member of the Association of Energy Engineers, CUNY Business Leadership Council, National Society of Professional Engineers, NYS Society of Professional Engineers, and the Society of Gas Lighting.
Mr. Catell received both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the City College of New York and is a registered Professional Engineer. He has attended Columbia University’s Executive Development Program, and the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School.