2026 Safety Conference Agenda & Speaker Biographies

Manager, Safety Division
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission

Robert Horensky is the Manager of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission's Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement's Safety Division, which includes three sections: Pipeline Safety, Electric Safety, and Damage Prevention Enforcement.

Mr. Horensky began his role as the Safety Manager in late 2019 after working as an inspector and supervisor for the Pipeline Safety group since 2013. In total, Mr. Horensky has accumulated over 20 years of state and federal regulatory experience including specialized work in pipeline safety, damage prevention, water and wastewater and electric industries. He currently manages a staff of 41 engineers and investigators and works daily with utilities, operators, state and federal regulators, and investigative parties to promote and advance safe operations across the Commonwealth. The Safety Division applies and enforces applicable safety regulations upon the jurisdictional entities and investigates jurisdictional incidents and accidents.

Mr. Horensky dedicates time on a national level through his involvement and support of both the National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives (NAPSR) and National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC).

Chairman
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission

Chairman Stephen M. DeFrank was nominated by Governor Wolf on September 20, 2022, and confirmed by the Senate on October 19, 2022. He was appointed as Chairman on August 30, 2023, by Governor Josh Shapiro. His term expires on April 1, 2025.

Prior to joining the PAPUC, the Chairman was a principal in the government relations practice at Buchannan Ingersoll & Rooney. He also spent 24 years in state government, primarily in the
state Senate, serving in several roles with Senate leadership, including Chief of Staff for two members, Special Assistant for Policy to the Democratic Leader, and Democratic Executive Director of the Senate Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee. As Committee Director, the Chairman developed policy initiatives impacting the utility sector, including the creation of the Distribution System Improvement Charge (DSIC), authorization of Transportation Network Companies, and modernizing the Public Utility Code relative to energy, water, wastewater and telecommunications.

The Chairman’s priorities at the Commission cover the wide spectrum of utility jurisdictional areas – electric, natural gas, telecommunications and transportation. He is focusing efforts on advancing utilities’ roles in transportation electrification; expanding availability and access to both renewable and certified sources of natural gas for utilities; increasing availability of broadband telecommunications services; updating commission transportation licensing procedures; and better accessibility, expansion and retention of consumer affordability assistance programs.

Chairman DeFrank resides in Harrisburg with his wife and two daughters.

Acting Deputy Associate Administrator, Policy and Programs

Mr. Gaither serves as the Acting Deputy Associate Administrator for Policy and Programs under the Office of Pipeline Safety. Previously, Mr. Gaither led PHMSA's Office of Preparedness, Emergency Support, and Security Division managing PHMSA's preparedness for, and response to, emergencies and served as the principal pipeline and hazardous materials security advisor for the organization.

He previously served as the Associate Director for the Transportation Operations Center (TOC) in the Office of Intelligence, Security, and Emergency Response, Office of the Secretary. He was responsible for providing the DOT Secretary and senior leadership with timely situational awareness and decision support products relating to all threats and all hazards events and incidents that had the potential to or impacted the safety, security, and resilience of the transportation sector.

Before serving as the Associate Director, he served in the United States Navy. He is a trained Cryptologic Technician Collection analyst. He was stationed in Misawa, Japan and on the USS Donald Cook (DDG-75). He participated in Operation Determined Response and assisted in returning the USS Cole (DDG-67) to the United States following the terrorist attack on the vessel
in Yemen. Following active duty, he joined the reserves and served in St. Louis, MO and at NSA until December 4, 2009. He finished his career as a Chief Petty Officer.

Principal Engineer and Head of Section
DNV

Shane Finneran is a Principal Engineer and Head of Section for the Corrosion and Advanced Analysis Section of DNV in Dublin, Ohio. He has been with DNV for over 18 years, as a licensed professional engineer in the states of Ohio and Utah. He is currently leading and overseeing technical advisory projects for pipeline structural and corrosion technical advisory, with a focus on stray current corrosion, cathodic protection modeling, and HVAC interference challenges.

Corrosion Control Lead, Consumers Energy
Consumers Energy

Jim is currently the Senior Manager of Transmission Corrosion Control and Direct Assessment programs at Consumers Energy in Michigan. Jim has also managed the Distribution Corrosion Control group as well. Jim has a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering as well as NACE Senior Corrosion Technologist and Senior Internal Corrosion Technologist certifications. Jim has worked in the corrosion control industry for 30 years and has served as the Chair for the AGA Corrosion Control Committee and is the current chair of the AMPP TCI on the Impact of Increased Electrical Transmission Loads.

Community Programs Coordinator, EC​A

Tracey Crawford-Mathis is a dedicated advocate for community empowerment and sustainability, serving as the Community Programs Coordinator at the Energy Coordinating Agency (ECA) in Philadelphia. In this role, she contributes to ECA’s mission of promoting energy conservation and fostering a sustainable and socially equitable energy future.

Tracey is also the Executive Director and Founder of The Crawford Life Connections Inc., a nonprofit organization committed to providing professional and person-centered services. Her work focuses on educating communities about essential resources, from healthcare and energy services to overall well-being initiatives.

With a deep passion for helping others, Tracey holds a special place in her heart for supporting seniors in her community. Her extensive background in healthcare patient services further underscores her commitment to improving lives and addressing critical needs.

Senior Energy Efficiency Expert, ECA

Michael describes himself as a Sustainability and Energy Conservation Advocate. Michael has been working with ECA in various capacities for more than 10 years after transitioning from a 25+-year career in retail management.  Michael benefited from ECA’s Training Center, earning his industry credentials and certifications beginning in 2009. Michael currently works in the Community Programs department at ECA, delivering presentations and workshops throughout the City of Philadelphia and the state of Delaware, educating community members on DIY weatherization techniques and energy conservation.

Manager, Solarize Greater Philadelphia Program, PEA

Tabeen Hossain manages the Solarize Greater Philadelphia program, the City of Philadelphia-backed initiative to help homeowners and business owners go solar. Through her work, she oversees the vetting of solar installers and solar energy equipment, ensuring consumer protection so residents can go solar with confidence. Tabeen is managing an expansion of the Solarize program throughout the surrounding region, broadening the reach and impact of the Solarize installer network. Outside of her work with PEA, Tabeen is on the board of the Philadelphia chapter of Young Professionals in Energy and volunteers as a cat foster parent with Project MEOW in West Philly. 

Manager, Energy Efficiency & Emerging Customer Programs, PGW

Zach Popkin is the Manager of Energy Efficiency Programs at PGW, where he oversees PGW’s market-rate energy efficiency portfolio, EnergySense, and its low income weatherization program, Home Comfort. Prior to managing PGW’s energy efficiency programs, Zach has experience in residential construction management and as a BPI-certified Energy Auditor. He currently lives in the Roxborough neighborhood of Philadelphia with his wife, son, and their two dogs.

Senior Advisor, Philadelphia Register of Wills

April Scott Street is the Senior Advisor for the Philadelphia Register of Wills responsible for outreach and engagement across the city. This information is critical to encourage estate planning, so constituents can maintain inherited wealth, prevent tangled titles, and reduce tax liabilities and penalties because of protracted probate.

She began her professional career in the medical field. She worked at Cooper Hospital as a surgical technician in the labor and delivery department. Her next professional move was to Camden County Correctional Facility as a medical assistant then she worked at American Red Cross as a phlebotomist.

While caring for her father during his illness she began a career in real estate to have a flexible schedule while managing his medical needs. She is a licensed Real Estate Agent, a member of National Association of Real Estate Brokers, (NAREB), and National Association of REALTORS®. She has worked in property management, is a licensed contractor, and construction manager. She has owned a dry-cleaning business in addition to creating a mobile notary public company. In her leisure time she serves on the board of directors of Uptown Entertainment and Development Corporations, the owners of the Historic Uptown Theater.

She is married to State Senator Sharif Street, has five children and six grandchildren. In addition to her own children, April has been a kinship caregiver for two decades providing guidance and love to countless young people both school age and in college.

Executive Director, WORC

Small Business Advocate, PA Office of Small Business Advocate

NazAarah Sabree is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience in community and economic development. In her current role as Pennsylvania's Small Business Advocate, she represents and advocates for small businesses with 250 employees or fewer in regulated utility matters across the Commonwealth. As the first woman of color to hold this position and a leader of the only agency of its kind in the nation, her work focuses on developing and implementing programs, policies, and protections that promote safety, affordability, and reliability while eliminating barriers to small business success. From strengthening operational capacity to navigating regulatory challenges, NazAarah brings a strategic, collaborative approach to helping businesses sustain and grow.

NazAarah earned her BA from Temple University’s Fox School of Business. She was inducted into the Overbrook High School Hall of Fame and named one of Pennsylvania’s most influential leaders in their forties. She is also a proud mother of two.

Workforce Development Manger, Outreach & Programs, PECO

Michele Wells-Bates serves as the Workforce Development Manager for Outreach and Programs at PECO, where she plays a pivotal role in ensuring that youth in the Greater Philadelphia area receive quality STEM education and that job seekers are connected to sustainable opportunities within the energy industry. Her responsibilities include strategic relationship development and grant funding for over 30 non-profit community partners.

Before her current position, Michele held the position of Marketing Program Manager at PECO. In this role, she was responsible for promoting energy efficiency programs to 1.6 million residential customers. Additionally, she spearheaded the launch of the Neighborhood Natural Gas Program, extending natural gas services to previously unserved neighborhoods.

With over two decades of experience in marketing, Michele is highly skilled in brand management,          e-commerce strategy, campaign development, and market research. Prior to joining PECO, she served as the E-Commerce Marketing Manager at the Franklin Mint and as the Brand Manager for Household Products at Sara Lee Household Brands.

Driven by a passion for community service, Michele actively supports various local non-profit organizations and is Vice President of the board for OIC Philadelphia and board member of Philadelphia Youth Network (PYN). 

Michele Wells-Bates holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from the Stillman School of Business at Seton Hall University, as well as an MBA with a concentration in Marketing from Rutgers School of Business in Newark, New Jersey. She has also earned certifications in Non-Profit Leadership from La Salle University and Women’s Leadership from the American Management Association.