GREETINGS:
February 23, 2026
Greetings Friends and Colleagues,
As my first official communication as Executive Director of PLMA, I’d like to express my sincere appreciation to everyone who supports this vital community! I am excited to work alongside you as we advance load flexibility solutions to help shape a resilient, affordable, and sustainable energy future. Indeed, PLMA’s role has never been more important!
PLMA’s members are the heart of this organization. Through volunteer leadership, peer learning, and deep industry expertise, you have significantly expanded the reach and impact of load flexibility, and I am honored to join you.
I’d also like to recognize Rich Philip for his leadership and commitment to PLMA and thank him for ensuring a smooth leadership transition in his interim role as Executive Advisor, through June 15, 2026. I do hope you’ll join us in Indianapolis, IN for the 2026 PLMA Spring Conference where we’ll celebrate Rich’s many contributions!
As for myself, I’ve enjoyed an energy career of 20 years, beginning in solar, where I managed international and utility-scale initiatives, and most recently at SEPA, where I’ve led education, programs, and events for the past 15 years. The world has changed vastly in that time, and like so many PLMA members, I believe we’re operating in a moment that calls for clarity and vision, speed, and courage.
I am eager to collaborate with you and support your work as we move forward together, and encourage you to reach out to me whenever you’d like to connect!
Warmly,
Cynthia
cjaehne@flexload.org
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PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT:
January 8, 2026
PLMA Welcomes New Executive Director Cynthia Hunt Jaehne
Recognizes Six Years of Growth and Accomplishment Under the Leadership of
Retiring Executive Director Rich Philip, plus New Strategic Opportunities for PLMA.
Washington, DC – January 8, 2026 – PLMA, A Flexible Load Management Community, today announced the appointment of Cynthia Hunt Jaehne as its next Executive Director, effective February 9, 2026.
“Cynthia’s deep expertise in the energy industry, coupled with her people-first leadership style, make her the perfect fit for PLMA’s important next chapter,” stated Robin Maslowski, Chair of the PLMA Board and Founder of Trillium Energy Consulting. “As PLMA continues to advance load flexibility as a key solution to grid stability in this era of rising energy demands and costs, Cynthia’s long experience working with member-driven organizations ensures that our commitment to collaborative, transformative change will remain at the forefront of all PLMA initiatives.”
Amid ongoing energy challenges, driven by affordability demands, data centers, electric vehicles, climate impacts, and more, PLMA’s role as the leading authority on flexible load management has never been so important. In preparation for this future, the organization, now in its 26th year of operations, has been proactively enhancing its capabilities with a rebranding from peak load to flexible load management, the introduction of a new governance model that empowers its member-leaders, the launch of educational resources designed to benefit all industry stakeholders, and innovative new programming in areas that include load flexibility valuation and emerging distributed energy resource integration models.
“I am delighted to welcome Cynthia as my successor,” said retiring Executive Director Rich Philip who has skillfully led the organization since 2020, stewarding its growth and building its industry profile through COVID and into the current era of increasing applications for load flexibility. “I join Cynthia in viewing PLMA as uniquely positioned to drive meaningful impact in the coming years with PLMA’s members and stakeholders continuing their critical work building a flexible, clean, and equitable energy future for everyone.”
Rich Philip will continue to support PLMA in his new role of Executive Advisor until his official retirement on June 15, 2026, thereby ensuring a seamless transition for Cynthia and the whole PLMA organization.
With 25 years of professional experience in the energy industry, Cynthia joins PLMA after serving as the Senior Director of Programs and Events at the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA). “I am passionate about harnessing the collective strength of people to transform our energy future,” said Cynthia. “My leadership philosophy centers on collaboration, breaking down barriers, and delivering member-driven solutions that create tangible value. I am truly excited to join PLMA at such a pivotal moment in our industry.”
Join the PLMA community in welcoming Cynthia Hunt Jaehne and wishing Rich Philip a fulfilling and well-earned retirement at the Spring 2026 PLMA Conference (May 11 to 13, 2026) in Indianapolis, IN.
About PLMA: A Flexible Load Management Community
PLMA serves the energy industry as the leading association for flexible load management experts, practitioners, and vendors to share best practices, hands-on experiences, technology advances and training, plus leadership and mentorship opportunities, all with a focus on DR, DERs, and managed charging. PLMA encourages all organizations with an interest in flexible load management to join us.
For more information or to join PLMA, please visit flexload.org.
Media Contact:
Judy Knight, PLMA
(404) 771-1122
jknight@flexload.org
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