Guidehouse Insights Team

Mackinnon Lawrence Senior Research Director Mackinnon Lawrence is a director in Guidehouse's global Energy, Sustainability, and Infrastructure practice and the leader of Guidehouse Insights. He is responsible for overall strategy and operations, including management of a global analyst team, development of the Firm’s Energy Cloud thought leadership framework, and client engagements supporting utility, oil & gas, telecom, manufacturing, IT, and consumer tech companies. His expertise covers energy transformation, business model innovation, and technology disruption.

With more than a decade of experience as an analyst and attorney, Lawrence has led research and consulting engagements covering emerging clean technology, grid transformation, and policy and regulatory issues. He has coauthored numerous publications, including Guidehouse’s State & Future of the Power Industry annual reports, Navigating the Energy Transformation, and From Grid to Cloud: A Network of Networks in Search of an Orchestrator. He is a frequent speaker at conferences worldwide on emerging technology issues. Lawrence holds a JD from Washington College of Law and an MA in international affairs from American University.

Pritil Gunjan Research Director DER Database Pritil Gunjan is a principal research analyst with Guidehouse Insights leading the Energy Technologies services and supporting the Connected DER, Microgrids, Virtual Power Plants, Hydrogen, Global Renewable Energy, and Energy Storage Systems solutions. Pritil advises global clients on renewable energy outlooks, distributed energy business strategy, technology market assessments, and mergers and acquisitions.

With more than 15 years of experience as a strategy and business consultant, Gunjan's experience includes qualitative and quantitative research projects for clients across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific. She has designed and implemented market assessment models across multi-client energy projects. In addition, she has worked with blue-chip management consulting firms on large global assignments to execute strategy roadmaps for large-scale transformation projects across manufacturers, renewable developers, oil companies, utilities, and industrial players. Prior to joining Guidehouse Insights, Gunjan spent 10 years at Frost and Sullivan and IBM Strategy and Change. Fluent in Hindi and English, she holds an MBA in finance and business.

Krystal Maxwell Research Director Intelligent Buildings Ecosystem Krystal Maxwell is a research director leading Guidehouse Insights’ buildings technologies services and contributing to the Networked Buildings, Lighting Efficiency, Building Automation and Control, and Building Efficiency and Decarbonization solutions. Maxwell specializes in strategic engagements around the digital and sustainable transformation of resilient building infrastructure. She focuses on intelligent building solutions, building technologies, energy efficiency, lighting innovations, Internet of Things, and decarbonization and sustainability strategy. Maxwell supports clients in understanding energy efficient innovations, key market drivers and barriers to adoption, and go-to-market strategies.

Previously, Maxwell was Guidehouse Insights’ client service lead, facilitating communications and customer service with the group’s global client base. Maxwell holds a BA in political science, with a minor in German, from Occidental College and studied abroad at Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany.

Nicholas McClusky Director, Custom Research Nicholas McClusky is a director with Guidehouse Insights, leading the custom research business. He is responsible for the strategy and operations of the custom research business, providing guidance and implementing best practices on inquiries that fall outside of syndicated research. His focus is on providing actionable insights to clients to help them achieve success.

McClusky has fifteen years of experience in a variety of roles focused on market research and management consulting. His most recent role was as an Engagement Manager for Clarabridge, helping clients implement AI/ML tools to analyze customer feedback. Prior to that he worked at Government Executive, producing research for a government audience on behalf of the editorial team and government contractors. McClusky has also worked as a research director supporting firms involved in government, defense, manufacturing, healthcare, banking, logistics, and many others. McClusky holds a BA in History from Kenyon College.

Matthew Spady Associate Director, Syndicated Research Matthew Spady is an associate director with Guidehouse Insights’ Syndicated Research group. His primary role is managing the flow of syndicated research products from analyst to client, using rigorous project management skills to produce high quality deliverables efficiently and on target. He also produces and hosts the Guidehouse Insights’ webinar series.

Spady has been managing the production of research for more than 20 years, with experience ranging from international investment banks to globally respected market research firms. Most recently, at Gigaom Research, he directed the production of underwritten research and sponsored webinars. Earlier in his career, he was Research Production Director at ABI Research and held similar positions at Commerzbank and UBS. Spady holds a BA in English from the College of William and Mary, Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a Master of Music and Artist Diploma from the College Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati.

Sam Abuelsamid Principal Research Analyst Mobility Sam Abuelsamid is a principal research analyst leading Guidehouse Insights’ E-Mobility solution and contributing to the Automated Vehicles solution. With a focus on automated driving, mobility services, telematics, connectivity, cybersecurity, and advanced propulsion systems, Abuelsamid works with clients to help them understand emerging technology trends and shape strategies.

Trained as a mechanical engineer, Abuelsamid has more than two decades of experience as a product development engineer in the automotive industry, working on advanced electronic control systems and embedded software and architecture. Prior to joining Guidehouse Insights, he worked as an automotive journalist and worked in product and technology communications at Ford and General Motors. Abuelsamid regularly contributes to a number of publications, including Forbes, Automotive Engineering, and others. He holds a BSc in mechanical engineering from Kettering University.

Wendy Davis Principal Research Analyst Industry Innovations Wendy Davis is a principal research analyst leading Guidehouse Insights’ Commercial Building Technologies and Industrial Innovations programs. Her research focuses on energy efficient building technologies, with expertise in lighting, building standards, and related policies. Prior to joining Guidehouse, Wendy was an associate professor of lighting at the University of Sydney, where she led a professional graduate program in illumination design and a research laboratory investigating novel architectural applications for new and emerging lighting technologies. She also worked as a scientist at the US National Institute of Standards and Technology supporting the development and commercialization of solid-state lighting for illumination applications. Wendy has a PhD and MS in Vision Science from the University of California, Berkeley, and a BA in Psychology and Physiology from the University of Minnesota.

Richelle Elberg Principal Research Analyst IoT and Connectivity Richelle Elberg is a principal research analyst overseeing Guidehouse Insights’ IoT and Connectivity solution. She also supports the Digital Innovations, Neural Grid, and AI and Advanced Analytics solutions. Her primary focus is on holistic connectivity strategies for energy industry stakeholders in the Industry 4.0 era, including networking for applications in the power utility, oil & gas, and mining sectors. Elberg has more than 25 years of experience analyzing telecommunications and technological evolution, including an extensive background creating market and financial models and performing strategic consulting engagements and business valuations for service providers and technology vendors. She is a recognized expert in both wired and wireless technologies, including fiber network deployment and public and private wireless solutions such as unlicensed solutions, low power wide area, and 5G technologies.

Prior to joining Guidehouse Insights, Elberg served as director and senior analyst with JSI Capital Advisors, a boutique investment bank focused on the communications, digital media, and information technology industries. She has also held senior positions in analysis and management with Kagan World Media and KPMG. Elberg speaks French, Spanish, and Russian, and she is the author of three novels. She holds a BA in international business and marketing from the University of Colorado.

William Hughes Principal Research Analyst Building Automation and Control William Hughes is an experienced executive, consultant, and industry analyst leading Guidehouse Insights’ Building Automation and Control solution. He brings over three decades of experience in technology marketing and strategy business planning with expertise in drawing insights from a variety of data sources, building valuation models, and preparing business plans and justifications.

Prior to joining Guidehouse Insights, Hughes led a consulting engagement for a large utility in the Pacific Northwest, helping to improve the business justification process for new IT projects. During his tenure, the utility approved and initiated projects for mobile workforce management, building management, multiple IoT initiatives, conservation program management, power trading, grid and asset management, and data analytics. He also served as a principal analyst at In-Stat and WDS-Xerox, where he prepared market analysis for the leading wireless carriers and many manufacturers, leveraging data analytics to provide meaningful insights to achieve higher customer satisfaction and reduce costs.

In addition, Hughes has held strategic marketing roles at IBM, GE, Motorola, and US West, and led marketing and business development initiatives at Advanced Radio Telecom, Zetron, and TeleCommunication Systems. A former adjunct professor, Hughes has taught business marketing to MBA students at Northwestern University. He has written over 12 books on a variety of technical subjects for John Wiley & Sons Publishing. Hughes holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a BS with Distinction from the College of Engineering at Cornell University, where he was elected to the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honorary.

Michael Kelly Principal Research Analyst AMI Tracker Michael Kelly is a senior research analyst contributing to Guidehouse Insights’ Digital Innovations and AMI Tracker solutions. He specializes in smart grid IT systems and data analytics, as well as advanced metering infrastructure.

Prior to joining Guidehouse Insights, Kelly worked as a research analyst at Energy Acuity, where he researched renewable energy projects and transmission planning dockets. In this role, he also contributed to the development of annual reports on solar and wind markets and analyzed public planning documentation. Kelly holds an MS in geography and environmental science, with a focus on geospatial analysis, from the University of Colorado Denver, and a BA in environmental studies from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Roberto Rodriguez Labastida Principal Research Analyst Connected DER Roberto Rodriguez Labastida is a principal research analyst with Guidehouse Insights contributing to the Connected DER solution. He has more than 10 years of experience as a strategy and economics consultant in the energy sector.

Rodriguez Labastida’s extensive experience includes leading consultancy projects for top banks, private equity, project developers, oil companies, utilities, and industrial players on investment strategy, asset valuations, market research, and technology deployment. Prior to joining Guidehouse Insights, he spent eight years with Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF). Fluent in Spanish and English, Rodriguez Labastida holds a BS in electrical engineering from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico and a MSc in technology management from the University Of Surrey (UK).

Sagie Evbenata Senior Research Analyst Automated Vehicles Sagie Evbenata is a senior research analyst focusing on Guidehouse Insights’ Automated Vehicles and Fleet Decarbonization solutions. He works with clients to take advantage of opportunities from disrupted industries through strategy development, market assessments, and the development of new business models.

Evbenata brings experience gained from several areas of the automotive industry at major original equipment manufacturers. Prior to Guidehouse Insights, he was a business strategist at Ford Smart Mobility. He has also worked in global product planning and strategy and in automotive product development. He holds an MBA from Imperial College Business School, an MScEng in integrated management systems from the University of Birmingham, and a BEng in aeronautical engineering from City, University of London.

Peter Marrin Senior Research Analyst Hydrogen Innovations Peter Marrin is a senior research analyst contributing to Guidehouse Insights' Hydrogen Innovations service. His focus is on hydrogen production and global trade, energy storage technologies, and other low-carbon innovations such as synthetic fuels and carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration.

Prior to joining Guidehouse, Peter worked as a senior editor at S&P Global, leading the oil news desk for the Market Intelligence division. As an energy editor, reporter, and analyst for more than 20 years, Peter covered a wide range of energy markets including oil, gas, electricity, emissions and capacity. Peter holds a BA in English and Anthropology from Fordham University.

Jacques Moss Senior Research Analyst Hydrogen Innovations Jacques Moss is a research analyst contributing to Guidehouse Insights' Hydrogen Innovations service. His focus is on hydrogen production technologies, industrial demand, biomethane, the decarbonization of long-distance transportation, and interactions between energy carriers.

Prior to joining Guidehouse, Jacques worked at Informa, a UK-based publishing, business intelligence and exhibitions group, where he wrote extensively about market developments in the natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and biofuels industries. Jacques holds an MSc in Energy Policy from the University of Sussex and a BA in English Studies from the University of Nottingham.

Dan Power Senior Research Analyst Connected DER Program Dan Power is a senior research analyst with Guidehouse Insights leading the Connected DER service. His research and consulting experience covers connected DER applications including virtual power plants, microgrids, demand response, load flexibility, and non-wires alternatives along with enabling software platforms, emerging DER business models, and changing energy market structures. Prior to Guidehouse, he worked as a mechanical engineer at Northop Grumman designing and evaluating the reliability of microelectronic packages used in airborne and ground-based military radar systems. Dan holds MS and BS degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland, College Park. His graduate studies focused on microelectronics packaging, reliability, and thermal management of power electronics used in harsh environments.

Francesco Radicati Senior Research Analyst IoT and Connectivity Francesco Radicati is a senior research analyst contributing to Guidehouse Insights’ IoT and Connectivity research service. His focus is on 5G and the Internet of Things, with an interest in global market analysis and forecasts for Industrial IoT deployments, and the interaction of multiple connectivity protocols within industrial and consumer IoT. He also writes about the use of IoT in transportation and logistics settings.

Before joining Guidehouse Insights, Francesco worked in State Farm’s RED Labs innovation arm, helping to develop an aging-in-place solution for older customers. Prior to that, he worked at Ovum (part of Omdia – Informa PLC), where he wrote about consumer IoT, smart home strategy and IoT investment strategies in the telecoms, media and tech sector. Francesco speaks Italian, German and French, and has an MS in journalism from Columbia University.

Daniel Temkin Senior Research Analyst Daniel Temkin is senior research analyst contributing to Guidehouse Insights’ client and syndicated projects. His work focuses on improving and standardizing internal processes within the Data Insights team and consulting on the programming, data collection, and data analysis needs of client projects within Guidehouse Insights. Prior to Guidehouse, Daniel worked as an independent consultant for 7 years with a focus on data engineering and machine learning projects for academic researchers and public institutions. He has experience working in R, Python, Java, and multiple SQL dialects (including MySQL, MS SQL, and PostrgeSQL). Daniel holds an MS in Data Science from the University of Denver, an MS in Finance from Saint Xavier University, and a BA in Economics from The Ohio State University.

Hannah Bastian Research Analyst Building Automation and Control Hannah Bastian is a research analyst contributing to Guidehouse Insights’ Building Automation and Control and Building Efficiency and Decarbonization services. Her research focuses on global market analysis and forecasts for energy efficiency building technologies, building energy management systems, intelligent buildings, and building-to-grid integration.

Prior to joining Guidehouse Insights, Bastian was a senior research analyst for the Buildings Program at the American Council for an Energy Efficiency Economy where she conducted research on a wide variety of topics related to improving the energy performance of residential and commercial buildings. She also worked as a program assistant at the National Center for Sustainable Transportation and an intern at the Energy Efficiency Center at the University of California, Davis. She has a BS in Environmental and Resource Economics from the UC Davis.

Serkan Birgel Research Analyst Serkan Birgel is a research analyst contributing to the Data Insights team at Guidehouse Insights. His interests revolve around emerging technologies and renewable energy, with a focus on carbon capture and storage (CCS), smart cities, carbon pricing, and energy geopolitics.

Prior to joining Guidehouse Insights, Birgel was a member of the international media and worked in the energy and technology consulting sectors. He holds a DPhil. from the School of Geography, University of Oxford, where his thesis covered natural resource geopolitics with a focus on the global natural gas industry. Birgel also holds an MA in geopolitics, territory, and security from King’s College London and a BSc. in geography from Royal Holloway, University of London.

Jared Feuer Research Analyst Jared Feuer is a research and analysis consultant on the Built Environment team at Guidehouse Insights, where he focuses on researching market data and benchmarking industry trends. He has expertise in database design and construction and a particular interest in smart cities and DER. Jared has worked on more than 47 reports and 16 databases across the energy storage, EV, microgrid, smart city, and smart meter industries. He has also authored thought leadership pieces on topics such as nuclear fusion, flood mitigation infrastructure, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the circular economy. Jared holds bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration and Environmental Sciences from Emory University.

David Gonzalez Research Analyst Lighting Efficiency David Gonzalez is a research analyst leading Guidehouse Insights’ Lighting Efficiency and Building Efficiency and Decarbonization solutions. He specializes in global market analysis and market forecasts for connected lighting systems, smart building solutions, and energy services. His areas of expertise include lighting controls, lighting as a service, smart windows and glass, energy efficiency, and energy as a service.

Prior to joining Guidehouse Insights, Gonzalez was a research analyst at IHS Markit Technology, where he managed the market intelligence portfolio for the physical security industry. He has also worked as a procurement analyst for a building materials company, where he oversaw the supplier’s sustainability and eco-friendliness program. Gonzalez is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and holds a BA in economics from the University of Texas at Austin.

Yuchen Hu Research Analyst Yuchen Hu is a research analyst contributing to the Data Insights team at Guidehouse Insights. Her focus is on carbon accounting, renewable energy procurement and emerging technologies related to the energy transition.

Prior to joining Guidehouse Insights, Yuchen was pursuing a PhD on novel energy materials from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Cambridge. During this time, Yuchen helped write a path to net zero report for the Cambridgeshire County Council in the UK. Yuchen holds a MPhil in Chemistry from University of Cambridge and a BSc in Chemistry from the University of Sheffield.

Joe Owens Research Analyst Joe Owens is a research analyst on the Data Insights team at Guidehouse Insights. Prior to joining Guidehouse, Joe’s experience focused on corporate sustainability and ESG initiatives. Through his internships with Coca-Cola's Global Human Rights Team and Inspire Brands’ ESG team, Joe was exposed to a range of ESG issues across the food and beverage space. Through his research, Joe explored the impact of pesticide use on emissions from climate smart agriculture as well as emissions from plastic burning in Guatemalan households. Joe holds a BS in environmental science from Emory University.

Grant Samms Research Analyst Smart Cities Tracker Grant Samms is a research analyst contributing to Guidehouse Insights' Smart Cities Tracker solution. His research focuses on energy use and efficiency, smart city development, and the human/built environment interface.

Prior to working at Guidehouse Insights, Samms led the Rural Energy Project at the Center for Environment and Society at Washington College. His focus there included energy efficiency, resilience, and democratization in rural spaces. He holds an MS in sociology, with a focus on environmental sociology, from Oklahoma State University and a BS in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology from Kansas State University.

Ryan Edwards Director of Business Development Ryan Edwards is a director of business development at Guidehouse Insights, with a focus on providing research and consulting services to clients in the western United States, as well as Mexico.

Edwards has 14 years of experience in sales and business development. He specializes in creating solution-driven strategies to capture new business while growing existing client bases across multiple territories. Prior to joining Guidehouse Insights, he was a business development manager for healthcare at Herman Miller. Edwards holds a BA in advertising from Michigan State University.

Maria Freiria Director of Business Development Maria Freiria is a director of business development at Guidehouse Insights, with a focus on Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Her primary role is to develop and grow client relationships and to expand Guidehouse Insights’ presence and visibility in the EMEA region.

Freiria has extensive experience in technology market research and marketing services. Her background includes business development, marketing, and sales positions with MetrixLab and IDC. Freiria speaks Dutch, Spanish, English, French, and German fluently. She holds a BA in European studies from the University of Amsterdam.

Lara Cornelius Manager of Business Development Lara Cornelius is a manager of business development at Guidehouse Insights with a focus on providing research services to clients in the Southeastern US, parts of Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

Cornelius has over 5 years of experience in business development and account management across several industries, including renewable energy. She specializes in strategic planning, client retention, and executing growth strategies. Cornelius holds an MBA in international business from Thunderbird School of Global Management and a certificate in project management from the University of California, Berkeley.

Chris Porritt Manager of Business Development Chris Porritt is a manager of business development at Guidehouse Insights, where he focuses on providing clients in the Eastern portion of the United States with research solutions.

Porritt has extensive experience in the advisory and market research space, where he has worked in both business development and account management. Porritt specializes in client retention and territory growth. Prior to joining Guidehouse Insights, he worked for Euromonitor International as an account executive. Porritt holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Central Michigan University.

Oliver Howe Senior Client Services Manager Oliver Howe is a senior client services manager, responsible for Guidehouse Insights’ customer services efforts and key aspects of sales operations.

Prior to joining Guidehouse Insights, Howe was a senior account manager at Northcape International, a manufacturer and distributor of luxury outdoor furniture. While at Northcape, Howe was the lead manager on key accounts, overseeing all internal operations. He was also responsible for the distribution of revenue reporting to both internal management as well as external sales representatives and clients. Howe holds a BA in communication studies from the University of Iowa.