Advisory Board
In August 2020, Mission Energy welcomed its inaugural Advisory Board, a committee of business professionals serving as trusted advisors on innovation, best practices, and growth strategies.
Bill Baird
Bill is an advisor to nonprofits and Catholic dioceses and parishes. He served as a Parish Consultant for the Dynamic Catholic Institute advising parishes on leadership, communications and organizational success. Prior to that, Bill worked in the Archdiocese of Baltimore as the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director of Management Services leading Fiscal Services, Facilities, Risk Management, IT and Investments. He joined the Archdiocese in July 2010 from Brown Advisory, where he was the Managing Partner of Brown Advisory Securities, in charge of the broker dealer division. Prior to that, Bill spent 18 years at Alex Brown and its successor companies, Bankers Trust and Deutsche Bank. Bill holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and an MBA from Loyola University Maryland.
Susan Dennin
Susan has served as Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) Senior Director of Communications and Marketing since 2017 and is responsible for guiding the communications and digital strategy. She is keenly focused on mission-driven branding, engagement and development through innovative storytelling and marketing campaigns. Before joining CCUSA, she was the Director of Communications for the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City, Utah. Susan began her career in accounting, finance and business development while working at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and American Express. She further established her strategic leadership as a Managing Director of Research and Development (R&D) for an educational software company that has paved the way toward providing adaptive early childhood education programs nationwide. She has an MBA from Brigham Young University and is a Ph.D. candidate in Organization and Management.
Susan Gravely
Susan is the CEO and Co-founder of VIETRI, Inc, a lifestyle brand of Italian artisan-crafted dinnerware and home and garden accessories. With approximately 40 employees, VIETRI serves a customer base of over 2,000 specialty retailers and department stores in all 50 states and internationally. Often described as a “modern fairy tale”, VIETRI is regularly featured in House Beautiful, Oprah, Elle Décor, Martha Stewart Weddings, Brides, and Coastal Living. In 2014, Susan was named the Legacy Award winner by WithIt, the women’s leadership development network serving the home furnishings industry. She is proud to be a member of the Executive Committee of the Women’s Leadership Council at UNC in Chapel Hill. She is a frequent guest speaker and panel participant at the Business Schools of UNC - Chapel Hill, Duke University, and other universities and organizations in the area. Susan attended Salem College and holds a BA in Education and an MS in Recreational Therapy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Alexia Kelley
Alexia Kelley serves as President and CEO of FADICA, the leading philanthropic peer network which serves as a catalyst for a vital Catholic Church, Catholic ministries, and the common good. She manages and oversees the organization’s strategy, staff, and programs. In partnership with the board and members, she developed the organization’s current comprehensive strategic framework, which includes a strong focus on member-driven research and initiatives, partnerships, and the spirituality of Catholic philanthropy. Alexia served for 10 years at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Catholic Campaign for Human Development. She also worked previously for Environmental Resources Trust, Inc., a nonprofit organization that focused on renewable energy promotion and climate change mitigation. She also served as Deputy Director in the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, with responsibilities for a diverse engagement and partnerships portfolio. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in religion from Haverford College and a Master of Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School.
Mike O’Sullivan
Mike recently retired from NextEra Energy after leading their renewable and M&A efforts for the past 19 years as their senior vice president of development. Mike and his team invested (on behalf of NEE’s shareholders through their Resources unit) approximately $40 Billion into over 250 solar, wind, storage and nuclear/fossil projects over the last two decades. He received a BS in civil engineering from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from the University of Chicago.
Steve Rhoades
Steve is the CEO of Petra Systems. Petra Systems creates new revenue streams by transforming utility streetlight assets into the foundation of 5G and Smart City / Smart Grid networks. He is also a partner at Stonecroft Capital LLC, a middle market investment bank based in Boulder, CO. Stonecroft Capital provides a comprehensive suite of strategy and transaction advisory services aimed at fostering growth and liquidity. His education includes a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Physics from the University of Illinois.