Lorem Ipsum

Visit Booth #F17707

Ascend Analytics meetings will occur in our 20 ft x 20 ft booth located in the Caesars Forum Building, next to the Storage Central Stage. As clean energy faces new headwinds - tariffs, ITC shifts, and regulatory pressure - Ascend Analytics will share the latest insights and recent publications on data center load growth, tariff impacts, PPA trends, storage optimization, and more.  

• Expert Insights: Engage with Ascend's team to get the latest insights on the wholesale electricity markets, resource planning, clean energy procurement, battery storage, and merchant portfolio management.
• Asset and Portfolio M&A: Talk to our leadership about asset M&A trends, market comps and forecasts, what buyers are looking for these days and hot opportunities to acquire pre-qualified assets across ERCOT, MISO, SPP, ISONE and other regions.
• Networking with Peers: Connect with energy experts across developers, financiers, and utilities in a relaxed setting.
• Coffee & Chocolate: Enjoy complimentary freshly brewed coffee and chocolate treats while discussing the future of clean energy.

Meet with Ascend Experts

Gary Dorris, PhD, CEO & Founder

Gary Dorris brings over two decades of leadership in energy analytics and is the founder of Ascend Analytics, a 170+ person software and consulting firm driving innovation in power market modeling. His work has reshaped approaches to real-time operations, portfolio optimization, and long-term planning. Dr. Dorris has advised on more than $50 billion in energy financing and frequently provides expert testimony and board-level insights. He previously served as the lead expert witness for Merrill Lynch in the Enron proceedings and has supported regulatory cases across the industry.

Book MeetingBook Meeting

Ari Greenberg, Chief Revenue Officer

Ari Greenberg, Chief Revenue Officer, shapes Ascend’s strategic direction to help developers, utilities, and financial leaders capture greater financial and operational value. With decades of experience in energy analytics and SaaS, he drives data-driven go-to-market strategies that expand opportunities, strengthen revenue confidence, and mitigate risk - enabling Ascend clients to optimize their portfolios, plan with precision, and succeed in dynamic energy markets.

Book MeetingBook Meeting

William Hargett, Vice President

William Hargett leads business development for Ascend Analytics' PowerVAL business, a platform which provides developers, investors, and utilities with bankable and regulatory accepted wholesale and retail price forecasts for their projects by performing dispatch simulations to match customers' specific use cases. Mr. Hargett has extensive expertise in market strategy and execution, project acquisition and Mergers & Acquisitions, and tenders and competitive bids.  

Book Meeting

Michael Huisenga, Managing Director

Michael Huisenga oversees business development for Ascend’s Bid Optimization platform, SmartBidder, supporting client engagement, go-to-market planning, and RFP processes. His experience spans two decades, including 15 years at WSP USA, where he served as SVP and Energy Business Line Leader, guiding sustainability, clean energy, and infrastructure initiatives for global clients.

Book Meeting

Jonah Simon, Director

Jonah Simon applies his extensive expertise in ISO Market Forecasting and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) dispatch optimization to oversee and ensure the successful deployment of the Ascend Analytics PowerVAL and the SmartBidder products.

Book Meeting

Erin Vasseur, Director

Erin Vasseur leads business development for Ascend Analytics’ Market Intelligence and PowerVAL platforms, delivering regulatory-accepted wholesale and retail price forecasts that support investment-grade decisions for developers, investors, and utilities. By applying advanced dispatch simulations to specific customer use cases, she enables accurate project valuation in evolving markets. With extensive experience in renewable energy and power, Erin bridges technical insights with commercial needs to drive clean energy deployment and strategic planning in a rapidly transitioning energy landscape.

Book Meeting

Shalom Goffri, VP of Valuation & Portfolio Management

Dr. Goffri brings deep expertise in power markets, asset valuation, procurement strategy, decarbonization, and due diligence. At Ascend Analytics, he advises private and public sector clients on business strategy, market assessments, policy analysis, and M&A. His work spans wholesale markets, community solar, and distributed resources, supported by extensive modeling of cost, performance, and financial outcomes. He provides data-driven insights that help energy stakeholders evaluate opportunities, mitigate risk, and advance the energy transition.

Book Meeting

Rahm Orenstein, Managing Director of M&A Transactions

Rahm Orenstein leads Ascend Energy Exchange – Asset Sales, an analytics-driven marketplace that connects buyers and sellers of high-quality energy storage and renewable projects. By integrating Ascend’s advanced analytics and consulting expertise, he helps utilities, developers, and investors streamline transactions, expand market reach, and maximize asset value. With over 15 years in renewable energy leadership, he brings deep experience in project development, energy storage, and strategic market growth across global energy markets.

Book Meeting

Robert LaFaso, Director of Forecasting & Valuation

Robert LaFaso leads Ascend Analytics’ Market Intelligence (AscendMI) practice, delivering long-term supply stack, market price, and project economics forecasts that power Ascend’s software suite. His insights guide utilities, developers, and investors in making high-confidence investment and planning decisions. He has led valuation due diligence for multi-gigawatt M&A transactions, including TerraGen’s sale to Masdar and Origis Energy’s sale to Antin Infrastructure Partners.

Book Meeting

Erik Schwartz, Director

Erik Schwartz partners with utilities, developers, and investors to identify growth opportunities and achieve measurable results. With over two decades in energy market leadership, he has driven business development, account growth, and strategic communications at firms including Refinitiv, EnergyGPS, Energy Ventures Analysis, Genscape, and Point Carbon. His expertise in market intelligence and customer engagement helps stakeholders capture value and navigate today’s complex energy landscape.

Book Meeting