Meet the Team

Get to know the dedicated members of the Apex team working on the project

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Connor Podkul

Senior Development Manager

Born and raised in Indiana, Connor's interest in the energy sector was first sparked during his undergraduate years at Purdue University while driving through wind farms on the route to West Lafayette. After working in the nonprofit sector, he later moved to Ireland and earned an MS in geospatial data analysis with a focus on renewable energy from University College Dublin. Since joining Apex in 2021, Connor has managed a portfolio of wind, solar, and storage projects in Michigan and Illinois, where he engages with landowners, communities, and other stakeholders to bring the economic and energy security benefits to fruition.

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Brian O'Shea

Director of Public Engagement

Brian O'Shea leads Apex Clean Energy's public and community engagement efforts for projects throughout the USA. Brian began his career organizing in rural communities in North Dakota and throughout Minnesota before moving to the private sector in 2013, where he worked as a consultant to numerous businesses, trade associations, nonprofits, and advocacy groups across the country on issues ranging from education policy to workforce development to clean energy. Brian was excited to join Apex Clean Energy as a public engagement manager in 2019. In this capacity, he works closely with local elected leaders, community leaders, landowners, and residents to gather local feedback, answer common questions, and work with communities to help realize their opportunities for renewable energy development and accelerate America’s shift to clean energy.

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David Reis

Public Engagement Associate

Raised on his family's fifth generation family farm in rural Southeast Illinois, David brings a diverse and balanced background to serving in Public Engagement with Apex Clean Energy on the Coles Wind project. After graduating with degrees from Lake Land College and the University of Illinois, David went on to manage his family's fifth-generation family farm and serve to 14 years in the Illinois House of Representatives. Through community involvement and partnerships David looks forward to the development of Coles Wind in a rapidly changing energy generation sector.