Our Team

Randy Satterfield

Executive Director

Randy helps lead the NextGen Highways initiative, working with stakeholders to re-examine the use of existing rights-of-way for co-location of transmission and communications infrastructure. He has more than 20 years of energy industry experience, including helping to site and permit hundreds of miles of transmission lines.

Randy helps organizations build sustainable growth, solve problems and deliver results for their stakeholders. As a strategic leader, he’s led diverse teams to position organizations for success. Randy also works with clients to deliver clean energy and decarbonization solutions. He holds a BA in political science and philosophy from Marquette University.

Matt Prorok

Policy Director, Transmission

Matt helps lead the NextGen Highways initiative. He joined the Great Plains Institute in 2015 and is a senior policy manager for GPI’s Energy Systems team. His work focuses on the development of electric transmission infrastructure and market mechanisms to enhance the development of low-carbon energy technologies in the Midcontinent region. In addition, Matt is a facilitator for the Midwestern Governors Association’s Grid Security & Modernization initiative and has served on the steering and policy committees of the Minnesota Energy Storage Alliance.

Matt has a background in engineering and sustainability. He holds a BS in mechanical engineering from Penn State with a minor in earth systems and an MS in science, technology, and environmental policy from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs. His work at the University of Minnesota focused on assessment of greenhouse gas emissions attributable to electric vehicle charging in Minnesota based on policy incentives intended to direct charging to specific hours of the day.

Kara Thate

Operations Manager

Kara Thate joined the Great Plains Institute in 2024 as a project manager for the NextGen Highways initiative within GPI’s Energy Systems team. Her work focuses on providing internal operational support as the initiative seeks to expand its work in multiple states.

Before joining GPI, Kara worked in residential and commercial solar photovoltaic and data centers. With over a decade of experience, she has helped develop and grow nascent initiatives, delivered outstanding customer experiences, and provided event planning and execution support in clean energy, health care, and community resilience spaces. Kara holds a BA in global studies from the University of Minnesota, with a focus on environment and sustainable development.

Tyrone Brooks

Stakeholder Relations Manager

Tyrone Brooks Jr. joined the Great Plains Institute in 2024 as a project manager for the NextGen Highways initiative within GPI’s Energy Systems team. With a background in government and community relations, his work focuses on coalition building as the initiative seeks to expand its work in multiple states.

Prior to joining GPI, Tyrone was a deputy director in the Atlanta Mayor’s Office, where he managed various initiatives, including My Brother’s Keeper Atlanta, where he was regional director working with The Obama Foundation in building coalitions to ensure equity among residents. Previously in his career, he worked as a senior strategist for the US Treasury and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs as well as a senior portfolio manager at Daymond John Ventures. Tyrone holds a BS in business administration and an MBA in international business, both from the University of Phoenix. He also attended William Taft Law School.

Bridget Williams

Policy Coordinator

Bridget Williams joined the Great Plains Institute in 2023 as a policy associate for the Energy Systems team. Bridget supports NextGen Highways and other projects that focus on the roles transmission and wholesale electricity markets play in achieving a decarbonized, resilient, and equitable energy future.

Prior to joining GPI, Bridget worked with municipalities to establish community-wide climate action goals, created disaster response programs for low-income residents, and built cross-sector partnerships to facilitate collaborative and comprehensive community programming in her hometown of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She holds a BS in community and regional planning from Iowa State University.

Donna Brutkoski

Communications Specialist

Donna Brutkoski joined the Great Plains Institute in 2025 as a communications specialist for the NextGen Highways initiative within GPI’s Energy Systems team. She provides communications guidance and support to NextGen Highways staff as the initiative builds coalitions and works toward policy goals in target states.

Before joining GPI, Donna was a communications associate at the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP), a global non-governmental organization that works with utility regulators and other policy makers to advance the energy transition. Previously in her career, she was a copy editor at newspapers including the Washington Post, the Boston Globe, and Newsday, as well as a staff and freelance writer and editor at various think tanks and policy organizations. She holds a BA in journalism from George Washington University and an MA in international relations from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies.

Peter Cogswell

Consultant

Peter Cogswell brings more than 25 years of experience working on energy and environmental policy issues to his role representing NextGen Highways and promoting co-location in the Pacific Northwest. Among other assignments, Peter served as director of intergovernmental affairs for the Bonneville Power Administration, senior policy advisor on energy and telecommunications in the administration of Oregon governor Ted Kulongoski, and state policy manager at PacifiCorp. He is an early proponent of policies to promote the transition to clean energy and modernize the regional energy system, and he has worked directly with utilities, NGOs, state and federal agencies, tribes, elected officials and other entities to implement those policies in consideration of impacts on rates, system reliability/adequacy, and natural and cultural resources. Peter holds a BA from the University of Oregon.

Clinton Britt

Consultant

Clint is President of Grove Climate Group, LLC, which he founded in 2021. The firm helps corporations, startups, nonprofits, universities, and others achieve their climate goals by working at the intersection of federal and state policy. Previously, he served as chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Paul D. Tonko, the ranking member of the Environment Subcommittee on Energy and Commerce and co-chair of the Sustainable Energy and Environmental Coalition. He currently serves as president of the board of directors of the nonprofit Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) Institute. He holds a BA in political science from New York University and an MA in government and political communications from Johns Hopkins University.

Eric Fins

Consultant

Eric Fins is the vice president of Grove Climate Group, LLC, joining the team in February 2023. Eric works directly with clients to understand the full scope of their work and develop strategies to achieve their climate goals, including political and policy advice, strategic guidance, background research and analysis, memos and reports, and connecting relevant parties to build relationships and coalitions. Previously, Eric spent nearly 15 years in the U.S. House of Representatives in a variety of capacities, including as deputy staff Director of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis and legislative director/counsel for Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy III. Eric holds a JD from American University and is a member of the DC Bar.

Rebecca (Becky) Tomilchik

Consultant

Becky Tomilchik joined Grove Climate Group, LLC, in January 2025 as a Director, where she works with clients to create comprehensive, targeted strategies to tackle policy challenges and achieve climate-related objectives. Previously, Becky spent nearly six years working at the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce, most recently serving as a professional staff member on the Environment Subcommittee. At the committee, Becky handled a variety of environment, energy, and climate issues, coordinated policy development, and served as a subject matter expert. During her time on the Hill, she was closely involved in the enactment of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. Becky holds a BS in public health science from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Morgan Putnam

Founder and Advisor

Dr. Morgan Putnam is an experienced renewable energy leader focused on grid transformation and new product development. He has raised over $15 million of funding, launched Product Management and Business Development departments, and managed groups of stakeholders with conflicting interests. Morgan founded the NextGen Highways initiative to accelerate grid decarbonization and enable transportation electrification. He is currently a Principal Consultant in the Power System Advisory team at DNV.

Previously, Morgan held roles as VP of Solar Products at REsurety, Co-Lead of the Minnesota Solar Pathways project, Director of Business Development at Clean Power Research, and VP of Cell Fabrication at Caelux. In these roles, Morgan has constantly worked to develop products and policies at the leading edge of the energy transition.