Ms. Nicholson has 17 years of experience in the fields of energy, resource economics, and global climate change. Prior to founding Sage Energy Consulting, LLC, Ms. Nicholson served as Director and Deputy Director of the Maryland Energy Administration. Ms. Nicholson oversaw the State energy efficiency programs and Maryland’s renewable energy program that promotes the construction of wind, solar, landfill gas, and biomass projects. Ms. Nicholson advised Republican and Democratic governors on energy policy formation, and served as legislative liaison on energy policy matters. Her work included crafting renewable energy and energy efficiency legislation, developing diverse markets for renewable energy, and providing incentives for the construction of renewable energy facilities. She has also worked on siting power plants and renewable energy facilities.
Ms. Nicholson established and managed Maryland’s Climate Change Program. She coordinated State greenhouse gas emissions reduction efforts, including management of an impacts analysis, and a greenhouse gas reduction strategy of cost-effective actions. She has provided technical expertise on the feasibility and benefits of carbon sequestration, and developed a comprehensive model to project future stocks and flows of carbon in U.S. forest products. This methodology is currently being used in the California Climate Action Registry Protocols.
Before coming to Maryland, Ms. Nicholson worked as an economist for the USDA Forest Service. For the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, she oversaw development of a comprehensive Geographic Information System (GIS) tool to promote sustainable management of watershed resources. She also served as a Fellow in the Botany Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, while working as a consulting resource economist for Yale University. Ms. Nicholson worked for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Power Plant Research Program as Administrator of Economic Studies. She is published in the fields of resource economics, industrial ecology, climate change, and renewable energy policy. She has a Master of Science in Sustainable Development and Conservation Biology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the College of William and Mary in Virginia.
Saudia Gajadhar brings over 17 years of marketing communications experience to Sage Energy, including work for a number of industry-leading clients spanning many business sectors. She understands how to help Sage Energy’s clients leverage and promote the social responsibility value of energy projects.
Saudia has expertise in directing successful multi-channel, multi-vehicle marketing communications for her clients with a specialized focus in strategic marketing communications planning and execution, brand positioning, market research and target audience insights. A partial list of Client experience includes IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Lysol, Perdue Farms, Campbell’s, Kellogg’s, The Sugar Association, USA Rice Federation, V8 Beverages, Phillips Seafood, Micros Systems, CareFirst BCBS, HMS Host, Micros Systems, Aramark and Sodexho.
Saudia is currently principal of brandfire llc, and has worked at industry-leading agencies such as Lintas:New York, Saatchi & Saatchi and Marriner Marketing in account management and strategic planning leadership roles. She has been awarded an Effie for outstanding communications effectiveness while working with Johnson & Johnson.
Saudia received her BA in psychology at Eckerd College and a Master’s in Integrated Marketing Communications from Northwestern University. A resident of Annapolis, Maryland, Saudia serves on the board of the Anne Arundel Conflict Resolution Center helping to direct marketing efforts.
Dr. Miles specializes in renewable energy system design and evaluation for Sage Energy clients. He teaches at James Madison University in the energy sector, advises the JMU Student Chapter of the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), serves as Professor-in-Residence at Washington-Lee High School, and leads the ISAT/Geog Study Abroad in Malta Program. He currently teaches ISAT 410.
Dr. Miles has a Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a B.A. in Physics from Clark University. Dr. Miles specializes in heat transfer, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, and fossil and renewable energy design and analysis. He is Founder and Co- Director of the Infrared Development and Thermal Structures Laboratory (IDTSL), which supports undergraduate and faculty research and development efforts that involve non-contact thermal and mechanical measurement techniques and provides expert services to government and industry and professional experiences to students. The IDTSL is supported by NASA, the National Science Foundation, and industry affiliates. He serves as Director of the JMU Office of the Virginia Wind Energy Collaborative (VWEC) established in 2002 to promote the balanced development of wind energy across Virginia and is a founding member of the new Center for Energy and Environmental Sustainability.
Mr. Oliver bring over 17 years of energy and utility management experience specializing in supply-side and demand-side energy management, energy audits, facility assessments, and energy simulation modeling with experience in the private, utility, and government sectors to Sage Energy. He is a Professional Engineer licensed in Virginia, a Certified Energy Manager (CEM), and a LEED Accredited Professional. He has conducted energy training seminars, developed energy awareness and education campaigns, and has been a presenter and moderator at several energy conferences. Mr. Oliver is founder and president of EMO Energy Solutions. He is the National Secretary for the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), former President of the National Capitol Chapter of AEE, and former Board Member of the National Capitol Region Chapter of the US Green Buildings Council, and is currently Board Chairman of the Virginia Sustainable Building Network (VSBN). He has a Masters in Building Technology and a Bachelors in Architecture from MIT.
