Join AWWEE's OC/IE team for a special Path to Power lunch with two women who took their energy careers all the way to City Hall.
Costa Mesa City Council Members Arlis Reynolds and Andrea Marr will share how they went from working in the energy field to running for and winning local office, and how that experience shapes the decisions they make for their community today.
Whether you've thought about public service, want to grow your influence at work, or just love a good career story, you'll leave with practical insight into stepping up, speaking up, and leading.
The afternoon includes a moderated conversation, open Q&A, and plenty of time to network over a catered lunch on the patio.
About Our Speakers
Arlis Reynolds
In November of 2022, Arlis Reynolds was re-elected to Costa Mesa's District 5 for a second four-year term.
Council Member Reynolds was first elected in November of 2018 to represent Costa Mesa District 5, one of two westside Costa Mesa districts. She is the first person elected to represent District 5 as part of the City of Costa Mesa’s historical first District Elections and was sworn in on December 4, 2018.
Arlis grew up in the Freedom Homes neighborhood of Westside Costa Mesa and attended all local schools, including A Child’s Place, Pomona Elementary, Victoria Elementary, TeWinkle Middle School, and Estancia High School (where she captained the varsity volleyball and soccer teams). Arlis earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is a member of the Executive MBA Program at the UCI Paul Merage School of Business. She works as a consultant in the clean-energy industry, specializing in impact evaluation of energy efficiency and clean energy projects and technologies.
Prior to joining the City Council, Arlis served as Vice Chair of Costa Mesa’s Parks and Recreation Commission and as Commission liaison to the Fairview Park Steering Committee. She is committed to protecting our parks and public spaces and supports protecting Fairview Park as a passive, public nature park. Arlis is committed to broader sustainability and environmental efforts, and in 2016, was recognized in the Daily Pilot’s “Unsung Hero” series for her approach to sustainable living and her contributions to stopping the development project at Banning Ranch.
Her priorities for Costa Mesa include improving public safety, making our neighborhoods more walk- and bike-friendly, enhancing our local parks, and protecting the charm and creative spirit that defines Costa Mesa.
Arlis comes from a long line of public service, as her grandfather worked in law enforcement, and her grandmother was a school principal for more than 40 years with the L.A. Unified School District. Both her parents had 30-year careers as public school teachers, and her brother, also an Estancia High School graduate, is a Deputy Attorney General with the California Department of Justice.
Council member Reynolds lives in the Freedom Homes neighborhood of District 5 with her pup Zoe and her cat Peanut and hosts a Little Free Library to share books and notes with her neighbors.
Andrea Marr
Andrea Marr is a Senior Vice President at Cadmus and a recognized leader in the energy industry, with more than 20 years of experience helping utilities, regulators, and public agencies advance energy efficiency, load flexibility, distributed energy resources, and grid modernization. She leads teams that design and deliver programs that strengthen grid reliability, improve affordability, and accelerate the transition to a more resilient energy future.
A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and former nuclear-trained Navy officer, Andrea combines technical expertise with executive leadership experience. She is a licensed Professional Engineer, holds a master's degree in Engineering Management, and earned a doctorate in Organizational Change and Leadership. Her contributions to the clean energy sector were recognized by the White House through its Champion of Change program.
In addition to her professional work, Andrea serves on the Costa Mesa City Council, where she was first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. She is passionate about advancing innovative energy solutions, fostering collaborative leadership, and developing the next generation of industry and community leaders.
Registration
Registration is not open yet. Stay tuned for registration details coming soon!
Seats are limited, so register early.