Staff

David Bobzien

Director

David Bobzien serves as the Director of the Nevada Governor’s Office of Energy for Governor Steve Sisolak. Mr. Bobzien holds a B.A. in Government and Politics from George Mason University, and a Masters of Public Administration with an emphasis in natural resources and public lands policy from Boise State University.

David Bobzien was appointed to the At-Large Council Member position in 2014 by the Reno City Council, to serve the remainder of Mayor Hillary Schieve’s vacated term. He was elected to a four-year term in 2016.

As a result of his leadership on the City Council, Reno was the first city in Nevada to join the C40 Compact of Mayors, convened the city’s Climate Action Initiative Group to build climate change resiliency and reduce the city’s carbon emissions, and launched “ReEnergize Reno,” an ambitious program to improve building efficiency 20% by 2025. As part of the program, Reno became the first city in Nevada to adopt an energy benchmarking ordinance, promoting transparency in building energy use to increase efficiency.

Prior to his service on the Reno City Council, Mr. Bobzien served four terms as an Assemblyman representing District 24 in the Nevada Legislature. During his legislative career, he worked on a wide variety of issues, most notably on conservation and clean energy policy including net metering, renewable incentives programs, energy efficiency, and the renewable portfolio standard. During the 2013 session, Mr. Bobzien chaired the Assembly Commerce and Labor committee and shepherded landmark legislation retiring Nevada-serving coal-fired power plants.

Mr. Bobzien lives in northwest Reno with his wife Julie, twin sons Luca and Finnegan, daughter Carly, and son David. David enjoys just about anything involving time spent outdoors, including running, backpacking, hunting and fly fishing. David coaches soccer, and currently volunteers as a Cub Scout leader for his sons’ pack.

    Awards

    • 2015 “LEEDership Award”, US Green Building Council, Nevada Chapter
    • 2009 Assemblyman of the Year, Nevada Conservation League
    • 2009 Assemblyman of the Year, Nevada Conservation League
    • Distinguished Deed and 100% lifetime rating, Nevada Conservation League
    • Winner, Nevada EcoNet’s Golden Pinecone Award for environmental excellence as a public servant

      Jennifer L. Taylor, Esq.

      Deputy Director, Intergovernmental Relations
      Ms. Taylor was appointed in January 2019 to support Governor Sisolak’s vision for Nevada’s clean energy leadership and innovation. She served in 2016 as Vice Chair for the Clean Energy Sources Technical Advisory Committee of the New Energy Industry Task Force, providing recommendations to revise Nevada’s Integrated Resource Planning to reduce customer exposure to fossil fuel price volatility and potential costs of carbon. She was appointed to the Governor’s Committee on Energy Choice, and as Chair of the working group on Innovation and Technology in Renewable Energy Development. She served on the Las Vegas City Manager’s Energy Advisory Committee and as executive director for the Clean Energy Project. She holds law licenses in Nevada, Washington, California and Texas, and admitted before the District Court of Nevada, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. She represented homeowners’ in one of Nevada’s largest perchloroethylene ground water contamination cases.

          Laura Wickham

          Program Manager
          Ms. Wickham joined the Governor's Office of Energy in February 2015. As Program Manager she oversees the Renewable Energy Tax Abatement Program, Revolving Loans, DEAL and serves as a C-PACE resource for the State of Nevada. Prior to joining GOE, Ms. Wickham ran a paralegal business for 7 years, where she specialized in bankruptcy and served attorneys across the United States. She is a Certified Contract Manager and has expertise as an interpreter and document translation. She attended Western Nevada College and has an Associates Degree in Applied Science.

              Robin Yochum

              Program Manager

              As an Energy Program Manager with the Nevada Governor’s Office of Energy (GOE), Ms. Yochum works on advancing energy efficiency policies and carbon emission reduction in the built environment. Ms. Yochum joined the GOE team in 2016. Her responsibilities include participating in the development and implementation of the triennial International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), the development and adoption of appliance standards, and administrating Nevada’s HEROS program, which provides no cost energy efficiency improvements for low income seniors.

              Ms. Yochum serves on the International Code Councils (ICC) Building Membership Council, Raise the Profile Subcommittee and Community Building Best Practices & Innovation Subcommittee. Ms. Yochum also serves the ICCs Sustainability Membership Council’s Zero Carbon Subcommittee as the Chair of the Implementation and Workforce development task group. She represents Nevada on the US Climate Alliance Building and Appliance working groups, and the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) Buildings Committee as one of the Co-Chairs. Ms. Yochum’s work also includes programs to support field code verification in new construction and opportunities for curriculum development to train the next generation of code officials. Ms. Yochum is a Nevada Certified Contracts Manager as well as a LEED Green Associate and is GPRO Certified for green building and sustainable practices. Ms. Yochum has over 20 years of experience in residential and commercial construction.

                  Lezlie Helget

                  Management Analyst III
                  Ms. Helget joined the Governor's Office of Energy in December 2019. Prior to joining GOE, she worked for the Department of Taxation for 14 years with a recent assignment as an Audit Supervisor over the Tax Abatement and Tobacco Audit Programs. She holds a Certificate in Supervisory Management from the Nevada Certified Public Manager Program. Ms. Helget lives in the Carson City area with her husband Tim and enjoys spending time outdoors competing in events with her horses, camping, fishing, and golfing.

                      Zachary Hoefling

                      Management Analyst III
                      Mr. Hoefling joined the Governor’s Office of Energy in December of 2019. Mr. Hoefling has more than seventeen years of public service, in the State of Nevada, and prior to joining the GOE worked for the Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Corrections, Department of Public Safety, Department of Administration/State Library and Archives, and the Legislative Counsel Bureau. Zach is a State of Nevada Certified Contracts Manager, also attended Western Nevada College and received an Associates of Applied Science degree in Business.

                          Lorayn Walser

                          Management Analyst III
                          Lorayn Walser joined the Governor's Office of Energy in December 2019 as a Management Analyst III. She is responsible for organizing and implementing Energy Office programs, including the PerformanceContracting Audit Assistance Program, the Emergency Assurance and Emergency Operations plans, and support for Nevada Electric Highway projects. Prior to joining GOE, she was with the Nevada Department of Public Safety, Division of Emergency Management, and implemented the Emergency Management Performance Grant statewide. She previously worked for the Nevada State Office of Energy from 2006 to 2012, where she was instrumental in the adoption and implementation of the Green Building Rating System (LEED) and associated tax abatement program, the Renewable Energy Tax Abatement program, and the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). Ms. Walser holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from San Jose State University and is a veteran of the U.S. Army and California National Guard.

                              Karen Long

                              Grants and Fiscal Manager
                              Ms. Long joined the Governor’s Office of Energy in October 2020 as Grants and Fiscal Manager. She is responsible for a variety of fiscal functions relating to both federal grants and day to day operations. Ms. Long has 10 years’ experience with the State of Nevada, and prior to joining GOE worked for the Division of Public and Behavioral Health. Karen is a State of Nevada Certified Contracts Manager.

                                  Rebecca Allured

                                  Public Information Officer | Energy Outreach Coordinator
                                  Rebecca Allured, APR, joined GOE in January 2021, and brings with her 14 years of experience in strategic communications. Most recently, she served the State of Nevada as a public information officer in the Nevada Department of Agriculture for six years. Ms. Allured has her Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the University of Nevada, Reno, and received her Accreditation in Public Relations in 2018. She is passionate about using her expertise to tell stories that help improve the lives of Nevadans.

                                      Patricia (Trish) Telford

                                      Administrative Assistant IV
                                      Ms. Telford joined the Governor’s Office of Energy in March 2021 as Administrative Assistant IV. Prior to joining GOE, she worked for the Division of Public and Behavioral Health and Division of Forestry. Working in such diverse settings, Ms. Telford has gained a wealth of knowledge of the environmental and social issues facing Nevadans. Using her fiscal and program background, Ms. Telford supports and assists GOE in day-to-day operations. A transplant from Oregon, Ms. Telford enjoys the outdoors and has a passion for riding.