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With over 30 years' experience in the utility energy services industry, Mark Thornsjo has an in-depth background in market research, product management, regulatory affairs, information services, and strategic market planning. Mr. Thornsjo has designed and managed numerous tactical and strategic market research projects and related energy services strategy and program concept developments. Recent efforts have included process evaluations for the San Francisco Peak Energy Program, Xcel Energy's DSM programs in Colorado, New Jersey and California renewable/self-generation programs, the Energy Smart Pricing Plan real-time pricing program of the Community Energy Cooperative in Chicago and a market profiling/saturation study for Minnesota Power. Since joining Summit Blue Consulting in 2001, he has also researched and developed various program concepts for clients including innovative gas pricing and program technical support. He researched attribution effects research for two large Canadian gas distribution companies, performed a portion of program regulatory audits, surveyed the use of information technologies by electric cooperatives and other market research efforts. Formerly with Northern States Power Company (NSP), Mr. Thornsjo worked to develop practical long-range strategies and goals for energy efficiency and load management services, including managing an in-depth economic analysis process and staff to guide those developments. Prior to that he managed many of the regulatory affairs for NSP's marketing group, and developed and helped implement a comprehensive portfolio of efficiency and load management services. For eight years he also led the company's market research group in performing innovative segmentation research and technical/economic market assessments. Mr. Thornsjo's responsibilities included managing both quantitative and qualitative research and involved all aspects of projects, including requirements development, survey design, sampling design, analysis and reporting, including management of support vendors to ensure quality, timely work. Mr. Thornsjo is known in the energy industry as a creative thinker, a champion of innovative, yet common-sense marketing concepts and technologies, and for his unique understanding of customers' energy needs. He has made numerous management and conference presentations and is considered a dynamic and thought-provoking speaker and writer. His educational background is in psychology, environmental studies, and urban planning. | 