Meet Our Team
Annie Warnock, Consumer Rights Specialist-Bilingual
Annie joined the CUB team in 2006 and started as the spokeswoman for Spanish-speaking media and as a specialist in consumer rights. In 2010, she was given the task to create and develop CUB’s outreach program for Spanish-speakers. She was previously responsible for CUB’s Spanish content, www.CUBespanol.org. She is currently focused on customer care in the Consumer Advocacy Department. Through her different roles at CUB, she has had the opportunity to meet people of different backgrounds and finds it enriching. Annie loves classic jazz and ballet.
Bryan McDaniel, Director of Governmental Affairs (he/him/his)
Bryan started at CUB on the phones, taking consumer complaints and helping people save on their utility bills at events all over the state. Now he goes to Springfield for CUB where he works to protect Illinois consumers. Helping people save money is his favorite part of the job. He enjoys the outdoors and spending time with family.
Clara Summers, Consumers for a Better Grid Campaign Manager (she/her/hers)
Clara joined CUB in 2023. She spearheads the Consumers for a Better Grid campaign, which advocates for a cleaner, more affordable power grid for the 65 million people served by PJM, the nation’s largest grid manager. Clara is based in the greater DC area. When not deep in the weeds of energy policy, she enjoys Irish dance, hammered dulcimer, and anything to do with koalas.
Cyrius Currie, Director of IT (he/him/his)
Cyrius has been with CUB since fall 2001. Cyrius is part of the team responsible for administering and maintaining the technology that CUB uses, from the copiers to the website. Cyrius appreciates the work that his fellow colleagues do in addressing consumers’ utility issues, and he supports their work by resolving his colleagues’ technology-related issues. Outside of CUB, Cyrius loves being a father to his son and taking part in family events, art, listening to music and in normal times, going to festivals.
Danielle Holmes, Consumer Rights Specialist (she/her/hers)
Danielle has been at the utility watchdog since September 2010. She responds to consumer complaints and inquiries that come over CUB’s hotline. She assists consumers in exercising their rights as ratepayers and acts as a liaison between utility companies and their customers to resolve conflicts. She loves being a part of an organization that not only helps consumers save money, but also educates them on utility issues. In her free time, Danielle likes traveling.
Elizabeth Brandon, Digital Communications Strategist (she/her/hers)
Elizabeth joined CUB’s Communications Department in 2022 to help create multimedia content. Her favorite part about working for CUB is helping to make clean energy initiatives easily understandable and accessible for all. Elizabeth graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in Political Science in 2019 and previously worked at a strategic communications firm. In her free time, she enjoys making art, writing, and keeping tabs on pop culture.
Eric DeBellis, General Counsel (he/him/his)
Eric came to CUB in 2020 as Regulatory Counsel, before rising to the position of General Counsel. (He had a prevision stint at CUB as an Attorney-Policy Analyst in 2017.) Eric represents utility ratepayers in lawsuits, primarily before the Illinois Commerce Commission. His favorite part of the job is breaking down complex legal and policy issues in plain language to convey why they matter to consumers. In his free time, Eric is a proud dad and volunteers with local parks and schools.
Ivonne Rychwa, Outreach Director (she/her/hers)
Ivonne joined the Citizens Utility Board in 2012. As Outreach Director, she leads the team that educates Illinois consumers on various utility issues, establishes relationships with community organizations and serves both English- and Spanish-speaking constituents. Her favorite part about working for CUB is being able to make a difference in the lives of consumers and helping them save money on their bills. During her free time, she likes spending time with her daughter, Ursula, and her husband, Mark. She enjoys watching movies, reading a good book and traveling.
Jantay Gray, Membership Coordinator (she/her/hers)
Jantay Gray started at CUB in spring 2018. She performs membership tasks and also works as receptionist, connecting calls to staff and the consumer hotline. Jantay enjoys advocating for the best interests of consumers. “It feels good fighting the good fight and doing all I can to assist utility customers,” she said. In her free time, Jantay enjoys reading, spending time with family and friends and binge-watching old school TV shows.
Jim Chilsen, Communications Director (he/him/his)
Jim has worked at the watchdog since February 2000. He coordinates the consumer group’s communications campaigns on utility issues. He loves CUB’s nonpartisan, “big tent” message about clean, affordable energy and consumer rights. When he’s not working, Jim likes being with family, reading history and walking his dog Clarence.
Joey Lee, Carbon Free Buildings Coordinator (she/her/hers)
Joey joined the CUB team in 2023 after earning her Masters in Public Policy from UIC. She builds grassroots support for building decarbonization as an on-the-ground organizer. Her favorite part about the role is engaging directly with residents and developing accessible tools and resources to help demystify decarbonization. Outside of her work at CUB, Joey is an avid sewer, knitter, plant caretaker, and Wii golf player.
Karen Tolentino, Clean Energy Outreach and Communications Coordinator–CUB Español (she/her/hers)
Karen joined CUB in September 2023 after graduating from UIC with a degree in communication and a minor in sociology. She assists in managing CUB Español, which includes creating social media and website content. She also works in CUB’s Outreach Department, attending events around the state and providing helpful information to the Spanish-speaking community. In her free time, she likes to try new restaurants around Chicago and enjoys cooking at home.
Kate Shonk, Sustainable Communities Liason (she/her/hers)
Kate started at CUB in 2022. She serves as the main contact for grassroots outreach events and works to advocate for Illinois consumers. Kate graduated from the University of Michigan in 2020 with degrees in English and Political Science. Her favorite part about working for CUB is combining her passions for community organizing and environmental policy. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, writing, and staying active around the city.
Laura Loyd, Regulatory Counsel (she/her/hers)
Marina Minic, Solar Programs Coordinator (she/her/hers)
Marina joined CUB in February 2022 after graduating from UW Madison with a degree in chemistry and environmental studies. She helps coordinate CUB’s solar group-buy program and educates consumers about clean and affordable energy. Marina is interested in community organizing and enjoys building relationships with people and organizations across the state. In her free time, she enjoys drinking coffee and spending time outside.
Matt Harvey, Program Coordinator (he/him/his)
Matt has been working with the organization for over six years. He helps coordinate and plan workshops for CUB’s Outreach Department. He is also a driving force in building and maintaining CUB’s first-ever volunteer team. His favorite part of the job is connecting with communities across the state through various outreach events. In his free time, you’ll find him rock climbing, reading sci-fi and enjoying Chicago’s live music scene.
Sandra Marcelin-Reme, Staff, Operations & Consumer Advocacy Director (she/her/hers)
Sandra started at CUB in 1993. She oversees the day-to-day operations of the organization, as well as the consumer advocacy and operations departments. She also handles all of CUB’s accounting and benefits matters. She has a bachelor’s degree in applied sociology from University of Illinois at Chicago. (Go Flames!) Outside of her work at the utility watchdog, Sandra enjoys spending time with family, party planning, improving her Creole and expanding her knowledge of Haitian culture.
Sarah Moskowitz, Executive Director (she/her/hers)
Sarah started at CUB in the summer of 2000 and became Executive Director in the summer of 2023. She leads the organization’s efforts to identify equitable and consumer-friendly climate solutions while advocating for consumer protections and lower utility bills in Springfield, at the Illinois Commerce Commission and in the courts. Sarah has served in a variety of roles during her years at CUB, from counseling individual consumers with utility complaints to building CUB’s outreach program into a national leader that staffs hundreds of free events a year showing people how to reduce their costs. She was promoted to Deputy Director in 2019, before, in 2023, becoming CUB’s fourth executive director. Sarah earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Chicago. When she’s not working as a consumer advocate, Sarah enjoys keeping tabs on the urban wildlife in her neighborhood, volunteer DJing at her local community radio station and reading history.
Scott Allen, Renewable Energy Policy Coordinator (he/him/his)
Scott joined CUB in February 2014 as the first downstate staff member, working first out of Hillsboro, then from Springfield, and now, Urbana. He focuses on outreach to Ameren customers and building relationships with downstate agencies and organizations. Scott also represents CUB at the downstate caucus of the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition and works on a range of energy and consumer-related legislative initiatives. His favorite aspect of working at CUB is not having to worry about whether or not his efforts have a negative impact on society. In his time off, Scott enjoys napping, exercising and eating.
