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Ventus Gala

Award Finalists

Ventus Awards

2023 Offshore Wind Trailblazer

Andy Bennedetto
Andy Benedetto

Andy is a business representative for Millwrights Local 1121 and the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters. Over the past three years, Andy served as the point person for Millwrights Local in the planning, training, and development of its membership, and as liaison with the owners/contractors on the Vineyard Wind 1 Project.

Jeanne M Fox
Jeanne M. Fox

Jeanne M. Fox served as Commissioner of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) from January 2002 until September 2014 and served as its President and a member of the Governor’s cabinet for the first eight years. Under President Fox’s leadership, NJBPU became a leader among states in developing cutting-edge clean energy policies, including the launch of New Jersey’s offshore wind program. President Fox has received numerous state and national awards for NJBPU clean energy programs.

Matthew Palmer
Matthew Palmer

Matthew Palmer, President at Wood Thilsted, has been active in the offshore wind industry in the U.S. for over 20 years. His career has included many roles, including an activist, developer, and supply chain participant. Matt has achieved numerous “firsts” in the offshore wind industry, started several businesses, and has been involved in standards development, training, advising, and mentoring. He has advanced regulatory processes, projects, careers, and technological innovations. 

Gavin Robb
Gavin Robb

Gavin Robb is the Head of Generation for the Bluepoint Wind project, an offshore wind project in the early stages of development located off the coasts of New Jersey and New York. Gavin’s leadership in this industry is exemplified by his commitment to empowering the next generation of professionals and establishing strong relationships with external stakeholders across the maritime and survey industry.

Abby Watson
Abby Watson

The proposed New England – Maritimes Offshore Energy Corridor (NEMOEC) is a visionary example of collaborative development designed to facilitate responsible industry growth that aligns with stakeholder needs. From the spark of an idea, Abby Watson organized and led a coalition of developers to promote this shared offshore backbone transmission corridor that would directly connect U.S. and Canadian offshore wind resources to population centers and industrial users on the coasts.