EmFPecora

I bring over a decade of dedicated experience to driving impact in the energy sector. My expertise lies in orchestrating large-scale initiatives that bridge innovation with real-world application. Specifically, I support public and private organizations working at the forefront of the energy transition. I specialize in bridging technical innovation with practical execution—designing impactful programs, accelerate technology deployment, and connect with the broader ecosystem that enables scale.

Strategic Program Design & Management: I lead the conception, development, and execution of multi-million dollar portfolios for cutting-edge energy technologies, including renewable generation, energy storage, hydrogen, advanced nuclear, and carbon management solutions. This encompasses managing projects from ideation through oversight, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and delivering measurable outcomes. I work with public sector and philanthropic organizations to design competitive grants, prize competitions, voucher programs, and other non-dilutive funding mechanisms to address commercialization and adoption barriers, significantly speeding up the delivery of essential services and products to market. These programs are built for speed, equity, and measurable impact—and draw on lessons from managing portfolios exceeding $350M across clean energy sectors.

Technology Commercialization & Market Acceleration: My focus is on accelerating the deployment of innovative technologies, fostering market adoption, and building high-impact public and private partnerships. I help startups, agencies, and investors define and execute pathways to market. This includes technology readiness assessment, go-to-market planning, milestone design, and identifying barriers to adoption. I bring a deep understanding of the federal innovation system and how to align early-stage development with commercial outcomes.

Ecosystem Building & Partnerships: Scaling innovation requires collaboration. I bring experience engaging national labs, accelerators, industry partners, community stakeholders, and investors to build productive relationships across the commercialization pipeline. I excel at building and maintaining active engagement with diverse stakeholders across entire clean energy value chains, including technology developers, providers, financiers, off-takers, and users, ensuring collaborative success and broad impact.

Policy Development & Operational Excellence: I excel at developing and implementing comprehensive operational frameworks for organizations, ensuring effective management, clear roles and responsibilities, and strict compliance with applicable regulations. This includes designing and formalizing critical business processes, developing robust policies, and creating the necessary operational documents to govern complex initiatives, manage cross-functional teams, and establish transparent go/no-go decision-making for large-scale portfolios.

Impact & Portfolio Evaluation: Designing for impact means knowing how to measure it. I develop custom frameworks to track portfolio performance, assess technology and market outcomes, and inform adaptive management. I can evaluate success of a program, whether a pilot or a portfolio of technology development investments. Read the research I published demonstrating how a robust investor ecosystem and independent technology validator are needed in the same location to accelerate technology commercialization: DOE Report.

I’m an executive leader in clean energy innovation with over a decade of experience building ecosystems that connect public sector programs, private capital, cutting-edge technologies, and community impact. My career spans senior roles at the U.S. Department of Energy, where I designed and led commercialization programs totaling over $350M, launched national-scale prize and voucher programs, and drove stakeholder engagement across hundreds of companies, labs, investors, and project developers.

I specialize in leading through complexity—navigating technology landscapes, policy frameworks, and multi-stakeholder environments to enable scalable, sustainable innovation. Whether it’s launching a funding program, shaping cross-sector consortia, or aligning national labs with market actors, I focus on driving outcomes that catalyze new industries and equitable economic growth.

I bring technical fluency in climate and energy systems, strategic insight into innovation pathways, and a strong track record of execution under high-stakes conditions. With experience across solar, storage, hydrogen, nuclear, manufacturing, and carbon management, I thrive at the interface of science, business, and mission-driven impact. Always open to collaboration—especially at the intersection of innovation, investment, and infrastructure.

People I met with think I am action-oriented and collaborative.
My friends define me as trustworthy and a problem solver.
I consider myself curious and passionate.

What fuels my work is a deep belief in the power of ideas, networks, and shared purpose. My career has centered on connecting technology, policy, and people—but it’s the human side of innovation that inspires me most: building trust across sectors, amplifying diverse voices, and translating complexity into impact.

These experiences beyond my core professional endeavors underscore my dedication to empowering others, building strong networks, and disseminating knowledge:

• Curating Ideas Worth Spreading: My long-standing involvement as a Licensee, Organizer, and Curator for TEDxCatania (previously known as TEDxSSC) showcases my passion for impactful communication and the power of ideas. From conceptualizing themes to coaching speakers and orchestrating events, I thrive on creating a platform for bold thinking and civic dialogue sparking meaningful dialogue within communities. I’ve had the privilege of giving stage to scientists, entrepreneurs, artists, and citizens who, in their own way, are reshaping how we see the future. That experience taught me how to hold space for vision—and how to bridge inspiration with structure.
• Championing Italian Scientists & Scholars: As the Chair of the Executive Committee for the DMV Chapter of the Italian Scientists and Scholars in North America Foundation (ISSNAF), I lead efforts to connect, support, and promote Italian scientific and academic talent across the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area. This role allows me to contribute to a vibrant community, fostering collaborations and professional development among peers who share a commitment to scientific collaboration and social progress.
• Building Alumni Networks: My dedication to fostering connections extends to my involvement with the Scuola Superiore di Catania Alumni Association, where I have served as both President and Vice President. These roles reflect my commitment to giving back to my academic roots and building enduring professional and personal networks for future generations.
• Empowering Innovators: During my time at Stanford, I served as a Communication Coach for Stanford Leaders in Communication / StartX (Stanford Start-up Incubator), the university’s startup accelerator, supporting founders in refining how they tell their story—clearly, authentically, and strategically. I coached founders on effectively articulating their vision, refining their pitches, and communicating complex ideas with clarity and impact – a skill vital for technology commercialization. That experience sharpened my own approach to leadership: listen deeply, challenge assumptions, and focus on what moves people to act.