Panel Discussion: Regulations and Refrigerant Transitions

Kieko Matteson

Associate Professor and Department Chair of History

University of Hawaii

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kieko-matteson-23016b311/

Dr. Kieko Matteson is an environmental historian of France and an assistant professor in the history department at the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa. She developed an early interest in the history of land use and natural resource conservation while roving the forests and meadows of her family’s former Vermont farm. She completed her PhD at Yale University. At the Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society, she is revising her book manuscript, ‘Masters of Their Woods’: Conservation, Community, and Conflict in Revolutionary France, 1669–1848, an investigation of the vital and often violent struggles to control forest resources in the early modern and modern period, and the far-reaching policies that resulted from them.

Jennifer Butsch

Director of Regulatory Affairs

Copeland

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferbutsch/

Jennifer Butsch leads regulatory affairs at Copeland, where she oversees codes, standards, and policy initiatives across the HVACR sector and contributes widely to industry publications and events. With more than two decades of experience, she is recognized as a trusted voice in refrigerant and safety regulations, actively serving in organizations such as AHRI and ASHRAE and advocating for industry priorities at both state and federal levels.

Samantha Slater

Vice President of Government Affairs

Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-slater-1b683695/

Samantha Slater brings more than two decades of experience in energy, environmental, and economic policy, having led federal and state advocacy efforts for major organizations including the Renewable Fuels Association and the National Corn Growers Association. She is recognized for her bipartisan approach, deep legislative expertise, and long-standing leadership in shaping public policy across the HVACR and broader energy sectors.

Doug Reindl

Professor of Mechanical Engineering & ASHRAE Technology Council Member

University of Wisconsin-Madison

https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-reindl-854305a6/

Doug Reindl advances thermal energy systems research spanning solar energy, refrigeration, HVAC, and advanced thermal storage, with a strong emphasis on modeling system performance and improving real‑world efficiency. As founding director of the Industrial Refrigeration Consortium, he focuses on enhancing the safety, reliability, and productivity of industrial ammonia refrigeration infrastructure while contributing broadly to renewable energy and building‑energy optimization.

Elizabeth Scheehle

Chief of Research Division

California Air Resources Board (CARB)

Elizabeth Scheehle leads the California Air Resources Board’s Research Division, directing a team of scientists and engineers who develop the research foundation for the state’s air quality and climate policies. Her work spans equity‑focused research planning, greenhouse gas mitigation, and major initiatives in oil and gas, high‑GWP reductions, and carbon capture, drawing on extensive experience managing climate programs and field studies across the agency.