2021 CONVENTION SPEAKERS

“ Welcome"

The Honorable John Barrasso, M.D. United States Senator

Senator John Barrasso was sworn in to the United States Senate in 2007 having represented the people of Natrona County in the Wyoming State Senate from 2003-2007. In November 2018, Barrasso was reelected to the U.S. Senate with more than 67% of the vote.

He is the third-ranking member in the Senate Republican leadership as Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference.

He serves on committees that directly impact Wyoming’s economy, energy interests, public lands, national parks and trade. In addition to other committee assignments, Barrasso is the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Senator Barrasso is known by many as Wyoming’s Doctor. During his 24 years as an orthopedic surgeon, Barrasso served as President of the Wyoming Medical Society and was named Wyoming Physician of the Year.

Barrasso has three children – Peter, Emma and Hadley. He and his wife Bobbi live in Casper.

Mr. Nasi’s compliance counseling, permitting, and enforcement defense work spans the following federal (and related state) programs: Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Solid Waste Disposal Act, Endangered Species Act, and National Environmental Policy Act. He is often asked to play a strategic planning role on behalf of his clients in the midst of large, complex project developments.

Mike is counsel for parties in ongoing EPA regulatory proceedings relating to carbon dioxide, interstate air quality, regional haze, and coal combustion residuals, including appeals pending before the United States Courts of Appeals for the Fifth, Eighth, Tenth, and D.C. Circuits, as well as the Supreme Court of the United States. Mike helps coordinate multi-state outreach efforts regarding these and other regulations impacting the electric power and mining sectors, appears at hearings and energy policy events across the country, and is published in several trade, law, and business journals on environmental law and energy policy topics.

Mr. Nasi is a Past Chairman of the State Bar of Texas Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section and serves as a guest lecturer in the “Energy Law & Policy” course at the University of Texas Law School and contributed to Rice University’s “Leadership & Decision Making in the Energy Industry” course.

Mike is consistently recognized on several “Who’s Who” and “Best Lawyer” lists and was awarded the Law 360 “Energy and Environmental Trailblazer Award.” Mike is on the Central Texas Salvation Army Advisory Board and is a Board Member for the West Austin Youth Association “

The Outlook for Mining Under the Biden Administration"

The Honorable Bill Johnson United States Representative

Mike Nasi is a partner with Jackson Walker LLP where he practices environmental and energy law. Mike has been practicing before state and federal environmental and energy agencies and appellate courts for 25 years and active in multi-state carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) projects for 15 years.

Bill Johnson was born and raised on family farms, where he learned early the values of hard work, honesty, and sacrifice. Johnson entered the U.S. Air Force in 1973 and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after a distinguished military career of more than 26 years.

Following his retirement from military service, Johnson turned to creating and building high technology businesses and also served in the executive leadership team as Chief Information Officer of a global manufacturing company.

In 2010, Johnson was elected to his first term to represent the people of Ohio’s 6th Congressional District, which covers much of eastern and southeastern Ohio. He was reelected to his sixth term in November of 2020.

Since first taking office, Johnson has been fighting to create jobs in Eastern and Southeastern Ohio, improve services to our nation’s heroes - our veterans, and to make our federal government more effective, efficient, and accountable to the American people. 18 bills authored by Johnson have been signed into law by presidents of both parties.

He currently serves on the House Energy & Commerce Committee and he is the Co-Chairman of the House Natural Gas Caucus and a member of the House Shale Caucus.

Bill and his wife LeeAnn currently reside in Marietta with a son, Nathan. He is also the proud parent of three grown children and is a grandfather of six.

“ The Outlook for Mining Under the Biden Administration"

Mr.

Jerry Mullins

Senior Vice President, Governmental Affairs, National Mining Association

Jerry Mullins is the Vice President for Governmental Affairs and External Relations for the National Mining Association.

Jerry has spent his career leading and implementing political, public affairs and communications campaigns that influence the public at large as well as targeted audiences. By combining his experience as a former reporter, television producer as well as a political strategist, Jerry has been active in national elections for 25 years.

Jerry’s work in the political arena included four years with the Republican National Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee creating over 2,000 radio and television advertisements as well as producing hundreds of hours of programming from the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Republican National Conventions. Jerry also serves as the spokesperson for the Pentagon Memorial Fund.

Jerry is a graduate of North Carolina State University where he received Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Communications and Business Finance. He and his family reside in Annapolis, MD.

“ The Outlook for Mining Under the Biden Administration"

Mrs. Mandy Gunasakara Former Chief of Staff, US Environmental Protection Agency

From the Oval Office to the Senate Cloakroom, Mandy has been at the center of the most consequential energy and environmental decisions of the last decade. She is a veteran Republican climate and energy strategist, communicator, and environmental attorney who has a well-earned reputation for delivering results.

Mandy served as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Under the leadership of Administrator Andrew Wheeler, Mandy set and implemented environmental policy priorities for the Trump-Pence Administration. She created and managed teams of political and career employees to shepherd key regulatory actions through the rule-making process. Mandy also served as a primary liaison with the White House and other administrative agencies.

Before returning to EPA as Chief of Staff, Mandy was the Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation. In this role, she spearheaded many of the administration’s greatest energy and environmental policy achievements. Mandy was the chief architect of the Paris Accord withdrawal and the repeal of the Clean Power Plan – a costly regulation that undercut state’s authority and would have substantially increased electricity prices.

Previously, Mandy served in a number of roles in the U.S. Congress, including as Majority Counsel for the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee for Chairmen Inhofe (R-OK) and Barasso (R-WY), respectively.

Mandy and her husband Surya started a boutique consulting firm where they help clients navigate the administration, Capitol Hill and the courts. They specialize in matters related to energy, environment, tax and trade. She is a graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Law and Mississippi College. She and he husband and two children call Oxford, Mississippi, home.