Meet Our Team
Steve Grey
Board Chair
Steve Grey, originally from Kayenta, Navajo Nation, Arizona, is the Chairman of the Board for Four Corners Economic Development and owner-manager of Grey LLC. He formerly worked as the Governmental and External Affairs Director at Navajo Transitional Energy Company (NTEC), and was an NTEC Board Director for three years. Grey’s extensive experience includes 27 years at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in the Science and Technology Directorate, and a three-year tenure as the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Director for Indian Affairs in Washington, DC. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Northern Arizona University College of Engineering and an MBA.
Adam Schiche
Board Member
Adam is an accomplished leader who helps lead clean energy development initiatives at Tallgrass. Although he started his career as a lawyer, Adam has a breadth of experience that spans the midstream infrastructure space. After joining Tallgrass in January 2015, Adam quickly became instrumental in establishing internal networks of multiple-disciplinary teams who collaboratively leveraged the company’s success and experience to win new work and grow the business. Today, he spends most of his time navigating new opportunities in the emerging clean-hydrogen space. Before joining Tallgrass, Adam served as in-house counsel for MDU Resources, a Fortune 500 diversified energy company based in Bismarck, North Dakota. Adam grew up in Buffalo, Wyoming and received a JD and BS from the University of Wyoming.
Dr. Ellen Stechel
Board Member
Dr. Ellen B. Stechel serves as the Executive Director of the Center for an Arizona Carbon-Neutral Economy (AzCaNE) and Co-Director of ASU LightWorks®, a university-wide initiative in energy and sustainability at Arizona State University (ASU). She is also a Professor of Practice in the School of Molecular Sciences and a Senior Global Futures Scientist at the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Lab at ASU. With a Ph.D. in chemical physics from the University of Chicago, Dr. Stechel’s career spans national laboratories, industry, government agencies, and academia, covering both basic and applied research. She is experienced in policy, commercialization of emerging technologies, and multi-disciplinary R&D strategy and management. Dr. Stechel, who has published over 120 peer-reviewed articles, currently focuses her transdisciplinary research on solar-driven technologies, including sustainable liquid hydrocarbons from carbon dioxide, low-carbon hydrogen, clean water, renewable ammonia, industrial heat, energy storage, and food production.
Dory Peters
Board Member
Dory Peters, as the President/CEO of Big Navajo Energy since 2012, brings over 20 years of experience in mortgage banking, marketing, business development, and sales, alongside a decade in Native American economic business development. He also possesses 7 years of international business experience and is an expert in cross-cultural negotiations and strategy. Peters is a published author on Navajo culture and historical fiction, with works including “Winds Of Change” and “Warriors’ Code”. In addition to leading Big Navajo Energy, he serves as Member Manager for Big Navajo Consulting, where he is responsible for developing and implementing political engagement strategies with tribal, federal, and state and local officials. His role also involves advising organization executives on the impact of proposed legislation.
Derrick Watchman
Board Member
Derrick Watchman, President of Sagebrush Hill Group LLC, brings over 35 years of experience in commercial and tribal business, specializing in gaming and banking. A member of the Navajo Nation from Window Rock, Arizona, Watchman has a significant background in tribal affairs and economic development. He formerly led the Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise as CEO, expanding it to operate three casinos with over 1,700 employees. Prior roles include Vice President and Senior Relationship Manager at JP Morgan Chase’s Native American Banking Group, and banking positions at Wells Fargo focused on Native American gaming. Watchman also served as COO of the Navajo Nation’s Dinè Power Authority and Director of the Navajo Tax Commission. Additionally, he is involved in various directorships, including the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development Board and the Native American Bancorporation. He holds an MBA from the University of California and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona.
Lionel Haskie
Board Member
Lionel Haskie serves as the Director of 638 & NIIP Government Relations at Navajo Agricultural Products Industry (NAPI), overseeing federal contracting and technical services for the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project, a major U.S. irrigation initiative. He is a licensed Civil Engineer and LEED professional with 25 years of experience in project management across California, Nevada, and New Mexico. Haskie, who holds a Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering and an MBA, has a diverse background, including construction consulting, executive roles at NAPI, and a position on the Board of Directors for Navajo Transitional Energy Company (NTEC). His work encompasses significant projects in water treatment, commercial and residential development, and agricultural infrastructure, along with advocacy efforts for NIIP at the national level.
Matthew Gonzales
Interim Executive Director
Matthew Gonzales, currently the Interim Executive Director for 4CCEA and Southwest State Affairs Director for the Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA), specializes in natural resource development policy and advocacy. With a decade of experience, his roles have included Government Affairs Director for the New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau and Vice President of Government Affairs & Public Relations for the Association of Commerce & Industry of New Mexico, contributing significantly to agriculture and natural resource legislation. An Air Force veteran, Gonzales has served as Mayor of Cimarron and on its Board of Education, and is Vice-Chair of the National Hispanic Energy Council. He is also a member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the VFW.
Matt@FourCornersCleanEnergyAlliance.org
Jaycob Garcia
Director of Communications & Advocacy
Jaycob Garcia is the Manager of Communications & Advocacy for the Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA), focusing on grassroots communications, creative development, website and marketing support, advertising, and reporting. In his role, he works closely with CEA members for outreach to elected leaders at various levels. Additionally, Garcia serves as the Director of Communications & Advocacy for 4CCEA, Vice-President of Communications for the National Hispanic Energy Council (NHEC), and is a board member of the Sustainable Seas Initiative (SSI).