CEO Report Item 11
CEO Report Item 11
TO: Ava Community Energy Board of Directors
FROM: Howard Chang, Chief Executive Officer
SUBJECT: CEO Report (Informational Item)
DATE: July 16, 2025
________________________________________________________________________ Recommendation
Accept Chief Executive Officer (CEO) report on update items below.
Executive Committee Meeting
An Executive Committee Meeting was held on Wednesday, July 2, 2025. Members received an update on the draft budget for FY 2025-26 and a follow up on the upcoming prepay transaction.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 3, 2025 at 3:30 pm. This meeting will be held at the following temporary location:
Rotunda Building
300 Frank Ogawa Plaza,
Oakland, CA 94612
Marketing Regulatory and Legislative Subcommittee Meeting The June 20, 2025 Marketing Regulatory and Legislative Subcommittee Meeting was cancelled.
The next Marketing, Regulatory and Legislative Subcommittee meeting will be held on Monday, July 21, 2025 at 3:30 pm. This meeting will be held at the following temporary location:
The Port Workspaces
3rd Floor, Large Conference Room
344 20th St
Oakland, CA 94612
Financial, Administrative and Procurement Subcommittee Meeting A Financial, Administrative and Procurement subcommittee meeting was held on July 9, 2025.
Members received updates on the FY 2025-26 Annual Audit, FY 2024-25 Q3 Draft Financial Statements, Energy Risk Management Policy, Compliance Period Procurement Methodology and the Procurement Policy. The next Financial, Administrative and Procurement Subcommittee meeting will be held on September 8, 2025 at the following temporary location:
Rotunda Building
300 Frank Ogawa Plaza,
Oakland, CA 94612
New Employees
CEO Report Item 11
Aaron Crosman - Salesforce Director
Aaron joined Ava on June 17, 2025 to serve as our Salesforce Director. He will be leading the Salesforce team to ensure that it has a clear strategic vision and evolving technical roadmap, and that Ava is getting the most from its Salesforce investment.
Aaron started his career with a decade of work in IT and Communications for a nonprofit organization, before moving into consulting for a little more than the next decade – including 7 years as a Salesforce developer and implementation consultant. He has experience in all aspects of digital marketing, and in helping organizations align their technology to their mission.
In addition to having more than a dozen Salesforce certifications, in 2023 Salesforce inducted Aaron into their MVP program – a recognition of technical skill and community leadership.
Salesforce confirmed his renewal in that program at the end of June. Aaron has a B.A. in Computer Science from Hamilton College.
Stacy Orr - Marketing Campaign Manager
Stacy joined Ava on June 17, 2025 as the Marketing Campaign Manager. She will be supporting the creation and launch of marketing campaigns and activations for Ava's community programs (Ava Charge) and brand marketing.
Before joining Ava, Stacy spent 3.5 years at mission-driven edTech company, Udemy, where she developed and launched over 15 global-scale consumer campaigns such as quarterly sales, consumer stories, and new product launches. Prior to that, she worked in franchising developing the local marketing strategy for new and existing franchises in indoor pickleball and indoor trampoline parks. Stacy has a MBA from University of Southern California with an emphasis in marketing.
Other Updates
Ava Bike Electric Program Launch
Ava Bike Electric launched on July 7 and is one of the largest e-bike programs in the U.S. as we expect to incentivize 8,200 to 9,200 new e-bikes through December 2026. This $10 Million program is funded with $6 Million from Ava and a $4 Million grant from the Alameda County Transportation Commission. As a result of this grant funding, Ava Bike Electric participation is open to non-Ava customers in Alameda County, along with all Ava customers across our service area. E-bike incentives range from $400 to $1,500. 40% of e-bike incentive funds are dedicated to income qualified participants with a higher e-bike incentive for those participants, as well as a $250 safety equipment rebate.
As of July 10, over 600 people applied to the program ahead of our first monthly random drawing to distribute incentives on July 22. Ava will hold a monthly random drawing on the 4th Tuesday of every month through September 2026.
As a reminder, Ava employees, members or alternates of the Ava Board or any committee, including the Community Advisory Committee, are not eligible to participate in this program, nor are the families of anyone in those roles.
Joint Rate Mailer
Ava, in collaboration with PG&E, sent via email or postcard, the annual Joint Rate Mailer. This CPUC-required piece provides all eligible CCA customers with a sample comparison of rates and average monthly bills, as well as the draft Power Content Label. This year’s mailers were sent to customers the week of June 23. Few customers contacted Ava with questions, as they CEO Report Item 11
have received a similar document every year since 2019. Ava mailed over 130,000 postcards and sent 645,000 emails. A sample postcard is shown below.
Fremont default product transition to Renewable 100
Ava continues to prepare for Fremont’s residential default product transition to Renewable 100 in August through community outreach, including:
CEO Report Item 11
• The first of two Renewable 100 enrollment notices were sent to customers (via mail and email) the week of June 24
• Staff participated in Fremont’s 6/5 Sustainability Commission meeting • Staff held two separate training sessions with the City’s Sustainability Commissioners • Staff attended the City’s Pride Fair at the Fremont Library • Announcement in Ava’s Direct Current Newsletter (June) • Ongoing announcements via social media, online & print advertising Fremont’s City staff are also conducting separate outreach, such as newsletters and social media, bolstered by Ava’s media guides and toolkit.
Fremont residents are receiving the message. Eight percent, or 5,800 residents eligible to transition to Renewable 100, have chosen to remain on Bright Choice, with over 95% of those selections coming through Ava’s online webform.
Tuesday, July 22nd is the last day by which Fremont customers can choose Bright Choice and avoid being enrolled in Renewable 100 automatically in August. Thereafter, customers may still choose Bright Choice, but they may see Renewable 100 charges for at least one billing cycle.
Ava in the Community
To raise awareness of our service, support our community, and stay close to our customers, Ava sponsors and staffs events throughout our service territory all year long. Stop by to say hello at any of these upcoming events between July 17 and September 17. Learn more at https://avaenergy.org/about-ava/meetings-events/events/ Date Event Location
7/17/2025 Hayward Downtown Street Party Downtown Hayward 7/18/2025 Stockton Ports vs. Fresno Grizzlies Banner Island Ballpark 7/25/2025 Stockton Ports vs Lake Elsinore Storm Banner Island Ballpark 7/26/2025 Oakland Roots vs Orange County SC Oakland Coliseum 8/2/2025 -
8/3/2025
Fremont Festival of the Arts Downtown Fremont
8/5/2025 Union City National Night out Union Landing
Shopping Center
8/5/2025 Lincoln Center – National Night Out Lincoln Center, Stockton
8/8/2025 Lathrop Family Fun Night Mossdale Park
8/9/2025 Family Fun Festival
Central United
Methodist Church,
Stockton
CEO Report Item 11
8/9/2025 Oakland Roots vs Colorado Springs
Switchbacks FC Oakland Coliseum
8/16/2025 -
8/17/2025 Fremont Festival of India Fremont
8/20/2025 Concerts in the Park Victory Park, Stockton
8/30/2025 Oakland Roots vs Monterey Bay FC
(Back to School Night) Oakland Coliseum
9/6/2025 Tracy Connects Lincoln Park
9/6/2025 Oakland Roots vs Pittsburgh Riverhounds
SC Oakland Coliseum
9/13/2025 San Leandro Oktoberfest
Downtown San
Leandro
9/14/2025 Albany Solano Stroll Albany High School