Ellen S. Berman’s 40-year career has spanned the intersection of science, technology, and the arts. She served as President of the Consumer Energy Council of America from its founding in 1973 until its closing in 2006 where she sought to advance the public’s understanding of the interrelationship of energy policy and the environment, transportation, telecommunications and other disciplines. Ellen pioneered a process for developing public policy through consensus of major stakeholders from divergent interests in the public and private sectors – consumer and environmental leaders, Congress, federal agency officials, state regulatory commissions, utility executives, manufacturers, research organizations, academia, small business, and industrial users. In addition, Ellen has been actively involved in important arts organizations for decades, including producing on- and off-Broadway plays. She is an art collector and has served as a corporate art consultant. Ellen is an active member of the Council for Arts at MIT and serves on its Grants Committee. She is also a member of the McDermott Award Selection Committee at MIT, one of the largest prizes in the nation for an artist of exception merit. Ellen serves on the Tourist Development Grants Panel of the Sarasota County Arts Council. She holds a B.A. in Russian Language and Literature from Barnard College of Columbia University and currently resides in both Sarasota, Florida, and Washington, DC.