CEN Announces New Director of Operations and Organizational Leadership, Deputy Director of External Affairs, and Digital Communications Manager

Hires continue at state level in Michigan, Indiana, and Virginia

June 1, 2022 – LANSING, Mich. – The Conservative Energy Network (CEN), a coalition of 21 state-based conservative clean energy organizations, today announced a new addition to the national team as well as two promotions. JR Miller has joined the CEN national team as director of operations and organizational leadership, Joanna Lewis has been promoted to deputy director of external affairs and Kayla Ventura has been promoted to digital communications manager. All three are new positions within the organization and will increase CEN’s capacity to serve its state teams as they work to forge a clean energy future across the country.

Miller first joined CEN in 2020, serving as director of programs and operations for CEN’s Michigan state partner organization, the Michigan Conservative Energy Forum (MICEF). Miller’s experience outside the Network includes senior business management and various leadership positions in both the nonprofit and private sectors in addition to his distinguished military service in the United States Army. In his new role, JR will implement CEN’s 5-year strategic plan, develop and refine operational procedures, and deepen the organization’s leadership development efforts and human relations support.

“As we sought candidates to fill this new position at the national level, JR Miller’s name rose to the top of our list thanks to his outstanding work with our Michigan team, his breadth of knowledge in business operations, and his past leadership development experience,” said Brittany Zwierzchowski Tisler, CEN COO and acting CEO. “We are proud of the culture we have built at CEN and trust that JR will continue to strengthen our organization and support our staff’s professional development while applying his wealth of knowledge and trademark levity to this role.”

Prior to her former role as CEN senior communications manager, Lewis served as the midwest communications manager and as the program director for MICEF. In her new role as deputy director of external affairs, she will continue to direct and execute CEN’s national communication strategies, manage and develop media relations, and oversee all design work. Lewis, who has been a part of CEN for the last five years, is an invaluable member of the national team.

Ventura has been a member of the CEN national team for just over a year, in the role of new media strategist. Before joining CEN, Ventura served as a media strategist at a public relations consulting firm. Under her guidance, CEN redeveloped its primary website, launched two affiliated websites, and doubled CEN’s social media presence. Ventura’s new role includes social media strategy, website management, and development of strategic messaging.

“CEN leadership has been thrilled with the exponential advances made by our communications team over the last year,” said Zwierzchowski Tisler. “The promotions of Joanna Lewis and Kayla Ventura are hard earned and well deserved. We look forward to watching them continue to grow as leaders in our organization.”

Promotions and new hires continued at the state level this past month. Notably, Emily Pallarito has been promoted to program director at MICEF. Reed Davis has been promoted to program director at Indiana Conservative Alliance for Energy, and Nick Bundren has been hired as field representative of the Virginia Land & Liberty Coalition.

Postings for additional positions with CEN can be found at https://conservativeenergynetwork.org/careers/.