WS&Q consultants are senior-level advisors―we are not a training program for entry-level analysts.  Our consultants average over 25 years of industry experience.  With expertise in planning, analytics and strategy, you can count on us to meet your needs.   Meet a few of our consultants:

Jim Letzelter, President

A recognized leader in management consulting to the energy industry, Jim brings over 18 years of consulting and management experience. He specializes in power market and risk analysis, generation portfolio optimization, asset valuation and strategic planning. Jim is a frequently sought speaker for high profile industry forums and is well published in top industry and general business periodicals. He focuses on helping his clients to meet the challenges of the ever-changing energy industry through visionary thinking and promotion of innovative offerings. Jim has led a variety of regulatory and restructuring proceedings, and has supported a variety of successful merger, acquisition and development initiatives. He brings an energetic, visionary, and motivational mindset to the organizations he serves. Prior to joining WS&Q, Jim has held the positions of Managing Director of Platts Research & Consulting, President of GenerSys Consulting and Principal of Hagler Bailly (PA Consulting). Jim holds a BS degree in Electrical Engineering from Clarkson University and an MBA from the State University of New York at Albany.

Mike Beck, Executive Advisor

Mike provides specialized services to the energy industry, specifically in the power and environmental areas. He has been involved in energy consulting for over 20 years and has consulted for a variety of organizations on a broad range of topics including generation and transmission operations, strategic planning, asset valuation, knowledge and risk management, environmental strategy, and competitive analysis. An attentive leader with a proven, results-driven record of business development, project management, and problem solving, he uses excellent communications and interpersonal skills to work with clients to deliver measurable, distinctive results. Previously, Mike has held senior positions at Hagler Bailly (formerly Theodore Barry & Associates) and PA Consulting. He holds a BS degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, an MBA from Drexel University, and is a Registered Professional Engineer in the state of New Jersey.

Dr. Howard Axelrod

Howard J. Axelrod, BSEE, MSEE, MBA, Ph.D., has more than 30 years of experience in management consulting, strategic planning and marketing for electric and gas utilities. With proficiencies in managerial economics, marketing, and power systems planning, he provides a multi-disciplinary approach to resolving complex business and regulatory issues. He has performed numerous studies and led in the development of strategies addressing such issues as competitive restructuring, strategic business and market planning, organizational development, and business risk analysis. Howard also provides training seminars on risk and uncertainty assessment for such applications as power contract management, generation portfolio assessment, energy trading and derivative valuation and new business ventures. Howard has testified before numerous state regulatory agencies and FERC on such topics as resource planning, power contract management, utility operations and management, and total factor productivity.

Neil Webb

A management consultant with over 13 years of experience, Neil has worked for private utilities as well as management consultancies that cater to the energy industry. Recently he has been advising several clients in the acquisition of generation assets as well as bankruptcy proceedings related to distressed generation assets in the U.S. His practice areas also include large-scale project management, product development, training, e-strategy assessment, strategic planning, regulatory approval and oversight, and reorganization and realignment. Neil’s work has been used in a variety of regulatory and restructuring proceedings, and has supported successful merger and acquisition initiatives ranging from due diligence to post merger integration. He has also developed numerous models for clients to enhance negotiation strategies and operations. Neil holds a BS degree in Management from Clarkson University and an MBA from the University of Rochester.

Bill Klun

Bill Klun is an energy finance specialist with over 15 years of experience in energy-related banking, financial advisory and financial risk management. Bill has recently advised an Asian power company on electric power debt financing strategies and also an Asian securities firm on U.S.-based merchant banking and private equity strategies related to the power sector. Prior to these advisory assignments, he was a Vice President and Director of DZ Bank’s energy finance group, where he managed $3 billion+ in complex financings for the electric power, oil and gas and refining sectors. In addition, Bill has been a senior banker in several high profile restructurings, including Williams Companies, PG&E NEG and Mirant. He was appointed to the PG&E US Gen official creditor committee and the Mirant bank steering committee. He is an alumnus of Duke/Louis Dreyfus, where he structured derivative transactions and financial risk management strategies for the energy industry and, later, was a Principal for Hagler Bailly/PA Consulting where he managed several financial advisory and risk management engagements in energy. Bill has an MBA Finance from the Wharton School and a BS from Georgetown University. He has contributed several articles to Institutional Investor’s Power Finance and Risk and Derivatives Week and authored Market Risk in Electric Generation Finance in Energy Convergence: The Beginning of the Multi-Commodity Market, (Wiley Finance).

Dave Levee

Before joining WS&Q, Dave was co-founder of EPIS and co-creator of the AURORA™ electric power market model.  He is a recognized expert in the application of economic and financial principles for electric energy industry issues and has significant experience in both the regulated and unregulated markets. Dave has highly developed skills and expert knowledge of the fundamentals influencing electric energy markets. With over 30 years experience in the electric energy industry, he has acquired an in-depth understanding of the forces that shape market prices. Experience includes resource planning and valuation, regulatory proceedings, financial/economic applications and risk analysis. Dave has specific expertise in the analysis of market prices, energy position, resource considerations, and analysis of market risk.

John Saffran

John Saffran has more than 25 years experience working in the electric power industry. Before joining Webb, Scott and Quinn he was a software analysis consultant to FPL’s Planning Department. Prior to this, John held the position of Senior Market Analyst with FPL Energy, where he developed computer model data bases used for electric price forecasting. Earlier in Johns’ career, his positions included Supervisor of Production Costing and Transmission Planning Engineer. John has also served as a corporate witness and expert of production costing models and analysis.