James M. Stephens, Senior Vice President, is an economic and business consultant with broad energy industry experience. He has an extensive background in the areas of energy market assessment, resource procurement, mergers and acquisitions, asset-based transactions, asset and business unit valuation, market entry strategies, and strategic alliances. Mr. Stephens has performed several gas infrastructure valuation projects including: natural gas pipelines, gas storage and LNG facilities. He has also assisted clients with the demand forecasting, gas supply evaluation and resource procurement. Mr. Stephens has also managed natural gas and power solicitations on behalf of several clients. As President of a start-up retail energy marketing company, Mr. Stephens was responsible for growing a start-up business to an on-going concern. In addition, in this role he was responsible for the business unit financial performance, developing and executing all business unit strategy and supporting regulatory initiatives and proceedings. Mr. Stephens has also served in managerial and executive positions at Navigant Consulting, Inc., Providence Energy Corporation, Reed Consulting Group, Colonial Gas Company, and Boston Gas Company. In addition, he has provided testimony before several regulatory agencies. Mr. Stephens has an M.B.A. in Operations Management and a Bachelor of Science degree in management from Bentley College, Waltham, MA.