Rose McKinney-James is the former President and CEO for the Corporation for Solar Technology and Renewable Resources, (CSTRR) and former Commissioner with the Nevada Public Service Commission, she also served as Nevada’s first Director of the Department of Business and Industry. She is an experienced and accomplished small business leader, clean energy advocate, and independent corporate director with an extensive history in public service, private sector corporate sustainability, social impact, and non-profit volunteerism. McKinney-James is currently the Managing Principal of Energy Works LLC and McKinney-James & Associates. Her firms provide business-consulting services and advocacy in public affairs, energy policy, strategy and economic and sustainable development. This provides an opportunity to advance her considerable experience as a business, corporate, and community leader. Ms. McKinney-James has over two decades of experience in advocacy in legislative and utility regulatory proceedings relative to renewable and clean energy policy and community and stakeholder outreach in Nevada and the U.S. She has helped to shape much of the energy policy framework in place in the state of Nevada. A registered lobbyist with the Nevada Legislature, Rose currently represents a range of public and private entities with interests in regulatory and energy and public policy. She assists her clients by developing strategic plans and initiatives designed to be executed utilizing solutions that address unique circumstances and demands.
Working with a diverse group of advocates, McKinney-James led the effort to facilitate the passage of the first Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) in Nevada. This was the first of many successful collaborations resulting in significant clean energy policy advancement in the state.
McKinney-James is a member of the Executive Leadership Council. She is the Immediate Past Board Chair for the American Association for Blacks in Energy (AABE). In 2013, she was selected to serve as an Inaugural Ambassador for the C3E initiative supporting increased participation by women in the clean energy sector. She is also the past Chair of The Clean Energy Project and Chair Emeritus of Nevada Partners, a nationally recognized workforce development agency.
McKinney-James has extensive experience in corporate governance and serves as a member of the Board of Directors of MGM Resorts International, MGM Detroit, Toyota Financial Services Bank, and the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Pacific Southwest.
As of May 2019, she added the title of “co-author” to her bio with the publishing of her first literary adventure, “The Energy Within Us.” McKinney-James joins four of her closest colleagues as they provide insights based on their collective personal journeys in the energy profession.
McKinney-James has been recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration as Small Business Advocate of the Year. She received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Women’s Chamber of Commerce as well as the Clark County Public Education Foundation, and most recently the Nevada Conservation League. She has also been honored by the American Solar Energy Society (SOLAR NV) as the Advocate of the Year. She is the recipient of the inaugural GreenBiz Verge VANGUARD Award and the DirectWomen Sandra Day O’Connor Award for Board Excellence. McKinney-James is listed in the Black Enterprise Registry of Black Corporate Directors and in SAVOY Magazine Power 300, among the most influential African American corporate directors. She served as a member of the Obama-Biden Transition Team and was honored to be selected as an Electoral College Elector for Nevada.
A native of Detroit, Michigan, McKinney-James is married and the mother of two sons.