Executive Leadership Program
Vision for a New Future
The Nuclear Executives of Tomorrow (NEXT) program was created by U.S. Women in Nuclear in conjunction with the Nuclear Energy Institute and nuclear executives across our industry. The collaborators determined there was a need for executive-level leadership development focused on preparing the best and brightest individuals for future positions of greater strategic leadership within their respective organizations and the industry. The program supports highly capable leaders primed for executive-level advancement. It aims to provide challenging experiential opportunities and create a tight-knit professional network focused on helping each other succeed. The expected participant outcome is development within executive leadership competencies, broadened strategic perspective, a well-established professional network, and an active industry-wide role in supporting a future that is both diverse and sustainable. An overview of the NEXT program can be found here.
The nomination form for the 2026-2027 cohort is available through February 20, 2026 here.
Please visit The WINning Edge newsletter for NEXT quarterly updates and event announcements.
About Us
In partnership with Intend to Create Coaching & Consulting LLC, U.S. Women in Nuclear created a Leadership Cohort program in 2019 that has blossomed into the Nuclear Executives of Tomorrow (NEXT) executive immersive leadership program. The 12-month long program is produced by a planning and oversight team of industry leaders who lend their knowledge and hands-on support. NEXT has graduated six cohorts with a seventh whose journey will begin in summer 2026. At least 60 % of each graduated class has received promotions during or within 12 months of completing the program.
“Any plans to make it continue beyond our formal year would bring me joy!”
– NEXT20 Cohort Member
Current & Previous Cohorts
The NEXT program has successes to celebrate! Many members of our cohorts have been promoted and recognized for their leadership. Join us in congratulating all the NEXT change-makers for their achievements. This is just a short list of the successes:
- Laura Basta, Robinson Site Vice President, Duke Energy
- Bonnie Bryant, River Bend General Manager of Plant Operations at Entergy
- Leah Crider, Chief Commercial Officer at Orano Federal Services
- Amanda Donges, Vice President Industry Trends and Organizational Learning, INPO
- Melissa Driscoll, Engineering Accelerated Development Rotations, PSEG
- Kelly Ferneau, Site Vice President of Cook Nuclear Power Plant, American Electric Power, and now CNO, American Electric Power
- Jean Fleming, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs outside of PSEG
- Nicole Flippin, Catawba Site Vice President, Duke Energy, and now Sr. Vice President, North Carolina Operations, Duke Energy
- Lisa Hilbert, Site Vice President of North Anna Power Station, Dominion Energy
- Anna Kraus, Senior Site Project Manager at Exelon Nuclear
- Deborah McBreen, Director of Organization Performance and Regulatory at Exelon Nuclear
- Renee Meeks, Vice President of Talent & Culture at INPO
- Christy Kenny Notigan, Vice President Global Talent Management and Diversity & Inclusion at Solenis
- Mary Pietrzyk, Director of Origination at NextEra Energy Resources
- Norah Plumey-Torres, Clinton General Manager Plant Operations, Exelon Generation
- Cristina Reyff, Vice President Corporate Finance, Chief Financial & Risk Officer, Energy Northwest
- Erin Searcy, Chief Technology Officer, Idaho National Laboratory
- Dawn Sileo, Vice President of Independent Oversite, Entergy Nuclear, Inc.
- Heather Winn, NOS Director at Vistra
- Fatma Yilmaz, Manager of Nuclear Fuel and Analysis at the South Texas Project and has been featured in the U.S. WIN Member Spotlight
Oversight Committee
- Tova Anderson, Customer Account Manager at Westinghouse Electric Company
- Juliann Edwards, Chief Development Officer at The Nuclear Company
- Kelly Ferneau, Chief Nuclear Officer at American Electric Power
- Ellen Ginsberg, Senior Vice President of General Counsel & Secretary at NEI
- Rebecca Salvadore, Director Global Operational Services at Constellation
- Carla Ogunrinde, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Intend Coaching & Consulting (NEXT Program Director)
Planning Team
- Eunice Deras, Training and Development at Intend Coaching & Consulting
- Christine King, Director of Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear at Idaho National Laboratory
- Carla Ogunrinde, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Intend Coaching & Consulting (NEXT Program Director)
- Sarah Risley, Nuclear Training Accreditation Supervisor at Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Please review our Frequently Asked Questions regarding the nomination process, or contact Rebecca Salvadore, rebecca.salvadore@