MeLena Hessel serves as Vote Solar’s Deputy Program Director, Midwest. In this role she coordinates Vote Solar’s regulatory and legislative priorities across the region, supporting the Midwest Team as we work to bring the benefits of solar and storage home to communities across the Midwest. MeLena has a decade of experience in advancing community-centered climate solutions across the Midwest, first as a Policy Advocate at the Environmental Law & Policy Center and more recently as Policy Director at Elevate.
MeLena Hessel
Deputy Program Director, Midwest, Vote Solar | Chicago, IL
Meet More Team Members
Jack O’Donohue
MREA Board President | La Grange, IL
Nick Hylla
MREA Executive Director
Grace Michienzi
Senior Director of Policy, Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council (Michigan EIBC) | Grand Rapids, MI
John Delurey
Managing Director of Campaigns, Vote Solar | Geneva, IL





