Consumer Energy Alliance Welcomes New Board Members to Strengthen Advocacy for Affordable, Reliable Energy Across the U.S.
The Consumer Energy Alliance (CEA), widely recognized as the nation’s leading advocate for balanced energy and environmental policies that work for families, businesses, and communities, announced today the addition of two new members to its board of directors. This development represents not just an expansion of leadership but also a strengthening of CEA’s mission to advance affordable, reliable, and cleaner energy solutions across every sector of the American economy.
The two new board members, Kelly Nodzak of Delta Air Lines and Matt Durand of the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), bring with them decades of experience in industries that touch the lives of millions of Americans daily. Their perspectives will deepen the board’s understanding of how energy policy directly affects both transportation and retail — two essential components of modern life that are highly sensitive to changes in energy prices.
Kelly Nodzak: Bringing an Airline Perspective to Energy Policy
Kelly Nodzak joins the CEA board from her role as Director of Jet Fuel Procurement and Operations at Delta Air Lines. In this position, she is responsible for managing the commercial and operational aspects of jet fuel procurement for Delta’s global fleet. Her role is critical, as fuel remains one of the largest operational expenses for airlines, and shifts in energy prices have an immediate impact on the cost of flights for millions of travelers.
Nodzak’s career has been marked by leadership in energy and infrastructure. Prior to joining Delta, she worked with Colonial Pipeline Company, a major U.S. pipeline operator, where she managed business development efforts. This experience gave her a deep understanding of the complex logistics and infrastructure challenges involved in transporting energy across the country. She also holds an MBA and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), adding financial and strategic expertise to her energy and operational insights.
CEA President David Holt praised Nodzak’s appointment, highlighting the importance of her experience:
“Kelly understands how critical energy infrastructure is in delivering affordable, reliable energy. She comes from an industry that is both essential to the U.S. economy and highly sensitive to fluctuations in energy costs. Her insights will strengthen CEA’s ability to represent diverse voices and act as a trusted, neutral authority on energy policy.”
For her part, Nodzak expressed enthusiasm about joining the board and emphasized the importance of public awareness when it comes to energy issues:
“CEA’s mission to deliver affordable, reliable, and cleaner energy to every sector of America’s economy is vital, and I’m honored to be part of it. Raising awareness about how energy costs are woven into the fabric of daily life is essential. When people understand these connections, they are more likely to support energy policies that strengthen resilience, affordability, and economic growth in the United States.”
Her presence on the board adds valuable perspective from the aviation sector, a field in which fuel prices influence everything from ticket affordability to operational efficiency and global competitiveness.
Matt Durand: Representing the Convenience Store and Fuel Retail Sector
Joining alongside Nodzak is Matt Durand, who serves as Deputy General Counsel at the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS). In this role, he oversees legislative and regulatory affairs focused on energy and transportation — two areas directly linked to the everyday costs paid by consumers.
NACS, founded more than 60 years ago, represents more than 1,000 member companies across 200,000 convenience and fuel retail locations worldwide, including over 90,000 stores in the United States alone. Convenience stores are deeply intertwined with America’s energy story, as they are the point of purchase for the majority of retail fuel sales across the country.
Durand brings more than legal expertise to the table. He has years of hands-on experience leading public policy campaigns and engaging with government stakeholders on energy issues. Before his work with NACS, he served as Vice President of Corporate Affairs at EG America, one of the nation’s largest convenience and restaurant retailers. In that capacity, he oversaw public policy and external relations across 30 states and 1,600 stores, dealing directly with the real-world challenges businesses face from shifting energy regulations and market conditions.
His career began at the U.S. Department of Justice, where he worked in the Environmental Enforcement Section supporting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). This early experience gave him a grounding in regulatory enforcement and environmental policy, complementing his later work in industry advocacy.
Holt underscored the importance of Durand’s perspective:
“Matt’s expertise from the convenience store sector provides a direct line of insight into how energy costs show up in everyday life. Whether at the gas pump or the store checkout counter, Americans see and feel the effects of energy policy millions of times each day. Matt’s leadership in policy advocacy will be invaluable to CEA as we continue working to ensure affordable, reliable energy is available for families and businesses.”
Durand himself emphasized his commitment to helping everyday Americans better understand the stakes of energy policy:
“I am honored to join CEA’s board and help advocate for affordable and reliable energy solutions. While people clearly see energy costs reflected at the gas pump, they often don’t realize how high energy prices ripple through nearly every aspect of life — from groceries to housing to the cost of doing business. Helping Americans see these connections and giving them a voice in the debate about energy policy is an important mission, and I look forward to contributing to it.”
Broader Implications of Their Appointments
The addition of Nodzak and Durand to the CEA board signals the alliance’s commitment to ensuring that its leadership reflects the full spectrum of industries impacted by energy policy. Airlines and convenience stores are everyday touchpoints for Americans, and both sectors are highly visible in how energy prices affect consumers.
For airlines, fuel costs are often the single largest expense, and shifts in energy markets directly affect ticket prices, route availability, and airline competitiveness. For convenience stores, fuel pricing is central to customer transactions, and shifts in energy costs influence not just the pump but also the price of goods inside the store. Together, these perspectives highlight how energy affordability and reliability are not abstract issues but daily realities for families and businesses.
By incorporating voices from these industries, CEA strengthens its role as a broad-based coalition that advocates for energy solutions meeting the needs of households, workers, and companies alike. With over 550,000 members nationwide, CEA has consistently pushed for policies that balance environmental protection with the need for energy affordability and security.
