Team Pennsylvania Welcomes Two New Staff Members

Renée Custer Yemane joined Team Pennsylvania in December as its Vice President of Strategic & External Affairs, and oversees Strategic, Communications and Development initiatives. Prior to joining Team Pennsylvania, Renée spent 5 years as COO of The Custer Group and the prior 5 years as Executive Director of Harrisburg Young Professionals.

In recognition of her work, Renée has been recognized as Central Penn Business Journal 40 Under Forty, Central Penn Business Journal Women of Influence, The Foundation for Enhancing Communities Rising Philanthropist Award, and as a YWCA Woman of Excellence. Renée graduated from James Madison University with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Cultural Communication Studies and Nonprofit Management.

Tom Murphy also joins Team Pennsylvania as its Senior Managing Director, Strategic Energy Initiatives. He was previously the Director of Penn State’s Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research(MCOR) and provided leadership to a range of Penn State’s related energy outreach events and research activities. Tom has 38 years of experience working with public officials, researchers, industry, government agencies, and landowners during his tenure with the Extension branch of the University.

Tom’s work is centered on educational consultation in energy transitions, specifically at the convergence of shale gas, hydrogen, and renewables. His more recent emphasis focuses on a rapidly changing energy paradigm, which includes wider deployment of utility-scale solar, and the decarbonization implications of hydrogen for heavy industry and transportation. Primarily focused on the DNA H2Hub project, Tom has an ongoing partnership with the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors on the local implications of utility-scale solar energy across the Commonwealth.