Bob Nussmeier is the Vice President of Strategic Clients at Baker Construction, the largest nuclear concrete construction company in the United States. Based in Houston, TX, and Denver, CO, Bob supports Baker’s strategic clients nationwide. Bob advances Baker’s mission to drive innovation in clean nuclear power generation, energy transition, and LNG projects across the country. With more than 32 years of experience in industrial and nuclear construction, Bob is a seasoned leader in executive-level relationship management. His expertise encompasses a wide range of complex projects, including LNG terminals, petrochemical plants, nuclear power facilities, clean energy initiatives, and carbon reduction strategies through advanced concrete technologies and innovative containment designs that optimize cost and schedule performance. Bob earned a bachelor’s degree in Construction Management from Purdue University. He previously served on the executive committee of the Construction Industry Institute (CII) Board of Advisors, where he chaired the Strategic Planning Committee.

Spencer Toohill is a Nuclear Energy Innovation Analyst at The Breakthrough Institute, where she conducts research across the nuclear fuel cycle to inform regulatory reform, policy development, and stakeholder engagement. Her work aims to address barriers to nuclear deployment and inform strategies that support the long-term viability of nuclear energy. Spencer holds a Master’s in International Policy from the University of Georgia, where she focused on energy and nuclear security and completed a capstone on nuclear cooperation agreements.

Jeffrey Merrifield is a partner in the Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP’s energy practice. Mr. Merrifield was appointed by President Clinton and reappointed by President Bush to serve on the five-member, Senate-confirmed, independent United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. During his tenure, which was from October 1998 to June 2002 and from August 2002 to June 2007, the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission had a staff of 3,250 employees with a budget of $900 million and set all policies and rules that govern the safe and secure use of nuclear materials at the 104 U.S. nuclear power plants operating at that time. Prior to joining Pillsbury, Mr. Merrifield served as President of The Merrifield Group, LLC where he provided energy and environmental consulting, advocacy and strategic advice for companies, organizations and individuals. Specific areas of focus included management, energy market analysis, nuclear, fossil and alternative energy policy and deployment, radioactive and hazardous waste disposal strategies, safety and regulatory assessment and analysis, as well as public and government engagement. Before working with the Merrifield Group, Mr. Merrifield was the Senior Vice President of Global Business Development with CB&I’s Power Business Unit. While there, he led a team of twenty-five sales and proposal staff to develop and win over $1.5 billion in annual sales, including the first competitive, EPC combined cycle gas unit in over six years. Prior to that, he was Senior Vice President for The Shaw Group, Inc.’s Power Group. As a member of the Power Group's executive team, he was responsible for overseeing the group's external relationships including nuclear business development, customer relations, strategic planning, marketing and communications, as well as government and regulatory affairs. Mr. Merrifield also served on the Board of Directors for the U.S. Ecology Corporation, which is one of the largest U.S. operators of both hazardous and low-level radioactive waste disposal facilities. He served as the Lead Director and Chairman of the Governance Committee and was a member of the Compensation and Audit Committees. Currently, Mr. Merrifield serves on the Board of the U.S. Nuclear Industry Council and is also the Chairman of its Advanced Nuclear Working Group. Composed of more than 70 companies, the Council is the leading business consortium advocate for new nuclear energy and the promotion of the American supply chain globally.

Cyril Draffin serves as Senior Fellow, Advanced Nuclear for the U.S. Nuclear Industry Council, which represents more than 90 companies engaged in nuclear innovation and supply chain development. He is focused on development, demonstration, regulation, financing, and deployment of advanced nuclear technologies to meet industrial and utility energy requirements. Mr. Draffin also is working as a specialty consultant contracted to ExxonMobil supporting the Industrial Advanced Nuclear Consortium. He is Regulations and Standards workstream lead for the U.S. Trade and Development’s Small Modular Reactor Working Group, is affiliated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Energy Initiative, has been Vice-Chair of the Maryland Cybersecurity Critical Infrastructure subcommittee, is Deputy Director MIT Alumni Angels of DC, and is member of MIT Corporation Development Committee. He led the USNIC 2025 “Western States New Nuclear Workshop” and 2024 “Integrating Nuclear Solutions for Petrochemical and Industrial Needs” Houston workshop. Previously, Mr. Draffin was Director, Strategic Development for Northrop Grumman Corporation for 15 years; Vice President of Strategic Planning and Business Development for BDM International; Vice President of Greater Washington Investors, a venture capital firm; Director and strategic planner with the U.S. Department of Energy; and a nuclear and environmental engineer at Bechtel Power Corporation. Mr. Draffin has made major national contributions in developing hydraulic fracturing for natural gas production, sulfur dioxide removal from coal combustion, industrial energy markets, and clean-up of nuclear weapons waste. Mr. Draffin has BS and MS degrees in chemical engineering from MIT.