As Director of Regulatory Affairs for Nicor Gas, Rachelle leads regulatory policy, strategy and planning and is responsible for regulatory activities with the Illinois Commerce Commission for the largest natural gas distribution company in Illinois serving 2.3 million customers.   

Rachelle joined Southern Company Gas in 2014 leading external affairs strategies for Virginia Natural Gas.  She has 25 years of experience formulating and executing regulatory and legislative solutions to achieve financial and operational business goals in the changing policy landscapes of the natural gas, telecommunications, and health care industries.   

Rachelle received her undergraduate degree from Hope College and earned an M.A. in International Policy Analysis from the University of Denver.  She completed the Executive Finance Program at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business and holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.  After college, Rachelle served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic teaching English to children and fundraising for critical local school improvements.

She currently serves on the Advisory and Strategic Planning Committee of the Illinois Utilities Business Diversity Council (IUBDC), the Institute for Regulatory Policy Studies (Illinois State University) Advisory Board, the Center for Public Utilities (New Mexico State University) Advisory Council and is an active member of AGA’s State Affairs Committee.