David Cruz drives large-scale energy transformation as Program Manager at LUMA Energy, where he leads the world's second-largest home battery Virtual Power Plant and oversees Electric Vehicle and Demand Response programs. An Economics graduate (Columbia University and UC San Diego) he began his career in Silicon Valley helping startups in the robotics and autonomous vehicle industries scale and improve operational efficiency across the U.S. and Europe. Under his leadership, his team has led the expansion of the CBES program from 7,000 to over 81,000 customers, a remarkable 1,057% growth. Recently, his team earned a national recognition from Public Utilities Fortnightly as the Top Innovators in the U.S., celebrating his team's groundbreaking impact