Loïc Viret Author

Dr Emmanuel Fragnière, CIA (Certified Internal Auditor), is a professor of service design, innovation, and risk management at the University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland (HES-SO Valais-Wallis). His research focuses on developing design methodologies for the service sector, particularly in the energy and tourism industries. He has contributed to the advancement of sustainable energy planning by integrating geographic information systems (GIS), stochastic programming, and behavioral modeling. Dr Fragnière's work has been published in leading academic journals such as Management Science, Interfaces, Annals of Operations Research, Environmental Modelling and Assessment, and Service Science. He is also the co-author of Risk Management: Safeguarding Company Assets (Crisp Series, 2006; 2015 edition). Alongside his academic work, he participates in service innovation labs and international research projects that aim to improve decision-making and strategic planning in complex service environments, particularly with regard to the challenges of energy transition, sustainability, and social acceptance of micro smart grid technologies (e.g., o-cei.eu).

George Sullivan is a published and well-recognized subject matter expert in federal US Government contracting and procurement, having worked for both the Government for 10 years as a contracting specialist and officer in defense and non-defense agencies and over seven years for private industry as a contracts and compliance manager and director for public, private, and non-profit corporations in both the defense and energy sectors. He is an NCMA certified federal contract manager and licensed to practice law in California and Florida. He holds a JD from Florida International University (cum laude - 2008), and MBA from Thunderbird Graduate School of Global Management (2003), and BA in Russian Studies from UCLA (1996). He currently resides with his wife and two daughters in Northern Virginia, USA.

Loïc Viret is a Swiss entrepreneur with solid international experience in industry and renewable energy. As a specialist in energy storage, he is currently developing large-scale projects, notably in collaboration with several electricity distributors. His technical background is complemented by an MBA (with a specialization in risk analysis) and a degree in educational training. He regularly lectures at EPFL and HES and leads masterclasses on energy self-sufficiency. In 2023, he received the Industry 4.0 Award “The Shapers”, a distinction

awarded to individuals and companies in French-speaking Switzerland for their contribution to the advancement of innovation in Switzerland.