Meet the Foundation Staff
Executive Director
Lauren Waldrip
Lauren Waldrip previously acted as partner at Campbell Ward, a Little Rock based public affairs and public relations firm. A native of Moro, Lauren oversaw communications, promotional efforts, media relations, trade association management, event planning, marketing strategies, government relations, grassroots engagement and activities for state and federal PACs.
While at Campbell Ward, Lauren served as the Executive Director of the Arkansas Rice Federation and testified on behalf of farmers before the Public Service Commission regarding net metering.
She has worked as Project Coordinator for the Razorback Foundation, where she created and implemented a program that increased membership by 20%. Lauren assisted with the re-branding of the Razorback Foundation and aided in planning events for current and prospective donors. She has provided public relations assistance for U.S. Senator John Boozman and for the Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation.
Lauren serves on the Little Rock Water Reclamation Commission and the Arkansas Foodbank board. She has been named to Arkansas Business’ 20 in their 20’s and Arkansas Money and Politics’ Future 50 lists and is a Leadership Arkansas graduate.
Executive Director
Director of Operations & Communications
Jill Balaster
Director of Operations & Communications
Jill Balaster serves as the Director of Operations & Communications at the Arkansas Advanced Energy Association. She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Arkansas Tech University.
Prior to her current role, Jill was the President of an Arkansas-based startup solar development company from January 2021 to April 2023. During her tenure, she implemented project management tools, streamlined operations, and developed comprehensive HR policies. Her efforts led to a 200% growth in the workforce within two years.
At the Arkansas Advanced Energy Association, Jill has quickly made an impact by enhancing operational efficiency and communication strategies. She is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment and driving the association's mission forward.
Outside of work, Jill is passionate about health and fitness, travel, photography, and gardening. She and her husband are currently restoring a live-aboard sailboat with plans to travel the world.
Director of Workforce Development
Transmission Fellow
Virginia Paschal
April Ambrose, LEED Fellow and GCP, is the Director of Workforce Development for the Arkansas Advanced Energy Foundation. She is an Arkansas native with over 20 years of experience in the sustainability and advanced energy industry. April designed her own major at Hendrix College in Environmental Education, founded Arkansas Earth Day Foundation among other non-profit leadership, provided over 500 educational presentations to local and national groups, and grew Entegrity, a Little Rock based energy and sustainability consulting and development firm, from two to 130 employees with 9 offices.
Director of Workforce Development
April Ambrose, LEED Fellow
Virginia Paschal is a graduate of Pomona College in Claremont, CA, where she earned a degree in Public Policy and Environmental Analysis. Originally from Arkansas, she is passionate about advancing energy justice and supporting the energy transition in the Southern United States. Prior to joining RMI, Virginia worked as a consultant at D+R International, collaborating on building decarbonization initiatives for utilities in the Pacific Northwest. Her role included conducting research, site visits, and stakeholder engagements to develop impactful case studies on HPWH and HVAC installations in residential and commercial settings. She also played a key role in developing installer training content and managing program implementation across the Pacific Northwest to promote energy-efficient building solutions. Earlier in her career, Virginia conducted research at Vermont Law School's Institute for Energy and the Environment, where she investigated policy options for taxing farmland solar and lowering energy use in indoor agriculture. Based in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Virginia enjoys quilting, cooking, and playing old-time music in her free time.
Transmission Fellow