PNC Leadership

Ethel Bunch,
Founder, Palmetto Nuclear Coalition

Ethel, a 2024 recipient of South Carolina’s Order of the Palmetto, leads Global to Local, LLC, uniting investors, manufacturers, and policymakers to drive clean energy development in the Southeastern U.S. Her work focuses on attracting private investment, leveraging federal incentives, and shaping policies that support sustainable energy innovation. Previously, she founded Sustain SC, bridging corporate sustainability goals with local solutions.

Allen Klump
Executive Director, Palmetto Nuclear Coalition

Allen serves as Governmental Affairs Advisor at Maynard Nexsen and is a veteran policy strategist with 15+ years of experience on Capitol Hill, the South Carolina Statehouse, and political campaigns. He previously served as Chief of Staff to Congressman Jeff Duncan, where he helped shape national energy policy, including assisting in the drafting of the nuclear energy policy overhaul legislation, the ADVANCE Act. Allen has also led government relations for the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance and directed legislative strategy for the SC Tire Council.

Jordan Marsh
Lead Policy Strategist, Palmetto Nuclear Coalition

Jordan, Vice President at Thorn Run, is a seasoned government affairs strategist with a decade of experience in public policy, advocacy, and campaign leadership.

As Director of Federal Affairs for South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, he led federal engagement across 25 agencies, securing major investments through the IIJA, CHIPS Act, and IRA. Jordan also served as the state’s Infrastructure Coordinator and liaison to national governors’ associations, helping to shape rural development and federal funding strategies. He has worked closely with Congress, the White House, and federal agencies to advance state priorities. Jordan began his political career with Senator Lindsey Graham’s 2014 campaign and later managed Governor McMaster’s 2018 campaign and the SCGOP Victory effort. 

Alex Molinaroli

Alex Molinaroli is a former CEO and Chairman of Johnson Controls, where he led a major transformation of the company, including the spin-off of its automotive business and a merger with Tyco International. He began his career at Johnson Controls in 1983 and rose through the ranks, notably revitalizing the Power Solutions division. A graduate of the University of South Carolina and Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, Molinaroli is also a noted philanthropist and board member. In 2024, USC’s College of Engineering and Computing was renamed in his honor.

Jeff Uphues

Jeff Uphues is the CEO of DC BLOX, a rapidly growing data center operator, building and managing high-security Tier III-rated facilities across the Southeast. With over 30 years of experience in IT and communications infrastructure, Uphues holds credentials from Harvard Business School and Rice University’s Jones School in finance and accounting, and earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Arlington. Since stepping into the CEO, he has led DC BLOX to secure hundreds of millions in funding, expand into underserved edge markets, and launch innovative infrastructure like the Myrtle Beach cable landing station.

Chris Vlahoplus

Chris Vlahoplus has over 30 years of experience in energy consulting, with a focus on nuclear power and clean energy in the Palmetto region. As a former Senior Consultant with the DOE Loan Programs Office, he supported the acceleration of nuclear power deployment. Previously, he led Scott Madden’s clean tech & sustainability practice, advising over 40 companies on electric generation, strategic planning, and business management.

The Honorable Jeff Duncan

In 2010, Jeff Duncan was elected to represent South Carolina’s Third Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, a position he held with distinction until 2024. Jeff was an active member of key committees such as the House Natural Resources Committee, the House Homeland Security Committee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and the House Energy and Commerce Committee. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security, he led efforts to achieve American energy dominance through comprehensive policies, with a particular focus on nuclear energy as a clean and efficient resource. Prior to being elected to Congress, Jeff served in the South Carolina General Assembly from 2002-2010.