160. Tobey (Weintraub) Collins, Energy Transaction Expert and International Enthusiast
Release Date: 02/16/2026
160. Tobey (Weintraub) Collins, Energy Transaction Expert and International Enthusiast
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Tobey Weintraub Collins pursued a master's degree in international relations at Georgetown, where she met her husband who joined the US Foreign Service. Tobey worked in project finance in Brazil and Venezuela, focusing on energy projects, and later worked for AES Corp in the US and Chile. She eventually moved back to the US and has been at Astris for the past 13 years, specializing in energy and infrastructure investment banking. Life in Venezuela Tobey describes Venezuela in 2000-2001 as relatively normal, with the US still influential, and her work focused on Central America and...
info_outline
159. Josh Morgerman, World’s Top Hurricane Chaser
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Josh Morgerman describes his initial move to LA to work in the movie industry, which didn't work out. He then started a web design company called Symblaze in the late 90s, which survived the dot-com crash by expanding to Eastern Europe and working with Russia and Eastern Bloc countries while living in Prague. Josh shares his dual passion for weather and advertising, leading to a career as a hurricane chaser while still running Symblaze. A Pivotal Moment in the Philippines Josh explains his obsession with violent weather and how he started hunting hurricanes in his 30s....
info_outline
158. Allain Roy, A Career in Hockey: Player, Agent, Advisor, Entrepreneur
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Allain Roy shares that he left Harvard to become a professional hockey player, signing his first NHL contract out of college. He recalls winning the national championship in 1989 and the team's tradition of reuniting every 10 years. Al mentions attending Coach Clear's 90th birthday celebration and running into former teammates, Tim Burke, Kevin Sneddon, Rich DeFreitas, Brian McCormack and Greg Hess, along with Chuck Hughes at Harvard games. Participating in the 1994 Olympics Al discusses turning down an offer to play in Moscow before graduation and signing with the Winnipeg Jets....
info_outline
157. Noah Feldman, American Legal Scholar, Academic, and Author
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Noah Feldman, Harvard Law professor, author, and ethical advisor talks about his career in constitutional law and his experiences in Iraq and Tunisia, sharing stories from his time guiding, and in some cases, establishing, the law of countries in turmoil or collapse. He also talks about the themes explored in his books and current pursuits. Real World Projects in Constitutional Law Noah describes his academic journey, starting from his early love for school and his decision to pursue academia full-time, with brief interruptions for real-world projects. He shares his...
info_outline
156. Ted Caplow, Life at the Intersection of Society and Technology
The 92 Report
Show Notes Ted Caplow graduated with a degree in social science and has had a career in engineering and entrepreneurship. He describes his initial interest in science and his experience with physics at Harvard, which he found challenging. Ted shares his interest in humanities, particularly theater, and his involvement in various theater activities at Harvard. He discusses his consideration of theater conservatory programs and urban planning after graduation. Joining the Peace Corps and Sailing across the Atlantic Ted recounts his application to the Peace Corps and the unexpected...
info_outline
155. Lloyd Lee, A Blessed Life and Real Estate Private Equity
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Lloyd opens the conversation by talking about the infinite opportunities at Harvard and encourages incoming freshmen to make the most of their time there. Lloyd shares his initial plan to study pre-med but also pursued fine arts, specifically architecture, and theater work. He mentions meeting Professor James Stilgoe at the Graduate School of Design, which opened his eyes to opportunities beyond STEM. From Cornell to New York City Lloyd discusses his decision to attend Cornell and his subsequent move to New York City. He had two job offers: working at Disney or a consulting firm,...
info_outline
154. Trisha Pérez Kennealy, Culinary Arts & Community Building
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Trisha Pérez Kennealy describes her initial stint in New York in commercial banking, followed by investment banking and studying to become a chef at Le Cordon Bleu in London, where she lived for three years. She moved back to the United States, settling in Lexington. She has three children and while they were little, she was active in town meetings, became a town official, and advocated for public education. In 2010, Trisha bought a property near the Battle Green in Lexington and converted it into a luxury hotel with 22 guest rooms and a restaurant. It opened in 2014...
info_outline
153. Rana Dershowitz, A Career Driven by Passion from Sports Law and Public Policy
The 92 Report
Rana Dershowitz went straight to Harvard Law School after graduating in 1992, partly due to the economy and her love for learning. She describes her experience at Harvard Law School, including her role as a law school "old timer" in Cambridge. After law school, Rana moved back to New York and started working on Wall Street, initially hating the big law environment but appreciating the people she worked with. Entertainment Law at Madison Square Garden and onto Sports Law Rana discusses her career counselor's advice to explore sports law, which she had overlooked despite her involvement in...
info_outline
152. Eugene Kim, Pediatric Surgeon and Wine Connoisseur
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Eugene Kim shares his post-graduation journey staying in Boston to finish research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute which was part of his thesis and also laid down the groundwork for his own cancer research which he has conducted over the years. He credits his understanding of science to his time at Harvard. He also worked at the now-closed Love the Border Cafe. Eugene reflects on the valuable lessons learned from working at the cafe and describes the unique subculture of the cafe's staff, including the Brazilian kitchen staff and the diverse backgrounds of the waiters and...
info_outline
151. Jonathan Hughes, Consulting at the Intersection of Strategy & Conflict Management
The 92 Report
Show Notes: Jonathan Hughes talks about his career in consulting, starting with an economic consulting firm, Putnam Hayes and Bartlett, in Los Angeles. He mentions his connection back to Harvard through CMI (Conflict Management Inc.) founded by Roger Fisher and Bruce Patton, and his subsequent roles at Vantage Partners and BDO. The Career Path As a Consultant Jonathan describes his role at CMI, focusing on complex negotiations and business partnerships, and his role in helping to start the boutique firm, Vantage Partners where he spent around 25 years as a partner. He later moved over to BDO,...
info_outlineShow Notes:
Tobey Weintraub Collins pursued a master's degree in international relations at Georgetown, where she met her husband who joined the US Foreign Service. Tobey worked in project finance in Brazil and Venezuela, focusing on energy projects, and later worked for AES Corp in the US and Chile.
She eventually moved back to the US and has been at Astris for the past 13 years, specializing in energy and infrastructure investment banking.
Life in Venezuela
Tobey describes Venezuela in 2000-2001 as relatively normal, with the US still influential, and her work focused on Central America and the Caribbean. She notes that Caracas was a pleasant place to live, though it was quieter compared to Sao Paulo, Brazil. Tobey reflects on the changes in Venezuela since then, expressing optimism for the future despite the current challenges. She shares a personal story about her son being born in Venezuela and the family's eventual move back to the US.
Venezuela Under Chavez
The conversation turns to Chavez's administration and the reforms he implemented. Tobey recalls the acquisition of the largest electricity distribution company in Venezuela by AES during her time in Venezuela. She acknowledges Chavez's initial leftist leanings but notes that he later became more radical. Tobey shares a story about a deal she worked on in Guatemala, helping to refinance a company's debt. She explains the due diligence process, the importance of understanding business risks, and the role of rating agencies in structuring deals.
Working at AES
Tobey talks about her time at AES and the types of deals she worked on. She joined AES during a critical period when the company narrowly avoided bankruptcy and needed to restructure its debt. She worked on restructuring debt facilities in Latin America, including in Brazil, and later became the CFO of AES's business in Chile. Tobey describes a notable transaction in Chile involving twin bonds to refinance transmission lines, which was innovative at the time. She highlights the importance of client relationships in the investment banking industry.
Working in the Battery Storage Sector
When asked about her current role at Astris and recent deals she has found exciting, Tobey explains that her focus has shifted more to the US and Canada, particularly in the battery storage sector. She describes working with a client to bid on a long-term contract for battery projects in Ontario, which they won. Tobey discusses the challenges and opportunities in the battery storage market, including the need for reliable electricity supply. She mentions the importance of data centers and the challenges they face in securing enough energy generation capacity.
The Demand for Electricity in the US
Tobey explains that electricity demand in the US is expected to grow, necessitating more generation capacity. She discusses the role of traditional sources like gas-fired power plants and new technologies like small modular reactors and geothermal energy. Tobey highlights the importance of transmission lines and energy storage solutions to address the demand. She notes the need for investment and innovation to meet the growing demand for electricity.
A Love of Latin American Cuisine
Tobey praises the food in Mexico City, Lima, and Brazil, highlighting the regional variations and delicious dishes. She shares her love for cooking and her hobby of trying new cuisines. Tobey recounts recent travel experiences, including a trip to Morocco and Japan, and the cultural and culinary highlights of these destinations. She emphasizes the importance of traveling to new places and having new experiences.
Harvard Reflections
Tobey credits her close friendships with women from Harvard as the most lasting gift from her time there. She mentions a professor, Stephan Haggard, who taught political economy and had a significant influence on her career. Tobey reflects on the intersection of business and politics in her work, particularly in Latin America. She highlights the importance of maintaining connections with friends and colleagues from Harvard.
Timestamps:
03:47: Life in Venezuela During the Chavez Era
05:28: Challenges and Opportunities in Venezuela
09:15: Tobey's Role at AES and Notable Transactions
16:11: Current Focus and Recent Deals at Astris
18:52: Insights on Data Centers and US Electricity Demand
25:57: Favorite Cuisines and Travel Experiences
33:16: Impact of Harvard and Lasting Connections
Links:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobey-s-collins-2208951/
Featured Non-profit:
The featured non-profit of this week’s is brought to you by Kristen Hunter who reports:
“Hi. I'm Kristen Hunter, Class of 1992. The featured nonprofit of this episode of The 92 Report is project Reap. Project Reap, the real estate Associate Program advances diversity, equity and inclusion in commercial real estate by providing industry education, training and connections to underrepresented professionals. I'm privileged to serve as an advisor to Project Reap, which continues to transform the talent pipeline under the dynamic leadership of its executive director, Tanisha Nash Laird. You can learn more and support their work at Project Reap. That's project R, E, A, p.org, and now here is Will Bachman with this week's episode.”
To find out more about their work, visit: www.ProjectReap.org.
This episode on The 92 Report: https://92report.com/?post_type=podcast&p=1904&preview=true
*AI generated show notes and transcript