Our Team

We are seasoned storytellers who bring decades of experience across multiple sectors to solving climate and sustainability challenges. Our understanding of industry, policy, and public engagement delivers unique stories and strategies developed for impact. Meet the women who create the stories and strategies behind Groundwire’s work.

Abby Watson

Co-Founder, President

A renewable energy veteran with nearly 20 years’ experience, Abby has worked across multiple technologies in a wide variety of roles – project development, construction, risk management, project management, manufacturing, sales, policy, and strategy. Before launching The Groundwire Group, she ran her own strategic consulting firm advising a range of corporate and non-profit groups on issues ranging from organizational growth, external engagement, coalition building, and development. Her in-house experience included senior roles at Mainstream Renewable Power leading new market strategy, and at Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE), where she served as head of government affairs. During her time at SGRE, Abby played a key role on the market entry team working to identify opportunities to establish new manufacturing centers to support the U.S. offshore wind business. She has an Executive MBA from Villanova University School of Business, where systems-thinking forms the basis of the curriculum; graduated from Penn State University with a BA in Energy and Sustainability Policy; and studied geology and environmental science at Bryn Mawr College. Born and raised in a rural Maine multigenerational family of farmers, Abby now lives in the Philadelphia area with her husband and pup Zoë.

Raquel Pichardo

Co-Founder, Chief Communications Strategist

Raquel specializes in helping clients use the power of effective communications to support their businesses, and in the process, drive the clean energy transition. She has nearly two decades of experience in global journalism, and working with both clean energy companies and large investment firms. Most recently, she ran her own strategic communications firm that provided communications and community engagement support to clean and renewable energy developers, and sustainable investing firms. Her previous consulting work included stakeholder engagement and communications support for Aker Offshore Wind in California to prepare for the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s lease area auction.  She previously led North American communications for renewable energy developer Mainstream Renewable Power, and led sustainability and investments communications for Wespath Benefits and Investments, the $24 billion pension fund manager for the United Methodist Church. In 2019, Raquel was a Sustainability Communications Fellow with the Robert Bosch Foundation Fellowship Program in Berlin, Germany. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Florida Atlantic University and a Master of Science in Journalism from Boston University. Born in the Dominican Republic and raised in the US, she now lives in the Washington DC area with her husband, two sons, and her golden retriever puppy.