Category: Member Spotlight

When Ryan Van Portfliet graduated from Loyola University Chicago, he had one goal: To figure out where he could make the most impact.  With a degree in Environmental Science and Chemistry paired with an MBA, this goal led him to…

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Located in the renewable energy sector of Austin, Texas, Workrise is the leading workforce management solution for the skilled trades. In addition to training employees for particular business niches, or verticals, Workrise also supports companies in the commercial production space to make their dream projects become a reality.

In 2015, Energility was founded on the belief that everyone deserves an energy manager. With a collaborative and innovative team, their work is dedicated to helping all their clients in energy management.

Just over a decade ago, a small team of engineers founded Solar Power and Light. With backgrounds ranging from electrical engineering to metallurgy, founders Neil Chaudhry and Brent Boyd were confident in the technology and process behind solar energy.

As a GEO business member, GOJO is one of several who isn’t actually in the clean energy business. Instead, GOJO makes use of clean energy as part of its corporate sustainability strategy. The corporation has a committed team that has implemented very successful projects for the company in sustainability, particularly in clean energy.

Belinda began her career at EOU as Vice President in 2011 and, because the company was a startup, the scope of her responsibilities was large. She recalls doing "anything and everything needed, including a little project management, lots of marketing and business development, and administrative work.”

In 2009, when the U.S. was still recovering from economic recession and unemployment rates were soaring, renewable energy was largely viewed as a novelty. “People didn’t know about the product - where to get it or how to use it”, Azam recalled. And yet, in this same year, YellowLite was founded in Cleveland, Ohio.

Gary has always had a strong environmental ethic and has lived accordingly. Before he moved to Athens in 1998, he was living in a cabin off the grid in northern Ohio, working in the family construction business. His first home in Athens was powered exclusively by a 300-watt solar system. It wasn’t until six years later, in 2006, that he upgraded to a 3000-watt grid-tied system.

Corbin Holland has long understood the role energy plays in quality of life. Growing up, Corbin was acutely aware of the importance of energy independence. Spending each summer with his Navy-veteran Grandfather, he learned that most wars break out over a lack of resources.

If you follow our member spotlights, you know that they generally focus on senior leaders in big companies. This month, we are featuring a person who has followed a slightly different path, but who has made an unmistakable contribution to his community and to advancing the clean energy message.