Faces of the Climate Economy

NECEC is dedicated to growing a climate economy workforce that champions diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, as well as fostering an environment where all individuals are valued and respected.

As conveners, we have cultivated an ecosystem of individuals from diverse backgrounds, industries, and perspectives. Each member and partner brings forth a unique and compelling narrative. We passionately believe that by amplifying the voices within our ecosystem, we can collaboratively work towards our shared objective: creating a just and equitable climate economy to combat climate change and promote a sustainable future for everyone.

Continue scrolling to acquaint yourself with the individuals shaping our climate economy.

 

Diana Yousef: CEO & Founder, Change WATER Labs

Biography

Diana Yousef, PhD, MBA is founder and CEO of change: WATER Labs (cWL). Diana (she/her) came up with the inspiration for evaporative sanitation while consulting to NASA on water treatment solutions for the International Space Station. Previously, Diana was a McKinsey consultant and seed-stage biotech-cleantech VC. She co-founded the WorldBank/IFC's Biotech and Life Sciences private equity investment practice, and a novel accelerator program within the UNDP to create and fund pro-poor business-and-technology innovations in developing countries. She is a serial cleantech entrepreneur, having co-founded multiple ventures in water purification, solar energy and waste recycling. She holds degrees in Biology from Harvard (BA) and Cornell (PhD, Biochemistry and Structural Biology), and an MBA and MA in International Affairs (Columbia). Her team's work has been recognized as one of Fast Company's 2019 World Changing Ideas and she was invited by the Turkish Government to speak on their work at the 2019 UN Climate Summit.

Why did you decide to pursue your chosen field?

"When I had kids, my career kind of hit the breaks—I no longer seemed to be considered a fit for more traditional roles. And frankly, I didn’t want to fit those roles anymore. So I decided I needed to demonstrate for my 3 daughters that we women can create our own roles and our own goals. I also decided that I wanted to apply my skills to promoting more equitable and sustainable development for vulnerable people through technology innovation. Being Middle Eastern, I felt the best way to have cross cutting impact was to focus on water sustainability—water underpins every aspect of how people and the planet survive and thrive."

What advice do you have for people who aspire to be in a position similar to yours?

"Don’t let imposter syndrome stop you!"

Ellie Rusling: CEO & Co-founder, MicroEra Power

Biography

Ellie Rusling, CEO, MicroEra Power. Rochester, NY. Ellie (she/her) understands the global need for robust energy systems. The team is developing an innovative thermal long-duration energy storage solution to decarbonize HVAC for buildings and campus/district systems while optimizing for cost, efficiency, and resiliency. THERMAplus integrates with HVAC infrastructure for new builds and retrofits. 20% HVAC efficiency gains. Up to 50% energy cost savings. For geothermal projects, 60% ground loop reduction.

Why did you decide to pursue your chosen field?

"I am all-in to support development of energy systems which will provide for our energy needs while serving people, planet, and profit. From extended periods living in South America and the Caribbean, I have experienced the impact on people’s lives, economic development, and the environment absent reliable, accessible, and sustainable energy systems."

What advice do you have for people who aspire to be in a position similar to yours?

"Surround yourself with really bright people and remain laser-focused on your project, with eyes wide-open tracking the surrounding markets. Listen deeply, and take time to reflect, so that you may support a team in accomplishing meaningful work."

Sanchali Seth Pal: CEO & Founder, Commons

Biography

Sanchali (she/her) founded Commons to empower people to take climate action through something they do everyday: spend money. Prior to Commons, Sanchali worked at Tesla and in social impact consulting at Dalberg, where she worked with communities directly affected by the climate crisis in Ethiopia and India. Sanchali holds a BA in Economics from Princeton and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Why did you decide to pursue your chosen field?

"To address the climate crisis, we need sweeping policy change, corporate accountability, and technological innovation. But we also need collective changes to use our resources differently. Household spending influences 65% of global emissions. Commons helps people tap into the power of their spending choices to demand a greener economy."

What advice do you have for people who aspire to be in a position similar to yours?

"Trust your instincts, and focus on solving problems that keep you up at night. If you can't stop thinking about it, you're probably onto something. Remember: no one can do exactly what you can do. You bring a unique perspective to the table."
 

Lingchen Kong: Co-founder, Ellexco

Biography

Lingchen Kong (he/him) is the co-founder at Ellexco, a technology provider for clean and green lithium extraction. Kong holds his Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the George Washington University and M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Virginia Tech. Kong's team developed a chemical-free lithium extraction technology from brines and won the geothermal lithium extraction prize held by US Department of Energy. He is also named as 2023 All America Chinese Youth Federation Top 30 Under 30.

Why did you decide to pursue your chosen field?

"There are abundant resources in water sources. I did scientific research on ion separation during my PhD study. Lithium extraction as part of my PhD research has significant impact on future clean energy industry and electrification transition. So, commercialization of emerging technology is what I am pursing right now, and I believe green lithium extraction will make the lithium battery and EV industry more environmentally sustainable."

What advice do you have for people who aspire to be in a position similar to yours?

"I really encourage researchers who hold technologies try to commercialize the research results. Engineering research has to be really applied instead of staying in the lab all the time. Looking for business partners or technical team would be so important in entrepreneurship journey."
 

Tess Feigenbaum: Co-founder & Operations Director, Epic Renewal

Biography

Tess Feigenbaum (she/her) is Cofounder of Epic Renewal, a community-scale composting organization based in Rhode Island. She is a designer and strategist passionate about creating positive impact through meaningful design. Her multidisciplinary background drives her to seek innovative solutions to social and environmental challenges across sectors and industries. She has helped clients such as WWF, Doctors Without Borders, and World Bank Group to drive meaningful change at scale. Her current work focuses exclusively on climate change, primarily through the lenses of soil health, waste, and food systems. Tess graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2014 with a Bachelors in Industrial Design. She is a Kiss the Ground Soil Advocate and Master Gardener. She also serves on the steering committee of the RI Food Policy Council, and as the chair of the Board of Directors at Riverzedge Arts, a social enterprise applying work-based learning strategies to teach art, design, and critical thinking to teens in Woonsocket RI.

Why did you decide to pursue your chosen field?

"While learning about product design in school, I found myself fascinated by our society’s relationship with waste. I was disappointed to learn about the limited viability of recycling, and disappointed to see how our mainstream products are still being created without regard for responsible sourcing, material production impacts, and end of life. This interest continued throughout my career, particularly focusing on the way design can change our behaviors and normalize more responsible actions. Over the years, this curiosity expanded to include a deeper understanding of our waste systems, food systems, and how stakeholders can work together as an ecosystem to solve big, challenging issues facing our planet. I began learning about soil health and how we can draw down and sequester carbon in our soils when we support them properly, and all the pieces clicked together.

When my cofounder and I relocated to Los Angeles in 2016, we saw a clear need for accessible and affordable options for composting. Using our combined skills to create a design-forward, user centered composting service felt like a no-brainer. Since then, we’ve served a multitude of residents, businesses, and events of all sizes. We’ve led a staff of five, composted for marathons, and relocated our business to Rhode Island in order to more effectively pursue our vision of creating the tools to empower our industry to grow.

I love being able to see my passions come to life in a way that actively engages and serves my community. My work allows me to marry my backgrounds in product design, systems thinking, experience design, community engagement, and sustainability, and apply them to an issue area that connects many of my interests while solving a very low-hanging fruit solution to greenhouse gas emissions and extractive, unsustainable agriculture. I feel privileged every day to get to work with my community, to get my hands dirty (literally) with the process of composting, and to also help to drive change at a national level and validate the role of this work as a critical climate solution."

What advice do you have for people who aspire to be in a position similar to yours?

"Find what you love and be ready to fight for it. That being said, be kind to yourself, and find a community of support. Entrepreneurship is just plain hard - entrepreneurs often feel like they’re crazy, especially when the people around them can’t understand their experience. Not everyone’s input will be helpful, and you’ll need to get comfortable trusting yourself and your vision. Find others who have been through the journey - advisors, peers, allies - and lean on them when you’re tired, stuck, or feeling like quitting. While your passion and business is unique to you, the experience of crafting something yourself is a fairly shared experience amongst other makers and starters. Building your own business requires immense amounts of courage, versatility, and tenacity - make a point early on of finding folks who help you restock your mental supplies when times get tough, and continue challenging you even after a big win."

Mary Wambui-Ekop: Asset Manager Planning Office, Urban Affairs

Biography

Mary Wambui (she/her) is an affordable housing asset manager for the Planning Office For Urban Affairs (POUA), a non-profit social justice ministry of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston. She also serves as a Councilor in the Massachusetts EEAC--the Energy Efficiency Advisory Council--where among other things she is the co-chair of the EEAC's Energy Equity Working Group, She is also a member of the Grid Modernization’s Advisory Council Equity Working Group, she is on the Board of Green Energy Consumers Alliance, NECEC and the Coalition for a Better Acre in Lowell. She is well recognized as a leader and advocate for housing, climate & energy equity in the region.

Why did you decide to pursue your chosen field?

"For the first 13 years of my life, we lived in Kangemi, shanties in Nairobi, Kenya, I saw and experienced firsthand showering in a bathroom without a roof as well as full of holes on the side, though we moved up economically and left the neighborhood, I have never forgotten that image. I learned at an early age that disenfranchised people have less power to change the macro framework within which they exist. My belief that "Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right." (Psalm 106:3) moved me in the direction of housing and climate justice - working to help others access resources, have meaningful participation in stakeholder processes and economically benefit from climate and housing policy."

What advice do you have for people who aspire to be in a position similar to yours?

"To be sensitive and responsive to the needs and ideas of/from the most vulnerable among us. To be authentic and honest, and to embrace dialogue, every person one meets is first human before their position, wealth, or lack of it."

Dennis Villanueva: Director of Energy Strategy & Procurement, Mass General Brigham

Biography

Dennis (he/him) is a dedicated professional with a lifelong commitment to working on climate mitigation using emerging technologies and renewable energy deployment, aiming to lessen, and hopefully eliminate, the environmental, social, and health impacts of the built environment. Currently, he oversees utilities management, energy strategy, and energy procurement at Mass General Brigham (MGB). MGB is the largest private employer in Massachusetts and has the largest hospital-based research program in the country. MGB’s focus is clear: by 2030, have 100% of the electricity consumed at our facilities come from renewable energy sources, and by 2050, it aims to eliminate its direct emissions. This journey involves steps to ensure our facilities can maintain patient care during prolonged utility outages caused by extreme weather, which are becoming more frequent due to climate change.

Why did you decide to pursue your chosen field?

"Growing up in Honduras, Central America, I witnessed the rapid destruction of the natural resources supporting some of the country’s main activities: coffee, tobacco, bananas, lime for construction (calcium oxide), and precious hardwood. During my college years there, I conducted the design and testing of solar energy drying systems for coffee, with the potential to reduce deforestation caused by the use of wood in large dryers. While pursuing my graduate degree in energy engineering, with a focus on renewable energy at UMASS Lowell, I, along with two partners, founded a nonprofit organization to support small coffee growers in Latin America. This initiative aimed to have them enjoy the value added from further processing their products, participate more equitably in the coffee market, and reduce the environmental impact of their operations, including water effluents. Despite the high export value of many of these activities, growers and producers often bear the brunt of market risks and become indebted to fund their operations. It was then that I realized the importance of striving for a circular economy—one that provides a decent standard of living and preserves our environmental assets."

What advice do you have for people who aspire to be in a position similar to yours?

"Be persistent, kind, and open minded; don't take 'no' for an answer, question everything."

Laura Bartsch: Executive Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Advanced Energy United

Biography

Laura (she/her) is responsible for Advanced Energy United’s sales, marketing, and communications efforts, overseeing a team focused on revenue growth and working to facilitate a deeper understanding of our members’ business and policy goals to maximize their participation in our organization's activities. Before joining United, she was a co-founding Principal of Millville Partners, a strategic marketing firm. Her career incorporates experience in design, marketing and branding, strategic planning and facilitation, project management, and client relations. Presently, in addition to her day job, Laura is Chair of the Rhode Island Distributed Generation Board. She also serves as a member of the board of directors for the Northeast Clean Energy Council (NECEC) and PowerOptions, the largest nonprofit energy consortium in New England. Laura is a wife to a former teacher, mother to two early-career sons, and caregiver to an ancient and scruffy terrier.

Why did you decide to pursue your chosen field?

"I decided in collaboration with my then-business partner, but the decision was completely in alignment with my values. I felt that if I wasn't going to be present for my children at home, I wanted to be able to look them in the eye and tell them that if I wasn't home for pick up (or other similar moments), it was because I was working to try to make the world a better place."

What advice do you have for people who aspire to be in a position similar to yours?

"The clean energy transition needs everyone — literally every role, every skill set, every everything, so find the places where you can contribute and start contributing. You don't have to wait for an invitation or an opportunity. look for the gaps and fill them."

Donnel Baird: CEO & Founder, BlocPower

Biography

Donnel (he/him) is the founder of BlocPower, a climate tech company based in Brooklyn, NY, that analyzes, finances, and installs clean energy and decarbonization upgrades in buildings in underserved communities. BlocPower creates jobs for qualified local low-income workers, energy savings for building owners, reduces carbon emissions and asthma rates, and provides financial returns to investors. He is also a member of the board of directors at New York Federal Reserve Bank, The Climate Reality Project and the Coalition for Green Capital. Donnel has been a political and community organizer and worked to leverage federal energy efficiency investments in underserved communities. He was a recipient of the Columbia Business School Entrepreneur of the Year in 2021, the National Venture Capital Associations Startup Innovator of the Year in 2022, and TIME Magazine’s inaugural 'Dreamer of the Year' in 2022. In 2022, Fast Company named BlocPower the #4 Most Innovative Company in the World, TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Companies, and the 42nd Most Disruptive Startup in the world by CNBC.

Why did you decide to pursue your chosen field?

"I got exposed to the perils of fossil fuel systems growing up as a kid with my family in a one bedroom apartment in Brooklyn. We didn't have a heating system that worked in our apartment building. So when it got really cold in the winter and my parents would work nights, they would tell me to light a match, turn on the gas oven and open up the oven door to heat the apartment. But I also couldn’t forget to open up a window, because while heat was going to come into the apartment, so was carbon monoxide, which could cause us to suffocate. And millions of Americans across the country heat their buildings this way in the winter and worse. But it's not just low income buildings that are dangerous due to fossil fuel infrastructure. It turns out that the ovens and furnaces and other fossil fuel equipment that MOST of us have in our homes leak benzene, methane and nitrogen dioxide — even when they’re turned off. As a parent, the thought of our children breathing in methane and benzene while they sleep is terrifying. It turns out that gas stoves and furnaces are like lead paint, or cigarette smoke — things that we once thought were totally fine, but scientific research has discovered to be extremely dangerous. By electrifying our homes and community buildings we can solve two problems at once: we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions AND improve the health of our families."

What advice do you have for people who aspire to be in a position similar to yours?

"In my opinion, building a startup should stem from a profound, internal motivation to solve a problem. Entrepreneurship isn't just about numbers; it requires a deep-seated passion. As climate entrepreneurs, we're eager to support anyone who shares our commitment to tackling climate issues because their success is our success in saving the planet for future generations. I often meet people thinking about creating a climate solutions startup but wonder if they should get experience working in a large, multi-national company first. What I know is the learning curve of running a startup far surpasses that of formal business education. While having experienced advisors with business training is helpful, the real value lies in the hands-on experience of solving problems in real-time. So, while formal education and experience shouldn't be a deterrent from starting a business, it's crucial to question whether you're genuinely fired up enough about the problem you want to solve to take the leap. It's a tough question that requires some introspection."

Claudia Maldonado: CEO & Founder, Atrevida Science Inc.

Biography

Claudia (she/her) is an engineer-turned business leader with over 30 years experience driving change and impact in manufacturing, engineering, and business development. Her many experiences working in industry and with academia have been the foundation for her journey as an entrepreneur and leader of a university-spun startup developing digital solutions for the offshore wind industry.

Why did you decide to pursue your chosen field?

"I am convinced that transitioning to renewable energy can provide meaningful employment to many, energize economic prosperity, and be the agent to save our planet. People, profit, planet."

What advice do you have for people who aspire to be in a position similar to yours?

"Find mentors and team members who share your vision and don't be afraid to fail."

Swapnil Shah: Board Member & Clean Energy Advisor

Biography

Seasoned operating executive, passionate about launching and scaling new ventures, Swap (he/him) has founded three enterprise software companies that went on to either IPO or acquisition, evaluates and advises companies as a PE/VC operating advisor, and is dedicated to working on climate technologies and the energy transition. Swap is an Operating Advisory board member at BV Investment Partners, a mid-market buyout firm, focusing on their energy transition investment thesis. Swap also serves on the boards of Resource Innovations, GridX, Innowatts and the Northeast Clean Energy Council. Most recently, Swap was the founder and CEO of FirstFuel Software, an industry leader in customer intelligence for utilities. Swap grew the company to customers and offices across North America and Europe, delivering solutions to 40 of the world’s largest electric and gas utilities. FirstFuel was acquired in a private equity led rollup to form Uplight. Prior to FirstFuel, Swap founded and led software companies that were acquired by Oracle and Inktomi. An expert in leveraging cloud analytics to transform the energy sector, Swap has addressed audiences across the globe including at the White House, Fortune Brainstorm, European Utilities Executive Summit and Bloomberg New Energy Pioneers. He has been nominated E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year and Boston Business Journal’s 40 under 40. Swap has been written up and cited in the NYTimes, Time Magazine, CIO and Greentech Media. He holds a degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Cornell University.

Why did you decide to pursue your chosen field?
 
"For the past 15 years, I've been focused on supporting the energy transition through entrepreneurial, investing, advisory and board activities. Prior to that I spent two decades in the software industry starting and exiting 2 companies. The key drivers that led me to focus on the energy transition - 1) applying my software background to make an impact in solving the climate crisis 2) the market opportunity in the energy transition and 3) being an inspiration and role model for my three children in pursuing a career with a positive impact."
 
What advice do you have for people who aspire to be in a position similar to yours?
 
"Be curious, ask a lot of questions and always be self aware. My entrepreneurial journey was driven by the desire to solve real problems and surround myself with people I want to work with. Find what drives you and work with people with similar passion and complementary skills to develop your idea - there is a massive opportunity in solving the climate crisis."
 

Phil Coupe: Co-founder, ReVision Energy

Biography
 
After growing up in southern Maine and working as a roofer and lobsterman to help pay for Boston College, Phil started out as a journalist in Washington, DC before pivoting to startups and corporate social responsibility. He helped two companies make the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing businesses in the U.S. while attracting awards for their social and environmental missions, then started the nonprofit Smart Energy Now to help schools acquire solar energy. Failing to get traction in the school sector, he joined three other partners to form ReVision Energy, a 100% employee-owned B Corp that has been consistently ranked the #1 solar company in New England by Solar Power Industry magazine.
 
Why did you decide to pursue your chosen field?
 
"Because the negative social and environmental impacts of 8 billion people burning fossil fuels in earth's closed atmosphere seemed like both an existential challenge and generational opportunity. I'm in the clean energy industry to help create the better future we know is possible for ourselves and generations to come through decarbonization, electrification, diversity, equity and justice."
 
What advice do you have for people who aspire to be in a position similar to yours?
 
"Get heavily involved with the NECEC, Greentown Labs, SEBANE and the other industry-related nonprofits that are doing excellent work throughout New England to advance the clean energy transition. Attend networking events, volunteer your time and consider clean energy certification programs like those offered by www.nabcep.org (North American Board of Certified Energy Practioners). "Walk the talk" by decarbonizing your lifestyle, and get involved with environmental nonprofits like Conservation Law Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club and the smaller local land trusts and community-based nonprofits that are creating positive change at the local level where you live and work. In a nutshell, do everything in your power to demonstrably help reduce fossil fuel consumption and carbon pollution so that you have the most authentic credibility possible regarding the urgent need for a societal transition to renewable energy combined with storage and hyper-efficient electric technology."
 

Doug Corrigan: Founder & CEO, Crum Creek Technologies

Biography
 
Doug Corrigan is the Founder and CEO of Crum Creek Technologies, LLC, an energy technology startup based in West Chester, Pennsylvania. The company provides energy solutions to commercial and industrial facilities. With over twenty years of experience in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Doug was previously responsible for engineering and financial development, deal structuring, and energy outsourcing projects. Recently, he has been focusing on DER (Distributed Energy Resources) and renewable energy and is currently working on energy harvesting with Crum Creek Technologies' product solutions.
 
 
Why did you decide to pursue your chosen field?
 
My chosen field has resulted from the progression of my professional career growth. Originally, I started out working as an engineer in building automation systems, and from that turned my focus towards energy efficiency and energy optimization. Currently, my focus is on renewable energy and energy harvesting systems, and sustainable solutions. I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit and to this day continue to grow and expand my chosen field.
 
What advice do you have for people who aspire to be in a position similar to yours?
 
Trust your instincts and when you start to doubt yourself stop that thought. If you have a dream or goal follow it and find the people or organizations like Cleantech Open and NECEC who will support you in getting there. If you stumble (and you will) pick yourself up and move forward. As Henry Ford once said over a Century ago “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal”.
 

Pam McDermott: Founder & CEO, McDermott Ventures

Biography
 
Pam McDermott is Founder and CEO of McDermott Ventures, a Massachusetts certified woman-owned business that has been providing strategic communications and public affairs consulting services to clients for over 30 years. She has built a reputation for her strategic involvement in the region’s emerging industries, including life sciences and renewable energy, providing innovative public strategies, based upon her expertise in public policy issues, community engagement and media relations, and stakeholder communications. Pam is a Trustee Emeritus of the Board of Trustees of the University of Vermont and the University of Vermont Foundation and was named a recipient of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s Pinnacle Award in Entrepreneurship.
 
 
Why did you decide to pursue your chosen field?
 
I have always been interested in communications and public policy, which taught me the impact that the local policy environment can have on the success of any business plan. Community consensus drives change, so learning how to influence public opinion and work with stakeholders is crucial. I formed my first firm with the goal of developing public consensus to support a business issue or a campaign initiative. Community engagement and education is critical to encouraging consumers, residents, decision-makers, and elected officials to support your position or project. It’s about not only having a solid business plan but also being able to effectively communicate its value to stakeholders. In the realm of renewable energy, for instance, demonstrating the environmental benefits, job creation potential, and economic advantages can help sway public opinion and garner support from local policymakers.
 
What advice do you have for people who aspire to be in a position similar to yours?
 
We exist in a world where we are inundated with information 24/7. Understanding how public opinion can affect your business or cause is critical to success. So my advice is to volunteer in campaigns, on behalf of non-profits, and within neighborhood associations – where you can learn how public perceptions are formed and changed, and what issues your specific community cares about most. Being actively engaged in social media and staying in tune with current trends is also essential for understanding and influencing public opinion.
 

Celine King: Founder and CEO, GreenIRR

Biography
 
Celine King is the Founder and CEO of GreenIRR, a carbon accounting company built specifically for the trucking industry. GreenIRR's software automatically measures fleet emissions and generates regulation-compliant emission reports at the push of a button. Prior to this new venture Celine did climate change research for NOAA focused on assessing the impacts of climate change on marine environments. She also worked in an operations role at Greenbacker capital, a private equity firm that invests in renewable assets. She is passionate about combining climate science and the intelligence that data analytics offers in driving measurable reduction in the supply chain.
 
 
Why did you decide to pursue your chosen field?
 
For me on a personal level, I have decided the best climate impact I can have is through accountability and transparency by assisting in the emissions reporting process to improve accuracy. Then it is a question of where to direct that energy and which industry. Through a lot of research it became clear to me that while companies are very good at measuring their direct emissions, when it comes to the supply chain there is a huge lack of visibility. The supply chain accounts for 90% of organization emissions and within that trucking is the largest sector, making this industry the largest target for emissions reporting and reduction. My goal is to take a bottom-up approach to emissions reporting starting with the largest source of emissions (upstream and downstream trucking), by equipping fleets with the proper technology to accurately measure their emissions.
 
What advice do you have for people who aspire to be in a position similar to yours?
 
Pick a problem bigger than you to solve. When the problem feels impossible then you will always have a reason to keep going, keep innovating, and keep magnifying your impact.
 

Judy Chang: Project Director, itselectric

Biography
 
Judy is an urban planner specializing in transportation, infrastructure resiliency, sustainability, and operations. As the Project Director at itselectric, a building-powered curbside EV charging company based in Brooklyn, NY, she leads planning and deployments as the team expands its innovative solution to the lack of – and challenges to quickly implementing – charging infrastructure across the country. Judy manages relationships with property partners, conducts spatial analysis to ensure appropriate and equitable deployments, and works alongside cities as they develop processes to make widespread curbside charging possible in the near future. This work builds on over a decade of experience at the New York City Department of Transportation.
 
 
Why did you decide to pursue your chosen field?
 
"I recently heard a New York City deputy mayor refer to transportation as “quicksand,” a feature of all cities so invisibly but deeply impactful to quality of life that it’s nearly impossible to not get sucked in as a public servant. I chose a career in planning in general to effectuate progressive and sustainable policies, but, like many women, I sort of fell into the transportation quicksand; in my case, this happened by opportunity upon taking my first job after graduate school at DOT. I haven’t looked back. In my current role, developing specific, balanced solutions that work for each market we enter is a rewarding challenge. We know that motor vehicles account for approximately 80% of CO2 emissions in America, an already untenable statistic that turns unthinkable in places where people are solely reliant on gas-burning cars for even simple errands. But every place is different in their specific needs. Along with EV charging, many are also looking to re-allocate uses at the curb, for instance, choosing things like dedicated bus and bike lanes in lieu of private car storage. As a company, we bear in mind that there’s always a bigger picture that we’re part of and positively changing, which makes this work very fulfilling."
 
What advice do you have for people who aspire to be in a position similar to yours?
 
"Find and stick to people who are curious about and open to new perspectives, and who aren’t deterred by temporary setbacks. Be patient. There’s so much work left to do to combat the effects of climate change, and so much to learn. There’s also so much good momentum to build on, and every contribution matters."
 

Nikita Patil: Co-Founder, Aquasaic

Biography
 
To reverse the damage done to human and planetary health in her childhood home, Nikita's work has focused on studying environmental factors and their impact on human health, starting with direct physiological effects and expanding to community-wide implications. Throughout her academic career, she has researched the effects of nutrition on aging-related conditions such as heart and brain health. Leveraging her background in biomedical engineering, she is dedicated to reversing environmental degradation for the betterment of population health. Nikita got her bachelor's in biomedical engineering from Boston University and her PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. She is currently pursuing her postdoc in the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center for Aging at Tufts University in nutritional neuroscience.
 
 
Why did you decide to pursue your chosen field?
 
"I grew up on the Red Sea coast in Saudi Arabia, where the increasingly detrimental effects of industrial waste in my childhood home on air quality, soil type, and water quality substantially changed her day-to-day experiences over time. Over the years, the relentless pollution caused corals to endlessly wash up on shore while severely harming human health. My mother and sibling developed location-specific asthma symptoms that have since improved upon their relocation. As these consequences affected my family’s, friends’, and communities’ day-to-day lives, I set out to reverse the damage done to human health and the environment. My exploration of avenues to mitigate these effects has led to my current path of climate entrepreneurship, where we are efficiently targeting these challenges."
 
What advice do you have for people who aspire to be in a position similar to yours?
 
"It can be scary to make the leap, especially as a first-time founder. The way I approach it, as with any challenge, is to break the journey down into steps and to bring an openness to learning. The climate innovation space is incredibly diverse, with many voices that offer unique perspectives, and we will need each of them to solve the climate crisis."
 

Brett Feldman: Energy Efficiency Manager, Rhode Island Energy

Biography
 
Brett has worked in the clean energy industry for over 25 years for utilities, consultants, and service providers. He currently oversees the electric and gas energy efficiency and demand response programs for Rhode Island Energy.
 
 
Why did you decide to pursue your chosen field?
 
"I have been passionate about energy and the environment since high school, when I started a recycling club. My parents instilled that value in me. I also believe in a religious basis for taking care of the earth and using resources wisely."
 
What advice do you have for people who aspire to be in a position similar to yours?
 
"Don't be afraid to ask questions. Network as much as you can. Take advantage of as many learning opportunities as possible. Show your passion proudly!"
 

Pei Zhang: President, Bioechem

Biography
 
Pei is the President and Founder of Bioechem, a company based on sustainability and innovation. She is interested in microbiology intercrossed with electrochemistry and physics, and that's exactly what her work at Bioechem allows her to do. All of the products are designed with environmental safety in mind, and the patented Biological Battery is making waves as an innovative power source. The battery is powered through microbial material, and is completely safe! It is both fascinating and rewarding work, and she is very excited to continue to contribute to our climate economy.
 
 
Why did you decide to pursue your chosen field?
 
"I hope to reduce the negative effects of climate change and create a more sustainable future."
 
What advice do you have for people who aspire to be in a position similar to yours?
 
"Be persistent, and keep working hard at your goals and mission and you will succeed."
 

Austin Whitman: Co-Founder, The Change Climate Project

Biography
 
For two decades Austin has committed my career to climate and clean energy. He has worked in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, always with a focus on harnessing technology, markets, and policy to drive global decarbonization forward.
 
 
Why did you decide to pursue your chosen field?
 
"I realized during grade school that climate change would be the defining challenge for my generation to overcome. That expectation has become truer than I could have imagined. If tackled right, it is also the greatest opportunity of this century."
 
What advice do you have for people who aspire to be in a position similar to yours?
 
"Our decisions as individuals are too small, alone, to matter. But our decisions as individuals are consequential. How can that be? It starts with how we vote, which sways elections. Then, the choices we make in other ways reverberate across our communities, in how we talk, the signals we send, the norms we embrace. That is how individual actions can add up to transformative change."
 

Tim Fu: CEO, Bootbox Labs

Biography
 
Tim studied Mechanical Engineering at Cornell and cofounded Cornell's Solar Decathlon team. After school, he started my career at JB&B, a consulting engineering firm in NYC, working on One Bryant Park, the worlds first LEED Platinum skyscraper and the new World Trade Center development. In 2010 he decided to go back to school to study business and entrepreneurship at MIT. Since then, he's worked at a number of startups focused on energy and sustainability, including Opower, FirstFuel, and Bevi. Tim cofounded Bootbox in 2021 with the goal of electrifying the HVAC industry and building a better air conditioner / heat pump.
 
 
Why did you decide to pursue your chosen field?
 
"My passion for sustainability was encouraged by my high school physics and biology teachers, who showed me that you could create electricity with an algae-powered fuel cell. My first job in engineering brought me to NYC. I would walk home from work and see hundreds of air conditioners hanging out of apartment windows. I've always thought that there must be a way to design a better air conditioner, one that is more efficient, lighter, and easier to install."
 
What advice do you have for people who aspire to be in a position similar to yours?
 
"We all live in aging home and buildings. As these systems reach their end of life, it's imperative that we electrify them and eliminate fossil fuels. Buy a heat pump instead of an air conditioner, or an induction range instead of a gas stove. It's now easier and cheaper to go green than to continue burning fossil fuels. Do it to save money, to save the environment, and for your family's health!"