The 40 Under 40 award program from Midwest Energy News seeks to highlight emerging leaders throughout the region who are working to accelerate America’s transition to a clean energy economy.
The program is open to innovators from all sectors—government, business, regulatory, academic, advocacy, and industry—and nominations will be accepted until 12:00pm CT on August 5th.
Do you know a strong emerging leader who fits these criteria? Click here to nominate him or her today!
Looking back at Minnesota’s 2015 winners…
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Becky Alexander, Designer & Researcher, LHB: With a Master of Science in Sustainable Design supplementing her professional architecture degree, Becky Alexander combines sustainable building research with architectural design in her work for the architecture and engineering firm of LHB. Her research involves collecting, analyzing, visualizing, and synthesizing data at building, organization, and city-wide scales. Alexander plays a key role in several significant state-wide initiatives to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in Minnesota. Alexander is the primary researcher for the Regional Indicators Initiative (RII), a program through the Urban Land Institute Minnesota. |
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Chris Baker, Principal, Weidt Group: Chris Baker, AIA, PE, BEMP, LEED AP BD + C, a Principal at The Weidt Group, specializes in energy and daylighting analysis, energy modeling expertise for software development of the WeidtSim® platform and WeidtSim-based applications. Since 2006, Baker has consulted on over 100 projects totaling more than 16 million square feet, including 32 LEED project submittals, 13 LEED gold and four LEED platinum buildings. Baker received an MBA from the University of Minnesota, and a Bachelor’s degree in architecture and architectural engineering from the University of Kansas. He is subcommittee chair of ASHRAE SPC 209 Proposed Standard on Energy Simulation Aided Design. |
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Erika Bailey-Johnson, Sustainability Coordinator, Bemidji State University: Since 2008, Erika Bailey-Johnson has served as the Sustainability Coordinator for Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College. She started her career teaching elementary school in Kuwait and Mexico. Bailey-Johnson has helped found the Bemidji Sustainability Committee, teaches sustainability courses, speaks at regional and national conferences on topics including carbon footprint reduction and BSU’s unique sustainability model, including an emphasis on integrating traditional and indigenous voices. Bailey-Johnson has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota, Morris and a Master’s degree from Bemidji State University. |
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Carolyn Brouillard, Public Policy and Strategy Manager, State Regulatory Policy, Xcel Energy: Carolyn Brouillard joined Xcel Energy in 2007 and has held a number of positions related to policy, strategy, and planning. In her current role, Brouillard is focused on policy and strategy development related to regulatory and rate reform, grid modernization, distributed energy resources, and new utility business models. Prior to joining Xcel Energy, Brouillard coordinated energy and climate change policy and programs for the City of Boulder, Colorado. Brouillard earned her MBA from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management and her B.A. in Environmental Studies and English from the University of Colorado-Boulder. |
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John Farrell, Director, Democratic Energy Initiative, Institute for Local Self-Reliance: John Farrell is the Director of Democratic Energy at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and widely known as the guru of distributed energy. Farrell is best known for his vivid illustrations of the economic and environmental benefits of local ownership of decentralized renewable energy. He is the author of Energy Self-Reliant States, a state-by-state atlas of renewable energy potential highlighted in the New York Times, showing that most states don’t need to look outside their borders to meet their electricity needs. Farrell has written extensively on the economic advantages of democratizing the electricity system, published a rich interactive map on solar grid parity, and polished the policies necessary to support locally owned renewable energy development. |
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Blake Nixon, President, Geronimo Energy: Blake Nixon started as an investment analyst with Investment Advisors, Inc., an asset management firm run by Geronimo’s Founder/ Chairman, Noel P. Rahn. In 1998, Nixon helped Rahn form The Rahn Group (venture capital, private/ public equities, farm land). Nixon managed all private investing for Rahn Group, ran the firm’s hedge fund, and led the deal and finance negotiations for the early stages of Geronimo Energy. Nixon is instrumental for Geronimo and oversees the company’s development portfolio, strategic relationships and financial structuring. Nixon has a Bachelor’s in Business Administration (Finance), University of Washington at Seattle and is a graduate of the General Course at the London School of Economics. |
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Nicole Rom, Executive Director, Climate Generation: A Will Steger Legacy: Nicole Rom has been the Executive Director of Climate Generation: A Will Steger Legacy since 2006, starting and sustaining the organization by providing vision and development for the organization. Prior to Climate Generation, Nicole managed the education programs for National Wildlife Federation’s Great Lakes office and was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kazakhstan. She received her M.S. in Environmental Policy, Behavior, Education and Communication from the School of Natural Resources and Environment at the University of Michigan and a B.A. from Bates College. Rom joined the Steering Committee of RE-AMP, a multi-state coalition of non-profit organizations, in 2013 and the organization’s Executive Committee in 2015. |
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Michelle Rosier, Senior Campaign and Organizing Manager, Sierra Club: Born and raised on the state’s Iron Range, Michelle Rosier is the Campaign and Organizing Manager for the Sierra Club Beyond Coal to Clean Energy campaign in Minnesota. Rosier has worked on clean air and energy issues for the Sierra Club since 2001. She left the Sierra Club between 2005-2008 to earn her Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government focused on regulatory and industry analysis in energy and environmental policy. In addition to the Sierra Club, Rosier has worked as a program manager for the Consortium for Energy Efficiency advising on emerging natural gas energy efficiency, Transit for Livable Communities and the Minnesota Public Interest Research Group. Rosier serves as an environmental representative on Xcel Energy’s Renewable Development Fund Advisory Group. |
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Jamez Staples, President, Renewable Energy Partners: Jamez Staples is President and CEO of Renewable Energy Partners, a minority-owned solar installation and development company, focused on creating opportunities for communities of color to participate in the development of renewable energy infrastructure. Staples holds an A.A. from Normandale Community College and a B.A. in Business and Marketing from Concordia University. He currently co-chairs the Energy Vision Advisory Committee for the City of Minneapolis Clean Energy Partnership. He was recently awarded the Minnesota Social Impact Center Change Maker Award for 2015 and identified as one of 12 Green for All Climate Champions. |
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Shengyin Xu, Manager, Sustainability & Capital Projects, Minnesota Historical Society: Shengyin Xu, LEED AP BD+P, has worked in sustainable design and research for eight years. She works with complex organizations to utilize energy, waste, and water data. Most recently, her work at the Minnesota Historical Society has been recognized in several industry publications. She co-chairs the American Alliance of Museum’s green museum professional interest group and has severed on a number of local advisory boards for energy topics. Xu also champions outreach and education in sustainability, including her recent appearance as a mentor on the PBS show SciGirls. Xu has a M.A. in architecture from the University of Minnesota. |
