Nelson Mandela said it best, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” I plan to be part of redefining the face of business, and believe, applying empathy, sustainability, and vulnerability would be a leap in that direction. I am excited to bolster my existing skill sets and advance the strong foundation I have already established. Solutions focused professionals are the future of the renewable energy industry. I am actively pursuing fellowships to provide an avenue for deepening my comprehension of business best practices, exposure to the workings of the energy sector, and further expand my knowledge base. Active engagement with renewable energies during my time as a student will offer a new opportunity to understand progressive impacts on business, as well as equip me with new tools for daily application.
My start was in the trades as a welder, then further education lead me to the role as a Project Engineer. Now I am an MBA student at the University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management. Next steps are my priority. I believe the wisest path, and the greatest impact on our national and global communities, is green power delivery. At Ball State University while studying Construction Management and Sustainability, I was active on many councils and organizations. The two most significant of these outreach experiences were with the Indianapolis Airport Solar Farm and Sustainable Food Production Project.
Indiana has a major international airport (IND). My student team was commissioned to work with them to help in educating travelers about the solar farm surrounding the airport. Through diligent cooperation, we were able to build Interactive, educational resources providing information to travelers regarding the extensive solar farms surrounding the airport. The website detailed the current number of solar panels and explained the power usage. They were given background on the utility to the airport, and supplementation to the neighboring community power grid. Digital displays gave quick access to the website, sharing real-time data with travelers. Environmental impact was explored by highlighting facts about the bat preservation initiative, and emphasis on creating a safe environment by implementing active measures while expanding the solar farm’s reach.
The Sustainable Food Productivity Project helped organize community groups that lacked a cooperative infrastructure where I lived. Muncie, IN is one of the lowest rated food deserts in the United States. Our collaborative efforts allied various local non-profit organizations to increase healthy food outreach. We started by understanding and identifying specific locations according to need and accessibility. Ways to enhance collaboration between local services and volunteer organizations were developed, and we assisted in building a network of shared resources and responsibilities. There were struggles with cross communication, but by utilizing local fairs, farmers markets, churches, and social media, regular donations were gathered and distributed via free market events held at local church and business parking lots.
I stepped into the energy sector upon graduation from Ball State University accepting a position from Kiewit via their mechanical contracting subsidiary, Cherne. The opportunity to work and live in the San Francisco Bay Area was exciting. Unfortunately, this was on a hydrogen revitalization project, not at all what I had been recruited for originally. After 18 months it became clear my opportunities to go in a “Green” direction were non-existent while employed with this contractor. M.A Mortenson offered me a position on a LEED Platinum project in Portland, Oregon; The Lebron James Innovation Building, focused on incorporating lean building practices. I accepted the offer, keen about the opportunity to work with one of the leading builders of renewables in the United States. After a year and a half on the LeBron James Innovation Building, I came to Minneapolis and started to transition over to their Renewables Group when the COVID-19 pandemic struck. While this crisis has severely damaged my industry in the short run, I nevertheless chose to see this as an opportunity. Over the past year I have been preparing to pursue my MBA part-time with the assistance of my employer. The economic downturn eliminated their tuition assistance program, so I decided to go full time on my own instead. I have been accepted all three Universities to which I have applied.
Renewable energy can facilitate restructuring our communities to become more self-sufficient. These viable communities will provide resources and access where they are scarce or hard to obtain. A prime example of this is the water crisis in the Detroit area. We live in one of the wealthiest nations, yet, developing nation disparities exist in most urban, and many rural, zip codes. The economics of poverty provide an alarming and unacceptable window into the necessity of developing healthier people, more readily available goods and services, and jobs that provide livable wages. My passion for optimizing both small- and large-scale community infrastructure drives me to seek new tools and ideas. I am eager to be a part of re-envisioning access that has, so far, failed to serve the populations they are designed to facilitate. In this quest, my greatest interest is in solar power and battery storage. I am eager to utilize my developing skills to help create viable communities locally and globally.
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