New members ensure the CleanTech Alliance continues to represent the entire spectrum of Washington State clean technology perspectives and innovations
CleanTech Alliance, the nation’s largest state-level clean technology industry association, elected seven new members to its Board of Directors. The new members deliver fresh perspectives and expertise to the organization’s leadership, ensuring that the CleanTech Alliance continues to represent the entire spectrum of Washington State’s clean technology industry sector. The newly elected Board members include:
- Aaron Block; Principal, Allumia
- Meeka Charles; Banker, J.P. Morgan Private Bank
- Reeves Clippard; CEO & Founder, A&R Solar
- Jimmy Jia; CEO, Distributed Energy Management
- John R. Kane; President & CEO, Kane Environmental
- Rick Luebbe; CEO, EnerG2
- Rahul Shendure; CEO, Oscilla Power
“The CleanTech Alliance has always represented a very diverse group of clean technology companies and supporting companies from across the state,” said Steve Klein, CleanTech Alliance Board Chair and CEO of Klein Tech Advisors. “It’s important that we ensure our leadership consists of a broad mix of industry players and perspectives from that diverse group. The Board of Directors understands that and unanimously voted to add these seven new members without hesitation.”
“Washington State is home to some of the world’s brightest business minds and clean technology leaders,” said J. Thomas Ranken, President and CEO of the CleanTech Alliance. “The CleanTech Alliance Board of Directors has always had a reputation for being a who’s who from that pool of industry leaders. The seven new additions will only strengthen that reputation and improve our ability to serve our state’s clean technology industry sector.”
Aaron Block founded Allumia to create a collective, cohesive approach to making energy conversation and management accessible, accountable and most importantly, transparent. He co-founded and led market development at Skyline Innovations (now Nextility), a solar-as-a-service provider that would eventually grow to become the largest developer of solar water heating projects in the U.S. Block left Skyline for Blue Hill Partners, a Philadelphia area venture capital firm, before returning to Seattle to launch Allumia in 2014.
Meeka Charles is a banker with J.P. Morgan Private Bank in Seattle where she works with individuals, families and foundations throughout the Pacific Northwest. She advises clients on their banking, fiduciary, business, charitable and investment needs. Prior to her role at J.P. Morgan, Charles worked in corporate development and project finance at Solar Power Partners in California, a solar energy financing company. The company was acquired by NRG Energy in 2011. Meeka continued working at NRG Energy after the acquisition and worked on several financings including the IPO of NRG Energy’s independent subsidiary, NRG Yield.
Reeves Clippard pursued his entrepreneurial, environmental and social values after a short stint in web app development and tech support. He received training in solar, wind and hydro technologies at Solar Energy International in Colorado in 2005. After a year as an entry level soar installer, Clippard saw a real need for providing a better customer and employee experience in solar contracting and co-founded A&R Solar in 2007. The company is one of Washington's Top Fastest Growing Companies for three years running.
Jimmy Jia is co-founder and CEO of Distributed Energy Management where he developed a financial platform to help business owners reduce overconsumption of utilities. Jia also teaches the Sustainable Energy Solutions Certificate program at Pinchot University, a year-long course that educates MBA students on how to incorporate energy issues into the decision making process. He is also the author of Driven by Demand: How Energy Gets is Power.
John R. Kane is president and CEO of Kane Environmental and Kane Remediation Technologies. He started his environmental career in the early 1980s before founding the Kane Companies more than 15 years ago. Since then, Kane has cleaned up millions of gallons of contaminated groundwater and recycled tens of thousands of tons of contaminated soil in Washington State, using a variety of clean technologies.
Rick Luebbe leads EnerG2 as CEO and co-founder. He brings startup experience to the team as the co-founder and CEO of Hubspan, one of the web’s lasting business-to-business integrators where he raised the company’s first two rounds of funding and developed and closed its flagship customer. Luebbe began his career as an Army aviation officer where he led an aeroscout platoon in Desert Storm and was awarded the Bronze Star and Air Medal (2nd award). He later flew Apaches as commander of an Attack Helicopter Company.
Rahul Shendure is CEO of Oscilla Power, working to develop a low-cost solution to convert ocean waves into grid-scale electricity. Prior to co-founding Oscilla Power, he was the vice president of product marketing and first business hire at Amyris, a leading renewable products company. His previous experience includes product management leadership at Ballard Power Systems, an advisory role at an energy technology venture capital firm, and international engineering and operational assignments with a number of General Electric businesses.
The full roster of CleanTech Alliance Board of Directors is available on the CleanTech Alliance website.
About the CleanTech Alliance
CleanTech Alliance Washington is the nation’s largest state-level clean technology industry association, representing more than 330 businesses and organizations. Founded in 2007 by business leaders, the Alliance facilitates the generation and growth of cleantech companies, jobs, products and services to advance the state’s position as a leader in cleantech. The Alliance offers a range of business services and benefits uniquely designed to help businesses gain visibility, access services at a lower cost and benefit from public policy advocacy. Learn more at www.cleantechalliance.org.
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