The Green Light

Did you know that 51% of professionals working in clean energy transitioned into the industry last year, according to a recent survey? Our CEO recently spoke with Salina Derichsweiler, who transitioned from oil & gas to founding & leading geothermal startup, Transitional Energy. In her current, new role as Director of Development at SunShare, Salina is leveraging her experience developing a wide range of energy projects to accelerate community solar in New Mexico, both within & outside of Tribal Nations & Pueblos. They spoke about her work at Transitional Energy, which received funding from the Department of Energy, the State of Colorado, as well as a $2 million grant from the Clean Sustainable Energy of North Dakota. Salina also highlighted the significance of diversity & representation when it comes to building trust with Indigenous communities, particularly in the context of development work.Salina is also part of Cleantech Leaders Roundtable (CTLR), the nation's most prominent private community of cleantech & climate-tech leaders. CTLR's mission is to bring together a diverse group of founders, investors, & entrepreneurs for the purpose of idea sharing, networking, & building a supportive and collegial fellowship.If you’re looking for your next role in cleantech, take a look at our industry-leading clients’ latest job openings: bit.ly/dg_jobs. If you’re a cleantech employer & need help scaling your workforce efficiently with top tier candidates, contact Catherine McLean, CEO & Founder of Dylan Green, directly on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3odzxQr. 

Have you heard of Dynamo Energy Hub, “the Soho House of clean energy”? From their partnerships with BloombergNEF and Alvarez and Marsal to their cohesive workspaces, Climate Tech and Tonic events & Cleantech Founders Breakfast Club, Dynamo is building the future of work for the new energy economy. Catherine had the pleasure of speaking with Kristin Barbato and Meade Harris, who decided to co-found Dynamo while meeting for drinks at a hotel bar. These incredibly talented women, one of whom started their career as a BBC Producer and the other as an engineer, first developed two Dynamo hubs in the U.S. and are now about to reach 15 hubs globally. They also spoke about Dynamo’s robust membership programs and networking opportunities as well as its stellar Advisory Board, which includes cleantech leaders like Tim Healy at EnerNOC, Nancy Pfund at DBL Partners, Thomas Burton at Mintz, Kyle Hayes at Foley, Graham Hedger at Bondminster, Sara Neff Lendlease, Dan Pickering at Pickering Energy Partners, Snorre Valdimarsson Thommessen, Michael Torosian at Baker Botts & Pamela Farrell Venzke at Orsted. Learn more & get involved with Dynamo: https://bit.ly/3XVMoIB. If you’re looking for your next role in cleantech, take a look at our industry-leading clients’ latest job openings: bit.ly/dg_jobs. If you’re a cleantech employer & need help scaling your workforce efficiently with top tier candidates, contact Catherine McLean, CEO & Founder of Dylan Green, directly on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3odzxQr. 

Qcells USA Corp. has been all over the news lately with a handful of major announcements, including a $2.5B investment in the solar supply chain. Catherine recently spoke with Amy Jo Miller, Director of Policy and Market Strategy at Qcells, about what these recent developments mean for our industry, the most important upcoming policy rulings to follow, and the energy storage trends Qcells is seeing. They also spoke about how Amy Jo transitioned into clean energy, advice she has for those looking to join our industry, and some of the significant ways Qcells has revamped its benefits and work culture to attract top tier talent.If you’re looking for your next role in cleantech, take a look at our industry-leading clients’ latest job openings: bit.ly/dg_jobs. If you’re a cleantech employer & need help scaling your workforce efficiently with top tier candidates, contact Catherine McLean, CEO & Founder of Dylan Green, directly on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3odzxQr.

Did you know that 59% of employers have reported that veterans perform ‘better’ or ‘much better’ than their non-veteran peers? Catherine recently spoke with Adela Wilson at Hiring Our Heroes (HOH) and LaTisha Phillips at Onyx Renewable Partners L.P. about how HOH, through Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC)’s Solar Ready Vets program, is enabling veterans to transition back to civilian life with new clean energy careers. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) & has allowed veterans like LaTisha to leverage their military experience to support the energy transition. Adela spoke about the impact of the program and the other renewable energy companies they work with, such as Silicon Ranch Corporation, FTC Solar, Inc, DNV, SunPower Corporation, and Omnidian, and how they support veterans in developing the skills they need to succeed in cleantech. LaTisha talked about how she decided to work in solar energy, how her military skills translated, and what she’s most excited about working on at Onyx. HOH currently collaborates with companies like Microsoft, 3M, LinkedIn & Lowe's Companies, Inc., as well as myriad renewable energy companies. If you’re an employer interested in partnering with HOH, or a veteran looking to transition into clean energy, get in touch with HOH directly: https://bit.ly/439uT8Y.If you’re looking for your next role in cleantech, take a look at our industry-leading clients’ latest job openings: bit.ly/dg_jobs. If you’re a cleantech employer & need help scaling your workforce efficiently with top tier candidates, contact Catherine McLean, CEO & Founder of Dylan Green, directly on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3odzxQr. 

“Park it, plug it, profit.” Did you know sustainable-minded companies could earn upwards of $8k per summer just for parking just one EV at specified times? In this Green Light episode, Catherine spoke with Claire Broido Johnson, who was recently hired as COO at Fermata Energy, about all things V2G, or vehicle-to-grid. Claire is well known for having founded SunEdison alongside Jigar Shah, as well as for having deployed $11B of the stimulus package during the Obama Administration. Catherine also spoke with Claire about Fermata Energy’s projects with Revel & NineDot Energy, the first V2G system on NYC’s grid, as well as their projects with New Hampshire Electric Cooperative & also Verizon at the Brooklyn Naval Yard. Fermata Energy was also the first company to have a V2G bidirectional charger approved by Nissan for use with the LEAf  in the U.S. & we can’t wait to see what they are able to accomplish under Claire’s leadership. If you’re looking for your next role in cleantech, take a look at our industry-leading clients’ latest job openings: bit.ly/dg_jobs. If you’re a cleantech employer & need help scaling your workforce efficiently with top tier candidates, contact Catherine McLean, CEO & Founder of Dylan Green, directly on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3odzxQr. 

What impact is the Inflation Reduction Act having on the development of green hydrogen projects in the U.S.? Catherine spoke with Mona Dajani, Global Head of Renewable Energy and Hydrogen at Shearman & Sterling LLP, about this and how the U.S. is now leading the world in terms of green hydrogen legislation. They also spoke about the ways in which the U.S. is rapidly ramping up its 8% EV adoption rate, following in the footsteps of countries like Norway, which has an 82% EV adoption rate. Mona shared insights on the key global trends she’s seeing in renewables - from carbon capture to offshore wind, and learning more about how she came to work in our space, and what it takes to succeed in her role.Mona has a wealth of knowledge and is one of the few people who has achieved a Bachelor's degree in Engineering, an MBA, as well as a JD. She is also a regular contributor to outlets like Financial Times, CNN, POLITICO, Bloomberg Energy, Fox Corporation, The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR and USA TODAY, serves on the Board of American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) and is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) C3E Women in Clean Energy Ambassador. Mona is an exceptional leader and we look forward to seeing what she’s able to accomplish on behalf of our industry in her new role at Shearman & Sterling. If you’re looking for your next role in cleantech, take a look at our industry-leading clients’ latest job openings: bit.ly/dg_jobs. If you’re a cleantech employer & need help scaling your workforce efficiently with top tier candidates, contact Catherine McLean, CEO & Founder of Dylan Green, directly on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3odzxQr. 

How can solar engineering, procurement & construction companies increase gender diversity & inclusiveness in a short amount of time? In this Green Light episode, Catherine spoke with Janani Ramkumar, VP of Operations at CS Energy, about how CS Energy was able to increase women employees by 70% & achieve 40% women in its C suite in about a year’s time. It all started when Jan, Dawn Robinson & Diana Palazzi Mery founded CS Energy Women in Renewable Energy (WiRE) during the pandemic. From providing mentorship to facilitating robust recruiting events & partnerships with organizations like Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE) & National Girls Collaborative, CS Energy WiRE has been able to create many more opportunities for women, both at CS Energy as well as within the broader clean energy industry.Catherine also spoke with Jan about her upbringing in India, how she decided to work in a STEM field within clean energy, & her significant efforts to provide informal mentorship & coaching in order to give back. They also spoke about her recent promotion at CS Energy & her new leadership role with the WRISE New York Chapter. If you’re looking for your next role in cleantech, take a look at our clients’ latest job openings: bit.ly/dg_jobs. If you’re a cleantech employer & need help scaling your workforce efficiently with top tier candidates, contact Catherine McLean, CEO & Founder of Dylan Green, directly on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3odzxQr. 

In this Green Light episode, Catherine spoke with Doseke Akporiaye, about becoming the new Executive Director of Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE). Hailing from Nigeria with a background in computer programming & management consulting, Doseke has led an incredible career to date. From starting her own consulting business to successfully launching the Nigerian branch of off grid solar company Oolu & expanding it to 60% of the country, Doseke has proven her expertise in both the non-profit as well as the for profit worlds. Catherine spoke with Doseke about how she transitioned into clean energy, what it was like to launch these companies & what initiatives she’s most looking forward to pursuing at WRISE. They also spoke about why Doseke believes the clean energy industry needs more women founders as well as more support for women in non-technical roles. With job boards, career fairs, webinars & over 40 local chapters, WRISE provides exceptional resources for systematically excluded communities looking to enter into & grow within the clean energy & sustainability industries. Learn more about WRISE: bit.ly/41utNnN.If you’re looking for your next role in cleantech, take a look at our industry-leading clients’ latest job openings: bit.ly/dg_jobs. If you’re a cleantech employer & need help scaling your workforce efficiently with top tier candidates, contact Catherine McLean, CEO & Founder of Dylan Green, directly on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3odzxQr. 

How can renewable energy companies & professionals level up their marketing communications? In this Green Light episode, Catherine spoke with Megan Meany, a seasoned broadcast journalist who has worked for NBC, CBS, CNN & FOX about elevating pitch & presentation skills; finding the optimal use of industry jargon & data; & how to crush it on camera. They also spoke about the need to hone in on essentialism as well as the power of good storytelling for any audience. Megan’s experience is unique in that she has worked for major TV networks as well as several Fortune 500 companies, including SAP, AT&T & Kohler, as she deeply understands the communication weaknesses within corporations & how they can be improved. Megan hosts & executive produces digital events; teaches virtual master classes for women; & offers private 1:1 communication coaching. You can get in touch with Megan directly via LinkedIn or through her website (www.megamedia.co).Are you looking for your next role in climate tech? Join the largest growing network of cleantech professionals and be the first to know about when industry leading cleantech companies first post new job openings, from development to finance to marketing, by checking out our website: dylan-green.com/latest-jobs.

Why are only 1.6% of S&P 100 senior executives Latinas & how can this gap be overcome? In this Green Light episode, Catherine spoke with Marta Ronquillo Newhart, who has worked for companies like Westinghouse Electric Company, Boeing, Medtronic & Johnson Controls, about this as well as how the ‘chingonas’ & male mentors in her life helped propel her career. They also spoke about how Marta’s African American peers blazed trails in corporate settings for her to follow & why you sometimes need to ignore advice others have about what steps to take in your career. Marta is also heavily involved with Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA), which helps prepare Latinos for board readiness & she talks about the ways in which companies & individuals can get involved. Are you looking for your next role in climate tech? Join the largest growing network of cleantech professionals and be the first to know about when industry leading cleantech companies first post new job openings, from development to finance to marketing, by checking out our website: dylan-green.com/latest-jobs.