Net works for the City of Fort Collins and the Institute for Market Transformation as an advisor through its City Energy Project grant. As the City Project Energy Advisor, Net helps with energy efficiency in commercial buildings, while tackling multiple projects to help lower energy consumption and increase awareness around the importance of saving energy. Formerly, she worked in energy efficiency for the Rocky Mountain Region of the U.S. Department of Energy Western Area Power Administration as well as in Washington DC within DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. As a Project Officer within the Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant program, Net worked with cities and counties in many of the Rocky Mountain states on their energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Net grew up in Bel Air, Maryland and moved to Fort Collins after college. Net moved back east for awhile and then returned to Fort Collins in 2014. Net holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science and a M.S. in Sustainable Development from University of Maryland and a B.A. from University of Michigan in addition to post-bachelor’s coursework from Colorado State University. Net is also a Certified Energy Manager (CEM) and Certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

I want to help girls and women feel confident in any field that they pursue, especially those in which they are faced with challenges.

What’s the most difficult challenge you’ve had to overcome as a woman in your career?

During different jobs in my career I’ve been the only woman in the room at meetings and conferences and I’ve had to navigate those situations carefully to advocate for myself.

What are you proudest of in your career? What has been your biggest success?

My adaptability has allowed me to change fields as opportunities presented themselves and to learn new things quickly through these changes.

What do you want your legacy to be, whether in your workplace or in life?

I want to help girls and women feel confident in any field that they pursue, especially those in which they are faced with challenges. Outside of work, I coach girls lacrosse in Northern Colorado.  The girls I coach vary in ages from first to eighth grade and the overall goal is to help them to build confidence while learning to love the sport and adopting good sportsmanship along the way. By learning these skills early on, they grow into their adult lives as team players who can succeed in their careers.

What inspirational experiences do you have that you wish to share for women wanting to pursue clean energy as a career path?

There are so many women that are celebrated each year by national C3E (https://c3eawards.org/winners/) based on their contributions to clean energy and a better world overall.  Reading their stories inspires me.

What new projects are you working on that you wish to share?

Currently, I am working on projects that aim to help business owners better track their energy use, to improve rental living conditions in Fort Collins through energy efficiency upgrades, and to improve public access to energy efficiency information.

What one thing would you change about your workplace in order to make it more equitable?

I would encourage more women engineers to join the team.

Thinking about what you know now, what advice would you give to your younger self?

For my younger self, my advice would be to not let anyone discourage you and to stay true to your original dreams.

How do you think C3E can encourage more women to pursue a career in clean energy?

C3E can encourage more women to pursue a career in clean energy by building networks and exposing women and girls to local employers. C3E also can help by  cataloging and demonstrating the breadth of jobs in clean energy workforce, so that women can find a place that suits them best. Worldwide you can take many things away from women and girls but you can never take away their education once they have it. And once they get a hold of education in the STEM fields, their potential contributions to advancing knowledge and technology are limitless. I am excited to help the C3E Initiative with its efforts to invite and retain K through Gray gals in the clean energy workforce.