About: SiP Team

The nonprofit onexeveryone fosters collective climate action by soliciting small monthly donations, starting at $2, from a large group of people. When we act together, we are all empowered to affect bigger change. Every month, onexeveryone awards all collected funds to an organization working toward climate balance.

She’s in Power is proud to have been the October 2020 onexeveryone recipient with our work to innovate a sustainable community today by developing the diverse clean energy workforce of tomorrow. The donation will be used to kickstart 2021 Power Projects and reduce our community’s carbon footprint.

Learn more and join the climate movement at onexeveryone.org.

2020’s batch of Power Projects included three partnerships with Fort Collins Utilities and the CSU Energy Institute to help our community plan and implement greater solar energy use.

Ishita Kekare and Archana Sajeev measured the impact of installing PV solar systems on homes in Fort Collins. They found that energy consumption after PV installation remained essentially flat (1.5% increase for Kekare and 3% decrease for Sajeev) and more than half of the solar energy generated was transferred to the city’s energy grid vs. used by PV system owners (54% was returned to the grid for Kekare and 58% for Sajeev). This greater understanding of residential energy use and how much PV-generated energy is being transferred to the grid will allow Fort Collins Utilities to increase PV installations to support the city’s climate action plan.

Giuliana Seretti developed a new modeling process that will allow the City of Fort Collins to have a more accurate estimate of our community’s PV system generation. The current model provides estimates on a system-by-system basis. With approximately 2,000 PV systems to account for, making accurate, community-wide PV output estimates is a challenge. Seretti’s updated modeling method will give the city the big-picture view it needs, and at near real-time.

“These projects were all quite technical in nature and led by two master’s candidates and a senior Bachelor of Science student, all in engineering,” said John Bleem of JRB Energy Solutions and the CSU Energy Institute, who was a mentor for all three Power Projects. But any young woman who is interested in climate action is welcome. “Future She’s in Power projects can be quite different, less technical and exploring broader topics. We want to engage young people in STEM and clean energy.”

Diane Ernst first heard about She’s in Power and the program manager position through the Sustainable Living Association. After reading the job description, she was all in.

“I’m super passionate about empowering the next generation,” enthused Ernst. “I thought the position would give me the ability to do that while tangibly helping tackle the real issue of women in clean energy. I wanted to be part of it.”

Get to know She’s in Power’s new program manager, Diane

How did you first hear about Colorado C3E and She’s in Power?

This year, I completed a training with the Sustainable Living Association. Through that, I learned about the job opening for She’s in Power. I thought it was a great fit, and I applied for the position in the fall.

What made the position feel like a good fit?

Reading the job description got me to the C3E website, where I learned about how C3E got started and the passion behind the initiative of getting women in clean energy. It spoke to me. In terms of the She’s in Power job itself, I’m super passionate about empowering the next generation, and I thought the position would give me the ability to do that while tangibly helping tackle the real issue of women in clean energy. I wanted to be part of it.

Your work with the City of Fort Collins is a great springboard to She’s in Power. How will your experience inform your work for She’s in Power?

A big part of what I do at the City is work to fill gaps in programming. There are a lot of environmental education providers in Northern Colorado, but I saw a gap in reaching teenagers and providing free, educational, stimulating programming for them in Fort Collins. Working for the City allowed me to start a club for teenagers where we work on environmental stewardship, leadership and climate action. She’s in Power is also about filling a gap in programming — reaching out to and providing opportunities for a certain subset of the community. That’s what sparked my interest. The program I run at the City is only a small part of my job, but it’s what I love most — empowering those teenagers. She’s in Power gives me the opportunity to do more of what I love.

The She’s in Power program is part of the overall C3E mission of empowering women and girls. Have you encountered any challenges as a woman in your profession? How did you overcome them?

I’ve been in public engagement and environmental education for over 10 years. There are a lot of women in this field, but what’s difficult for women is moving out of an education position and into a leadership position. A lot of upper-level management is run by men. Including more women in the leadership, planning and more management-level positions in this field has been a challenge.

For me, the greatest thing I’ve been able to do is find mentors and strong women in the field who can coach and inspire me. That’s been a huge game changer. And I’ve worked to widen my skillset, find professional development opportunities, and network and meet people. All these things have allowed me to excel in other areas and be able to move up.

I’m one of those people who is not afraid to network; it comes easy for me. But now I’m trying to be a mentor and find opportunities for other people who might have a harder time being comfortable networking and reaching out — because it can be a little intimidating.

Your background is in education, which is a big part of C3E. How do you think educators themselves can inspire more girls and women to stick with STEM-related fields?

The way I view it, exposure at a younger age is huge. So when girls have decisions to make about what they want to do, they know these areas of study and fields exist. The biggest gap is just not knowing that these things exist. One way to combat that is finding schools that provide STEM opportunities. What’s great about She’s in Power is it helps girls and women find opportunities outside the normal school day and school system. It’s a great way to foster skills and then find friends who might be interested. If your child is expressing an interest in something, finding opportunities for them to be able to dive deeper is really important.

As Program Manager, you have the opportunity to help shape She’s in Power. What is your vision for the program?

A big focus for the next few years will be making the program more equitable and inclusive — not just reaching young women and girls, but also young women and girls of color. We’re willing and able to take on the challenge of getting She’s in Power in front of people who don’t know it exists, to change the way we market and communicate to get this program out in the community so it can be accessible for everybody. And within our programming, making the projects themselves inclusive, equitable and accessible.

Another focus is building a pipeline for She’s in Power. Now that people have been through the program, we have a group of alumni. How do we keep people engaged? We’re talking about providing opportunities for people even after they’re done with their Power Projects. So maybe that means a Spark becomes an Energizer or an Energizer becomes a Power Partner, or a Power Partner donates money to continue the program.

Part of building a pipeline is sharing stories. That’s another part of our vision — getting the word out and encouraging people to share how the program has impacted them. Opportunities like this are a little hard to measure immediately. But what if somebody, let’s say, does a Power Project, and then two years later, gets a job in the clean energy field? Let’s tell that story! That’s so exciting and allows more people to see women in clean energy, to spark that inspiration to do this work.

We’re also working on scalability. I truly believe in a collective impact and that you should always be working yourself out of a job. If we can package She’s in Power, another community can take it on. There’s so much power and greatness in this program. Let’s scale it up and share it to other communities and places outside Northern Colorado.

I’ve been spending the past couple of months learning how She’s in Power got started and how it has come to fruition. So much great work has happened to build a foundation for the program. I’m excited to open up doors, hear from people, meet people and really get things going. I think we’ll be able to grow our impact on the community, which is what it’s all about.

What does sustainability mean to you personally?

For me, sustainability is the way of the future. The reason I’m so passionate about the people side of it is because I would love to bring sustainability into everybody’s lives, no matter what that looks like. Maybe it’s inspiring somebody to take a personal interest in sustainability, so they start composting in their kitchen. No matter what form it takes, there’s a need for sustainability to be brought to the forefront.

The sustainability piece I’ve become passionate about lately is the concept of intersectional environmentalism. Sustainability is a way of taking care of the planet, but it’s also about taking care of people. The more we understand that those two things are intertwined and that climate change impacts people, especially people of color and low-income families, the more we’re going to be able to make strides in helping with climate action and sustainability.

Judy Gates is a local retired physicist/engineer with a career that spans 30 years, primarily in technology development. As a developer and technology transfer engineer with Hewlett-Packard Company, she contributed to industry electronic interconnect standards that enabled rapid emergence of small footprint electronics that are still in use. After taking early retirement from HP, Judy joined Woodward, Inc. where, among other things, she managed their contribution to the execution of a grant to the City of Fort Collins through the Department of Energy Renewable and Distributed Systems Integration program. This work demonstrated the feasibility of using a decentralized network of power sources such as solar panels and wind generators to provide reliable electricity to Fort Collins residents and businesses. Judy’s educational background includes a Ph.D. in Physics from Indiana University and a B.A. double major in Mathematics and Physics from Lake Forest College.

Retirement has provided an opportunity for Judy to shift her focus to helping halt global climate change and encouraging women to become involved in the technical aspects of the clean energy industry. She is currently a Volunteer Presenter for Citizens’ Climate Lobby in addition to joining the C3E Steering Committee. She values being part of the She’s in Power program because of its emphasis on mentoring and reducing energy demand in local communities.

How does your current work impact clean energy?

Citizens’ Climate Lobby, for which I am a volunteer speaker, is dedicated to building political will for a livable climate. We advocate for legislation that will reduce national emissions by 90% before 2050. Besides replacing current energy sources with clean energy sources, the legislation incentivizes clean energy technology development.

What was your first experience in the clean energy space?

I managed Woodward’s contribution to the Department of Energy’s Renewable and Distributed Systems Integration (RDSI) grant to the City of Fort Collins. Woodward contributed the hardware and installation needed to connect existing power generators at various city locations to a system that would supply power wherever it is needed on the electricity grid.

I also volunteered for Grid Alternatives by assisting with solar panel installation for low income citizens.

What sparked your interest in clean energy as a career path?

I was fascinated by the challenges of the grid control system — seamlessly connecting and disconnecting energy sources in a way that electricity users would not see any changes. We will have to use control systems like this for clean energy sources because solar panels and wind generators do not generate energy continuously.

How have your educational experiences informed your journey?

Experimental physics provided me with a general background in many technical fields.

What role has mentorship played in your career?

Mentorship was not emphasized or even articulated until very late in my career. However, there have been a few people who helped me a great deal in learning how to work in teams, navigate the corporate world and advocate for my ideas and findings.

Have you encountered any challenges as a woman working in a technical field? How have you addressed those challenges?

Being different in a team of people can be a challenge. Because I think we all tend to want to interact with people we are comfortable with, the only woman in a team of men can feel ignored or left out. My best strategy has been to become more assertive by entering conversations and recognizing that, in general, men don’t intend to leave me out.

What one thing would you change about the clean energy workplace to make it more equitable for women?

Increase the number of women leaders.

What advice would you give to young women who want to pursue a career in clean energy?

I would advise women in any field to try to understand the people they work with so that they can be assertive in non-threatening ways and understand how to be recognized for the quality of their work.

What is your proudest achievement in the industry to date?

I am proud of my advocacy of national legislation to address climate change and incentivize technology development. It will be exciting to see new, emerging technologies for electrical grid redesign, energy storage, carbon dioxide sequestration and storage, and other areas required for a carbon-free future.

What would you like your legacy to be, in clean energy or in life?

My goal is to have an impact on making the future better than the past. Currently, this means helping increase the number of women in technical fields addressing climate change so that these women can have long, productive careers.

How do you think educators can inspire more girls and young women to enroll and stay in STEM-related studies?

It would be great for educators to provide exposure to women in STEM fields in order to break stereotypes that some girls may have. Also, showing girls that engineering is important even in fields that are associated with women such as clothing design and pattern making, mathematics of knitting, etc. Also, teaching skills that they are less likely to learn outside of school but can put them behind in entering a technical field in college would be very helpful. Examples are use of mechanical tools, metal or wood working, operation and repair of common objects such as bicycles, faucets, solar panels, wind generators, etc.

How do you think clean energy professionals can encourage more women to pursue careers in clean energy?

Professional women can reach out by participating in STEM and mentorship programs sponsored by high schools and colleges.

What role should Colorado C3E play in advancing women in clean energy?

Through She’s in Power, C3E is performing a great service by exposing girls and young women to real projects and giving them the opportunity to see the results they can achieve.

I am particularly interested in actual career paths of women in the workplace for the first five to ten years after college graduation. Early career mentorship may be a great direction for C3E in the future.

Rachel Taylor is a junior at Colorado State University (CSU) pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Communications with a minor in Global Environmental Sustainability. She hails from Larkspur, Colorado, a small town outside of Denver. She fell in love with Fort Collins as soon as she took the CSU campus tour and has been making a positive impact on the community’s sustainability efforts ever since.

During her freshman year, Rachel was a CSU Eco Leader, tasked with raising awareness about and encouraging sustainability practices on campus. She worked alongside the EcoCAR3 team her sophomore year, building excitement for CSU’s entry in the national Advanced Vehicle Technology Competition (AVTC). Rachel is now the Communications Manager for this year’s EcoCAR project at the CSU Energy Institute and a shared intern for Colorado C3E and Toolbox Creative.

My time at CSU so far has been a process of mentors and mentees — inspirational people who are influential to me. Clean energy is just the beginning, too. I didn’t know there was so much room for career growth in this path, and I’m really glad that my other eco opportunities have led me here.

What first sparked your interest in sustainability and clean energy?

When I was in high school, I took an AP Environmental Sciences class with the best teacher possible, Jenny Dallman. She’s been my inspiration through it all, from sustainability to clean energy. Her class was amazing, she ran the Castle View Goes Green club outside of school, and she led a trip to Belize to study the rainforest and coral reefs.

My sister Emily also inspired me to look towards sustainability. When she was a student at CSU, she applied for the director job at the Student Sustainability Center and got it. She met so many different people within the School of Global Environmental Sustainability that way. That’s how she made the connections to build her career to where she is now, at the private energy company Invenergy. She’s definitely a role model of mine.

Working with the EcoCAR3 team last year really got me into clean energy specifically. It was incredible to watch a group of people transform a Chevy Camaro into a hybrid electric vehicle.

What do you consider the most important aspect of being able to work in the clean energy world?

To notice that you are trying to do something good for the world. Knowing fully that you are contributing to a greater change is as impactful as it gets.

How have your personal experiences informed your passion for the field?

The trip to Belize during high school opened my eyes. We first stayed in the rainforest, where we did forestry and animal studies. Then we went to the coral reef, Glover’s Reef, 50 miles off the coast. We stayed on an island and did lots of research on the coral bleaching that was happening. It was interesting to physically see it — we were in the water looking at all the coral. When you Google coral reef, it’s so colorful. That’s not what it looked like at all. It was gray and black and white; it was like a ghost land almost, super sad.

It’s global warming. Humans are doing this to the Earth. There’s not much we can do besides change our ways and live more sustainably. Learning about the effects of environmental change on that trip inspired me to really get to know the logistics of the environment.

How have you become involved in sustainability at CSU?

My sister helped me get into the Eco Leader program my freshman year, which really paved the way for other opportunities. As an Eco Leader, you take the whole spring semester to take on a big project — it has to impact the school. I worked with Emily and another student, and we decided to team up with the Student Sustainability Center as the sponsor. We made a story map of all the sustainability activities on campus, including ZipCars, water bottle stations and LEED-certified buildings. It’s a map of campus with little icons you can click to find more information about the sustainability aspects. The project was a success and is still sponsored by the Student Sustainability Center today.

It would be great for another Eco Leader to pick it up. Eco Leaders are all freshmen, and they need to learn to project manage [like I did], especially if they want to advance in a sustainability career. My Eco Leader mentor told me, “Any time you want to come back and tell them what you’re doing with your life now, you should because it’s inspirational to them.” And I would love to. That’s what my sister did when I was an Eco Leader.

Emily also helped me get involved with the EcoCAR project. Last semester, she was the communications manager for the EcoCAR3. She knew I liked the field and asked for my help. I would go the Powerhouse with her twice a week, bring my DSLR camera and take pictures of the car. Then we would post them on Instagram and Twitter. We got pretty good attention and at least 100 more followers.

After that part of the project was over, Emily had to leave because she was graduating. So I pursued the position and got it! I’ll be the communications manager for the EcoCAR this year and am very excited. The building of the car doesn’t start until October, but meetings have just started up.

My time at CSU so far has been a process of mentors and mentees — inspirational people who are influential to me. Clean energy is just the beginning, too. I didn’t know there was so much room for career growth in this path, and I’m really glad that my other eco opportunities have led me here.

What is the most difficult challenge you’ve had to overcome as a woman in your studies so far? How did you overcome it?

I haven’t stumbled on any gender barriers yet, luckily. For example, most of the Eco Leaders my year were girls. So the biggest challenge has been internal — from myself. People go through phases of not believing in themselves or believing they are not good enough to do something. But it’s all about getting into the groove and proving people wrong, and proving to yourself that you can do way more than you think. Life is all about taking chances.

Do you see a future for yourself in the clean energy space after college?

I know I want to do something in the communications field with sustainability, which is why I’m studying what I’m studying. Ideally, I’d be a communications expert within a company that provides sustainability offerings, whether it be clean energy or not. Clean energy and sustainability career paths both need not only engineers, but people with communication skills and business skills — a combination of people with different stories, backgrounds and skills.

I guess I’ll see where the wind takes me. It’s really all about connecting yourself with the campus community, getting to know different people and having good job references so you can get where you want when you’re done with school.

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

This story campaign is a huge step. As the Colorado C3E intern, I’ve been conducting the interviews of the women profiled in the campaign, and it has been so inspiring.

How would you like to see sustainable energy use and consumption evolve?

I want to see Fort Collins move into more clean energy. It would be great to see other cities and towns along the Front Range of Colorado adapt to more clean energy-based functions, too. For example, my hometown is really close to Castle Rock, where I went to high school. Castle Rock is a continuously growing city; every time I come home, there’s a new building. It would be awesome to see some of the buildings be certified LEED or built with low energy consumption. Evolving clean energy in smaller cities along the Front Range is a great start to seeing clean energy evolve, especially in Colorado.

Any thoughts on your legacy?

I want my legacy to reflect the impact I’ve made on the world. I want to be the kind of person that brought food into the world but also made it a better place for future generations. I want to be a role model to my younger siblings and I want to prove the world wrong about gender barriers, especially within fields like sustainability. I want my legacy to inspire others to do good and make a change when it’s necessary.

Julie Zinn was formerly the Chief Operating Officer at Spirae Inc. Acting as her first entry point for the clean energy sphere, she was with the company for 9 years and was responsible for all of the operations of the company across all functional areas, including project development, delivery, administrative functions and sales. One of her key roles that she performed was recruiting high demand power, including various engineers due to its competitive landscape.This role ignited a passion for seeing more women in this talent pipeline because male candidates were the ones being seen the most, when she knew that there was female talent out there. When she first joined the company, they had just won the RSDI award in 2009/2010, in which she personally loved what that project was about in order to support communities carbon initiatives.

Julie is originally from Littleton, Colorado and lived in the Washington D.C. area for 12 years before coming back to Colorado and landing in Fort Collins. Julie also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music and Bachelor’s of Science in Business from the University of Colorado Boulder. Julie also holds a Masters Degree in Education and Human Development from George Washington University.

As the City of Fort Collins Sustainability Coordinator, Michelle Finchum looks at energy use at a municipal level. Her job is to look at how much energy the community uses, and how we can shift to lower usage levels while utilizing renewable resources, such as wind and solar power. She negotiates how to get more renewables for the city, and ensures operations are running as efficiently as possible. For example, evaluating lighting, user behavior and processes in buildings in order to use the least amount of energy possible. Michelle previously worked for Fort Collins Utilities and taught people how to use energy wisely. Michelle has always been passionate about conservation. She has a bachelor’s degree in Zoology from Louisiana State University (LSU), a master’s degree in Natural Resource Management from Colorado State University (CSU) and is a Peace Corps alumnus, where she was based in Ecuador.

Take those opportunities that don’t seem like they fit you. Be open to those opportunities. Be curious, and keep that curiosity with an open mind — and always be asking questions.

How did you arrive in the clean energy sphere?

At the beginning of my career, getting hired at Fort Collins Utilities was a breakthrough that began my path towards clean energy. I didn’t know much about clean energy or energy in general — I had more knowledge in water. But then I got really involved with the conservation side of things, such as helping our community understand why it matters what appliance you buy. I just got more and more involved with energy and the importance of efficiency. Energy is considered a natural resource — and certainly one that needs to be taken care of. Having a background in natural resource management has helped me gain more knowledge to inform the community of clean energy production, especially by mixing my two backgrounds of utilities (16 years) and municipal sustainability (1 year). We are really in the intersection of a transition for our  community.

What role has mentorship played in your career?

Mentorship is huge in so many ways. It helps people develop leadership skills, helps you understand how to get your work done and much more. And it’s not always about the subject matter — you need someone to help you understand the workplace, but it’s also about how to make relationships and connect with people. I am helping start a mentorship program here at the City of Fort Collins, where we host about two sessions per year. It really is not only about work, but also about balance and personal strengths, which helps everyone grow differently.

What career challenges have you had to navigate?

I struggle with traditional career growth. I seem to always be given projects and exciting things to do. However, people peg you for what they think you can do best, but they don’t know you can do other things, too. Taking on projects outside your perceived path and showing people that you can do it is a priority in order to grow and get a foot in the door. For example, you could be hired to be a writer, but you have the capability to do other things, too, and it is important to show that.

What challenge does the industry face that makes it less equitable for women?

Pipeline talents are not there. Going way back into high school, I don’t think girls see themselves naturally as engineers, statisticians, etc. Going into schools, my audience would always be boys and very few girls. Science, math and engineering — girls are not getting into these fields at a young age, and it bleeds into college and the workplace.Even though a company says today that it wants to hire more women, there are not a lot of options. We need to fix it from an earlier stage and communicate how many different kinds of jobs are associated with these fields. It’s not about wearing a hardhat; we need diversity at all levels.

What advice would you give to your younger self and/or young women who want to pursue a career in clean energy?

Be open-minded. I was pretty sure I wanted to go out and save the rainforest and got my degrees, and I was just not open-minded. I didn’t know the world of clean energy existed. I would say take those opportunities that don’t seem like they fit you. Be open to those opportunities. Be curious, and keep that curiosity with an open mind — and always be asking questions.

What do you want your legacy to be?

Personally, I want to leave a better place for my children. Overall, I want to make a difference in my career and in my life, not just for children but for everyone. I want to be able to say that I did my part, and I did it while thinking about people and the environment — that I was not one-sided and was thoughtful in all my decisions in order to make Fort Collins better for the future. 

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

I think the programs we have are solid if we can figure out how to partner with the schools and continually mentor and showcase these fields to girls and women — show them how they can apply their natural skills to these fields. We need to grow and get the word out about this career path. Women and girls need to be encouraged to get involved. If you’re good at something, all fields need to be explored — not only energy fields, but fields in art, public speaking and more.

Sara Emmons is the Senior Project Analyst Contractor to the U.S. Department of Energy Geothermal Technologies Office. Here, she provides non-technical project management/monitoring support to the Department of Energy Geothermal Technologies Office.  Specifically, she supports the facilitation, initiation, execution (adherence to scope, schedule, and budget), and close-out of renewable energy (geothermal) projects.  Additionally, Sara helps lead the planning process for the biennial Peer Review, a three-day event which brings together around 80 project leads in order to be assessed on the technical achievements of their work. Sara is also a certified Project Management Professional. Sara was born in Des Moines and grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, and moved to Fort Collins in 2001 to go to Colorado State University and earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. Colorado was always on her mind as the place she knew she would live one day. “As a lover of the outdoors, it has just always felt like home.”

I think gender equity starts with awareness.  The first step is for companies to take a look in the mirror and own their opportunities for growth- areas or levels where they may not female representation.

How have your studies contributed to your interest and eligibility to pursue clean energy as a career?

Once I got into this industry, it became evident that project management was an important component. I saw this as an opportunity for me, so I worked to gain expertise in that knowledge area.  In time I was able to obtain my project management professional certificate and have gone on to serve as a resource for my team on the topic.  The PMP certification is well recognized and valued across all industries.  This, in addition to my bachelors degree, has allowed me to support the technical experts on my team in a way that provides better oversight of the projects that we manage.

What role has mentorship played in your career?

Mentorship is undeniably an incredibly important piece of anyone’s career growth. It’s also something I hope to foster in the coming years and is one of the primary reasons I became a member of the CO C3E Steering Committee.

What is the most difficult challenge you’ve had to overcome as a woman in your career? How did you overcome it?

One of the most challenging things I fight as a woman is the inherent tendency to stay quiet and assume that the input of others in the room is more valuable. Personally speaking, I know that my propensity for perfectionism and self-doubt can wreak havoc on my ability to speak up.  In time, and with the help of matured confidence, these fears have quieted.  Educating myself is also one of the best ways I’ve found to push back against this problem, so I am regularly trying to listen to new podcasts or read related articles that may help me in my current field of work.  Lastly, I’ve found that it’s important to own where I’m at on a particular topic.  If I don’t understand, I’ll ask questions!

What one thing would you change in the clean energy work space in order to make it more equitable for women?

I think gender equity starts with awareness. The first step is for companies to take a look in the mirror and own their opportunities for growth- areas or levels where they may not female representation.  I’d love to also see more companies hire an outside party to complete an assessment of possible pay disparities. The thing I would change to make it more equitable for women would also benefit all genders. This really boils down to companies (large or small) finding ways to implement flexibility into the way they get work done. Many women, particularly those who are caregivers, are seeking greater flexibility in order to be able to tend to the needs of those they care for. If you provide employees the flexibility to get work done in the way that works best for them, it will pay dividends back to the company.

How would you like to see clean energy use and consumption evolve?

So many ways. First and foremost, I would love to see geothermal represents a bigger slice of the U.S. renewable energy portfolio. Unlike wind or solar, geothermal is “always on”! There is some really interesting research being done as we speak that I believe will make this a reality.  I’m also incredibly excited by some of the technologies that are on the horizon for commercial and personal transportation! I look forward to the day that vehicles are no longer one of the largest contributors to pollution.  I would love to see cities embrace composting on a more global scale and make this service more widely available to its residents in the same way as recycling.  While Denver (where I previously lived for the last 10 years) instituted an amazing composting program, I have not seen this made available in Fort Collins, so my Husband and I collect our own compostable material and bring it over to a compost heap at a nearby urban farm. I’m really excited to see the clean energy momentum that is building at the city level, with many instituting 100% renewable power generation goals for themselves.

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

I hope I’ve set an example of what it looks like to tread lightly- to try everyday to take a little bit better care of the world around me.I’m deeply affected by the way that we as human beings are impacting the air, oceans, wildlife, forests, etc.  I hope I will be seen as someone who recognized the challenges we were facing and chose to be part of the solution.

Consider what you know now about being a woman in the clean energy sphere, what advice would you give to your younger self and/or young women who want to pursue a career in clean energy?

If I could go back to undergrad, or even high school, I would tell myself to recognize the incredible resources that were available to me at that time and to take better advantage of them- to build more connections and be more curious. Making those connections and creating these relationships back at this age is so important!

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

I would love to see C3E set up events to connect more women to mentors and other resources with the ultimate goal of fostering career growth.In the coming months, we will be developing some events that I’m really excited about!

Maury Dobbie is is the Executive Director for the Colorado Energy Research Collaboratory and the External Engagement Director for the Energy Institute at Colorado State University. Maury works ¾ of the time as the Executive Director of the Collaboratory which has been in existence since 2008 as an energy research partnership between four entities:  Colorado State University, University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado School of Mines and National Renewable Energy Lab. She also works ¼ of the time with the Energy Institute on special energy projects. Maury was the former Assistant Director at the Center for the New Energy Economy for the past 7 years and has been immersed in the energy field for over 7 years now as she finds the field fascinating and a great opportunity for women to find their passion using their unique skills.

Maury was born in Germany and raised in Wyoming before coming to Colorado in 1992, and decided to head to Fort Collins because her perception was that it would afford more opportunities and a new beginning, and as a women entrepreneur it would be more welcoming and progressive. When she first arrived in 1992, she was a stockbroker with a local firm, but then continued on to start her own award-winning multimedia production company which was up and running for 16 years. She was also the president & CEO of a regional economic development corporation for 4 years before working at CSU. Maury has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and is currently completing her MBA at Colorado State University.  She has also earned her Series 7 brokerage license in the 1990’s.When one thinks about how critical energy is in the ecosystem of a healthy economy, country and world I am even more convinced that making sure it is clean energy will impact generations into the future.

“When one thinks about how critical energy is in the ecosystem of a healthy economy, country and world I am even more convinced that making sure it is clean energy will impact generations into the future”

How did you land in the clean energy sphere?

I’ve always been a curious and ambitious learner — never being afraid to be the only woman in the room. I have noticed for most girls/women, it takes years to figure out what ignites our true passion — to figure out what we are really good at and to be confident in our own skin. Because my childhood and young adulthood was fraught with a lot of negative people and situations, I didn’t know where my true value was until I got older and allowed myself to search for a better life. I’d never have thought I’d end up in energy, per se, but I always believed I could do anything I set my mind on.

My faith and love of family have been my rock. Surrounding myself with positive influences, including remarrying a wonderful, supportive husband, have helped me create the firm emotional foundation that also influenced my career. I believe we have to perceive and then seek opportunity where others do not. Before it was popular to be a woman business owner, I felt it was the only way to control my own destiny. I don’t believe that’s the only career avenue anymore.

My reason for gravitating towards clean energy stems from being raised on a ranch where clean air, clean water, purposeful land use practices, energy as a foundational necessity and other factors could make or break the rural business and lifestyle. I learned an appreciation for hard work and environmental practices that weren’t even named back then. When one thinks about how critical energy is in the ecosystem of a healthy economy, country and world, I am even more convinced that making sure it is clean energy will impact generations into the future. It’s important to me that I am a part of something bigger than myself and meaningful in this world.

What do you consider your biggest successes?

I’ve been willing to take the risk to be different while having an eye towards finding solutions and making a lasting difference for generations long after I’m gone. It’s fun to look back over my various career paths and know that I’m peaceful about what I’ve been able to accomplish through hard work, determination, optimism, maintaining a sense of humor in dark days, thinking the best of people, finding that forgiveness necessary to moving on – all are powerful tools towards a fulfilled, happy life. While I’m not quite done in my clean energy career path and journey, it’s been gratifying to know that in spite of hardship and life’s ups and downs in my various career focus areas and my personal journey, I know the value of living it to its fullest. I remain (and practice every day being) hopeful and grateful.

I’ve ascended to some great titles in my career path, but I’d have to say my biggest success is having worked extremely hard to raise two children who grew up to be healthy, smart, kind, accomplished, honest, hard-working and positive adults. I spend time with my grandchildren trying to impress upon them the importance of the environment, why clean energy resources and conservation are so important.  For example, teaching them to turn off the water faucet when brushing their teeth, because not having running water unless we trucked it in when I was a child made me appreciate the importance of clean water and where it comes from.

Has mentorship played a role in your career?

Mentorship was not a reality in my early years, nor was it something I saw a lot of. I remember learning who I wanted to be (or not) from passive observation. When I began my career as an entrepreneur at the age of 19, there were no women to watch that had businesses — so I observed how men became successful. It makes me even more hopeful that there are avenues in which young women, women starting their careers and those that have been in careers for a long time can engage with mentors and positive organizations. Knowing the difference in what I didn’t have as an advantage in my younger years makes me even more determined to be a part of creating it for others. That is why I’m passionate about what Colorado C3E is doing alongside other positive and effective partners.

How have you moved past challenges?

It can feel very vulnerable to share one’s life story when it isn’t always pretty, but my experience with extreme domestic violence was the most difficult challenge I have ever overcome — but the most rewarding because I lived to tell my story. It could have easily thwarted my career path and my intrinsic drive to find my value, feed my family and “climb the ladder.” That was never stolen from me because I fought hard to maintain my optimism, courage and quest for a better life. I also grew up in an economically poor environment without running water and the niceties I enjoy now — it was hard to break through the feeling of not having enough while striving for more.

I’ve worked hard over the years to finally find my worth, while at the same time recognizing what I do well and admit what I don’t do well. Surrounding myself with smart and positive people, no matter what I’m doing, is one of the keys to my success.Spending my career on what can make a difference has always been a life goal because I don’t want any regrets. I’ve found my career in clean energy to be very fulfilling.

How would you make the clean energy work space more equitable for women?

I would encourage women to own their own destinies by looking for opportunities that would elevate their clean energy careers. For example, offer to serve on a high-powered board where you can learn, grow and meet the right people. If we wait for equity, parity and fairness in the workplace, it may never be offered. But we can look for ways to stand out, knowing it takes hard work and determination. It isn’t easy finding opportunities where others don’t see them, but I would encourage women of all ages to not wait for it to come to them. In addition, I would encourage women to seek wisdom from others, both male and female, as they grow and learn who they are meant to be. Comparing ourselves to others in a negative fashion only stunts our growth and breeds a sense of helplessness. But using that energy to explore new ideas, hold oneself accountable and be curious about taking risks that elevate our career in clean energy can be empowering.

What projects are you excited to be working on now?

At the Energy Institute at Colorado State University, I really enjoy taking on projects that will ultimately make a difference in clean energy, whether that be in our state, our country or around the world. For the past seven years, CSU has hosted an energy conference that I’ve headed up. Through the team of many thought leaders, it’s wonderful to see partnerships formed, people talking in civil discourse who don’t necessarily agree, multi-million-dollar solution-finding energy projects being created, new common sense regulatory and policies being put into place, etc. At the Colorado Energy Research Collaboratory, I am excited that the three largest Colorado research institutions (CSU, CU Boulder, Colorado School of Mines) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory have worked closely together since 2008 on energy projects and research that will make a real difference in the world. The Collaboratory will be hosting the 8^thannual 21^stCentury Energy Transition Symposium on April 1-2, 2019 in downtown Denver that I’m once again heading up. Colorado C3E will kick off the event with its 3^rdannual Women in Clean Energy breakfast. We’ve had powerful and accomplished women on stage telling their personal stories of how they experienced their professional careers in energy — you won’t want to miss it!

What do you want your legacy to be in work or in life?

Personally, I’d like my legacy to be one of someone who is an optimistic overcomer that spent time on the important things in life — humanity. Professionally, it’s important to me that the work I do now in clean energy affects the world for many years beyond my lifetime. In the coming decades, technologies, politics, cultures, industry, people and beliefs will all undoubtedly change. But the work we are currently doing in clean energy could be that stepping stone to a healthier and sustainable planet.I’d like to know I was a small part of that important work. While I’m not the expert in the technologies or research component, I’ve found my skills and value in the clean energy ecosystem while surrounding myself with brilliant and visionary minds.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

I’d remind myself that a fulfilled life begins with recognizing my strengths and weaknesses then pursuing a career path that fits my passion and strengths. Be a lifelong curious learner that is willing to pay my dues in hard work, and educate myself on clean energy topics, which are vast and complicated. Formal education is key to success, as well as informal education such as working with mentors, being an unpaid intern if that is what it takes to get into the field of choice. Passive observation of people, asking questions and being willing to struggle through hard work may be necessary, because it can be the foundation in which to build my career. I’d tell myself it is okay to make mistakes and take risks, because eventually they become past memories and even stronger foundational intrinsic self-esteem builders. I’d remind myself to cherish the present moments versus always be striving “to get from A to B to C to D” without celebrating in between. Being too driven can rob oneself of living in the present.

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

The C3E organization is built on a firm foundation from a non-profit standpoint. Even more importantly, it is built on a culture and atmosphere steeped in encouragement of helping women find their place in the career of clean energy. There are so many facets of clean energy that no one person can be an expert in everything or every aspect; C3E is helping women find where they fit. C3E takes into consideration the diversity of age, race, culture and experience of women because they know one size doesn’t fit all. In addition, Colorado C3E leaders know the power of collaboration and partnerships. The foundation the Colorado C3E organization is founded upon should last the test of time.  I say to men and women — Get involved —there so are many ways to connect and engage!