Co-Founder
Solar Doctor
For several months, I pursued a side project starting a solar analytics company that used live feeds of solar production data to predict and detect performance problems in residential solar installations.
Our business plan won a $25,000 prize from the Department of Energy's SunShot Catalyst Program.
While we were excited about our idea, my co-founder JP Dolphin and I decided to pursue higher-impact opportunities, and he now leads the data science department for one of the largest utilities in the country.
Economics Research Analyst
Environmental Defense Fund, 2011-2012
I was the lead author of a report showing research that since its start in 2005, the European Union’s Emissions Trading System has driven significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions even during periods of growth in Europe's gross domestic product, sparked innovation in low-carbon processes, and achieved these results at just a fraction of predicted costs, with no negative effects on Europe’s overall economy.
I also worked on a number of smaller projects related to the analytics and visualization of various persuasive data sources on climate change. For instance, I automated the creation of reports on clean energy job creating tailored to each state and congressional district.
Regional Field Director
Congressman Tom Perriello’s Campaign, 2010
I supervised three of the campaign’s offices, including all field organizers, fellows, interns, and volunteers in the five southeastern counties of the district. I coordinated all of Congressmen Perriello's fundraisers, rallies, and other events in the area.
Our field program won the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s $10,000 prize for best volunteer recruitment, and I was interviewed on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered explaining our field program.
Director of Content
Sense and Sustainability, 2011-2012
Oversaw the strategic development of content, blogs, web design, social media, and outreach campaigns for the environmental economics website Sense And Sustainability.
National Climate Campaign Intern
Environmental Defense Fund, 2009
I wrote persuasive memos on the economics of climate change legislation that were delivered by our lobbying team to Senators and Representatives. I specialized in producing memos tailored to a Congressperson’s interests within hours before newly scheduled meetings. In what appears to be the first time an EDF intern received a budget, I was given a budget and complete discretion to hire three employees to pilot a rapid response team for online media; the project was soon expanded and made permanent.
Founder, Board Member
Green EDGE Fund, 2007-2009
While a student at Oberlin College, I built trust with the Vice President of Finance to create an innovative fund that loans money for environmental renovations. Energy savings pay back into the $500,000 fund to grow the initial capital.
I designed the fund and its board, secured college financing, recruited the board, and campaigned to raise student fees to contribute to the fund (85% of students approved).
Co-founder, Resident
Student Experiment in Ecological Design (SEED House), 2006-2008I helped found and design this low-emissions house. I secured $150,000 in college funding, repaired the house, recruited members, led outreach programs, and installed an energy monitoring system that made SEED the only U.S. house to monitor its real-time total carbon footprint.
I was featured explaining the project on the front page of The New York Times, which was accompanied by the following video.
Hardware and Software Staff
Campus Energy Monitoring System, Oberlin College, 2006-2007
This EPA People, Prosperity, and Planet (P3) award-winning system monitors electricity and water consumption in 52 buildings on Oberlin’s campus and gives students real-time feedback online and through in-building displays. I updated our website, conducted hardware expansions and repairs, and managed the synchronization of our MySQL databases. The system was featured in Newsweek and The Christian Science Monitor, and much of its technology was the basis for the software startup Lucid Energy Analytics.
Web Designer
Environmental Studies Website, Oberlin College, 2006-2007
Maintained and updated the school’s environmental studies web presence.
Web Development Staff Member
Appalachian Voices, 2006
As one of the lead programmers of ILoveMountains.org, which promotes action to stop mountaintop removal coal mining, I created an interactive, geocoded database of profiles of destroyed and threatened mountains and their community stories. The website was featured in The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal and selected as “Featured Content” by Google Earth to be downloaded by over 200 million people.
Our "Appalachian Mountaintop Removal" layer is still included in every download of Google Earth, as an example of social awareness campaigns built using the platform.