CEE is a 2025 USA TODAY Top Workplace

Based on feedback gathered confidentially from employees, Center for Energy and Environment has been named a 2025 USA TODAY Top Workplace. In 2024, CEE was also named a Top 200 Workplace in Minnesota by Star Tribune, and was recognized nationally as an employer of choice among participating U.S. nonprofits and for its attention to employee well-being. 

Over the past 17 years, Top Workplaces has surveyed more than 20 million employees and recognized top organizations nationally and across 60 markets with Top Workplaces awards. Awards are determined by Energage, a purpose-drive organization that “builds and brands employers of choice.” Winners of the Top Workplaces USA list are chosen based solely on feedback gathered through an employee engagement survey issued by Energage. 

“In pursuit of our mission, nothing’s more important than the big, dedicated team behind CEE’s efforts,” said Chris Duffrin, CEE’s president. “Across programs and operations, it’s critical that our employees know they are heard. I’m grateful that a full 97% of CEE’s 220 staff offered frank feedback and insights through this survey. Their ratings and comments give us concrete data to strengthen our colleagues’ best job experiences while also identifying CEE’s most meaningful areas for improvement.” 

In nearly all measures, CEE’s positive staff responses outpaced national nonprofit benchmarks, often by more than 10%. Among the most striking findings, 91% of surveyed staff would “highly recommend” working at CEE. Of those who completed the survey: 

• 96% say CEE is guided by strong values,
• 91% believe their manager cares about their concerns,
• 90% feel confident that CEE is going in the right direction, and
• 92% report their job makes them feel part of something meaningful. 

“We’ve grown to keep up with higher demands for energy savings and decarbonization in homes and businesses,” explained Stephanie Haddad, CEE’s chief operating officer. “And with each new hire, we’ve worked hard to foster transparency, a shared vision, and a staffwide sense of community. This work is ongoing, but I’m delighted that most CEE employees report feeling good about our culture, leadership, and strategic direction.” 

Top Workplaces USA celebrates organizations with 150 or more employees that have built great cultures. Over 42,000 organizations were invited to participate in the Top Workplaces USA survey. Winners of the Top Workplaces USA list are chosen based solely on results from an employee engagement survey, calculated by comparing direct input with “culture drivers” that are proven to predict high performance against industry benchmarks.

About Center for Energy and Environment 

CEE seeks a healthy, carbon-neutral economy that works for all people. A 501(c)(3) clean energy nonprofit with nearly 40 years' experience in energy efficiency, we align our strategies behind technical research, program development and implementation, community engagement, policy advocacy, and project financing. Working across homes, businesses, and communities, CEE discovers and deploys the most effective energy solutions to improve the environment and strengthen the economy for everyone.