Staff Directory

As a senior rater, Jake helps new construction projects meet their energy efficiency and certification goals. Whether working with someone building a dream home or a project team working on a large multifamily apartment, Jake can offer guidance from early design through completed construction.

Jake started working with the Neighborhood Energy Connection in 2012, prior to the organization’s merger with CEE in 2017. He graduated from the University of Minnesota with a BS in geography with a focus on the environment.

As the technology adoption specialist for CEE's IT department, Bryan manages and supports all IT service strategy and supervises all staff with regards to the IT systems infrastructure and operations. His role includes managing IT systems operations, service transitions, design, and finances.

Bryan has been with CEE since 1999.

Nicole joins the Home Energy Squad as an energy auditor after completing CEE's Workforce Training Program. Nicole was a building maintenance worker for MCTC for over a decade and has been caretaking properties for nearly two decades. 

Isaac Smith has worked at CEE since 2011. He is currently the senior manager of market transformation products, where he works to build a pipeline of emerging technologies and market transformation concepts for Minnesota’s Efficient Technology Accelerator.

Previously, Isaac worked on residential program development where designed new energy efficiency programs and approaches. Isaac has a deep understanding of technical efficiency issues and works closely with CEE’s research department to bring new technologies to market.

Isaac has a BS in residential building science with a minor in corporate environmental management from the University of Minnesota. He is also on the board and president of the Minnesota Building Performance Association.

Autumn works at CEE as a field supervisor. She graduated with a bachelors in science for environmental planning and conservation at the University of Wisconsin River Falls.

As a community energy planner, Paolo works with the Partners in Energy program to facilitate conversations in communities around Minnesota as they implement energy efficiency measures.

Before joining CEE, Paolo ran a farmers market organization and served as a consciousness research assistant. He holds a BA in U.S. history and environmental studies from Wesleyan University.

As the director of information technologies, Tom is responsible for leading his staff to create effective, secure, and innovative technology solutions for CEE’s staff and clients. He has over 20 years of programming and network administration experience and has developed everything from embedded systems to complex web applications and large database designs.

Tom has been with CEE since 1997. Before that, Tom was a software developer in both the Enhanced 911 and Advanced Communication Services divisions of US West (now CenturyLink). In the mid-1990s, he moved into the nonprofit world with a job at Wilder Foundation’s Research Center. There, he wrote software to support the research center’s mission to evaluate and increase the effectiveness of human service and philanthropic programs. Tom has a BS in computer science.

As a loan officer at CEE, Sadie is responsible for processing home improvement financing applications for the Lending Center. This position provides core support to participants of the Lending Center.

Prior to CEE, Sadie started her career at a large financial institution starting as a teller, and working up to a personal banker helping homeowners achieve their financial goals and facilitating home equity loans, as well as spending some time working in commercial lending. Sadie attended college at Central Lake College majoring in computer repair with a minor in interpersonal communication. 

Thomas has worked primarily in education since graduating from UW-River Falls in 2019.

He has worked as a reading and English tutor, a saxophone and clarinet instructor, and in the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s environmental education department.

As HR manager, Veena is responsible for providing support and solutions to staff and leaders at CEE - across all areas of the employee lifecycle in turn to achieve CEE's  business objectives.

She walks into work everyday with a desire to help someone's career and helps in identifying and nurturing talents to help CEE achieve its desired results. A social being who connects with people across the organization in multiple hierarchies and an avid communicator.

Veena has worked in human resources for four years spanning across multiple sectors like manufacturing, retail, and technology in India. She holds a bachelors degree in engineering and a masters degree in human resources.

As a commercial HVAC associate, Ian works on energy audits and direct installations.

Ian's previous roles include an HVAC installer, teacher, corporate presenter, sales manager, mechanical designer, system engineer, director of customer experience, and director of advancement.

Ian earned an applied science's degree from Dunwoody College of Technology and a bachelor's degree from Bethel Mennonite College in Kansas.

Sindhu develops and implements the Market Transformation team's overall data architecture strategy by designing repeatable processes to combine raw data from multiple sources into clean, searchable datasets housed in relational databases. She facilitates conversations with cross functional teams to understand reporting, data intake, and data cleaning needs, and build solutions to support these needs.

She previously worked at LineVision as a data scientist performing time-series analysis, predictive analysis, and generating asset health reports, supporting their mission to accelerate the net zero emissions grid. She also holds a master's degree in Data Analytics Engineering from Northeastern University, Boston.

Steve manages the high-performance windows (HPW) initiative on the Market Transformation team, to accelerate the adoption of very high performing insulating glass windows.

Prior to joining CEE, Steve worked for 15 years in Chemistry R&D, including 10 years at Cardinal Glass Industries where he led insulating glass sealant R&D, new product qualification, and service life prediction projects. Additionally, he led the site’s sustainability work as their sustainability specialist, and was a founding member of the Safety, Environmental, Ergonomic, and Security (SEES) team that achieved MNSTAR/OSHA VPP status in 2020.

Steve holds a BS in chemistry from the University of MN and he also volunteers as the Group Scoutmaster for the 6th Woodrunners OSG, and as treasurer for Harisen Daiko.

As a field supervisor, Jeff inspects homes to assess insulation levels, air tightness, and combustion appliances to identify ways that homeowners can make their homes safer and more energy efficient.

Jeff started at CEE as an energy counselor with the Home Energy Squad in 2019.

Oren has a background in land conservation and environmental management. He has worked for a variety of nonprofit and government organizations leading ecological restoration projects, implementing Clean Water Act regulations, and building partnerships to advance common goals. 

Peter is an artist and a dad, and has worked professionally in the painting trade, restaurants, facepainting, entertainment, Ren Faires, and many other roles. 

He is passionate about the environment, Social Justice, energy sustainability and renewability, and in addition to working with CEE as an energy counselor, he is serving on the DEI Council for CEE. 

As the director of operations, Judy works directly with CEE's president on projects such as internal performance tracking, strategic planning execution, and coordinating CEE's board of directors. Judy also manages CEE's administrative team as the head of office management and coordinates the Sound Insulation program.

As the program support specialist, Catherine assists vendors, customers, and One-Stop Staff in coordinating and completing commercial projects. Prior to her current position, Catherine worked as an Energy Counselor in CEE's Home Energy Squad. Before CEE, she worked as a sustainability intern for M Food Co and an assistant general manager for Crisp & Green. 

Catherine graduated from the University of Minnesota with a BS in environmental policy and a minor in social justice.

Wyatt works at CEE as an auditor trainer. He is a graduate from UMD with a bachelor’s in Sustainability and Communication. Wyatt has received an education in both sustainability and communicating effectively, tool experience from Lil Orbits machine assembly, and guest service experience from Kwik Trip.

As a sales support specialist, Neale works with vendors, customers, and One-Stop staff to calculate rebates and process invoices.

Neale joined CEE in 2019 as an energy counselor. He has a BA in English language and literature from the University of Minnesota.