Claim OwnershipBuilding Efficiency Podcast
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The Building Efficiency Podcast presented by Nenni & Associates and hosted by Jim Schafer. Each week we bring you a business leader from the Building Efficiency industry who will be sharing their backgrounds, where they see the industry going, and what drives their success. Nenni & Associates is an Executive Search firm who helps our clients find the right talent. Across the Building Efficiency industry our clients are focused on retrofitting existing buildings, implementing renewable energy technologies and new construction design. We hope you tune in and subscribe to this podcast if you're looking for our guest's perspectives on the Building Efficiency industry - past, present, and future.
106 Episodes
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We sat down with Phil Johnston, principal at E4E Solutions. Phil shared his journey from his early days with the DOE's Industrial Assessment Center, to now helping major industrial clients build and implement roadmaps for decarbonization.We dove into how E4E uniquely delivers start to finish energy solutions from discovery to design, to project execution. When it comes to hiring, Phil emphasized the importance of curiosity and a growth mindset, especially in a niche field that demands adaptability. Their team looks for people who lean into challenges even without prior experience in a specific system or technology.
I had the pleasure of sitting down with David Adams. David shared his unique path from rural Ohio to the Peace Corps in Jamaica, and eventually to COO of Wilmot Inc. Where he's leading sustainability efforts focused on energy, water and waste. We got into how resource hiring plays a critical role in their mission, and David reflected on the difference between hires that work and the ones that don't. Spoiler alert referrals and shared values matter more than just resumes, so head on over to building efficiencypodcast.com for the full episode.
I had the pleasure of sitting down with Meg Mason. Meg shared her incredible journey from biotech lab work to leading marketing at HydroPoint Data Systems, where she's been for the past 11 plus years. We talked about how her passion for science and her drive for human connection shaped her career.We also dove in hiring how trusting your gut and valuing, humility and openness to feedback can make or break a great team. So head on over to building efficiencypodcast.com for the full episode.
I had the pleasure of sitting down with Fritz Troller, CEO and Co Founder at Therm Solutions. Fritz shared his journey from corporate leadership at Grainger to co founding multiple startups including Groom Energy and now Therm Solutions. We got into the weeds on their carbon finance model, how they're tackling refrigerant emissions in the food supply chain, and the pivotal role that carbon credits play in enabling grocers and and cold storage operators to decarbonize. We also covered a critical piece of hiring. Fritz talked about why early stage hires should come through trusted networks, the importance of intellectual curiosity in candidates, and when to partner with experts for industry sourced recruiting.
I had the pleasure of sitting down with Sam Schneider, CEO, and co-founder of Earthlight Technologies. Sam and I dove into the incredible journey of how he and his family grew. A small light bulb shop into 160 person renewable energy powerhouse with the locations across Connecticut.Massachusetts and Oregon. We talked about what it means to build a generational company, how Earthlight moved into solar and battery storage, and how hiring, including bringing in his sister to lead HR initiatives completely transformed their onboarding and talent acquisition strategy.
Chris walked us through his impressive journey—starting from Northeastern’s co-op program, all the way to launching a regional office from scratch, long before remote work became the norm. We also dove into hiring best practices, what makes for a successful sales hire, and how private equity acquisition strategy actually mirrors smart recruiting. Chris really emphasized the importance of motivation, character, and structure when building high-performing teams.
From entrepreneur to director at XPEL, Harry Rahman shares how window film tech is disrupting the building efficiency space. Plus, his honest take on hiring mistakes and what really matters in recruitment.
This episode dives into AEE's mission, mentorship, and the importance of people in energy efficiency.
Case Study: How we helped a mechanical contractor’s energy services
division successfully hire outside the traditional talent pool by
prioritizing solution-selling skills over direct industry experience.
Jim provides an update of the NAESCO federal workshop, noting both
optimism within the Department of Defense for continued energy efficiency
projects and pessimism due to federal agency project cancellations and
pauses.
I had the pleasure of sitting down with Clay Reichenbach, President of Next Step Energy Solutions.Clay shared his incredible journey—from playing baseball at Rice University to leading teams in real estate, automotive logistics, and now energy efficiency. We dove into what makes Next Step Energy a leader in large-scale LED retrofit projects, especially in the healthcare sector, where operational complexity is a major challenge.Clay also broke down what he looks for when hiring and retaining top talent, emphasizing personal pride in excellence and perseverance in the face of adversity.Head over to BuildingEfficiencyPodcast.com for the full episode.
I had the pleasure of sitting down with Jon Gasser, Partner at CMTA.We talked about his journey from a small-town upbringing to becoming a leader at CMTA, his passion for energy solutions, and how his parents’ work ethic shaped his approach to business. Jon shared insights on CMTA’s growth, their unique approach to performance contracting, and lessons learned from hiring over 100 people in recent years.If you’re interested in how culture and entrepreneurial spirit drive success—or want tips on building winning teams—this one’s for you.
I had the pleasure of sitting down with Paul Kondrat, the engineering practice leader at CanonDesign. Paul shared his fascinating career journey from starting out as an HVAC engineer to leading an innovative global engineering practice. We also dove into CanonDesign's holistic approach to architecture and engineering, which blends cutting-edge technologies like AI and sustainable design to solve society's biggest challenges. One highlight, our discussion on hiring and retaining talent. Paul shared lessons learned from his best hires, as well as insights into building a strong company culture that invests in its people. This one's packed with value.
I had the pleasure of sitting down with Paul Kondrat, the engineering practice leader at CanonDesign. Paul shared his fascinating career journey from starting out as an HVAC engineer to leading an innovative global engineering practice. We also dove into CanonDesign's holistic approach to architecture and engineering, which blends cutting-edge technologies like AI and sustainable design to solve society's biggest challenges. One highlight, our discussion on hiring and retaining talent. Paul shared lessons learned from his best hires, as well as insights into building a strong company culture that invests in its people. This one's packed with value.
Justin shared his diverse career path from consulting through
entrepreneurship to renewable energy, offering valuable insights on team
building and industry evolution.
Explore how holistic energy solutions and innovative financing are
reshaping the energy landscape.
Explore how holistic energy solutions and innovative financing are
reshaping the energy landscape.
Lauren Waldrip, Executive Director of the Arkansas Advanced Energy
Association, discusses her journey from farm life to energy advocacy, the
future of advanced energy in Arkansas, and her mission to support
affordable, reliable power for all Arkansans.
Tomas is the CEO and Founder of EnPowered. The company was founded in 2015 and currently saves customers over $50M per year with its energy management services. In 2021, it began offering its integrated financing solution where it works with a network of more than 200 funders to provide access to a large variety of financing services to clean energy contractors.
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