Building Efficiency Podcast

For the first time on the Building Efficiency Podcast, Jim turns the mic on two of his own colleagues — Nenni & Associates recruiters Ryan McGushin and Trevor Morrison — for a mid-year "state of the energy industry." Both came up the same way: Northern Illinois University, then straight into the recruiting grind, where they've spent a combined ~27 years placing talent across energy services an...

Five years after his pandemic-era first appearance, Charlie Zitnik returns to the show. Charlie and his partner Steve Goehl lead energy-and-renewables work inside D.A. Davidson's 150-person Public Finance group, financing energy-efficiency projects for ESCOs and prime contractors across the MUSH market. Jim and Charlie sit down to unpack the "four-legged round table" behind every successful public...

We covered David’s unique journey from studying jazz and playing music to building a career in software and ultimately becoming a leader in energy infrastructure and public-private partnerships at Brailsford & Dunleavy. We got into how universities are approaching major infrastructure challenges today, especially around district energy systems, and how P3 models are evolving to focus more on e...

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Kate Heidinger, CEO of Allumia. Kate and I dug into her career path from solar finance and water efficiency to leading a growing energy as a service company focused on small to mid-size commercial projects. We talked about how Allumia partners with utilities leverages technology and data transparency and makes energy efficiency accessible without upfront cap...

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Gabe Phillips. Gabe and I dug into his journey from electricity trading to founding Catalyst Power Holdings and how he's helping commercial and industrial customers decarbonize through retail, energy supply and onsite generation. We also hit on one of our favorite topics: hiring, including why Gabe sees the highest success rates when new team members come th...

I sat down  with Bryan Lang. Bryan and I got into his journey from engineering consulting to JP Morgan Chase and now leading Solutions Engineering at Bedrock Energy. We talked about the rapid growth of geothermal, the technology they're developing and the market momentum behind it. And of course, we dove into hiring why Bryan believes you should hire the person, not the paper, and how cultural ali...

We sat down with  with Steph Cuthbert and Mark Nunzio from RVE. We dug into their unique paths in engineering. Steph shared how she's built her entire career at RVE, leading the firm's water and wastewater division. And Mark talked about stepping into his new role, leading the MEP division across several regions. We talked about culture collaboration. What and what keeps people at RVE for the long...

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...

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'...

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...

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...

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 s...

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 motivatio...

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 operat...

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...

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 s...

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 s...

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.