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Careers

Where You Could Work

Snapshots of green careers throughout Minnesota.

Find more success stories at Clean Energy Economy MN

Home Energy Auditor

Angeline Quilt was working as a stay-at-home mom when she discovered an opportunity online. “I came across a flyer on the CenterPoint website talking about energy auditors and insulation installers. So I just called and applied.”

Soon, Angeline was one of the first graduates from the Center for Energy and Environment's Home Energy Career Training program. The program offers paid training to those seeking a new career in a booming industry. 

Angeline's Story
Madhushan Tennakoon

Machine Learning Developer | Madhushan Tennakoon

Madhushan teaches computers to decipher thousands of different data sets so they can learn to find hidden patterns and relationships to understand how buildings absorb and lose heat, and how they respond to different heating and cooling loads.  

He earned two bachelor's degrees — in physics and electrical engineering — from the University of Minnesota. 

Madhushan's Story
Zahra Iliff, CEO at Vessyll

CEO | Zahra Iliff

After owning a construction company, moving to New Zealand, then back to Minnesota, Zahra launched Vessyll, a next-generation energy storage system for homes and commercial buildings. Zahra's days are never the same. “We’re not walking into a pre-structured industry. This is new and growing every day so you’ve got to be open to solutions and listen and that’s going to help you move forward.”

Zahra's Story
Eric Hansen

Director of Operations | Eric Hansen

Eric plays a major part in ensuring that the biomass combined heat and power plant, Koda Energy, runs smoothly.

After serving six years in the U.S. Navy's nuclear division, he vacuum-pulled the methane off of decomposing trash at Fortistar Plant in Inver Grove Heights to power nearby gas turbines, and moved on to Koda when they opened in 2008.

Eric's Story

Explore Green Building Careers

Discover job opportunities, growth, and credentials needed across four major sectors of the green buildings and energy efficiency industry with the Green Buildings Career Map.

Green Building Careers
Donna Pickard, Permissions Manager at TruNorth Solar

Permissions Manager | Donna Pickard

Donna's role includes obtaining approval from utilities, building departments, and electrical departments of different cities in order to install solar systems. 

After working part time in a school district, she co-founded a residential solar installation company before merging with TruNorth Solar in her current role.

Donna's Story
TJ Ozomoru, Solar Developer at IPS Solar

Solar Developer | TJ Ozomoru

TJ works in real estate acquisition and on the development of community solar gardens, spending much of his time pouring over maps, identifying land that could support a community solar garden. 

After obtaining his real estate license he went back to school for a certificate in solar sales and marketing from Century College.

TJ's Story
Taylor Iverson, solar construction manager, working on installing new panels.

Solar Construction Manager | Taylor Iverson

Taylor's job is to manage the solar installation – from scheduling workers and connecting with customers, to dropping off parts and keeping on track with timetables.

A love of the outdoors along with experience in construction got him started as a solar installer, and he rose up to solar construction manager. 

Taylor's Story

Explore Solar Careers

Discover the growing industry of solar energy including manufacturing, system design, project development, installation, and operations with the Solar Career Map.

Solar Careers
Adam Rupp, Manufacturing Engineer at Alexandria Industries

Manufacturing Engineer | Adam Rupp

Adam develops and implements manufacturing systems and processes used to create components out of aluminum extrusions, including the support systems that hold solar panels in place.

Adam started his post-secondary studies at Alexandria Technical and Community College, followed by a mechanical engineering degree and a master's in business administration at St. Cloud State University. 

Adam's Story
John Mertes, Energy Specialist at Werner Electric.

Energy Specialist | John Mertes

John spends his days working with solar contractors and developers helping figure out the best solutions and products for the job.

After 6 years as a truck driver, John earned a two year technical specialist degree from St. Cloud Technical Community College, and then joined Werner Electric. 

John's Story
Dennis and Andy Kim, President and Vice President at EVS, Inc.

President and Vice President | Dennis and Andy Kim

Dennis started EVS, Inc. in 1979 after earning a master's degree in civil engineering from the University of Minnesota. The family business pivoted from the transportation sector to renewable energy over a decade ago, performing civil engineering for solar gardens and utility-scale solar sites. 

Dennis and Andy's Story

Explore Wind Careers

Discover an expanding universe of wind energy occupations in this career map.

Wind Energy Careers
Cari Woitalla, Senior Project Manager at ATS Trucking, with expertise in transporting components for wind turbines.

Senior Project Manager | Cari Woitalla

Cari oversees every tiny detail that goes into safely transporting hundreds of massive wind turbines from origin to the project site. 

While in college at Central Lakes, she worked as a part time load tracker for ATS Trucking, and has since risen up the ladder. 

Cari's Story
Steve Vietor instructing students learning to become wind & solar electrical technicians.

Wind Energy Instructor | Steve Vietor

Steve started in the electrical industry in 1975, and for more than twenty years he’s worked as an instructor at Riverland Community College, most recently running the electrical, solar, and wind training program.

Steve's Story
Joffrey Wilson, Director of Strategy and Development at Mortenson.

Director of Strategy and Development | Joffrey Wilson

Joffrey spends his days figuring out which energy projects his employer should be putting their time and resources towards. Specifically, he focuses on assets like microgrids.

A marketing degree from the University of Minnesota led to a job at Ford Motor Company and an additional degree from the University of Michigan Business School. After moving back to Minnesota to work for General Mills, he joined the Integrated Energy Solutions team at Mortenson.

Joffrey's Story

Explore More Careers

The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy offers various career maps to help you explore what your future could look like, including bioenergy, green buildings, hydropower to name a few. 

Map a Career in Clean Energy

Community Leader

When it comes to clean energy outreach within a community, Carolina Ortiz says it’s important to get creative.

Read about Carolina's journey and what motivates her and her organization to connect Minnesota's Latino community with the benefits of clean energy.

Carolina's Story
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