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5 episodes with nrg energy
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2 episodes with nrg energy
2 episodes with nrg energy
2 episodes with nrg energy
Today we had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Francesco Sassi for a wide-ranging discussion on global energy and geopolitics. Francesco is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Oslo and previously served as a Research Fellow in energy geopolitics and markets at Ricerche Industriali ed Energetiche (RIE). Francesco holds a Ph.D. in Political Science – Geopolitics from the University of Pisa, where he focused his research on the Sino-Russian gas interdependence. We were drawn to his straightforward analysis, insightful commentary, and use of maps to bring complex dynamics to life. We were thrilled to visit with Francesco and learn from his perspective. In our conversation, we explore the rise of political risk in energy markets and the growing global interdependence of the energy system, driven by factors such as China's increasing influence in shaping energy geopolitics, new interdependencies created by energy technology, trade and manufacturing, as well as disruptions like COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war. We examine Russian gas volumes to Europe, Spain's leadership in clean energy and the implications of its recent blackout, and the dual forces shaping Europe: rising cross-border interconnectivity projects alongside increasing energy nationalism. We touch on President Trump's recent visit to the Middle East, which is part of broader interest in energy and AI investment in the region, OPEC+ strategy, market share pressures, and the impact of low oil prices on Russia. Francesco shares his perspective on the potential for a Putin-Zelensky meeting, tensions between India and Pakistan, and how energy policy is becoming increasingly central to electoral platforms in Europe. We turn to Argentina's recent progress under President Milei, Israeli investment in lithium extraction technology in Argentina's lithium triangle, and how energy and mineral resources are increasingly being used as tools of foreign policy and geopolitical leverage. We close with Francisco's thoughts on the growing power of energy as a force shaping international relations and global industrial strategy. It was a dynamic and insightful conversation. Mike Bradley kicked off the discussion by noting that broader markets rallied substantially on Monday following news that China and the U.S. have agreed to a “tentative” tariff deal. Broader equity markets (S&P 500) have completely retraced their losses since Trump's April 2nd Day of Liberation and are now up slightly (+4%). Meanwhile, the S&P Volatility Index has plunged from its April 8th tariff volatility highs and is now trading near YTD lows, something to be monitored closely as any surprise event could send broader markets lower. On the bond market front, the 10yr bond yield is trading sideways even though April CPI came in lower than expected. PPI will be released on Wednesday and if it too prints lower than expected, it could provide room for the Fed to begin cutting rates at their June 18th FOMC meeting. On the crude oil front, WTI price has rebounded nicely over the past week and now trades at ~$63/bbl. Oil traders remain focused on future OPEC+ production increases and increasingly on whether U.S. E&Ps will begin altering their 2025 capex plans at these lower prices levels. He wrapped up with a look at key events this week, notably NRG Energy's acquisition of LS Power's portfolio of natural gas generation assets (~13gw for ~$12 billion). The move follows Constellation Energy's mid-January deal to acquire Calpine Corp. and demonstrates that both companies are positioning themselves for an acceleration in electricity growth this decade. Many thanks to Francesco for sharing his time and insights with us today. We hope you enjoy the discussion as much as we did! Our best to you all.
Global equity markets surged as investors cheered the US-China trade deal, with the Dow Jones jumping over 1,100 points and the S&P 500 closing at its highest level since March 3rd. Technology stocks, particularly those with significant exposure to China, saw strong gains. Apple is poised to implement iPhone price hikes, while NRG Energy is betting on the future of gas with a $12 billion LS deal. Meanwhile, Treasury yields rose as the US-China trade agreement pushed investors away from safe havens, causing oil prices to climb to a two-week high amid tariff reductions. Gold, however, slumped nearly 3% as its appeal dimmed. Closer to home, Aussie shares are expected to open higher on Tuesday after hitting two-month highs. The Aussie dollar continues to slide against the US dollar, while investors keep a close eye on Life 360’s earnings update and upcoming sentiment surveys The content in this podcast is prepared, approved and distributed in Australia by Commonwealth Securities Limited ABN 60 067 254 399 AFSL 238814. The information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider the appropriateness of the information before acting and if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
If President Trump's tariff strategy succeeds in sparking a revival in US manufacturing, one consequence will be surging demand for power. We are already seeing electricity demand starting to pick up after 15 years of stagnation, driven by new data centers for AI and a wave of factory-building for semiconductors and batteries that is already under way. How can the electricity industry increase capacity to meet that growing demand and provide the power that the country needs?That's the question for this special episode of the Energy Gang, recorded live in front of an invited audience at the headquarters of the American Clean Power association in Washington DC. Host Ed Crooks talks to Chris Shelton, the Chief Product Officer at AES, Travis Kavulla, the Vice-President for Regulatory Affairs at NRG Energy, and MJ Shiao, the Vice President of Supply Chain and Manufacturing at American Clean Power.They discuss whether electricity demand growth is really happening, which technologies are best placed to provide new supply, and who will end up paying for the investment needed to increase capacity. The Trump administration's focus has been on “baseload” power, particularly new natural gas power plants. But there are reasons why they cannot be a complete solution. Renewable energy and battery storage also have important roles to play.The group also assess the impacts of changing energy policies under a Republican administration and Congress. What will be the fate of tax credits for low-carbon energy under the Inflation Reduction Act? And will moves to expedite permitting and environmental approvals make it easier to build all kinds of new infrastructure, including power and energy facilities, in the US?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
World's Most Ethical Companies. And… see six companies that have been honored for 19 years! Plus, terrific alternative energy picks. By Ron Robins, MBA Transcript & Links, Episode 150, March 21, 2025 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to my podcast episode 150, published March 21, 2025, titled “World's Most Ethical Companies. And...” It's presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript and links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – on this episode's podcast page at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, and I don't receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal any investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. Additionally, quotes about individual companies are brief. Please go to this podcast's webpage for links to the articles and more company and stock information. ------------------------------------------------------------- World's Most Ethical Companies. And... Now, The 2025 World's Most Ethical Companies® listing by Ethisphere is where I'm beginning this podcast. It's always a great listing to review for ethical and sustainable investors. The following information is gleaned from Ethisphere's website and has been re-ordered for presentation here. Also, note that companies are not ranked. So, some quotes. “The World's Most Ethical Companies is an annual recognition… Earning this recognition involves a comprehensive application and evaluation of your Ethics and Compliance program through Ethisphere's proprietary Ethics Quotient® (EQ), which assesses a company's ethics and compliance program, culture, and governance practices. The listed 2025 World's Most Ethical Companies Honorees outperformed a comparable index of global companies by 7.8 percent from January 2020 to 2025. In 2025, 136 organizations are recognized for their unwavering commitment to business integrity. The honorees span 19 countries and 44 industries, and include 11 first-time honorees and 6 organizations that have been named to the honoree list 19 times, marking every year since its inception. The six organizations that have been recognized by Ethisphere as honorees for 19 consecutive years, since the inception of the World's Most Ethical Companies® list in 2007, are: Aflac (AFL), Ecolab (ECL), International Paper (IP), Kao Corporation (KAOOY), Milliken & Company (private), and PepsiCo (PEP).” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Alternative Energy Stocks (1) This next article takes us to our ethical and sustainable investors' favorite sector. It's titled 4 Alternative Energy Stocks to Buy Amid Growing Investment Trends. It's by Aparajita Dutta and seen on finance.yahoo.com, though originally published on zacks.com. Here are some quotes from her article on her picks. “1. OPAL Fuels Inc. (OPAL) Based in Boston, MA, the company is a vertically integrated renewable fuels platform involved in the production and distribution of renewable natural gas for the heavy-duty truck market… The company currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). 2. Expand Energy Corporation (EXE) Based in Oklahoma City, OK, the company is an independent natural gas producer, principally in the United States… Expand Energy Corporation currently holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). 3. Bloom Energy Corporation (BE) Based in San Jose, CA, the company generates and distributes renewable energy… The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. 4. Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG) Based in Baltimore, MD, the company provides electric power, natural gas and energy management services to 2 million customers across the continental United States… The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Alternative Energy Stocks (2) Now another article on our top sector. It's titled Top 4 Wind Energy Stocks to Consider. It's by Avisekh Bhattacharjee and seen on finance.yahoo.com though again first published on zacks.com. Here are some quotes from the article by Mr. Bhattacharjee. “1. OGE Energy (OGE) is the largest electric utility in Oklahoma. The company has been investing steadily to expand its renewable generation assets. As of Dec. 31, 2024, the company owned the 120 megawatts (MW) Centennial, 101 MW OU Spirit and 228 MW Crossroads wind farms. This Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company offers the Renewable Energy Credit purchase program, the Green Power Wind Rider and the Utility Solar Program, which are rate options that make renewable energy resources available as a voluntary option to all OG&E (wholly-owned subsidiary of OGE Energy) Oklahoma retail customers. 2. NextEra Energy (NEE) is a public utility holding company engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electric energy. The company's competitive energy business NextEra Energy Resources LLC (“NEER”) is the world's leading generator of renewable energy from wind, based on 2024 MWh produced on a net generation basis… This Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company's major capital projects continue to proceed as per plan and the addition of new renewable projects continues to boost its renewable portfolio. 3. American Electric Power Company (AEP) has been investing steadily to enhance its renewable generation portfolio. Exiting 2024, wind, hydro and solar energy represented 21% of American Electric's generating capacity compared with 4% in 2005… As of Sept. 30, 2024, this Zacks Rank #3 company received regulatory approvals from various state regulatory commissions to acquire approximately 2,505 MWs of owned renewable generation facilities for roughly $6 billion. 4. DTE Energy (DTE) The company aims to invest more than $11 billion in clean energy transition over the next 10 years. Through this solid investment, DTE Energy aims to add 1,000 megawatts (MW) of new wind and solar energy annually, powering approximately 5.5 million homes with renewable energy by 2042… This Zacks Rank #3 company plans to reduce carbon emissions of its electric utility operations by 65% in 2028, 85% in 2032 and 90% within 2040 from the 2005 levels.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Alternative Energy Stocks (3) Again on the subject of alternative energy is this article titled 11 Best Alternative Energy Stocks to Buy Now. It's by Fahim Tahir and can be found on fool.com. Here's some of what Mr. Tahir says about each of his picks. “We first picked companies operating in the alternative energy sector with market capitalization surpassing the $5 billion mark… The shortlisted stocks were then ranked using Insider Monkey's Hedge Fund Database as of Q4 2024, as per the number of hedge funds invested in them. The companies with the highest hedge fund interest were ranked in ascending order… our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. 11. Centrais Elétricas Brasileiras S.A. – Eletrobrás (NYSE:EBR) Number of Hedge Funds Holders: 28 [The company] is a top company in Brazil's power industry. [It] produces electricity using hydro, thermal, nuclear, wind, and solar energy sources. It holds operations of 44 hydroelectric plants, five thermal plants, and two nuclear plants, as well as an extensive transmission network of over 66,000 kilometers… [The company] is well-positioned to capitalize on Brazil's renewable energy expansion. 10. Ormat Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:ORA) Hedge Funds Holders: 28 Ormat Technologies, Inc. is one of the top players in the geothermal and renewable energy industry. The company operates assets globally, including the U.S., Indonesia, Kenya, Turkey and other international markets… Its strategy [is] to capitalize on the increasing clean energy demand, as well as its expertise in geothermal and energy storage. 9. Clearway Energy, Inc. (NYSE:CWEN) Hedge Funds Holders: 28 Clearway Energy, Inc. is a leader in clean energy with a diversified portfolio including wind, solar, and battery storage assets across the U.S. Its renewable energy capacity of around 9 GW plays an important role in its transition toward sustainable energy solutions… While investors must be wary of potential market variability, the company's strong fundamentals and dedication to clean energy expansion make it one of the Best Clean Energy Stocks. 8. Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENPH) Hedge Funds Holders: 39 Enphase Energy, Inc. is one of the top global companies in microinverter-based solar and battery solutions, catering to residential and commercial demand globally. The company designs and manufactures advanced home energy systems, including IQ Microinverters, IQ Batteries, and energy management software, optimizing solar power usage and storage for homeowners. With its strong fundamentals and strategic partnerships, Enphase Energy, Inc. has the prospects of further growing its share price. 7. Nextracker Inc. (NASDAQ:NXT) Hedge Funds Holders: 41 Nextracker Inc. is one of the top providers of solar tracker and software solutions. The company focuses on energy production optimization for utility-scale solar projects globally. Its flagship products include NX Horizon and NX Horizon-XTR, enhancing solar efficiency through the adjustment of panel positioning based on site conditions… Its stock rose by 21.49% year-to-date, indicating investor confidence in its potential for growth. 6. NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG) Hedge Funds Holders: 53 NRG Energy, Inc. is a dominant energy supplier in the U.S. and Canada, offering home services, power generation, and retail electricity. With a portfolio covering solar, natural gas, and battery storage solutions, the company runs across multiple segments, including East, West, Texas, and Vivint Smart Home. Furthermore, NRG Energy reinforced its dedication to shareholder value by increasing its quarterly dividend by 8% to $0.44 per share… NRG continues to remain strongly positioned to implement its prolonged growth strategy. 5. First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSLR) Hedge Funds Holders: 65 First Solar, Inc. is a top solar technology company, specializes in photovoltaic (PV) solar energy solutions. The company provides a lower-carbon alternative to conventional silicon-based modules as it manufactures thin-film cadmium telluride (CadTel) solar modules. First Solar caters to utilities, independent power producers, and commercial system owners, with operations spanning various international markets, including France, Chile, India, and the United States… First Solar, Inc. remains a key player in the renewable energy transition due to its innovative solar technology, firm market positions, and growing manufacturing footprint. 4. Talen Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:TLN) Hedge Funds Holders: 77 Talen Energy Corporation a stand-alone power producer and infrastructure company, sells and generates electricity across the United States. Talen Energy has a broad portfolio consisting of solar, fossil, nuclear, and coal power plants and is expanding its battery storage initiatives to solidify its clean energy transition… [The company] maintains its position as one of the best clean energy stocks and remains a prominent player in the evolving energy landscape with reaffirmed 2025 EBITDA guidance of up to $1.175 billion. 3. Constellation Energy Corporation (NASDAQ:CEG) Hedge Funds Holders: 85 Constellation Energy Corporation a prominent producer of emissions-free energy, provides nuclear, hydro, wind, natural gas, and solar power across the U.S. The company is at the front line of the clean energy transition with a generating capacity of 31,676 megawatts. Its position among the best clean energy stocks is strengthened by its robust financial growth and strategic investments… The company continues to lead the clean energy sector with major investments in solar, wind, hydroelectric power, and nuclear, and a strategic expansion plan. 2. GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE:GEV) Hedge Funds Holders: 111 GE Vernova Inc. an international energy company, offers a variety of products and services for electricity generation, transmission, and storage. The company functions through three segments: Power, Wind, and Electrification. Wind segments focus on onshore and offshore wind turbines, whereas the Power segment centers around gas, hydro, nuclear, and steam technologies. The Electrification segment, on the other hand, facilitates grid solutions, solar, storage, and electrification software… GE Vernova remains one of the best clean energy stocks for prolonged growth with its robust financial performance and continued investments in clean energy. 1. Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) Hedge Funds Holders: 120 Vistra Corp. a prominent integrated retail electricity and power generation company, continues to diversify its clean energy portfolio while retaining robust financial performance. Vistra Corp. is strategically positioned to meet the increasing demand for sustainable power solutions in the U.S. with a diverse generation capacity of nearly 41,000 megawatts.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Additional article links 1. Title: Watch Faith-Based Investing on bloomberg.com. 2. Title: Investing in Nature: How Natural Capital Delivers Strong, Stable Returns on dividend.com. By Aaron Levitt. 3. Title: 7 Green Investments to Transform Your Retirement Funds on moneytalksnews.com. By MTN Staff. 4. Title: Explore These 30 Leading Water Funds and Water Stocks in the US and Europe on morningstar.com. By Boya Wang and Hortense Bioy. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment These are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips for this podcast, “World's Most Ethical Companies. And...” Please click the like and subscribe buttons wherever you download or listen to this podcast. That helps bring these podcasts to others like you. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let's promote ethical and sustainable investing as a force for hope and prosperity in these troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. I'll talk to you next on April 4th. Bye for now. © 2025 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul
In this episode of the BIC Magazine Weekly Industry Report, we cover First Hydrogen's expansion into nuclear power for green hydrogen production, Voyager Midstream's latest pipeline acquisition from Phillips 66, record-breaking U.S. natural gas pipeline expansions, and NRG Energy's $560 million purchase of six Texas power plants.
US equity futures are lower after a strong close on Wednesday. European markets opened weaker, while Asia equities are tilting lower. Markets remain cautious as trade tensions escalate following Trump's overnight imposition of 25% tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, prompting swift retaliation from Canada and the EU. Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs cut its year-end S&P 500 price target after recently lowering its 2025 GDP forecast. The US CPI report came in softer than expected, with both headline and core inflation below forecasts. The Bank of Canada cut rates by 25 basis points, marking its seventh consecutive cut. In geopolitical developments, Ukraine has signaled willingness to accept a 30-day ceasefire proposal now under review by Moscow.Companies Mentioned: Amazon, NRG Energy, Sunnova Energy
APAC stocks traded mixed as a tech rally in China offset the weak handover from Wall St where the Nasdaq led the declines once again.US Commerce Secretary Lutnick said they will investigate the possible imposition of tariffs to rebuild the US copper industry.European equity futures indicate a positive cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 future up 0.7% after the cash market closed with losses of 0.1% on Tuesday.DXY is attempting to claw back yesterday's losses, EUR/USD has slipped back onto a 1.04 handle, AUD unfazed by in-line CPI.Looking ahead, highlights include German GfK Consumer Sentiment, US New Homes Sales, ECB's Lagarde & Cipollone, BoE's Dhingra, Fed's Barkin & Bostic, French President Macron, Supply from Germany & the US.Earnings from NVIDIA, Snowflake, Salesforce, Lowe's, NRG Energy, Advance Auto Parts, AB Inbev, Stellantis, Munich Re, Fresenius, Covestro & Deutsche Telekom.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk
European bourses gain and currently reside at highs; US futures also stronger with NQ outperforming ahead of key NVIDIA results.DXY attempts to claw back recent losses, EUR/USD lingers around 1.05.USTs are off lows but remain in the red while EGBs inch higher.Crude choppy, gas subdued, but metals hold a positive bias as the complex digests Trump tariff investigations into copper.Looking ahead, US New Homes Sales, Speakers including ECB's Lagarde & Cipollone, BoE's Dhingra, Fed's Barkin & Bostic, French President Macron, Supply from the US, Earnings from NVIDIA, Snowflake, Salesforce, Lowe's, NRG Energy, Advance Auto Parts.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk
Show NotesWe hear a lot about electrification as quickly as possible, but most of that takes the electric grid for granted that it can handle the demand. But our guest today, Apoorv Bhargava, points out that the demand posed by electric cars is akin to putting industrial levels of demand in every residential neighborhood. With ⅓ of new cars in the US being electric by next year, the capacity just isn't there.WeaveGrid, which Apoorv co-founded, partners with utilities and automakers to make EV charging more reliable and flexible to deal with this rapidly increasing demand - and to take advantage of new opportunities, like the fact that many families will have giant batteries on wheels sitting unused at night.In This Episode:⚡ Why a single EV can have the same power demand as 2-3 homes⚡ The surprising bottleneck to decarbonization (Hint: It's not generation)⚡ Why charging at 10PM may not be the best solution for the grid⚡ The role of AI and automation in optimizing EV charging⚡ The lack of standardized protocols for EV-grid communication⚡ How WeaveGrid is building the most sophisticated EV Virtual Power Plant (VPP)⚡ The real challenge: Consumers don't want decarbonization, they want reliability!Apoorv also shares hot takes on EV adoption, public charging infrastructure, and the future of AI in energy, plus why software engineers should consider working in climate tech.About Our Guest:Apoorv Bhargavahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/apoorv-bhargava/Apoorv has spent over 12 years at the intersection of climate, energy, and technology, driving innovation in utility software, grid management, and electrification. Before founding WeaveGrid, he worked on demand-side management at Opower (now Oracle), energy storage strategy at NRG Energy, and clean tech investments in venture capital. Apoorv holds an MBA and MS in Energy & Resources from Stanford University and degrees in Chemical Engineering and Energy Economics from Rice University.Under his leadership, WeaveGrid has grown to nearly 90 employees and serves 15+ utility customers across the U.S.. In 2024, the company expanded partnerships with multiple major automakers, solidifying its position as a key player in EV-grid integration.Apoorv at RE:Invent: Apoorv Bhargava on “How Can AI Accelerate Progress in ...www.youtube.com › watchApoorv on Climate Tech Cocktails - talking, and singing: https://www.instagram.com/climatetechcocktails/reel/C-gDpLdpknc/Your Hosts Mansi Shah - Joshua Marker ClimateStack
Tony Olivo and Ken Rahn from FlexGen join the conversation to discuss the evolution of energy storage and its role in grid stability. FlexGen has transitioned from a hardware-focused company to a software-first approach, helping utilities and developers optimize energy storage solutions.The discussion covers the challenges of communicating value in a complex industry, the growing importance of batteries in balancing supply and demand, and the future of renewable energy. Tony and Ken share insights into how FlexGen is solving real-world energy problems through advanced software and analytics.About Building Better:Building Better with Brandon Bartneck focuses on the people, products, and companies creating a better tomorrow, often in the transportation and manufacturing sectors. Previously called theFuture of Mobility podcast, the show features real, human conversations exploring what leaders and innovators are doing, why and how they're doing it, and what we can learn from their experiences. Topics include manufacturing, production, assembly, autonomous driving, electric vehicles, hydrogen and fuel cells, leadership, and more.About FlexGen:Based in Durham, N.C., FlexGen is an innovative software and services provider in the global energy storage sector. At the forefront of the energy transition, FlexGen leverages decades of engineering and software expertise to help shape the future of sustainable power both in the United States and globally.FlexGen's HybridOS™ software seamlessly integrates with any hardware vendor and with both traditional and renewable power sources. Their advanced analytics and AI-driven insights enable energy storage owners to effectively deploy diverse power market strategies, enhancing grid stability and increasing economic returns. With 1.5M hours of runtime and 8 GWh of energy storage systems managed with HybridOS™, FlexGen provides field-tested software and services solutions that are trusted by developers, utilities, government agencies, and industrial companies worldwide.Key Takeaways:FlexGen focuses on turning batteries on, keeping them operational, and extending their life.The company has evolved from hardware manufacturing to a software-first approach.Batteries play a crucial role in stabilizing the grid and managing energy supply and demand.Effective communication of value propositions is essential in the energy sector.The energy storage industry is influenced by the growth of electric vehicles and renewable energy sources.FlexGen aims to solve real-world problems in energy management.Understanding the character of energy is vital for effective grid management.The company is open to future opportunities beyond current technologies.Grid stability is affected by the balance of supply and demand.FlexGen's software can help utilities optimize their energy resources.About the Guests:Tony Olivo is the Senior Vice President of Software Engineering at FlexGen. With 17 years of experience in large-scale power conversion and energy storage systems, Tony leads the software development division for FlexGen's products in energy storage control, analytics, and orchestration. He holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is the author of seven patents.Ken Rahn is the Vice President of Marketing and Customer Solutions at FlexGen. Based in San Francisco, he brings extensive experience in technology and leadership, with a background in organizational communications and biomaterials. His career began in the U.S. Navy, where he led a team of over 50 Nuclear Electronics Technicians. He has since held roles at NRG Energy, Medallia, and Iterable, navigating multiple pre-IPO to post-IPO transitions. Ken is excited about FlexGen's potential for explosive growth in the energy sector.Links & Resources:Learn more about FlexGen:FlexGen WebsiteAccess insights and downloads:FlexGen ResourcesShow Notes:brandonbartneck.com/buildingbetter/flexgen
Join us for an in-depth discussion with three different perspectives on the future of energy. We'll explore the potential impacts of Trump's policies on renewable energy, fossil fuels, and the environment. With the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) driving historic clean energy investments, we're at a critical juncture as Trump begins his second term. Tune in as we navigate the complex landscape of the energy industry's future.The solar industry has proven its resilience time and again. During Trump's first term, solar capacity in the U.S. surged by 128%, exceeding 100 GW despite a federal focus on fossil fuels, according to SEIA. That same spirit of adaptation is palpable today, as the clean energy sector braces for a second term marked by deregulation, energy “trade-offs,” and a growing corporate appetite for renewables. David Roberts, respected journalist and progenitor of Volts.wtf, explores the unpredictability of the Trump's energy policies and how coalitions have become a vital counterbalance to federal uncertainty. Travis Kavulla, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs at NRG Energy, provides a detailed look at regulatory developments, including the potential impact of Chris Wright's leadership at DOE and how the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) evolving role could shape market dynamics.Aaron Nichols, Marketing and Advocacy Specialist at Exact Solar, scoured dozens of articles on the subject and reflects on how Trump's initial term unexpectedly mobilized the solar industry, sparking collaboration that continues to fuel growth. Despite the challenges, there are significant opportunities. Corporate renewable investments, driven by the AI boom and energy-hungry data centers, are reshaping market demand. Industry coalitions are demonstrating the power of collective advocacy in influencing policy and preserving growth. Federal agencies like FERC and DOE are at the forefront of decisions that could redefine the balance between fossil fuels and clean energy. The solar sector is once again proving its resilience, channeling innovation and determination to meet the moment.With Inauguration Day just around the corner, the direction of U.S. energy policy hangs in the balance. Will deregulation spur clean energy growth, or will shifting priorities pose new challenges? Tune in to find out more.If you want to connect with today's guest, you'll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.mysuncast.com/sponsors.Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today's guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.Subscribe to Valence, our weekly LinkedIn Newsletter, and learn the elements of compelling storytelling:
In this episode, I speak with Ben Brown, CEO of Renew Home, about the company's groundbreaking 1-gigawatt virtual power plant deal with NRG Energy in Texas. It will be the nation's largest VPP, leveraging existing smart thermostats to control millions of residential HVAC systems. We discuss customer experience, data privacy, and the ability of VPPs to rapidly scale to meet rising electricity demand. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.volts.wtf/subscribe
The headline from this year's World Energy Outlook released by the International Energy Agency says, “The world is on the brink of a new age of electricity.” In the United States, electrification is set to transform the energy landscape, and the nation is expected to see a rapid rise in power demand. Questions remain over how this demand will be met, and if this means increasing carbon emissions from the power sector. These questions are further complicated by the rise of artificial intelligence and an antiquated and fragmented electric grid. So how do efforts to decarbonize the century-old power system impact both reliability and the cost of electricity? And what does this new era of rising electricity demand mean for domestic manufacturing, AI data centers, and other industries? This week host Jason Bordoff talks with Cheryl LaFleur and David Hill about the incoming Trump administration, its impact on FERC, and the status of permitting reform measures. Cheryl is an advisory board member at the Center on Global Energy Policy. Previously, she was one of the longest-serving commissioners on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from 2010 to 2019, and served twice as FERC's chair. Since 2019, Cheryl has served on the board of directors of the Independent System Operator of New England (ISO-NE). David is a non-resident fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy. He served as general counsel of the U.S. Department of Energy during the George W. Bush administration. From 2012 to 2018, he served as executive vice president and general counsel of NRG Energy, Inc.
Technovation with Peter High (CIO, CTO, CDO, CXO Interviews)
931: Transitioning from project to product thinking is more than an operational change—it's a mindset shift. In this episode of Technovation, host Peter High speaks with Dak Liyanearachchi (CTO, NRG Energy), Arthur Hu (Global CIO, Lenovo), and Mike Anderson (CIO, Netskope) about how their organizations are embracing this evolution. The discussion spans the challenges of aligning business capabilities, fostering cross-functional teams, and developing leadership for a product-driven future.
This episode of EV Musings delves into the challenges and opportunities surrounding electric vehicle (EV) adoption in the United States. Despite being the birthplace of Tesla, the U.S. lags behind other countries like Norway in terms of EV uptake. The discussion covers the complexities of the U.S. charging infrastructure, the dominance of Tesla, the role of politics in EV adoption, and the importance of education for consumers. It touches on the potential impact of Chinese EVs on the U.S. market and the role of incentives in promoting EV adoption.We know that the US is 'a different beast' when it comes to EVs. But how much different is it really? Guest Details: Chris George - Chris's WebsiteKevin Prince - Kevin Prince is a dedicated leader with 23 years of experience in the energy and infrastructure sectors. He has a proven track record of building and leading teams to creatively develop, implement and close complex projects. Kevin currently serves as Vice President of Fleet Electrification Solutions at Revolv, where he oversees the strategic direction, growth and execution of the company's sales and development practice. Prior to this, he held leadership roles at Nextracker, Black & Veatch, NRG Energy, and SunPower Corporation, where he consistently drove growth and innovation in the renewable energy sector.Kevin's WebsiteThis season of the podcast is sponsored by Zapmap, the free to download app that helps EV drivers search, plan, and pay for their charging.Links in the show notes:NASCAR selects ABB as electricity mobility provider. - Cool thingEpisode produced by Arran Sheppard at Urban Podcasts: https://www.urbanpodcasts.co.uk(C) 2019-2024 Gary Comerford Support me: Patreon Link: http://www.patreon.com/evmusingsKo-fi Link: http://www.ko-fi.com/evmusings The Books:'So, you've gone electric?' on Amazon : https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07Q5JVF1X'So, you've gone renewable?' on Amazon : https://amzn.to/3LXvIckSocial Media:EVMusings: Twitter https://twitter.com/MusingsEvInstagram: @EVmusingsOctopus Energy referral code (Click this link to get started) https://share.octopus.energy/neat-star-460Upgrade to smarter EV driving with a free week's trial of Zapmap Premium, find out more here https://evmusings.com/zapmap-premiumMentioned in this episode:Zap MapThe EV Musings Podcast is sponsored by Zapmap, the go-to app for EV drivers in the UK, which helps EV drivers search, plan, and pay for their charging. Zapmap is free to download and use, with Zapmap...
Nick is recognized as a digital marketing expert by many, including Ford Motor Company, RYSE Supplements & NRG Energy.He speaks often on business development, advertising, analytics and helpsbrands navigate the nuances of the ever-evolving digital marketing landscape.His day-to-day is centered around operating his businesses and consulting on technical and strategic execution of advanced sales and marketing techniques, including scalable solutions for customer relationship management and marketing automation.His experience ranges from print marketing and (viral) content marketing todigital marketing and sales technology integration.
Matt Carter, CEO of Intrado, the Stonepeak-backed provider of 9-1-1 critical infrastructure and technology solutions, and a board member at both JLL and NRG Energy, sits down with Heidrick & Struggles' Jessica Gentile and Francesca “Chessy” Michel, to discuss his approach to building high-performance teams, the particular leadership skills or capabilities that are most important, and creating strong organizational cultures and driving followership. He also shares how his experience as CEO of both public- and private equity–backed companies as well as a board member shapes his thinking, and discusses the trends he foresees in the digital infrastructure sector and how he thinks teams should prepare to stay ahead of challenges. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How to Trade Stocks and Options Podcast by 10minutestocktrader.com
In this video, we're diving into the chaos that elections can bring to the stock market. CNBC is calling it a “coin flip” for what stocks will do next month, and if you've been around the markets during an election, you know exactly how unpredictable things can get. But don't worry—this video is all about breaking down why trading during election season is risky and how to avoid making the same costly mistakes. I'll take you back to my own experience during the 2016 election, where I thought I had it all figured out, experimenting with options strategies like a call ratio backspread. Spoiler alert: It didn't go as planned. I ended up blowing up two-thirds of my account by failing to account for the timing of my trade. I was right about the market direction but totally wrong on the timing, and that mistake cost me big. In this video, I'm sharing that experience to help you avoid making the same error, especially with the upcoming elections. We also look at some key stocks, like Light (Lumentum Holdings), Ciena (CIEN), NRG Energy, and Wheaton Precious Metals (WPM), to see how they've performed recently and how they fit into the bigger market picture. Not all of them turned out the way we expected, and I'll break down why that happens. But here's the kicker: it's not just about picking the right stocks, it's about knowing when to hold back and when to jump in. Elections are notorious for shaking up the markets, and timing becomes everything. One wrong move, and you could find yourself on the wrong side of the trade, even if you got the market direction right, like I did back in 2016. So, should you sit on the sidelines during election season? That's a big question we'll answer in this video. I'll also explain how to manage your risk and protect your portfolio when things get unpredictable. If you're feeling anxious about the next few months in the market, this video is for you. We're cutting through the noise and helping you understand how to make smarter, less risky moves when everything feels like a gamble. I'll also show you how to roll options and manage positions, even in these wild, uncertain times. Whether you're new to the market or have been trading for years, there's something here for everyone—especially if you're trying to avoid those costly mistakes that can wipe out your portfolio. Don't trade based on fear or overconfidence. Let's break it down together, step by step. Stay tuned, and by the end of this video, you'll have a better understanding of how to approach trading during election season, the key stocks to watch, and how to avoid blowing up your account like I did. #StockMarket #ElectionTrading #OptionsTrading #Volatility #StockAnalysis #TradingStrategy #RiskManagement #Ciena #Lumentum #NRG #Investing
How to Trade Stocks and Options Podcast by 10minutestocktrader.com
In today's video, we dive deep into the latest stock trades with some outstanding wins on the board. We're discussing key market moves and breaking down the performance of top stocks like Light (up 6%), Ciena (CIEN) (up 2.25%), and NRG Energy (NRG) (up 1%). These stocks have been showing significant strength, making this a highly profitable day for traders. However, we also review the challenges, particularly with NRG's after-hours performance, which showed a brief 7% increase, only to pull back to 1%. We discuss how strategic trading decisions are made using data from OVTLYR and how members are managing their portfolios for maximum gains. The video also covers recent updates on NRG Energy, including news that the company lifted its fiscal year 2024 adjusted EBITDA guidance, a move that caused excitement among investors. Meanwhile, Light is attracting attention due to rumors of a potential acquisition by Nvidia, which could push the stock significantly higher in the coming days. The video is not just about the market gains today—it's about how smart trading can maximize profits while minimizing risk. Using specific strategies, including rolling options to lock in gains and reinvesting in promising opportunities, we explain the techniques behind the success stories coming from our community. The video features real-time analysis and trading tactics that have led to impressive returns, such as rolling from Light's 55-strike calls to 60s, capturing a 53.6% gain, and executing a similar strategy on Ciena to secure a 27% return. Members of the OVTLYR community share their big wins, including standout trades like a 204% overnight profit and more examples of how using advanced data tools and disciplined strategies leads to consistent success in the market. Whether it's increasing position sizes, managing options, or identifying key stocks poised for growth, this video provides actionable insights for traders of all levels. Join us as we analyze the markets, examine the impact of investor psychology, and uncover where the next big opportunities lie. We also discuss important trading indicators like the Bullish Percent Index and market breadth to help guide future decisions. If you're looking to make better trading choices, this is a must-watch video. #StockMarket #TradingStrategy #NRG #Ciena #LightStock #StockAnalysis #BullishMarket #OptionsTrading #InvestorTips #StockWins #StockTrading #MarketUpdates #InvestSmart
How to Trade Stocks and Options Podcast by 10minutestocktrader.com
In today's video, we're taking a closer look at the current market action and some key stocks that have been making waves. Netflix and Tesla are on the radar with a mix of opportunities and challenges. Netflix is showing signs of bullishness, but with some hurdles ahead. Tesla, as always, is an interesting play with lots of moving parts, including several order blocks to watch out for. We also dive into NRG Energy, which showed a solid setup and delivered strong potential gains, thanks to clear signals and a favorable back-test. Fiserv was another one to keep an eye on, but a heat map stall signaled a smart exit, proving once again that disciplined risk management can make all the difference. Today's session really highlighted the importance of liquidity and knowing when to act—or when to step back. The market has been full of surprises lately, and sticking to a structured approach is key to navigating these ups and downs. We covered a lot of ground in today's trades, focusing on opportunities and avoiding unnecessary risks. It's all about paying attention to the signals and making sure each move is well thought out, especially in a market that's been as volatile as this one. #StockMarketUpdate #Tesla #Netflix #NRG #Fiserv #LiveTrading #MarketInsights #DayTrading #StockAnalysis #Investing #RiskManagement #OVTLYRTrading Don't miss out on today's breakdown—there's a lot to take away from these market moves!
IntroductionLIVE from your ESG smokeless peach pit, it's a Business Pants Friday Show here at September 20th Lane Studios, featuring ONE of your favorites: AnalystHole-man Matt Moscardi. On today's weekly wrap up: Nike goes Back to the Future, Chief Kneeler Jamie Dimon yells at young people, Evil Tech CEOs continue to be, um, evil, and directors who love a free ride Today's show is brought to you by freefloatanalytics.com - everything you ever wanted to know about who runs public companies, all free.Story of the Week (DR):Nike CEO John Donahoe is out, replaced by company veteran Elliott HillHill retired from Nike in 2020 after a long career with the company, but the board and Executive Chair Mark Parker asked him to come back, citing their many years of working togetherNike co-founder Phil Knight said that he: “couldn't be more excited to welcome Elliott back to the team” and that “We've got a lot of work to do but I'm looking forward to seeing Nike back on its pace.”Nike welcomes new CEO with $27 million payday23andMe's independent board directors resign MMIn response the CEO said in an SEC filing: “I am surprised and disappointed… We will immediately begin identifying independent directors to join the board.”Masimo CEO Joe Kiani ousted from board after proxy fight; Politan wins two seatsSingle class; 9%Federal Reserve cuts US interest rates for the first time in four yearsGoodliest of the Week (MM, pretending to be AB):Tyson Foods Sued Over Emissions Reduction Promises DRTucker Carlson plans to start a nicotine-pouch company after deciding Zyn is ‘not a brand for men'He “joked” on a podcast it'd make your genitals “enhanced”The company (owned by Philip Morris) put out a statement saying “nope”He said “you're a bunch of liberal drones” and that they donated to Kamala and they're good for “your girlfriend or something” because it starts with ZThey do not donate to Kamala, they donate more to GOPJamie Dimon tells Gen Z to stop wasting its time on TikTok and read books insteadCleanup Group Says It's on Track to Eliminate the Great Pacific Garbage PatchExhausting-est of the Week (DR, pretending to be JS):Secret Service Probing Musk's Post About Threats to Biden and HarrisGOP 'woke week' advances package of anti-ESG billsF.T.C. Study Finds ‘Vast Surveillance' of Social Media Users DRMeta, YouTube and other sites collected more data than most users realized, a new report by the Federal Trade Commission finds.The Federal Trade Commission said on Thursday it found that several social media and streaming services engaged in a “vast surveillance” of consumers, including minors, collecting and sharing more personal information than most users realized.Due to AI fakes, the “deep doubt” era is hereBillionaire Larry Ellison says a vast AI-fueled surveillance system can ensure 'citizens will be on their best behavior'Sam Altman may be in his villain era, but no one seems to careAssholiest of the Week (MM):Data:We have access to 10,429 companies in the Free Float Analytics database4,565 of them are tagged as “Totalitarian” companies - companies where a single person (founder or founders, controlled companies, dual class) owns the majority of influenceThose boards have 19,872 directors that are wholly independent - not family, executives, or insidersThe number of those directors that quit in protest of the fact that the founders do whatever they want: 0… UNTIL YESTERDAYSo here's a short list of assholes who have way more reason to quit:Robin Washington - on TWO Totalitarian boards (Salesforce, Alphabet)Brad Smith - on TWO Totalitarian boards (Netflix, Amazon)MetaMarc AndreessenAndrew HoustonTracey TravisPeggy AlfordTony XuRobert KimmittNancy KilleferJohn ArnoldOracleAwo AbloBruce ChizenGeorge ConradesJeffrey BergLeon PanettaMichael BoskinNaomi SeligmanRona FairheadWick MoormanWilliam ParrettTeslaJoe GebbiaKathleen Wilson-ThompsonRobyn DenholmFull list available as a data drop!Bonus asshole - do you think he fucking matters? Republican lawmakers issues warnings about ‘far-left' Facebook board billionaire John ArnoldDataHigh school only graduates are twice as likely to be unemployed as college graduates.Typical earnings for bachelor's degree holders are $40,500 or 86 percent higher than those whose highest degree is a high school diploma.Median lifetime earnings are $1.2 million higher for bachelor's degree holders.Even when adjusting for sociodemographic data, graduating college is a big fucking dealAsshole: Sam Altman and the “whatever dude, just BE a billionaire and it's cool” college dropoutsSam Altman tells high schoolers dropping out of college wasn't a big dealDataRoll back ESG To Increase Retirement Earnings Act or the RETIRE Act DRThe guy who wrote/sponsored the bill - Rick Allen of Georgia - also happily tried to amend the constitution to ban gay marriage (his argument was a bible passage, and said anyone who votes for it is going to hell), sued to overturn the 2020 election, and failed to disclose his stock holdings, and wouldn't you know, he's on the energy and commerce committee and his biggest contributors are a local Caterpillar dealer, the Koch Brothers, the National Chicken Council, and a lumber companyKilling proxy voting by paperwork!“maintain a record of any proxy vote, proxy voting activity, or other exercise of a shareholder right, including any attempt to influence management”ESG piece of this is nothingburger, calling it ESG is strictly political theater for Blackrock's seven ESG analysts and the guy running HUD's ESG Program (Emergency Solutions Grants Program) to get confused“Notwithstanding paragraph (A), if a fiduciary is unable to distinguish between or among investment alternatives or investment courses of action on the basis of pecuniary factors alone, the fiduciary may use non-pecuniary factors as the deciding factor if the fiduciary documents [why]”But because investors have basically ceded the alternative democracy to companies, this will cement it - rather than using your vote, you were happy to gamble so conservatives in the US are taking away your right to vote by making it so onerous you don't bother at all“The fiduciary duty to manage shareholder rights appurtenant to shares of stock does not require the voting of every proxy or the exercise of every shareholder right.”This replaces the “Prudent man standard of care” section on fiduciary duty which basically says you have to invest prudently… Headliniest of the WeekDR: ESG is Coming For Your Toilet PaperMM: Real Madrid's $1.9 billion stadium cancels all concerts because the music was too loudWho Won the Week?DR: 23andMe for pretending to look like independent director heroes (when really this is just about the share price)MM: Anne Wojciki - finally she can conduct a board meeting in a bathrobe if she wants! No more fake listening!PredictionsDR: New CEO of Southwest Airlines will NOT be a…. Woman.My initial hunch was this was a great Glas Cliff CEO moment but then I looked at the 15 companies in this article: Long-Term Returns of Paul Singer's Activist Targets and of the 15 companies cited her, including Juniper Networks, PayPal, Alcoa, and NRG Energy, all 15 of the companies are run by… dudes.An article in June reported that Paul Singer is under scrutiny for gifting conservative Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito an undisclosed private flight, donated $10 million in June to the Senate Republicans' top super PAC. I wonder who he'll be voting for in November??MM: John Donahoe, newly retired, joins the board of 23andMe because he's used to an overvoting founder and hey, who cares, right?
Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, the Department of Energy has been flush with cash for the past couple of years. Between the two measures, the DOE now has nearly $100 billion to put toward clean energy and grid development projects around the country through funding and loans. There's an expectation that these contributions will drive private investment—and they have been. This July, the DOE reported nearly $50 billion in funding awards already, with more than $60 billion in private investments matching federal dollars. This week, host Bill Loveless talks with David Crane about where these funds have been going and what effects they're having on clean energy applications around the country. They also discuss how the DOE is addressing nationwide energy challenges like transmission line permitting, storage, and other hurdles to decarbonization. David is the under-secretary for infrastructure at the Department of Energy. He previously served as director of DOE's Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations. He was also CEO of Climate Real Impact Solutions, as well as NRG Energy.
The cost of keeping cool during the summer heat is expected to rise 12 percent this year, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors Association. Daniel McCunney the Communications Senior Manager for the East Region for NRG. On average, consumers on average see their bills increase from June through September. According to McCunney, solar panels are a great way to reduce energy consumption. “Solar panels can help lower your energy bills. They'll make your house more energy efficient. You'll be able to in most cases, sell your energy back into the grid. Which could be really helpful. Solar panels can really help, lower your energy costs, and help defray some of those, exorbitant bills that some people get in the summertime when their thermostat, is really driving the cost of their energy.” During the summer if you plan to leave your home for several days, adjusting the temperature on your water heater could help with reduction. “A lot of thermostats nowadays also have scheduling features, so you can schedule your temperature in your home so that when you're away, they have vacation mode so that when you're away you can turn the temperature up and you're not cooling a house that no one's actually in. So that can help lower your costs.” Listen to the podcast to hear more energy reduction tips.Support WITF: https://www.witf.org/support/give-now/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
iHeartMedia participated in the annual NRG Choose to Give Media Flag Football Game which benefits Children's Hospital, Philabundance, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Nemours Children's Hospital. I speak to Mike Rombach VP and General Manager for NRG Energy. https://www.nrg.com/The newly passed Philadelphia budget removes funding for syringes in needle exchange programs. Residents in Kensington have complained about the proliferation of needles on the streets and the handling of the program by local nonprofits. However Ronald Collman, MD, Professor of Medicine and Microbiology Director, Penn Center for AIDS research (CFAR) and Dr. Florence Momplaisir Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, Associate Chief for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Fellow, Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine argue that this is a misguided step that will harm not just people who inject drugs but the broader Philadelphia population.I'm joined by Angela Giampolo, of Giampolo Law Group and Philly Gay Lawyer for our monthly feature SpeakOUT about issues related to the LGBTQIA community and how they conect to the broader community. This week we talk about how we can be better allies. https://www.phillygaylawyer.com/https://giampololaw.com/
Karl Mills, partner at Cerity Partners, says that the U.S. economy remains strong, there are some headwinds facing the stock market and that investors should go back to basics — diversifying across borders and industries and looking for investments they will hold long-term. Mills made it clear that he's optimistic for the long term, noting that investors are more likely to be thrown off by the problems that are not yet obvious — "It's not the monster in the closet that gets you," he says, "it's the one under the bed that you're not paying attention to that is going to get you" — so they need to have a time horizon that looks beyond those issues. Ed Slott, the founder of IRAhelp.com, returns to the show to discuss his new book, out this week, “The Retirement Savings Time Bomb Ticks Louder,” suggesting that converting traditional retirement accounts to tax-free Roth accounts is going to be worth it for most investors, noting that paying the taxes now is a form of insurance against Congress changing laws and raising taxes in the future. Plus, Kyle Guske, investment analyst at New Constructs, talks about "overstated street earnings," and shows why the stock price of NRG Energy is dangerous relative to the real value of the company.
In the fifth and final episode of Invisible, Indispensable Infrastructure, SSPI's Lou Zacharilla speaks with Jonathan Baliff, Chief Financial Officer at Redwire Space. Redwire, based in Florida, is a new leader in mission-critical space solutions and high-reliability components for the next generation space economy. On April 24, Redwire received the 2024 Business Award from the Luxembourg-American Chamber of Commerce, becoming the first space and satellite company to receive this honor. Jonathan Baliff has been a leader in the aerospace, energy and infrastructure sectors for over 25 years as both a public company senior executive and investment and commercial banker. Mr. Baliff has served on the Redwire Board of Directors and as Chair of the Audit Committee since September 2021. Mr. Baliff also serves on the Board of Directors and Audit Committee of Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc (NYSE: TCBI). Most recently, Mr. Baliff was the President of Genesis Park Acquisition Corporation, the special purpose acquisition corporation that merged with Redwire. Previously Mr. Baliff served as Chief Executive Officer of Bristow Group (NYSE: BRS), the world's largest commercial helicopter and industrial aviation company serving the energy and government sectors. He served as Bristow's Chief Financial Officer from 2010 to 2014 until his appointment to Chief Executive Officer. Prior to joining Bristow Group in 2010, Mr. Baliff was the Executive Vice President for Strategy at NRG Energy, where he led the development and implementation of NRG's overall strategy. Before joining NRG in 2008, Mr. Baliff was a Managing Director in Credit Suisse's Global Energy Group, where he advised energy infrastructure companies on over $50 billion in merger and acquisition assignments and project and corporate financings starting in 1997. Mr. Baliff started his business career with J.P. Morgan's Natural Resource Group in 1995 after nearly a decade flying F-4 Phantom fighter aircraft in the US Air Force, including the first combat missions during the first Gulf War.
Die Rekordfahrt bei S&P 500, Nasdaq 100 und DAX ist nahtlos weitergegangen, zudem ist der Goldpreis auf neue Rekordhochs nach oben geschossen. Im Podcast macht Finanzspezialist Egmond Haidt einerseits eine Analyse zu den KI-Aktien Nvidia, Super Micro, Microsoft, Alphabet, AMD, Oracle und Dell. Andererseits wird er die neuesten Zahlen und Nachrichten unter anderem zu BYD, Amazon, Jenoptik, Prysmian, FTSE MIB, Mynaric, Moncler und NRG Energy unter die Lupe nehmen. Umso gespannter warten Investoren auf den US-Arbeitsmarktbericht am Freitag. Wie geht es in dem Umfeld weiter bei S&P 500, Nasdaq und DAX, Euro-Dollar, Öl, Gold und Bitcoin?Wichtige rechtliche Hinweise (www.bnp.de/service/disclaimer/rechtliche-hinweise)Grundsätze zur Weitergabe von Anlage- und Anlagestrategieempfehlungen sowie Informationen über eigene Interessen und Interessenkonflikte (https://www.derivate.bnpparibas.com/service/disclosure/mad-mar)Informationen über Interessen und Interessenkonflikte des Erstellers (https://news.derivate.bnpparibas.com/wp-content/uploads/egmond_pdfs/Offenlegung_EgmondHaidt.pdf)
The debate over the benefits of competition for energy consumers has persisted since the advent of retail competition for electricity and natural gas more than two decades ago. Consumers are stuck in a limbo between traditional monopoly regulation and competitive choice because the movement to deregulate energy pricing (much as most other formerly price-regulated industries were deregulated decades ago) has stalled in the wake of the catastrophic collapse of California's disastrously ill-designed market at the turn of the century.Ever since, competition advocates have sought to expand the dozen or more states where competitive energy supply is available to consumers, but mostly have been thwarted in the face of monopoly utilities' deep-pocketed opposition. Today, emboldened monopoly utility interests, along with well-meaning but misguided consumer advocates, are supporting legislation in at least two states – Maryland and Massachusetts – that would effectively end competitive retail energy supply choices for residential customers.Travis Kavulla, vice president of regulatory affairs at NRG Energy, is on the front lines of the battle by competitive energy suppliers to preserve customer choice for residential consumers. The former Montana utility regulator discusses the headwinds in states like Maryland and Massachusetts, but also the opportunities to expand retail energy choice in other states – such as South Carolina and Louisiana – where elected officials seek to reign in the increasingly higher costs their constituents pay to monopoly utility suppliers for electricity and natural gas.Support the show
Technovation with Peter High (CIO, CTO, CDO, CXO Interviews)
821: The topic of generative AI needs no introduction, however, that doesn't mean that it is easy to move fast on the journey towards developing and scaling it within an organization. On a panel from our September Metis Strategy Digital Symposium, Salumeh Companieh, Chief Digital & Information Officer of Cushman & Wakefield, and Dak Liyanearachchi, Head of Data & Technology at NRG Energy, speak about their approaches to AI and how they prepared their organizations to leverage it effectively. Both executives share the challenges they face in educating their teams, tackling practical problems with AI adoption, and prioritizing the use cases to experiment. They also discuss how it is shaping their respective industries, the what opportunities it presents, and how they balance innovation and risk management.
Technovation with Peter High (CIO, CTO, CDO, CXO Interviews)
821: The topic of generative AI needs no introduction, however, that doesn't mean that it is easy to move fast on the journey towards developing and scaling it within an organization. On a panel from our September Metis Strategy Digital Symposium, Salumeh Companieh, Chief Digital & Information Officer of Cushman & Wakefield, and Dak Liyanearachchi, Head of Data & Technology at NRG Energy, speak about their approaches to AI and how they prepared their organizations to leverage it effectively. Both executives share the challenges they face in educating their teams, tackling practical problems with AI adoption, and prioritizing the use cases to experiment. They also discuss how it is shaping their respective industries, the what opportunities it presents, and how they balance innovation and risk management.
Listen in today's episode as entrepreneur extraordinaire Mark Walker shares Direct Digital Holdings journey. Mark reveals how laser-focusing on people, processes and credibility grew revenues from $6M to $120M in just five years. His insights on genuine networking and understanding capital raising are invaluable. We also explore leveraging AI for personalized ads and how concentrating on small wins propels growth. Mark's servant leadership style emphasizes collaboration in decision-making. Transitioning from private to public, Mark outlines assembling experienced boards through professional connections. Continuous learning, reading and informed networking develop strong leadership. This glimpse into Mark's exemplary journey offers a treasure trove of strategies for success. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS Mark Walker, the co-founder and CEO of Direct Digital Holdings, emphasizes the importance of people, processes, and credibility in scaling a business from $6 million to $120 million in revenue within five years. He explains that adopting an "it's okay to fail" mindset and involving every team member in the hiring process can lead to a more efficient and collaborative team. The unique sales strategy of Direct Digital Holdings is shared, which involves dividing their sales groups into hunters and farmers, contributing to their remarkable growth. We discuss the significance of focusing on small wins and leveraging AI for personalized ads in accelerating business growth. He mentions that his leadership style is rooted in servant leadership, emphasizing collaboration in decision-making. Walker explains his strategy for assembling a board of directors to transition a company from private to public, highlighting the advantages of collaborating with law and accounting firms to recruit experienced board members. He stresses the importance of continuous learning, networking, and staying informed in maintaining effective leadership. Walker reveals his love for Gatlin's Barbecue and his dream of taking a 30-day sabbatical in Asheville, North Carolina. He explains that maintaining a genuine network of connections before needing something is a valuable tool for success. Walker also shares the importance of a company culture based on integrity, service to each other, and accountability. LINKSShow Notes Previous Episodes About BoyarMiller GUESTS Mark WalkerAbout Mark TRANSCRIPT (AI transcript provided as supporting material and may contain errors) Chris: In this episode, you will meet Mark Walker, co-founder and CEO at Direct Digital Holdings. Mark shares his views on how the importance of focusing on people and processes will help accelerate and manage the growth of your company. Mark, I want to thank you for being here today and being a guest on our podcast. Mark: Yeah, thank you for having us. Chris: So let's just get started by you telling us, tell us, direct Digital Holdings. What is that company? What are you known for? Mark: Yeah, very simply, direct Digital Holdings. What we do is we help companies buy and sell media and we leverage technology to do it. We have a buy side platform where we actually work with roughly about 250 different clients all across the United States, focused on the middle market, and when we look at the middle market, there are companies that are five to 500 million in revenue and we help them purchase media in order to drive our way of performance for their company. The second half of our business is Colossus SP, which is a supply side platform, and that side of the business we help publishers such as USA Today, gannett, hearst, brands of that Nature actually sell media in an automatic or programmatic way throughout the digital ecosystem, and so we work with about 26,000 publications, helping them sell media online and that's everything from digital banner ads to CTV, ot, streaming audio ads and help them generate revenue for their publications and for their websites. Chris: That's great. So what was your inspiration to start this company and grow it to where it is today? Mark: Yeah, absolutely. My business partner and I. We actually worked on another publisher, ebony Media, and while we were at Ebony we saw how the value chain of the programmatic ecosystem and media buying was changing. We saw that publishers were having difficulty specifically multicultural publishers were having difficulty getting connected into the programmatic ecosystem because their websites were too small and typically the larger players in the marketplace would want to work with publications that had 10 million unique visitors Well, anyone less than that. They didn't think it was worth their time giving them the technical expertise, know how, wherewithal, to connect into the programmatic ecosystem and purchase media automatically. So we saw the opportunity to buy two nascent platforms. One was Huddle Masses, which was the initial buy side platform. The other one was Colossus, which was the sell side platform. We put them together underneath one brand direct digital holdings and we started off with roughly about $6 million in revenue, and this year we're projected to grow to about 120 million in top line revenue over the course of these five years, and we've been really blessed and honored that many clients and partners have decided to work with us over this time. Chris: Yeah, I get a meant remarkable growth. Let's talk about a little bit. So this is your first stint at being an entrepreneur. Mark: Yeah, absolutely. Yeah it's myself and my business partner, Keith Smith. It's our first time really stepping into the role of operator. Previously I worked at startups. That's really where I first got my digital expertise and worked at Deloitte, worked at NRG Energy here in town and then also at Ebony Media. So all the while I've been working in the digital space, but this is my first entree into entrepreneurial space, really around the digital platform. Chris: So what were some of the lessons that you've learned, starting basically your own company and taking on that leadership role where everything you know, the buck stops with you? Maybe explain to our listeners, maybe, some of the things that that you've learned along that journey. Mark: Yeah, you know, I would kind of frame it up into three different categories. Chris: One one. Mark: It was about building up credibility in the marketplace. Having a good name, having a good reputation, having a network that you could lean on, I can tell you has been categorically valuable. That network is what I've leaned on for board members, what I've leaned on for contacts, relationships all throughout my career and really it's been 20 years of building up relationships that has come to fruition through this organization. Chris: That's number one. Mark: The second was really building up the credibility as well as the connections, but really the credibility of learning a craft and an expertise. That's been the second thing. And staying inside of the digital space and having 20 years of experience, it just kind of gives you secondhand knowledge of how things are gonna operate and how digital operates and flows. And then the third piece is understanding how to raise capital and put capital into the ecosystem. My business partner he came from private equity, worked on Wall Street and so he had the expertise and really brought that to bear, and so really it's been the culmination of those three things that we made a good partnership in bringing all three of those together. That's actually allowed us to have the success that we've had today. Chris: Yeah, it makes sense. I mean you can't, I think, overemphasize the importance of building really good relationships throughout your career, because you never know what you're gonna need to lean on them. Mark: No, that's exactly right. Yeah, my buddy, he gave me a saying a long time ago. He said network before you need something, and so I kind of lived by that ethos and I thought it was actually a good way of thinking about relationships. And usually if you do something good or nice for someone, even though you don't know how it's gonna come back to you, nine times out of 10, it always comes back when you need it, and that's really has been the story of our career and also our experience working with direct digital holdings. Chris: Yeah, I like that Network before you need something which said in other ways be genuine, right, build relationships in a genuine way, and then, yeah, it's always nice to help people out, and then if you do that from a point of genuineness, then it gets returned. It always gets returned somehow. So let's talk a little about your growth. I mean 6 million to 120. What are some of the things you feel like you and your co-founding partner have done to help kind of manage that growth, Because sometimes rapid growth can destroy a company. Anything that you can kind of share with us, that you think you all have kind of put into place to kind of manage this growth so that it's a healthy growth and that the company is sustainable. Mark: Yeah, absolutely, you know. It was really, you know, going from 6 million to roughly we did. God took about 30 million through an acquisition and so that was a good push for us and then, from that 30 million, really the next trunch from 30 to 90, which is what we did last year we really started working on processes. I can't stress enough in my experience back at Deloitte as well as with NRG really emphasize the importance of process people. You can't grow without people and you can't grow in an organized fashion without processes. And so we internally have been focused for the last two years really building up the processes and bringing new people into the organization to work specific tasks you think about when we look at organizations inside of us, inside of our organization. Part of the training had incorporated is you look at the functional first. Remove all the bodies, just think about the functions that need to be executed, think about the KPIs and the accountability, and then you start assigning the right person for the right role within those functions and understanding that each leader can only manage roughly four or five people effectively. So, we've definitely have had an emphasis and a focus on people, processes and accountability in KPIs inside of our organization. And that's really has led us really to take it from 30 to 90 million. And then we're putting more processes in, more what we call our third and fourth layer of employees inside the organization for us to really take that growth from the 90 to the 120, hopefully from 120 and beyond. Chris: That's great. So totally agree process and people, especially people, are the most important right. You can't no chance of achieving that kind of growth without good people. So what are you doing? And I don't know, how's your employee head count grown when you were at the six and even maybe the 30 to now? How many people are we talking about? Mark: Yeah, so back when we were at six we had probably eight, nine people total. Today we're at 85. So definitely like 12x growth from where we started off. The good thing is we've hired a significant amount of people with experience, a wealth of experience inside of the industry. So that really cuts down on the learning curve. And then the next piece is giving people the distance and direction where we're trying to go, and give them the guide rails. We'll let them figure it out. The thing I try to say internally is if I had to tell you how to do your job, then one of us is not doing their job effectively. So my goal is to hire people who understand and aren't afraid to fail. Put them inside of a structure, give them the distance and the direction of the resources that they need to try to accomplish a task and hopefully, get out the way and try to remove boulders when necessary. That's been kind of our leadership philosophy inside the organization and we think we empower our employees to actually accomplish a task that we put in front of them and hopefully we can celebrate at the end of the year for them achieving it. Most of the times nine times out of ten they actually outperform. So we think if we set up the right structure, giving them the right resources to help, them and then giving them the proper distance and direction and get out of the way. usually that's an effective way If you hire the right people, for them to be effective in their jobs. Chris: I like that. So, going with the people theme, you got to get them in the right seat, give them direction. What are you doing there at Direct Digital to foster a culture and so that people want to stay? Let's talk a little bit about that. Mark: Yeah, the culture that we really try to foster is one based on integrity. So if you're going to say something, follow up and do it. If you don't do it, take account of it before it. That's number one we try to foster that. We also foster service to each other, and that's the biggest one. My job as a leader is really to be of service to the employees, so take it serious to try to provide service to them and getting them what they need in order for them to execute effectively, and so we try to instill that inside of our leadership team and view it as it's not you doing what I say. It's about you enrolling in what we're trying to accomplish, and then let me help you get there. And so, even though we give big goals to our employees, we feel like it's all of our jobs to own that goal. And so I'm right there making phone calls. I still go on sale pitches. Last night, I had a client dinner we're still out here boots on the ground and if I'm not the number one salesperson trying to help generate sales and leads for the team, then I feel like I'm not doing my job. So that's kind of how we think about it. And when we try to hire employees, the word we termed as we want strategic doers. I like that. Yeah, we don't. We, you know, we're very deliberate that, especially in the growth phase that we're in, I need a strategic doer, someone who can be strategic but someone who doesn't mind rolling up their sleeves and getting dirty and running a report or making a sales call or generating leads. We need everybody doing it and then if you do effective job, then hire more resources underneath it. You can start moving into the strategic role. Yeah, Every employee starts off that way. We think it's a bit of an effective way for us to grow. Chris: Kind of that mindset of do what it takes to get the job done. Yep, well, it sounds like you know a lot of collaboration to kind of a team, teamwork, team, teammate mentality. Yeah, but you talked about you know just your hiring process, anything that you guys were doing there. Do you think they're somewhat innovative in how you go about the hiring process to make sure you're getting the right people? And maybe any challenges you faced in the last few years, given the environment and the economy? Mark: Yeah, when we come to the hiring, what we adopt as our philosophy is everybody touches them. So if the team is going to interview, if the person is going to be working on team, everybody on team has a say. Everybody on team has veto authority. And then the one thing I try to remind the leaders is the problem is going to be the problem. So if one person identifies a weakness, another person identifies a weakness, then that's probably the weakness in that person and it's not going to change. So then you have to ask yourself the tougher question Is that weakness detrimental in this role, or is that something that can be covered up or managed? And so that philosophy has been very instrumental in us being effective and we've been very. When we have our debriefs after we interview someone, everyone comes together. One person feels like I don't think they're going to be a good fit or I don't feel comfortable working with them. Then that's a no across the board. So very rarely have we made a decision that the collective wasn't comfortable with that person coming into the organization. Maybe it's my old fraternal approach to things, pledging a fraternity, and my business partner he actually played football at UT, but feel like a team and a collaborative approach is always the best way to try to find the best candidates and make sure you can protect the culture of the organization. Chris: Yeah, no, I couldn't agree more. I think that you've got that cohesiveness. You just can't put a price on it. And one person you hear it a lot in sports right, but a bad apple in the locker room or can destroy a good team, or quite the opposite. Maybe not a group of the best stars, but they get along. They can play above their natural ability. Mark: Yeah, absolutely. Chris: And. Mark: I love that yeah. Chris: So let's talk about a setback that maybe you've encountered in the last since starting at the company. Explain, maybe a setback you've encountered, what you did to overcome that, maybe what the learning was and how it's made you or the company better. Yeah, absolutely. Mark: You know, in moving and growing this fast, sometimes you miss processes and you know the way that we view it. One person didn't miss a process. We all missed the process. So for us you know, we've done that before where you know you have might be a process set up to protect the organization and you missed it. Sometimes you got to go in and everybody has to rally around and say, okay, guys, let's figure out what happened. There's no fault to be assigned, but really what it is. Let's figure out where did the process break down and we're all collectively accountable. So, that's really the approach we've taken, what I think it actually helped us. It actually helped us Really identify are there any other holes that we have in the organization we need to plug up? You know, you know what you know, but you don't know what you don't need. You don't always know what you don't know Right, and so it's that piece that, unfortunately, usually errors get pointed out and that's the correction that you have to go in place. But we try to take an attitude of it's no one's fault, it's all of our problem, let's all own it, let's take accountability for it, let's fix it. Chris: I'd have to believe that helps foster that it's okay to fail type of mentality you talked about earlier. Right, that if everyone's kind of you feel like everyone, that's your coworkers are in it with you, then you're more likely to take that risk, knowing that failure is not going to point fingers at you as a result. Mark: Absolutely, and that usually usually helps, because if everyone's in there with you together, then you're okay. You know you got coverage. Chris: Yeah. Mark: So that's the best benefit that you have. Chris: Switching subjects a little bit, let's just when you think about what you guys are doing and both sides of your business, anything kind of innovative that you all employed, that you think has really helped the trajectory of the company and this growth you've seen. Mark: Yeah, I would say a couple things. One, we bifurcated our sales groups, so we have lead generation and then we have our sales closers. That has been instrumental. Let the hunters be the hunters, let the farmers be the farmers and let them both work collectively together. That has been instrumental to help us grow. Specifically on our buy side business, we've been growing solid 10-20% year over year. That's a tougher business to grow but the level of growth that we've been able to see has been very effective for us. Very proud of what we've been able to accomplish on that piece On the sell side of our business, which has been growing 100-200% year over year we've been able to really foster an environment where a lot of companies will go in and try to get the big whale. We play a lot of small ball inside of the game, so a lot of fruit what I call was low hanging fruit had gotten left by our competitors. We called, we made calls, not to the highest level person, to the lowest level person, told them to test out our platform and, sure enough, we were able to grow that business that way. Our business leader was very innovative on that approach, calling what we call fingers on keyboards those are the decision makers, the day-to-day decision makers to get them to try out our platform and through those efforts we were able to grow effectively. So sometimes, especially when talking to other entrepreneurs, sometimes look for the slow hanging fruit. Don't try to hit the home run, try to hit the single. The single will get you on base and that gets you actually in the game. That's kind of the strategy we've taken. Chris: I think that's great advice for some of our listeners out there that maybe trying to grow their company they just started is. You know, you don't always have to hit the home run of the Grand Slam right, you can start small and let that momentum build. What about AI? How do you see AI playing into your business model and what changes do you think are going to be coming down your path where you may need to make some adjustments? Mark: Yeah, no good question. When it comes to AI, I think what you're going to start saying is it's definitely been around for some time, or some level of machine learning has been around for some time. We think of it in two different counts. We think of behind the house and then in front of the house. Behind the house, that's the stuff that you really don't see, but that's really inside of the processes. That's stuff that we're taking advantage of right now. We're taking advantage of a lot of different algorithms. We're incorporating AI into different pieces of it. You won't be able to see it, touch it, feel it, but it's actually making our systems run much more, our technology run much more efficiently. On the back end, that, I think, has been around for a while and we're definitely in that space and moving more advantageously in that space. Behind the house. In front of the house is where I think all the excitement is actually coming with AI. The fact that you can do words with image imagery, natural language, learning, things of that nature I think we're going to start seeing in the next two years is a personalization of ads. Right now, you do a lot of ads. You might come up with 16, 17, 20 different recipes, trying to hit different segments. I think you're going to see a lot more personalization. On the data side, we have a significant amount of personalization of understanding what people like, what they dislike, their behavioral, demographic, psychographics all that information is already there. Now you're going to start seeing the creative reflect that, because creating new recipes of ads is going to be a lot easier leveraging AI technology than when you don't have AI technology. You have a human who has to replicate 20 different ads of the same idea. I think that's really the next evolution that you're going to see. I think that's going to be the exciting part coming to our space in probably the next two years. Chris: Wow, that'll be before you know it. Mark: Yeah, it'll probably be here sooner than later. Chris: Yeah, let's talk a little bit about leadership. How would you describe your leadership style? Mark: I think it's more of a. As I said before, I try to serve all of my team members. On the personal, we all think of more of it as a collaborative approach. We think of each other as a work family. We try to foster that type of environment of a work family. If you go to our office space, there are offices, but the main area, about 3,000 square feet, looks like a house. It looks like a kitchen, has a TV, has couches. We try to foster a work family environment. We want kids up there. We ask employees bring your kids. We have X-pots for them to play. It needs to be a collaborative approach because we spend probably more time at work than we do at home. Chris: Yeah, no question, right, so you might as well enjoy it while you're there. Mark: The other way that I would say is my leadership style is I try to really believe in trying to be a servant leader, so every problem is my problem. If my team has a problem, it's my problem. I try to own it. I try to help people solve through it and work with them and try to hold them accountable for the result. But no one's held accountable on their own. We're all accountable, so everyone pitches in to try to help out. So that's what we try to do with the environment, that we try to foster Type of leadership style that we have. My team probably would say I get into the weeds a little too much. Sometimes you can't help it right. Chris: Yeah, but I enjoy getting started. I get that. I get that there's some value, as long as you can regulate it to your team, seeing you willing to get in and get dirty get your fingernails dirty from time to time, right, and they're like, okay, you are in this with us, yeah, let's talk about. So. You've got your co-founder, keith Smith. How do the two of you manage the leadership roles in the company to be aligned and kind of maybe not contradict one another or step on each other's toes? Mark: Yeah, so the way we operate Function is we both bring two different experiences and we actually did bring two different personalities to the equation my business partner, keith. He's definitely more on the finance side. So when it comes to the finance, when it comes to the administrator, when it comes to the legal, he owns that, that's, he takes the leadership piece on that and I'm more than happy to step out of the way. All those pieces we got to do refies. We're going through the IPO process. He definitely took the lead on how to get that whole structure and organizing. Yeah, that expertise and experience for that. Chris: When it comes to the operational side. Mark: that's the piece that I bring more of my leadership style to, and so we meet in the middle. So when those two come together we meet in the middle. So it's really kind of clear lines in how we are structured. When it comes to investors, he takes the lead on talking to investors and stuff like that. If they need to hear from the operator, then I step in and have those kind of conversations. Chris: But that's pretty much how we structure the organization and it works well that way, so clearly delineated roles and responsibilities, and then everyone in the organization understands that as well, how it shapes up. Mark: Yeah, and then personality wise we make a good match, because I'm probably more of the passionate one, he's probably more of the sub dude one, so we meet in the middle that way. Chris: Okay, yeah, that sounds like a great team. The results speak for itself. What about mentors? Any mentors you've had along the way? That kind of help get you to where you are, shape your leadership philosophies, your work ethic, etc. Mark: Oh, absolutely, I had a thousand. You know a lot of them Some of them have been independent entrepreneurs. I call them my own personal board of directors. Reach out to a lot of them one-on-one to have conversations with them and get feedback and thought. Some of my mentors and leaders actually have joined the board, okay, and they're on our board of directors, and so definitely get a lot of leadership and good guidance from our board of directors, very happy with what they provide and the expertise that they deliver. And then they definitely help shape the organization and also give me and challenge me to think through different either opportunities or also different risks that are out there. So definitely got the board, got my independent individual board of directors as well. Of friends that I actually call on that I've known for 20 plus years. Some are in the industry, some are outside the industry, but they haven't been shaped by all of them. Chris: Let's talk a little bit about that. You know the board and board composition, etc. When did you and Keith decide to form a board of directors? Was it right out of the start or was it as the company was evolving and growing? Mark: Yeah, so we started our when we were from 2018 to 2022, we were actually privately held, so we're probably I'll do as myself, keith and we had a third business partner who we ended up buying out, so we made up the constitute the board and, trust me, it was 100 times easier as a private company yeah. Because you look at Keith and I look at him and say what do you want to do? Chris: Yeah, Right, which is typically how the small, privately held entrepreneur starts out. Right Exactly. Mark: Yeah, and just kind of kind of keeping moving. When we ended up deciding to go public, we had to actually form a public board, and so then we had to start recruiting people with actually board experience and expertise and you know some level of ground toss and all that. And that's when you know, we had to start tapping into our own connections, our own network. Our lead director we worked at Deloitte. We both worked at Deloitte, didn't know each other at that time but we knew mutual people and mutual friends and so we recruited her to come on the board as our lead director. She's been absolutely phenomenal. But really thought through, what did we need to help us grow to the next level? So we knew we needed technologists. We knew we needed someone with finance background and a strong experience and accounting around audit committee. Then we knew we needed someone with industry expertise, specifically from the agency side. So we're very strategic about who we brought on the board, why we brought them on the board and what value we were really looking to get in expertise. So you know, my advice on performing a board is really to think through. Don't think about where you are today, but really think about where you're trying to go tomorrow and try to bring the people who have that experience and expertise to come on the board. Now I will say for us to recruit one of those members, best place to go is your law firm and your accounting firm. They know good people. They know people they probably worked with on other boards. My first piece of advice go to your attorneys and go to your accountants and see if they know of anyone who might be a good board member. That's how we started our recommendation process, yeah. Chris: And I think you're right in picking those disciplines that you have again as a mentor or resource to bounce ideas off of, get direction from. Yeah, and you don't have to be a public company, a privately held company trying to grow can that entrepreneur can benefit from those resources. Mark: Absolutely Firmly believe that and then build the right culture even inside the board. You want to collaborate on board who can think through problems collectively and come to a solution. Chris: Yeah, what about? You know we all, we all try to continue to learn and grow. What are some of the things you do to kind of keep yourself sharp, to keep learning, to be that servant leader? You know the type of person that you want to emulate in the company. Mark: Yeah, a couple things. One definitely mentorship. So you know, one of the pieces of advice I give is get into a CEO group, because everybody has problems. Chris: Right, then you can learn from other people's problems before they become yours. Mark: Before they become yours. You're like, let me take note of that problem. That's number one. But I would also say you know I read a lot. Yeah, every morning I'm reading, every afternoon I'm reading, I subscribe to God knows how many publications. So you really try to absorb information and I have to say you have to get out of the ivory tower and get out on the street. Yeah, I'm a firm believer in, you know, hearing kind of the qualitative information. To me, if it's in the news, it's already too late. It's really the qualitative information that you get from networks that really kind of give you insight on where the trends are going. So I always try to keep my ear to the street. By getting out and meeting with people and taking people to watch, I get a lot of good information that way. Chris: These are great pieces of advice as far as how to kind of stay in tune with things, and I think you're right. These days there's some great publications, you know I think Bloomberg does since two meals a day, one in the morning, one in the evening, and all that where news is coming at you fast. Mark: It's coming at you and you gotta be on it every day, For sure You're absolutely right. Chris: Before we change subjects, one or two things that you would say to some of our listeners that are trying to start, or maybe just start, a new company about here. If you're about to embark on this journey to pursue a passion on your own or with a couple partners, here are one or two things that I think you should absolutely do or consider doing, as you kind of embark on that wisdom there. Mark: You know, the one piece of advice I would give is be all in Like entrepreneurship. I will just say two things. One, it's not for the faint of heart, but you gotta be all in. And so I think there is something about failure and success. The risk of failure will drive you to success. But if you kinda have one foot in and I'm still doing my job, but I wanna do this then you're not wanting to be an entrepreneur. You either gotta be all in, ready to risk it all, or you don't. That's probably the one piece of advice I would give Pretty much everyone. And if you're not in the position to get yourself in the position to and then go all in, Don't think you can do it half in, half out. It won't work. Chris: That's great, great advice actually, and very true. It's funny that's a pretty consistent theme of the guest I've had. Is that all in mentality? And the second is it's not for the faint of heart. Mark: Right. Chris: So just know there's gonna be tough times and you just gotta muscle through it. So let's go a little bit on the personal side. What was your first job? Mark: First job in high school was a sacker at Randalls. I used to sack groceries when I turned 16, over off of Jones Road and, yeah, you made good money. If I came home with $40 after a cycle, I was pretty happy. Chris: Yeah, and in the hot Texas heat. Oh absolutely, yeah, okay, so your native Texan. I always ask all my guests you prefer Tex-Mex or barbecue? Mark: Barbecue hands down Gavils barbecue. Chris: Oh, okay, there we go, no hesitation, and applaud for Gatlins. I love it. It's pretty good stuff. They've gotten a lot more competition now, but Gavils gonna win, yeah. So let me ask you this so if you could take a 30 day sabbatical not that you would, if you could where would you go? What would you do? Mark: If I could take a 30 day sabbatical I would probably. You know, I really wouldn't mind going to Asheville, north Carolina, getting out in the mountains and enjoy some of that, especially in the fall I'd be out there all day Just out in the woods and hanging out. Chris: It's a beautiful area. Oh God, it's gorgeous. Yeah, it's got a sketch right out there. Well, mark, I wanna thank you again for coming on. Congratulations to you and Keith on what you've built and are continuing to build. Love hearing your story and the insights you shared. Mark: Yeah, absolutely, absolutely. Pleasure being here. I appreciate your time and thank you for having us. Special Guest: Mark Walker.
US futures are pointing to a higher open. European equity markets have had a tepid open, following mixed to lower levels in Asian markets. Pickup seen in soft-landing expectations. Concerns now over corporate earnings guidance downgrades. Treasury Department's larger-than-expected borrowing needs also highlight risk of growing deficits and rising interest costs further out into future. Companies Mentioned: New York Times, NRG Energy
On this episode of the Moor Insights & Strategy Insider Podcast, host Patrick Moorhead is joined by Lynn Lucas, Chief Marketing Officer of Cohesity. Their conversation covers Cohesity Catalyst, the company's must-attend data security and management event of the season. Security, AI, hybrid cloud, and data protection will all be key focus areas. Today, data is everything, but it's under attack with 19 ransomware attacks every second; it's scattered everywhere, and it's not being put to good use. A three-day virtual event, Cohesity Catalyst takes place May 23-25 and includes an all-star list of visionaries, customers, and partners. These leading experts will tell and show thousands of attendees worldwide how to advance data security, think about AI in game-changing ways, thrive in a multi-cloud world, and get so much more from data. Some of the event's speakers include: Jen Easterly, Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Kevin Mandia, CEO of Mandiant George Kurian, CEO of NetApp Raghu Raghuram, CEO of VMware Alan Davidson, CIO of Broadcom Senior IT leaders and executives from Delta, Nationwide, IBM, NRG Energy, and AWS and many others This is an event you won't want to miss! Learn more and register here: https://www.cohesity.com/catalyst/
The Most Undervalued Solar Stocks. And More… includes the following articles: “10 Most Undervalued Solar Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds,” by Fahad Saleem; “Bloom Energy and Enviva are the Alternative Energy Stocks to Buy According to Pavel Molchanov, Managing Director, Renewable Energy and Clean Technology for Raymond James.” And six additional articles too! Transcript & Links, Episode 99, February 10, 2023 Hello, Ron Robins here. Welcome to podcast 99 published on February 10, 2023, titled “The Most Undervalued Solar Stocks. And More…” — and presented by Investing for the Soul. Investingforthesoul.com is your site for vital global ethical and sustainable investing mentoring, news, commentary, information, and resources. Remember that you can find a full transcript, and links to content – including stock symbols and bonus material – on this episode's podcast page located at investingforthesoul.com/podcasts. Now if any terms are unfamiliar to you, simply Google them. Also, a reminder. I do not evaluate any of the stocks or funds mentioned in these podcasts, nor do I receive any compensation from anyone covered in these podcasts. Furthermore, I will reveal to you any personal investments I have in the investments mentioned herein. Additionally, quotes about individual companies are brief so that I can get as many companies covered as possible in the time allowed. Please go to this podcast's webpage for links to the actual articles for more company and stock information. Also, several companies are covered more than once and there are also 6 article links below that time didn't allow me to review here. ------------------------------------------------------------- The Most Undervalued Solar Stocks. And More… Now I'm going to start with a favorite sector of this audience with this title 10 Most Undervalued Solar Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. It's by Fahad Saleem and was found on yahoo.com. Here are some quotes from Mr. Saleem. “For this article we scanned the iShares Global Clean Energy ETF holdings and listed the top solar stocks owned by the ETF. We then narrowed down to the stocks that have attractive PE ratios when compared to the green and renewable industry average PE of 83, which was calculated by NYU Stern. After applying these checks, we got a long list of solar stocks. We then picked 10 stocks from this list which had the most number of hedge fund shareholders. For that metric we used Insider Monkey's database of 920 hedge fund holdings. (So, starting with)… 10. JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE:JKS) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 15 JinkoSolar has a forward PE ratio of 8.83 as of January 27, according to Yahoo Finance… This Chinese solar stock rallied earlier in January after Roth Capital upgraded the stock to Buy from Neutral… (and) also increased its price target on the stock to $70 from $50. Roth Capital cited the improving US policy situation and the potential for margin expansion on poly price declines for the upgrade. 9. Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE:AGR) Hedge Fund Holders: 16 With a PE ratio of under 20, Avangrid is one of the most undervalued solar stocks to buy according to hedge funds. In October, Avangrid's stock price target was raised by investment firm Mizuho analyst Paul Fremont to $41 from $39. The analyst kept a Neutral rating on the shares. 8. NextEra Energy Partners, LP (NYSE:NEP) Hedge Fund Holders: 21 With an attractive PE ratio of 12.97 and long-term growth catalysts, NextEra Energy Partners is one of the most undervalued solar stocks to buy according to hedge funds… Recently, NextEra Energy Partners stock price target was increased by investment firm Oppenheimer's analyst Colin Rusch… to $94 from $88 and kept an Outperform rating on the shares. 7. Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ:CSIQ) Hedge Fund Holders: 22 … shot up significantly when compared to the previous quarter when just 13 funds had stakes in Canadian Solar…With a PE ratio under 15 and a strong hedge fund sentiment, Canadian Solar is one of the best undervalued solar stocks to buy now according to hedge funds… Canadian Solar makes solar panels, modules, and solar power systems for residential, commercial, and utility-scale power generation. Canadian Solar is growing rapidly and has diversified its operations to offset uncertainty. One of the biggest advantages Canadian Solar has over its peers is the company's presence in the entire value chain of the solar industry. 6. Clearway Energy, Inc. (NYSE:CWEN) Hedge Fund Holders: 25 With a PE ratio of just 6.6 as of market close of January 27, Clearway Energy is one of the most undervalued solar stocks to buy according to hedge funds… Clearway Energy has a dividend yield of over 4% (and) is targeting annual dividend growth in the range of about 5% to 8% through 2026. Clearway Energy's balance sheet is also strong. 5. SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWR) Hedge Fund Holders: 26 With a PE ratio of 53 (compared to industry PE of 83), SunPower Corporation is one of the most undervalued solar stocks to buy according to hedge funds. SunPower Corporation has lost about 16% in value over the past six months. In November, SunPower Corporation shares gained after investment firm Credit Suisse upgraded SunPower Corporation to Neutral from Underperform. The ratings upgrade came after SunPower Corporation posted strong Q3 results that beat estimates. 4. NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG) Hedge Fund Holders: 27 NRG Energy has a PE ratio of 4.28 as of January 27 market close… It has a dividend yield of over 4%... 3. Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE:ED) Hedge Fund Holders: 27 … up from 21 hedge funds that reported having stakes… at the end of the previous quarter… Consolidated Edison is also one of the best and most reliable dividend stocks… (it) has upped its dividends for over four decades in a row… (and) has a dividend yield of over 3%. In November… (its) shares were upgraded by… Bank of America to Neutral from Underperform (who) increased its price target for Consolidated Edison to $95 from $78. 2. Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ:RUN) Hedge Fund Holders: 47 … compared to 36 funds in the previous quarter. While Sunrun has a relatively high PE ratio, it makes it to our list because it has lost 22% over the past six months and analysts are hopeful… (its) shares… could perform well in the future amid long-term growth catalysts. Sunrun… is also popular among hedge funds… Sunrun says it has about 18% market share in the US solar market, while it enjoys a whopping 66% market share in solar subscriptions. 1. Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENPH) Hedge Fund Holders: 59 Enphase Energy… has lost about 26% over the past six months and the shares seem to have long-term growth catalysts, according to several analysts. Hedge funds also piling into this solar stock… According to Yahoo Finance, Enphase Energy stock has a forward PE ratio of 43, compared to renewable industry's PE ratio of 83. In October, Enphase Energy shares rallied after the company posted strong Q3 results and gave bullish guidance. Enphase Energy said it plans to open 4-6 manufacturing lines in the US because of the Inflation Reduction Act.” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Analyst's Top Alternative Energy Stocks Continuing with the alternative energy theme is this article titled Bloom Energy (NYSE:BE) and Enviva (NYSE:EVA) are the Alternative Energy Stocks to Buy According to Pavel Molchanov, Managing Director, Renewable Energy and Clean Technology for Raymond James (NYSE:RJF). Found on twst.com. Here are some quotes from the article. “This Raymond James analyst has been recognized in the StarMine Top Analyst survey, the Forbes Blue Chip Analyst survey, and the Wall Street Journal Best on the Street survey… Bloom Energy (NYSE:BE). Mr. Molchanov says, ‘Another company which will have good opportunities in Europe is Bloom Energy. Currently, Bloom is the largest provider of stationary fuel cells in the world. A fuel cell is a mini power plant. They are used at data centers, hospitals, and office buildings to provide an extremely reliable supply of electricity… Fuel cells are a solution to improving the reliability and the resilience of electricity supply for mission-critical businesses such as data centers. In addition to that, Bloom is starting to produce a second product called an electrolyzer, which is essentially a fuel cell in reverse. A fuel cell takes natural gas to generate electricity, whereas an electrolyzer takes electricity, passes it through water, and produces hydrogen. So it's a way of making hydrogen without a fossil fuel… This is the definition of green hydrogen… Green hydrogen is defined as electrolysis of water using renewable power…' Plug Power (NASDAQ:PLUG) … and Bloom Energy are both companies that originally were focused on fuel cells and are now diversifying into electrolyzers… The technology platform is somewhat different, though. More importantly, Plug Power is getting into the business of producing hydrogen as a commodity — in other words, selling hydrogen fuel to end users, whereas Bloom Energy is 100% an equipment vendor. Supply chain complications have presented themselves for both of these companies… For both Plug and Bloom Energy, the opportunity in Europe with record high natural gas prices arises from the fact that electrolysis enables production of hydrogen without using natural gas… In the U.S… the Inflation Reduction Act created a first-of-its-kind subsidy for low-carbon hydrogen production that will benefit these companies and others… Recession doesn't really matter for these companies… The demand for these products is ultimately tied to the cost of fossil fuels. When fossil fuels are expensive, that inherently bolsters demand for substitutes. As natural gas in Europe has tripled as a result of the war, that means for the first time ever, green hydrogen is actually cheaper than making hydrogen from natural gas, just like wood pellets are cheaper than burning coal.' Enviva (NYSE:EVA) Enviva is the world's largest provider of utility-grade wood pellets. One of the things we've seen in Europe, because Russia has basically cut off natural gas supply, is some utilities are needing to burn more coal. This is not only a big problem environmentally, but it's also quite expensive… Wood pellets of the kind that Enviva makes are substitutes for coal. They are renewable because they're made from wood, and they are also cleaner burning, without the various toxins that coal contains. Because coal is so expensive, wood pellets for the first time ever are actually cheaper than coal… Enviva is a U.S. company and… produces the wood pellets along the eastern seaboard, where there has always been a lot of forestry. But they are all shipped abroad: 80% to Europe, 20% to Japan…'” End quotes. ------------------------------------------------------------- Now some Other Honorable Mentions – no particular order 1. Title: Why AbbVie is a Top Socially Responsible Dividend Stock. It's by BNK Invest and found on Nasdaq.com. However, note this article titled How a Drug Company Made $114 Billion by Gaming the U.S. Patent System on nytimes.com. 2. Title: 3 Energy Mutual Funds for Fantastic Returns on news.yahoo.com. Only one is an alternative energy company. By Zacks Equity Research. 3. Title: 7 of the Most Highly Rated ESG Companies to Invest in Now. It's by InvestorPlace and found on investorobserver.com 4. Title: 3 Solar-Energy Stocks Setting Up In Bullish Bases on nasdaq.com. By Kate Stalter on Marketbeat. 5. Title: 4 Nanocap ESG Stocks For 2023. By RazorPitch NanoCap ESG and found on yahoo.com. Article From Outside the US 1. UK. Title: Top 8 ethical pension funds for 2023 on good-with-money.com. By Lori Campbell. ------------------------------------------------------------- Ending Comment Well, these are my top news stories with their stock and fund tips -- for this podcast: “The Most Undervalued Solar Stocks. And More…” Now, please be sure to click the like and subscribe buttons on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download or listen to this podcast. That helps bring these podcasts to others like you. And please click the share buttons to share this podcast with your friends and family. Let's promote ethical and sustainable investing as a force for hope and prosperity in these terribly troubled times! Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for listening. Talk to you next February 24th. Bye for now. © 2023 Ron Robins, Investing for the Soul
The Race to Net-Zero podcast is a six-episode series featuring conversations with energy industry experts and businesses committed to net-zero carbon emissions. In this season's final episode, host John Failla introduces Scott Hart, Head of Sales for NRG Business. They discuss the state of net-zero, the future of the journey, and the importance of collaboration for net-zero success. In today's episode, we cover: What is driving the change in the industry? [03:34] The difference between data and alignment [06:56] Sectors making the biggest moves toward net-zero [10:49] Eastern Europe's impact on the U.S. energy market [17:56] Collaboration for net-zero [21:46] NRG's customer philosophy [25:06] Sustainability is a business imperative The last few years have seen a significant acceleration in the emissions reduction space. NRG used to solicit and market its capabilities, but now organizations are seeking them out. NRG is heavily invested in managing emissions, setting goals, and finding solutions. The key drivers for companies are customers and stakeholders demanding that companies step up to mitigate their environmental impact. Employees also expect companies to be aware and take action toward emission reduction. People see real risk and opportunity. Now a company's reputation can be at risk if it doesn't have quantifiable, scientifically based objectives and demonstrate action toward reducing emissions. Companies no longer see emission reduction as an incremental cost or burden. They're using it as an opportunity to differentiate themselves from the competition. Increased complexity Organizations need insight and guidance to manage complex transactions, lower their carbon emissions, and deal with a more complicated and dynamic grid. It's possible to combine these into one strategy with comprehensive data and organizational and stakeholder alignment. Historically, NRG communicates with the sustainability group as well as the operational and finance departments within a company to ensure a unified approach. Over the past few years, NRG has demonstrated how to integrate emissions and business objectives. Together with an organization, they develop strategies that start with a comprehensive Scope 1, 2, and 3 analysis and present emissions reducing options. If a company has data and alignment, it can begin to implement plans. Energy transition The world is in a massive transition akin to the industrial era of the twentieth century. Although manufacturing and processing of electricity haven't changed significantly, the energy industry is introducing renewables to the grid and taking on the complex task of integrating them along with aging fossil fuel resources. The industrials are going through a transition as they face emission reductions challenges, whether voluntary or regulatory. Western economies have absorbed the vast majority of electricity, and emerging economies are creating further demand. The general transition from fossil fuels to electricity, specifically in electric vehicles, is driving demand and complicating how enough electricity is produced and delivered. While the situation is complex, the one sure thing is the exponentially increasing demand for electricity. The energy industry will have to find new ways to meet those needs. Resources & people mentioned State of Decarbonization Study Connect with Scott Hart On LinkedIn Connect with NRG Energy https://www.nrg.com/ Follow them on Facebook Follow them on Twitter Follow them on LinkedIn Connect With Smart Energy Decisions www.smartenergydecisions.com Follow them on Facebook Follow them on Twitter Follow them on LinkedIn
Doug Golden is a 20-year veteran in the energy industry having served in various executive roles with Fortune 500 companies, privately held businesses, and venture backed startups. During this time, he has successfully launched business units within these companies and scaled those organizations to record revenue levels. Most of Mr. Golden's experience is in the power supply and generation spaces, particularly around helping large commercial, industrial, and governmental clients reduce their carbon footprint through the sourcing and implementation of renewable energy and energy efficiency assets. Mr. Golden is the Chief Operating Officer of Sparkfund, a platform services company that partners with leading utility companies and energy brands to bring decarbonization, electrification, and resiliency solutions to their end user clients throughout the United States. Prior to Sparkfund, Mr. Golden served as Vice President, Sustainable Energy for Eco Engineering, an EPC contractor in the energy efficiency and renewable energy space. Mr. Golden got his start in the industry at NRG Energy and held various leadership roles there including co-founding the Integrated Solutions Team which was tasked with developing a suite of services to large business customers including EVSE, solar, back-up generation, combined heat and power, demand response, and grid connected electricity supply. Mr. Golden holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Syracuse University where he remains involved with the Maxwell School and various alumni organizations. He lives in Houston TX with his 11-year old greyhound mix, Jack and is involved with several charitable organizations in the greater Houston area. Our services for both our clients and candidates can be found below✔️For Employers: https://www.nenniandassoc.com/for-employers/✔️For Candidates: https://www.nenniandassoc.com/career-opportunities/✔️Consulting: https://www.nenniandassoc.com/consulting-services/✔️Executive Search: https://www.nenniandassoc.com/executive-search/Nenni and Associates on Social Media:► Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nenni-and-associates/► Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nenniandassoc/► Email Listing: https://www.nenniandassoc.com/join-email-list/► Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/NenniAssociates
This week on HomeTech: Gavin and Seth discuss the weeks news including some updates from Amazon and eero that expand the features of current products. Vivint is acquired for $2.8 billion in cash. What's the inside of Michael Jordan's home look like, a few things you should never say to Alexa, and Gavin gives us an update on his Home Assistant project.
US stocks fell Tuesday. Plus, NRG Energy will acquire Vivint Smart Home, Kodiak Robotics inks a contract with the DOD, and Microsoft offers Sony a 10-year COD deal.
US stocks fell Tuesday. Plus, NRG Energy will acquire Vivint Smart Home, Kodiak Robotics inks a contract with the DOD, and Microsoft offers Sony a 10-year COD deal.
S&P Futures are trading higher this morning even as short-term Treasury yields hovered near their highest since 2007. Despite a hawkish fed, traders are expecting a period of smaller rate increases in the future remains a bullish factor for the markets. Oil is pulling back due to A statement out of China indicating that there will be no change to its Zero Covid policy. Asian markets moved higher on better-than-expected economic data out of China. Later today we have earnings announcements from Activision Blizzard, BioNTech, Lyft, NRG Energy, and Mosaic.
Technovation with Peter High (CIO, CTO, CDO, CXO Interviews)
703: Dak Liyanearachchi, Head of Data and Technology at NRG Energy, discusses the two sides of his purview and how data and technology help maximize value coming from the business. He gives his perspectives on data strategy, NRG's emphasis on consumer products and services, and the role data and technology play in the company's overall goals in sustainability, digital engagement, and product development. Dak talks about the universality of his experience in data, but how the unique value comes from how that experience is applied to the specific company and industry. Finally, he looks ahead at trends in the decarbonization of our economy and reflects on the keys to his career success.
Technovation with Peter High (CIO, CTO, CDO, CXO Interviews)
703: Dak Liyanearachchi, Head of Data and Technology at NRG Energy, discusses the two sides of his purview and how data and technology help maximize value coming from the business. He gives his perspectives on data strategy, NRG's emphasis on consumer products and services, and the role data and technology play in the company's overall goals in sustainability, digital engagement, and product development. Dak talks about the universality of his experience in data, but how the unique value comes from how that experience is applied to the specific company and industry. Finally, he looks ahead at trends in the decarbonization of our economy and reflects on the keys to his career success.
If you've been following along the touchstones that make up the community solar market… “In this final episode of our 5-part series, we still have one more segment of this quilt of knowledge left to weave - the money - how does it work? You heard David Sandbank in Episode 1 refer to the Value Stack. The ways in which the market participants are incentivized to participate is an important element of any complete understanding of an industry sufficient that you could actually begin to participate in it. So, today I'm sitting down with Sy Kim, an industry veteran who has become a go-to resource for those who wish to develop market entry and business development plans for community solar. I first met Sy back when he was a project developer at SunPower before he went on to take senior leadership roles in NRG Energy and what would become Clearway. Sy's market understanding surpasses most others I've met when it comes to explaining the one piece left to unravel in this tapestry - just how does the revenue in these projects stack up? We discuss RECs, Tax Equity, market constraints & More. From types of offtakers to credit risk, incentives and customer mix, this final discussion will hopefully help fill any remaining gaps in your understanding of just exactly what community solar is and how you can participate in this high-growth opportunity. You can learn more about today's guest and our expert lineup along with what else is to come in the series athttps://www.mysuncast.com/communitysolar ( www.mysuncast.com/communitysolar) Did you miss the series so far? CONSIDER THIS YOUR “COMMUNITY SOLAR 101” In this 5-part series, we answer: How does Community Solar work, and what are the Policy frameworks that support it's expansion? Is the development of Community Solar that much different from other solar verticals (C&I, Utility)? How does this segment of the industry enable a more just & equitable solar offering? Who are the customers and how are they acquired for Community Solar as compared with other verticals? And, How does the money flow into, through and out of these projects for the various stakeholders? The Community Solar series presented in partnership withhttps://www.edprnadg.com/ ( EDP Renewables N. America, Distributed Generation.) You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make SunCast free for you, here:https://www.mysuncast.com/sponsors ( www.mysuncast.com/sponsors) And you can always find the resources and learn more about today's guest, recommendations, book links, and more than 485 other founder stories and startup advice athttps://www.mysuncast.com/ ( www.mysuncast.com). You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo (Twitter), https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus/ (LinkedIn) or email.
If you've been following along the touchstones that make up the community solar market… “In this final episode of our 5-part series, we still have one more segment of this quilt of knowledge left to weave - the money - how does it work? You heard David Sandbank in Episode 1 refer to the Value Stack. The ways in which the market participants are incentivized to participate is an important element of any complete understanding of an industry sufficient that you could actually begin to participate in it. So, today I'm sitting down with Sy Kim, an industry veteran who has become a go-to resource for those who wish to develop market entry and business development plans for community solar. I first met Sy back when he was a project developer at SunPower before he went on to take senior leadership roles in NRG Energy and what would become Clearway. Sy's market understanding surpasses most others I've met when it comes to explaining the one piece left to unravel in this tapestry - just how does the revenue in these projects stack up? We discuss RECs, Tax Equity, market constraints & More. From types of offtakers to credit risk, incentives and customer mix, this final discussion will hopefully help fill any remaining gaps in your understanding of just exactly what community solar is and how you can participate in this high-growth opportunity. You can learn more about today's guest and our expert lineup along with what else is to come in the series athttps://www.mysuncast.com/communitysolar ( www.mysuncast.com/communitysolar) Did you miss the series so far? CONSIDER THIS YOUR “COMMUNITY SOLAR 101” In this 5-part series, we answer: How does Community Solar work, and what are the Policy frameworks that support it's expansion? Is the development of Community Solar that much different from other solar verticals (C&I, Utility)? How does this segment of the industry enable a more just & equitable solar offering? Who are the customers and how are they acquired for Community Solar as compared with other verticals? And, How does the money flow into, through and out of these projects for the various stakeholders? The Community Solar series presented in partnership withhttps://www.edprnadg.com/ ( EDP Renewables N. America, Distributed Generation.) You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make SunCast free for you, here:https://www.mysuncast.com/sponsors ( www.mysuncast.com/sponsors) And you can always find the resources and learn more about today's guest, recommendations, book links, and more than 485 other founder stories and startup advice athttps://www.mysuncast.com/ ( www.mysuncast.com). You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo (Twitter), https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus/ (LinkedIn) or email.
Why Listen: Well, you know you're enjoying a conversation when midway through, you're already planning the next interview. Tyler is awesome. I just really appreciated so much about this interview. The thing that stands out to me most is his mastery in sales. He talks about his career, which is a variety of different experiences in the functional role of sales while also having most of that in the industry of energy. What I appreciated about his story is hearing about how throughout his career he's picked up different tools, different tricks, different skills that over time have allowed him to really have a mastery of this field in sales. I also appreciated his ability to communicate extremely effectively why veterans are well suited to sales, why this may be an appealing career path, even if you think it's the least likely career path that you would want to pursue. We talk about executive MBA, why he chose to pursue it, which is pretty unique for most guests that I have on the show, and a whole lot more. About Tyler: Tyler Johnston is a Sales Director at Black & Veatch. He is responsible for managing global relationships in the technology sector and helping his clients build critical infrastructure and distributed energy solutions. He started out at the Naval Academy, served as an Infantry Officer in the US Marine Corps for 5 years, and has held positions at NRG Energy, General Electric, and Shift.org. He earned his MBA at Columbia Business School.
PODCAST GUEST BIO: Led by CEO and Managing Partner Ricardo Angel, Piva Capital is a venture capital firm based in San Francisco, California. They invest in specialty chemicals, new materials, energy, mobility, industrials, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, the internet of things, robotics, automation, supply chain, logistics, electrification, and automation. Ricardo Angel leverages over 25 years of experience investing in the industrial and energy sectors to find and back visionary entrepreneurs, solving the world's greatest challenges through breakthrough technologies and innovative business models. Before starting Piva in 2019, Ricardo was a founding Managing Director of GE Ventures. He led origination and investments and served on dozens of company Boards, providing leadership and guidance to management teams to drive operational and financial value. He also led Energy Technology Ventures (ETV), a $300 million joint venture formed by GE, NRG Energy, and ConocoPhillips. Previously, Ricardo worked at Chevron's Venture Capital group, in investment banking at Goldman Sachs, and as a consultant at the CNA Corporation. ------- QUESTIONS THAT WE COVERED: Business What is your investment focus — e.g., sector, stage, geography, check size? What makes you unique versus the competition? Give us some examples of recent investments that you're excited about. Outside of your current business, what other 1-2 climate or sustainability sectors seem like promising areas in which to start a business? What might those solutions look like? Personal Tell us about 1-2 tips you'd give your “younger” self in order to be faster, more effective, and higher impact. What are some habits and routines that keep you focused, healthy, and sane — e.g., meditations, exercise, productivity hacks? What recommendations do you have for our audience — books, podcasts, quotes, tools? What's the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you — outside of your own family? ------- PODCAST HOST: Entrepreneurs for Impact is the only private mastermind community for growth-stage CEOs and investors fighting climate change. We're on a mission to help climate leaders supercharge their impacts, share best practices, expand their networks, and reach their full potential. Our invite-only cohorts of 12 executives catalyze personal development and business growth via monthly meetings, annual retreats, a member-only Climate Investor Database, and 1:1 coaching and strategy calls. Today's highly curated Mastermind members represent over $4B in market cap or assets under management, and are influencing corporate priorities and infrastructure much bigger than that. Peer groups are led by Dr. Chris Wedding who brings $1B+ of investment experience, 60,000+ professional students taught, 25 years of meditation, an obsession with constant improvement, and far too many mistakes to keep to himself. Website: www.entrepreneursforimpact.com Membership benefits: https://bit.ly/3l12Gyg Sample Mastermind members: https://bit.ly/3ipSehS Request more information on membership: https://bit.ly/3mj48eM --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/entrepreneurs-for-impact/message
Welcome to episode 40 of the Today is the Day Changemakers Podcast. This week my guest is Tanuja Dehne, President & CEO of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation. Tanuja describes herself as a introvert that has a very outward facing presence. She says she is also a Type A personality. Back in high school Tanuja had a love for agriculture, so she secured a job milking cows at a dairy farm in Easton, PA. She went to the Governors School for Agriculture between her sophomore and junior year. Although, she did not decide to become a farmer as she once thought, she shares how much she enjoyed the experience.Tanuja entered college as a liberal arts major, but found out that she really had a passion for government affairs and politics, so she shifted gears. She went on to graduate school where she had 5 part time jobs to pay the bills. Listen in to hear how grateful she was for all of her different roles. After going to law school and building her career path Tanuja worked for NRG energy for 12 years and served as Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and Chief of Staff. She says that the gift of her work at NRG was seeing that you can have a purpose driven life and career. Tanuja left NRG Energy with a calling. She had the inclination and inspiration to participate in a yoga training program. All her past experiences have positioned her to be ready to take on the incredibly important role that she is in now at the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation. The Dodge Squad, as Tanuja calls them is in the midst of a transformation both internally and within their community work. They are on an important equity journey. Visit Geraldine R. Dodge website for more information about the organization's focus. "We are in control of how we show up in this world", Tanuja says. "You are worth the investment. Be intentional about self-compassion – we are not perfect and perfection is not the goal." She has a lot of gratitude for her career path, who she met along the way, who helped to lift and mentor her. This is truly an incredible conversation!Don't forget to listen in to Tanuja's answer to, if I knew then what I know now. Thank you to Tanuja Dehne for this great conversation!Next week, I welcome Michael Gershe, Founder, Magic of Life Foundation, Speaker, Author, Comedian, College Advisor at Kent State University. Michael wears many hats, but his passion to make a difference shines through in all that he does. He is on a mission to educate everyone about the dangers of drunk driving after losing his mother in a terrible car accident when he was just 8 weeks old. He was a passenger in that car crash as well. Listen in to hear more of his incredible story. Visit The Magic of Life for more information. Please subscribe to the Today is the Day Changemakers YouTube Channel and stream this podcast on all streaming sites. Like us on FB and Instagram at Today is the Day Live it. Visit todaysithedayliveit.com for more information regarding the podcast, other services that I provide through consulting, speaking opportunities, and coaching services.Have a great week everyone!
Stakeholder demand has created a reality where a brand's purpose is as key to its success as its products and services. Within certain sectors, though, the nature of the business causes skepticism among audiences as to how authentically purposeful a company can truly be.In this podcast, Gin Kinney, VP of comms and marketing at NRG, speaks candidly and convincingly about her brand's commitment to sustainability; diversity, equity and inclusion; its employees and truly listening to its growing base of consumers.Transparency. Self-awareness, both as a brand and as a PR pro. Empathy. All companies and leaders truly committed to purpose espouse these traits. Kinney drilled deep into all of them during this conversation with PRWeek managing editor Gideon Fidelzeid. We welcome you to listen in.
New financial tools are emerging alongside new technology to help companies address greenhouse gas emissions. Unlike green bonds, where the proceeds from the bond are used for new and existing projects with environmental benefits, sustainability-linked bonds can be more flexible. NRG Energy announced the issuance of a $900 million sustainability-linked-bond earlier in December. The company says that is going to help them achieve a 50% reduction of absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 and reach net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 from a 2014 baseline. Gaetan Frotte, the senior vice president and Treasurer at NRG Energy, spoke with Energy Evolution co-host Taylor Kuykendall about the latest announcement.
Ray Long, vice president of government affairs for NRG Energy, addresses the New Jersey Senate Environment and Energy Committee concerning nuclear subsidies.
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