Case Studies

City Funded Development

Davis Roots business incubator was built for local business leaders, business professors and faculty to attract and keep UCD and Davis talent in Davis.  It was my job to enhance and focus the energy of people who wanted to turn their passion into a business – and to do it locally.   I became acquainted with Foodfully, Nuritas, SonauTech, Barobo founders and others, helping to bring them mentorship and funding. At Roots I also developed Hacknight, and other investor showcases and community programs for the City of Davis and UCD’s Entrepreneurship Institute. You wear a lot of hats to host investor groups, city residents, and student groups for the City of Davis.

Renewable Energy Development

My company, Cooperative Community Energy, was one of the first 12 companies to be listed on the California Energy Commission approved solar company list. We were first to receive residential solar rebates, first to set up training programs and first to have a dedicated solar sales staff. Cooperative Community Energy helped move the solar industry from pool heating to a vastly larger solar photovoltaic sales market.  Following CCE, I helped SunPower Corporation, and NRG and for a host of smaller companies, including Spectrum Energy Development Inc, and Pacific Power Management, build up their sales operations and training capabilities.

Regenerative Agriculture

As a business analyst and fundraiser for Fibershed. I helped Fibershed with  Huston Textile Company, to anchor the regional fiber systems and help the Fibershed community (consisting of farmers, ranchers, spinners, knitters and mill owners and natural dyers) create a vision of a cloth manufacturing hub for the northern California region.  We delivered business plans, events and ran a business to attract investment for a healthy, diverse and inclusive localized textile manufacturing future.

Textiles account for 10% of carbon emissions, 26% of all pesticide use and 5% of all landfill.  Fibershed’s goal is to develop textile industry manufacturing that uses locally grown organic fibers – wool, cotton and flax – to make regionally healthy products that can be used as the mainstay of income for ever increasing participation in soil to skin wear products.