Our Staff:
Eric Van Orden, Executive Director
Eric has more than 10 years business development experience, with 7 specifically in the new energy industries. Eric has managed and performed more than 2,000 commercial and residential energy audits, while facilitating the installation of more than 5MW of solar photovoltaic systems. As the new energy industry has evolved Eric has built multiple organizations from the ground up; creating jobs, economic activity and scalable growth for the industry.
Three of Eric’s past five companies were sold to the nation’s leading home performance, smart grid and solar providers. With working experience at SolarCity, Gridpoint and the EEBC, he has collaborated with key industry actors from business to utilities to government agencies. Eric has a Bachelor's of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts, with a minor in sociology and information technology specialization. Eric is also LEED AP Certified, an AEE Certified Energy Auditor, RESNET trained and a Master of Science Candidate at CU Denver's Global Energy Management Program.
Renae Stavros, Event and Membership Support
Renae Stavros earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from California State University, Chico, in 2003. She traveled to New Orleans where she spent a year working and was accepted to the University of New Orleans for a Masters in Environmental Sociology. After hurricane Katrina, in 2005, Renae decided not to pursue her Master's in New Orleans and moved back to California. Returning to the Bay Area, she found her interest in environmental planning and community development, and joined the San Jose State University, Masters in Urban Planning program. Though she had several internships during school, she credits her work with the Silicon Valley Leadership Group for her enthusiasm and passion for energy issues. It was there that she gained experience researching and drafting briefs on energy and environmental policies. After graduating in May 2011, she spent time with her newborn son, and recently made the move to the Denver area. Since here, she has discovered the energy arena here has much to offer in the way of education and experience. She is enjoying the opportunity to volunteer with the EEBC, and is looking forward to finding full time work in the energy policy field.
