Staff Directory

As a research engineer, Samantha evaluates and studies innovative technologies to improve residential and commercial building energy efficiencies.

Before joining CEE, Samantha spent two years leading early-stage new product and technology development projects in the filtration industry. She earned her Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Minnesota in 2019. Her thesis work developed new nanocomposite materials able to convert standard window glass into solar-harvesting devices while still maintaining high visible transparency.

As a help desk technician, Mackenzie provides technical support and assistance to CEE staff.

Mackenzie joined CEE in 2019 as an energy counselor with the Home Energy Squad. Before CEE, they were a park operations intern at Whitewater State Park. Mackenzie received their bachelor's in environmental studies from St. Cloud State University.

Previous to joining CEE Sari worked as a project manager with BWF, a fundraising consulting firm. In this position Sari helped manage a portfolio of client facing projects, contributed to reports and research projects, and provided additional administrative support when needed. Sari has a BA in International Relations and Anthropology from Lawrence University.

As an energy advisor, Lisa provides energy advising and scheduling services to all CEE residential customers.

Lisa joined CEE in 2018, prior to which she worked as the lead event server at French Meadow in Uptown. Before that, she worked for Target Corporation. Lisa graduated from the University of Minnesota with a BS in multidisciplinary studies with a focus in sustainable business and integrative health.

Zach has worked in a wide variety of positions from customer service, to construction, to licensing and more. He is enthusiastic about working with nonprofits and other agencies that have a meaningful impact on our local communities. With his style of constructive positivity and wide area of experience he is hoping to make an environmental difference even if it’s in his own small way.

Kevin manages the day-to-day operation of the Home Energy Squad.

Kevin joined the Neighborhood Energy Connection in 2013, before it merged with CEE in 2017.

As a loan officer at CEE, Janson is responsible for processing home improvement financing applications for the Lending Center. This position provides core support to participants of the Lending Center.

Prior to CEE, Janson was a campaign representative at United Way where he managed workplace-giving campaigns for United Way partners. 

Janson holds a degree in political science and sociology from Luther College.

As a systems coordinator for the Home Energy Squad program, Danielle helps people start the process of looking to make their homes more energy efficient.

Danielle joined CEE in 2017. Before CEE, Danielle worked at a teahouse and as an assistant at a fine art studio. She studied women studies and public health at St. Catherine University.

Prior to joining CEE, Steve worked in sales and account management within the technology and physical security industries. He graduated from the University of Minnesota with a major in Psychology and a minor in Communications.

As a loan officer at CEE, DeShaun is responsible for processing home improvement financing applications for the Lending Center. This position provides core support to participants of the Lending Center.

Before CEE, DeShaun had various roles in lending and sales with companies such as Wells Fargo, Ideal Credit Union, and Employees First Credit Union. He is pursuing a BA in business from Metropolitan State University and received his AS in business from Minneapolis Community College. DeShaun also volunteers with Hennepin County Mentors for Success.

As a program development manager with the MN-based non-profit Center for Energy and Environment (CEE), Molly develops and manages local building energy efficiency policies and programs across the Midwest including Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Her current focus is on creating productive utility-community partnerships to achieve shared goals of building decarbonization and climate change. She co-founded and served on CEE’s first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council from 2021-2023, and wrote the company’s first DEI policy in 2019.

Molly is a sustainability scientist with 20 years of experience in climate change, energy, waste, and food systems. Since joining CEE in February 2018, Molly has been program manager for two different building energy benchmarking initiatives in the Midwest, including the Kalamazoo Energy Collaborative in southwest Michigan, and Energize Saint Paul in Minnesota. Both are partnerships between cities, local building owners, utilities, and nonprofits, to increase the energy efficiency of existing buildings. In partnership with the City of Rochester, MN, and a group of 40 community stakeholders, she worked for the first 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic to create a community-based sustainability action plan. The combined team won a Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership Award for equitable planning and engagement.

A systems thinker with a diverse background, Molly previously worked with governments, organic food companies, and Fortune 500 clients, specializing in greenhouse gas accounting, climate change strategy, waste management, packaging, supply chain sustainability, renewable energy, and carbon markets.

Molly has an MS in climate and energy sustainability from Antioch University and a BA in political science from Carleton College. She is a LEED Green Associate and is fluent in Spanish.

Molly was elected to the first board of directors of the Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition in January 2023.

Accreditations and affiliations

• LEED Green Associate

Languages

• Fluent in Spanish

As a One-Stop Efficiency Shop lighting consultant, Jeff assists small to midsize business customers with efficient lighting purchase decisions, and educates customers, contractors, and distributors on the benefits of energy efficient lighting and the opportunities available through One-Stop and other utility rebate programs.

He has a bachelor's degree from South Dakota State University and has been with CEE since 2013.

As CEE's senior manager of community policy, Katie works at the intersection of local and state energy policy, advancing strategies that support city and county energy and climate goals. She focuses on understanding local processes, conducting equitable stakeholder engagement, and leveraging building and community energy data to drive communities' energy priorities.

With over a decade of building energy policies and program experience, Katie brings an eye for data analysis and an understanding of building energy performance. Among her key achievements is the expansion of energy benchmarking and energy code policy in Minnesota.

Katie has a BS in environmental and natural resources engineering from Purdue University.

Emerson previously worked at a nonprofit in Houston rebuilding homes affected by disasters. They also traveled to Louisiana and Florida for active disaster responses doing debris removals, gutting, and mold suppression. 

Emerson received a BSE in civil engineering from the University of Iowa. They also got a minor in studio art as a part of their focus area in architecture.

Prior to joining CEE, Sophia worked in the construction industry, completing technical drawings for high-performance architecture projects. She also worked as a Plan Reviewer for the City of Duluth, where she reviewed building plans for code compliance.

Passionate about combining her background in sustainability with the built environment, she joined CEE in 2024.

Sophia holds dual bachelors degrees in anthropology and environmental studies with an individualized concentration in health from Luther College.

Christopher graduated from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in 2018 where he received his bachelor’s in science, majoring in geography and minoring in geographic information science. Prior to that, he also attended Century College where he received his associate’s degree.

Prior to working at CEE, Chris worked for an engineering firm inspecting power poles for communications attachments. He previously worked as a GIS specialist before serving as an AmeriCorps member with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity between 2021-2022. An Eagle Scout, Chris volunteers as an assistant scoutmaster for a Scouts BSA troop in Saint Paul, MN.

LeAnne joined the Neighborhood Energy Connection as a loan manager in 2004, before the organization merged with CEE in 2017. For nine years prior, she was the loan manager for another local nonprofit. She has 30 years’ experience helping lend tens of millions of dollars to Minnesota homeowners for home improvement projects.

Cindy serves as the main point of contact for the One-Stop Efficiency Shop lighting and HVAC programs and the Xcel Energy Refrigeration program. She qualifies and assigns properties to the auditors and is responsible for ensuring that a job moves through the program as efficiently as possible.

Cindy started with CEE in 2008 working with the Sound Mitigation Program before she joined the One-Stop Lighting team as a project assistant in 2012. Cindy graduated from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin with a BA in English. 

As a Field Supervisor, Madeline gets to train new staff to become counselors and install energy saving products. Her favorite part of the job is getting to motivate and help staff excel in their role, as either a counselor or an auditor. 

Prior to this role, Madeline was a Senior Energy Auditor for CEE, which includes inspecting homes to assess insulation levels, air tightness, and combustion appliances to identify ways that homeowners can make their homes safer and more energy efficient. This includes installing energy-saving products to help costumers save money as soon as the visit is completed.

Prior to CEE, Madeline was performing energy audits for Green Iowa AmeriCorps in Decorah, IA.