Over 65 people enjoyed our 2nd Annual Banquet on November 4th, 2015. MEECA held the association’s 2nd Annual Banquet at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing, MI. This event highlighted MEECA’s appreciation for the dedication of our original leaders and their commitment to getting MEECA off of the ground. These leaders have had a significant impact on Michigan’s energy efficiency industry.
MEECA is extremely thankful to have had such influential leaders for the past two years and thank them for all they have done to get MEECA up and running. Our original leaders are as follows:
•Brad Bartholomew, Energy Saving Services
•Amanda Godward, Ecotelligent Homes
•Todd O’Grady, Michigan Saves
•Shelley Sullivan, Energy Sciences
•Ryan Oswald, Pure Eco Environmental Services
•Alex Van Rijn, Building Performance Solutions
MEECA most especially wants to thank Brad Bartholomew for everything he has done as President of the association for the past two years. MEECA appreciates his hard leadership and commitment.
Brad Bartholomew, MEECA’s two-term outgoing president started off the evening reflecting on his time as president of this association. “It was encouraging to see the progress we made in the first two years and I look forward to seeing MEECA grow in the future,” Brad said as he has relinquished the reigns of the association to a new president.
Todd O’Grady provided a brief update on the MEECA’s financials showing that in sharp contrast to last year’s annual meeting, MEECA has a positive net equity balance! Overall revenue for the association for the 2014/2015 fiscal year was just over $56,000. Todd turned the podium over to Brindley Byrd to give an association update.
Brindley reminded attendees of our Core Purpose and that we have 77 members total with 50 company members and 27 individual members. He again stressed the importance of membership and that there is Power In Numbers with members being the true power in the legislative process.
He highlighted success of Michigan’s Energy Optimization programs, the legislative victories and impressive strides MEECA has made in the last two years towards expanding Michigan’s energy efficiency.
He did dip a little bit into the current legislative energy debate sharing a single sentence in HB4298 that would significantly curtail future EO programs in the future. “I’ve been working on this sentence for over 12 hours in the past two days,” a visibly tired Byrd said during his presentation. This language which would limit the funding a utilities could spend on EO programs to 1-percent is something we are working hard to change.
Outside of the legislative arena, MEECA has been working towards advancing the idea that Michigan needs a fully functional integrated energy efficiency market to eliminate energy waste and deploy the most cost-effective energy resource first. Key stakeholders and collaborators are working together to get the value of energy efficiency realized in the real estate industry. MEECA is leading this effort here in Michigan.
None of theses successes would have been possible without the help of our members. Byrd thanked everyone for all their contributions.
MEECA wants to congratulate our new President, Walter Dindoffer of Development Solutions based Temperance, MI (lower Southeast Michigan). Development Solutions provides solutions for energy, quality, safety and projects. Walter has over 27 years of manufacturing experience covering all aspects of operations. MEECA is thrilled to have him in this new role of leadership.
Source: MEECA
