This month’s Employee Spotlight is…
Jeff Luoma – Outreach Specialist
1. Where did you grow up? Where do you reside now?
I grew up in rural Ohio playing in fields and forests where kids go outside and find their way, as long as you get back before dark. Currently, I’m in Hudson Valley, NY (Go north of NYC 1.5 hrs until there are more trees than people.)
2. What did you want to be when you grew up (when you were a child)?
I seem to remember wanting to be a veterinarian or singer and loved (love) nature stuff. If I had found out about theater and dance earlier, that might have been it too.
3. What guided you into the energy efficiency industry?
A decade and a half ago, I found myself in Ithaca, NY with a natural resource/forestry degree and no work to be found. A light construction background and innate interest in efficient buildings led me to an opportunity for a subsidized BPI training class and I joined a local, quality, “Insulation plus” home improvement contractor. I have found a number of people in the building energy efficiency world crossed over from environmental professions. It scratches the same itches of 1) working with systems to make things run well, 2) helping people, and 3) doing one’s part to maintain our earth’s balance and life support systems.
4. What does a day in your life at PSD look like?
I have the exciting opportunity to help National Grid – New York launch a new, comprehensive management system for their contractors and trade allies! Successful contractor networks need a robust, easy-to-use system to help contractors do their best work and keep in tight contact with the utility. As we launch, I’ll be helping contractors and other Trade Allies make the best use of Clean Energy incentives, learning opportunities, and networking. Contractor successes mean benefits and success for customers and utilities as well. That’s the goal.
A TYPICAL DAY involves working closely with any of our excellent team of nine coordinating, designing, and offering outreach and trade ally tools. Beyond that, our days and weeks can vary considerably, as is the nature of any new system. Flexibility is key.
5. Our company has five core values (Integrity, Passion, Collaboration, Vision, and Making an Impact). Which of these values resonates most with you and the work you do at PSD?
One reason I joined PSD was that I see how PSD’s work directly helps utilities, contractors, and other decision-makers by providing good tools and good information. All the values are important, of course, but Making an Impact is what gives me the most satisfaction and ultimately what I’m here for.
6. What do you do when you aren’t at work? Do you have any interesting hobbies?
I occasionally teach Latin dance, sit in on gigs as a percussionist, or acting/theater. I’ve spent a LOT of time in the past few years doing an extensive “poor man’s deep energy retrofit” on my 1960’s house, learning through videos, banged up knuckles, and the phone-a-friend option. Being a self-entertainment unit, there’s always something new I’m learning or trying out. I announce for the International Rutabaga Curling Championship. (If you’re one of the athletes competing, it’s Dec. 20th this year at the Ithaca Farmer’s Market, 1:00 pm.)
7. Do you have any pets?
I am owned by my girlfriend’s dog. She looks like a cross between a spider, a kangaroo, and a horse. Tell me I’m wrong.
8. What is your favorite holiday?
Whichever one has the most leftovers.
9. Favorite travel destination? Or dream travel destination?
Bhutan, Iceland – anywhere relatively peaceful where a different mental state of calm and presence is to be experienced and gleaned.
10. Favorite musician/genre?
Very eclectic. My Pandora account has multiple personalities.
11. What’s the top item on your bucket list? Have you checked anything cool or fun off?
Swimming with manatees – check. Biking the West Coast – check. In a loving relationship – check. The main one left is helping save humanity from itself. (That should keep me busy.)
12. What is an interesting thing about yourself that people may not know?
Hmm… more than I can count with one hand and a calculator. Toured Poland with a singing group as a teenager. Marshmallow gourmand. Caver. Roller derby jeerleader. Peace Corps Panama. Crew member on a historic wooden ship. Circus Performer. Bering Sea fish cop. Organic farmer… It’s a long list but the inevitable stories are hopefully not long-winded.
Thank you, Jeff! We appreciate you taking the time to do this and are excited to have people get to know a little more about you!
