This month’s Employee Spotlight is…
Matt Henry – Program Manager
1. Where did you grow up? Where do you reside now?
I grew up in The Tetons—born and raised in Jackson, Wyoming. I now live in North Bend, Washington. It is somewhat near Seattle at the base of the Cascade Mountains.
2. What did you want to be when you grew up (when you were a child)?
I don’t remember ever having a clear idea of what I would be. Sometimes, I feel like I’m still trying to figure that out! I was never like, “I want to be a fireman!” but I do remember acknowledging the threat of climate change at a young age and always thought I would probably do something in the renewable energy industry.
3. What guided you into the energy efficiency industry?
Fate? Luck? Haha! I studied Applied Physics as an undergraduate with an internship one summer installing residential-scale renewables (PV at off-grid locations, small wind turbines, and micro-hydro systems). Then, in 2005, feeling the need to escape Wyoming, my wife and I moved to Seattle to explore the Cascades. To me – a small-town country bumpkin – Seattle felt like a hub of green innovation. After a couple of years of odd jobs paying just enough for gas to get us up to the mountains, I thought, “Well, I guess I should get my green career started!” In 2007, the best job I could land with my experience was with Portland, Oregon-based company Ecos Consulting as an Energy Efficiency Associate. They indoctrinated me with the idea of efficiency as a resource, and it resonated—I’ve been in energy efficiency ever since!
4. What does a day in your life at PSD look like?
No two days are alike! But if I had to summarize, I would say the main gist is relationship building. Managing a residential new construction program requires strong partnerships with home builders, HERS raters, Home Builders Associations (HBAs), internal team members, and most importantly, our Utility clients. So, whether it’s talking on the phone, conducting training, or attending networking and outreach events, communication with our stakeholders and allies is a core activity.
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?
Well, making an impact is always the goal, so that’s a biggie! And Integrity is super important to me. Being honest and transparent helps build lasting and meaningful relationships and also cultivates loyalty with colleagues.
7. What do you do when you aren’t at work? Do you have any interesting hobbies? 
In the mountains as much as possible. Backcountry skiing or ski mountaineering is a real passion! I’ve been skiing since I was 2 years old and have never missed a winter since. Nor would I want to! But when there is no snow, you’ll find me and my family climbing mountains, hiking/backpacking, trail running, white water kayaking, or paddle boarding.
8. Do you have any pets?
My wife and I have two dogs. Holden (black and tan) and Aasha (black and silver) are both rescue dogs. We adopted Holden as a little puppy. So he’s had a good life. Aasha lived at least half of her first year outside on the streets of South Seattle. She’s changed so much since we adopted her 4 years ago, but we still occasionally find random things that set her off into a barking frenzy (like shaking a can of spray paint – what happened to her out there??)!
9. What is your favorite holiday?
Growing up, it was the 4th of July. That was the big party day in Jackson, and the fireworks were always awesome. But now I think it has to be Thanksgiving. Taking time to reflect on what you’re grateful for is good for the soul. Not to mention the FOOD!
10. Favorite travel destination? Or dream travel destination?
Before I get too much older, I would love to spend a winter in Chamonix. It’s the spiritual home of ski mountaineering!
11. Favorite musician/genre? 
I think I have pretty eclectic music tastes, but the one band that consistently makes me smile and turn up the volume, no matter my mood, is the Grateful Dead.
12. What’s the top item on your bucket list? Have you checked anything cool or fun off?
I want to ski something that no one has ever skied before. But I’m not sure I have the guts for that anymore. People are so good at skiing these days that the list of untouched mountains/lines is getting shorter every year! One adventure that I’m proud of is a solo, self-supported paddle-board traverse of Lake Powell, starting in Hite, UT, and finishing in Page, AZ. Just under 200 miles and 14 days of paddling through the desert. It was a pretty surreal experience!
13. What is an interesting thing about yourself that people may not know?
A few years ago, I began hand-carving wooden spoons. It’s a fun and simple way to feel like a woodworker. If you’re lucky, you might receive one for Christmas!
Thank you, Matt! We appreciate you taking the time to do this and are excited to have people get to know a little more about you!
