RENEW’s Employee Profile series highlights our team members who make us great. This month we interviewed our intelligent and hardworking Vice President of Finance, Vanessa Robles Bedeaux.

Q: How long have you worked for RENEW Energy Partners?

A: I’ve been with RENEW for two years as of January 2024.

Q: What sort of work do you do for the company?

A: As VP of Finance, I manage the full accounting cycle, including audits and taxes, and reporting for Renew and all of our project companies.

Q: Where are you from? What is one aspect that you enjoyed about the place where you grew up?

A: I’m from Juncos, Puerto Rico, a small but mighty town that’s home to companies like Amgen, Becton Dickinson, and Medtronic. Growing up, I enjoyed the beautiful rivers and beaches and the strong sense of community spirit.

Q: What activities/hobbies do you enjoy in your daily life? How do you relax?

A: I like going to the gym at least twice a week for weightlifting and bootcamp sessions. This routine fits my schedule best and helps me feel accomplished and refreshed during the week. The other days, I always carve out time during lunch for a power walk.

Q: Have you ever worked in another field? What was it, and why?

A: Due to the nature of my skills, I’ve had the opportunity to work across various industries, including consumer products, IT, and solar.

Q: What is one fun fact about you?

A: I’ve visited around 40 countries for both work and leisure. Wherever I go, I make it a point to visit McDonald’s to explore their unique establishments and menu items.

Q: Why is sustainability/decarbonization important to you? How did you get started in this career/field?

A: Regardless of the sector I worked in I’ve always been drawn to companies that prioritize the environment, whether through innovative packaging solutions or by data centers that belong to companies committed to reduce their environmental footprint. That interest grew while I transitioned to SolarCity, which later became Tesla.

Q: What sustainability practices have you seen that have surprised and/or excited you?

A: What excites me most is how often I’ve noticed the resurgence of old ideas becoming new norms. For example, I recently heard about a Belgian city that gives households chickens to eat food scraps, produce fresh eggs, and fertilize the land. It’s such a simple but effective way to tackle food waste and encourage sustainable living.

Q: Why do you choose to work with RENEW?

A: I believe in the leadership at RENEW. Our leaders are committed and respectful to their teams. RENEW is also the type of workplace where I truly feel I can bring my whole self to work, balancing my role as a mother and my career while staying authentic to who I am. Across all disciplines, RENEW embodies honesty and integrity, which makes me proud to be part of this team.

Q: What are you most excited about for the future of the energy industry?

A: I’m most excited about advancements in energy storage and the potential to rely less on the grid. Having grown up experiencing hurricanes that left us without running water or power for months, I find the concept of self-sufficient energy truly remarkable.

To be continued next month. We are lucky to be growing our team with exemplary individuals. The previous RENEW employee profile featured Peter Kuhn. 

RENEW Energy Partners specializes in funding energy saving retrofits for your commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings. For more information contact us today!

RENEW’s Employee Profile series highlights our team members who make us great. This month we interviewed our intelligent and hardworking VP of Project and Asset Management, John Luleich.

Q: How long have you worked for RENEW Energy Partners?

A: Since January 2023.

Q: What sort of work do you do for the company?

A: VP of Project and Asset Management. I am responsible for managing active projects and long-term operations and maintenance (O&M) of Renew’s assets, focusing on optimizing operating efficiencies and maximizing carbon reduction.

Q: Where are you from? What is one aspect that you enjoyed about the place that you grew up?

A: Rockport, MA. Rockport is a small coastal town on the North Shore of Massachusetts where I grew up with access to beaches, fishing, and cliff jumping at the local granite quarries.

Q: What activities/hobbies do you enjoy in your daily life? How do you relax?

A: I enjoy boating, kayaking, scuba diving, and in the winter, I enjoy skiing.

Q: Have you ever worked in another field? What was it and why?

A: United States Navy Nuclear Power. I left college after my first year and spent 10 years in the Navy before going back to school and completing my Engineering degree.

Q: What is one fun fact about you?

A: While in the Navy, I went to school and received a B.S. in Human Resources Management. After leaving the Navy, I went back to school and received my B.S. in Mechanical Engineering Technology which was better suited to my career path.

Q: Why is sustainability/decarbonization important to you? How did you get started in this career/field?

A: Climate change is impacting everyone, and we have the means to do something about it. I have always had an interest in energy efficiency measures, but while working in manufacturing, the facilities group was always competing for capital with the manufacturing needs. Here at Renew, energy and decarbonization are our core investments.

Q: What sustainability practices have you seen that have surprised and/or excited you?

A: I recently had the opportunity to visit the construction site of a district geothermal pilot project being installed by a local gas utility. To learn how multiple gas utility companies are piloting district geothermal as an option to replace their natural gas business is exciting.

Q: Why do you choose to work with RENEW?

A: I worked with RENEW as the customer during the design, construction and commissioning of a Combined Cooling Heating & Power plant with a Battery Energy Storage microgrid, and the experience working with RENEW was terrific. When the opportunity presented itself to join the RENEW team, I had no reservations.

Q: What are you most excited about for the future of the energy industry?

A: I’m excited about new technological advances in the energy industry and the ability scale up systems to have a greater impact in reducing emissions.

To be continued next month. We are lucky to be growing our team with exemplary individuals. The previous RENEW employee profile featured Emily Robertson. 

RENEW Energy Partners specializes in funding energy saving retrofits for your commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings. For more information contact us today!