Jeff is the president of Elements of Earth and Energy.  He is an active General Building (B), Electrical (C-10) and Solar (C-46) contractor licensed by the California State License Board. He is a certified NABCEP PV System Inspector and PV Installation Professional, former registered NABCEP PV Associate Instructor (2019) and volunteer team leader for GRID Alternatives (since 2011).
 
Since 2016, Jeff has been working for affordable housing developers ensuring the projects become certified as zero net energy (DOE); WaterSense, EnergyStar and Indoor airPLUS (EPA); and LEED Platinum (GBC).  He is a former mentor and trainer for the SCE Energy Upgrade California program, (2012-16). 

Jeff has an innate passion to help provide all California residents with clean air, water, power and fresh, healthy food. He strives to protect public health and safety, improve the financial stability of small businesses in underserved communities, foster local economies through workforce development, promote the healthy living of our communities and positively impact social change. Born and raised in Southern California, he earned his bachelor of arts degree in business economics at UCLA in 1994.  He resides with his wife in Humboldt County, Northern California. 
 

Senait is the executive director of OC Goes Solar (OCGS), a 501(c)3 community-based organization. OCGS focuses on reducing barriers and increasing access to renewable energy to all homeowners in Orange County, especially in underserved communities. Senait is a founding member of the organization and was instrumental in assisting over 350 homeowners to go solar through the organization’s solarize group discount program. She is a trained solar professional with seven years of consulting experience both in solar and energy efficiency. She is also the vice chair of the Green Ribbon Environmental Committee for the City of Irvine and was part of the team that drafted the “Irvine Achieves Resolution,” which is the city’s declaration of a climate emergency. She also serves on the Citizen Advisory Committee for the newly formed Orange County Power Authority, a community choice aggregator (CCA). A lifelong environmental/climate justice advocate, she is an active member of the Climate Reality Project OC and a member of Orange County Environmental Justice. Senait has a B.A. degree in urban & regional planning from the University of California, Irvine and is also a trained product/industrial designer. 

Janie Hodge is an Afro-American woman of senior age and a native of Los Angeles. Her professional background since 2006 includes founding and operating a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation located in Lancaster, Calif. They are a family-oriented organization that provides soft skills, job training, job placement and referrals to those in need, including those experiencing homelessness, formerly incarcerated or suffering with substance abuse or mental health. Their mission is to enable people of all walks of life to be as healthy and active as possible by assisting them to maintain the highest quality of purpose, improving the quality of their lives. Their value statement is a “Hand out for a hand up is the key that unlocks the door to success.”

Danny is the current job developer and industrial specialist at Center for Employment Training in Colton, Calif., and has over 10 years of experience working in community development, career transitions, job placement and networking with employers. Danny serves on six boards and advisory councils in industrial fields.

Danny is involved in community outreach in the greater Inland Empire and partners with many organizations to help those with barriers overcome life’s challenges by offering life skills classes, housing development and referrals, education pathways, career and job development, transportation resources and community resources. He specializes in linking prospects in the community with available energy programs.

Wes Olson has over 30 years’ experience in the construction field. He has held his California State General Contractors (B) license since 1998 and has been self-employed since 2000. He started his construction profession after high school as a laborer in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He has worked as a carpenter, plumber, electrician and solar installer since the early 1980s. He returned to school and received his degree in construction technology at Ventura College and in turn acquired his contractor’s license. He currently works as an instructor with the Center for Employment Training in Oxnard, Calif., teaching the Green Building Construction skills class. He also volunteers with his students with GRID and Habitat for Humanity, having helped build over 16 homes.

Mitchell Smith, Ed.D., is a lifelong educator whose career started over 30 years ago as executive director of a nonprofit youth program that gave inner-city youth a chance to succeed academically by placing them in environments more conducive for learning. He provided leadership, guidance and motivation to hundreds of students during his tenure. 

Born and raised in New York City, Smith understands the challenges that urban areas face and gives insight to the teaching methodologies that must be in place for students of all ages to succeed. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts, receiving degrees in educational leadership. Smith has led numerous workshops and training seminars in the areas of workforce education, self-awareness and gang violence prevention. He continues to do motivational speaking engagements to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated youth and adults. For a number of years, Smith was in a corporate career as an educational consultant/sales strategist. McGraw Hill, Pearson Group and Host Learning are several companies that utilized his skills and talents to provide quality educational solutions to its clients. 

Highlighted in Money Magazine in May 2010, Smith made a career change and began to work within the solar industry challenging and training inner city displaced workers to pursue careers in the solar industry. While independently consulting with community-based organizations to develop curriculum and instruction for workforce development, he trained staff and students in solar design and installation. He continues to provide curriculum for workforce development and incorporates harm reduction strategies for youth and adult populations. Smith believes that training and mentoring young men and women effectively to succeed in the workplace should be at the forefront of every discussion concerning our viable future. Currently, he is senior technical training director for Young Community Developers, Inc., a nonprofit organization inspiring and empowering residents in Southeast San Francisco through job readiness training and employment counseling. There he manages curriculum and instruction for their staff and customers.
 

Jon was the owner of Caffery Electric Inc. and First Priority Mortgage, Inc. He owned both businesses from 1985 to 2007. After the mortgage industry fell into disarray, Jon reinvented himself. He began consulting work for College of the Desert, which blossomed into a new career. He then moved his family to Hawaii and worked for the University of Hawaii as a grants administrator. Jon returned to the Coachella Valley in 2014 and joined the College of the Desert as a regional grants director.

Jon earned a B.S. degree in business administration from Colorado Christian University, a master’s degree in adult education from Auburn University and recently completed a doctorate degree for education leadership and management at Capella University.

Noah Arzola has been in the energy sector as a career developer for eight years serving in various roles in the industry. He has worked alongside several solar developers in the Central Valley and across the nation to recruit their workforce needs, as well as collaborated with local unions on specific industry-related training that would lead to green energy employment. Arzola currently serves as the recruitment specialist for Proteus Inc., a nonprofit CBO that trains students to become EERE technicians. He is involved with the school's career exploration program that seeks out industry partners to serve on its advisory committees. He has served in research and development for the William M. Maguy School of Education for new career training and education training, licensure and certifications to enhance employability for graduates. Prior to getting involved in the energy sector, he was a realtor/office manager and was involved as a real estate investing partner with local entrepreneurs that had start-up businesses.

Genevieve is the director of the OVCDC-Career Education Program located in Bishop, Calif. Career Ed is a career and technical education program funded by the Office of Career Technical Adult Education, OCTAE-DOE-NACTEP Department of Education-Native American Career Technical Education Program. The NACTEP grant allows Jones to provide industry recognized and accredited training to Native American adults in Inyo and Mono counties. She works closely with the local Cerro Coso Community College-Eastern Sierra College Center and the Kern Community College District of Bakersfield, Calif. One of the training programs that she has been working with for the past 14 years is a Construction Trades Program and within the past three years has included an accredited solar/electrical training.

Genevieve is a former elementary/middle-school teacher, graduating from Humboldt State University’s Indian Teacher Preparation Personnel Program. She currently serves as the tribal council secretary for the Big Pine Paiute Tribe of the Owens Valley where she is an enrolled member and has been employed with OVCDC since 2002.

OVCDC is an inter-tribal family service organization established in 1976 in Inyo and Mono counties. In 2002, OVCDC became the third largest recipient of the Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families grant programs in the U.S. OVCDC has since grown and established in seven counties in California that include Inyo, Mono, Kern, Kings, Tulare, Fresno and Ventura.