We reward clean energy customers and help them
discover businesses + brands that use clean power, too.
We Were Founded on the Belief that People + Businesses Deserve to be Rewarded for Choosing Clean Power
CPP (CleanPowerPerks) is a web-based program that connects clean-powered businesses with like-minded consumers. We were founded on the belief that people + businesses should be rewarded for choosing clean energy, so that’s what we do. To advance clean energy in the US, we deliver perks to residential clean energy users, promote clean-powered businesses and sign up new customers for clean energy options with participating providers.
CleanPowerPerks unites the entire voluntary clean energy industry as one collective, collaborative community where everyone wins. We’re creating tangible benefits to encourage more people, businesses and organizations to choose clean energy – and we offer perks to those that do. We make it super simple for folks that haven’t yet chosen a clean energy option to sign up.
CleanPowerPerks, LLC Boston-based, women-owned startup CleanPowerPerks, LLC facilitates the program. Founder Tess O’Brien is a clean energy marketing + communications professional with experience in both consumer and commercial markets. The program, which launches to consumers in 2014, is now accepting clean power provider and retail business members.
What We Believe
Mission
Vision
Values
Sustainability
Our goal is to get many more people and businesses on board with clean energy. We’ll continue working at it until clean energy provides the majority of our nation’s electricity needs. We aim to: Energize the clean power community Provide tangible benefits to clean power customers Promote clean-powered businesses Give new customers a tangible reason – and an easy way – to sign up Send clean power providers new customers Increase awareness about clean energy
We see a day when clean energy is the norm, people feel good about it and they’re connected to others that share their values. We exist to reward those that consciously choose clean energy instead of traditional energy sources. We provide tangible incentives to offset the cost of clean energy and we make people feel good about it! Our community is a collective where everyone’s individual choice matters and by uniting, we can show just how big those contributions become. Everyone stands to win.
What we believe: Positive contributions deserve recognition Everything – and everyone – is connected It’s possible for all parties to benefit Each of us plays a part Being real + transparent is the way to do business
CleanPowerPerksTM is driven by a firm belief in sustainability. The nature of our work aims to improve the environment, but we also want to take responsibility for the impact of our operations. Here’s how we do so: Our website is hosted by a carbon-neutral web host, which plants twice the trees needed to cover its carbon emissions each year (through the International Tree Foundation). Our offices use regionally-generated renewable energy. Details to come. We use 100% recycled paper for all marketing and promotional materials (and print with wind power when possible). We recycle nearly all of the waste generated from our office. We’ve taken the Clean Power Pledge and pledge to give preference to goods and services from clean-powered businesses. We offset our staff travel each year. Details to come. We offset all our events with renewable energy. Details to come. Have suggestions for other ways we can walk the walk on sustainability? Tell us!
CPP TEAM
Tess O'Brien, Founder/CEO
Renewable energy marketing + communications, MBA in Managing for Sustainability
CleanPowerPerks Founder Tess O’Brien is a renewable energy marketing and communications professional experienced in both consumer and commercial/institutional markets. Before launching CPP, she served as Director of Marketing for a leading renewable energy company. Tess has lead marketing teams with considerable budgets, responsible for developing and executing marketing strategies and customer retention programs. She has managed relationships with a spectrum of partners and contributed to business strategy, product development and entry into new markets; including the launch of several green electricity products in deregulated markets and the development of a community solar program model. Tess also has a background in public relations and advertising.
While working in the voluntary renewable energy industry, Tess developed a respect for the challenges all parties face in the business and recognized an opportunity for industry players to come together to create and share greater value. As a result, she developed the CleanPowerPerks business model and now works to launch this startup in order to serve the industry at large.
Tess has an MBA in Managing for Sustainability from Marlboro College Graduate School in Brattleboro, VT and a BA in Environmental Studies from Gettysburg College. Tess sits as Marketing Co-Chair on the board of Net Impact Boston Professional Chapter and is a member of Women of Wind Energy.
Branding + Copywriting
Angel Chu is an entrepreneurial, strategic brand marketer with 8+ years of experience in retail and consumer goods. Her previous experiences in merchandising and marketing have earned her a solid understanding of the synergies between these two functions and their importance in driving future growth of any size organization. She has worked with teams of all sizes from an eco-friendly, fine jewelry start-up to Fortune 200 companies and is currently a graduate student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst where she is working toward a Masters of Business Administration. In her spare time you can often find her rink-side cheering on her 2 boys, Ethan and Mason and her husband Chris, their hockey coach. Her passion and professional background brings a breadth of experience to the CleanPowerPerks team. Angel advises CPP on brand strategy and messaging.
Lead Apprentice
Conor Regan is a senior at Babson College, concentrating in Global Business Management and Sustainability. Conor is passionate about renewable energy and is excited to have the opportunity to help the industry grow and increase consumer awareness about the many benefits of using clean energy. When not hitting the books he enjoys traveling, hiking, and playing rugby.
Apprentice
Sarah Antonelli is pursuing a Master’s of Environmental Science & Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara. A recent graduate of Boston College, she earned a BS in Environmental Geoscience and completed a minor in International Studies. During her time as an undergraduate, Sarah conducted her senior thesis on environmental justice and worked as a research assistant studying shallow-water habitat availability on the Manitowoc River in Wisconsin. She has previously interned with the Environmental League of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and is now interested in exploring how companies within the private sector can help address environmental issues.
Apprentice
Bianca Majumder is a senior at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. She is working towards a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biology and Geology, working as a TA for the Undergraduate Geology Department and in a geochemistry lab at UM’s Rosenstiel School for Marine and Atmospheric Science. She has participated in a multitude of fieldwork in places such as Newfoundland, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Great Exuma, and West Texas/New Mexico and is currently interested in exploring the marketing side of alternative energy and energy sustainability.
Digital Marketing Intern
Amberlynn is a junior at Bay Path University in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. She is working towards earning a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Business with a focus on Marketing. Her previous internship experience included working in Orlando, Florida at Walt Disney World as part of the Disney College Program.
CPP Advisors
Startup + StrategyWill Keyser is managing director of Venture Founders LLC, a company dedicated to helping entrepreneurs on startups and early-stage businesses though information, coaching and mentoring. He has a long history of entrepreneurship, having started several consulting firms that served clients in the banking, manufacturing, technology, consumer goods and energy industries. Will is also an MBA instructor of business strategy and entrepreneurship, has published books on public enterprise and runs Startup Owl, a website devoted to entrepreneurship. In addition to his own businesses, he has served on company and non-profit boards, and has been on the board of a regional venture capital company. Will advises CleanPowerPerks on startup launch strategy and has advised on developing the model since early 2012.
Strategy + SalesKevin Scannell is a management and marketing professional with proven success driving revenue, gaining market share and opening new markets. His experience includes business model development, go-to-market strategy, funding procurement, market segmentation, analysis and targeting; product life-cycle management, financial modeling and sales channel development. With a track record of creating profits by managing teams of professionals to build client-value based partnerships and alliances, he has a reputation for delivering high-impact communications campaigns. Kevin mentored CleanPowerPerks through the Cleantech Open Northeast Team Development Program and now advises on startup strategy.
Web + TechHao is a technologist and entrepreneur passionate about sustainability. He’s worn many hats on tech teams of both startups and corporations including Practically Green, Smarterer, SharedSchool, and Dassault Systemes. Spending 20,000+ hours playing games as a kid, he now applies that “knowledge” as gamification. You can often find Hao engaged in the Boston startup ecosystem or just in his backyard observing nature. Hao advises CPP on technology and user experience.
LeadershipLori Hanau is the Founder of Global Round Table Leadership, which engages people across all sectors in leadership development and strategic planning through the lens of whole systems. Prior to founding GRTL, Lori served as President of a manufacturing company. She is the co-founder of the Mindfulness Practice Center in Keene, NH and acts as Community Builder and faculty member for Marlboro College Graduate School’s MBA in Managing for Sustainability program. Lori is also honored to serve on the Board of Directors of the Social Venture Network and on the Advisory Boards for the Southeastern Environmental Education Alliance, Peace Day Live and the Of Many Institute at the NYU Center for Spiritual Life. Lori supports the leadership of Founder Tess O’Brien and advises on high-level direction.
Consumer ScienceBen Ho is a behavioral economist who uses economic tools like game theory and experiments to understand social systems such as identity signaling and climate concerns. Currently as Assistant Professor of Economics at Vassar College, he was previously an assistant professor of economics at Cornell University’s Johnson School of Management. Ben was also lead energy economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisers, and has worked and consulted for Morgan Stanley and several tech startups. He earned his PhD from Stanford University and previous degrees from MIT. Ben advises CleanPowerPerks on the science behind rewarding altruism. He provided early feedback and validation of the concept.
- Finance
Steve O’Brien retired as a Partner from Wellington Management LLP in 2008 after 25 years with the firm and 36 years experience as an institutional investor. In 1999 Steve initiated Wellington’s Small Cap Value Team, which he led until his retirement. He now serves on the board of a number of different foundations and institutions. Steve is the Chair of the Investment Committee for Assumption College and the Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. Additionally, he supports the Nativity School of Worcester with work in development and as Chair of Investment. Steve advises CleanPowerPerks on business strategy and finance.
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