Who We Are

Let's go solar, together!

WHO WE ARE

Born from a fierce passion for renewable energy and protecting the world's beloved ecosystems, the employees of Elemental Energy formed Twende Solar: a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to empowering under-resourced communities with renewable energy systems. Twende, meaning “let’s go” in Swahili, is indicative of the organization's proactive capabilities and dedication to sustainable development worldwide. Operated and supported by solar PV industry professionals, Twende Solar bridges the gap between renewable energy experts and economically marginalized communities with a need for a reliable, affordable source of clean energy to power their work.

MISSION
To achieve a world with sustainable energy for all. Let’s go solar, together!

VISION
Renewable energy is the solution for eliminating poverty, strengthening economies, protecting ecosystems, and achieving a more equitable society.

LEADERSHIP TEAM

Executive Director

ROBIN SWANHUYSER - TWENDE SOLAR

Robin joins Twende Solar with ten years of experience in nonprofit operations and logistics, event production, community engagement, and international development. Prior to joining Twende Solar, Robin was the Program Director at the Biennial of the Americas, where she managed events and programming to promote rising leaders, build community and create educational learning opportunities across borders. Robin is fluent in Spanish and has worked and studied abroad in Mexico, Argentina and Nicaragua, where she served as a Peace Corps Volunteer from 2014 to 2016.

Board Chair

Betsy Kauffman - Energy trust of oregon

Betsy Kauffman has deep roots in the renewable energy field. She has worked at Energy Trust of Oregon since 2005, currently heading up the organization’s renewable energy programs. Under her leadership, the programs have funded more than 20,000 commercial, residential, and large-scale solar projects and more than 20 hydro and bio projects. Prior to joining Energy Trust, Betsy worked at For the Sake of the Salmon where she managed the Salmon-Friendly Power program, one of Oregon’s first programs to allow utility customers to choose a renewable power option. Betsy is also the chair of the board of the Clean Energy States Alliance, a leading bipartisan US coalition of state energy organizations working together to advance the rapid expansion of clean energy technologies.

Board Vice Chair

catherine klebl - Awakening to Heal

Catherine has been part of several collective teams including the Village Free School and staff collective at People's Food Coop. She believes it is possible to come together around issues and find common ground through hearing and listening to each other. Additionally, she has been fortunate to work with several organizations whose work focuses on social, disability and racial justice in the past few years. Catherine likes to co-lead with others who share a common vision. She has served on Twende Solar's JEDI team and continues to work for justice and equality within and outside our organization.

Board Treasurer

tia hansen - Microsoft

Tia has an extensive background in renewable energy, energy access, and energy efficiency. She currently sits on Microsoft's renewable energy team working to achieve their ambitious goals of 100% renewable by 2025 and 100/100/0 with zero percent of their energy generated by carbon sources by 2030. She also works on incorporating environmental justice into energy procurement. Prior to Microsoft, Tia worked in the renewables microgrid space across India and Africa. Additionally she has volunteered with Engineers without Borders, leading projects in Tanzania and Kenya. She enjoys traveling, cooking, and playing outside with her two pups.

Board Secretary

Robert Sander, esq. - TRITEC AMERICAS

Robert Sander grew up in Portland, Oregon, and is a graduate of Oregon State University, and The University of San Diego School of Law. He has worked in solar PV on an international scale for several years, focusing on utility scale distributed energy systems. He currently works for TRITEC Americas, Inc. in the role of Associate Corporate Counsel where he helps with the day to day operations of the company. Robert brings his industry experience and connections to bear with the sole goal of helping further Twende Solar’s mission in any way possible.

Board Director

Erik anderson - LYdian Energy

An outward bound trip into the woods of Maine as a teenager sparked Erik's wonder of the natural world and his degree in conservation biology fostered his passion for sustainability that ultimately led him to his first job in the solar industry as an installer back in 2007. Since then Erik's career in the solar industry has given him the opportunity to take experiences from small contracting businesses and private distribution companies to the largest publicly traded manufacturing conglomerates. Traveling the country and the world through this work has brought Erik to a place of deep respect for the commonalities that all humans share which feeds his life's work of actively helping to build a better world and sharing of the knowledge he has been given.

Board Director

Addison Berry - PosiGen

Addison P. Berry is a dynamic business leader in the clean energy sector, with a proven track record in driving growth and innovation across both utility-scale and residential markets. A former management consultant, Addison has developed a strong foundation in business strategy, market growth, and operational efficiency, which he has successfully applied to the clean energy space. His expertise includes go-to-market (GTM) strategy, business development, and launching new initiatives that drive revenue and impact.

In his most recent role at PosiGen, Addison led the launch of a channel partnerships program that significantly expanded the company's footprint and accelerated growth in key markets. He now oversees the company’s federal and state incentive programs, including Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), battery storage, and other initiatives that help make clean energy more accessible to underserved communities.

With a deep commitment to advancing renewable energy and closing the racial wealth gap, Addison also mentors emerging entrepreneurs of color in the clean energy field, leveraging his leadership experience to support the next generation of innovators. He holds degrees from Florida State University, Harvard University, and Howard University School of Law, bringing a unique perspective informed by his background in law, business, and policy.

Board Director

MAX CHRISTIAN - New Leaf Energy

With over 20 years experience as a solar operations executive, international project developer, and innovative green builder, Max Christian brings a plethora of insight and global connections to Twende Solar’s mission. After playing a key leadership role in growing a successful solar integrator in Colorado, Max moved to Perú as a consultant supporting community development, renewable energy and climate change mitigation initiatives and is now back on the West Coast as a Business Development Manager working in energy storage.

Board Director

Jaquelyn FairBairn - Luminia

Jaquelyn has spent the past fifteen years bringing solar, energy storage, and energy efficiency to homes, schools, hospitals, and communities both in the United States and internationally. Currently, Jaquelyn serves as VP, of Corporate Development at Luminia, focusing on developing distributed energy storage and solar in urban locations. Jaquelyn previously served as Director of Business Development at SimpliPhi Power, providing off-grid and grid-tied energy storage solutions globally. At OneRoof Energy, she provided residential solar financing to tens of thousands of customers by developing and fostering a network of channel partnerships. Before that, Jaquelyn led operations at California Solar Innovations, constructing residential solar systems in Southern California and facilitating incentive programs for Redwood Coast Energy Authority in Humboldt County.

Co-Founder & Board Director

John Grieser - Elemental Energy

Armed with an education in Renewable Energy Engineering, John started Elemental Energy in 2010 as a means to make the biggest impact on the "front lines" of sustainable energy. Specializing in solar photovoltaic systems, John works with clients in Portland, the greater Pacific Northwest, and internationally, to help find creative solutions to their energy needs. John’s passions lie in utilizing his professional experience and skills to: increase access to energy and communication; spur education and entrepreneurialism abroad; promote worldwide renewable energy implementation.

Board Director

Mark Jacobs - Outfit

Mark Jacobs is the Managing Director and Co-Founder of Outfit, a marketing agency focused on serving the cleantech and renewable energy industry. He started his marketing career at Wieden+Kennedy, as part of their experimental advertising school. Subsequently, he led digital marketing at Mercy Corps and Umpqua Bank, and was the VP of Marketing for the Portland Timbers & Thorns. Prior to discovering marketing was his true calling, Mark was a financial analyst in Silicon Valley, helping tech companies pursue investment and acquisition opportunities. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Board Director

Alex Jahp - Solar Energy International

Alex Jahp currently works for Solar Energy International (SEI) where he puts his extensive experience in solar PV to work as a curriculum developer and instructor in English and Spanish. He began his career in the renewable energy field after becoming interested in solar PV upon seeing firsthand the impact that it was having in rural Africa and Latin America. Passionate about working for social justice globally and addressing climate change, he saw the potential that renewable energy offered to simultaneously have an impact on both challenges. He since worked designing, building, and managing PV projects ranging from hundreds of watts for energy access in Peru and Guatemala to megawatts for decarbonization in the United States. He is a NABCEP PV Installation Professional, a PMI Project Management Professional, and a 2022 Clean Energy Leadership Institute (CELI) fellow.

Board Director

Cynthia Leung - moxion Power co

Cynthia Leung is a sustainability-oriented super connector with over 12 years in the energy sector. She is the Founder & CEO of Soluminos, a social enterprise focused on deploying solar charging stations for remote power applications. She worked on the Clinton Foundation's Islands Energy Program with the Clinton Climate Initiative and supported the development of over 1 GW of utility solar projects at SunPower. She volunteered with Twende Solar in 2016 for the solar plus storage installation at Stephen Mazujian Middle School in Siem Reap, Cambodia. She holds an M.S. in Sustainability Management from Columbia University and a B.A. in Quantitative Economics and a minor in Global Sustainability from UC Irvine. She is passionate about sustainability, building connections, and empowering the next generation with the ability to address climate change.

Board Director

YinG Liu

After 15 years in management consulting, brand strategy, and software partnership, Ying Liu decided to transition to clean energy as it is one of the few industries that is truly improving the world at scale. Her experience in strategic planning, insights and analytics, operational efficiency, and non-profit board service focused on social equity will support Twende's next stage of growth and impact. She holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and a BA in Business Administration from the University of Washington. In the winter, Ying spends her weekends instructing alpine and telemark skiing at Mt. Hood Meadows.

Board Director

Kirsten Midura - Engines for Change

Kirsten Midura is a change agent with 13+ years of expertise in sustainability, international development, community building, impact entrepreneurship, and social good. She has worked with nonprofits, consulting firms, start-ups, and federal agencies on their strategic planning, change management, evaluation, and program design and implementation. Kirsten is the Founder and Executive Director of Engines for Change, a 501(c)(3) that uses motorcycles as tools for environmental and social good, and she has served on the Boards and Advisory Boards for organizations such as GlobalPDX, Rally for Rangers, and Women Riders Now. She is thrilled to be a part of the Twende to help make meaningful impact in the world of electrification.

Board Director

David Song - Banyan Infrastructure

David's interests lie squarely at the intersection of renewable energy and sustainable development. He was a Peace Corps volunteer in Lesotho and subsequently worked in solar pv and storage project development, origination, asset management, and corporate strategy with First Solar and Sunrun. He then combined his two passions by leading operations at Onepower in Lesotho, where he helped build and operate a 20 MW utility-scale solar project, 7 clinic installations for Partners in Health, and 11 minigrids representing 10,000 connections in rural areas. He's also an angel investor and advisor in Africa and works with organizations such as Jozi Angels, Viktoria Business Angel Network, Lagos Angel Network, and Stanford Business School's Seed Program. He is Director of Project Finance Solutions at Banyan Infrastructure, a project finance software startup.

Board Director

Deonna Webb - Greentech Renewables

Deonna has been a long time volunteer with Twende Solar helping with marketing, fundraising, event planning, and more. Deonna studied international development in college with a focus on sustainable development and renewable energy in Latin American countries. She's done international development work in Costa Rica and volunteered with a couple projects led by Twende Solar. She has worked in the solar industry with Greentech Renewables since 2017, specializing in operations management, training, and process improvement. In her free time she enjoys traveling, backpacking, and outdoor adventure sports.

Co-Founder

Brandon Little - elemental energy

Brandon’s interest in renewable energy began during his college days—while studying pre-med with the goal of becoming a surgeon, he ran a side business focused on investing stock in the sustainable energy industry. This belief transitioned into a full-fledged interest when he realized that, solar, rather than medicine, was the dominating force for change that he wanted to be a part of. With that, he returned to the Oregon Institute of Technology to earn a degree in Renewable Energy Engineering. After working at Elemental Energy for several years and participating in multiple international solar PV installations, Brandon joined John Grieser in forming Twende Solar.