Listen to pitches from different leaders in the green jobs sector to hear why their work is right for you. Then, choose two careers to learn more about in small group breakout sessions where you can ask questions and meet others in the field.
You can register for one event, or attend both. Each virtual event is one hour long and includes a door prize, networking, and great post-event resources for you to launch a career in southern Ontario’s green energy sector
Speakers include:
Session #1: June 8th at 12PM
Session #2: June 16th at 5:30PM
Renu Tahlan
VP, Sales Operations & Strategic Initiatives – Great Northern Insulation
Renu's Bio
Coming soon.
Brandon Doxtator
Environment and Consultation Coordinator – Oneida Nation of the Thames
Brandon's Bio
Brandon Doxtator is a bear clan member of the Oneida Nation of the Thames. He works for his community as the Environment and Consultation Coordinator and is passionate about supporting youth opportunities and protecting and enhancing the environment throughout the traditional territory. He also serves as a board member on the Onyota’a:ka Kahsatst^sla LTD (OKK Ltd), an Oneida Energy Company dedicated to providing and managing sustainable energy solutions for the nation. OKK ltd has just completed it’s first project, the $2.4million solar-micro grid that will generate 750KW of energy to various buildings in the community and provide savings of over $100,000 per year for the next 25 years.
James Riley
CEO and Founder
Lightspark
James' Bio
James is a software entrepreneur with a passion for energy efficiency. After spending several years providing marketing, CRM and digital strategy for recognized brands like NFL, Dove, Diageo, Disney, NBC, Microsoft and others, he started his own digital agency in 2010 and began working with BC Hydro, Efficiency Nova Scotia, Efficiency Alberta, SaskPower and City of Vancouver. By using digital strategies and platforms to better reach business objectives, he helped his clients create efficiencies and reduce the costs of running complex energy efficiency programs. James created Lightspark in 2017 because he wanted to build a product platform that streamlines energy efficiency benefits for consumers, trades, utilities, and policy makers and makes it easier to deliver the economic and environmental benefits of energy efficiency.
Jolene McLaughlin
Senior Project Manager – Sustainable Building Solutions, EllisDon Corporation
Jolene's Bio
With over 12 years’ experience working on sustainability initiatives in the built environment, Jolene provides a valuable perspective to project teams. Her educational background, combined with an aptitude for problem solving as well as industry experience, allows her to effectively support project teams through the process of identifying, defining and implementing practical sustainable strategies that result in more efficient and comfortable buildings. Supporting projects through the LEED® certification process, Jolene has an extensive knowledge of the environmental impacts of building construction and operations. As the industry gains momentum in understanding upfront carbon emissions in buildings, Jolene brings her practical perspective to understanding the challenges and opportunities in this realm. To support industry action toward this, Jolene leads EllisDon’s internal Embodied Carbon Working Group to guide the conversation on opportunities to reduce carbon from building materials, while involving sub trade partners and suppliers to build understanding of the issues and define effective solutions.
Greg Nakonecznyj
Technical Sales & Conceptual Design Lead at CNTNR
Greg's Bio
Greg is a long time advocate and innovator of green energy, materials, and practices within the construction industry. A graduate of Fanshawe’s Architectural Technology and Engineering program, his resume includes 3 modular start-ups, one of his own devising and one with the largest P3 builder in Canada, experience in architectural and engineering firms, and project management consulting on small home projects. He currently works for CNTNR (“Container”) Modular Building Solutions, the latest modular builder to set-up shop in Ontario, as the Technical Sales Lead for the company. With his help, CNTNR has garnered a pipeline of work exceeding $1.8 billion CAD leading well into 2024.
Dennis L. German
President, German Solar
Corporation
Dennis' Bio
Mr. German graduated from the University of Waterloo, majoring in Earth Sciences, and is a professional Geoscientist with over 15 years of experience in the field of environmental geosciences and 15 years in
the field of renewable energy. His environmental experiences have included environmental investigations in the Canadian Arctic, North and South America, including the regionally sensitive and environmentally distinct Atacama Desert, Chile.
Mr. German incorporated his family renewable energy business, German Energy Alternatives Inc, with
his father LeRoy German, in 2004. German Energy Alternatives Inc. initially developed their solar racking
and tracking technologies at their location north of Kingston Ontario. They have tested and developed
several types of fixed and tracking solar arrays and possess one of the first Renewable Energy Standard
Offer Program (RESOP) contracts awarded. This contract and solar array data collection represents one
of the longest running solar arrays in the Province, if not the Country. German Energy Alternatives is
operating in London Ontario since 2009, where it designs and installs solar arrays with custom racking
solutions for a variety of solar array applications.
In 2009, Mr. German incorporated German Solar Corporation (GSC) with a group of international
partners in London Ontario, where his team develops renewable energy solutions for Commercial,
Institutional, Industrial and Residential customers in Ontario and provides solar array Engineering
Procurement and Construction services. German Solar Corporation has developed, designed and
constructed many diverse rooftop solar projects. The GSC solar business has evolved from contract
solar projects with government subsidies, similar to the fossil fuel and Nuclear power industries, to a
subsidy free solar industry delivering economic renewable energy solutions to a wide variety of
customers. GSC customers desire a choice in their energy source that is both economic and
environmentally sustainable for future generations.
Mr. German lives with his wife and their three children in London, Ontario.
Nicola Lashley
Project Lead, City of Toronto’s Environment & Energy Division
Nicola's Bio
Nicola Lashley is a Project Lead with the City of Toronto’s Environment & Energy Division, working with the Public Energy Initiatives, Existing Buildings Unit. Committed to pursuing equitable outcomes and program design, Nicola works on engagement and financing programs to support deep retrofits and pathways to net zero for Toronto’s single-family homes.
Her career in public service has focused on community development and engagement in the youth, newcomers and environmental portfolios.
Will Gonell
Principal, Gonell Homes Inc.
Will's Bio
Will Gonell is the principal of Gonell Homes Inc. — a Toronto-based custom home building and renovation company with a passion for exceeding client expectations. They offer start-to-finish solutions and guarantee high quality construction on each and every project. The company has built a reputation for overcoming challenges and satisfying clients. Their unwavering commitment has been rewarded with referrals, repeat work, and industry acclaim.
Prior to starting a career in the construction industry, Will served as a United States Marine Corps with the rank of Sergeant, and New York City Police Officer. After moving to Canada, he decided it was time to try something new. At first, that meant doing volunteer work with troubled kids, putting them through trade programs. That exposure sparked his own interest in building, which led him to joining a local builder, learning the ropes, and working his way up from there. Since forming Gonell Homes, Will has brought the same values that informed his military and police background to the building trade – values such as discipline, precision, diligence, and accountability.
Will decided to invest in his passion for building and has never looked back. Since then, Gonell Homes has partnered with clients throughout Ontario, winning awards across a spectrum of specializations, including historical restorations, generational builds, green-building, and ICFs (Insulated Concrete Forms). Will is committed to helping people in both the U.S. and Canada. He is a program advisor with George Brown College, and the City of Toronto (Existing Buildings Emissions Strategy). Gonell Homes is a member of the NAHB (National Association of Home Builders), CHBA (Canadian Home Builder Association), and a registered Tarion builder.
A special thank you to our volunteer campaign organizer:
