Spurred by an article in this magazine, Denise Simão of Pound Ridge took a class on refrigeration at the Willdan Clean Energy Academy through Soulful Synergy last year. She earned certification and began working at Ozone Refrigeration in Pound Ridge as a project manager.
“My primary responsibility is to coordinate the planning and execution of projects from inception to completion. I assign tasks to various teammates and facilitate the progress of each job along the task chain,” she says. This includes maintaining a project board to track each step and report any issues to her supervisors. “I meet with the corporate manager (CM) weekly to review progress and address any problems. I also assign rebates to the rebate processor, coordinate equipment delivery and installation with the administrative assistant, and work with the CM to get updates on new sales, such as estimate acceptance and payment deposit.”
And she loves it. “I love the variety and challenge that comes with managing projects from start to finish,” she says. “It’s rewarding to see a project move smoothly through each stage and to know that my coordination and problem-solving skills are key to its success. I also enjoy the collaborative aspect of the role, working closely with different team members and departments to ensure everything runs efficiently. The sense of accomplishment when a project is completed on time and within scope is incredibly satisfying.”
There is a big need for updated and clean refrigeration systems. Every supermarket has cold-storage cases for dairy, meat, vegetables, milk, beer, ice cream, and more. “These display cases, as we call them, rely on refrigerants, similar to the ones used in your home air conditioning system. However, some older models use refrigerants that can harm the ozone layer or have a high Global Warming Potential (GWP), significantly contributing to climate change,” she says. Her company retrofits this outdated equipment with advanced carbon dioxide (CO2) refrigeration systems, “which have a low global warming impact. The newer systems are far more energy-efficient, helping to reduce overall energy consumption and promote sustainability,” she says.
For anyone else considering a career in clean energy, Simão says, “I highly recommend taking a class or course in the area you’re passionate about. I decided to give it a try and ended up thoroughly enjoying every class. There are so many opportunities out there with flexible learning hours, hands-on training, and much more. Start with one class — if it doesn’t resonate with you, try another. The key is to keep learning something new.”
A career in clean energy might be right for you if:
- Keeping up with evolving technology interests you.
- You’re adaptable in learning new skills.
- You seek a career with long-term growth prospects.
- You want to contribute to improving the environment.
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