SEAN REED:
 
SEAN REED




 
 
 
 
 
Founder and Executive Director of the Clean Energy Coalition in Ypsilanti, Reed has managed more than 30 diverse, federal, state, and local government-funded energy projects covering all aspects of energy efficiency and renewable energy, including statewide incentive and technical assistance programs for energy efficient housing and businesses, renewable fuel infrastructure programs, and feasibility studies. Recently, the Clean Energy Coalition received a $31 million statewide green fleets program grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities grant program and a $4.4 million grant from the Michigan Public Service Commission to work with Michigan Cities of Promise to implement renewable energy projects. The nonprofit Clean Energy Coalition has grown from a single employee to six full-time and two part-time employees and expects to add four additional employees in 2009. Previously, Reed worked in Ann Arbor’s energy office, primarily with clean transportation. He also lived in Tanzania for a year working for a tribe doing photovoltaic installation and in Japan for several years working for the Japanese Ministry of Education. Reed received his bachelor’s degree in English and philosophy from Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania. He received his master’s degrees in urban planning and social work from the University of Michigan.


WHERE BORN: "Lilongwe, Malawi."

MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSONS: "It’s certainly my board chair and my previous board chair. J.D. Lindeberg is the current chair and is COO of Resource Recycling Systems. He’s been chair for the last three years. And the previous chair was Dave Konkle, formerly the energy coordinator for Ann Arbor. From J.D., I have really strong strategic guidance for our organization and confidence to go with my gut instinct on business decisions and take calculated risks."

LAST BOOK READ: "I used to read a lot of books. I was an English major. Since we launched this nonprofit, it’s been awhile. I just read Green Eggs and Ham to my son. I read more magazines online and websites these days.”

WORDS THAT DESCRIBE ME: "Intense, driven, extreme in nature."

WHERE MY FIELD/INDUSTRY IS HEADED:  "It’s just taking off. We’re in a huge growth industry and it’s really just starting. Things this year have bumped up a lot and I don’t see that changing at all. We were extremely fortunate to get in this early so we can capitalize on a lot of the opportunities coming up. It’s a great time to be in the clean energy field. We haven’t seen huge amounts of job growth yet but I see it coming."

FAVORITE TECHNOLOGICAL GADGET: "My MacBook. I take it with me everywhere. It’s my constant companion."

FAVORITE PLACE: "I really like Nepal. It’s fascinating because when you hike in the Himalayas, the trails are used for commerce so sherpas are carrying things to the villages. It’s a great combination of culture and vistas."

FAVORITE HOBBIES: "Hiking and walking."

FAVORITE FOOD: "Ice cream. It’s my major vice."

MY HIDDEN TALENT: "At various points in my life, I’ve spoken up to five different languages. I have a pretty international background."

HOW I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED: "The most important thing for me is really trying to make a better world for my son and for other kids. I feel my work is related to the world that they’re going to inherit. They didn’t make these decisions but they’re going to inherit it. It drives me and the work I do and I take it very seriously."


Grant Thornton Website At the annual awards reception on Thursday, April 26, 2012, one Leader & Innovator from the previous 12 months will be selected as the Grant Thornton Leader & Innovator of the Year.