Together the Dream.Org Business Council works to transform the face of the green sector by uplifting Black and Brown entrepreneurs, creating innovative solutions, and building cross-sector collaborative efforts.
About the Dream.Org Business Council:
Dream.Org has partnered with the best and brightest Black and Brown entrepreneurs and innovators in the green sector to form the Dream.Org Business Council. Alongside our council members, Dream.Org’s Green For All program is creating pathways for diverse talent to transform cleantech and sustainability.
Solving our sustainability and technology challenges quickly enough to prevent the worst effects of climate change requires an all-hands-on-deck approach. This means tapping into the deep talent pools and genius that exists in Black and Brown communities. But Black and Brown entrepreneurs face significant social and financial capital barriers that can slow their success and limit their scale.
Dream.Org leverages its power to remove barriers and unlock opportunity by:
- Increasing the visibility of Black and Brown green innovators and business leaders through media, communications, and narrative change efforts.
- Organizing strategic convening and networking opportunities to increase deal flow and contracting with & among diverse companies.
- Developing and pursuing a joint solutions agenda to unlock funding and investment opportunities for Black and Brown-owned green businesses.
- Partnering on green job training and workforce development needs to bring more people of color into the green sector.
Watch the Business Council at Black Future Weekend
Gilbert Campbell is the Founder and CEO of Volt Energy Utility, a national minority-owned utility-scale solar development firm that pioneered the first utility-scale solar deal with a Black-owned firm and a Fortune 500 company.
Gilbert’s passion is driving inclusion in the clean energy sector by providing STEM education and outreach opportunities for young people across the country. He had the distinction of being recognized during President Obama’s administration, and in 2016, he received the White House Champions of Change Award for his leadership in advancing climate change equity.
Mina McCullom is a trained rocket scientist and the President and CEO of SynEnergy, an engineering firm that focuses on Mechanical and Electrical Engineering for high-performance and large infrastructure buildings, including the Denver Airport’s Great Hall Renovation – one of the largest vertical construction projects in North America.
Mina has taught Building Performance Institute coursework for the Energy Efficiency Department at Red Rocks Community College and has also conducted extensive research on building envelopes and their impact on energy efficiency.
Dexter Turner is Co-Founder and CEO of OpConnect, a payment processing, and energy management platform for Electric Vehicle (EV) charging. His vision is to accelerate the adoption of EV’s by deploying AI-driven charging solutions for fleets and multi-family properties that minimize charging costs, protect the power grid, and incorporate onsite solar and battery storage.
Dexter explores his strengths in Smart Grid, Systems Engineering, Software Design, and growing Early-stage Startups. He has been awarded 4 patents around EV charging and access control technology with 3 additional patent applications outstanding.
Reginald Parker is the CEO and Founder of Optimal Technology Corporation, a hardware as a service company that is on the cutting edge of solar technology. He has made solar 21 times faster to install and up to 40% cheaper while doubling the industry standard for efficiency.
A former university professor at Morehouse, FAMU, FSU, and UND for 8 years, Dr. Parker has distinguished himself as a thought leader in business, engineering, and commercialization.
Anthony Kinslow II, Ph.D., is the CEO of Gemini Energy Solutions, and a leader in equitable energy efficiency deployment, implementing strategies to overcome cultural and socio-economic barriers that prevent most Americans from becoming aware of and engaged in energy efficiency.
Anthony seeks to bring sustainability to underserved markets to people’s everyday lives while mitigating climate change. Through Gemini, Anthony has created a vehicle to engage, educate, and energize underrepresented minority communities and the underserved small commercial building market in energy efficiency. Gemini partners with municipalities, HBCUs, and community-based organizations from San Francisco to Miami.
Gemini Energy Solutions' LinkedIn & Website / Anthony's LinkedIn
Ron DeLyons has been the CEO of Creekwood Energy, cleantech integrator and renewable energy asset developer, owner, and operator in the U.S since 2004. DeLyons has been a trailblazer of solutions for a more sustainable world while expanding employment and second-chance hiring opportunities for veterans and people returning home from prison.
DeLyons is a business and finance executive with over 30 years’ experience as an entrepreneur and has successfully founded, developed, invested in and sold several private companies; many of which were Minority Business Enterprises.
Robert Kabera is the co-founder and COO at Sync Energy AI, the leading power outage prediction firm in the United States. He is a Stanford University trained engineer and was named to the 2018 Global US Forbes Under 30 List in the Energy Sector.
Under the Obama Administration’s Power Africa Program, Robert was the Chief Consultant for the United States Africa Development Foundation (USADF) energy investment portfolio, empowering over 50 energy companies in 9 African countries to secure follow-on financing to provide cleantech to 6,000 people living off the electricity grid. He also founded Credimarks Savings and Loan, a financial institution in Ghana devoted to enhancing the productivity and prosperity of smallholder farmers with transparent financial products.
Our Impact
- Council members describe the Council as not only a source of business but also as a source of trusted fraternity that was previously nonexistent. As one Council member describes, there is no list of minority-owned green businesses state by state; there is no go-to network to tap into for advice, partnership, and synergy. We’re now building this network.
- Council members have increased deal flow by collaborating on projects. Having a trusted network of diverse suppliers to partner with on projects enhances their ability to serve as prime on contracts and provides more value to prospective customers. Several council members have joined forces to develop new multi-state projects that will bring about $300M for council companies in the next five years.
- President and CEO of SynEnergy Mina McCullom credits her association with the Green For All Business Council with acquiring nearly $700k in business thus far. She estimates an additional $2M in the next year because of increased visibility and collaboration.
- Dream.Org has generated positive press attention and generated speaking engagement opportunities for council members, including panel participation at high-profile conferences and features in Sustainability Magazine, which boasts a readership of 14 million corporate executives globally.
