Alan Pong – Vice President of Engineering

As President and Owner of Comfort International, Inc. – a green-focused energy management and HVAC maintenance firm – Alan Pong harnesses the experience of professional engineers, energy management experts, and journeyman HVAC service technicians to maximize utility cost savings for existing commercial buildings and maintaining them to be comfortable carbon neutral environments.  Alan’s extensive history dates back to 1989 and has since continued to achieve industry-leading results through his company’s comprehensive energy efficiency management systems (EEMS) study process.

By reducing his clients’ energy consumption by at least 40% and cost payback within two years, Alan’s dramatic track record was on display when, in 2010, Pacific Gas & Electric recognized Comfort International, Inc. through its Trade Pro Alliance Annual Recognition Program. Alan’s company earned a trio of awards, including the largest gas savings in large commercial office buildings, gas savings for non-residential retrofit only projects and outstanding gas savings in the East Bay Area. In 2016, Alan’s work with TDK to save $515,000 in energy savings and a rebate check for $470,022 represented the largest annual savings in the Silicon Valley for PG&E that year.

Alan has also performed many benchmark studies and investment-grade energy audits for international hi-tech facilities and has managed complex re-engineering projects resulting in some of the lowest benchmarks in energy and maintenance costs per square foot. He often shares his expertise by providing educational seminars and workshops, including BOMA, PG&E, Bay Area Air Quality, ACP, and IFMA Utility Councils.

James Morante – Vice President of Community & Client Affairs

James Morante brings more than 20 years of diverse management experience in public affairs, workforce development and community relations to the Power Equity Group team. During his unique tenure within corporate, government and non-profit sectors, James has built a reputation for building distinctive and sustainable outreach initiatives which ensure clients’ unique stories are consistent and compelling.

With a decade in the utility industry, James has served in a variety of leadership capacities, including as Chair of the California Energy & Utility Workforce Consortium. He pioneered award-winning workforce initiatives, including the transformation of a nationally-recognized employer workforce training program – shattering key metrics and expectations. He was also the architect who imagined, developed and launched one of the most aggressive military hiring commitments in the utility industry. Those efforts culminated in a visit from United State Vice President Joe Biden, who cited the work as “best in class.”

Since then, James founded the community outreach firm Engage! Strategies, which convenes industry employers and education institutions to design unique workforce strategies and comprehensive training pathways for targeted diverse populations, including military Veterans and disadvantaged communities.

Jim Kaiser – Vice President of Operations

Jim Kaiser brings more than 30 years of utility experience to the team, with expertise in regulatory consulting, product management, and software business analysis, implementation, design and execution. Jim’s ability to decipher public utility, corporate, IT and business strategies and successfully communicate them to diverse audiences and vendors, contributed to his reputation as the ideal liaison within the industry.

While at Pacific Gas & Electric, Jim developed and managed an annual eight-figure line-of-business business technology roadmap through multiple rate cycles with minimal reduction to the request – both internally and by the regulators. He also successfully defended testimony in regulatory proceedings.

Over the years, Jim has analyzed, translated, and articulated even the most complex of utility technology projects, including the identification, sequencing and prioritization of new technology-enabled business capability rollouts and technology lifecycle needs.

Jack Goodman– Sr. Vice President of Direct Financing

Jack is a former Managing Director of a multinational financial institution. Jack has over 35 years’ experience in financing power, energy efficiency, and alternative energy projects. As a founder of Bridgeway Financial, Jack raised in excess of four billion dollars for environmental capital projects. Jack leads our financial portfolio division.