CEO of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center

Before his appointment, Ben served as the Chief Growth Officer at The Engine, an incubator and accelerator supporting early-stage academic spinouts in climate, biotech and advanced systems. At The Engine, he supported resident teams’ growth in Massachusetts, their engagement with all levels of government and led The Engine’s work with strategic partners. Prior to The Engine, Ben was Vice President for New Market Development at Nexamp, a veteran-founded clean energy developer and owner/operator, where he led the firm’s strategic development. Additionally, for 10 years, Ben served as State Senator for 52 communities in Western Massachusetts, including his hometown of Pittsfield. He was chair of the Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Committee for six years.  

Chief Executive Officer of Greentown Labs

She has an exceptional blend of nonprofit executive leadership, entrepreneurial experience in climate and energy, and a strong technical background. Most recently, Flatter was Co-founder and Executive Director of TomorrowNow.org, a Gates-backed nonprofit pioneering innovative approaches to connect next-generation weather and climate technologies with communities on the frontlines of climate change. Prior to founding TomorrowNow.org, Flatter spent a decade at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where she was a senior lecturer and led global initiatives at the intersection of technology and social impact. Flatter earned a Master of Engineering in Materials Science from the University of Oxford and an SM in Technology and Policy from MIT.

Senior Lecturer at Columbia University & Founder/President of the Prometheus Institute

Travis has taught energy and natural resource markets and innovation at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), School of Professional Studies (SUMA), the Engineering School, and Columbia Business School. Previously, Travis has taught courses at many top universities including the University of Chicago and Duke University on finance, entrepreneurship, and alternative energy economics around the world.

Through the Institute, he helped develop many important organizations, including Greentech Media and the Carbon War Room, and has advised hundreds of organizations from startups and Fortune 50 companies to governments and NGOs. His published works include “Solar Revolution” and the textbook “The Energy System,” through MIT Press. Travis has also served as a principal in various public and private equity investment funds for over 20 years and on the boards of numerous public and private companies in multiple countries around the world.

CEO, Founder, and Inventor at AeroShield Materials Inc.

Elise founded AeroShield to pursue the vision of sustainable materials that improve lives and reduce environmental impact. She studied Mechanical Engineering during her PhD at MIT and has been working with aerogels and the built environment for 10+ years. AeroShield was founded in 2019 to manufacture aerogel insulated windows that can cut energy losses through windows in half. Together with her co-founders, Elise has raised $14M, been awarded more than $21M in non-dilutive funding, and been featured in Forbes 30 Under 30: Energy

AeroShield is an MIT spinout that has developed the world’s most insulating transparent solid ever created - a transparent aerogel that makes windows 65% more insulating and energy-efficient, 40% thinner and lighter, and delivers a 5× faster payback than alternative technologies. Windows are a major source of energy loss, accounting for $200B/yr and 5% of CO2 emissions.