PEARL CERTIFICATION - Key Persons
AC Capehart Chief Technology Officer (CTO) View LinkedIn Contact "Whether it's safety testing vehicle autonomy or helping incident responders on the front lines of cyber-defense, it's important to me that the technology I create serve humanity. Pearl Certification grants me the opportunity to promote home improvements that not only increase the comfort of those who make them, but to reap financial rewards as well. It's truly win-win!"
Job Titles:
- Success Relationship Manager, Home Services and New Build Division
"Evolution in progress" is a motto Alexia embraces and promotes in every channel of her life. Whether building value and rapport with Pearl's amazing network of contractors as a Success Relationship Manager to supporting women as a Certified Doula as they embark on the journey of motherhood, Alexia recognizes there is always space to shift and evolve as it serves us and our work best.
She supports Pearl Contractors by offering solutions that serve their customers and that support their industry growth. Alexia has extensive experience in operations leadership, account management, and new business development with U.S. domestic and international organizations.
When she isn't supporting Pearl endeavors and maternal health, she enjoys spending time with her two kids and husband riding bikes, skating, traveling, and DANCING!
"Success is measured not by what you've accomplished, but by what you've helped someone else accomplish. As part of this growing organization, I get to put this into action every day, and for that blessing, I am so grateful!"
Job Titles:
- Vice President Public - Private Partnerships Division
- Vice President, Public - Private Partnerships Division View LinkedIn
Amy has over 15 years working in residential energy. Amy's passion is helping good quality companies make money doing the right thing. Her expertise spans multiple aspects of the residential energy efficiency industry, with a strong emphasis on how to enhance the contractor experience. She's provided training to 100's of contractors, including many in the Pearl Network. Ms. Beley has presented at multiple conferences and events across the country and consulted with programs designing contractor account services. She has a BA in Environmental Studies and Economics from University of California at Santa Cruz and an MS in Environmental Sciences and Policy from Johns Hopkins University. She serves on the board of the Building Performance Association.
Job Titles:
- Program Manager for Pearl Certification 's Public - Private Partnerships Division
- Program Manager, Public - Private Partnerships Division
As Program Manager for Pearl Certification's Public-Private Partnerships Division, Anthony works closely with state governments and local stakeholders to drive demand for high-performing homes through the increased adoption of residential energy efficiency.
Prior to joining Pearl, Anthony worked at Touchstone IQ, where he helped state and local governments implement and manage their commercial building benchmarking programs. He also worked as a strategic technical consultant at The Cadmus Group. In this role he supported a wide range of clients, including the Department of Energy (DOE), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), and The Nature Conservancy.
Anthony lives in Colorado and enjoys mountain biking, skiing, and backpacking in the Rocky Mountains with his fiancé and their Wooly Husky.
"I've focused my career on protecting the natural environment, helping people save energy, and reducing carbon emissions. I'm proud to work at Pearl, where I can continue and expand on my impact with a company that has closely aligned goals."
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant to CEO, Corporate Division
April brings her diverse background in real estate, marketing, and entertainment to the job of Executive Assistant to CEO Cynthia Adams. A true people person and collaborator, April helps to keep the wheels on the Pearl bus (a clean emissions bus of course) at all times.
Born and raised in New York, April began her career braving the wilds of the Los Angeles entertainment industry as an assistant to the top talent agents in the business. The show Entourage pretty much sums up the experience. After meeting her husband Josh and having their daughter Lola, the family moved to Atlanta, where April took her skills to the real estate industry. But the mountains were calling and the family now calls Boulder, Colorado home. In her spare time April likes to hike, yell at sporting events, explore the Boulder food scene and then hike again to work off said food.
Job Titles:
- Membership Manager
- Membership Manager, Real Estate and Homeowner Division
Ashley is passionate about bridging the gap between real estate professionals and the built environment through education and outreach. Her work experience, passion for high-performing homes, and education bring a unique mix to Pearl's Real Estate Division.
As Membership Manager, Ashley serves as a resource to real estate professionals to help them incorporate energy-efficiency knowledge and high-performing home advice into their day-to-day client interactions, thus creating opportunities for new business. She provides support to the Pearl Real Estate Network through education offerings, marketing strategies and materials, and serving as the primary contact for brokers/brokerages.
Prior to joining Pearl, Ashley helped buyers and sellers with their housing goals as a residential Realtor in Raleigh, NC. She also participates in her local Realtors association to provide professional development opportunities to area members.
Ashley graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in Interior Design, heavily focusing on sustainability, which sparked her love for building science. Ashley holds various professional designations, including NAR Green, LFA (Living Future Accreditation), and LEED General Associate.
When not talking real estate, Ashley can be found visiting the NC coast with her family, exploring Raleigh's music scene, going to football games, or attempting to garden.
Job Titles:
- Director of Programs for the Public Private Partnerships Division
- Director of Programs, Public - Private Partnerships Division
As Pearl Certification's Director of Programs for the Public Private Partnerships Division, Ben builds statewide programs to transform the market for high-performing homes and works closely with state and local stakeholders, Pearl national partners, and other entities.
Before joining Pearl, Ben worked at EnergyHub on both the Sales and Client Success teams. There, he helped electric and gas utilities launch and scale distributed energy resource demand response programs leveraging EnergyHub's DERMS platform. Prior to EnergyHub, Ben served as the executive director of the Global BrightLight Foundation, an international NGO with a mission to provide solar energy to remote communities without access to electricity. Ben began his career at ICF International supporting the EPA ENERGY STAR residential programs.
Ben lives in Colorado with his wife and enjoys spending time outdoors and pursuing his passion for photography and travel.
"I've dedicated my career to protecting the environment. Pearl's approach to transforming the market for high-performing homes is creating a more sustainable future. I'm grateful that I get to work on such an important mission alongside an amazing group of people."
Job Titles:
- Comms Partnerships Manager Industry Partnerships Division
- Partnerships Manager
Benjy joins Pearl to help expand and improve partnership strategies with Pearl's wider network of national contractors. Prior to his time at Pearl, Benjy served as the U.S. Head of Social Video for the Daily Mail and MailOnline brands managing an international team of journalists working on pages receiving billions of views each month.
Following his time in the newsroom, he moved further into the commercial space at Newsflare, a UGC news agency, as its U.S. Customer Success Manager. There, he aided clients in making the greatest impact with their third-party platform video strategies.
Benjy is currently studying for an undergraduate degree in environmental studies at The Open University and expects to graduate in the summer of 2025. In addition to his love of nature and journalism, he plays the saxophone, engages in agility training with his dog Pumpkin, and strives to complete hikes in all 50 states.
Job Titles:
- Software Engineer, Corporate Division
Prior to Pearl, Brenna led app development at startup Halen Technology and dating app Pure Match, where she oversaw code reviews, testing, debugging, and app optimization. She adeptly configures apps for both iOS and android operating systems and is fluent in Flutter, Dart, HTML, CSS, Javascript, and other key programming languages.
Brenna graduated with honors from Calvin College with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art and Chinese. She's currently pursuing a Master of Science in Software Development at Boston University.
She resides in New Orleans with her cat, Mima, and finds joy in long-distance running, creating art, and volunteering.
Job Titles:
- Marketing Manager for Pearl 's Real Estate Division
- Senior Marketing Manager, Real Estate and Homeowner Division
As Marketing Manager for Pearl's Real Estate Division, Caprice works to develop and execute marketing campaigns across various channels, building connections with Pearl stakeholders. Before joining Pearl, Caprice served as the Marketing Manager for an architectural lighting design firm, where she received an in-depth look into the process of designing and building residential spaces.
Caprice is based in Queens, New York, where she was born and raised (and unfortunately, became a Mets fan). She believes firmly that clear communication is an important tool in solving any problem and carries this belief in her work to deliver Pearl's message through marketing.
Caprice has a B.A. in Marketing and Public Relations from CUNY City College of New York. In her free time, she enjoys photographing pretty buildings and "playing" tennis.
"Pearl draws a clear line from home value to home efficiency and comfort. I'm excited to help real estate agents maximize Pearl's value as they do the same for homeowners."
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President of Quality and Standards
- Senior Vice President, Quality and Standards Corporate Division
- Senior Vice President, Quality and Standards, Corporate Division View LinkedIn
Casey is Pearl's Senior Vice President of Quality and Standards. He supports Pearl's Public-Private Partnerships Division, as well as growth into new market segments, such as new construction and insurance.
Prior to joining Pearl, Casey worked at ICF as a Senior Technical Manager, primarily supporting U.S. EPA's voluntary programs, such as Home Performance with ENERGY STAR (HPwES), ENERGY STAR Certified Homes (ESCH), ENERGY STAR Verified HVAC Installation (ESVI), and Indoor airPLUS (IAP).
Casey began his career in construction as a small business owner and building scientist (BPI Building Analyst, BPI Envelope Professional, and HERS Rater). He served for four years on BPI's Standards and Technical Committees and was also a Board Member of Efficiency First.
Casey has an M.B.A. from the University of Maryland University College and a B.S. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania.
When he's not on the sidelines watching his sons' soccer games or walking his dogs, you can find Casey working on indoor and outdoor home improvement projects.
Job Titles:
- Homeowners Operations Manager
- Operations Manager, Corporate Division
As Homeowners Operations Manager, Claudia endeavors to optimize the experience of homeowners who reach out to Pearl Certification. With a diverse background in hospitality and event planning, Claudia has always been passionate about the environment and also brings her love of organized planning to the team.
When she is not working, you will often find Claudia swimming, biking, or running around Longmont, Colorado to balance her love of baking and enjoying her many creations in the kitchen, which sometimes her dog, George, also benefits from.
"As a new home owner, I am glad to know more about how to make my home healthier for me and also more efficient. With Pearl Certification, homeowners have the tools to make their home high-performing, and I'm excited to be a part of their improved environmental and health journey!"
Job Titles:
- Residential Energy Efficiency Program Specialist Corporate Division
As Residential Energy Efficiency Program Specialist, Corey works closely with Pearl's divisions to help them establish certification processes, define standard operating procedures, and train employees and contractors on best practices.
Corey comes to Pearl with a wide variety of experience in the energy industry. Prior to Pearl, Corey worked for CLEAResult facilitating a large utility-based industrial demand response program. He also has over half a decade of experience as a BPI certified energy auditor.
Job Titles:
- Senior Software Engineer, Corporate Division
As a Senior Software Engineer, Cushing brings decades of experience in building and managing large-scale technology solutions to the task of ensuring that Pearl's Certification App and back-end systems operate at their best and add value to the business.
Before joining Pearl, Cushing served as Vice President of Product at Lancium Compute, a unit of a Houston-based startup focused on decarbonizing the electrical grid. Cushing oversaw the development and operation of a carbon-free cloud computing platform specializing in the needs of the high-performance scientific computing community.
Preceding that, Cushing spent 18 years as President of Bitlathe, a boutique consulting firm that built digital solutions for sales and marketing teams in the financial services industry.
Cushing graduated with a B.S. from Carnegie Mellon University and M.A. and M.Phil. degrees from Columbia University. He lives with his family in central Virginia and can often be found enjoying the region's incredible opportunities for camping, kayaking, and wine tasting.
"I've spent my career developing products that support the needs and goals of businesses. Pearl gives me the rare opportunity for my work to add value not just to the company but also to society as a whole. The energy infrastructure of the U.S. is in the process of a massive transition, and I'm happy to be able to make a small contribution toward the momentum of that effort."
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Co - Founder
Cynthia Adams Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) View LinkedIn Contact "Every home has a story - just like the family that lives in it. My education on how a house can impact your life began quite personally, with a family member who developed asthma like symptoms after moving in to our "new" home that had moisture issues and sketchy ventilation. Whether it's a health, comfort, or a high bill issue - we don't have to just "put up with" our homes. With Pearl, I get a chance to help owners of existing homes upgrade what they've got into the comfortable, high performing, and affordable to operate home they deserve."
Job Titles:
- Designer
- UX Designer Corporate Division
David serves Pearl Certification as the UI/UX Designer for the Homeowner Division. In this role, David designs and prototypes user-focused digital experiences, advances a modular and scalable design system, and partners with development to achieve the successful shipping of Pearl's digital products.
David brings a decade of design experience to the Pearl team. Previously, David worked as a UI product designer for a hearing solutions company called Eargo. Prior to that, David ran a successful freelance design business for seven years, specializing in digital product design, marketing, and branding.
David is originally from southern California but has lived in Austin, Texas since 2017. When he is not designing for Pearl, you might find him hanging out with his wife and two sons, drawing, writing, or eating Tex-Mex and enjoying a craft beer.
"The digital experience is the primary point of contact for Pearl users to invest in their homes and the global community we are bettering. I'm proud of being able to use design to empower homeowners to reduce their emissions and conserve and create clean energy."
Job Titles:
- Senior Director, Marketing and Communications, Corporate Division
Trained as a magazine journalist, Deanna was drawn to the analysis, strategy, and creative problem-solving of marketing in the early days of digital content's rise to power. A veteran of the marketing technology space, she's spent the past decade working with some of the top B2B and B2C brands in the world to develop their digital marketing programs, from audience intelligence through editorial production and optimization. She brings a passion for climate solutions, a love for data, and an "audience-first" approach to Pearl Certification's marketing.
"As a marketer, I'm a big believer in the impact of human behavior at scale. Pearl has found a way to deliver meaningful, measurable value - in health, comfort, and dollars and cents - to homeowners that can lead to massive positive benefits for the earth. How could I stay away?"
Job Titles:
- Vice President Home Services and New Build Division
- Vice President, Home Services and New Build Division View LinkedIn
Derek leads Pearl's Home Services and New Build team in pursuit of identifying and adding high-quality professionals into the elite Pearl Network.
Previously, Derek served as the Director of Sales for Sun Valley Solar Solutions, one of Arizona's most established and respected solar companies. Prior to his work at SVSS, Derek led regional, national, and international sales and business development efforts across the renewable energy, cable, and telecommunications industries.
At California Coast University, Derek earned a bachelor's and master's degree in Business Administration. Beyond a love of family, friends, travel, coffee, and Latin American culture, Derek is passionate about supporting animal welfare initiatives throughout the world.
Job Titles:
- Product Manager, Corporate Division
Donovan brings a diverse background of leadership, team development, and strategic vision as Product Manager for Pearl's Green Door® application. Prior to joining Pearl Certification, Donovan led software teams to innovate enterprise-scale cybersecurity solutions with first-of-its-kind threat detection capabilities. His work in manufacturing commercial and industrial air filtration products spans over seven years and provides a broad understanding of the energy-efficiency industry and quality assurance best practices. Based in Louisville, KY, Donovan brings volumes of enthusiasm and analytic skills to execute software products that are useful and exciting.
"I am thrilled to be part of an organization helping homes become healthier, energy efficient, and resilient. Pearl Certification's Green Door® application is a treasure trove of resources providing homeowners with an easy-to-follow, high-performing home upgrade plan and connects them with qualified Pearl Contractor Partners. As a Product Manager, I love building tools that move the needle toward a safer and more sustainable future."
Job Titles:
- Director of IT and Security, Corporate Division
Before joining Pearl, Doug served as Senior VP of Product, Technology, and Analytics at The Yay Company, a mission-driven startup that provides kids with healthy food at school. Prior to that, he held broad leadership roles in product and technology at major corporations like PayPal, Netflix, and Capital One.
In his spare time, Doug's a dad, a writer, a mediocre sailor, and an enthusiastic (if not skilled) rider of electric unicycles. He lives in the forest outside of Charlottesville, Virginia.
Job Titles:
- Operations Support Specialist, Home Services and New Build Division
As an Operations Support Specialist, Edson supports elite Pearl Network Contractors through data management, including batch processing and Salesforce data input; information management in Salesforce, and generally advancing the success of their businesses. With a focus on operations for nearly his entire career, Edson has worked in many different industries - advertising, car rentals to health care.
Edson is originally from Brooklyn, NY but now lives in Florida with his wife and daughter. His interests include his family, watching combat sports (MMA, bare knuckle boxing, and whatever is available to watch in this category), video games, comic books/graphic novels, movies, and TV shows. He dreams of creating graphic novels one day.
"Candor is something that I value in my personal life; now I'm at a company that places value on it as well. I look forward to being candid when it regards my work with processes and implementation, as well as feedback to help the company grow. When we're candid with ourselves, it allows us to move forward."
Job Titles:
- Vice President Real Estate and Homeowner Division
- Vice President, Real Estate and Homeowner Division View LinkedIn
Heather brings deep real estate industry experience from a wide variety of roles, starting from the boots on the street level as a REALTOR beginning in 2004. Heather was one of the first agents in the U.S. to utilize digital marketing to build a business, blogging about her local area.
Prior to joining Pearl, as the CEO of Artisan Consulting, her marketing and strategy prowess helped numerous proptech companies succeed in the real estate industry. Heather built and launched a national, referral-only real estate brokerage, created and managed influencer/advocate programs, developed recruiting and messaging strategies for brokerages, built product and feature launch plans, and authored thought leadership content. As an executive for the National Association of Realtors, she crafted and executed social and digital strategy, federating messaging across all channels. And while an executive for Century 21 Redwood Realty, she grew the company footprint with new offices, and expanded their marketing capabilities with concierge services, an extensive agent recognition program, and a new marketing platform.
Job Titles:
- Success Relationship Manager Home Services and New Build Division
Job Titles:
- Onboarding and Operations Manager, Home Services and New Build Division
Jennifer brings to Pearl her passion for people and the planet. She has extensive experience in business and people operations, data analysis, and project management. Jennifer has lived in Las Vegas, NV; Tampa, FL; Boston, MA; and Salem, NH. She has loved being a part of many different communities and serving them through supporting and partnering with local organizations that are mission-driven to provide access to fresh, healthy food for underserved populations.
Job Titles:
- Coordinator of Pearl 's Public - Private Partnerships Division
- Coordinator, Public - Private Partnerships Division
As coordinator of Pearl's Public-Private Partnerships Division, Joey Poach works closely with division leaders, program managers, and business development managers to support Pearl's efforts with local stakeholders, Pearl national partners, and other entities to help ensure successful program execution and business development activities in target markets.
Additionally, Joey helps with division coordination, management of the proposal development and submission process, conference and meeting logistics, updating project plans, and other administrative duties.
Prior to joining Pearl, Joey worked as a coordinator for a nonprofit organization helping to uplift communities in Kenya. Joey also has a decade of experience working in the filmmaking industry. Joey lives in Los Angeles, California and enjoys watching old movies, cooking, traveling, and hiking.
"I am excited about the opportunity that exists when the private and public sectors work with each other, and I am grateful to help build those partnerships. I'm proud that I can help make homes and the planet healthier while creating value for homeowners and enriching the marketplace."
Job Titles:
- Senior Certification Process Manager, Corporate Division
John joined Pearl in July of 2018 bringing with him numerous certifications in building science and over 25 years of hands-on construction experience. His work in the residential, commercial, and heavy industrial fields gives him a broad understanding of what it takes to be successful as a contractor. John is also a certified master trainer, healthy home evaluator, and sits on the board of Healthy Home Environment Association. He shares his knowledge base with the elite Pearl Advantage Contractor Network to ensure their success.
"I've always had a great passion for helping to develop the full potential of people and businesses. Being a part of the Pearl Certification team gives me the opportunity to help our customers, the contractors, achieve their goals and potential through delivering the highest-quality home performance services of comfort, health, and efficiency to their customers."
Job Titles:
- Business Development Manager for Pearl Certification 's Public - Private Partnership Division
- Business Development Manager, Public - Private Partnerships Division
As Business Development Manager for Pearl Certification's Public-Private Partnership Division, Jordan brings the benefits of custom home certification programs to the public sector.
Before joining Pearl, Jordan spent nearly five years with Missouri's State Energy Office, where he managed the Energy Analysis, Coordination, & Education group. Jordan's team handled everything from designing pass-through funding programs, to organizing Missouri's energy-planning efforts, to developing strategies for increasing energy workforce participation and energy literacy across the state. Jordan began his career in community banking and received his MBA from William Woods University.
Jordan lives in central Missouri with his wife, enjoys games with family, and, as a third-generation woodworker, loves spending time in the shop.
"I am passionate about what can happen when the public and private sectors come together with common goals in mind. I'm proud to work at Pearl, where I have the privilege to develop those partnerships and make public servants' lives easier while creating value for homeowners and driving demand for residential energy investments at the same time."
Job Titles:
- Senior Software Engineer, Corporate Division
Justin is a Senior Software Engineer tasked with bringing Pearl Certification's Green Door application to mobile.
Previously, Justin was the Chief Operating Officer at SyncGrades, an ed-tech company based in Pennsylvania that builds classroom management software for New York City schools. At SyncGrades, he was responsible for the daily operations of the company, along with development of mobile applications and web tools.
Prior to working at SyncGrades, Justin was the Director of Software Engineering at Scitent, an e-learning company based in Charlottesville, VA, that provides learning solutions primarily to medical boards. At Scitent, Justin rebuilt the engineering team, brought engineering rigor to the company, reduced and streamlined the maintenance burden, and led the development of several new systems. Justin has a wealth of knowledge and experience writing software and managing engineering teams.
Justin is British but has lived in the United States, off and on, for 39 years. He is married with two daughters, a cat named Greg, and a dog named Violet. Justin spends his time, among many other things, hiking and mountain biking.
"More than ever before, we need to turn our attention to sustainability, efficiency, and support of our planet and ecosystem, and joining Pearl is one of the ways in which I can contribute to this effort. Building mobile capabilities for Pearl that make home systems management more accessible and easier to use will promote understanding of these needs; I am happy to be a part of this important effort."
Job Titles:
- Growth Marketing Director, Home Services and New Build Division
Kat joins the Pearl Certification team to lead branding, marketing strategy, and lead generation for Pearl's Contractor Division. She brings over 14 years of experience in both public and private sectors and has led the largest enterprise-wide rebranding campaign in the last 50 years for a $6B state agency. Her speciality is in digital marketing and lead generation with a focus on data-based campaign optimization. Prior to her state service, she was a special education teacher for 10 years.
Kat graduated from the University of Maryland Baltimore County with a bachelor's in Education and is currently pursuing a master's in the Psychology of Leadership at Penn State. She holds various professional certifications from Syracuse University and Georgetown University in advanced digital marketing strategies and facilitation.
In addition to enjoying the outdoors, Kat loves to read and to welcome new neighbors with fresh apple pies and outdoor movie nights. Fun fact, she is also a professionally trained opera singer and wedding photographer.
"Marketing is all about getting the right message in front of the right person at the right time. Pearl's message will transform communities across the country for years to come, and I am thrilled to join the mission."
Job Titles:
- Operations Manager, Real Estate and Homeowner Division
Kate had her first taste of home performance when her undergraduate team at Middlebury College participated in the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Decathlon competition in 2011. She went on to work in solar finance with Mosaic in the Bay Area, then pursued her master's degree in education with a focus on health and wellness. For the last handful of years, Kate has been teaching children and leading professional development training for teachers. She worked with her school district to secure grant funding for solar panels on the school roofs -- both to supply electricity and serve as a real-life tool for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education. She is thrilled to be part of the Customer Success team at Pearl, where she gets to help contractors maximize the value of Pearl certifications. When off work, Kate enjoys exploring outdoors along the North Oregon Coast with her pup, Crouton.
"Pearl Certification is going to forever change the way we talk about our homes. Gone are the days when a home is just about location and design aesthetic. Empowered with data from Pearl, current and prospective homeowners will start to desire - and demand - high-performing homes. The market will come to expect that a house should keep us comfortable, maximize energy efficiency, and promote both human and environmental health. I'm excited to be part of this real estate revolution!"
Job Titles:
- Event Coordinator, Corporate Division
Kelly oversees event logistics for all of Pearl's Divisions to ensure trade shows, conferences, events, webinars, and other convenings are planned and implemented successfully toward maximizing Pearl's return on investment for each event.
As a homeowner, Kelly is invested in the Pearl Certification process because it adds significant value to a home. She has a keen interest in making green-conscious decisions and supporting Pearl's quest of educating homeowners and providing access to achieving their energy-savings goals. Outside of work, Kelly is passionate about travel, cooking, working on her home with her fiancé, and spoiling their three dogs.
Job Titles:
- Senior Operations Manager, Home Services and New Build Division
Leveraging 15+ years of experience in executive administration and corporate operations, Kerri joins Pearl Certification with a mission to maximize the success of Pearl's elite contractors. Kerri's passion for the small details and appreciation of all types of data and information aid her in supporting Pearl's contractors as they build upon the achievements they have already accomplished.
A lifelong Mainer, Kerri lives with her two daughters and two dogs and enjoys the beauty of the state and all that it has to offer. Most weekends, she hikes with the dogs or tackles a fun home improvement project.
"We generate massive amounts of data and information in nearly every aspect of our lives. In business, understanding how to analyze and utilize that data to propel growth and continued success is a passion of mine. I'm thrilled to be part of Pearl Certification's mission to help differentiate and elevate the success of our elite network of contractors."
Job Titles:
- Senior Sustainability Analyst, Corporate Division
As the Senior Sustainability Analyst, Kerry researches and analyzes energy-efficient, sustainable, resilient, and well-being strategies to support Pearl's Certification system. Before joining Pearl, she served as the Executive Director of the Efficient Windows Collaborative (EWC), a nonprofit organization to promote energy-efficient fenestration products by providing unbiased information and comparative online tools.
With a master's and bachelor's of Architecture from the College of Design and a Certificate in Data Analytics and Visualization from the College of Continuing Education and Professional Studies at the University of Minnesota, Kerry has over 20 years of experience researching and promoting energy-efficiency, sustainability, and the health/well-being of occupants in the built environment. She is also a LEED AP BD+C, a WELL AP, Fitwel Ambassador, and a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS).
Outside of work, Kerry enjoys spending time with her family, enjoying the outdoors, participating in various sporting activities, and working on her many crochet projects. She is also passionate about giving back to the local community. She is a Water Quality Monitor for the lake by her home and is a weekly Meals on Wheels driver.
"I am passionate about sustainable and healthy environments. Pearl Certification emphasizes and promotes sustainable design by addressing energy efficiency, resiliency, water conservation, healthy indoor environments, and reduced impact on the natural environment."
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Industry Partnerships Division
- VP, Industry Partnerships
As VP, Industry Partnerships, Kevin works with our existing and new manufacturer, distributor, and technology partners in the home services industry.
Prior to joining Pearl, Kevin led the business development teams at Podium in the home and financial services industries, and he held several senior leadership roles for technology companies working in the home services, automotive, and retail industries, working with some of the world's leading brands, such as Owens Corning, Trane, and General Motors.
Kevin holds a bachelor's in Political Science from UC Berkeley. He is a father of three and a Scottie dog. He's an outdoor enthusiast and lives in Northern California.
"My love of the environment and doing something about it was heavily influenced a long time ago when I joined the League to Save Lake Tahoe as an undergrad at Cal. In joining Pearl, I get the unique opportunity to combine my experience working with many leaders in the home services industry and to do some more good for Mother Earth."
Job Titles:
- Sales Executive, Home Services and New Build Division
Laara enjoys connecting with top-performing contractors and helping them realize the value Pearl Certification brings to their business by underscoring the quality work they're already doing for their customers. Pearl Certified Contractors don't just swap a box; they invest their expertise in the home and make it better and build value and equity for the homeowner.
Laara's career has been focused on technology as a tool to empower across several industries, including digital curriculum, compliance tools, and the culture of ethics and integrity in Fortune 500 companies.
A graduate of Arizona State University, Laara still calls Arizona home. A self-described real estate nerd, her hobby is renovating Mid-Century homes, giving them a new, healthy, sustainable life as a high-performing home. An adventurer by heart, Laara enjoys travel, all things outdoors, food, and friends.
"I am passionate about creating homes that are as healthy, comfortable and efficient for the people who live in them as they are for the environment around them."
Job Titles:
- Director of Channel Marketing, Industry Partnerships Division
Lindsay develops and implements communications strategies supporting Pearl's national industry partnerships. She plans and forecasts partner impact, and determines which conferences, trade shows, and events will best support sales in alignment with Pearl's mission and brand. Earlier in her tenure at Pearl, Lindsay was the Communications Director overseeing the public relations, media, messaging, and communications for all divisions.
Previously, Lindsay was the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Building Performance Association, an energy-efficiency nonprofit focused on advocacy and education in the weatherization and home performance industry. Prior to her work at BPA, Lindsay was an independent consultant and built a wide variety of clientele ranging everywhere, and in between, builders, banks and bars.
Lindsay graduated summa cum laude from Georgetown University with a master's degree in Public Relations and Corporate Communications, complemented by an undergraduate degree in Human Resources Management. In addition to her love of travel, food, and friends, Lindsay is a mom, a step-mom, and a fur-baby mom. She is passionate about helping other mothers find "their village" and is a co-founder and admin of the largest moms group in western Pennsylvania.
"Growing up the daughter of an ENERGY STAR® builder-father and a REALTOR-mother, I've seen first hand the missional design, build, and sale of an energy-efficient home. I've witnessed contracts gained and lost because of that commitment. I believe Pearl is changing the way America buys and sells homes by way of making those high-performing features visible and valued at the time of sale. I'm excited to be part of a team committed to bending the ear of American homeowners and transforming the market toward healthy and sustainable living."
Job Titles:
- Sales Coordinator
- Sales Coordinator, Home Services and New Build Division
Lisa joined the Pearl team in January 2022. As Sales Coordinator, Lisa focuses on CRM management as it relates to sales processes, measurement, and reporting. Lisa is an alumna of the University of South Florida, where she obtained a bachelor's degree in Communication. She utilizes her communications background to research, analyze, and manage demanding situations. Lisa has an extensive background in project management and has supported a sales team for the past 10 years.
Prior to joining Pearl, Lisa worked for a hospitality textile company, as well as a nonprofit energy-efficiency organization. Lisa lives in Florida with her husband and son and enjoys sunshine, yoga, swimming, and the outdoors.
Job Titles:
- Technical Product Manager, Corporate Division
Luke brings a unique background in technology, product, and operations that have all contributed to his impact-focused philosophy on digital product development. In his role as Technical Product Manager of Pearl's Certification award-winning application, Green Door, Luke utilizes data, feedback, research, and business objectives to help shape Pearl's product strategy and approach to product development.
Before joining Pearl, he served as product manager for the rapid growth, experiential entertainment startup, The Escape Game. During Luke's time at The Escape Game, he established the company's first digital products business unit, while helping the company leverage technology to scale their retail operation from five to 24 locations. When not driving digital change for The Escape Game, Luke owned and operated a digital products consultancy to help small-to-medium sized businesses leverage digital products as a vehicle for business impact.
Luke lives in Nashville, TN with his wife, daughter, and dog, and he enjoys songwriting, exploring the local food and beverage scene, and figuring out his family's next travel adventure.
"As a product manager, I've always done my best to stay hyper-focused on business outcomes. To be able to do that while also making a positive impact on the environment and helping the world make smart investments in their homes is truly a dream come true for me."
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Chief Financial Officer View LinkedIn
As Chief Financial Officer, Mark oversees all finance and accounting, budgeting, forecasting, FP&A, and banking relationships.
Before joining Pearl, Mark served as CFO for NuBrakes, an autotech startup, and SVP of Finance for Dosh, a marketing tech startup. Prior to the startup world, Mark operated as Vice President for Dimensional Fund Advisors, an investment firm based in Austin, TX.
Mark holds an MBA from Loyola Marymount University and a B.S. in Finance from Oklahoma State University. He also is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a member of the CFA Society of Austin, Texas.
"I am passionate about creating new industries and disrupting current ones to drive positive change more quickly, and that's what draws me to empower startups. Startups embrace innovation and novel thinking. Pearl Certification is the needed catalyst to create demand for more sustainable, energy-efficient home improvements. I am thrilled to help Pearl scale and grow to realize this admirable endeavor."
Job Titles:
- Success Relationship Manager, Home Services and New Build Division
Marlo joined Pearl Certification in April 2022. As Success Relationship Manager, Marlo focuses on CRM management as it relates to sales processes, measurement, and reporting. After teaching for 25 years, Marlo shifted career goals to focus on coaching teachers. She is excited to use her years of experience to help educate people on the benefits of the Pearl Certification process.
Marlo is currently building a new home, which has helped her to personally learn the value that the Pearl Certification process adds to a home. Her years of experience working with people across the country and from different backgrounds inspired her strong interest in helping educate people on how to save money on energy costs and improve the value of their home.
Outside of work, Marlo enjoys traveling, being outdoors, and spending time with her husband, Jeff, and Newfoundland, Stella.
Job Titles:
- Senior Software Engineer
- Senior Software Engineer, Corporate Division
Matt is a Senior Software Engineer focusing on mobile and the Green Door app at Pearl Certification. He brings a long mobile engineering background to Pearl, as well as a storied startup experience dating back to the dawn of the dot-com era.
In addition to his technical career, Matt brings his creative, artistic and musical sides to the table, having grown up in a large artistic and musical family from New Orleans. If you ever hear live music emanating from the Pearl headquarters, it is likely Matt has joined in the racket, having flown all the way from his current home in Southern California and joined in on drums, piano, guitar, banjo, harmonica, or mouth harp.
Matt enjoys good times and good people and won't be shy to engage in humorous dialogue. Finally, Matt is father to a talented 17-year-old daughter, who has taken art and music to the next generation, and Matt is very, very proud of her!
"I am excited to find a role at Pearl Certification, where I can assist in helping homeowners lower their bills, increase the long-term value of their homes, and ultimately lower their carbon footprint. The Green Door app will help make it tangible as the numbers and metrics start to roll in after sustainable upgrades. I am proud to be a part of the Green Door team, and I will happily evangelize for the Southern California market!"
Job Titles:
- Customer Experience Manager, Real Estate and Homeowner Division
Nathan has over eight years of experience in the energy-efficiency industry in both Canada and the U.S., ranging from leading an insulation installation crew as a BPI Building Analyst and Envelope Professional to managing energy and water conservation campaigns in low-income, multi-family housing communities. After taking a few years away from the industry to work as a political campaign organizer and complete a B.A. in Economics at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, he is excited to continue mission-driven, impactful work with Pearl.
In his free time, Nathan is a voracious reader and enjoys gardening and exploring the North Carolina mountains with his beloved springer spaniel, Mikey.
Job Titles:
- Content Manager, Corporate Division
Nisa supports the Marketing team developing and managing the comprehensive content strategy and overseeing the accurate, on-brand company narrative about how Pearl Certification quantifies and reports the sustainable, energy-efficient features of a home.
With 14 years' experience in content marketing, Nisa understands how to tailor the message for the target audience, specific medium and for maximum engagement, while evaluating performance through measuring KPIs. She possesses a passion for protecting the environment, leading her to secure membership with an industry sustainability organization and advance environmental conservation efforts at a previous employer.
Nisa graduated cum laude from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism and a B.A. in Psychology, and she earned her M.S. in Mass Communications from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. When she's not writing, Nisa enjoys traveling, swimming, audio books, and photography.
"I believe one of the greatest barriers to improving energy-efficiency in new and existing homes is not a lack of desire among homeowners but is rather a lack of information. I am proud to advance Pearl Certification's mission of creating a more sustainable residential market through education and consistent communication."
Job Titles:
- Sales Executive, Home Services and New Build Division
As a Sales Executive in the Contractor Division, Pete qualifies contractors for membership into the elite Pearl Network, as well as educates and guides accepted contractors through the sales process. He works closely with Pearl's Contractor Success team to ensure a positive hand-off and seamless onboarding experience.
Pete's professional career began in financial services, where he worked for prestigious companies, such as Fidelity Investments, LPL financial, and TD Ameritrade. After a successful 23-year career, Pete sold his partnership shares back to Alleges Advisors and retired from the financial planning industry. He prospered as Senior Sales Leader at Wyndham Resorts, before transitioning to selling solar projects at Vivant Solar. There, he became passionate about the environment and helping homeowners and business owners save money with an eco-friendly source of renewable energy.
Pete played soccer for Scottsdale Community College and then San Diego State University, where he graduated with a degree in Public Administration, emphasizing in Economics. He also achieved the designation of Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) from the American College in Berwyn, PA. His talent for soccer led him to play professionally for two years with the Phoenix Inferno Major Indoor Soccer team.
Based in Fountain Hills, AZ, a suburb of Scottsdale, Pete enjoys nature and participates in triathlons, hiking, backpacking, kayaking, fishing, and traveling. He has four wonderful daughters who taught him about life and caring for others.
"Over the past 25 years of my professional career, I have mastered the art of commonality and sales. I am so excited to join Pearl Certification and align myself with such great talent and a company with a meaningful mission. I feel that change, understanding, and growth are the keys to a better future and a better world."
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Product Corporate Division
- Vice President, Product, Corporate Division View LinkedIn
Rachel brings her experience blending strategic implementation with tactical execution to deliver innovative technology products. Prior to joining Pearl Certification, Rachel worked in software delivery and product management for housing finance where her team of analysts and developers worked to deliver new solutions to support the secondary mortgage market. Rachel has an MBA from the University of Maryland and a B.S. from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
"I am passionate about finding technology solutions for challenging business problems. Pearl is bringing new, innovative solutions for promoting energy efficiency in homes and providing additional value to homeowners. It is exciting to work every day to deliver solutions that improve the lives of homeowners."
Job Titles:
- Partnerships Director for California / Northwest, Public - Private Partnerships Division
As the Public-Private Partnerships Director for California/Northwest, Renée Daigneault is focused on building Pearl's partnerships in the respective geographic region, working with state energy office staff to advance home certification programs and support homeowner education.
Renée brings a background in operations, strategy, and communications with experience implementing utility-funded programs focused on improving the energy efficiency of existing buildings through outreach, education, and policy.
Her past experience includes roles at Sustento Group (program implementer for the LA Better Buildings Challenge), the Mayor of Los Angeles' Operations Innovation Team, South Bay Cities Council of Governments, and the San Diego Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council.
Renée earned her MBA from the University of San Diego and is an active volunteer for the USGBC LA Women in Green Committee.
"My career has been focused on advancing sustainability in the built environment while working with great people. Pearl's strategy recognizes the essential truth that we must take a collaborative approach to sustainability, and I'm happy to be part of our experienced and driven team."
Job Titles:
- Associate General Counsel
- Associate General Counsel Corporate Division
- Associate General Counsel, Corporate Division View LinkedIn
As Associate General Counsel, Samantha manages all legal matters for Pearl, including a wide range of complex contracts, intellectual property, compliance, and data privacy issues. She also oversees the People Services department, which she built from the ground up as Pearl's first human resources employee.
Before joining Pearl, Samantha served as Business Manager for an architectural lighting design firm in New York City, where she is based. Samantha has a B.S. in Economics from St. John's University and a J.D. from CUNY School of Law, where she attended the evening program while working full-time. She is admitted to the New York State Bar and a member of the New York City Bar Association.
Job Titles:
- Recruiter, Corporate Division
Stephanie brings a unique background in operations and HR to Pearl's People Services Team. Her diverse and unconventional journey, stemming from performing arts management and nonprofit work to start-up sales to legal operations and HR, has contributed to her philosophy that in all industries, what matters the most are the PEOPLE. The people you hire, the people you serve, the camaraderie, and the fostering of healthy relationships are the keys to success in any business. She is proud to hold true to this commitment as Pearl's first dedicated Recruiter and is delighted to help permeate Pearl's culture of integrity, stewardship, and excellence with her new colleagues.
Originally hailing from New York and Maryland, Stephanie received her BFA from the University of Miami, and other than a short, nine-month stint in Connecticut post-graduation, she never went back "up North." She and her husband Carlos enjoy taking their Shih-Poo pup to the beach despite his extreme reluctance to get his paws wet.
Job Titles:
- Business Systems Integrations Manager Corporate Division
Tahisha has several years' experience in administration and operations. She works closely with Pearl's Sales and Success teams to help streamline processes to ensure clients have a smooth experience. Previously, Tahisha worked in real estate, where she worked first-hand with contractors and homeowners to help bring a home into its greatest potential. Tahisha has a passion for people, evidenced by her degree in Psychology from Liberty University. In addition, she is also an avid baker, reader and connector.
"Having had some experience navigating the world of home improvement, I now wish I had known of Pearl's existence! Pearl provides the much-needed reassurance when diving into home improvement. Not only does it set standards to ensure the quality of work provided, but Pearl Certification also offers homeowners the opportunity to educate themselves on ways to add value and longevity to their homes. Pearl is a winner no matter which way you look at it!"
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- Chief Operating Officer ( COO ) View LinkedIn
As Chief Operating Officer at Pearl Certification, Tina Bennett collaborates as a member of the Executive Team to make strategic decisions regarding Pearl's corporate direction. She manages the day-to-day operations to set strategic objectives, create necessary structure to scale the business, and ensure divisions collaborate efficiently and achieve successful growth.
Tina is a passionate clean energy and climate leader with more than 20 years of diverse energy industry experience demonstrated through executive leadership and board roles. She is an accomplished senior executive with a proven track record of building effective teams, entering new markets, and transforming and growing businesses. Most recently, she served as CEO of CMC Energy Services, a women-owned, women-led energy-efficiency services company, where she led the company through a period of significant growth and expansion, putting CMC on the national stage and amplifying its positive impact on the environment and the communities it serves.
Tina also serves on the boards of the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnership, the Northeast Clean Energy Council, and PowerOptions.
Previously, she held senior roles at Daymark Energy Advisors, Conservation Services Group, International Power. Tina holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Finance from Bentley University and a Master's in Business Administration from Northeastern University.
In her spare time, Tina enjoys the outdoors, playing golf, and spending time with family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant, Corporate Division
Titi brings over 20 years experience in operational risk management to her role as Executive Assistant to COO Robin LeBaron and CTO AC Capehart. Prior to Pearl, she worked at top financial institutions in various departments including Human Resources, Corporate Planning, Technology and Risk Management. Titi has a BBA in Computer Information Systems from Baruch College.
Based in New York, Titi spends her free time as Executive Assistant to her two children, cooking, listening to podcasts and high-tech sci-fi audio books, and promoting civic engagement within her community.
Job Titles:
- Communications Director, Public - Private Partnerships Division
Vanessa Poulson is a multi-passionate marketing and communications professional with nearly a decade of experience, boasting a track record of successful campaigns in B2B, B2C, and non-profit sectors. She has led marketing and communications campaigns, garnering over $1.5M in revenue opportunity.
Leveraging her law school education, she channels her expertise into driving communications for climate and social advocacy initiatives. Vanessa specializes in storytelling-driven communications campaigns, combining advocacy with community engagement. Vanessa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Digital Media from Penn State University. She is pursuing a Master of Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law and Graduate School, focusing on advocacy, regulations, legislation, and markets for a more sustainable world.
Outside of work, Vanessa is a published author, professional musician, co-owner of Raised Eden Records, and dog walker.
"Being at a mission-driven organization where climate and constituents are prioritized is incredibly important and rewarding work. I'm proud to forward Pearl's work to champion high-performance and sustainable housing alongside an ambitious team."
Job Titles:
- Partnerships Director for the Northeast for the Public - Private Partnerships Division
- Partnerships Director for the Northeast, Public - Private Partnerships Division
As Partnerships Director for the Northeast for the Public-Private Partnerships Division, Whit builds statewide programs to transform the market for high-performing homes and works closely with state and local stakeholders, Pearl national partners, and other entities.
Before joining Pearl, Whit helped develop, analyze, and advise a variety of nonprofit and for-profit national environmental programs as an independent consultant. He has served as a Program Officer for a leading philanthropic foundation funding national and regional initiatives to advance energy efficiency, renewable energy, and environmental justice. He is also a former builder/remodeler and worked on USGBC's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Technical Development team to advance the requirements for materials and resources across all the LEED rating systems.
He lives in Harrisonburg, VA with his wife, Jen, and he has two kids living and studying dance internationally. In his free time he enjoys playing guitar and exploring and biking throughout the Shenandoah Valley.
"I grew up in construction and was a builder for a few years. It sparked my interest in sustainability, and I found I was really good as a go-between, translating and reporting between the job site and the conversations about higher standards and better choices. In joining Pearl I've found a group of people who are birds of a feather and poised to unlock a ton of new opportunity and peace of mind for homeowners."