Our Team

Solar Stewards believes strongly that the path to true equity is one we embark on together.

Dana Clare Redden

Founder and CEO

Celebrating over a decade in the solar industry, Dana Clare Redden is a passionate solar professional dedicated to the development of distributed generation solar globally.   Growing up in a small rust-belt town in western Pennsylvania, the environmental impacts of fossil fuels shaped her perspective, particularly for disenfranchised communities and those most vulnerable.  Realizing this need for environmental justice and greater resources, Dana founded Solar Stewards, a social enterprise connecting corporate social responsibility initiatives with schools and universities, affordable and senior housing, places of worship, and nonprofits in marginalized communities.  Dana holds a Bachelors of Science degree from Drexel University as well as an Executive MBA from IE Business School and Brown University.  She volunteers on multiple committees dedicated to equitable renewable energy development including The Nature Conservancy and Clean Energy Buyers Alliance Standards Steering Committee, and the VOTE Solar Access and Equity Advisory Committee.  She is among GRIST Magazine’s 2021 50 Fixers, a two-time judge at the DOE/NREL Solar District Cup, a co-founder of BOSS: Black Owners of Solar Services, an inaugural American Council of Renewable Energy (ACORE) Accelerate member, and serves on the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) board of directors.  She currently resides in Atlanta, GA where she continues to work at the intersection of climate action, environmental justice, and social entrepreneurship for communities worldwide. 

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Ayomikun Joshua Kukoyi

International Associate

A passionate and adaptable lawyer, Ayomikun thrives on tackling diverse legal challenges that drive positive social impact.  His core interests lie in corporate & commercial transactions, intellectual property (especially for creative, tech, and health sectors), human rights, and energy/sustainability (ESG). This multi-faceted approach allows him to seamlessly navigate various legal landscapes, consistently seeking opportunities to create meaningful change.
More than just a lawyer, Ayomikun is a proven team player with a strong track record of managing complex projects and contributing to thought leadership. He actively participates in industry reports and white papers, fostering sustainable development initiatives. My unwavering work ethic, integrity, and commitment to continuous learning are the cornerstones of his approach.

Angelica Lava

Admin Assistant

Angelica holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, majoring in the Service Management Program, graduating Cum Laude with recognition for the best capstone project in their class. Currently, Angelica works as a freelance professional in the BPO industry, specializing in executive assistance and administrative support.

Beyond work, Angelica has a deep passion for folk dancing, having trained with a local group since the age of 13. This dedication has led to guest performances in cities across the region, showcasing cultural heritage through dance.

An avid adventurer and nature enthusiast, Angelica finds peace in the outdoors, embracing travel and exploration as a way to connect with the world.

Omar Ahmed

Application Manager

Omar is a software developer dedicated to leveraging technology to make clean energy more accessible. Originally from Sudan, he holds bachelor's degrees in Computer Science and Mathematics from Lehman College, where he honed his problem-solving skills and passion for innovation.

With a keen interest in the intersection of technology and sustainability, Omar is committed to developing solutions that drive positive environmental impact. His expertise spans software development, data analysis, and optimizing digital systems to support renewable energy initiatives.

Beyond coding, Omar is a lifelong learner and a creative at heart. He enjoys reading science fiction and mystery novels, drawing on his iPad, and teaching himself new songs on the piano. He also stays up to date with the latest advancements in technology, always eager to explore emerging tools and trends that can enhance his work.

Ben Chi

Application Manager

Ben is a software engineer with dual Bachelor's degrees in Computer Science and Psychology. Originally from Hawaii, he has called Seattle home since 2015. With a deep commitment to leveraging technology for social good, Ben focuses on building tools that foster community, support continuous learning, and empower others.

He is the creator of Memorogue, an AI-powered ed-tech app that transforms study material into gamified quizzes, enhancing memory and engagement. Ben also hosts a monthly "learnathon"—a supportive space where engineers can overcome imposter syndrome and grow in their careers.

A passionate advocate for open access and digital preservation, Ben founded Dance Chives, an open-source media archive that preserves and shares content from the global street dance community. He is an active contributor to the Solar Coders Discord, where he shares knowledge and fosters collaboration.

Outside of tech, Ben is a competitive dancer, teacher, and movement specialist with nearly two decades of experience in breakdancing, ballet, calisthenics, martial arts, tricking, yoga, and more. His passion for the environment is reflected in his lifelong love for gardening, backpacking, permaculture, and sustainability.

Ben brings a unique blend of technical expertise, creative energy, and community focus to the Solar Stewards mission—driven by a relentless curiosity and a desire to make a positive impact.

Cameron Flowers

Technology Advisor

Cam Flowers is not only an advocate for the use of technology for the social good, he actively empowers people with the confidence and curiosity to create sustainable change in technology enriched ways. Specializing in the research and design of innovation ecosystems, Cam works to advise business and civic leaders on the necessary imperatives for sustainable growth and impact in a technologically advanced world. Through his work as CEO of Floreo Labs he has contributed to initiatives expanding the technology ecosystem nationwide like the New York City Tech Talent Pipeline, the Mozilla Foundation’s Responsible Computing Initiative, Minnesota's Twin Cities Startup Week and the Dream.Org TECH program (formerly #YESWECODE) among others, while serving as one of the youngest faculty members at Lehman College and as a founding member of several startups focused on transforming the internet.

He has professionally trained engineers from diverse-backgrounds to technical jobs at major companies like: Spotify, NASDAQ, Workday, and IBM, led instruction and development for several technology bootcamps and has provided tech advisory to multiple women and minority owned businesses across the country. He is an active proponent of community-centered design, and uses his work to forward conversations on diversity, equity and inclusion worldwide promoting innovation and entrepreneurship led by communities currently underrepresented in technology.

Simone McFarlane

Program Coordinator

Simone is a passionate advocate for the circular economy with a background in urban planning. She believes that everyone’s environment should reflect their dignity. As a Robertson Scholar, she studied at both the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University, where she explored just urban development through the lens of urban planning, environmental management, sociology, and data science. With a degree in Urban Ecology and experience in global service work and urban planning, Simone has seen firsthand the barriers to climate resilience—driving her commitment to advancing transformational change in these fields.

Coming from a first-generation Caribbean American family and growing up in the American South, Simone understands how one's environment shapes access and opportunities. This perspective led her to take a gap year in Latin America before university, immersing herself in service work and deepening her dedication to environmental justice—a passion she now brings to Solar Stewards.

Outside of work, Simone enjoys composting, organizing events, and dancing the night away!

Jackie Vandermel

EDICT Associate

Jackie Vandermel is a student studying Sustainable Development and Mathematics-Statistics at Columbia University. She has previously collaborated with 100+ climate startups through Climate TRACE to create the first global open emissions inventory, advised international governments on sustainability as a delegate for the United Nations Environment Programme, conducted research at Stanford, Princeton, & Columbia, and worked with major scientific and regulatory government agencies like Open AI and the White House. Some of her notable press includes the Pulitzer Center, National YoungArts Foundation, National Park Service, among 25+ others. When not working for the climate, Jackie enjoys rollerblading, practicing magic tricks, thrifting, and always trying new things.

Advisory Board

  • Kerry O'Neill

    CEO at Inclusive Prosperity Capital

    Kerry leads Inclusive Prosperity Capital, a not-for-profit investment fund that was spun out of the Connecticut Green Bank to scale up impact for underserved communities and underinvested markets across the country. Inclusive Prosperity Capital operates at the intersection of community development, clean energy finance and climate impact with a collection of products and strategies that use an “ecosystem” approach to matching capital supply with project demand through mission-aligned partners on the ground.

    Kerry’s work at IPC and previously at the Connecticut Green Bank managing single family and multifamily financing programs and low-to-moderate income initiatives has given her tremendous exposure to the kind of institutional challenges – and opportunities – associated with clean energy investing for underserved communities. She and her team launched 11 products in five years using a channel marketing and partnership origination approach and a variety of financial structures, all sharing a focus on reducing energy burdens by expanding access to credit.

  • Sherman Golden

    Senior Counsel at Thompson and Hine

    Sherman is senior counsel in the Commercial & Public Finance group at Thompson and Hine. He focuses his practice on municipal finance, project finance, and public-private partnerships (P3). He specializes in structured real estate finance and capital formation, including tax-exempt and taxable municipal bonds, synthetic equity through the monetization of available federal and state tax credits, and exempt securities offerings. An innovator in housing finance, Sherman helped found the Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership (ANDP), Georgia’s first well-financed regional nonprofit developer and sponsor, and served as its general counsel

  • Lee Peterson

    Senior Manager CohnReznick

    Lee Peterson is a licensed attorney and Senior Tax Manager for CohnReznick, LLP’s National Renewable Energy Practice. Lee has been a critical tax advisor in well over 15 billion dollars of renewable energy projects within the U.S. and its’ territories. He is presently responsible for technical tax support and risk for the renewable energy project finance consulting practice and responsible for federal governmental affairs for renewables, as well as thought-leadership. Lee’s clients include the U.S. Department of Energy, Fortune 100 companies, state and local governments, tax exempt organizations and renewable energy project developers and manufacturers (both domestic and international). Lee is nationally recognized expert on renewable energy policy, taxation and finance and has published numerous articles in both traditional and trade press, including, North American Windpower, Solar Industry magazine and is regularly recognized by mainstream traditional media reporters as an expert source

  • Denis George

    Energy Advisor

    Denis George is an expert in the area of energy supply contracting, renewable energy, utility ratemaking and policy, and energy efficiency. He currently advises end users and suppliers on energy matters, and serves as the President of the Energy Coalition of Ohio (www.energycoalitionohio.org ) whose mission is to increase energy education and information sharing among all Ohio energy stakeholders.

    At The Kroger Co.- one of the Nation’s largest grocery and retail companies - Denis managed the Company’s renewable energy acquisition, electricity contracts, utility agreements, regulatory intervention, energy efficiency initiatives, carbon footprint calculations, mechanical system design, Energy Star program compliance, and related matters.

    Denis has presented before numerous Commissions and Associations, including the Edison Electric Institute, American Public Power Association, Touchstone Energy Partnership, Green Retail Decisions, Smart Energy Decisions, and the Critical Consumer Issues Forum. Denis served on the Customer Advisory Board of Smart Energy Decisions as well as on utility customer advisory groups. Denis also served two terms on the State of Ohio Public Benefits Advisory Board, a non-compensated Board advising the State of Ohio and utilities on low- income consumer energy needs.

 

Solar Stewards Internship

Solar Stewards is committed to the advancement of distributed energy resources and the fundamental shift to new business models supporting renewable energy. Embracing an inter-generational approach to this work is critical for the long-term advancement of the industry. As such, in 2020, Solar Stewards launched the Solar Stewards Internship, open to all post-secondary students looking to help shape the future of energy and social enterprise. Special thanks to Brown University, Dartmouth College, and Brown Connect for their support.

Details on the Solar Stewards Internship can be found here.