Senior Business Analyst, Emerging Technologies Group
Evguenia (Gina) Melekh arrived in this country from her hometown of St. Petersburg, Russia with two suitcases, little money and a fierce determination to make something of herself. A degree in finance and a master’s degree in software and technology got her into banking and then to the trading floors of Wall Street. She thought she "had it all", but something was missing; she made a mid-career change. Gina had always been interested in environmental issues, but didn't think she could make a career in it. Today, she tackles innovative energy efficiency solutions at PG&E in San Francisco.
While pursuing an MBA at Presidio Graduate School in San Francisco, which specializes in sustainable business management, Gina completed a semester-long group project at Silverspring Networks, a manufacturer in the smart grid space. She was hooked. Her next step was joining the EDF Climate Corps Class of 2014.
"I told them to give me a really hard, strategic project and they sent me to Baltimore. I was charged with developing a Strategic Energy Management Plan for the City of Baltimore. Were they kidding? In ten weeks? But we dug in and got started. At the end of my fellowship the City hired me full time and I spent several more months completing and presenting the plan to the City Sustainability commission which voted on the document into becoming a city ordinance. I was thrilled!"
Today Gina is an expert business analyst and project manager at PG&E, where she divides her time between energy efficiency portfolio optimization ("I love it!") and managing a pilot project in water/energy nexus. This initiative aims to collect smart meter data to look into possible interdependencies between the use of energy and water with and without water conservation messaging. Gina sees consumer behavior change as one of the key levers to reaching efficiency goals, and hopes insights from smart water, electricity and gas meters will support that process.
In addition to the rising importance of integrated building solutions, Gina sees firsthand how regulation, policy and ambitious goals are drivers of innovation, particularly in her chosen home state of California. She is excited about companies like hers working hard to find ways to meet their targets.
Gina's advice to EDF Climate Corps fellows
"Aim high --when selecting your summer project – don’t focus on fellowship location or a big name host; concentrate on the projects themselves and go for the scarier, more interesting initiatives. That's how you are going to learn the most and develop your niche expertise. Then go out and sell yourself on that expertise. Lots of companies need your help - get out and show them what you can do for them. I am constantly impressed to hear where my fellow EDF’ers ended up, and what amazing things they're up to, and that we're still part of the same "family" that I know I can count on.”