INTERNATIONAL TEAM
ALLISON ARCHAMBAULT, PRESIDENT
During Allison's time as President, EarthSpark has built a town-sized, solar-powered smart grid in rural Haiti and has spun off a smart meter company, SparkMeter, to unlock business models for grid operators worldwide to expand energy access to low-income customers. Allison also helped spin-off Enèji Pwòp, a Haitian microgrid operator. Allison has consulted to clean energy companies, governments, and advocacy groups. She previously worked with 3TIER on large-scale renewable energy siting and integration and with GridPoint, an early clean tech company combining distributed energy storage, solar PV, and energy management. She holds a B.A. (hons) from Tufts University and a Master of International Public Policy degree from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
Chaitra Chambers, Administrative and Financial systems manager
Chaitra joined EarthSpark in Spring 2019. Her accounting and administration career spans over 20 years with a focus on supporting medium-sized, high-impact, growing firms. Chaitra has a bachelers degree from Catholic University. Before launching her firm, she was high school Spanish teacher. She is fluent in Spanish and speaks conversational French.
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MADIE STURGESS, PROJECT MANAGER
Madison is a Haitian-Australian who joined the Les Anglais team in 2017 as Communications Associate. She went on to work as EarthSpark's Project Manager for administrative and microgrid development projects. Currently, Madison is developing the tools and templates needed to prepare microgrids for scale. She has a B.A. in History and International Relations from the University of Queensland, where she nurtured her passion for sustainable and enterprising development in Haiti. DOUG DANLEY, MICROGRID + Cooking TECHNICAL ADVISOR
Doug has designed a wide range of distributed generation and energy storage projects both in the US and in many countries around the world, ranging from off-grid solar-diesel hybrid systems in the Peruvian Amazon to utility-scale PV systems in the US. He recently completed a project with IFC and NRECA-International to help develop technical standards for mini-grids in Tanzania, and he is currently spearheading SUNSPOT, an award-winning electric cooking initiative for emerging markets. Doug has a degree in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
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HAITI TEAM
WENDY SANASSEE, DIRECTOR OF HAITI OPERATIONS
Wendy joined the EarthSpark team in February 2016 as a Community Engagement Associate in Les Anglais, Haiti. With a broad set of responsibilities, she collaborates with stakeholders within and outside the organization for the promotion and sustainable operations of EarthSpark's microgrids in Haiti. Her past experience includes water systems engineering, sustainable development analysis, and wildlife conservation in Mauritius. Wendy holds a BEng (Hons.) in Chemical and Environmental Engineering and an MSc in Project Management from the University of Mauritius. She is fluent in French, English, Haitian Creole and Mauritian Creole. 
JEAN THAYLORD, MICROGRID OPERATIONS ASSISTANT Jean is a Haitian national and is fluent in the local culture and languages. After graduating with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Rutgers University, he worked in the solar industry for several years both with Sunrun and SolarCity. Recently, he worked as a consultant on several energy projects, including a Microgrid expansion feasibility study in Haiti. He is very passionate about renewable energy and wants to use his skills to work towards energy access for remote communities in Haiti and other areas in the developing world. |
ADAM EBERWEIN, DIRECTOR OF MICROGRID OPERATIONS
Adam directs on-site grid oversight for EarthSpark’s microgrid activities in Haiti. He also works to introduce and evaluate technologies for productive uses of electricity. Prior to joining EarthSpark, Adam worked as an internal engineering consultant in component performance in generation and distribution, energy efficiency analysis and testing at Pacific Gas & Electric Company. Adam is currently working towards his MS in Electrical Engineering from Michigan Tech University. He received his B.A. in mechanical engineering through California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) where he was also involved in the Engineers Without Borders Cal Poly chapter as a project manager and, later, a professional mentor. |
EARTHSPARK HAS SPUN OFF TWO COMPANIES, BOTH WORKING ON SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF SOLVING ENERGY POVERTY
board of advisorsJean etienne charles
Jean Etienne Charles holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Long Island University/C.W. Post and an Associate degree in Business Administration from the State University of New York at Farmingdal. Jean participates in a variety of philanthropic and social initiatives aimed at improving the living conditions of Haitians in Haiti. He is currently the Director and Chairman of Comité de Relèvement des Anglais a New York (“CRAN”), a local Haitian Community based-organization in the U.S. Diaspora located in New York.
Richenda Van Leeuwen
Richenda Van serves as Executive Director for Energy Access, Energy and Climate at the UN Foundation. Mrs. Van Leeuwen currently serves on the board of SELCO India, a leading renewable energy company focusing on delivering energy solutions for low income households, and advises a number of renewable energy companies and non-profit organizations globally. She holds both Bachelor’s of Science and MBA degrees from the University of Durham, UK.
ARTHUR JACQUIAU-CHAMSKI
As a consultant running project management, Arthur supervised the 2015 expansion of the Les Anglais prepaid micro-grid from 54 to 450 customers. He now focuses on product development at EarthSpark's spinoff company, SparkMeter. With a background in general engineering and a degree in Applied Math from "Grande Ecole" Supélec in Paris, Arthur likes using advanced technology as a background for innovative projects and putting everyone's talent and commitment together to make them happen.
Ted Steck
Ted Steck is a member of the faculty of the University of Chicago, where he is a professor emeritus in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the former chair of the Environmental Studies Program, which he founded in 1994. Dr. Steck received his B.S. degree in Chemistry from Lawrence College (Appleton, WI) and his M.D. degree from Harvard Medical School (Boston, MA). He has served on a variety of national advisory boards, most recently Population Connection.
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Scott Sklar
Scott Sklar runs a clean energy technology optimization and strategic policy firm, The Stella Group, LTD. Sklar co-founded the Congressional Solar Caucus in the mid-1970’s. In addition to his work with The Stella Group, Sklar serves on the Boards of Directors of three national non-profits: Business Council for Sustainable Energy, Renewable Energy Policy Project, and The Solar Foundation. He also serves as Steering Committee Chairman of the Sustainable Energy Coalition.
RACHEL MCMANUS
Rachel joined the EarthSpark International team in 2012 as Country Director and later moved to Washington D.C. to serve as Executive Director. Rachel brings to the team vast experience in project management in Haiti and fluent Haitian Creole skills. She oversaw the expansion of the Enèji Pwòp brand nationally and now works on streamlining business practices and operational oversight. She has a background in gender, conflict and international development and earned her BA (Hons) in International Studies and MSc in International Conflict from Kingston University. After 7 wonderful years, Rachel formally left EarthSpark in 2019 but remains actively involved as an advisor.
Tim Zak
Tim Zak is an Associate Teaching Professor and Director of the Institute for Social Innovation at Carnegie Mellon University. Tim earned a Bachelor of Science degree with honors in Computer Science and Industrial Management from Carnegie-Mellon University and a Master of Science degree in Engineering Science with concentrations in Manufacturing Systems and Reliability from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He also has an M.B.A. with distinction from New York University in Finance, Marketing, and International Business.
ellen morris
Ellen Morris is the Director of the Energy and Environment Concentration at the School of International and Public Affairs. In addition to her faculty appointment, Ellen is the President and Founder of Sustainable Energy Solutions and a Founding Partner of a new social enterprise called Embark Energy. . Ellen holds a Bachelor of Science degree in geophysical engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and a doctoral degree in marine geophysics from the University of Rhode Island.
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board of directors
Elizabeth Wallace
Elizabeth Wallace is a leader in the field of financial sector development; small and medium enterprise finance; and clean energy finance, in particular for off-grid areas. With deep experience leading organizations, her recent and on-going projects include advisory for seed and venture capital funds (all sectors), design of two nationwide off-grid clean energy supplier and end-user finance facilities, and development of a pipeline of grid-connected and off-grid clean energy projects. Ms. Wallace actively works with development finance institutions (e.g. KfW), special programs (e.g. Sustainable Energy for All), and companies / funds.
Johanna Mendelson Forman
Johanna Mendelson Forman is a senior associate with Americas Program at CSIS. Most recently, she served as an adviser to the UN Mission in Haiti. She holds adjunct faculty appointments at American University and Georgetown University. Mendelson Forman is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and serves on the advisory boards of Women in International Security and the Latin American Security Network, RESDAL. She holds a J.D. from Washington College of Law at American University, a Ph.D. in Latin American history from Washington University, St. Louis, and a master’s of international affairs, with a certificate of Latin America studies, from Columbia University in New York.
daniel Schnitzer
Dan founded EarthSpark in 2009 and has served on the board ever since. Dan left his role of Executive Director of EarthSpark to run Sparkmeter, Inc., the smart meter technology company that was spun out of EarthSpark in 2013. Dan remains engaged on EarthSpark fundraising, strategy, and partnerships. Dan received his Bachelors degree from the University of Chicago in Physics, Economics and Environmental Studies and received his Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon University in the Department of Engineering & Public Policy. At Carnegie Mellon, his research focused on solutions to increasing the utilization of renewable energy in the United States electricity sector and on best practices for energy access microgrids around the world.
partners and funders
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