Cleantech Fellows Institute Announces New Executive Director to Lead Expanded Vision

DENVER, CO, February 21, 2013 (Press-News.org) Today, the Cleantech Fellows Institute, a Colorado-based executive talent bridge designed to rapidly transition experienced leaders and entrepreneurs into the clean technology sector, announced the addition of Steven Berens as executive director to lead an expanded vision of the program.

Berens, who served as one of the Institute's department leads last year, brings more than 20 years of experience in business strategy, marketing, sales and engineering. With a history of successfully holding key management positions in high technology start-ups and Fortune 500 companies, he will use his expertise to lead the program's expanded vision.

"The combination of the Institute's network and curriculum provides the perfect collision of talent and opportunity through which we can support the development of innovative cleantech leaders and businesses," said Berens. "I look forward to expanding this vision by introducing an international component, taking the Fellows program to Silicon Valley, expanding our technology focus to include natural gas and water, and continuing to orchestrate this idea of colliding talent and technology."

The Cleantech Fellows Institute is the nation's first cleantech-focused program that educates experienced entrepreneurs and executives in several sectors of the industry. The program is designed to promote the intersection of experienced executives with new ventures and technologies that ultimately create jobs and grow the cleantech sector.

"Our goal for the Cleantech Fellows Institute is to leverage partnerships across the state of Colorado, nationally and internationally in order to accelerate the ability for talented executives to succeed in the cleantech industry," said Christine Shapard, Colorado Cleantech Industry Association (CCIA) executive director. "Steven Berens will be a pivotal member of this process and we look forward to working with him as he expands and grows the Institute in the coming years."

Fellows are educated in clean energy technologies, markets, business models and policy matters. They are introduced to the network of experts and resources required to be successful in the cleantech industry, and connected to early-stage ventures and labs where clean energy approaches are being developed. The Institute provides site visits to national labs, local research centers, cleantech companies, and installations. The Institute graduated its first class of Fellows in January and will begin accepting applications for the 2013 program early this spring.

As the former CEO of Privacy Networks and Co-founder of Power Tagging, Berens serves on the University of Colorado's Deming Center for Entrepreneurship Advisory Board and the executive advisory board of CU Cleantech. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Arizona and an MBA from the University of Southern California.

About Cleantech Fellows Institute
Cleantech Fellows Institute is the proven constructive collision of ideas, opportunity, skills and community to develop executives ready to succeed in world changing businesses. The Institute, in partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Advanced Energy Economy, educates a highly select set of proven executives from across the country, and from a wide variety of industry sectors, that are interested in making the transition to cleantech. For more information, visit http://www.cleantechfellows.com. Executives interested in applying for the 2013 program should contact the Fellows Institute at info@cleantechfellows.com.

About Colorado Cleantech Industry Association
The Colorado Cleantech Industry Association represents the interests of the state's advanced energy companies and innovative energy consumers. Its mission is to further establish Colorado as a world leader in advanced energy use and production by providing representation and advocacy, a unified voice, relevant programming, and capacity development. For more information, visit http://www.coloradocleantech.com.