Immersion Alumni

Foresight Immersion 2010 Fellow, Immersion Travel (Vancouver) 2010

A departure from a successful career recruiting for leading energy service companies led Ben to Foresight Immersion in 2010. The seventh generation born on his family's farm, Ben knows a bit about the value of a strong community, and found it in the people working with sustainability issues. He has combined his past work experiences with his value for fostering a resilient community in his newly acquired position.

Currently: Safety Auditor at CEC Combustion Safety, a division of Eclipse, Inc.

Career Path: Commercial family farm > Northern Illinois University (B.S., Marketing) > Independent Executive Recruiter for ESCOs (Energy Service Companies) > Immersion Travel (Vancouver) > Immersion (Summer) > Lime Energy (Sales, Energy efficient building upgrades) > Eclipse, Inc.

Next Step: Currently, I am helping great industrial, manufacturing, and power generation companies keep their people safe from hazards associated with natural gas usage. Our company's mission is to provide safe, reliable, efficient and clean heat to industry worldwide. Generally speaking, I want to do all I can to make sure we mean what we say.

Personal Sustainability: I pay close attention to how I spend my money and stay active in my local community (people, places, food).

Currently Reading: The Quest: Energy Security and the Remaking of the Modern World by Daniel Yergin (The Prize about oil was a fantastic book). Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne was given to me by my boss, it is very good, I am rereading it now. I Found This Funny edited by Judd Apatow is terrific bedside reading.

Recommends: Foresight's newsletter/blog/events still influence a lot of what I read, watch and attend. I still read/tweet the Environmental Leader regularly. I want to get better. I will read anything with a positive tone. I'm not interested in placing blame or seeking apologies so I no longer subscribe to a lot of the environmental newsletters/online communities.

Foresight Memories: I couldn't have been happier with my Immersion experiences. The travel, the dialogue and the people were all diverse and stimulating. I made friends and gained perspective. My most vivid memory is from Vancouver. I walked through what was described as the 'roughest part of Canada' while considering the social and political issues we had discussed with city officials earlier that day. It was a great experience (quick note: it wasn't all that rough due to some progressive programs).

Next Gen Advice: Write down your goals, plan your days, don't plan your nights and smile when they laugh at you.

Dream Project/Job: To run a company making great products for amazing customers with people who care in a resilient and supportive community.