Mainebiz caught up with E2Tech’s new leader to find out more about his background and plans to attract more members to the organization.
Orion Breen, a University of Southern California film school graduate with experience at several Maine companies, succeeded Eric Howard as executive director of the Environmental & Energy Technology Council of Maine. Mainebiz caught up with E2Tech’s new leader to find out more about his background and plans to attract more members to the organization.
Orion Breen: Leading the Environmental & Energy Technology Council of Maine is a dream job for me as I get to utilize everything I’ve learned in my career to help improve the quality of life here in Maine. I’ve always been an advocate for Maine businesses and as I’ve dived into the issues of energy, housing and transportation — and how we can make them affordable and accessible to everyone — I’ve found that the big challenges today are all interconnected and E2Tech members are the ones working on the solutions.
OB: There is a lot of negativity in people’s news feeds, one of the things I love about Mainebiz is that you are highlighting people who are doing amazing things across the state. I want to do the same at E2Tech and bring people together, in person and virtually, utilizing events, videos, podcasts, social media and local media to help people tell their stories and inspire. I’m a firm believer that the stories we tell can change us, how we see each other and the world. That’s what inspired me to go to USC film school as a young man and what I love about E2Tech’s work today.
OB: Through events, education and partnerships we are a convener and connector to advance practical solutions for Maine’s energy, environmental and economic future. We provide a nonpartisan forum for information sharing, networking and collaboration. I think the diversity of our membership is our strength, because when everyone has a seat at the table and feels their voice is heard then the actions we take will be more successful, sustainable and long-lasting.
OB: We are a diverse community of entrepreneurial individuals, businesses, utilities, nonprofit organizations, government agencies and educational institutions that are passionate about the promise of Maine’s environmental and energy technology economy. At the end of the year we had nearly 200 active member organizations and 1,700 professional members across the state, plus an email list of over 4,300 who are interested in our work and have attended our events. I’ve been impressed with the amount of calls and emails and conversations we have every week with folks who want to engage for the first time or re-engage.
OB: My focus is on listening to our current membership and providing programming that they find truly valuable, if we succeed at that then we will have a strong foundation for organic growth. When people learn who our members are and what we are doing, wanting to be a part of this will be irresistible.
OB: Our members face the same challenges that every industry is contending with — policy unpredictability, dramatic shifts in federal priorities and funding, tariffs and rising costs, attracting and training a quality workforce. While our membership encompasses more than energy companies, I’ve seen in that space there can be an additional level of politicization and misinformation, which is why E2Tech’s role as a trusted convener and powerhouse of objective information is so important.
OB: Getting the word out about the innovative work being done across the state in the environmental, energy and clean tech space — from startups to our heritage industries — that will sustainably propel Maine’s economy forward.
