By David Dixon, business development manager of Native
For over a decade, Blake Jones has been a well-known innovator in our industry. As the co-founder of Colorado-based Namasté Solar in 2005, Blake championed a democratic employee ownership model that spread the responsibility, risk and reward of business ownership to his fellow workers so all could truly share in the growth of the company. To further drive conscientious business practices and societal value, Namasté Solar became a Certified B Corporation under Blake’s leadership in 2011.
Blake’s vision led him to co-found the Amicus Solar Cooperative, a purchasing collective of 48 member companies in 33 states that share his values of respect, transparency and fairness in the industry. Many of these companies also have become Certified B Corps and/or have employee ownership structures, mirroring the values that Blake championed at Namasté.
Blake’s most recent success story has been guiding the establishment of the Clean Energy Credit Union in 2017. This newly chartered federal credit union was established to expand the access of clean energy and environmental stewardship to more people by both providing low interest loans for clean energy products and clean energy investment opportunities for non-accredited investors.
I met Blake through the Amicus Solar Cooperative when NATiVE joined about five years ago. It has been an inspiration to witness Blake’s calm and thoughtful leadership in action. His ability to develop holistic business infrastructure that leverages the promise of solar for the benefit of all continues to both innovate and inspire us.
Tell Us What You Think!