Our Team
The Go Green EC team is young, passionate, and eager to help you cut your energy bills! We aim to bring fresh ideas and perspectives into the emerging green industry in Michigan. The plan is to reduce the energy use of every single home in Michigan, saving our state millions in energy-related costs while creating jobs at the same time! Sign up today! Read more about us below:
Left to Right: John, Joe, Matt G., Jacob, Steph, Chuck, Adam, Denny and Matt A.
Adam Duke
Co-Founder, Homeowner Advocate,
BPI-Certified Home Energy Specialist
Adam founded Go Green Energy Consulting (GGEC) with Jacob Smith in Summer 2009. In May 2010, he graduated with a Business Degree from the Broad School of Business at Michigan State University, which he supplemented with courses in Alternative Energy Engineering Technology at Lansing Community College. He is also a Building Performance Institute (BPI)-certified home energy specialist with his Building Analyst certification.
At MSU, he worked with a public policy institute, developing legislation and education for Michigan’s lawmakers and citizens. They specifically focused on showing policy makers that renewable energy incentives can have a positive impact on Michigan’s economy. In September 2008, he co-hosted an event at the State Capitol Building in Lansing to help urge our lawmakers to pass the renewable energy policy in Michigan. You can view footage of the speech at the bottom of the About Us page.
Adam first got involved with the new green economy after his family’s home burned down in 2006. Everyone was just fine and they decided to rebuild where the old house had been. At the time, he had a professor at MSU who helped introduce him to energy conservation, and he decided to work with the builder to make the new house as green as possible. The project was a major success, with his family happy about their new home and even happier about their low energy bills.
Since 2007, Adam has helped create and manage various green-focused websites. These include www.allgreenratings.com, a database of green logos and certifications, and www.constructivebuilding.com, an online database for green building materials. He also worked for a company in Canton that installs alternative energy systems, including solar water heaters and wind turbines.
Adam currently works full-time for GGEC, focused mainly on operations and management.
Jacob Smith
Co-Founder, Director of Sales & Marketing
Jacob helped found GGEC alongside Adam in Summer 2009. In May 2010, he graduated with a Bachelor’s of Business Administration from the Steven M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, where he focused on marketing and social entrepreneurship. Jacob works full-time for GGEC, mainly handling marketing and strategy efforts.
In 2007, Jacob’s passion for sustainable living inspired him to get involved with United 2 Heal (U2H), a nonprofit humanitarian aid organization based out of Ann Arbor. U2H collects surplus medical supplies and equipment from American hospitals and sends them to resource-poor hospitals abroad. Everyday across the U.S., thousands of tons of unused medical supplies are discarded, often ending up in landfills. U2H fights against this inefficiency by recycling usable supplies, eliminating a significant amount of potential waste from Michigan landfills while also helping those in need across the world. Jacob currently acts as an Advisory Board Member after serving as the program’s President in 2010.
Jacob also manages www.rickhodes.org for Dr. Rick Hodes, an internationally-renown humanitarian.
Steph Eller
Office Manager
Steph graduated from Michigan State in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising. After graduating, she lived in Florida for a year before returning to work with long time friends Adam and Jacob at Go Green EC. When she’s not holding down the down the office you can find Steph in Chicago, New York, Florida or the mall! She enjoys working in the home performance industry and successfully diagnosed and found a gas leak at her home. Her hobbies include cheering for MSU, and hanging out with friends and family.
Chuck Kelley
Homeowner Advocate, Purchasing and Logistics
BPI-Certified Home Energy Specialist
Chuck has a degree in construction management from Eastern Michigan University and has worked with some of Southeastern Michigan’s top residential builders. He has also been a licensed builder in the State of Michigan for 20 years. With an extensive background in
building and remodeling and a commitment to delivering the best possible product and experience to the client, Chuck oversees the field operations as well as purchasing.
Denny Austin
Homeowner Advocate, Comfort Specialist
Born in Joplin, Mo, but a local Detroiter since the 4th grade. Oldest of 3 boys, all still living in the area and see them regularly. MSU grad and diehard Spartan fan. I’m very proud of my two beautiful and briliant daughters, 18 and 21, both in college. Avid outdoorsman. Still enjoy playing just about every sport, especially skiing (water & snow), hockey and frisbee golf. Avid bird hunter and never been without a dog. Angus is my 4th black lab, now retired from the field, but a loyal companion. I couldn’t be happier working for such a talented team of people at Go Green and truly believe in the services we provide.
Field Team Alpha from left to right Todd, Joe, John, Matt
Joe Kodlowski
Crew Chief, Field Team Alpha
Joe is a native Michigander who grew up in Southfield. He earned a Bachelor of arts in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University. Professionally, Joe has experience in several areas of the residential building industry. He worked as a low-voltage wire installer for several large home builders, spent two years working with a local insurance restoration management company, and also worked as a superintendent responsible for the building of a number of local housing developments.
Joe’s extensive experience in how homes are built is invaluable to Go Green’s goal to educate homeowner’s regarding their energy concerns. Personally, he believes that the individual decisions we all make on a daily basis are important if our collective goal is living healthier and more sustainable lifestyles. As a result, Joe takes personal and professional pride in educating people about how their homes operate as a system and what can be done to reduce overall energy usage. When not working with the team at Go Green, you can find Joe producing music in his home studio, enjoying the outdoors, gardening and landscaping, spending time up north and just hanging out with friends and family.
Matt Grubba
Weatherization Technician, Field Team Alpha
Matt is a native Michigander who grew up in Southfield. He earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and a graduate degree from Wayne State University. Professionally, Matt has experience in the fields of real estate and law, having worked with local developers and entrepreneurs.
Matt is very supportive of Michigan companies and Michigan products – particularly those with earth conscious agendas and those looking to rebuild and restore Detroit and Michigan. For Matt, joining Go Green was a no-brainer, allowing him to purse many of his passions at once. When not working with the team at Go Green, you may likely find Matt spending time with friends and family, watching U of M sports, watching local bands, playing pool, golfing or at the movies.
