Power Players Spotlight: Meet Marilynn StrattonWhat is your approach to helping clients meet their renewable energy goals?
“From a strategic standpoint, my approach is to put the right people with the right client. When I learn about the client’s needs, I like to bring the right collaborators, not only our employees but our strategic partners as well, to meet the client’s goals.”
What is your favorite source of renewable energy and why?
“I go back and forth between hydrogen and nuclear, while nuclear is not a renewable resource it is considered a clean resource. There is so much potential with both—they are constantly evolving, and people are looking at how to generate power and meet the demands of the grid (especially on the nuclear side). Nuclear has so much potential to generate the power that’s needed. It’s rapidly evolving to be a customized solution. Hydrogen is rapidly developing with new discoveries constantly.”
What project is your favorite and why?
“The SunPower Quinto project hands down—I love it because I see it every time I’m in the air! It contours to the valley aqueduct. The site interlaces with the landscape from an aesthetics standpoint, it moves with the land.”
What’s your favorite solution to a challenge you’ve faced?
“I love that I was able to be a part of launching KWRE—a solution for the market demand/need for quality designers. Our parent firm has been involved in the renewable sector for almost 15 years; however, we recognized that clients needed a different business model—a firm that was vertically integrated. We literally created a solution for our clients with the founding of KWRE. To be a key participant in that and see the tremendous growth has been awe-inspiring.”
Why are you passionate about renewable energy?
“Because without it, we’re screwed! Renewable energy helps fuel everything and it will power everything in the future. This world no longer runs without power. Future innovation and discovery will not happen without it.”
Outside of KWRE, what are your favorite hobbies?
“You can find me reading a good book, hosting a dinner party, enjoying a good whisky or wine tasting experience, getting tattoos, and spending time with my husband and daughters. We’re currently on a college tour across the country for my youngest daughter.”
What are you currently reading?
“At any given time, I’m in the middle of ten different books on the fiction side. On the non-fiction side I’m rereading the Medici Effect which has been impactful to the way I approach marketing and my career.”
What’s been your favorite moment at KWRE?
“At our first conference with KWRE in Austin, Texas, we had a night of jumping from one networking event to another—the team was so in-sync with each other. We were on our way to a comedy club and jumped in an Uber, the driver was deaf so I began signing with the driver and one of the principals in the back yelled “You’re a badass Marilynn!” I smile and feel seen every time I think about that night. There’s been so many special moments in this journey and I know there will be plenty in the future.”