Aaron LeMieux - Tremont Electric
Nominator: Mike Dungan, BeeDance
How has the nominee implemented sustainable business practices in his or her business or organization and what are the triple bottom line benefits (people, planet, prosperity) of the nominee's work?
Every once in a great while, an idea comes along that is equal parts inspiring and disruptive. Born of a love of hiking and a desire to make the outdoor experience more energy efficient, safe and stable in the realm of personal electronics, Aaron LeMiuex has single handedly created a new industry under the category of kinetic energy harvesting. And it's happening right here in the historic Cleveland neighborhood of Tremont. Providing an untethered experience to outdoor sports enthusiasts removes the need to manage extra batteries and charging gear while on the move. Hikers, bikers, runners and walkers now have the option to keep their iPods, cellphones and GPS units charged and working properly. No more batteries to handle and dispose of while on the trail. A fully charged phone without a connection to the electric grid is now possible. And that tangle of charger cords that take up valuable backpack briefcase space? Not any more. The nPower PEG unit developed by Aaron LeMieux and manufactured by Tremont Electric is a significant step into reducing our reliance on fossil fuels for power generation. Because it is based on the principles of movement, the nPower technology has the ability to scale beyond the motion of active people. There are lots of things that move...waves, air, vehicles...kinetic energy harvesting opportunities all. Aaron's connection to the NE Ohio community is deep and is evidenced by his desire to keep operations and manufacturing local. This commitment to local job creation through innovation is courageous and inspiring. The Tremont Electric story is a meaningful study of the notion of placemaking. This place called NE Ohio will be a better place because of the vision, commitment and effort of Aaron LeMieux and the entire Tremont Electric team.
How does the nominee actively participate in the sustainability community? How do they collaborate and share their knowledge with others?
Aaron leads a team of passionate advocates both within his company as well as across his user base. This is unique for the early stage development of a proprietary technology. The innovative nature of his invention has attracted a lot of media attention (locally and nationally). Aaron has served as a true ambassador for the local sustainability community in NE Ohio in telling his story over the years. As the PEG story has evolved, Aaron has allowed all of us to share in the journey through presentations, events and product development news in an open and transparent manner.
How has the nominee inspired you to implement sustainable business practices? What is your relationship with the nominee: supervisor, employee, peer, father, friend or other.
Since learning about the nPower technology from my friend Aaron LeMieux and seeing it used firsthand I am much more aware of our reliance on tethered power for small electronics. There are at least 10 different power adapters present in my household to charge our portable devices. Moving to a kinetic energy harvesting environment with a device like the PEG will help us reduce our environmental footprint over time.
How can someone else translate the success of the nominee? Is the work of the nominee an example or model that others can follow?
Aaron has demonstrated over the years a dogged determination to ensure success for his start-up. As most entrepreneurs can attest, a start-up is a test of wills. Successfully overcoming the obstacles placed in front of the entrepreneur requires as much skill as it does confidence. Aaron provides this example on a daily basis. I enthusiastically make this nomination on behalf of all entrepreneurs in our region.
