Nelson DiBiase, MSUS + MBA '21 is changing the future of clean energy
Nelson DiBiase graduated from Chatham’s dual-degree Master of Sustainability + MBA program in May, 2021. That March, he was offered the job he wanted—senior consultant for the department of energy sustainability infrastructure at a consulting company called Guidehouse.
“The company has two different sectors, commercial and public,” explains DiBiase. “They work on decarbonization plans, generation services, mobility issues, utility resource transformation, energy transition, and financing. They have a lot of different not only industries, but capabilities within different projects, so I’m excited to explore those different possibilities.”
DiBiase credits the vast array of hands-on projects that he was able to work on at the Falk School of Sustainability for igniting his passion to become a consultant.
“I think the combination of these diverse projects helped me look into what I want to do in the future and directed me toward consulting in general. With that type of position, you’re given broad and diverse jobs or opportunities, and being able to adapt quickly was something I was really hoping for in the position, so that’s what guided me into looking into consulting.”
Arguably chief among his projects was his position as an energy systems developer leading a microgrid installation for Eden Hall Campus’s student farm. “[That position] was really most hands-on and influential for my future career,” he says. “It really gave me a lot of hands-on work within the local community and the university, including different interest groups, whether that’s the student farm, administration, or student communities.”
In addition to the microgrid, DiBiase launched a bike-share system that ties into his passion for biking, outlined a blueprint for an outdoor recreational center at Eden Hall Campus, investigated the feasibility of a solar canopy system for the northern parking lot, and worked on getting EHC certified as a pure recognized microgrid system.
DiBiase also credits his coursework with helping him fine-tune his ambitions. “My strategy and entrepreneurship course focused on what social entrepreneurship looks like in the business world,” he says. “And in my sustainability assessment and reporting course, we talked about what corporate sustainability looked like. We worked with a local company called Marburger Dairy and created a sustainability report for them. It was great to learn about what other companies are doing and get some hands-on work. Really, I loved all the courses I took.”
DiBiase interned with Oriden Power, working as an associate developer intern. “It was a really amazing opportunity. They provided me with a ton of guidance, and I learned about the renewable energy sector, particularly solar. During that time frame, I was working on the development side of the microgrid at Eden Hall Campus, and it was interesting to see the overlap between tiny microgrid and massive solar utility projects. It was really amazing and a really great learning opportunity.”
“You can gain a lot of great insight at Eden Hall Campus,” says DiBiase. “After I started talking to faculty and staff and other students, it was really amazing to find this little community there. I think it’s important to reach out to everyone and anyone at Chatham. I found what’s best for me, and I really feel that’s possible for everyone to have, as long as they let it all happen, and reach out to everyone.”
“Eden Hall Campus is a really wonderful place,” he continues. “There’s a lot of potential for students who want to come there, and I’m excited to see how it grows and to stay in touch with the alumni network.”