ADAM DUKE:
 
Adam Duke




 
 
 
 
 
Co-founder of Go Green Energy Consulting in Southfield. Go Green provides audits and related home improvement for homeowners to identify and implement energy-saving opportunities. Starting the company a year before he graduated from college, Duke has turned the two-year-old business into a successful venture with nine employees and nearly half a million dollars in revenue. Duke became interested in green energy after his family's home burned down in 2006. He had a professor who introduced him to energy conservation, and he decided to work with the builder to make the new house as efficient as possible. At Michigan State University, Duke helped to develop legislation and co-hosted an event at the state capitol in Lansing to urge lawmakers to pass the Clean, Renewable and Efficient Energy Act, which established a renewable energy standard for the state of Michigan. The renewable energy standard requires Michigan electric providers to achieve a retail supply portfolio that includes at least 10 percent renewable energy by 2015. Duke also speaks at conferences about renewable energy, including the Midwest Power Shift 2011 conference. He also has volunteered to help restore and re-open the Belle Isle Aquarium. He is a Building Performance Institute (BPI)-certified home energy specialist with his Building Analyst certification. Duke received his bachelor's degree in business from Michigan State University.


WHERE BORN: “Detroit.”

MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSONS: “I had a series of leaders and teachers who led me on my path. Also, my dad owned his own business and taught me the value of hard work and putting time aside for family.”

LAST BOOK READ: “Ernie Harwell: My 60 Years in Baseball by Tom Keegan.”

WORDS THAT DESCRIBE ME: “Passionate, committed, hard working.”

WHERE MY FIELD/INDUSTRY IS HEADED: “The home efficiency industry is so new that we plan to make a huge splash and change the way it's done across the country. The Department of Energy says energy efficiency is not just 'low hanging fruit' but it's the fruit on the ground. Before we put up tons of wind turbines, we need to cut the amount of waste. We see tremendous opportunity.”

FAVORITE TECHNOLOGICAL GADGET: “My Nest Learning Thermostat – it's easy to use and saves money. I can see how much money I'm saving on a daily basis via my iPad.”

FAVORITE PLACE: “I'm lucky enough to travel all over the world and 'Up North' is one of the most special places.”

FAVORITE HOBBIES: “I've been fascinated by animals because I worked in a pet store while growing up. I've been involved in the reopening of the Belle Isle Aquarium.”

FAVORITE FOOD: “Little Caesars.”

MY HIDDEN TALENT: “I'm ferocious in the pool. I played water polo at MSU and won two national championships.”

HOW I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED: “As a person who truly cared about the well-being of others and as a social innovator who's in business to help others.”


Grant Thornton Website At the annual awards reception in April 2014, one Leader & Innovator from the previous 12 months will be selected as the Grant Thornton Leader & Innovator of the Year.