About Us

What We Do

ThinkBox develops sustainable projects that fix critical aging equipment in buildings, generate renewable power, upgrade operations technology, create healthier environments, and reinvest in local communities.

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Our People

Who We Are

Our dynamic team has over a century of combined experience which we leverage to provide our clients with world-class service.

Daron F. Coates, MBA

Co-Founder

Managing Director of Finding Opportunities

BIO
Daron Coates is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of “Finding Opportunities“. Daron has over thirty years of experience as an entrepreneur and investor. He has developed more than $200M in projects that are on track to save more than $210M in utility and repair costs. Prior to launching ThinkBox, Daron was a corporate executive at Honeywell International. He was a member of one of the earliest corporate venture teams that successfully launched the market for renewable energy.  He earned the company’s highest sales awards and was accepted into the “High Talent Program” for rising C – Level caliber executives. In July 2020, Daron was appointed to the Arlington County Economic Development Commission. Daron serves as an Entrepreneurship Mentor-In-Residence and a Board Member at The George Washington University School of Business. He also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Arlington Community Foundation. Daron earned a Master of Business Administration degree from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration degree from Morehouse College.

R. Paul Orentas

Co-Founder

Managing Director of Getting Things Done

BIO
Paul Orentas is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of “Getting Things Done“. Paul has over thirty years of experience as a serial entrepreneur, start-up specialist, and executive program manager in the energy field. Paul holds a Master of Business Administration degree from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts in Physics degree from the University of Virginia. In his spare time, Paul enjoys life with his wife, Andrea, and looks forward to watching his family flourish.

Chris Stennett, P.E.

Director of Building Better Solutions

BIO
Chris Stennett is the Director of “Building Better Solutions”. Chris has over thirty-five years of experience in architecture, engineering, construction and building operations. Chris is the President and CEO of The Stennett Company, a design and construction program management firm. He served as Chief of Design and Project Management for the District of Columbia Public Schools, Director of Development and Modernization for the District of Columbia Housing Authority and President/CEO and Founder of Construction Services Administration, DCHA’s award-winning for-profit subsidiary.  Chris is a licensed Professional Engineer and holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Howard University. A native of Jamaica, Chris currently resides in Maryland.

R. Denise Everson, LEED AP, Assoc. AIA

Leader of Making & Keeping Friends

BIO
R. Denise Everson is Leader of “Making & Keeping Friends.” Trained as an architect, Denise has over eighteen years of experience in sustainable design, affordable housing policy development, community building, and fundraising. Denise is the founder and president of E3 Connections, a socially conscience consultancy firm. Denise holds a Master of Public Policy degree from Georgetown University with a focus on housing and education policies. R. Denise earned a Bachelor of Architecture from Hampton University. She is an inductee to Hampton University’s inaugural Forty Under 40 Society, a Next City Forty Under 40 Vanguard, and a National American Institute of Architects’ Associates Award recipient. A native of Decatur, Georgia she currently resides in Maryland.

Gabriel B. Snashall

Director of Corporate Development, ThinkBox Group

BIO
Gabe Snashall drives strategic decisions and high-impact opportunities at ThinkBox Group by working closely with climate solution leaders and cross-functional teams in product, engineering, and revenue. He brings five years of experience in electrical engineering, renewable project management, sell-side origination, corporate development, M&A, venture investing, and management consulting, allowing him to support seed, early, and growth-stage companies. Gabe scales companies, projects, and portfolios by developing clean energy project finance models, collaborating with lenders and capital providers, and crafting strategies to maximize client returns. He directed the first climate finance program at Raise Green, overseeing due diligence on 15+ securities offerings and raising over $5 million for climate finance, climate tech, and clean energy companies.  Gabe’s efforts played a crucial role in the Connecticut Green Bank’s award-winning Green Liberty Notes program in 2023 and 2024. As Secretary of the Investor Committee, Gabe ensured SEC and FINRA compliance across all offerings. Gabe currently consults as a special advisor to the Green Inclusive Finance Team (GIFT) at S2, where he strategizes on policy and financing solutions for clean energy initiatives on behalf of ThinkBox’s clients. Gabe earned a Master’s with a focus in Public Policy and Energy Finance from Yale School of the Environment and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Environmental Studies from Wesleyan University. Gabe pursues his passions as a classical guitarist, entrepreneur, political scientist, and avid speed hiker.

Megan M.O. Meadows

Project Analyst

BIO
Megan Meadows joined the team as a Project Analyst in 2016. Megan has experience in geospatial mapping, data analysis, database management, and data visualization. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Virginia Tech. Megan lives in Virginia with her husband, Matthew.
Timeline

In the game from the jump!

By the Numbers

Our Impact

For over twenty-five years, ThinkBox has developed, implemented, and financed sustainable projects that recapture and reinvest otherwise lost resources. Utilizing world-class project development expertise, ThinkBox has achieved:

$150M

Money raised for critical infrastructure.

$210M

Saved utility and repair expenses.

3.5B

Saved gallons of water since 2009.

12,000+

Removed the equivalent of cars from the road.

8M

Square feet impacted.

24.9m

Saved energy since 2009.

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