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.
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
R. Paul Orentas
Co-Founder
Managing Director of Getting Things Done
Chris Stennett, P.E.
Director of Building Better Solutions
R. Denise Everson, LEED AP, Assoc. AIA
Leader of Making & Keeping Friends
Gabe Snashall
Director of Corporate Development
Megan M.O. Meadows
Project Analyst
Timeline
In the game from the jump!
1987
$900M Department of Energy building efficiency grant launches the modern Sustainability Industry
1992
U.S. Energy Policy Act deregulates utilities
1995
ThinkBox launches
1996
ThinkBox selected to help launch Energy Star program (formerly Rebuild America)
1997
District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) selects ThinkBox to conduct its first Sustainability study.
1998
DCHA selects ThinkBox to lead the largest energy audit in the history of Washington, D.C.
2001
ThinkBox launches it’s first technology platform to manage over 10,000 utility accounts.
2002
ThinkBox begins managing wholesale utility purchases in newly deregulated Washington, D.C.
2007
Receives $25M approval from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the first-ever self-performed Energy Efficiency project in public housing for DCHA.
2009
Completes successful execution of $25M Energy Efficiency Retrofit for DCHA – Largest utility consumer in Washington, DC.
2012
Leads winning team in D.C. Mayor’s Sustainable DC Challenge / Launches the Sustainable Communities Project
2015
Begin realizing savings of over $10M per year. $7M above projections
2018
Begins execution of $120M Phase II District of Columbia Housing Authority Sustainable Infrastructure and Communities Project
2019
Launches Sustainable Communities Project Entrepreneur Workshops
2020
Launches Next-Gen Integrated Technology Platforms
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.