Employee Spotlight: Rene Davis, Product Manager II
At Optimum Energy, our talented team is the driving force behind everything we achieve. With our Employee Spotlight Program, we shine a light on the passionate, innovative individuals who deliver exceptional results for our clients every day. Discover the inspiring stories and unique talents of the people who make Optimum Energy a leader in our industry!
This month, we’re sitting down with Rene Davis, PMP, CSM, a tenured member of the Optimum Energy development team. and current Product Manager II. Rene has been with the company for almost 10 years and brings over two decades of product and project management experience to the Optimum development team. Throughout their time here, they’ve played a key role, existing at the intersection between Product, Engineering, and Support, acting as a cross-functional bridge that helps our customers reach their desired outcomes related to energy efficiency, optimization and sustainable operations.
Rene provides technical leadership in areas like project management, product roadmaps, and system development. Their expertise is particularly impactful in the development of Optimum’s updated M&V platform, a successor to OptiCx, and the ongoing management of latter. Colleagues know them not just for their deep technical knowledge, but for their commitment to sustainability, the sense of belonging they create amongst their peers, and the overall positive impact brought to Optimum Energy’s overall company culture.
Can you share your journey with Optimum Energy and how your role has evolved since you joined?
“When I started at Optimum Energy 10-years ago as a project manager for the development team, I knew nothing about software development or HVAC systems, only how to manage resources, tasks, and move an initiative from inception to completion. In the years I have been here, due to the culture of curiosity and collaboration, I test, debug and occasionally write code for our software, as well as understand Chiller Plants and how Optimum Energy uses the data collected for troubleshooting and reporting on plant performance and optimization goals. I can even tell you if a chiller has falling film or flooded evaporator styles!
My role has evolved from project manager and scrum master to product manager with responsibility for ensuring that the products we deliver meet the changing needs of our customers, as well as supporting our engineering team that uses the product every day.”
What is your favorite part about working at Optimum Energy?
“The people, 100%. Our people are smart, approachable, and create an environment where learning and asking questions is encouraged and appreciated. I feel like we are seen as individuals first and employees second. I love that we honor curiosity. I’ve never once been turned away when asking a question or told to “stay in my lane”. I feel my personal and career growth at Optimum Energy is a result of that culture and environment.”
Describe an accomplishment at Optimum Energy of which you are particularly proud.
“Delivering our newest platform release. It has been incredibly rewarding to see our engineers using a product that I help deliver and knowing that has solved problems and made their job easier to do.”
What is one thing you have learned while working here that has significantly impacted your approach to energy optimization?
“I think awareness of how things work and understanding how small changes can make big impacts. The candid discussions about decarbonization and electrification have been particularly enlightening and have helped form my decision making as a consumer.”
How do you see the future of energy optimization, and what role do you believe Optimum Energy will play in shaping it?
“I don’t know what the future of energy optimization holds, but I firmly believe wise stewardship of our resources is something to be practiced regardless of policy changes or political positions. Optimum Energy is going to be a trusted partner in this stewardship now and into the future. With our growing Energy as a Service offerings, we are allowing customers to pursue sound energy practices and sustainability goals, even when there are less resources being allocated for these efforts. I believe that we are going to be difference maker in the energy optimization space.”
Whether you’re looking to join a team that’s redefining energy optimization—or want one of our experts to lead your next project—Optimum Energy is ready to deliver. Connect with us to explore career opportunities or discover how we can help you achieve lasting performance and sustainability results.
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