Meet the N2e Staff

Executive Director John Sorenson has advocated for district energy from renewable sources in Oregon since 2005.  Deputy Director Seth Truby came on board in 2007 when John proposed a project in his neighborhood.  Communications Director Janelle Hansen joined the effort in 2008 after meeting John through a national climate action project.

N2E staff, family and SunNE Advisory Board (photo by Angela Truby)

John Sorenson Executive Director	A native Oregonian, John spent 20 years in Alaska, gaining experience in construction management and small business ownership.  Returning to Oregon, he identified district energy as an effective model of energy efficiency, infrastructure investment, and community transformation.  An advocate for district energy from renewable sources, he is developing models at multiple scales using a variety of innovative, locally available energy resources.  A 2009 Daily Journal of Commerce "Newsmaker of the Year", John is helping to define the regional strategies to address climate change and energy independence.
Seth Truby         Deputy Director	After working as a carpenter and social worker, Seth was a professional violinmaker for almost a decade.  Only months after moving to Portland, Seth became a founding board member of the Portland Village School, a public Waldorf-methods school which will soon be the largest charter school in Portland and the largest Waldorf program in the United States.  This community organizing experience is the foundation of Seth's work with N2e, where he identifies project opportunities, develops strategies for implementation, and coordinates with community partners.
Janelle Hansen   Communications Director	Janelle is an environmental activist and presenter with The Climate Project, a rigorous program led by Al Gore to spread the message about the threat of global warming.  Janelle has spoken at college campuses throughout the Pacific Northwest, as well as to national and international corporate audiences. A former attorney and university professor, Janelle is currently an instructor at the Art Institute of Portland, where she is helping to develop the curriculum for the Sustainable Design Program, the first of its kind in the nation. As the Communications Director for N2e, Janelle handles media contacts, community outreach and event planning.