For The State Journal

CHARLESTON — Audra Blackwell proves that sometimes the right job for your talents and background can come along even when you’re not looking.

“I was already in a great job and had gotten pretty comfortable and was really enjoying it,” said Blackwell, recalling her job as marketing director for the state Treasurer’s Office in 2008. “I wasn’t looking for a job.”

Then her father did some marketing of his own.

Frank Blackwell is superintendent of Wyoming County Schools, which worked with Energy Systems Group to reduce energy and maintenance costs at 14 of its schools. Eleven of them have now earned Energy Star labels for their efficiency.

At the time, the Indiana-based company had 15 offices in, among other places, Ohio, Maryland and North Carolina. But not in West Virginia.

Frank Blackwell asked why.

ESG’s representative from Tennessee told him that the company hadn’t found the right person.

“Dad said, ‘Well, I know somebody,’” Audra Blackwell said, laughing.

Now she is the energy service company’s business development manager in West Virginia.

“It was a really good fit, and that’s what you’re looking for.”

A good fit? For a marketing director?

She wasn’t just a marketing director.

Before she worked for the treasurer’s office, Blackwell was a regulator at the Public Service Commission for 12 years.

“I looked at different utilities and reviewed the design work. I also went out and visited different plants, made recommendations to their operations and maintenance people,” Blackwell said.

“So I have a lot of experience with the utility business.”

That is on top of her academic credentials. She has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from West Virginia University, a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the West Virginia Institute of Technology and an Executive MBA from Marshall University.

Blackwell said her EMBA has helped because finance is a big part of her job.

With ESG, a nationally accredited energy service provider, Blackwell said she uses her engineering and marketing experience.

“You build relationships across the state. It all kind of adds together.”

The job also lets her stay in West Virginia.

“Hopefully I can have a positive impact on the education system, on energy sustainability,” she said.

ESG’s clients include K-12 schools and colleges, as well as government and health care institutions.

“We look for partners that are easy to work with, somebody that’s willing to embrace the process, willing to work with you to get things done. The sooner you get these projects complete, the more money they can save.”

Funding comes from the money already budgeted for heating and cooling costs and capital funds. It’s money clients are already spending whether “they work with us or not,” she said.

“We find the savings they’re not really aware of when we do our preliminary assessment,” she said.

ESG also helps clients finance projects through energy grants, government stimulus money, rebates, enhanced-use leasing or other options.

Projects are budget-neutral for clients and taxpayers, she said.

“We assume all risk. It’s a single-service contract,” she said. “The savings pay for the modernization program. The savings are guaranteed.”

In its 15-year history, ESG has had to repay two guarantees, Blackwell said. However, she said, ESG has exceeded its energy savings guarantees overall by 10 percent.

“We’re on the hook for everything.”

ESG is owned by energy holding company Vectren Corp. of Evansville, Ind. Its wholly owned subsidiary, Vectren Utility Holdings Inc., serves as the intermediate holding company for three operating utilities: Indiana Gas Company Inc.; Southern Indiana Gas and Electric Co.; and Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio.

Blackwell said ESG’s clients often save money on energy costs during the construction process as upgrades are made. To reduce operational costs and increase energy efficiency the company evaluates three major areas: the human and behavioral component; mechanical system upgrades; and control strategies.

“In our program, we will address the human/behavioral component through adopting an energy program, getting people excited about energy conservation and sustainability. Just embracing changes that will help save on the energy costs. That’s just part of our program.”

ESG evaluates buildings’ mechanical systems, including lighting, HVAC systems, water usage and even kitchen, communications and security equipment. Some things may just need to be repaired or upgraded.

“We can get better prices” than clients could on their own, she said. “We are vendor-independent,” unlike some competitors.

“We can negotiate prices with utilities where that’s allowed.”

Control strategies, Blackwell said, aim to “take humans out of the equation.”

That can be done with programmable thermostats, timers, motion sensors, aerators on faucets and other equipment, she said.

“A lot of times we do things that cut down on time — operations time and maintenance time as well because it helps the staff. It helps cut down on man hours.”

ESG’s work lets clients focus on their mission, she said.

Most of the company’s business — 70 percent — comes from educational institutions.

“I consider us education experts because we’ve done so much work with the schools,” she said.

During a comprehensive audit, she said, the company looks at how it can improve the learning and teaching environment.

“That is very important to us,” she said.

Blackwell said workers are conscious of students’ schedules and will work around school hours so they don’t interrupt classes.

“It’s not proven, but clients can see they (students) have better attitudes. They’ve improved on their test scores.”

Although Wyoming County’s K-12 schools are the first in West Virginia to enlist ESG’s services, Blackwell is optimistic that they won’t be the last.

“Others will follow eventually.”