Meet HEET’s newest team members

Rachel DeFronzo Wheeler, Executive Assistant and Logistics Director

Tell us about what you do at HEET.  

I’m the Executive Assistance and Logistics Director at HEET. I’m here to help with organizational and administrative support as HEET continues to grow.

What excites you about joining the HEET team and working in the clean energy field? 

I’m excited to take part in the innovation and rapid advancements happening in the clean energy field. HEET is at the forefront of so much exciting change and the staff is all incredibly welcoming. It is really great to be here! 

What were you doing before joining HEET? 

I have a background in environmental science and nonprofit management. Most recently, I was working with a parrot and exotic animal sanctuary. Transitioning to HEET is a big change in some ways, but providing support to a growing nonprofit is very familiar to me. I have a lot to learn and a lot to share as well! 

Can you share a fun fact about yourself? 

I’ve been working in animal rescue for many years, and as such I have a very full house! I currently share my life with 2 dogs (Penny and Bandit), 2 cats (Virgil and Vandi), 6 small parrots (Max, Chuck, Peanut, Piper, Ozzie, and Pipsqueak), and 1 human husband (Nate).

Angie Alberto Escobar, Director of the Gas to Geo Network 

Tell us about what you do at HEET.  

I am the Director of our Gas to Geo Network here at HEET, which means that I manage all stakeholders involved in building decarbonization, including but not limited to legislators, networked geothermal experts, utility executives, and grassroots environmentalists. I am charged with information and resource sharing across this national network. The goal of this work is to deploy non-emitting networked geothermal infrastructure to retire leaky aging natural gas pipelines across the country, and in turn create a safer, cleaner environment for all.

What excites you about joining the HEET team and working in the clean energy field? 

HEET is a wonderful place because you are allowed latitude as a learner, which is key in the ever-evolving clean energy landscape. There are many branches of the work that HEET has embarked on in their mission to drive climate solutions - I get to touch them all and become a better environmental advocate in the process.

What were you doing before joining HEET? 

Before joining HEET, I studied Sustainable Energy Management at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF). In my time there I was given the full picture of how human society has harnessed energy from the Earth, how this process became industrialized (like most things) and where we will end up if we don’t change our approach. This prompted me to learn more about sustainability outside of energy and become a Sustainable Materials Management Steward at Syracuse University’s Center for Sustainable Community Solutions. 

My passion to help others through sustainable solutions came to a head when I began working on NYSERDA’s Clean Heating and Cooling team. There, I learned about an actionable way to address the greenhouse effect and to help folks worldwide avoid the catastrophic effects of climate change. Under the guidance of Dr. Dana Levy and Scott Smith, I learned about the world of heat pump technologies and the power they possess to help wean us of our aging gas infrastructure. Under the mentorship of Marilyn Moore, I pursued my passion for bringing equity to the space through the beneficial electrification movement.

All in all, I quickly became acutely aware of the barriers to the decarbonization of our energy sectors and the many solutions we can leverage to address them. Since then, I have only become more infatuated with the vision of a better future for all. The biggest asset I bring is the ability to work in a team for a greater cause and to do whatever it takes to get all stakeholders engaged in being part of solutions.

Can you share a fun fact about yourself? 

I identify as a latinx cis-gendered pansexual woman. My heritage is mixed with several Latin American countries: Guatemala, Mexico and Honduras. I am a born and bred Angeleno, and will always love my sunny Golden State for swims in the coves and the amazing street tacos, unlike anywhere else in the world. I am a free spirit that is committed to learning about other people’s cultures through food, music and art. I love to cook for my family and friends, and watch them as they ooh-and-ahhh. I would say that making others feel good and safe is my love language. My greatest strength is being an older sister. My biggest weakness is a dog in a Halloween costume.