Just when alumnus Sam Domeier (Political Science and Environmental Studies ‘10) seems to reach a summit, new heights and objectives appear.
Following graduation, he worked for a year as a Minnesota GreenCorps Energy Conservation Specialist for UMD’s Office of Sustainability. He credits Mindy Granley, former Sustainability Director at UMD, with giving him his first opportunity to work in the industry that would become his career.
After working as a Marketing Assistant with Xcel Energy in Minneapolis and later Denver, he accepted a job as an Associate Product Portfolio Manager, becoming the youngest product portfolio manager at Xcel Energy.
In September 2018, he began his current work as an Environmental Sustainability Specialist at Mercy Housing in Denver, CO, one of the nation’s largest affordable housing nonprofits. He described their work as “the development, preservation, management and/or financing of affordable, program-enriched housing across the country….In 2019, Mercy Housing’s Green Hope environmental sustainability team implemented projects at almost 50 properties across the country, saving those properties a total of $155K per year.”
Sustainability has always been a passion of Domeier’s. He explained, “As an avid skier, cyclist, and all-around outdoor enthusiast, I am personally committed to a cleaner environment and a more sustainable future. When I moved to Denver, I was blown away by Colorado’s stunning mountains, open vistas, and rushing rivers. I decided I needed to devote my career to protecting our environment and quality of life so future generations will be able to enjoy this place for years to come.”
His mission is mirrored in his work. Domeier illuminated, “At Mercy Housing, we care about the communities in which we serve, which is why we created Green Hope. This initiative reduces our consumption of natural resources and creates healthier living environments….Green Hope guides us in all aspects of our operations, from designing, building, and rehabilitating properties, to office practices, property operations, and resident services. Green Hope has reduced portfolio-wide energy consumption by 26% and water use by 30%, saving properties a cumulative total of more than $3 million.”
Domeier is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Environmental Policy and Management with a concentration in Energy and Sustainability at the University of Denver, and he urges students seeking a career working in sustainability to “Do it. Climate change is the greatest existential threat of our lifetime, and we need movers and shakers to get things done. It’s all hands on deck to save the planet that we call home.”