New Member Spotlight: Maria Kingery, EO Raleigh Durham
Staff
Maria Kingery, EO Raleigh Durham
Co-Founder of Southern Energy Management
Joined EO in August 2012
What are you hoping to get out of your EO experience?
MK: I have an insatiable desire to learn new things. I’m expecting EO to provide an inexhaustible supply of new learning experiences!
What’s the biggest myth about entrepreneurship?
MK: That entrepreneurs are undisciplined, crazy risk-takers. I spoke to a graduate school class recently, and when I asked how many of them considered themselves entrepreneurs, I was dismayed that only one person raised his hand (and reluctantly at that). When I asked why, that’s what they told me.
What do you love most about your industry?
MK: Clean energy is one of the greatest opportunities (and challenges) of our generation— that’s incredibly motivating, and attracting some amazing people to our industry. Doing work that matters with people who want to make a difference … what could be better?
What is your business’s “elevator pitch”?
MK: We are energy experts who provide efficiency and solar solutions that always lead to savings for our customers.
What do you do for fun when you’re not running your business?
MK: Sing karaoke with my 10-year-old son (he’s got some mad M.C. Hammer skills!), support aspiring entrepreneurs (nothing is more fun than leveraging what I’ve learned to help others succeed) and hike in the woods near my house (time for quiet reflection keeps me grounded and gives me the strength to keep on keeping on day after day).
