SaLisa Berrien

SaLisa L. Berrien, Founder and CEO of COI Energy, has over twenty-five years of experience in the electric power and smart grid space. From working in vertically integrated utilities (PP&L and PECO Energy) prior to deregulation to ConEdison Solutions a deregulated energy services company, and then on to Smart Grid, Clean Tech, Big Data Analytics, and SaaS Solutions, SaLisa has had a diverse career in the energy space. In her early career, she sold the first electric vehicle (G-Van) in the NE region. She later went on to help EnerNOC move to #1 Demand Response company in the industry. She believes if you do the right thing for your customers, they will remember you for that. She and COI Energy practice the Platinum Rule, "Do unto your customer as they would have you to do unto them.”

SaLisa is also the Founder and Board Chair of STRIVE Inc. A 501c3 charitable organization founded in 1995 which focuses on STEM leadership development training for students in 3rd thru 12th grades. In 2013, she established COI Ladder Institute to focus on delivering leadership and empowerment services to millennials and women. Annually, COI Ladder Institute hosts a LeanIn conference in Martha’s Vineyard.

Since 1996, SaLisa established several scholarship funds for high school and college students. Her first scholarship was named in honor of her maternal and paternal grandparents for paving the way so that she might have a better chance at life. In 2004, she established the Karl H. Lewis Engineering Impact Endowment at the University of Pittsburgh for students of African descent enrolled in Engineering.

SaLisa holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and an Executive MBA from Saint Joseph’s University.

One of SaLisa's core values is philanthropy. She believes that to whom much is given, much is required. Her mission in life is to positively impact the space she occupies by leaving it better off than it was
when she found it.

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