Sonja Ebron

Sonja Ebron was the chief executive officer of blackEnergy, an organizer of energy buying groups that help people use their utility bills to support black communities.

Her professional background also includes employment with Carolina Power & Light and Gainesville Regional Utilities, where she held positions in distribution operations, strategic planning, and customer relations. She is also a former director of the American Association of Blacks in Energy.

Ebron held academic positions with the Florida Institute of Technology, Norfolk State University and Hampton University, where she taught energy systems and other electrical engineering subjects.

She has published research articles in such areas as high-impedance faults, artificial intelligence in power systems, renewable distributed generation, and innovative teaching methods.

Ms. Magazine recently labeled Ebron a change agent for "the belief that environmental and social consciousness can create satisfaction in the soul and the wallet." She is the recipient of the Atlanta Business League's 2007 Super Tuesday Award for Non-Traditional Business, and she was named a 2008 SuperWoman by the Atlanta Tribune.

She studied electrical engineering at North Carolina State University, earning bachelors and master’s degrees with a focus on electric power. She earned a doctorate from the University of Florida, specializing in power system reliability.

Follow Ebron on Twitter @SonjaEbron.