ReWire Reaches the Summit

ReWire Reaches the Summit

ReWire Group Partner and Head of the Digital Division, Al Evans, recently attended the 2022 New York State Innovation Summit. In addition to showcasing companies and researchers at the forefront of emerging technologies and new advancements in production capabilities, the Summit celebrated New York State leadership in technology-led economic growth.

ReWire was there to network with experts in energy innovation, climate tech, and artificial intelligence. With a focus on exploring technology convergence opportunities, ReWire hopes to accelerate its platform commercialization efforts and identify partners that can potentially support its sustainability initiatives.

At the Summit, ReWire’s main objective was to begin generating preliminary interest for the Energy Management Platform initiative. The current phase of the platform is designed to address the challenges Municipal Public Housing Authorities and Affordable Housing Developers face when they seek to obtain the benefits of Community Solar for their residents.

In addition, ReWire wants to help property managers protect the residents of their developments from the increasing threats of climate change. Extreme heat waves are one of the most dangerous weather events faced by those living in densely populated urban environments. The Energy Management platform can help Chief Heat Officers (CHOs) prepare proactively and protect their vulnerable communities, Seniors, those with chronic conditions, and disadvantaged populations, many of which don’t have access to indoor air conditioning.

ReWire has the answer. We talked to several in the industry at the Summit and they agreed that the Energy Management platform is a timely and much needed solution. By combining access to renewable energy and real-time weather monitoring, the platform will help property managers prepare in advance by ensuring that battery energy storage systems are fully charged, alternate energy sources are prepared, cooling stations are opened, and other preventive measures are taken.

The event was held in Buffalo this year which, in addition to attending and exhibiting at the Summit, provided Al with the opportunity to visit with strategic partners and associates located in the western part of the state.

On Tuesday, Al met with David Gordon, President of Green Building Partners, developing plans for the ongoing Community Solar collaboration between their two organizations.

Wednesday morning breakfast with Dennis Elsenbeck was illuminating. Al and Dennis discussed the Northland Corridor project which was recently funded. It will renovate two industrial buildings, creating a Clean Energy Microgrid, to power the workforce training center campus while supporting manufacturing training programs. ReWire can help support the knowledge transfer and the effort to develop training programs that can bring this highly efficient and practical solution to other New York State communities.

Al also bumped into Dr. Heidi Knoblauch, who was there participating in her first Summit as a representative for ESD in her new role as the Senior Director, Entrepreneurship Development. Congratulations Heidi!

ReWire is already looking forward to the 2023 NYS Innovation Summit, which will be held in Saratoga Springs NY!

We’ll see everyone there in October 2023!

Summit Video: https://youtu.be/A_v0Jkk6ru4

Meet Alan Evans, Co-founder, Partner and Director of Marketing

Meet Alan Evans, Co-founder, Partner and Director of Marketing

Al manages marketing programs and initiatives for ReWire and leads ReWire’s Digital division. In addition to working with clients and business development, Al is helping to drive the strategic vision behind the development of the ReWire Energy Management Platform.

As part of his responsibilities, Al works closely with SUNY Polytechnic’s Advanced Manufacturing Performance Center team in leading the development of two digital platforms; the Technology Alignment Platform (TAP) and the Career Alignment Platform (CAP).

Al was also instrumental in working with the Advanced Manufacturing Performance Center, SUNY Polytechnic, and NYSERDA, winning a subcontract for an extensive energy training program for facility operators within the ZEN Zero Energy building. This program will also support energy training for advanced manufacturing personnel across the region. Al also serves as the senior technologist for ApolloCare LLC, an organization that recently deployed a homecare platform for aging seniors with the support of EverHome’s Life Care Coordinators. The mobile app, VivaLynx, allows caregivers to monitor aging seniors and disabled adults so they can benefit from advanced care coordination technologies, maximizing their independence, while they remain safely in their homes.

Al graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Industrial and Labor Relations. Early in his career, Al worked in sales selling consumer products and insurance and later became a Business Analyst at Dun & Bradstreet. After working for D&B, Al joined his father Milton at High Technology Systems (HTS) as the Director of Marketing. At HTS, the focus was on commercializing high-performance polymers including NASA’s LARC-13 materials technology for industrial, electronics, and aerospace applications. Al also spent time at GE Fanuc as a Software Product Manager in the CIMPLICITY Division and went through their renowned Six Sigma program. He was a guest speaker at SUNY Albany’s entrepreneurial program and has been at the forefront of several advanced technology product launches. As the Founder of Matrix Intermedia Corp, he developed one of the first Web Content Management (CMS) systems in 2000, which was widely adopted across the Capital Region.

As a seasoned entrepreneur with skills spanning business development, online and traditional marketing, and experience bringing advanced technology to market, Al is rooted in the realm of software development. He is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) visionary and product manager with connections to many of the region’s startups and success stories. His background includes work in energy, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, enterprise software, education and training, government, and critical infrastructure protection sectors.

Al is very hands-on and always willing to jump in wherever he can contribute to the team and client needs. He serves as a Trustee for the Museum of Science & Innovation (miSci) and is a Member of the Innovate 518 Advisory Committee, a regional economic development entity.

Al and his wife Karen reside in Albany with their German Shepard Evie, Max the Ragdoll cat, and several chickens. With solar panels on their roof and EVs in their driveway, they are devoted environmentalists doing their part for the transition toward a cleaner, sustainable, more resilient planet.