Our Team
Andrew McDonnell (he/him)
Co-Founder & Vice President
Andrew draws on a background in earth and environmental science, engineering, and energy systems analysis. Andrew leads the origination and technical development of the company's utility scale wind energy projects, engages with local communities, and helps shape its strategic business development. Prior to founding Alaska Renewables, Andrew worked for a decade as a professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, served on several community-based organizations, and worked as an independent consultant helping to identify cost effective decarbonization strategies and renewable energy opportunities across the state.
Faith Tyson (she/they)
Community Engagement and Accountability Manager
Faith is a lifelong Alaskan. She grew up in Utqiagvik and is a tribal citizen of the Native Village of Shishmaref. Most of Faith's experience has been centered around community development, meaningful relationship building, decolonizing and reimagining systems, and promoting community well-being. She holds a Masters of Social Work degree with a concentration in Indigenous populations from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. When she's not working, you can find Faith skiing, playing, hiking, and reading, all while enjoying the company of her little ones.
Matt Perkins (he/him)
Co-Founder & CEO
Matt Perkins is a lifelong energy entrepreneur and believes that all business models and infrastructure should be implemented in direct response to listening to and studying the needs of the communities to be served, grounded in engineering, economics, and environmental justice. Matt spent ten years in sales and product leadership roles at General Electric living and working in China and the US before joining a high-efficiency air conditioning startup (7AC) as Chief Marketing Officer. After 7AC was acquired by Emerson, Matt co-founded Alaska Renewables to harness the vast potential of renewables to deliver a transformative, clean, sustainable, reliable, and cost-reducing energy supply for Alaska. Outside of work he is a competitive runner & skier, a semi-professional singer, and volunteers on a suicide hotline and leading at-risk youth on camping trips. Matt studied Materials Science and Engineering at Cornell University