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National LED Lighting Expert Speaks at Blue Ridge Energy's Community Leaders Council Meeting
Blue Ridge Energy hosted CREE, Inc. Chairman and CEO Chuck Swoboda, for its annual Community Leaders Council (CLC) meeting.
Blue Ridge Energy hosted CREE, Inc. chairman and CEO Chuck Swoboda, for its annual Community Leaders Council (CLC) meeting at Jefferson Landing Thursday evening. Swoboda, an innovator of LED lighting who has helped CREE grow from a startup to a national leader in today’s LED marketplace, spoke on the evolution of technology that’s changing the energy industry and how consumers think about and use energy efficient lighting in homes and businesses. He emphasized the change presents opportunities for consumers and businesses. Blue Ridge Chief Executive Officer Doug Johnson noted that Blue Ridge Energy’s recent alignment between the cooperative and propane and fuels subsidiary is a good example of how industry, consumer and technology changes are driving opportunities and transformation to be a total solutions energy company for area residents and businesses.
Blue Ridge Energy’s CLC is a group of community, business, government and civic leaders from the cooperative’s four districts who provide input and assistance to Blue Ridge on local, regional and state issues for the purpose of benefitting local areas.
Cree has created thousands of jobs globally over the last 10 years and has almost 6,500 employees worldwide. In 2010, Swoboda was named Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year for the Carolinas, and in 2013 he was named The Edison Report’s Lighting Industry Person of the Year. Cree was recognized as MIT Technology Review’s 50 Smartest Companies for 2014, and as one of Fast Companies World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies in 2015.