HOW DID NEXTEK START?
We had got involved in an agreement when the Company was still in New York with an engineering firm in Dearborn. I came out to visit with them and I stayed with my in-laws. I really liked the town and the place and the second trip out, My father-in-law showed me an article in the free press about the next energy center that they were building to attract Companies to Detroit. And so we were the first tenant at the Next Energy Center. We decided to move everything out here and had our fourth daughter here.
WHAT IS YOUR FORMAL BACKGROUND?
I am a philosophy graduate. But it turns out that it is good training because it is an evolving market away from the regulated utility industry and their is lot of change that has happened and more to come.
DO YOU FEEL THAT THE GREEN CHANGE IS MOVING IN YOUR DIRECTION?
Absolutely, although it isn’t moving as fast as I’d like in our direction but the progress is good.
WHAT IS YOUR MOST RECENT PROJECT?
Our marquee project here in detroit is the Henry Ford Health Services Services Center for Athletic Medicine which is a join venture with the Pistons on Second Avenue in Detroit in Midtown. It is only 300 yards from my office. It is a blue chip showcase nearby which came out beautifully. We are definitely looking to do more projects with Henry Ford on account of it.
WHAT DID YOU INSTALL IN THE HFHS CENTER FOR ATHLETIC MEDICINE?
We installed a low voltage direct current power system throughout the building and that powers all of the lighting and the controls for all of the lighting.
WHERE DO YOU WANT TO TAKE NEXTEK?
Most of our business is outside of Michigan. We are doing more in California and more on the East Coast then we are still in Michigan so we will probably open up sales locations on the Coasts in the next twelve months.
Nextek Power Systems is a Detroit-based proptech company dedicated to providing the power to save energy. Our systems leverage high efficiency power converters and smart controls to optimize energy usage while drawing power from renewables, batteries, and the grid. Our technology increases the value of lighting and controls. We are the most practical and efficient solution for powering LEDs.
Paul lives in Grosse Pointe with Wife Fay and daughters Samantha, Lori, May, Betty and dog, Duncan