Our Mission Thrives: Expanded Services and Growth on the Horizon
(Vacaville, CA) - New faces and new energy are moving CHOC ahead this season. Momentum is building at our organization, and many new and exciting changes are on the horizon. One of the most significant developments has involved CHOC Energy, which offers free weatherization and energy savings programs in Northern California.
Additionally, we’re very proud to introduce Kay Greenwood, Energy’s new Human Resources Generalist, and officially announce the promotion of longtime Energy staff member, Sarah Vallimont, to a new leadership role.
These new developments are just some examples of how Energy is evolving and adapting to best serve our California communities today and into the future.
New Direction and Development at CHOC Energy
“At CHOC Energy, we’ve traditionally focused on hands-on work,” says Fabiola Ortiz, Vice President of CHOC Energy. Ortiz mentions a new program called “Clear Results,” which has just launched, and involves the deep electrification of qualified homes; implementing energy-efficient measures is a key component of this program. Ortiz also spoke to CHOC Energy’s ongoing commitment to the LIWP program, in collaboration with the California Department of Community Services, which supports farmworkers. “We have a healthy pipeline of jobs, with significant projects to help farmworkers in both Santa Cruz and Napa counties, now with deeper energy saving measures that include furnaces, hot water heaters and solar panels.”
More exciting news followed:
“I’m also really thrilled to share that CHOC Energy is currently involved in a study with Stanford University, to help analyze and improve the living conditions of homes on the San Francisco Peninsula…the study’s objective is to determine whether the Mini-Splits or Solar Shades in customers' home are more energy efficient i.e. if they would save customers significant dollars on their utility bills. Our team helped assess and determine qualifying homes, as well as identify specific areas in these homes where the sun is strongest during the day.”
Ortiz continued:
“With a focus on climate conditions, the study allows CHOC Energy to be actively involved in installations, as well as critical data collection, managed by a Stanford fellow. We see this as a beautiful extension of our mission in action. We’ll have more to report when the data is analyzed and the study is published.”
Fabiola Ortiz, Vice President of CHOC Energy
Per Fabiola, Energy has also recently launched the Energy Saving Assistance Pilot Plus and Pilot Deep Whole home programs, with a focus on the Stockton, CA area; these programs are designed to significantly increase energy savings per home, which includes HVAC/insulation and heat pump water heaters, respectively.
Team members involved in these services also handle our CHOC communities’ property maintenance and assessments, serving a dual purpose. Solar energy, as well, is a new area that Energy is considering expanding into, which would involve hiring staff with specific licenses. Solar is also integral to a new CHOC division that’s currently under development - we look forward to sharing more on this in the coming weeks!
READ: “Female Disruptors: Fabiola Ortiz, The Three Things You Need To Shake Up Your Industry” via Medium.
Talented Team Members: Promoted and Thriving
After nearly ten years at Energy, Sarah Vallimont was recently promoted to Director. We’re incredibly grateful for Sarah’s dedication and loyalty, and proud to acknowledge her commitment to our mission and community. As Director, Vallimont oversees various ESA programs and more.
“I’ve witnessed CHOC’s growth firsthand, and I’m determined to help continue supporting that trajectory,” says Vallimont.
Beginning as a part-time scheduler who found her job when Energy was working in her neighborhood, Vallimont has risen though the ranks over the course of decade.
“One of my significant achievements was helping expand our ground crew from a small team to over 14 crews today. Now, as Director, I’m committed to keep growing (our division) and providing the necessary training our public-facing ground crews / installers need.”
Sarah Vallimont, Director at CHOC Energy
Sarah is also a driving force behind Energy’s new Northern California Multi-Family Building Energy Savings Program, which works with apartment complexes in Yolo, Solano and Sacramento counties. Additionally, for our LIWP program assisting farmworkers, Sarah and her team are actively involved in outreach efforts, including working with food banks to co- and direct market this free weatherization program to farmworkers.
Vallimont’s commitment to our organization is clear:
“I genuinely love CHOC,” she says. “What truly inspires me are the personal interactions I have with my team and the knowledge that we’re making a positive impact on working families and lower-income customers, offering them healthier living options through our services.”
We’d also like to shout out another 10-year CHOC Energy anniversary, this time for Sheilah Ponce, a former part-time scheduler who’s currently an Energy Specialist and (Program) Enrollment Manager at our Vacaville, CA. headquarters. Our sincere thanks to Sheilah for her loyalty, service, and commitment to Energy’s community-based work.
Energy’s New Human Resources Generalist
In more news, we proudly welcome our new Energy HR Generalist Kay Greenwood, who joins us with an extensive background of diverse experiences, each lending insight to her current role.
Greenwood first gained experience while enlisted in the US Army, working in the South, but she eventually moved to California, where she began working at a major San Francisco-based law firm. After more than a decade in the legal field, she switched careers after the birth of her and her husband’s son. She subsequently opened two businesses focused on hair care/styling and even wrote a book!
Returning to biotech for five years, working on new accounts and training global teams remotely, Greenwood began with a startup housing company, where she gained experience in HR and safety training. This led to her completing certification in HR management at UC Davis, which helped her secure her current position at Energy.
Greenwood is currently focused on further developing Energy’s HR best practices, as well as leading recruitment efforts, primarily at CHOC Energy. “At the moment, we’re focused on recruiting HVAC professionals, especially those with leadership skills, to guide our teams in the field, which reaches from Santa Cruz County, up the Peninsula to the North Bay, in the East Bay and Sacramento County down to Stockton,” she says.
View and apply to current CHOC Energy career opportunities here.
Kay Greenwood, Human Resources Generalist for CHOC Energy
During our conversation, Greenwood suggests a pro tip for every job seeker, something she always likes to see:
“Please tailor your resume to reflect the skills listed in the job description. You can even update it for each job post, starting with the initial information from the post, ensuring alignment. This immediately makes your application noticeable,” she says.
Overall, Greenwood values long-term commitments to an employer.
“I question what kind of knowledge one can gain in just five months on the job. In my view, it takes at least 12 to 18 months to truly understand your role and how it fits into the broader context of the company,” she says. “Understanding your role isn’t just about your day-to-day tasks; it’s about comprehending how your work impacts billing, accounting, production, and the company’s overall operation.”
More New Things
In addition to Healthy Minds / Healthy Lives programming launching this month, to help Energy employees manage stress and work/life balance, Kay, Sarah, Fabiola and the Energy team hope to participate in Vacaville’s annual “Merriment On Main” event in December, traditionally held on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Stay tuned for details on where we’ll be and how to find us, for free weatherization energy services (for qualified households), as well as how to apply to CHOC Energy jobs across Northern California.
CHOC Corporate Communications team extends our sincere thanks to the entire Energy group, for their assistance in creating this update on one of CHOC’s most exciting divisions!
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Founded in 1984, Community Housing Opportunities Corporation (CHOC) is a non-profit affordable housing developer, energy, services and property management provider headquartered in Fairfield, CA; we create and manage equitable communities for individuals, families, seniors, and those with special needs. CHOC believes that economically integrated affordable housing is key to self-sufficiency and achievable with enriching, supportive programs that instill pride in residents, stabilize families, and improve local economies. Visit CHOCHousing.org.