Apple today announced the inaugural batch of 15 Black and Brown-owned businesses at the forefront of green technology and sustainable energy who will join the company’s Impact Accelerator to encourage equity and opportunity in the environmental sector. This program, which is a part of Apple’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, will work to eliminate systemic barriers to opportunity while simultaneously developing innovative solutions for communities most affected by climate change.
The 15 companies are headquartered all over the United States, from Silicon Valley in California to Detroit, Michigan, to tribal countries in the Midwest, and they are leading the way in energy efficiency, solar, green chemistry, recycling, and other environmental fields. Many of them are dedicated to providing vulnerable and underserved communities with renewable energy, opportunities, and essential services.
“We are thrilled to welcome our first Impact Accelerator class, and look forward to seeing how these innovative businesses will expand their work to protect the planet and our communities,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy, and Social Initiatives.
Meet the Companies BlocPower Founder and CEO: Donnel Baird Climate Technology Company in Brooklyn, NY BlocPower aspires to transform outdated, inefficient buildings into cutting-edge structures, making American cities greener, smarter, and healthier. BlocPower has converted more than 1,200 buildings in underprivileged areas across 26 cities with efficient, eco-friendly electric heating and cooling systems since its foundation in 2014. Mosaic Global Transportation Founder, President, and CEO: Maurice H. Brewster Transportation Firm in San Jose, CA Mosaic Global Transportation is a multimillion-dollar multinational ground transportation firm run by minorities that specializes in employee shuttles, commuter services, and meeting and event planning. The company is committed to giving back to the community by aiming to replace gasoline-powered vehicles utilized for these initiatives with electric vehicles. Volt Energy Utility Co-Founder and CEO: Gilbert Campbell III Utility-Solar Energy Development Firm in Washington, D.C. Volt Energy Utility creates, finances, and manages utility-scale solar projects for both commercial and public sector clients. The Environmental Justice Power Purchase Agreement, which acts as a funding source for numerous programs aimed to expand the advantages of clean energy to neglected communities and constituents, is one of the firm’s distinctive products. Campbell co-founded Volt Energy, a company that has worked on a number of distributed generation projects, over ten years ago. Volt Energy Utility was created with the distinct intention of providing services and expertise to meet the growing need for utility-scale solar. Bench-Tek Solutions Founder and CEO: Maria Castellon Manufacturing and Automation Company in Santa Clara, CA Bench-Tek Solutions is a manufacturing company situated in Silicon Valley that specializes in laboratory and industrial workbenches. They specialize in creating ergonomic and environmentally friendly furniture for a variety of work environments. Maria Castellon launched the company in 2002 after attending college in the United States. She got a job as a janitor at IBM, which led to her starting her own business and working for a workbench manufacturing firm. Bench-Tek now employs a varied staff, services a diverse clientele, and has a solid reputation in the manufacturing business. GreenTek Solutions Founder and CEO: Anuar Garcia Recycling and Reuse Company in Houston, TX GreenTek Solutions is dedicated to repurposing, refurbishing, recycling, and reusing technology items, as well as providing comprehensive IT asset management services for purchasing, selling, and liquidating equipment. The firm is always looking for new ways to predict future technological trends, environmental issues, and customer requirements. Diversified Chemical Technologies, Inc. President and Chief Financial Officer: Karl Johnson Chemical Safety Firm in Detroit, Michigan Diversified Chemical Technologies, Inc. is a technology, specialized chemicals, and services firm that manufactures adhesives, process chemicals, CIP/COP cleaners, facility cleaners, metal working fluids and lubricants, and MRO service solutions, among other things. The Diversified 1 Systems concept is used by the corporation to promote excellence, stewardship, and sustainability in their leadership and throughout the company, thinking that it adds value to their stakeholders, minimizes their carbon footprint, and maintains them socially responsible. The company began as a cleaning chemical manufacturer and has now expanded to provide a broad range of custom-developed product solutions to the world’s leading consumer goods, healthcare, automotive, and general industrial companies. Oceti Sakowin Power Authority Chairman and Head of the Board of Directors: Lyle Jack Clean Energy Developer in Tribal Regions Across the Dakotas The Oceti Sakowin Power Authority is a nonprofit governmental entity founded by six Sioux tribes to collaboratively develop tribal renewable energy resources by financing, designing, constructing, and operating wholesale power generation and transmission systems. Their purpose is to work together to bring power and sustainable development to their tribal communities while also preserving the environment for future generations. With plans to produce up to 2 gigawatt hours of emissions-free electricity in the Midwest, this power project is on pace to establish large-scale wind and solar power expansions around the country. Vericool, Inc. Founder and CEO: Darrell Jobe Packaging and Shipment Company in Livermore, CA Vericool is a firm dedicated to developing ecologically friendly packaging that may be used to replace expanded polystyrene (EPS) and other petroleum-based foam packaging for shipments that require protection. Vericool develops unique, high-performance packaging created from natural substances that transform the way cold-chain items are shipped. Vericool is dedicated to creating a diverse workforce and reducing recidivism by providing equal employment opportunities to those who have been incarcerated. Dunamis Clean Energy Partners Founder and CEO: Natalie King Environmental Solutions Company in Southfield, MI Dunamis Clean Energy Partners is a technological, manufacturing, and engineering company that specializes in energy efficiency and environmental services. Natalie King, the company’s founder and CEO, has grown Dunamis into a multimillion-dollar organization with over 150 employees around Southeastern Michigan. VMX International Founder, President, and CEO: Vickie Lewis Environmental Services Company in Detroit, MI Government, commercial, industrial, and construction customers in the United States and Canada use VMX International’s solid waste collection, recycling, regulatory, and project management services. VMX International has developed and diversified since its inception in 2001, now employing over 50 full-time employees across the country. Argent Associates Founder, President, and CEO: Beatriz Manetta Technology Consultancy in Plano, TX Argent Associates, which was founded in 1998, has earned a reputation for developing innovative supply chain solutions while being committed to environmental sustainability. Manetta emigrated to the United States from Argentina as a young child and worked in corporate America for 20 years. She applied what she had learned to start her own company, which she now leads as president and CEO. Argent has earned multiple honors for their work, leadership, and workforce diversity as a result of their focus on a diverse technology-driven environment. Inspectorio Co-Founder and CEO: Carlos Moncayo Supply Chain Solutions Firm in Minneapolis, MN Inspectorio is a cloud-based SaaS solution for developing dynamic, risk-based quality and compliance programs with the purpose of creating a connected, sustainable, and transparent supply chain. It is now used by over 15,000 network participants around the world, including some of the world’s most well-known brands and merchants. Moncayo was the youngest Latin American CEO to join the Group of Fifty, and the World Economic Forum dubbed him a Young Global Leader. Group O CEO: Gregg Ontiveros Supply Chain Solutions Firm in Milan, IL Group O began as a modest Midwest packaging wholesaler in 1974 and has since evolved to become one of the largest Latino-owned firms in the country. Group O specializes in integrated supply chain solutions designed to optimize operations while eliminating waste as an end-to-end business process outsourcer serving some of the world’s largest businesses. They are dedicated to environmental stewardship through a variety of programs and policies that lower not only their own but also their clients’ carbon footprints. As a registered MBE, Group O is committed to diversifying its workforce as well as collaborating with and mentoring other minority-owned businesses and suppliers. RFG-MPW Environmental & Facility Services Chairman and CEO: Roderick Rickman Industrial Cleaning and Environmental Service Firm in Detroit, MI RFG-MPW is North America’s largest comprehensive provider of technology-based industrial cleaning, facility management, water purification, container management, and environmental services. To ensure their clients have a safer and cleaner work environment in which to create high-quality products, the organization supports in boosting operational efficiencies, improving reliability, and lowering costs. L2S Engineering, LLC Founder: Laurie Ann Sibani Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Engineering Design Firm in Leesburg, VA and Apollo Beach, FL L2S Engineering, LLC is a Native American-owned, woman-owned mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering design firm with clients around the country. Its objective is to push the boundaries of technical excellence by offering services that assist clients in achieving their long-term environmental goals and lowering their carbon footprint. Sibani is an electrical engineer with vast design and project management experience who takes delight in providing her clients with cost-effective solutions.
Meet the Companies
BlocPower
Founder and CEO: Donnel Baird
Climate Technology Company in Brooklyn, NY
BlocPower aspires to transform outdated, inefficient buildings into cutting-edge structures, making American cities greener, smarter, and healthier. BlocPower has converted more than 1,200 buildings in underprivileged areas across 26 cities with efficient, eco-friendly electric heating and cooling systems since its foundation in 2014.
Mosaic Global Transportation
Founder, President, and CEO: Maurice H. Brewster
Transportation Firm in San Jose, CA
Mosaic Global Transportation is a multimillion-dollar multinational ground transportation firm run by minorities that specializes in employee shuttles, commuter services, and meeting and event planning. The company is committed to giving back to the community by aiming to replace gasoline-powered vehicles utilized for these initiatives with electric vehicles.
Volt Energy Utility
Co-Founder and CEO: Gilbert Campbell III
Utility-Solar Energy Development Firm in Washington, D.C.
Volt Energy Utility creates, finances, and manages utility-scale solar projects for both commercial and public sector clients. The Environmental Justice Power Purchase Agreement, which acts as a funding source for numerous programs aimed to expand the advantages of clean energy to neglected communities and constituents, is one of the firm’s distinctive products. Campbell co-founded Volt Energy, a company that has worked on a number of distributed generation projects, over ten years ago. Volt Energy Utility was created with the distinct intention of providing services and expertise to meet the growing need for utility-scale solar.
Bench-Tek Solutions
Founder and CEO: Maria Castellon
Manufacturing and Automation Company in Santa Clara, CA
Bench-Tek Solutions is a manufacturing company situated in Silicon Valley that specializes in laboratory and industrial workbenches. They specialize in creating ergonomic and environmentally friendly furniture for a variety of work environments. Maria Castellon launched the company in 2002 after attending college in the United States. She got a job as a janitor at IBM, which led to her starting her own business and working for a workbench manufacturing firm. Bench-Tek now employs a varied staff, services a diverse clientele, and has a solid reputation in the manufacturing business.
GreenTek Solutions
Founder and CEO: Anuar Garcia
Recycling and Reuse Company in Houston, TX
GreenTek Solutions is dedicated to repurposing, refurbishing, recycling, and reusing technology items, as well as providing comprehensive IT asset management services for purchasing, selling, and liquidating equipment. The firm is always looking for new ways to predict future technological trends, environmental issues, and customer requirements.
Diversified Chemical Technologies, Inc.
President and Chief Financial Officer: Karl Johnson
Chemical Safety Firm in Detroit, Michigan
Diversified Chemical Technologies, Inc. is a technology, specialized chemicals, and services firm that manufactures adhesives, process chemicals, CIP/COP cleaners, facility cleaners, metal working fluids and lubricants, and MRO service solutions, among other things. The Diversified 1 Systems concept is used by the corporation to promote excellence, stewardship, and sustainability in their leadership and throughout the company, thinking that it adds value to their stakeholders, minimizes their carbon footprint, and maintains them socially responsible. The company began as a cleaning chemical manufacturer and has now expanded to provide a broad range of custom-developed product solutions to the world’s leading consumer goods, healthcare, automotive, and general industrial companies.
Oceti Sakowin Power Authority
Chairman and Head of the Board of Directors: Lyle Jack
Clean Energy Developer in Tribal Regions Across the Dakotas
The Oceti Sakowin Power Authority is a nonprofit governmental entity founded by six Sioux tribes to collaboratively develop tribal renewable energy resources by financing, designing, constructing, and operating wholesale power generation and transmission systems. Their purpose is to work together to bring power and sustainable development to their tribal communities while also preserving the environment for future generations. With plans to produce up to 2 gigawatt hours of emissions-free electricity in the Midwest, this power project is on pace to establish large-scale wind and solar power expansions around the country.
Vericool, Inc.
Founder and CEO: Darrell Jobe
Packaging and Shipment Company in Livermore, CA
Vericool is a firm dedicated to developing ecologically friendly packaging that may be used to replace expanded polystyrene (EPS) and other petroleum-based foam packaging for shipments that require protection. Vericool develops unique, high-performance packaging created from natural substances that transform the way cold-chain items are shipped. Vericool is dedicated to creating a diverse workforce and reducing recidivism by providing equal employment opportunities to those who have been incarcerated.
Dunamis Clean Energy Partners
Founder and CEO: Natalie King
Environmental Solutions Company in Southfield, MI
Dunamis Clean Energy Partners is a technological, manufacturing, and engineering company that specializes in energy efficiency and environmental services. Natalie King, the company’s founder and CEO, has grown Dunamis into a multimillion-dollar organization with over 150 employees around Southeastern Michigan.
VMX International
Founder, President, and CEO: Vickie Lewis
Environmental Services Company in Detroit, MI
Government, commercial, industrial, and construction customers in the United States and Canada use VMX International’s solid waste collection, recycling, regulatory, and project management services. VMX International has developed and diversified since its inception in 2001, now employing over 50 full-time employees across the country.
Argent Associates
Founder, President, and CEO: Beatriz Manetta
Technology Consultancy in Plano, TX
Argent Associates, which was founded in 1998, has earned a reputation for developing innovative supply chain solutions while being committed to environmental sustainability. Manetta emigrated to the United States from Argentina as a young child and worked in corporate America for 20 years. She applied what she had learned to start her own company, which she now leads as president and CEO. Argent has earned multiple honors for their work, leadership, and workforce diversity as a result of their focus on a diverse technology-driven environment.
Inspectorio
Co-Founder and CEO: Carlos Moncayo
Supply Chain Solutions Firm in Minneapolis, MN
Inspectorio is a cloud-based SaaS solution for developing dynamic, risk-based quality and compliance programs with the purpose of creating a connected, sustainable, and transparent supply chain. It is now used by over 15,000 network participants around the world, including some of the world’s most well-known brands and merchants. Moncayo was the youngest Latin American CEO to join the Group of Fifty, and the World Economic Forum dubbed him a Young Global Leader.
Group O
CEO: Gregg Ontiveros
Supply Chain Solutions Firm in Milan, IL
Group O began as a modest Midwest packaging wholesaler in 1974 and has since evolved to become one of the largest Latino-owned firms in the country. Group O specializes in integrated supply chain solutions designed to optimize operations while eliminating waste as an end-to-end business process outsourcer serving some of the world’s largest businesses. They are dedicated to environmental stewardship through a variety of programs and policies that lower not only their own but also their clients’ carbon footprints. As a registered MBE, Group O is committed to diversifying its workforce as well as collaborating with and mentoring other minority-owned businesses and suppliers.
RFG-MPW Environmental & Facility Services
Chairman and CEO: Roderick Rickman
Industrial Cleaning and Environmental Service Firm in Detroit, MI
RFG-MPW is North America’s largest comprehensive provider of technology-based industrial cleaning, facility management, water purification, container management, and environmental services. To ensure their clients have a safer and cleaner work environment in which to create high-quality products, the organization supports in boosting operational efficiencies, improving reliability, and lowering costs.
L2S Engineering, LLC
Founder: Laurie Ann Sibani
Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Engineering Design Firm in Leesburg, VA and Apollo Beach, FL
L2S Engineering, LLC is a Native American-owned, woman-owned mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering design firm with clients around the country. Its objective is to push the boundaries of technical excellence by offering services that assist clients in achieving their long-term environmental goals and lowering their carbon footprint. Sibani is an electrical engineer with vast design and project management experience who takes delight in providing her clients with cost-effective solutions.
“On our journey to our 2030 carbon-neutral goal for our supply chain and products, we’re determined to help create a greener and more equitable future for all people. The businesses we’re partnering with today are poised to become tomorrow’s diverse and innovative industry leaders, creating ripples of change to help communities everywhere adapt to the urgent challenges posed by climate change”, She added.
Selected businesses will receive specialized training as well as access to Apple experts and an alumni network. The Impact Accelerator is designed to help Black, Brown, Native American, and Indigenous-owned businesses achieve their next level of development by sharing Apple’s focus on innovation and environmental responsibility. Following the completion of the three-month virtual program, the companies will be assessed as potential suppliers to Apple as the company aims to become carbon neutral in its supply chain and products by 2030.
