Our Approach
We focus on the nexus of local communities and public/private sector energy needs. Our approach involves a 3 stage program that Connects, Catalyzes and Creates opportunity.
- The Market Builder: Connect diverse sets of actors to identify public/private/community clean energy needs, define projects, and attract financing. Establish coalitions and build Clean Energy Hubs with local Colleges and Extensions to drive upskilling and entrepreneurship programs for the community.
- The Accelerator: Catalyze contracting businesses through Clean Energy Hubs, mentorship, and access to finance. Immerse startup projects in communities to match local talent with entrepreneurs and employer organizations.
- The Scaler: Create opportunities for community-based contracting businesses in their crucial expansion phase.
The program recognizes that the Clean Energy Transition can only happen at the speed and scale required if we connect the dots on the ground across a diverse range of actors. Our end-to-end program is rooted in local communities, from where we mobilize affordable, clean energy solutions nationwide and internationally.
cDots does not build data centers and is not sponsored by the technology sector.
Our Team
Our executive and advisory team brings deep, hands-on experience leading complex initiatives across international organizations, government, academia, and the private sector. Collectively, the team has worked at the intersection of strategy, finance, workforce development, and systems change, helping institutions move from ideas and pilots to real-world execution.
This experience spans:
- Senior leadership roles in global companies and mission-driven organizations
- Public-sector and government collaboration, including work with Tribal Nations, municipalities, and public agencies
- Academic and university-based programs, partnering with leading business schools and research institutions to connect applied research, student talent, and community needs
- Market-building and coalition coordination, bringing together diverse stakeholders who do not typically work in the same room
cDots’ team is particularly experienced in bridging sectors that often operate in silos. We help connect C-suite leaders, investors, and policymakers with academic partners, community-based organizations, and local implementers—ensuring that strategy, capital, and workforce development move in parallel rather than sequentially.
Through partnerships with universities like the College of the Muscogee Nation, Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley, and the Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania, cDots works with faculty, students, and practitioners to support applied learning, research, and talent development, while grounding that work in real community priorities. These collaborations help strengthen local capacity, support entrepreneurship and workforce pathways, and build a pipeline of future leaders equipped to manage complex projects over time.
At every stage, our team focuses on practical execution, long-term capacity building, cultural responsiveness and community-led decision-making. This combination of senior leadership experience, cross-sector coordination, and academic collaboration enables cDots to support communities in delivering ambitious programs that are realistic, scalable, and aligned with local goals.
Core Team
Viviana brings global leadership experience in strategy, sustainability, philantrophy and systems change. She previously led Sustainability and Corporate Strategy for Unilever North America, where she shaped enterprise-wide transformation work at the intersection of business, sustainability, and inclusive growth. In 2019 she received a United Nations Leadership Award in recognition of her work. Viviana also serves as a senior board member at the Center for Responsible Business at UC Berkeley and advises several ventures focused on sustainability and economic impact. As cDots CEO, she leads strategy, partnerships, and execution to help communities translate ambition into action.
Engineer turned strategist, Adri bridges industrial decarbonization, innovation, and finance to scale climate solutions that create real economic and environmental impact. With experience at DuPont, Dow, and Corteva, and an MBA from Berkeley Haas, she translates complex science into investable business models.
At cDots, Adri leads the Muscogee (Creek) Nation clean energy and economic transformation portfolio, aligning workforce development, industrial innovation, and community-driven growth.
As Chief of Staff, Shelley Martin focuses on aligning cDots’ program strategy & organizational development. She brings expertise in inclusive economic development, public-private partnerships, and Indigenous climate finance, from the grassroots to boardrooms. Her 15 years’ experience spans sectors and countries, including as a former USAID contractor guiding solar investments and advising sustainable supply chain initiatives with an equity lens.
Geneva Hamilton leads cDots’ communications and community engagement, leveraging her public relations background supporting Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities through strategic communications, creative direction, and public engagement. She has proven success leading communications for federal initiatives, such as extensive site work to five EPA regions, including Alaska Native communities, and serving as Communications Director for tribal programs, governments, and community services for the Pawnee and Osage Nations. She is also a tribal member of the Osage Nation.
cDots is working with Public Sector Consultants (PSC) which has launched four nonprofit greenbanks, including the nation’s first greenbank–Michigan Saves–and provides advisory services to peer organizations in 14 states. Kevin Bain is PSC’s chief financial officer who also serves as CFO to cDots. With experience from Wall Street, the World Bank, and municipal solar, property tax reform, and affordable housing policy, he combines sophisticated financial expertise with big-picture thinking to drive strategy on infrastructure and project finance, green banks, large capital investments, and related public policy.
Almost 30 years experience as a senior Unilever Executive and, more recently, in Climate Tech start ups. Strategic & operational experience across more than 25 countries, ranging from high growth through to mature markets. Non Exec Director for two Transition Economy businesses. Chaired international coalition to deliver sanitation services to underserved communities in developing markets through innovative for-profit models.
Ishita Rustagi is an MBA student at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, where she is exploring the intersection of climate action and economic mobility. Her background is in responsible innovation and impact investing, with a particular focus on solutions supporting community and broad-based ownership, green jobs, and social drivers of resilience. At cDots, she is researching ownership and governance models for energy sovereignty.
Emily Rigazzi, MBA, serves as cDots’ finance and accounting lead through the JGC team. She has 14 years of accounting and business administration experience helping organizations navigate financial setup, processes and maintaining accurate financial statements. She is passionate about streamlining processes and making financial data accessible for clients. Emily is also a tribal member of the Choctaw Nation.
A 5th generation Oklahoman, Jill served a 15 year career in the central budget office of Oklahoma state government, with the last decade as State Budget Director. As the CEO of Jill Geiger Consulting (JGC), she leads a team of associates that support organizations like cDots with finance and policy, grants management, compliance and reporting, and operational strategy.
Keri Runkle supports cDots with fundraising and grants management through the JGC team. With 30+ years of accounting, business management and program / project management experience, Keri brings executive level leadership, deep community involvement, and grants management in partnership with nonprofit partners around the state. She excels in grant writing, helping partners articulate their story in compelling ways.
Alex Johnson supports cDots with fundraising through the JGC team. An avid researcher, grant writer and policy analyst, Alex brings strong experience from nonprofit strategy, state sales tax consulting, political campaigns, and state agencies.
Board of Directors
Former CEO of Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever Executive, a industry pioneer stewarding iconic businesses and brands over the past 30 years. Matthew led Ben & Jerry’s to its greatest period of sustained financial and social mission impact in the company’s history. Previously Vice President leading Unilever’s Foods division in North America and recipient of Columbia University’s Botwinick Prize in Business Ethics and Ethical Practice.
Solomon P. Lee Chair in Business Ethics and Professor of Finance at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. She is the Founding Faculty Director of the Sustainable and Impact Finance Initiative. She served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Capital Access of the U.S. Department of the Treasury from 2021-2023.
Former Chancellor of the University of Missouri now serves in emeritus status and as Director of the Deaton Institute for University Leadership in International Development at Missouri. He was appointed Chair of the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development by President Obama in 2011 and reappointed in 2012 for a four-year term.
Tribal Leadership Partners
The citizens of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation elected David W. Hill as the seventh Principal Chief in the modern era of tribal government on December 7, 2019. Chief Hill’s leadership has brought the tribe global recognition for its proactive response to the COVID-19 pandemic and for the Nation’s fierce battle to uphold sovereignty in the wake of the historic Supreme Court decision affirming the Muscogee Reservation. Chief Hill has also been a policy trailblazer at the tribe’s headquarters for employees. His leadership has been recognized by TIME Magazine as one of 2020’s 100 Most Influential People in the World.
Del Beaver is the second chief of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
Dr. Randall previously served as the Muscogee (Creek) Nation (MCN) Secretary of Education and Training. He will assume office on March 8, 2021.
Monte is Muscogee (Creek) and a veteran of the United States Navy. He is a graduate of Haskell Indian Nations University, the University of Oklahoma, and Oral Roberts University, where he received his doctorate in educational leadership. He resides in Glenpool, OK, with his wife Lauren and three children.
Dr. Randall’s research interest focuses on Native American culture, problem-solving abilities, and leadership. His dissertation correlated the impacts of historical trauma of Native American students with social and emotional disorders. Before serving as the MCN Secretary of Education and Training, Dr. Randall worked extensively at CMN as the Dean of Academic Affairs, Dean of Student Affairs, Tribal Services Instructor, and Research Specialist. While at CMN, he developed the federal financial aid processes, Office of Student Affairs, and student learning assessment plan, which he presented at the Higher Learning Commission Annual Conference.
Monte is a 2017-18 Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Fellow, 2019-21 Rutgers University Aspiring Leader, and contributor to the Tribal College Journal. He volunteers as a community leader with Glenpool Public Schools, the City of Glenpool, and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Dr. Randall regularly presents topics relating to Native American education, culture, and leadership within the community.
- James Williams – Director of the Office of Environmental Services for Muscogee (Creek) Nation
- Jay Hayes – Environmental Services Grants/Program Manager for Muscogee (Creek) Nation
- Emma McFarland – Environmental Specialist II for Muscogee (Creek) Nation
- Amy King – Environmental Specialist for Muscogee (Creek) Nation
- James Salsman – Press Secretary for for Muscogee (Creek) Nation
- Chris Azbell – Extension Coordinator, College of the Muscogee Nation
Coalition Sponsors
CGC is the United States’ first National Green Bank. CGC mobilizes capital and transforms markets to build a strong America through initiatives like the Municipal Investment Fund (MIF), which catalyzed cDots’ energy sovereignty partnership with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation in Oklahoma. The MIF supports early-stage market-building to prepare projects for future investment, including development of public-private partnership models; alignment of capital, workforce, and institutions; and building of finance-ready pipelines for clean energy.
For more than 30 years, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability USA (ICLEI USA) has supported cities, towns, counties, regions, and Tribal nations in helping them achieve their climate and sustainability goals. Together with CGC, ICLEI USA sponsors cDots’ through the Municipal Investment Fund (MIF), $11.5 million in market-building grants paired with technical support to develop public-private partnership plans that can accelerate the deployment of capital to clean energy projects.
The GB 50 is the membership organization of state, local, and regional Green Banks, with the goal of supporting the industry’s growth and community impacts.
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation (MCN) is the fourth-largest Tribe in the US with nearly 104,000 citizens. The MCN is organized, by Constitution, into Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches, with distinct separation of powers. The Nation maintains diverse entities in infrastructure, business, community, culture, education, higher learning, recreation, gaming, and tourism.
A seed funder of cDots in 2024, Schmidt Futures funds science and technology research and talent networking programs through grants that include large-scale “moonshots”.
The College of the Muscogee Nation (CMN) is Oklahoma’s premier tribal college. CMN emphasizes native culture, values, language and self determination for tribal and non-tribal students as citizens of a tribal and global society.