Matthew Burks

Boulder Valley 40 Under Forty

“Energy efficiency” — such as the LED light bulb he’s holding — “is an essential component in solving the climate crisis and making sustainable renewable energy a reality,” said Matthew Burks, who has worked at E Source in Boulder since 2008 and was promoted to vice president for strategy and products last March.

Burks oversees E Source’s corporate strategy, existing products and services, and new-product development and partnerships. His teams drive E Source’s core business, representing all its current revenue, and the strategic plan and products to deliver consistent double-digit growth. The company advises nearly every U.S. and Canadian utility. In the past 19 months, the company released more than 15 new products, launched a new consulting division and shifted its strategic focus, resulting in roughly 20 percent growth in 2015.

With a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and a master’s from Duke, Burks has written for several industry publications, and his articles have been cited in The Wall Street Journal. He has spoken at more than 30 conferences across the nation and was elected co-chair of the Association of Energy Service Professionals’ marketing committee in 2010 and 2011. He served the Colorado Cleantech Industry Association as a department head for its Energy Fellows Institute, which helps train successful executives to launch Colorado-based clean-tech startups.

Burks and his wife volunteer at their daughter’s Boulder Valley schools and work with other local organizations.

“The energy-business trenches aren’t glamorous,” Burks said. “However, clean and efficient energy use is absolutely essential for our children’s future.”

on Facebook on LinkedIn