Board of Directors

Alex Ray

Viridis Initiative

Chair

Alex Ray will serve as Chairman of the AAEA Board of Directors from July 1, 2023, until July 1, 2025. He has been a supporter and member of AAEA since 2014, having served on the Board of Directors since 2019.

Mirroring AAEA’s tagline mission, Alex says he has spent his career “dedicated to growing Arkansas’ economy through the expansion of advanced energy technology.

Alex currently serves as a Principal Developer and the U.S. National Practice Lead – Education for a global private equity infrastructure development firm, serving public-sector institutional clients, as well as private-sector commercial clients throughout North America. Prior to his current venture, Alex spent eleven and a half years leading the sustainable infrastructure business in Arkansas for a Fortune Global 500 Energy Services firm.

 Alex’s work in advanced energy includes a development and direct delivery portfolio of more than $100MM in energy-efficiency-funded infrastructure projects, representing more than a quarter-billion dollars (U.S.) in avoided taxpayer spend and more than 1.2 metric tons of C02 sequestered on behalf of his clients. He is committed to the promotion of alternative and advanced energy technologies and infrastructure for the people of Arkansas.

 Alex is a 7th-generation Arkansan who attended the University of Arkansas’ Walton College of Business where he obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA), with an emphasis in Global Supply Chain Procurement, as well as Ouachita Baptist University where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He and his family reside in Little Rock.

Lisa V. Perry

Walmart, Inc.

Vice Chair

Lisa V. Perry is a Senior Manager, Energy Services for Walmart, Inc. As part of the utilities team, Lisa is actively involved in helping Walmart meet its sustainability goals by working directly with utilities across the United States on renewable energy programs, energy efficiency, vehicle electrification plans, and resiliency, and by participating in state regulatory utility proceedings.

Lisa received from the University of Florida her law degree in 1999 and a L.L.M. in Taxation in 2000. She also completed a B.A. in Criminology and a B.A. in Psychology at the University of South Florida. Prior to joining Walmart, Lisa represented Walmart as outside counsel in general rate cases and renewable energy dockets before utility Commissions in Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, and Louisiana

David Stitt

The Stitt Group, Inc.

Secretary

David Stitt is President & Chief Executive Officer for The Stitt Group, Inc. and Stitt Solar, in Rogers, Arkansas. The Stitt Group is a collaborative design / build firm specializing in the production of high performance homes. Stitt Solar is a SunPower “Master Dealer” and designs, sells, and installs solar for residential and commercial properties.  

David has worked in the construction industry for over 30 years which included 7 years as a softwood lumber trader.  Stitt has a BA in Economics from Iowa State University, has earned the Certified Green Professional (CGP) designation by the National Association of Home Builders, is a past board member for the Ozark Natural Science Center.  

David is married and has 2 daughters that attend The University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

Caleb Gorden

Shine Solar

Treasurer

Caleb Gorden is an accomplished entrepreneur and renewable energy advocate based in Arkansas. He is the President and Co-Founder of Shine Solar, a solar energy company that has become one of the fastest-growing in the state. Caleb graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Political Science and worked in the solar energy industry before starting Shine Solar in 2016. Under his leadership, Shine Solar has become known for exceptional customer service and high-quality solar installations for residential properties. Caleb’s commitment to renewable energy extends beyond his work at Shine Solar, as he is also a board member of the Arkansas Advanced Energy Association (AAEA); a non-profit organization that promotes the growth and development of advanced energy technologies in Arkansas. He is dedicated to creating a more sustainable future for generations to come, and his work at Shine Solar and with the AAEA reflects this commitment.