Abrams and Newhouse bring extensive talent, expertise and relationships to advance Heliogen’s mission of replacing fossil fuels with concentrated sunlight
Heliogen, Inc., a leading provider of AI-enabled concentrated solar power, has announced that Stacey Abrams and Phyllis Newhouse have been nominated to join Heliogen’s Board of Directors upon closing of the company’s business combination with Athena Technology Acquisition Corp.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have Stacey and Phyllis join Heliogen’s post-combination Board,” said Bill Gross, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Heliogen. “Both Stacey and Phyllis are trailblazers and thought leaders in their respective fields, with talent, expertise and relationships that will greatly benefit Heliogen as we transition to a public company and scale our technology globally. Through our collaboration with Athena, Phyllis has already delivered extensive value to Heliogen, and Stacey is one of our country’s most dynamic and inspiring public figures, who has consistently championed the protection of our environment while advocating for policies that address climate change and drive economic development. We are forming a world-class Board of Directors to partner with our outstanding executive leadership team, and the additions of Stacey and Phyllis will be invaluable to advance Heliogen’s mission of replacing fossil fuels with concentrated sunlight.”
Stacey Abrams serves as the chief executive officer of Sage Works Production, Inc. In addition, Ms. Abrams has served as the founder and executive director of Southern Economic Advancement Project since 2019. From 2007 to 2017, Ms. Abrams served as a State Representative of the Georgia General Assembly and as the minority leader from 2011 to 2017. She has been the chief executive officer of Sage Works, LLC since September 2002. She previously served as the chief executive officer of the Third Sector Development from August 1998 until March 2019, and as Senior Vice President of NOWaccount Network Corporation from 2010 to 2016. Ms. Abrams received a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from Spelman College, a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, and a J.D. from Yale University.
“Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century,” said Abrams. “To respond, we must develop and scale innovative solutions that decarbonize our planet while creating economic opportunity and prosperity for all. Technologies like those pioneered by Heliogen offer a dynamic answer, and I am proud to join Bill, Phyllis and the talented Heliogen team on its mission to empower a sustainable civilization with low-cost solar energy that makes clean power more affordable and accessible.”
Phyllis Newhouse is an entrepreneur; retired military senior non-commissioned officer; mentor, founder and CEO of Atlanta-based cybersecurity firm XtremeSolutions; and a founder, CEO and Director of Athena Technology Acquisition Corp. While serving in the US Army on various assignments, Ms. Newhouse focused on national security and worked on several projects that outlined the Cyber Espionage Task Force. In 2002, she founded XtremeSolutions, which offers a wide range of IT expertise and provides industry-leading information technology and cybersecurity services and solutions. The company has employees in 42 states and 40% of its workforce is made up of veterans.
In 2019, Ms. Newhouse co-founded ShoulderUp, a nonprofit dedicated to connecting and supporting women in their entrepreneurial journeys. She currently serves on the boards of the Technology Association of Georgia and Sabre Corporation and is a member of the Business Executives for National Security. She also serves on the executive board and is a member of the Women Presidents’ Organization and serves on the board of Girls Inc. Ms. Newhouse holds a B.A. in Liberal Arts Science from Saint Leo College and is a graduate of the Institute of Entrepreneurial Leadership program sponsored by John F. Kennedy University.
“I am honored to join the Heliogen board of directors to help the company fulfill its mission of creating a more sustainable future,” said Newhouse. “The company is pioneering the cost-effective delivery of renewable energy using innovative AI technology and I’m proud to leverage my experience and expertise in support of Heliogen’s vision. I very much look forward to working alongside Bill and his team as we work toward the day when cleaner power sources completely replace the need for fossil fuels.”
