About us
About Gradient
Gradient is thrilled to see our clients achieve their objectives that goes well beyond simply renewable energy development and modernizing power plants, and grids.
Through artificial intelligence and predictive machine learning technologies we are able to devise a strategy for efficiently utilizing of energy infrastructures which helps to dictate failure and proactively accelerate power system ( power plants and-grid) improvements, decarbonize, and increase grid resilience and unexpected disruptions during severe weather.
Meet the Team
Tom Hunton
CO-Founder
Tom Hunton co-founded American Capital Energy in 2005 and served as President and Chief Executive Officer. At American Capital Energy, Tom oversaw development, financing and construction of over 120 major solar projects across the United States. The company developed over $1 billion in solar energy projects and Tom was directly responsible for over $500 million in realized projects. Tom counts among his clients some of the largest most respected companies and utilities in the world.
As former head of Sales & Marketing at RWE Solar and SCHOTT Solar, a leading global manufacturer and supplier of solar wafers, cells and modules, he came to know the global solar market, its key players, and necessary factors to be successful in this growing market. Prior to SCHOTT Solar, Mr. Hunton was with Green Mountain Energy Company, a start-up that quickly became the nation’s leading retailer of renewable energy where he led operations for the commercial & industrial unit. Mr. Hunton also spent 6 years in energy efficiency and key account management at a leading Vermont utility. Tom has a BS in Resource Economics from the University of Vermont and an MSA in Administration & Management from St. Michael’s College.
Jerome Austrie
Mr. Austrie has over 25 years of experience in the electrical and construction field. Trained in Antigua under the British training system, Mr. Austrie became a certified Master Electrician in the Mid 1980s. Mr. Austrie went on to get his Engineering certifications in Washington DC and has worked with the top general contractors in the area like: Clark Construction, Brown Construction and WMATA.
Mr. Austrie was the Quality Control Manager for the completion of the Washington DC Metro Rail system; he was specifically assigned to the end of the blue and green lines and completed those lines ahead of schedule. Mr. Austrie is also an expert in all phases of construction as well, many times he is contracted to be the lead project manager over multiple subcontracting integration teams.
Mr. Austrie’s ability to perform countless installs, repairs, and execute electrical circuit tests have made him a highly sought after engineer and electrician in the United States, Europe and the Caribbean. He brings his strengths to Recursive Energy DC allowing the company to participate in specialized development projects requiring customized construction project management. Mr. Austrie’s repair ability is legendary and he adds value to any project that has the most complicated electrical system modifications required to be completed.
Mr. Austrie is from the island of Dominica and has worked throughout the caribbean islands completing a long distinguished list of projects. Mr. Austrie holds a BS in Engineering from Antigua State College & Electrician Certifications from The Antigua and Barbuda International Institute of Technology. Mr. Austrie lives in Alexandria, Virginia.
Gabriel Christian
An attorney in Maryland and a Georgetown Law School graduate, attorney Gabriel Christian is a highly-skilled veteran trial lawyer. He is deeply involved in community service, offering his time to the citizens of Maryland, business organizations, religious organizations, the school system, and the Caribbean community.
Admissions: Admitted to the Maryland bar, 1991; U.S. District Court, District of Maryland, 1992; U.S. Supreme Court, 1997.
Education: University of the District of Columbia (BBA, 1986); Georgetown University (J.D., 1991).
Professional Associations and Memberships: J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association, Prince George’s County Bar Association, Maryland Bar Association, National Bar Association, Alan J. Goldstein Inns of Court, American Bar Association, Dominica Academy of Arts & Sciences, Tuskegee Airmen Association- East Coast Chapter, Board Member- Caribbean Research & Policy Center.
Areas of Practice: Criminal Defense, Personal Injury Litigation, Church and Religious Organizations, Insurance Defense, International Law, Commercial Law, Business Organizations, Family Law, Criminal Defense, Environmental Law and Sustainable Energy Law.
Published Works: In Search of Eden: Dominica, The Travails of a Caribbean Mini-State, 1992; Rain On A Tin Roof, 1999; Death by Fire – The Explosive Story of the 1963 Carnival Tragedy, 2007; For King & Country – The Service and Sacrifice of the Dominican Soldier, 2008; For King & Country-The Service and Sacrifice of the British West Indian Military, 2009; Mamo! The Life and Times of Dame Mary Eugenia Charles, 2010.
Appointments: Appointed a Judicial Commissioner on the Maryland Courts of Appeals Nomination Commission in 2007 by Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley; Appointed a Commissioner on the Governor’s Commission on Caribbean Affairs in 2012 by Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley.
Tim Kelly
Mr. Kelley has 25 years experience in the power industry, including utility-scale and distributed power generation development, power trading and risk management, utility and regional independent system operator enterprise software systems, energy management and demand response technology, and transmission and distribution smart grid technology. Mr. Kelley has held leadership positions in finance, product development, and business development at Green Mountain Power, Lodestar Software (now part of Oracle’s Energy Suite of products), and Weidmann Electric Technology. He was a member of the founding team of Green Mountain Energy, the country’s first and leading marketer of renewable power in unregulated energy markets. Mr. Kelley has a BS Computational Mathematics at the University of VT and an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
JJ Simmons V.
JJ Simmons serves as a Business Development director and project strategy expert, he has advised Head’s of State, business leaders and government officials on issues related to infrastructure finance, clean technology systems, power generation solutions, agricultural system models, scaling for growth and emerging market expansion.
Mr. Simmons helped develop the Green Fuel Solutions consortium into a leading business consultancy, providing project development services, matching technology partners with project integration teams, serving global markets in the African, Caribbean and European power generation sectors. Mr. Simmons has over 20 years of experience dealing with global trade and finance solutions, clean technology and cyber network operations. Mr. Simmons has raised over 500 Million USD in project funding. Mr. Simmons holds a BA in History and Business from Lincoln University in Oxford, Pennsylvania, and a Masters in Business and Management (MBM) from National-Louis University in Chicago. Mr. Simmons lives in Washington, DC.