Sustainability advocate, visual storyteller, nature lover
Isaac Sloan is working hard to weave sustainability into the manufacturing landscape for the benefit of all. Excited about the opportunity to create something new and impactful, Issac leads communications and engagement through a U.S. Department of Energy program aimed at improving and increasing clean-energy use at nonprofits and schools.
Driven to help groups make the transition to clean energy, Isaac earned a Master of Business Administration degree at Colorado State University, specializing in corporate sustainability with a carbon management certification. This degree helps Isaac when he approaches businesses about how they can reduce energy costs and avoid pollution while creating jobs.
Isaac is a former summer intern and communications specialist at IACMI – The Composites Institute These roles helped him become a digital marketing specialist for Collier Aerospace, an aerospace company, which led to his current position as a Clean Energy Deployment Fellow with the Department of Energy.
He is an avid photographer and videographer who enjoys being outdoors, where he can explore what the natural world has to offer. By helping to secure the future of U.S. manufacturing while also supporting his passion for our planet's sustainability, Isaac Sloan is a Modern Maker.
Q&A with Isaac
How did you find your way to working in advanced manufacturing?
I started working in advanced manufacturing during a summer internship with IACMI in 2019, during which I helped conduct a life cycle assessment of a novel carbon fiber recycling method to help us understand if it's a more energy-efficient way to recycle carbon fiber. This laid the groundwork for my undergraduate honors thesis on the market application of the solvolysis carbon fiber recycling method.
I also have worked on the communications side of advanced manufacturing. I was a communications intern for a year with IACMI. I worked as a digital marketing specialist for Collier Aerospace, a company that provides structural analysis, design optimization, and vehicle lightweighting for the design and manufacturing of aerospace technologies. And I have been a freelance writer covering the opening of a new facility for Vartega, a carbon fiber recycling company in Denver.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
The most challenging part of my current job is finding the best pathways to connect schools and nonprofits with technical assistance and funding opportunities to help them improve their energy infrastructure.
What is the best part of your job?
Knowing that my work is directly helping students and communities around the country by creating healthier facilities and learning environments. Many public schools are severely underfunded, and even small improvements in energy efficiency and infrastructure can translate to huge impacts on student health and academic performance.
What would people be surprised to learn about manufacturing?
I think people would be surprised to learn how much sustainability is being woven into the manufacturing landscape, and the benefits this can create throughout the value chain.
If you didn’t have to work, how would you spend your day?
I enjoy going to the gym and exploring somewhere new outdoors with my camera. If I didn’t have to work I would spend as much time as possible traveling around the country, visiting National Parks, and trying to see more of the world.
How do your hobbies translate to your career?
The two hobbies I’m most passionate about are photography and videography. I engage in these activities to try to capture the world around us and tell a story. This is very transferable to my professional roles because it forces me to look at storytelling and communications in general from a different perspective. In some cases, I have been able to rely on photography and videography to share stories in lieu of more traditional content like articles and case studies.
Another hobby of mine is finding ways to get outside with my dog, whether it’s going for walks, hiking, or camping. Developing a strong relationship with the natural environment is particularly helpful for me in a sustainability role. Knowing that my professional role has a direct impact on the natural world creates a stronger motivation to strive for more ambitious goals and career opportunities.
How does the work you do impact the world?
Climate change is something that affects every person on Earth, and any actions that advance sustainable measures create a net benefit for our current society and future generations.
