Michele Joseph, a dynamic advocate for youth leadership and clean energy innovation, has spent the last two years channeling her passion into building a more sustainable and inclusive energy future. Based in Maryland, she serves as the President of NEXT GENERATION INC and CEO of SGAP LEADERS where she bridges clean energy solutions with education and workforce development.
Before stepping into the clean energy space, Michele was already paving the way for the next generation. She leads a nonprofit dedicated to equipping youth with soft skills and leadership training in STEM and Sustainability, with a strong emphasis on clean energy. This background laid the foundation for her current work—where education, innovation, and energy justice intersect.
Her transition into clean energy wasn’t a departure from her earlier work, but rather a natural evolution. Michele saw an opportunity to expand her impact by integrating clean energy solutions into youth education and workforce readiness programs.
One of Michele’s most memorable projects showcases exactly how she integrates hands-on learning with renewable energy solutions. At Picatinny Arsenal, she challenged the students in her program to take on a simulated but deeply realistic energy redesign. “We crafted a case study for our teens… to design solar, wind, and geothermal solutions for the arsenal,” Michele explained. “Our teens had to calculate the cost savings, determine where to place the solar panels, wind turbines and geothermal options; then justify their decisions while staying within budget during the real-world simulation.”
It was more than an academic exercise—it was a comprehensive dive into project planning, systems thinking, and sustainability strategy.
For her, international examples offer a blueprint for scalable progress—and a reminder that the U.S. must stay agile and innovative to remain a leader in this space. “I wish more people knew how other countries outside of the United States have successfully adopted clean energy,” she emphasized.
In her role, Michele works across sectors including solar, EVs, and soft skills training for trades—a combination that reflects her holistic view of the clean energy transition. She believes this intersection is critical to the sector’s success. “It is the future,” she said. “And it is critical that we adopt it as we adapt to the current climate impact.”
When asked about why Congress should invest in clean energy jobs, Michele’s response is both strategic and forward-thinking: “Investing in clean energy workforce places the USA at the forefront of innovation and keeps it competitive on the world stage.”
As the head of NEXT GENERATION INC, Michele is building more than a workforce—she’s building confidence, careers, and communities. With a passion rooted in youth empowerment and a vision shaped by global perspective, she’s helping define what a just and effective clean energy transition looks like.
