“I think the market is going towards greater flexibility; so that customers can respond to market signals and political changes and be ready for either”.
With a deep desire to serve customers over the course of a 21-year apprenticeship with companies like Union Gas, US Turbine, and Toromont, Martin Lensink was encouraged to start his own consulting firm on several occasions. It was only after a devastating downsizing, and with guidance from a career transition consultant that Martin decided to make the leap and came up with the company name Cogeneration & Energy Management which most people know today as CEM Engineering. The firm started in energy management, but the Green Energy and Green Economy Act in Ontario, save on energy program and fracking (which reduced the cost of natural gas), allowed CEM to focus on Martin’s second love in life – Cogeneration (his first of course is his wife of 42 years!).
Like most successful startup businesses, there are always a few people who help carry the organization beyond the typical five-year expiration period that so many startup companies experience. Natalie Tardiff, Martin’s current Executive Assistant and Lance Turcotte are two individuals whose support is arguably the reason CEM still exists and remains successful today.
“Lance taught me a lot. Not only in terms of Combined Heat and Power (CHP), but he also taught me a lot about the engineering method. He was indispensable”.
In our ever changing world where our clients count dollars attributed to energy and do their best to optimize kilowatts and BTU’s, we find ourselves in the middle of an energy transition, where CEM continues to re-define the definition of Cogeneration (the simultaneous generation of electricity and useful heating and cooling), to include technologies outside of reciprocating engines and gas turbines. This transformation is underway, and where possible our goal is to help clients identify and implement solutions to address energy and energy costs, which includes an on-going commitment to CO2 mitigation. Internally we refer to this as “driving the most CO2ST (carbon emissions + energy costs) out of our client’s operations”.
“We are going to help them identify any challenge internally to help them get the project approved and implemented”.
While we prepare today for the future, we also cannot help but look at our past for this has formed the very essence of who we are. To learn more about CEM, our history and our Founder Martin Lensink, please tune into Episode 001 of Energy Radio, a podcast by CEM Engineering.
