GLASE names Gretchen Schimelpfenig as new executive director

The Greenhouse Lighting and Systems Engineering (GLASE) consortium has named Gretchen Schimelpfenig as their new Executive Director.

Schimelpfenig's educational journey includes an M.S. in Civil Engineering from Stanford University in 2014 and a B.S. in Architectural Engineering from the University of Wyoming in 2012. As a licensed Civil Professional Engineer in California and Vermont, she has demonstrated her commitment to innovation and sustainability.

At GLASE, Schimelpfenig will spearhead collaborative efforts with academics and industry stakeholders to drive groundbreaking advancements in greenhouse technology and systems.

Her primary focus will be on reducing the environmental impact and increasing the profitability of the CEA industry by pioneering and commercializing emerging solutions.

In addition to her role at GLASE, Schimelpfenig currently serves as a senior engineer at Energy Resources Integration (ERI), where she assists greenhouse growers and indoor farmers across the country in implementing cost-effective energy management strategies to maximize efficiency. Her expertise in this field is further highlighted by her previous position as the Technical Director of Resource Innovation Institute (RII). She is the author of RII's Lighting, HVAC, and Facility Design & Construction Best Practices Guides for CEA in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.