Mission
In 2009, Robyn Knocke and Lenae Hart Shirley founded Power Angels Holdings, LLC to develop and enable the successful establishment of the Cleantech energy industry in Texas and beyond, by engaging with and empowering start-ups, non-profit organizations and companies expanding into the industry. By leveraging strategic connections and providing business development, market intelligence and stakeholder communication services, Power Angels help transform the energy industry, spur economic growth, and move Texas toward greater sustainability.
Robyn Knocke
Exposed to entrepreneurship & the power of politics at a young age, Robyn puts to use this passion & deep understanding as a founding principal of Power Angels Holdings, LLC.
As a licensed investment banker representative, her extensive connections within the venture capital and investment community, combined with her knowledge of the Cleantech industry and political dynamics, give her a true edge to lead the emerging Cleantech market.
Robyn’s Cleantech career began with a government and public affairs role when she joined Energy Xtreme in 2007 focusing on energy storage and idle reduction technologies. Taking on additional responsibility to develop the US law enforcement market niche for Energy Xtreme, she led the market positioning and launch efforts securing pilot projects with nationally renowned police departments such as Dallas and New York City and managed the production of a PBS Weekly Special highlighting this technology.
Robyn’s natural charisma and marketing prowess is evident in her previous work with numerous radio stations including Clear Channel’s 1300 the Zone in Austin as Rookie of the Year & 790 The Animal in Houston, The Ticket in Dallas, as well as Learfield Sports/Texas A&M Sports Network, where she owned client relations, sponsorships & business development. Robyn also enjoyed the adrenaline of on-air work for the University of Texas’ football pregame show as well as hosting Golf Tips.
Robyn has held or currently holds leadership roles in Comfort the Children International, a non-profit focused on economic development for the people of Maai Mahiu, Kenya, The Austin Stone Church as the founding member, The Capitol City A&M Club as The Governor’s President’s Night Chairman as well as Meals on Wheels. Robyn earned her marketing degree from Texas A&M University and enjoys family, friends, golf, reading, running and traveling in her free time.
Lenae Hart Shirley
With 15 years in high tech marketing, Lenae has developed substantial expertise in strategic business consulting, business development and demand creation. Lenae has a proven track record of growing and managing businesses worth hundreds of millions of dollars. With an innate ability to quickly ascertain clients’ needs and understand market dynamics, she is able to develop successful “grow-your-market” strategies. That, coupled with practical experience working for the world’s largest solar and semiconductor equipment manufacturer, Applied Materials, positions her well for leading and establishing the emerging Cleantech industry in Texas.
Lenae has a unique ability to create synergy by bringing people together for strategic results. With extensive knowledge of the players in the renewable energy space, Lenae serves clients through her connections in and involvement with utilities, government, economic development leaders, and key industry players.
Lenae has played a critical and ongoing role in Austin’s Pecan St Project, an initiative to bring government, utilities, universities, and prominent private sector businesses together to assess the requirements to build the new energy system of the future.
Lenae moved to Austin in 1974, graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in business, specializing in marketing and consumer behavior. Her interests include travel, boating, yoga, culinary delights and spending time with her family.
Susan Wise
With more than 15 years of experience in international business, Susan brings many skills to the Power Angels team. She is a results-oriented global marketing professional with a successful track record of building premium, contemporary, progressive marketing programs across the US and Latin American regions and within multiple cultures. Susan has led high-profile consulting engagements in media, sports, entertainment, news/information, real estate development, travel/hospitality and government sectors.
After receiving her international MBA, Susan worked in Europe and then moved to Mexico City, where she was a marketing director for a large, national newspaper. While living in Mexico, Susan founded her own Marketing and PR company which successfully assisted international companies in accessing the luxury market in Mexico. Selected clients included American Airlines, Mercedes-Benz, Vail Resorts, Anheuser-Busch, Tag Heuer, Banorte and Travel Channel.
After moving back to the US, she expanded the scope of her experience and held contracts as the director of marketing, as well as the PR and political relations for a Tiger Woods golf development in Mexico. She has also worked with cutting edge internet technology companies and devoted time for leadership roles in selected social works foundations. These cumulative experiences have led Susan to realize a personal passion to promote clean technologies along with corporate consciousness. Her strong interest in the investment community, accomplished entrepreneurial skills, and experience working at the senior executive level on high-profile accounts ideally equips her to assist Power Angels in raising capital for Clean Tech entrepreneurs.
Susan earned an MBA in International Business from Monterey Institute of International Studies and a BA in International Relations from Tulane University. Born and raised in Fort Collins, Colorado, Susan lived and worked in England, Spain, New Zealand, Argentina, France and Mexico City before moving to Austin, Texas. She is fluent in English, Spanish and conversational French. During her free time, Susan enjoys polo, skiing, surfing, yoga and spending time with family, friends and her daughter.
Elizabeth Sims
Izzy is a 2nd year student at the McCombs School of business focusing on energy finance and CleanTech. She is currently VP of Special Events for the CleanTech Group, a student organization focused on the clean tech industry, where she organizes events including the UT Energy Forum. Before entering McCombs, Izzy was a Portfolio Manager at JPMorgan Private Bank in New York City; prior to JPMorgan, she was an analyst at Goldman Sachs in its commodity department. Izzy graduated from Yale University with a B.A. in geology and art history where she focused on geomicrobiology and eighteenth century porcelain. For the summer, Izzy has been interning with Lazard in its Houston office.