John Satkowski named Notable Leader in Energy by Crain’s Detroit Business

T he editorial team of Crain’s Detroit Business named Henry Ford College (HFC) Vice President of Financial, Facilities, IT, and Auxiliary Services John Satkowski as one of Detroit’s Notable Leaders in Energy.

“I am honored and touched to be named to such a prestigious list,” said Satkowski, of Temperance, MI. “I am certainly in good company.”

According to Crain’s, “These standout Notable Leaders are developing new strategies to improve environmental sustainability, educate future leaders and develop innovative products and services for utility, automotive, construction and other industries in Michigan and around the globe. The honorees featured in this report were nominated by their peers, companies, friends and family and selected by Crain’s Detroit Business editors based on their career accomplishments, track record of success and contributions to their fields and communities.”

Among other accomplishments, Satkowski has spearheaded the Integrated Energy Master Plan (IEMP) at Henry Ford College. The IEMP is a 20-year partnership between HFC and Johnson Controls Inc. (JCI) to achieve Global Best Practices in Energy Management and Education. The partnership was initiated in 2019 with significant help in project visioning, planning, and implementation from Garforth and Associates.

Transformative energy infrastructure and usage

The IEMP calls for breakthrough operational results by HFC’s target date of 2040. The changes will be highly measurable, resulting in 60-50-40 gains. They include:

• Energy efficiency improvement by 60%
• Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 50%
• Water efficiency improvement by 40%

The project is performing above expectations even in the early stages of implementation, long before the 2040 target date.

“We are well on our way to reaching or exceeding our targets, thanks to John’s leadership,” said HFC President Russell Kavalhuna.

This $23 million project upgrades every area of HFC’s main campus. These upgrades, which are expected to be completed this summer, include the following:

• District Heating System: Upgraded system includes high efficiency boilers and integration of heat recovery from combined heat and power plant.
• HVAC Upgrades: Many improvements to air-handling equipment for better control and air quality.
• Controls: Complete system upgrade to ensure occupant comfort.
• Lighting: Upgraded to LED lighting campus-wide.
• Solar: Generating power from the sun.
• Water Conservation: Upgraded water fixtures and toilets.
• Xeriscaping: Zero water landscaping and upkeep.
• Building Envelope: Focused roof upgrades and window replacements.

The cost savings are guaranteed by JCI to reduce waste. These guaranteed savings mean that the project will pay for itself in 14 years and then provide annual gains annually thereafter. JCI is obligated to pay HFC any savings goals that are missed.

Conservation, culture, and classrooms

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell and Senator Debbie Stabenow were able to secure grants to support HFC’s energy-saving efforts. Dingell secured a $2 million grant, HFC’s only community funding request. Stabenow secured a $3.1 million grant over the course of four years.

“This project strengthens HFC’s track record by giving students hands-on experience and training with state-of-the-art clean energy equipment, while benefiting the College with greater energy-efficient systems. That’s why I was so excited to secure these funds in the federal budget,” said Stabenow.

The $3.1 million grant will support a sustainability initiative that demonstrates how schools, cities, and organizations across the U.S. can reach their net zero targets, and train the next generation of energy leadership.

“For energy-related industries and businesses across our state, one of their biggest challenges is building a trained, effective workforce for the future,” said Satkowski. “The work HFC is doing in sustainable energy sets a global standard that thoroughly addresses both challenges.”

The IEMP’s goal of promoting a sustainable energy culture and serving the global energy transition calls for a brand-new energy-related curriculum that allows students to learn global best practices in real time from the College's own systems.

The campus is designed as a “living classroom” to serve as a training ground and showcase for global best practices in energy management and education, providing new career pathways for students interested in entering a rapidly growing field. This includes a 1-year major for technicians, a 2-year major for project managers, and a path to a bachelor’s degree in energy production. Garforth and Associates and JCI have both been involved in development of proposed curriculum for this program.

The IEMP will extend HFC's academic offerings and community outreach. HFC will engage school systems in the surrounding area to raise energy and climate awareness. This will enable HFC to partner with secondary educators and industry to design curriculum, and launch and refine comprehensive clean energy awareness programs.

Graduating students will enter the workforce prepared for careers that will provide family-sustaining wages and foster financial equity. They will be equipped with skills relevant to the energy transition underway globally, helping close a major skills gap.

HFC’s curriculum development is supported by the JCI Community College Partnership Program, a major $15 million, 5-year philanthropic investment in community colleges across the country. Educational institutions such as HFC are selected for their future-driven focus and proven ability to serve underrepresented groups.

National and global standards

“The IEMP will be the regional and national standard for large institutions partnering with for-profit organizations to reduce utility costs. HFC’s unique partnership with JCI simultaneously builds a workforce with our students, who can earn meaningful careers in this clean energy work for the future. Unlike many green projects, this project makes financial sense for the institutions and corporate partners,” said Kavalhuna.

Added Satkowski: “This is only a selection of practices that HFC will be adopting. We are looking forward to many more IEMP initiatives in the years to come.”

Satkowski earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He went on to earn his master’s degree in accounting and his juris doctor, both from the University of Toledo. He gained professional education certification through the CPA firms Ernst & Young and Arthur Andersen, LLP.

Before coming to HFC in 2012, Satkowski served as Interim President and Executive Vice President of Finance and Treasurer of Owens Community College in Perrysburg, OH. Earlier in his career, Satkowski worked in Academic Affairs as the Associate Vice President for Academic Finance at the University of Toledo; Budget Director at the Medical College of Ohio; and in industry with Ernst & Young and Arthur Andersen, LLP.

“The IEMP is the biggest win for John because it’s a huge expense in the beginning. He had to prove it would pay off. He won my support and then unanimous support from the Board of Trustees,” said Kavalhuna. “He accomplished this campus-wide project during the pandemic and kept everything on schedule. A close second accomplishment would be leading a financial reorganization of HFC during a debt crisis in 2013 that nearly put the College out of business. John also served as Interim President before I came to HFC. He kept things running smoothly for quite a while between two presidents.”