Heather Garay Joins Leopardo Energy as Director of Financial Operations
Heather Garay has joined Leopardo Energy as the director of financial operations. In her new role, she will contribute to Leopardo’s commitment to work with organizations to determine traditional and non-traditional operational cost-reduction measures that help to improve the environment, address infrastructure needs and guarantee maximum savings.
Having previously practiced social security and veteran’s disability law as an associate at Thomas J. Scully, III and Associates in Munster, Indiana, Heather most recently served as controller for the City of Hammond, Indiana where she took a lead role in the city’s energy efficiency program. Her efforts allowed Hammond to establish a green fleet of city vehicles, convert 75 percent of its streetlights to new LED fixtures and upgrade building automation control and HVAC systems across numerous municipal facilities, such as the public works complex, the police station, fire stations and the civic center.
Heather is presently chairwoman of the finance committee for the Hammond Academy of Science and Technology and is a member of the Hammond Education Foundation board of directors and blueprint advisory board. She recently joined the board of directors for the Legacy Foundation. Heather has also served as president of the Hammond Board of Public Works and Safety, assistant treasurer of the Hammond Local Public Improvement Bond Bank, treasurer for the Hammond Water Works board of directors and vice chairperson and legislative compliance commissioner for the Hammond Human Relations Commission.
A proud graduate of Valparaiso University, Heather carries a bachelor’s degree in political science and history, as well as a J.D. from Northern Illinois College of Law. She was awarded the 2018 Up + Coming Woman of the Year by Northwest Indiana Influential Women Association and is a member of the 2018 class of The Times Media Co.’s 20 Under 40, as well as the inaugural class of Hoosier Women Forward.
Leopardo Energy collaborates with municipalities and other local government organizations to renew facilities while simultaneously increasing energy efficiency and decreasing operational costs across multiple departments—all without the need for new capital expenditures. Through its comprehensive capital creation audits, identifying improvements to save energy, create capital, address deferred maintenance issues, analyze existing financial conditions and identify fleet operations options, Leopardo develops energy-saving performance contracts (ESPCs) that create self-funding projects and provide clients with a comprehensive set of capital creation measures.
