Our Story

Our Story

Donald Kelley and Charles Tenney formed the BrainShift Foundation in 2007. Their first project was a community-based “alternate-reality game” to increase community engagement and motivation in the area of energy efficiency. The resulting Energy Smackdown achieved results that are 2-3 times what is expected for programs of its type. Their first project was a community-based “alternate-reality game” to increase community engagement and motivation in the area of energy efficiency.

Donald Kelley: Donald has over 30 years experience designing, developing, and delivering innovative learning solutions for customers in high-tech, energy, and financial services, including: Intel, IBM, ConocoPhillips, Samsung, Toshiba, RR Donnelley, Bank of America. His game-based community outreach program, the Energy Smackdown received national recognition for achieving an average of 14% reduction in electric usage and 17% reduction in gas. Donald is a BPI certified Home Energy Auditor. He has directed science education programs in New York City and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Donald is a contributing author to five science textbooks.

Alex Cheimets: Alex is an engineer and inventor. He holds three patents with some of America’s major brands for luxury appliances. In 2008, Alex turned his attention to his own home and completed a deep energy retrofit. The project evolved into a consortium of government, utilities, and manufacturers and became the best known deep-energy retrofit in the United States.