Ryan Laemel is the Chief Operating Officer of Protect Our Winters (POW), where he oversees operations, financial planning, trainings, events, the Athlete and Science Alliances, and Team POW, POW’s member program. In this role, Ryan applies his extensive background in climate, energy, and sustainability to support POW’s mission of solving the climate crisis through advocacy and action.
Prior to joining POW, Ryan was a senior leader at RMI, a globally recognized nonprofit focused on market-based solutions to the energy transition, and Third Derivative, an RMI-launched accelerator for climate-tech startups. At RMI, Ryan served as the chief of staff to cofounder Amory Lovins, started and led the India program, and directed research, policy, and innovation work on the transportation, electricity, and industry sectors. Ryan began his career at Yale, his alma mater, where he supported the university’s sustainability planning and projects and led the development of the world’s first campus-based carbon pricing program.
Originally from Connecticut, Ryan grew up running and hiking around New England. A former college cross-country and track athlete, Ryan is an avid climber, skier, and trail runner. He lives in Basalt, Colorado with his wife, where they enjoy skiing at Aspen-Snowmass and ice climbing in the winter, and exploring the Western Slope’s rock and trails in the summer.