It was 7 p.m. Eastern Time when Joel Brizzi answered his phone. A little late, it seemed, to be in the office, but Brizzi was finishing up the paperwork on a new Viridian customer account that one of his Associates had brought him. This particular account included 500 individual meters.

An impressive number, especially when Brizzi himself joined Viridian in March.

Brizzi is used to late nights. Besides attending to matters in his water business – he has been selling spring water, filtration systems and customer refilling stations for 21 years – he also sits on the East Rutherford, N.J., City Council as a police commissioner, a post he’s held for 15 years in his “spare time.”

While it may seem daunting, Brizzi said his multiple hats help keep him close to Jamie, his wife of 20 years.

“She’s my partner in the water business and in Viridian,” Brizzi said.

They have two children: 19-year-old Raquel, who is attending Penn State, and Joel Taylor, or J.T., who is 17.

The decision to join Viridian was a “no-brainer,” Brizzi said. While attending a presentation on the energy company, Brizzi was quickly impressed with what he heard.

“I signed up on the spot,” he said.

Brizzi has long believed in environmentally conscious products, but he said the service that Viridian provides adds an element that many are unable to offer.

“When you have a green product that’s cheaper, it’s almost never heard of,” Brizzi said.

Now that he’s an Associate, Brizzi said he’s going “90 miles per hour,” looking for individuals to get involved in the company.

“I probably average four or five new Associates a day,” Brizzi said. “You have to come out of the starting blocks and go.”

The biggest concern he sees when talking with potential customers is skepticism. He said many people have spent so many years on public utilities that deregulation sounds impossible. With a little homework, he said an Associate can pass right over that hurdle.

“You have to educate people,” Brizzi said. “You have to get trained on how to explain the product and how to build your business.”

When recruiting new Associates, Brizzi said he focuses first on the product instead of the organizational levels of Viridian.

“I am selling green energy,” Brizzi said. “It’s cheaper than the utility and there’s no contract.”

In the end, however, Brizzi said it’s not about selling a product, but about helping people realize the money they can save and the difference it can make in the environment.

“With the way the economy is going, I don’t want to ask people to buy anything,” Brizzi said, “and we don’t.”

When Brizzi was asked about his WHY for joining Viridian, he immediately spoke of his family.

“I have a child in college,” Brizzi said. “I would like to pay for her education. People say it’s all about the money; it’s not the money, it’s what the money buys.”

Brizzi said his biggest motivator is the man who comes to his house every day in a blue striped uniform and puts bills into his mailbox.

While Brizzi is seeing some amazing growth in his business, he admits that the life of a Viridian Associate is not for everyone.

“You have to stay with it,” Brizzi said. “Most people don’t want to do what it takes to get to this level. They want what’s at the end of the rainbow without doing what it takes to get there.”

Still, the path is there, Brizzi said, for anyone to begin finding customers and see the growth that they want.

“I think we have great leadership,” Brizzi said of Viridian, “and we have strategic growth.”

And, of course, one great product.

The Rev. Edmund Nadolny, of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Connecticut, has tried all sorts of fundraisers.

When a man named Ted knocked on Nadolny’s door and told him about Viridian, Nadolny knew he had found something special.

“It took me about 13 seconds; I saw it right away,” Nadolny said.

He quickly became a Viridian Associate and customer, seeing significant savings on the first bill he received on Viridian’s service. . After realizing the potential Viridian offers, Nadolny took advantage of Viridian’s nonprofit organization fundraising program by starting the Father Nadolny Good News Fund which aims to offers savings to customers while supporting his cause..

Nadolny oversees a program that helps families host, and potentially adopt, orphan children from the Ukraine. The children range in age from 7 to 11 and come from a variety of tough backgrounds. Transportation, education and basic living costs quickly add up, but Nadolny tries to supplement the expense as much as possible through the fund. . Unlike other fundraisers Nadolny has used, the Viridian program is residual and allows Nadolny to focus on what he loves: helping people.

“This is the best fundraiser we’ve ever had,” Nadolny said.

Since joining Viridian in March, Nadolny has raised $3,000 for the Good News Fund, not to mention the money he saves on his monthly energy bill.

“We’re not selling anything,” Nadolny said. “We’re saving money. I’ve got a pharmacy saving $600.”

Through the Viridian program, customers indicate a nonprofit organization to fund while paying their energy bills. The individual bill doesn’t cost a penny more, but $2 each month is given to help the indicated program, like Nadolny’s Good News Fund. With each month’s bill, a customer can save money, raise money for nonprofits and help the environment through Viridian’s use of renewable energy.

Nadolny has been very active in seeking potential Associates, whom he refers to as “disciples.” Through their combined efforts, a large network has developed. Currently, the Good News Fund receives funds from hundreds of individuals, a number that is constantly growing. Nadolny said he has often lent the initial startup fee to potential disciples who, Nadolny asserts confidently, always manage to quickly sign up their first 15 customers and make back the investment

“If you don’t have the money, I’ll lend you the money,” Nadolny said.

Beyond the fundraising business, Nadolny is quick to point out to individuals the cost-saving and environmental benefits of making the switch to Viridian. One couple approached Nadolny for marriage counseling, to which he happily obliged. He didn’t charge for counsel; he simply told the couple they would need to sign up for Viridian.

After joining Viridian, Nadolny said he was told by other Associates that the elderly are often reluctant to become Viridian customers. His experience has suggested quite the contrary, in that many of his best customers are elderly couples and individuals who live on a fixed income.

“I’m not too bright,” Nadolny said, “but just do the math. You’re helping the environment and you’re saving money.”

With more people hearing about Viridian every day, the Good News Fund continues to grow, opening doors for Nadolny’s work and making more opportunities available to the children the program assists. As for Nadolny, he looks forward to helping more and more people save money, and finding host families to care for the children.

In November, Viridian will officially launch the global arm of our Sustainability Initiative in beautiful Brazil, as part of our pledge to leave the world a better place than we found it.

By now, you know how fast Viridian has been growing. It is through this growth that we are able to begin to realize our mission to not only save people money but, more significantly, to make a difference in our communities and the world. I’m sure you’ve seen it first-hand as you’ve shown your friends and neighbors how they can help the environment and save money on their utility bills. You may have even helped out at one of our sustainability events or lead similar efforts in your own community. Many people are beginning to catch the vision of our Sustainability Initiative, which, in short, is a pledge to leave the world a better place than we found it. This is exciting stuff. 

With Growth Comes Responsibility

As you know, the fight for renewable energy is a global one, so wouldn’t it be nice to feel connected to those abroad who share the same goals? While Hawaiian shirt Friday might be a good start, we want to do something more. Something meaningful, something long-lasting, something that could change the world.  What if we could travel the planet and demonstrate our commitment to protecting and preserving it, leaving behind a contribution instead of a footprint? Since the formation of this company, this has been a dream of ours, and now in our first year in operation we are about to realize it.

First Global Adventure In Brazil this Fall

While we may not be able to cover the entire Earth at once, we can get to all of it eventually. Our plan is to visit one continent each year for the next seven years. To kick off the 7 Continents in 7 Years program, our first stop will be in South America this fall!  As part of a forest replantation project, we will do our part to ensure the rainforests of the Amazon continue to flourish. We want you to come along and reap the rewards of hard work and leadership along with us! All who achieve the rank of Executive Director by November are invited to attend, with a guest. .  As it would be a shame to visit Brazil without strolling on the white sandy beaches of the Copa Cabana, witnessing the panoramic grandeur of the Iguazu Falls or standing under the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue overlooking Rio…we have made arrangements to include those activities (and more) as part of the trip.

Don't miss the biggest and best corporate event of the year at PowerUP! 2010: The 1st Annual National Viridian Network Convention. It's time to celebrate, learn from each other and kick up the voltage. You won't want to miss the speakers, training, networking, business building and good eats we have planned for you in Atlantic City. See you there!