Jade serves as President & CEO of BRITE Energy Innovators, Ohio’s only energy technology incubator, where he leads efforts to accelerate the commercialization of energy storage, grid modernization, and clean-tech solutions across the Midwest. Under his leadership, BRITE is expanding its statewide presence, strengthening partnerships between innovators, utilities, investors, and manufacturers, and positioning Ohio as a national hub for advanced energy entrepreneurship.

In addition to his role at BRITE, Jade is Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Thornton Buckeye Group, a respected public affairs and strategic advisory firm guiding clients through complex energy, infrastructure, and workforce challenges. He brings a unique ability to bridge private-sector innovation with public-sector policy, ensuring that growth and resilience advance together.

Prior to these leadership roles, Jade served as Senior Vice President of Public Affairs & Energy at the Port of Cleveland, where he launched and led the port’s energy and environmental initiatives, strengthened public-private partnerships, and directed the organization’s government relations strategy at the local, state, and federal levels. Earlier, he was Senior Director of State Affairs and Outreach for the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE) in Washington, D.C., overseeing legislative and regulatory engagement across 35 states.

Jade began his career as Legislative Liaison to the Ohio General Assembly and Congressional Delegation for the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, where he advanced critical energy, regulatory, and economic development initiatives.
He is an alumnus of The College of Wooster, Eastern Michigan University, and the Harvard Business School, and he continues to mentor emerging leaders in the clean energy and public policy sectors.

Jade is deeply involved in civic life, serving on the boards of Karamu House, the MetroHealth Foundation, and Benedictine High School. He resides in Northeast Ohio.