Faces of The Energy Co-op: Drew Hayden

Written by Drew Hayden – 8/4/2026

We interviewed our new Operations Manager, Drew Hayden – keep reading to learn more about Drew:

When did you start and what do you do at The Energy Co-op? 

I started at the Energy Co-op in mid-June! As the Operations Manager, I administer and enhance The Energy Co-op’s operational systems to refine efficiency, foster internal and external collaboration, and drive strategic initiatives throughout the organization.  

Could you share more about your journey and your background that lead you here? 

Mission-centered work has always been at the core of my motivation. Through an extended internship at a Philadelphia child wellbeing nonprofit while in college, I was exposed to the ways that systems directly impact our communities and the roles that nonprofits and publicly funded entities can play a role in shaping and guiding systems towards a path of support and equity. Upon graduating with a degree in Philosophy and English in 2019, I sought a career in which I could put my principles into practice and for the next six years worked at an adoption and family wellbeing nonprofit first in fundraising then in operations. Operations work really clicks for me, as I love delving deep into the various tools and infrastructures that help an organization thrive as well as thinking about the large-scale strategic picture.  

What have you enjoyed about the work you have done so far? 

I really enjoy the puzzles of operations – taking apart complex workflows and finding ways to make them better so that processes run more effectively and efficiently. Learning about all the pieces of the Energy Co-op’s infrastructure has been really fascinating; I’ve learned an incredible amount in the last month and a half and still have so much more to take in!  

I’ve also deeply enjoyed connecting with my co-workers both as fellow professionals and as people. The team’s passion for providing members with the best service we can has been inspiring, and it’s amazing seeing how the team works in harmony to this end.  

What’s the most memorable interaction you have had with an Energy Co-op member so far? 

Meeting members at the AMM was lovely! I appreciated hearing the questions members posed to our staff & board, as it contextualizes the work we do in a really valuable way.  

What do you like (or dislike!) the most about living in/around Philly?   

My favorite aspect about Philly is the diversity of quality experiences there are to be had within the distance of a few subway trips. While I was raised a short distance from the city, I almost never visited until I started to make frequent trips when I was home from college for summers. Since then, I’ve loved exploring different areas and walking long meandering routes. To extend the cliché about stepping into a river, every time you visit a neighborhood it’s a totally new place.  

Recently, exploring the art museums in a slower and deeper way has been my favorite activity. Having access to multiple incredible collections of art is a bit mind-blowing – it’s so much fun to just pick a few rooms or a specific artist in the PMoA or the Barnes and just spend a few hours taking in different masterpieces.   

What song has been your JAM recently? 

As we were graced with a new Boards of Canada record this year entitled Inferno, I’m going to cheat and just say that entire album. 

What does sustainability mean to you and how do you put it into practice day to day? 

To me, sustainability is an ongoing process that requires us both as individuals and as a larger community to confront difficult facts about the current state of our civilization, to examine every practice, and to make structural adjustments within our power while pushing in any manner possible for those changes which are outside of our immediate control.  

What are your goals for your first year at The Energy Co-op? 

My goals are primarily to continue to learn, to take on increasingly critical projects and responsibilities, and to begin to play a role in organizational strategy.