AABE

What AABE does

AABE (American Association of Blacks in Energy) is a Washington, DC-based 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1977 to ensure input of African Americans and other minorities into U.S. energy policy, regulation, R&D, and environmental discussions. The organization operates a membership-based model serving approximately 1,800 energy professionals across 40 chapters nationwide, with an annual National Conference drawing over 1,400 attendees, regional events, an Energy Policy Symposium, and educational webinars. Its core programs include a Career Center job board (with employer-paid posting packages from $199 to $599), a multi-tier Scholarship Program supporting underrepresented minority STEM students (including the James K. Davis Golf Tournament contributing over $557,000 since 1994 in the Atlanta chapter alone), an Energy Entrepreneur Database profiling minority-owned energy businesses for corporate supplier diversity, and the AABE Institute (a wholly-owned subsidiary) providing training, the Executive Leadership Program, and international chapter development in Africa and the Diaspora.

AABE's product architecture is a portfolio of member services rather than a unified software platform. Underlying technology consists of standard web-based systems: a membership management portal (community.aabe.org), the Career Center job board (careers.aabe.org), and the online Energy Business Network directory. The organization does not develop proprietary technology products and has no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, APIs, or SDK offerings. Marketing and distribution operate through an omnichannel mix including LinkedIn, Facebook, X/Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, email newsletters, webinars, and the in-person national/regional event calendar.

The business model is diversified across three core revenue streams: recurring membership dues from individual professionals, transactional Career Center fees from energy-sector employers, and donations supporting the Annual Conference, scholarship programs, the AABE Institute, and community education. Membership dues are not publicly disclosed. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Kevin Simmons (Deloitte US Sector Leader, Power Utilities & Renewables) with a Governance Chair from Quanta Services, and was led through a CEO transition in January 2025 to Jay L. Knott, whose background includes Environmental Defense Fund, Metropolitan Group, Abt Associates, and a 20+ year USAID career. Corporate partners named across programs include Dominion Energy, Consolidated Edison, National Grid, Deloitte, and Quanta Services.

Name

AABE

Legal name

American Association of Blacks in Energy

Website

https://aabe.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AABE is a 1977-founded U.S. non-profit professional association of 1,800+ energy professionals across 40 chapters, advancing African American and minority representation in energy policy, career development, scholarships, and supplier diversity programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services (Energy Sector)

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Renewable Energy & Clean Tech Access (Off-grid, Energy Poverty Solutions) (BPAGALAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

DEI, Equity & Inclusion Advisory (BPACAJAJ)

Keywords

• Energy policy advocacy
• Professional networking
• Minority business directory
• Energy sector scholarships
• Workforce development

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Revenue generated from membership fees for professionals joining AABE to access networking, career development, and advocacy programs.
2. Career Center Job Board Services: AABE operates a Career Center where employers pay to post jobs and access talent. Pricing ranges from $199-$599 for job posting packages including Job Flash email distribution to energy professionals.
3. Donations and Support: The organization accepts donations for various purposes including the Annual Conference, Rufus D. Gladney Scholarship Program, AABE Institute, and Community Education.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

AABE is a national non-profit professional association that provides energy industry professionals with membership-based networking, career development, scholarship, and policy advocacy services. The organization operates a Career Center job board, an Energy Entrepreneur Database of minority-owned energy businesses, scholarship programs for STEM students, and an annual National Conference focused on increasing African American and minority representation in energy policy, regulation, R&D, and environmental issues.

Product overview

AABE (American Association of Blacks in Energy) is a national non-profit professional organization offering a portfolio of membership-based programs and services focused on increasing minority representation in the energy sector. The core offerings include the Career Center (job board with recruitment packages), Scholarship Program (with local, regional, and national awards plus mentoring), Energy Entrepreneur Database (minority business directory), Energy Business Network, and the AABE Institute (training and capacity building including the Executive Leadership Program and Energy Entrepreneurs Program). The organization also hosts annual conferences, regional events like the Western Regional Conference, and educational webinars on energy policy and climate change. The product architecture is structured as a platform of interconnected member services rather than a unified software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AABE Career Center
• Scholarship Program
• Energy Entrepreneur Database (EED)
• AABE Institute
• Executive Leadership Program (ELP)
• National Conference Annual flagship event bringing together over 1,400 energy professionals for networking, educational sessions, career fairs, and the James E. Stewart Awards Gala.
• Energy Business Network
• Energy Policy Webinars Educational webinars on energy policy, climate change, decarbonization, carbon markets, equity issues, and professional development topics for members and stakeholders.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $557,000 in scholarships awarded to STEM students in Atlanta since 1994
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Advanced Energy Group (AEG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 October 2023AEG and AABE joined forces for Houston's 'Equity in Action' event, hosted at the Ion. The event brought together thought leaders, policymakers, and industry experts to address equity in the energy sector. H.G. Chissell, Founder of AEG, expressed commitment to delivering impact at the intersection of health, energy, and equity. AEG is a 100% minority-owned, sponsor-supported company operating in 10 US markets.
• Metropolitan GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJay L. Knott, AABE's new President and CEO (effective January 12, 2025), previously served as President of Metropolitan Group, a social change agency that crafts strategic services to amplify the power of voice of change agents in building a just and sustainable world.
• Environmental Defense FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJay L. Knott, AABE's incoming CEO, previously served as Chief Operating Officer for the Environmental Defense Fund, leading all operational systems and functions during a period of significant growth and change.
• Abt AssociatesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJay L. Knott served as Chief Business Officer at Abt Associates, a global leader in research, evaluation and technical assistance for health, social-environmental policy and international development.
• USAIDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJay L. Knott enjoyed a 20-plus-year career at USAID, including roles as mission director in Jordan and Mozambique and deputy director in Ghana, bringing extensive international development experience.
• DeloitteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKevin Simmons, AABE's Board Chair and US Sector Leader Power Utilities and Renewables at Deloitte, co-led the search committee that selected Jay L. Knott as President and CEO.
• Quanta ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMoanica Caston, AABE's Governance Chair and Vice President Diversity and Inclusion at Quanta Services, co-led the CEO search committee.
• Dominion EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDominion Energy Virginia Surry Power Station hosted AABE-VA chapter members for operational tours. The Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation has supported AABE Virginia Chapter scholarships ($6,000 awarded to three students in 2017).
• Polytechnic Institute of NYUminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYU-Poly (now NYU Tandon School of Engineering) hosted and facilitated the Summer Energy Academy for Children program for 14 students, introducing youth to energy industry careers.
• National GridminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Grid supported the Summer Energy Academy for Children program as one of the corporate sponsors along with Consolidated Edison.
• Consolidated EdisonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsolidated Edison supported the Summer Energy Academy for Children program hosted by NYU-Poly and organized by AABE New York Metro Chapter.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE): NSBE is one of the largest student-governed STEM-focused organizations in the U.S., dedicated to increasing the number of Black/African American engineers. It is a direct peer to AABE in its mission of advancing minority representation in technical and energy-adjacent industries through scholarships, chapters, and professional development.
• Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU): HACU represents Hispanic-Serving Institutions and supports Latino student success through scholarships and advocacy. Comparable to AABE in serving a specific minority demographic via membership, chapters, and corporate partnerships, though focused on education rather than the energy sector specifically.
• Society of Women Engineers (SWE): SWE is a large nonprofit supporting women in engineering and technology through scholarships, career fairs, and an annual conference. It mirrors AABE's structure of a national organization with local sections, scholarship programs, employer job boards, and corporate sponsorships for an underrepresented technical demographic.
• National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME): NACME is a nonprofit providing scholarships and support for underrepresented minority engineering students. It directly parallels AABE's scholarship pipeline approach and minority STEM workforce mission, making it a strong comparable for funding model and impact metrics.
• American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES): AISES supports Indigenous students and professionals in STEM through scholarships, conferences, and career programs. Directly comparable to AABE in its membership-based model, scholarship portfolio, conference revenue, and minority STEM pipeline mission.

Emerging players

• Minorities in Energy (MIE): Minorities in Energy is a U.S. Department of Energy initiative supporting workforce diversity in the energy sector. Directly comparable to AABE's mission focus, but it is a federal government program rather than an independent nonprofit, providing useful contrast on funding and operating models.
• National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO): NASEO is a nonprofit association representing state energy officials and energy offices. Comparable to AABE in its nonprofit energy policy mission and Washington, D.C. base, with overlapping audiences in government and regulatory stakeholders.

Broad incumbents

• Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI): EESI is a nonprofit that informs policymakers and the public about energy efficiency, renewable energy, and climate change. Comparable to AABE in being a nonprofit energy policy organization operating in Washington, D.C. with educational programming, but broader in mission and not focused on minority representation.
• American Petroleum Institute (API): API is the largest U.S. trade association for the oil and natural gas industry, representing hundreds of member companies. While not focused on DEI, it is a comparable member-based organization operating in energy advocacy and policy — useful for benchmarking scale and corporate partnership structures.
• World Energy Council: The World Energy Council is a global energy leadership network operating across 90+ countries. Comparable to AABE's international ambitions (AABE Institute's Africa/Diaspora focus) and energy policy advocacy, but at a vastly larger global scale and broader demographic.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/_AABE
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@aabenational?si=WjAyxOffLAoXl-gM
• Facebookfacebook.com/AABENational
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-association-of-blacks-in-energy
• Instagraminstagram.com/JoinAABE

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AABE