After 11 years with the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA), executive director Margie Gardner announced in November that she will be leaving NEEA to join the Bonneville Environmental Foundation as its CEO.

“During the past decade, I’ve seen NEEA grow from a mere concept to a full-fledged and very successful organization that has carved a valuable niche in the region’s energy efficiency efforts,” Gardner wrote in an e-mail to the NEEA Listserv. “I am proud to say that NEEA has the credibility in the marketplace to drive and quantify energy efficiency savings for the region, while continuing to bring value to its funders.”

Susan Hermenet, NEEA’s director of business services, will assume Gardner’s role as acting executive director on Dec. 7 until the board selects a new permanent executive director. An executive search is already under way, according to Gardner.