Most clean energy success stories start with breakthrough tech. This one starts with a boiler room.

While others chased solar apps, smart grids, and climate-tech ventures designed for headlines, Cem Odev took a quieter, more practical path. His journey led through olive oil factories, school buildings, and local workshops—places where clean energy had to work in real life, not just in theory.

Over more than two decades, Odev has modernized heating systems, introduced natural gas infrastructure, and trained technicians who now run their own renewable energy businesses. His work helped shape a regional green economy in Turkey before the concept had a name.

Now, drawing on his engineering background and long-standing commitment to practical solutions, he’s focused on something new: a California-based training center to prepare the next generation of hands-on energy professionals.

This new center will prioritize real skills over abstract theory—a place where someone with no experience can walk in and gain the tools to build a future in clean energy.

In the story ahead, you’ll see how Odev’s grounded approach shaped a career defined by practical progress and how his next chapter may be his most influential yet.

A Ground-Level Start in Solar

Cem Odev grew up in Izmir, Turkey, and studied mechanical engineering at Balikesir University. There, his focus on heating, ventilation, and energy systems deepened through courses in solar power and turbine technology.

A turning point came from one instructor in particular. “His courses on renewable energy truly inspired me,” Odev recalls, referring to Prof. Dr. Mustafa Gunes.

After graduating in 2000, Odev joined his father’s company and introduced solar-powered domestic water heating—something that had never been implemented in their region before.

Within five years, electricity use for heating water in their district dropped by half. The solar program helped the company shift its direction, and it soon became a regional leader in renewable energy.

Odev also trained 24 technicians, many of whom later started their own solar businesses. The systems he helped put in place are still used today for both water and space heating.

Operations, Efficiency, and Leadership at TÜVTÜRK

In 2010, Odev took on a new challenge as station manager at TÜVTÜRK’s Corlu Vehicle Inspection Station. His work there focused on solving practical problems, from long customer wait times to increasing demand. He introduced time management training and restructured daily workflows, which improved customer service and operational flow.

When the station began to outgrow its space, he facilitated the construction of an additional building that doubled the site’s capacity. As a result, profitability rose, and the station’s performance drew national attention.

Odev was later invited to TÜV’s headquarters in Germany to study their best practices. He returned with insights that helped further streamline inspection systems back home. He also shared his expertise through training roles at other TÜVTÜRK stations and as an instructor at TÜVTÜRK Academy, where he taught new hires how to inspect hybrid vehicles.

A Broader Energy Impact Across Sectors

From 2015 to 2023, Odev worked as Lead Mechanical Engineer at Makser Machine LTD, where he led a range of clean energy and infrastructure projects. His work spanned industries: upgrading energy systems in food production facilities, installing natural gas lines for schools, restaurants, and apartment complexes, and ensuring each project was completed safely, efficiently, and within budget.

These projects made a clear difference. By converting solid and liquid fuel systems to natural gas, Odev helped clients reduce both their emissions and operating costs. The local municipality formally recognized him and his company for their contribution to cleaner air and public well-being.

Beyond engineering, Odev played an important role in building team capacity. He trained new employees in system installation, safety, and customer service, while also supporting procurement and sales processes. He made sure the right equipment was sourced and that clients got what they needed to transition successfully to more sustainable energy solutions.

From Systems to Students: A Training Center for the Future

Now based in California, Odev is developing the Green Infrastructure & Energy Efficiency Training Center. He’s currently in the planning and research phase, but the mission is clear: to prepare job seekers, students, and career changers for meaningful work in the clean energy space.

The center won’t charge tuition up front. Instead, graduates who find employment will contribute a small portion of their salaries for a set period to support future participants. This approach makes the training more accessible while creating a self-sustaining model that keeps it going over time.

Courses will be offered both in person and online, and participants will have opportunities for site visits, internships, and real-world experience through partnerships with local governments and renewable energy companies. The initial budget for the center’s launch is $150,000, which covers equipment, program development, staffing, and outreach.

Odev is actively exploring grants and funding through programs such as the California Energy Commission, the Employment Training Panel, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and the California Solar Initiative. He also plans to build collaborations with colleges, municipalities, and nonprofits to strengthen the center’s reach and financial sustainability.

Passing Down More Than Technical Skills

Throughout his career, Cem Odev has remained focused on responsibility—toward communities, the environment, and the people entering the field after him.

“One of the values that guide me in my career is responsibility, toward both the environment and the next generation,” he says.

He envisions the training center as a place where knowledge is passed forward, where people can walk in with no prior experience and leave with the tools and confidence to start a career in clean energy.

That principle has defined how he works. From leading solar adoption in his hometown to supporting local industries through energy upgrades, he’s prioritized solutions that last, projects that reduce real-world harm, and methods that others can continue.

He often reflects on a quote by Albert Einstein: “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”

For Odev, that means staying flexible, focused on outcomes, and committed to building solutions that meet the needs of today while preparing for tomorrow.

His work has never followed short-term trends. It’s grounded in practical solutions and designed to last—built so others can continue the work well into the future.