WASHINGTON, DC, July 7, 2022, — On June 27, D.A. Abrams officially joined the Groundswell team as the nonprofit’s Chief Operating Officer. Abrams, a certified association executive, is already using his past C-Suite leadership experience with the CFP Board of Standards as Managing Director and as the Chief Diversity Officer of the United States Tennis Association (USTA) to build community power through his contributions to finance, information and technology systems, human resources, and overall operations.
“D.A. – including his seasoned executive leadership, operational acumen, values alignment, and passion for Groundswell’s mission – is a blessing to our team,” commented Groundswell CEO Michelle Moore. “I am and our team is thrilled and honored to work alongside him.”
Abrams’ personal and professional philosophy is that everyone should receive a “platinum experience,” and his background both on and off the tennis court have prepared him to elevate Groundswell’s ability to do just that.
“In my judgment, treating people the way they want to be treated is a step above treating people the way you want to be treated. Everyone is different. Understanding what really matters to people allows you to better address and serve their needs,” Abrams said.
Abrams said the two people who most inspire him are Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Barack Obama. He said Obama’s inspirational commitment to advancing social progress and equality energizes him to continue to pursue those same goals. He loves how Obama’s administration led the fight to protect everyone — no matter who they were, where they are from, what they look like, or who they loved. He said Moore’s role in pursuing those goals is one of reasons he was inspired to work with Moore, who served on the Obama White House energy, environment, and infrastructure team for four years. Abrams also takes inspiration from Dr. King's work, especially King’s statement that “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”
In addition to having served as Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer for US Tennis Association, Abrams also serves as the chairman and president of the Black Tennis Hall of Fame and the treasurer for the National Association of Asian American Professionals Board of Directors. He previously served as the president of the Diversity & Inclusion Sports Consortium.
Abrams looks forward to serving Groundswell and playing a critical role in the nonprofit’s mission to build community power through equitable community solar projects and resilience centers, clean energy programs that reduce energy burdens, and pioneering research initiatives that help light the way to clean energy futures for all. Abrams feels that the key to winning a grand slam for the people and communities Groundswell serves will be strengthening and supporting Groundswell’s ongoing work in community solar, resilience center development, the Save On Utilities Long Term (SOUL) program, DC Solar for All, and the LIFT Solar Everywhere research initiative, among other programs.
About Groundswell
Groundswell is a 501c3 nonprofit that builds community power through community solar projects and resilience centers, clean energy programs that reduce energy burdens, and pioneering research initiatives that help light the way to equitable clean energy futures for all. Groundswell serves more than 6,000 income-qualified customers with more than $3 million per year in clean energy savings. Learn more at Groundswell.org or @grndswell.
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