Mr. Burns formed a consulting business in 2000 when utility deregulation began to take hold across the U.S. and in particular, Ohio. He has personally designed, implemented and administered over 50 natural gas and/or electric programs that have saved tens of millions of dollars for residential, commercial and governmental customers.  He has also brokered energy contracts for industrial clients, hospitals, property managers and retail chains throughout the U.S and is certified in energy conservation techniques.  Mr. Burns is the Energy Manager for Corporate United, a Group Purchasing Organization comprised of over 150 fortune-2000 companies.  As president of Independent Energy Consultants he has strategically leveraged his company’s service capabilities by forming channel partner relationships with World Energy Solutions and other best in class energy service providers.  

Mr. Burns holds a Bachelor of Science Applied Science in Electrical Engineering Technology from Youngstown State University; a Master of Business Administration from Baldwin Wallace College and 20-plus years of professional development.  Mr. Burns has obtained for his company the designations of Certified Electric and Natural Gas Broker and Aggregator from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, Licensed Electric and Natural Gas Aggregator from the Virginia State Corporation Commission, and Certified Electric Aggregator from the Texas Public Utilities Commission.  Mark is a Certified Energy Manager (CEM) and a member of the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE), and the Facility Managers Institute of AEE.