April 8, 2024 Meet Randy Johnson: Cordia’s Sustainability Executive

Randy Johnson is Cordia’s Sustainability Executive. Johnson monitors Cordia’s sustainability efforts while working to provide support services. He has over 40 years of experience in Human Resources, Administration, Safety, Environmental and Sustainability.

Below is a transcription from an interview conducted as a part of two video series, Cordia Connections and the Sustainability Series, that ran on Cordia’s social media platforms between March and April 2024.

Why did you choose to work at Cordia?

The concept of district energy really appealed to me. The fact that we’re in an industry that can survive through recessions and downturns was important. The size of this organization and what we’re doing for the environment and for our customers also appealed to me. I thought it would be a lot of fun. This is the last stop in my career, and it’s fun to do it here.

What is your favorite part about working with Cordia?

For me, it’s the fact that we’re in an industry that provides comfort to the customers that we serve. We like to say that if you go into a building in downtown Phoenix or at Arizona State and you’re comfortable, you’re welcome. That’s what we do. We provide comfort behind the scenes, and what’s important to me is that this energy comes from renewable sources.

How does sustainability make working with Cordia more efficent?

When I think of sustainability and efficiency, I think about taking things out of the process that you don’t need, like fossil fuels and fossil fuel backups. When you move toward sustainability, you know that your power comes from one source instead of multiple sources. To me, the streamlining of that process makes us a lot more efficient and reduces our costs, which we can pass on to our customers.

What do you feel is Cordia’s greatest strength?

I think Cordia’s greatest strength is its culture. You can have the greatest strategy in the world, but it really comes down to this collection of people that you call a culture. And we have a strong culture at Cordia. We’re really proud of it. It’s new and it’s growing, but it’s based on beliefs. It’s based on customers, sustainability, safety and the environment. It’s the kind of place that you want to be a part of when you learn what it’s all about.

What are Cordia’s beliefs surrounding sustainability?

Our sustainability belief is one of our seven core beliefs. It states that we protect our environment, systems and data while demonstrating inclusive behaviors at work. Our belief surrounding sustainability involves doing everything we can to protect the environment and have a workplace that is free from discrimination so that we can collectively work together to accomplish our goals.

Why is it important for Cordia to become carbon neutral by 2050?

I’ve got kids and grandkids. For me, working at a place that tries to do its best to leave the environment in good shape for them is my top priority. Additionally, we all have to be good corporate citizens and understand the importance of this. Our customers demand it, as well. They’re receiving energy from us, and they’re using it to promote to their customers that their building is sustainable and green.