Viridi CEO Jon Williams wins EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2024 New York Award

The word is getting out about Viridi, a Buffalo-based company that develops lithium ion battery storage modules. Viridi products create safe and reliable on-site battery storage.Ernst & Young LLP announced this week that Viridi chairman and CEO Jon Williams was the recipient of the Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2024 New York Award. The prestigious honor is chosen each year by an independent judging panel made up of previous award winners, leading CEOs and other business leaders. Candidates are judged on their ability to create long-term value through entrepreneurial spirit, commitment to purpose and the demonstration of growth and substantial impact, among other metrics.

Williams is now a candidate for the national Ernst @ Young awards, including Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner, which will be announced in November. The winner of that award will move on to compete for a global award in June 2025.

"I am incredibly honored to receive the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award, which is a testament to Viridi's relentless pursuit of revolutionizing battery storage for a fail safe, clean energy future," Williams said in an Ernst & Young announcement. "At Viridi, our mission goes beyond innovating current solutions; we are equally committed to fostering job equity. By opening doors to meaningful careers, we strive to create enduring positive changes in our community for future generations.

Click here for a recent article in the Buffalo News about Viridi's ambitious path forward

Viridi has become an early-mover in the global push to create on-site battery storage, replacing the noise, inefficiency and pollution of gas-powered generators. Operating from a former automotive factory on Buffalo’s East Side, the company is expecting to grow quickly in the coming years as it invests in growth opportunities across the world. Under Williams’ leadership, the company is equally dedicated to being a positive presence in its community. Viridi created a nonprofit workforce entity, GreenForce, which recruits, trains and supports individuals as they become part of the company’s workforce.

Viridi also announced this week the appointment of Wayne Garrett of chief commercial officer. Garrett will lead sales and channel distribution at Viridi.

The WNY Impact Investment Fund first invested in Viridi in 2018, when Williams was developing his vision for a disruptive startup based on lithium ion batteries. The Fund has invested several more times over the years as the company honed its end-market, developed relationships with investors and early corporate customers and began to scale its operations.

“This award is an incredible recognition of Jon’s talent and determination as he builds a company that puts Buffalo on the map in the international push for clean energy,” said Tom Quinn, CEO of the Western New York Impact Investment Fund. “I’m proud to be a longtime supporter of that vision and equally proud to call Jon a friend.”