Who We Are

Candace Lightner, President, Energy Smart Real Estate Professionals

Energy Educator Consultant

The media voted Ms. Lightner one of the most influential American citizens of the twentieth century. Ms Lightner is known world-wide as the founder of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), an organization that is recognized nationally as the moving force behind reshaping the nation’s attitude toward drunk driving. She is a licensed REALTOR, hired by the Department of Energy to develop a strategy that would foster market transformation by encouraging real estate agents nationwide to become leaders in educating the buyer/sellers on the advantages of energy efficient retrofitting. She was the driving force that led to a groundbreaking relationship between the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). She developed the Real Estate Initiative and created joint projects that will lead towards the education of REALTORS® nationwide to become one of the leaders in educating the buyer/sellers on the advantages of energy efficient retrofitting. She has conducted REALTOR Roundtable discussions across the country on behalf of DOE to both educate and determine REALTORS’ willingness to make energy efficiency a priority with both buyers and sellers. She has worked with REALTOR Magazine and RIS Media on Energy Efficiency articles and how REALTORS can become involved. She also developed the Energy Checklist for buyers and sellers that will be utilized in a new Energy savers brochure for clients as part of the Real Estate Initiative.

Ms. Lightner has contributed knowledge, expertise and personal experience to virtually every newspaper and talk show in the country including “Good Morning America,” “Today,” “60 Minutes,” “Nightline,” and, “Turning Point” with Barbara Walters. Most recently she was featured in a documentary, the “Twentieth Century Project,” by famed director Bob Zemeckis. Newsweek, The New York Times , Wall Street Journal , Washington Post , USA Today, Investors Business Daily and The Los Angeles Times have featured Ms. Lightner in numerous articles. She has authored Giving Sorrow Words: How to Cope with Grief and Get On with Your Life (Warner Books) and she was the subject of a T.V. movie, entitled Mothers Against Drunk Drivers: the Candy Lightner Story .

Candace Lightner, who began her real estate career in Okinawa, Japan in 1970, is a member of the NVAR Multi-Million Dollar Club, Northern Virginia Association of Realtors, National Association of Realtors, Virginia Association of Realtors and Metropolitan Regional Listing Service (MRIS) and a TOP Producer.

Joining Candace Lightner in the development of the ESRES^TM course are..

Nicole Terry

Nicole Terry who is LEED accredited, with a Bachelor of Science Interior Design and a Bachelor of Science Education. Ms. Terry also has a Masters of Education Guidance & Counseling. She has 14 years experience in residential and commercial construction as an interior designer, project estimator, buyer, and consultant and 8 years experience in education as a classroom teacher, guidance counselor, curriculum developer, and program director .

Lee O’Neal

Lee O’Neal, CGE Solutions, is the 3rd party in this collaboration. CGE Solutions, is a Home Energy Rating & Building performance firm based in Chantilly, Va. (metro Washington, DC). Lee has 24 years experience in residential and light commercial construction and 13 years as a home inspector. In addition to overseeing the company’s Energy Star certification, building performance analysis and accredited rating provider operations, he also serves on the RESNET Board of Directors, is a consultant to the Arlington County, VA. green home program (Green Choice) and participates in the Build America program for the U.S. Department of Energy. He has appeared in articles in Home Energy magazine, REALTOR Magazine, The Washington Post, NBC News 4 (Washington, DC) and interviewed by the New York Times. Lee has also served on the RESNET Quality Assurance and Ethics Committee, RESNET Sampling Standards Drafting Committee, and other sub-committees.