PAXON Energy & Infrastructure is a fast-growing engineering professional services firm in the energy sector. Our proprietary process and business model, coupled with our nationally experienced execution team, allows PAXON to act as a strategic and operational partner for our clients throughout the entire value chain. Pulse 2.0 interviewed PAXON Energy CEO Nooshin Behroyan to learn more.
Nooshin Behroyan’s Background
Behroyan is a UC Davis-trained environmental engineer and Berkeley LEED-certified architect. And Behroyan said:
“I have spent most of my career in the construction industry and have a deep passion for the built environment whether it be buildings above ground or infrastructure below ground.”
Formation Of PAXON Energy
How did the idea for Paxon Energy come together? Behroyan shared:
“As a consultant for utilities, I had the opportunity to work on establishing or improving several different programs that were safety and innovation focused for improving the efficiency of energy infrastructure as well as reducing potential accidents as much as possible. As an environmental engineer, I was pondering on the question of how we can reduce the impact of our built infrastructure on the environment. This led me to the idea of establishing Paxon where I would study the natural gas leaks management program and that was the beginning.”
“Responsibility wise, I am a practical visionary type of leader, adding the most talented people we can find in the industry to our team to execute on our company mission. Our goal for the energy industry is to intelligently support the transition to renewables while at the same time ensuring that the existing infrastructure is maintained, robust, safe and always performs to the high energy expectations of compliance and best practices. Our vision is to help utilities and oil and gas operators achieve NEAR zero footprint in their field operation and I truly believe that it is possible”
Challenges Faced
What challenges did Behroyan face in building PAXON Energy? Behroyan acknowledged:
“Funding whether in the current macroeconomic climate or ever since the beginning of Paxon in 2016 has been a huge challenge. We have continuously outperformed year after year, Nevertheless, securing a substantial line of credit from banks to support our growth remains a challenging endeavor.”
“We recently sought a loan from the Small Business Administration (SBA), only to be taken aback by the staggering 10% interest rates. The situation was so ironic that I couldn’t help but burst into laughter, realizing that even our government falls short in supporting the very backbone of this country – small businesses.”
Core Products
What are PAXON Energy’s core products and features? Behroyan explained:
“PAXON provides engineering consulting services to the gas and electric utilities. Our four areas of focus are natural gas pipeline integrity management, wildfire mitigation, telecommunications and ESG methane recapture.”
Evolution Of PAXON Energy’s Technology
How has Paxon Energy’s technology evolved since launching? Behroyan noted:
“Since launching, Paxon’s technology has undergone continuous improvements from the systems we utilize internally to the systems used for issuing reports and data to our clients. We continue to leverage our industry knowledge and proprietary practices to drive customized engineering solutions across multiple verticals ”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of Paxon Energy’s most significant milestones? Behroyan cited:
“We were named 9th fastest growing company by INC magazine, when we generated over 22,000% growth pattern over the first 3 years.”
“Our biggest milestone to date is the fact that PAXON just turned 7 years old in August and we have successfully expanded operations to many states across the US! I am always amazed by how far we have come in such a short amount of time. It’s exciting.”
“At the same time, being on this entrepreneurial journey has been filled with numerous challenges, from a major client’s bankruptcy in year 3 to unexpected contract losses on the eve of Thanksgiving in year 4, not to mention the impact of the pandemic in years 5 and 6 , and finally the recent bank runs of 2023.”
“However, as a team together, we have managed to overcome all of these challenges because we are so resilient, determined in our core values, and most importantly we have a tremendous amount of trust in each team member’s execution. With each milestone we achieved, PAXON solidified its position as a transformative force in the energy industry. Our commitment to innovation, environmental stewardship, and diversity has propelled our growth as a premier consulting company in the energy industry, both nationally and internationally. We are very proud of continuous growth.”
“In the first two quarters of 2023, we have added 60+ team members.”
Funding
Upon asking Behroyan about funding, she replied:
“PAXON has not accepted any outside funding to date. We have started the discussion of speaking with impact funding institutions given PAXON’s focus on methane recapture for the natural gas industry.”
Total Addressable Market
What total addressable market (TAM) size Paxon Energy is pursuing? Behroyan concluded:
“Answering that question is quite intricate, considering PAXON’s diverse services that span multiple markets. From energy-heavy civil engineering construction to third-party inspections of gas or electric assets during compliance and maintenance projects, to 5G aerial and ground fiber installation, PAXON plays a crucial role. “
“Moreover, we are actively involved in bringing cutting-edge technologies for the ongoing energy transition when it comes to methane capture. As we move towards cleaner energy solutions, PAXON is bound to remain an integral part of this thrilling journey and will continue to increase the scale of its contracts.”
