Tyler Fairbank

Age 37: CEO, EOS Ventures

In Greek mythology, Eos is the god of the new dawn.

The name has become synonymous with new beginnings and hope for the future, and that’s why Tyler Fairbank attached it to his intriguing business enterprise.

EOS Ventures, launched just a few months ago, was created to help businesses, colleges, municipalities, and other large electricity users incorporate sustainable-energy programs. It was inspired by the successful installation of a wind-power turbine at Jiminy Peak in Hancock, which is owned and managed by Fairbank’s family, and it was prompted by the intersection of two powerful trends — skyrocketing energy costs and a desire among many businesses and institutions to ‘go green.’

The company will focus primarily on wind power, because of the experience gained at Jiminy Peak and the installation there named Zephyr, but it will also involve photovoltaics (solar power) and biofuels, such as biomass. The common denominators, said Fairbank, are ‘green technology,’ and much-desired energy independence.

EOS Ventures also represents a new beginning for Fairbank — sort of.

He’s always been involved in economic development, mostly from the standpoint of promoting and nurturing it, although he has exemplified it by helping to grow Jiminy Peak into a thriving, year-round venture. He has been active with a number of business groups in the Berkshires, from the Chamber of Commerce to the tourism bureau; from the Regional Competitiveness Council to the Berkshire Economic Development Corp., which he served as president. It was during that last stop that he helped write something called the Berkshire Blueprint, a roadmap for growth and diversification of the Berkshires economy.

In a few short months, Fairbank has gone from drafting the blueprint to being a shining example of what it espouses — a diverse economy dominated by small businesses that represent many business sectors.

The past few months have been a whirlwind — no pun intended — for Fairbank, who packed up his belongings at the BEDC and unpacked them at EOS offices at Jiminy Peak. His nomination for the Forty Under 40 class of 2008 was based mostly on his past work within the community, but also on his promise as an entrepreneur.

While getting this business off the ground won’t be a breeze, Fairbank believes he has the right venture at the right time — and thus, some wind in his sales.

George O’Brien