Equity Mag Sep_17 Book Folder

LOCAL STAR
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Discover this entrepreneur’s journey
American engineer and clean-energy
specialist Charles F. Blaschke IV is a
risk taker, helping build high-end
projects with reduced consumption of
energy. Blaschke graduated in 2007 from the
Missouri University of Science and Technology
with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and was
recruited immediately to assist with the construction
of innovative, clean buildings. Charles is the
Founder and Managing Director at Taka Solutions,
an energy consulting company based in Dubai.
Tell us about yourself?
I grew up playing in my grandfather’s workshop,
nestled in his house basement, where he had a
small framing business during retirement that
gave us a chance to play with tools, machinery
and build things. I started pulling bikes and
Nintendo sets apart and assembling it again. That
gradually grew to dissassembling computers, cars
and now buildings. I guess, it's one of the reasons
I took up engineering at university.
What was your impression of the UAE when
you first landed here?
I have been here for a decade and was recruited by
Burt Hill (now Stantec) who came to recruit the
top young engineers from the US, to grow and
lead their Dubai office. I moved literally knowing
nothing about the company, job or projects. Like
most UAE expats, time swept by while living the
good life here.
Tell us about your company and how did you
identify the need for it?
Taka Solutions is the new face of energy in
the world. We use the latest in finance, engineering
and technology to help people reduce their energy
consumption and impact through efficiency.
We see it as an impactful way to reduce carbon
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