On Site is your back stage pass to the people, places and projects driving Buffalo toward a better future.
For the first episode of On Site, Christian Gaddis visits Viridi on Buffalo’s East Side for a conversation with Pastor Giles about clean energy, workforce development, and what it means to build opportunity from the ground up.
Inside the former American Axle plant, Viridi is advancing energy storage technology designed to make lithium battery systems safer, more scalable, and more practical for use inside buildings. But as Pastor Giles makes clear, the innovation happening at Viridi is not just technical. It is also deeply human.
Through its partnership with GreenForce, Viridi is creating pathways for East Side residents to access training, stable employment, and long-term opportunities in a growing industry.
Pastor Giles shares how the company’s approach goes beyond hiring, focusing on listening to employees, building trust, supporting retention, and creating a “One Team” culture where people feel valued.
The result is a model for how companies can invest in people, strengthen neighborhoods, and help restore hope in communities that have long been overlooked.
