This feature of Davis Pfund is part of Exeleon Magazine’s annual issue – The 100 Most Dynamic Leaders. Check out the Full Listing of Exeleon’s 100 Most Dynamic Leaders of 2025.
When Davis Pfund talks about sustainability, he isn’t just referring to solar panels or green habits. His vision of sustainability stretches deeper into communities, consciousness, and how people connect with one another and the planet. At first glance, he may be known for his ventures in clean energy and community building, but at his core, Davis is someone who’s driven by something much more profound.
“I’m always searching for deeper connection,” he says. “With people, with purpose, and with the planet we share.”
From Early Lessons to Lifelong Values
The seeds of Davis’s mission were planted early. At just 14, he joined his family’s company, Zerodraft Maryland, and began working hands-on in the energy efficiency world. “I went from building lights to installing them,” he recalls. “Then I became an LED lighting specialist and got certified in home energy auditing.”
That experience formed the bedrock of his professional path. But beyond the certifications and projects, it taught him something bigger: that energy isn’t just a utility, it’s a form of empowerment.
Outside of work, his love for nature and the outdoors shaped his environmental ethos. “Seeing trash in your own backyard or on a beautiful trail while hiking just hurts my soul,” he says. That visceral reaction sparked a personal commitment to not just protect the environment, but to regenerate it.
Mettā Creative: A Party with Purpose
While studying Entrepreneurship & Technology Innovation at the University of Delaware, Davis met fellow changemaker Dylan Nunn. Together, they cofounded Mettā Creative, a venture that reimagined what college nightlife could be.
“Mainstream nightlife lacked true connection,” Davis says. “We wanted to create events that were fun but also purposeful.”
Mettā Creative became a platform for music, art, and meaningful community experiences. With a “party with purpose” approach, their events raised awareness for environmental causes, minimized waste, and fostered real connection. Instead of disposable cups, attendees brought reusable bottles. Instead of empty conversations, guests found authentic friendships.
As the events evolved, so did their impact. People weren’t just attending, they were transforming. “We saw people form lifelong friendships, start partnerships, even launch businesses because of the connections made at our events,” Davis reflects.
Grounded in Experience: Tierra Fresca
When the pandemic hit, Davis and Dylan relocated to a farm and immersed themselves in permaculture and eco-village living. That chapter birthed a new vision: Tierra Fresca, a regenerative hub near Lake Atitlán, Guatemala.
“Instead of spending thousands renting venues, we thought, why not create a permanent space for these experiences?” Davis says.
Tierra Fresca is more than a retreat center. It’s a model for sustainable living where people can grow food, make plant-based medicines, and learn through hands-on experiences. The land itself, a historic coffee farm, is being revitalized into an eco-village that blends wellness, education, and environmentalism.
“We want people to walk away not just refreshed, but transformed, equipped with tools to live more regeneratively.”
New Earth Solar: Reclaiming Power
On the business front, Davis is the founder of New Earth Solar, a renewable energy consulting company operating nationwide. Backed by more than 14 years in the industry, he saw a rising demand for clean energy that was not only sustainable but financially accessible.
“What excites me is helping people reclaim their power,” he says. “Financially, environmentally, energetically.”
New Earth Solar connects clients with trusted solar solutions, helping them cut costs while reducing their carbon footprint. For Davis, it’s not just about energy savings. It’s about aligning daily decisions with deeper values.
“Solar isn’t just a product. It’s a statement about the kind of world we want to create.”
Spiritual Roots, Practical Impact
As a trained musician and artist, Davis weaves creativity into every venture he touches. But what unites all his work is something less visible: a deep inner practice grounded in spirituality and self-awareness.
“Spirituality, wellness, environmentalism, they aren’t separate,” he explains. “They’re different expressions of the same truth.”
That belief informs how he leads, how he designs experiences, and how he approaches business. Whether he’s facilitating a meditation circle or closing a solar deal, Davis brings intention into every space he enters.
“Spirituality is the root, wellness is the practice, and environmentalism is the impact,” he says. “That’s how I stay grounded in why I do what I do.”
Lessons in Leadership
Davis’s journey through the Horn Entrepreneurship program at UD was more than just academic. It was formative. Programs like Summer Founders and Siegfried Fellows gave him the structure and support to refine Mettā Creative and build momentum.
“The accelerator program opened doors and provided invaluable lessons,” he says. “It also helped me stay focused. While others were caught up in college distractions, I was surrounded by people actively building something.”
He also founded the Kronum Club at UD, blending sport and community into another avenue for connection.
“I learned early on that leadership isn’t about pushing people. It’s about creating an environment where they can see their own potential more clearly.”
Most recently, David received 3 awards at the Powur World National Convention this year, including the prestigious Andrea Budd Award.
The Path Forward
Right now, Davis is focused on scaling New Earth Solar to meet skyrocketing demand. With rising utility costs and increased electrification, the moment is ripe.
“As one of my mentors says, ‘follow the money’,” he notes. “Solar is what’s funding the rest of my life and passion projects.”
At the same time, the vision for Tierra Fresca is coming to life. The land deal is nearly complete, and phase one development is underway. Within the next few years, Davis sees himself investing most of his time into building the eco-village, preparing the education center, and hosting more transformational gatherings under the Mettā Creative banner.
Long-term, he dreams of helping build more eco-villages and regenerative communities across the world. It’s not just a business plan. It’s a mission.
“It brings together everything I love: connection, music, permaculture, education, and purpose.”
On Being Transformational
For Davis, transformation starts within. “It’s less about having all the answers and more about asking the right questions,” he says.
In his leadership, he emphasizes empathy, transparency, and alignment. “If your work and your values don’t match up, people feel that. But when they do, it inspires trust.”
He shares openly with his team and community: not just wins, but lessons. “That authenticity builds real enthusiasm. Not surface-level hype, but the kind of fire that sits in your soul.”
Whether through music, clean energy, or regenerative farming, Davis Pfund is doing more than building businesses. He is building environments that empower people to come alive.
“At the end of the day,” he says, “being transformational isn’t about pushing people. It’s about showing them what’s possible and giving them the tools to step into it.”
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