Dawn Paytosh founded Brilliant Source Energy on a principle she has held across every chapter of her career: real accountability means staying in the problem until you find the source, not just the symptom.
That principle drives everything Brilliant Source Energy does.
A Leader Shaped by Many Disciplines
Dawn brings an uncommon combination of scientific training, executive experience, and strategic instinct to the energy industry. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and is currently completing her Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner track, at Chamberlain University, with plans to pursue functional medicine certification upon graduation. That foundation in systems biology and evidence based thinking gave her something most energy consultants do not have: a trained eye for what is actually driving an outcome versus what simply appears to be.
Before founding Brilliant Source Energy, Dawn held senior leadership roles at Glacial Energy, serving as Senior Vice President of Sales and Business Development Manager across multiple U.S. markets. She watched organizations consistently overpay for energy, not because of bad intentions, but because no one had ever given their spend a thorough, independent review. Billing errors compounded quietly. Contracts carried hidden risk. Tariffs went unquestioned for years.
She decided to build the firm that would change that.
Founding Brilliant Source Energy
In 2013, Dawn launched Brilliant Source Energy with a clear thesis: organizations should only pay for the energy they actually use, and they deserve a partner willing to verify that with full transparency and accountability.
More than a decade later, that thesis has not wavered. Brilliant Source Energy has grown into a trusted national firm serving thousands of clients across manufacturing, healthcare, municipalities, commercial real estate, and nonprofit sectors. The firm’s integrated model brings together consultants, bill auditors, engineers, analysts, and technical specialists to address energy as a whole system rather than a series of disconnected line items. Services span utility bill auditing and recovery, procurement and risk strategy, tariff optimization, innovative financing structures, grant and incentive navigation, efficiency and conservation projects, and clean energy pathways including EFECs.
The firm operates primarily on contingency and shared savings structures. That is not an accident. It is a statement about where Brilliant Source Energy’s interests lie.
How She Thinks About Energy
Dawn approaches energy the way a skilled diagnostician approaches a complex case. She starts upstream, examines the full picture, and resists drawing conclusions before the evidence supports them. Sustainable financial outcomes, like sustainable health, require understanding root causes rather than reacting to what shows up on a statement.
That mindset shapes how she builds client relationships, how she structures her team, and how Brilliant Source Energy continues to grow and evolve as markets and regulations shift. It also shapes who she is outside of the office.
Dawn is an endurance runner, a certified yoga instructor, and a passionate student of health, wellness, and functional medicine. She is a lifelong learner in the truest sense, constantly studying, refining, and connecting ideas across disciplines. That curiosity is not incidental to her work. It is the engine behind it.
Leadership and Recognition
Dawn leads Brilliant Source Energy with directness, rigor, and a deep commitment to long term outcomes over short term wins. She builds teams that prioritize proof over promises and invest in partnerships that hold up over time.
She is a Certified Energy Professional (CEP) and is fluent in American Sign Language. Brilliant Source Energy holds WBENC National and WBENC Ohio River Valley Chapter certifications, reflecting the firm’s commitment to supplier diversity and inclusive leadership.
Why It Matters
The clients Dawn serves are running operations that matter, manufacturing essential products, educating students, caring for patients, and building communities. When energy spend is accurate, strategic, and fully optimized, resources return to the work that actually moves those missions forward.
Dawn built Brilliant Source Energy to make that happen. More than a decade in, it remains the only reason she shows up.
Horsburgh & Scott
“When we first engaged Brilliant Source Energy, we expected help managing our electricity contracts. What we got was a true energy partner who has transformed how we think aboutand spend onenergy across our operations.
Over the years, Dawn and her team have delivered results that go far beyond procurement. They upgraded our facilities to LED lighting, implemented power quality solutions to protect our equipment, and conducted thorough billing audits that uncovered significant overpayments we never would have caught on our own.
Most recently, Brilliant Source facilitated a comprehensive site assessment that qualified us for substantial grant funding. Now they’re proposing a solar installation for our Illinois facility that, between incentives, rebates, and grants, will essentially pay for itselfand then some.
What sets Brilliant Source apart is their holistic approach. They don’t just negotiate rates; they look at every angle to reduce costs and improve efficiency. They’ve become an extension of our team, and the value they’ve delivered has far exceeded our expectations.
We recommend Brilliant Source Energy without hesitation to any organization looking for more than a broker- they’re strategic partners who genuinely care about your bottom line.”
Wesley Decatur
“Dawn at Brilliant Source Energy provided us with a holistic approach to our energy usage philosophy. She provided us with easy to understand analysis with usueful insights explaining the complexity of the energy, why we are paying what we are paying, what we could be paying, and even lended a hand with our internal budget projections. Her knowledge of the space is bar none… we were at +12 cents per kWh and, by relying on Dawn & BSE, our power rate dropped to sub-4.5 cents within 60-90 days…The benefits we’ve experienced have exceeded all of our expectations. I would highly recommend Dawn & Brilliant Source Energy to anyone who likes to save money and likes hassle-free solutions in the industry.”
Mike Peplowski
“I have been working with Dawn since locating my business in Cleveland. Her and her team have helped us reduce costs and provide added value to our tenants as resource for those who pay their own electric bills across 450,000 sq. ft. of office, retail and residential rental properties in downtown Cleveland. I would highly recommend this company to anyone trying to get their utility costs under control. Big thumbs up from me.”
Rocky Carollo
“JPMS Property One and Two has used Brilliant Source Energy for years and I just wanted to note how happy we have been from the beginning with them. Dawn the owner has always been attentive to our needs and has saved us a lot of money in finding us the best ways to reduce our utilities and merchant costs for our buildings. The most impressive part is the professionalism, courtesy, knowledge she provides her clients. We look forward to working with Dawn and Brilliant Source Energy for years to come and our excited about the additional opportunities she can provide in saving us money and making us more efficient in the future. I highly recommend Dawn and her team feel free to reach out to me for any further questions.”
What We Believe
Clarity matters
Quality matters
Community Matters
Responsibility Matters
As the energy landscape continues to evolve, so do we. Our focus is on expanding our services, strengthening our support model, and introducing more efficient, sustainable solutions for the customers who depend on us.
We’re building for the long term with a commitment to innovation, responsibility, and staying true to the values that started it all.