WESTBOROUGH, MA, Jun 06, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Nesli Francois is the recipient of the George A. Russell, Jr. Career Advancement Award from the Asian American Civic Association (AACA) http://aaca-boston.org/ according to the group's Green Programs Director Christopher Albrizio. In less than two years, Francois has risen from entry-level worker to energy services professional at Conservation Services Group (CSG), a leading national energy efficiency firm based in Massachusetts. The award was presented at the AACA's 45th annual gala at the Boston Park Plaza hotel last month.

Francois left his native Haiti in 2008 to join his wife and daughter in Boston. With limited English and job skills, Francois enrolled in the AACA's Building Energy Efficient Maintenance Skills program. Upon completion of the program in 2010, Francois was referred to CSG http://www.csgrp.com/ and hired for an entry level weatherization training job. Advancing through four levels of apprenticeship, Francois was promoted to energy specialist for the Massachusetts Residential Conservation Services team in 2012. Carl Fawcett is a director at CSG and Francois's supervisor. He said, "Nesli is a great success story, having pushed himself to learn English and obtain solid job skills. He has proven that no matter how difficult your circumstances, you can achieve great things if you are determined. Now that he has been trained in the ever-growing field of energy efficiency, Nesli has a bright future in the U.S. We are proud to have him as part of our team and wholeheartedly congratulate him on this well-deserved honor."

A resident of Arlington, Mass., Francois said, "I am grateful to the AACA and CSG for helping me to advance my career. The training I have had in weatherization and building science enables me to support my family. Not only that, I am helping people save money by making their homes more energy efficient. That makes my job even more rewarding."

Conservation Services Group is the market leader in residential energy efficiency in North America. Headquartered in Westborough, Mass., the company has improved the efficiency, safety, comfort, affordability and durability of more than two million homes since 1984. With proven, award-winning expertise in program delivery, CSG provides solutions with a long-term vision that incorporates the latest and most comprehensive program designs and energy-efficiency technologies for a sustainable industry.

Founded in 1967, the Asian American Civic Association (AACA) is a non-profit organization based in Boston's Chinatown. The group provides a wide range of services to all immigrants and economically disadvantaged people including education, occupation training and social services that enable them to realize lasting economic self-sufficiency.