For more than three decades, Kusum Kavia has helped shape the Inland Empire’s reputation as a center of industrial innovation.
Kavia is the CEO of CAI, a Corona-based engineering and manufacturing company that designs and builds advanced on-site power generation systems. What began 35 years ago as an air pollution compliance consulting firm has evolved into a manufacturing operation delivering modular energy infrastructure to customers around the world.
Today, CAI’s systems are helping solve one of the most pressing challenges facing modern industry: reliable power.
“The demand for electricity is exploding, particularly from AI and data centers,” Kavia explains. “Facilities can’t afford downtime, and the grid alone isn’t always able to keep up. That’s where on-site generation becomes essential.”
CAI’s power division—established in 2000—develops modular, 24/7 on-site power generation systems designed for industrial and mission-critical applications. Among its flagship systems is the Spirit 16, a 16-megawatt industrial power package designed for facilities such as data centers that require uninterrupted power.
CAI’s systems are designed and manufactured in the Inland Empire with a largely local supply chain. Through a strategic partnership with Baker Hughes, the company integrates advanced gas turbine technology into modular systems that are compact, highly reliable, and hydrogen-ready.
These systems can operate for decades, with maintenance cycles extending up to five years and overall lifespans exceeding 30 years.
The company’s expertise in mission-critical infrastructure has already been demonstrated globally. CAI completed a 10-megawatt combined heat and power system for Yokota Air Base in Japan, delivered to support the U.S. Air Force.
While CAI’s technology reaches across international markets, Kavia remains deeply committed to the Inland Empire manufacturing ecosystem.
The company works closely with regional institutions including UC Riverside, Cal Poly Pomona, and Norco College to help develop the next generation of engineers and skilled technicians.
That commitment to regional innovation recently earned CAI recognition from Riverside County.
As part of the county’s Innovation Month, CAI was selected for the Riverside County Innovator Award, recognizing companies advancing innovation and economic growth in the region.
Kavia will accept the Innovation Month Proclamation at the Riverside County Board of Supervisors meeting on March 24.
With demand for resilient power infrastructure accelerating worldwide, CAI is preparing for continued growth, including plans to expand into a larger Inland Empire facility.
As a member of the Manufacturers’ Council of the Inland Empire Board, Kavia brings both technical expertise and entrepreneurial perspective to the region’s manufacturing leadership.
Her story reflects what makes the Inland Empire manufacturing sector unique: innovation built locally, solving challenges globally.
