Team: Our People
Solas Energy, a women-owned enterprise, provides comprehensive consulting services for renewable energy solutions throughout Canada and the US. The company’s expertise spans development and management of industrial and commercial projects involving wind, solar, hydrogen, energy storage, electrical vehicles (EV), and hydropower.
With over 20 years of experience in project development, construction management, and climate change advisory, Solas Energy provides its clients with the depth and perspective required to navigate the complex issues associated with renewable energy project development and climate change policy.
Evelyn Carpenter
President and CEO, US
Evelyn is the co-founder of Solas Energy Consulting and has been a distinguished member of the renewable energy industry for over 20 years. In addition to her project management and due diligence experience, she specializes in risk assessment, operational reviews, and oversight of construction projects. Evelyn has proven success in a rapidly changing industry, leading the organization to grow and respond to new technologies, markets, and policies. She takes great pride in mentoring and developing a new generation of renewable energy professionals.
Paula McGarrigle
President and CEO, Canada
Paula is the co-founder of Solas Energy Consulting. A respected professional with 20+ years of experience in the renewable energy sector, Paula has participated in many industry shaping projects as well as numerous policy initiatives by governments and industry associations. She enjoys the challenge of a growing industry which is incorporating new technologies, developing new markets, and responding to evolving regulatory regimes at a rapid rate.
Adrienne McGarrigle
Project Lead
Adrienne has extensive experience navigating regulatory matters for renewable energy projects. She has completed competitive reviews and supported feasibility analysis, constraints analysis, and due diligence reports for many projects across North America. Adrienne also coordinates our climate change education presentations. She finds great satisfaction supporting the future of renewable energy both locally and around the world.
Allison Gunther
GIS Technician
Allison supports GIS tasks for a wide range of projects and serves as the lead drone pilot for Solas Energy. Her experience includes remote sensing, geospatial analysis for habitat distribution, and modeling climate change scenarios, as well as advanced image analysis techniques. Allison enjoys providing the critical information and analysis that project leaders require to make the best decisions for their project.
Andrew Zakhem
Electrical Project Engineer
With over 2 years’ experience in commercial and residential solar as a designer and installation manager and an internship in large-scale construction, Andrew has development and on-site experience with projects of varying scale. Andrew uses his electrical and mechanical engineering background to assist with technical contract, design, and electrical review and develops preliminary designs, specifications, and estimates. His love for renewable energy led him to Solas Energy, he enjoys the innovation in the industry and strives to work towards a greener future.
Cathy Syme
Senior Associate
Cathy is an accomplished renewable energy asset manager with more than 25 years of experience in project management, process implementation and improvement, financial reporting, contract negotiations, compliance, due diligence, and strategic planning. She also has extensive experience acting in owner and lender representative roles. Cathy appreciates being able to make a difference in the world and preserve the wonders of the planet for future generations through her work in the renewable energy space.
Chloe Ford
Environmental Project Manager
Chloe is an environmental professional with over 8 years of compliance and permitting experience. Her expertise extends to developing and implementing Environmental Management Systems that cater towards the ultimate goal of a more sustainable workplace. Chloe is committed to using her skills and passion for solving the complex social and environmental challenges the renewable energy industry faces.
Clay Yellow Horn
Renewable Energy Technologist
Clay holds a diploma from the Southern Alberta Institution of Technology (SAIT) Polytechnic in Mechanical Engineering Technology (MET). Clay has telecommunications, and oil and gas field experience as well as experience in technical evaluation and design review. He is detail oriented and has strong QA/QC skills in data management. Clay joined Solas Energy Consulting in 2021 as a Renewable Energy Analyst. Clay has contributed to the submission of two AUC applications totaling to 726.6 MW.
Elena Ezquerra
Renewable Energy Analyst
Elena holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Bachelor’s in Energy Engineering, with a specialization in Renewable Energies. She has extensive experience working with fuel cell and hydrogen technologies, from transportation applications such as zero emission vehicles, to hydrogen production from renewable energy sources. Elena is passionate about her work with hydrogen as a key technology for developing the clean energy sector.
Felipe Uscátegui
Director of Project and Construction Management
Felipe brings over 40 years of energy industry experience to his leadership role within the Construction Management division. His experience includes construction planning, engineering, and project management for the development and execution of more than 4 GW of utility-scale wind, solar, energy storage, and biomass generation facilities. Felipe finds satisfaction in building renewable energy infrastructure to support a sustainable, zero-carbon future. He also brings a strong background in global management to his role, and fluency in English, Spanish, French, and Italian.
Gabriel Risbud-Vincent
Renewable Energy Analyst
After completing two summer terms with Solas Energy during his university studies, Gabe has recently returned to us after graduating with his engineering degree. Gabe provides support on a variety of renewable energy projects, including designing computer programs for data analysis, completing glare reports, and contributing to numerous project reports. Gabe is excited to be actively helping to reduce the world’s carbon footprint through his work with Solas Energy.
Jami Wong
Communications Manager
Jami manages Solas Energy’s marketing initiatives, branding, and public relations. She holds an MBA and has more than 20 years of experience in developing global marketing organizations focused on semiconductors, software, and sustainability. Jami chose to start working in clean tech over 10 years ago because she sees sustainability as part of her personal responsibility and legacy.
Jamie Sherwood
Administrative Assistant
Jamie supports Solas Energy’s US operations in Fort Collins, Colorado. As a career administrator, she has held various roles with startups (EV and software), social services, and financial organizations. Jamie most recently supported a high-growth consumer goods organization. She is thrilled to join the renewable energy sector and happy to be part of the Solas Energy team.
Jeff Krauss
Senior Project Manager
Jeff is a seasoned renewable energy professional with over 40 years of experience in construction, project management, and renewable energy. His experience in renewable energy spans roles including sub-contractor, general contractor, EPC, and utility developer/owner for commercial and utility-scale solar, wind, and BESS projects. Jeff enjoys building strong relationships with clients, contractors, and vendors, and managing a broad scope of responsibilities in his projects, including scheduling, budgeting, procurement, and contracts management.
Jerry Fuchs
Senior Associate
Jerry brings more than 30 years of experience in the wind power industry to the team. His knowledge spans all aspects of wind power project evaluation and implementation. Jerry has directly participated and managed project development teams responsible for identifying, developing, and acquiring large portfolios of wind power projects, and transitioning projects from development into construction and commercial operation. He has played a key role in the development, construction, finance, and operation of 1,000 MW of wind power projects.
Jon Johnson
Senior Construction Manager
As a Senior Construction Manager, Jon has over 18 years of experience in construction management, including over 10 years of utility-scale wind and solar projects, transmission line, and substation construction. Jon’s expertise includes site supervision, site safety, QA/QC oversight, managing equipment suppliers, managing construction contractors, and contract compliance. Jon has overseen construction on over 2000MW of wind, solar, and battery energy storage projects across the US and Canada. He is proud to use his skills to make a positive impact on rural communities with the development of renewable energy projects.
Joseph Block
Assistant Electrical Project Manager
Joseph is a veteran and HV electric power professional with 13 years of technical and project management experience. His background includes energy systems, power electronics, and energy economics. Joseph has supported the development and operation of infrastructure for over 3.0 GW of wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal and BESS projects. His responsibilities focus on the design and management of projects under development, in construction, and in operation. Joseph is also part of our FAA licensed drone pilot team.
Julie Hunter
Accounting Manager
Julie is a Senior Finance and Accounting Executive with over 25 years of management experience in the public and private sectors. Julie is dedicated, detail-oriented, and has been meeting the accounting needs of Solas Energy Consulting since 2016. She enjoys working with our clients, vendors, and employees and strives to build trusting relationships so that all business processes and requirements are met. Julie specializes in all aspects of business management, legal necessities, insurance requirements, taxes, cost accounting, planning, budgeting, payroll, and human resources.
Katie Calsyn
Project Engineer
Katie is a graduate of Colorado State University with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Katie has always wanted to work in renewable energy and be part of the growth of clean power in the US to lessen the effects of climate change. With Solas Energy, she has supported over 1 GW of PV and BESS Projects with research, inspection, progress tracking, and construction management. Katie loves being able to continue learning about advancements in the renewable energy world.
Kelby Rohr
Construction Manager
Kelby is a seasoned Construction Manager and Site Supervisor with over 27 years of renewable energy project and construction management experience. He treats every project as if he were the owner and takes exceptional pride in delivering the highest quality product for clients. Kelby enjoys his work in the renewable energy sector, especially knowing that he is contributing towards a more sustainable future for the generations to come.
Laureen Wray
Office Manager
Laureen Wray is a well-rounded professional with expertise in team leadership and organizational administration. She has supported many renewable energy projects as well as coordinating a climate change education initiative offering training and support to Alberta educators.
Marinda Judson
Staff Scientist
Marinda is an attentive team member with experience in project management and organization, research, and due diligence. Joining Solas Energy in 2020, she provides consulting support for utility-scale renewable projects through environmental compliance, regulatory and permitting support, and cultural resource management expertise. With a strong, multi-disciplinary fieldwork background, Marinda’s drive to contribute to the renewable energy industry is rooted in environmental stewardship and the preservation of resources.
Maureen Kolla
Senior Associate
Maureen’s deep understanding of renewable energy, electricity distribution, and developing technologies provides invaluable perspective to our clients. Her focus on relationship building, strategic planning, and project development helps projects grow from idea through execution. Maureen founded the Alberta Smart Grid Consortium and sits on the Board of Directors of Green Learning Canada.
Melody-Ann Cote
Project Manager
With over 25 years of industry experience, Melody has earned a reputation as a valuable, versatile team member. Her responsibilities include procedure development and implementation, cost accounting, financial draws and forecasting, contract management, due diligence and IE coordination, progress reporting, FAA filing, Compliance Management System development, QA/QC and site activity oversight, obligation management, client and third-party relations, and project close-out. Melody has provided construction support on over 2 GW of wind and solar, and 3.3 GWh of utility-scale energy storage projects across the US, and managed budgets totaling over $4.3 billion.
Michelle Hauer
Renewable Energy Analyst
Building upon her Masters in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Michelle has gained considerable experience supporting the development of technical standards for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. She has led numerous green building education initiatives and is excited to use her research, knowledge, and experience to encourage sustainability-related behaviour changes that will reduce our environmental footprint.
Michelle Nicholson
Project Scientist
Michelle is a graduate of Lipscomb University in Nashville with a Master of Science degree in Sustainable Practices. She has always been interested in creating a more sustainable world, learning about renewable technologies, and finding a way to communicate both to a broader audience. Joining Solas Energy in 2022, Michelle supports projects and clients through her background in project management, logistics, international business, and communications.
Sheridyn Randolph
Project Engineer
With over 4 years of industry experience and a technical background in environmental engineering, Sheridyn assists with environmental compliance and monitoring, permitting, bid evaluations, due diligence, and provides construction support by managing scope and design obligations. Since joining Solas Energy, Sheridyn has grown to love the fast-paced environment and developing industry of renewable energy. She enjoys the feeling of camaraderie in the industry and the drive make a difference for future generations.
Shiva Shenoy
Senior Project Manager
Shiva is a registered professional engineer with over 20 years of experience related to power generation and delivery. His experience spans roles including engineering consulting, EPC, construction management, and survey services. Shiva enjoys leading multi-disciplinary teams and working with clients to help them achieve their business objectives.
Stephen Glendinning
Senior Associate
Stephen has two decades of experience as an environmental consultant. He has a strong technical foundation in environmental assessment, pre-construction monitoring programs, due diligence, regulatory review, and post-construction monitoring. Stephen takes pride in helping renewable energy projects meet all of their environmental goals.
Taylor Pawlenchuk
Renewable Energy Analyst
Taylor’s expertise includes regulations related to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, renewable energy portfolio standards and economic policy, energy markets, and the deployment of renewable energy sources (wind and solar) and battery energy storage technologies to support the electrical grid. As an avid outdoorsman, Taylor chose a career in renewable energy as way to protect and preserve the beauty of our natural environment.
Titus Hoffman
Assistant Project Manager
Titus is a Civil Engineer and Navy veteran with over 10 years of experience in construction and project management for large-scale commercial projects. He has a specialized background in electronics and solar technology. Titus enjoys identifying opportunities for efficiency improvements, and ensuring his projects are completed on schedule and within budget. As a father, he is excited to work in the renewable energy industry, where he is helping to create a more sustainable future.
Troy Brannan
Electrical Manager
Troy is an Electrical Manager with over 6 years of experience in electrical management, with an emphasis on industrial electrical systems and controls. His background in electrical technology includes extensive fieldwork as well as project planning and client relations. As a member of the Construction Management division since 2020, Troy has supported on-site construction teams with electrical and mechanical inspections and commissioning support. He enjoys using his extensive knowledge to provide solutions for each of the unique projects he supports.
Vincent Prado
Quality Manager
With over 7 years of industry experience, Vincent leads Solas Energy’s QA/QC services within the Construction Management division. He has worked on over 2GW of wind and solar projects including new construction, operations, and repower. Vincent is proficient in QA/QC on Vestas, Acciona/Nordex, GE, Clipper, and Siemens Gamesa turbine platforms. After recognizing a shift in the energy market, he took the opportunity to move into renewables and is proud to help improve the lives of others in this growing industry.
Contact us today to receive more information on our team and experience.
About Solas Energy
Solas Energy provides comprehensive strategy and consulting services to support the energy transition. With over 20 years of experience in project development, construction management, and climate change advisory, Solas Energy provides its clients with the depth and perspective required to navigate the complex issues associated with renewable energy project development and climate change policy.