Our Team - EmPower Solar

Leadership

David G. Schieren

| CEO
David co-founded EmPower in 2003 to make solar energy the dominant energy source in New York and beyond.  This vision continues to drive every action the company takes.   David leads a talented team to deliver the best solar and battery technology, the most financial savings and an amazing customer experience.   To date, EmPower has installed over 5,000 residential...
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David co-founded EmPower in 2003 to make solar energy the dominant energy source in New York and beyond.  This vision continues to drive every action the company takes.

 

David leads a talented team to deliver the best solar and battery technology, the most financial savings and an amazing customer experience.

 

To date, EmPower has installed over 5,000 residential and commercial solar power and battery systems in the New York Metro and Long Island territories.  David’s areas of expertise and responsibility include commercial project development, community solar, battery systems, leadership and management.

 

As an advocate, David conducts outreach to build support for clean energy amongst political, community, business and religious leaders, and the public at large.  David has testified before the United States Congress and has been involved with numerous TV, print, internet, radio and documentary interviews.

 

David is Chairman of the New York State Solar Energy Industry Association (NYSEIA), and also serves on the boards of the Long Island Association and Vision Long Island.

 

He has a Master of Science in Energy Management from the New York Institute of Technology, where he received the Faculty Award for outstanding achievement.  David co-led the 2005 US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon solar-hydrogen zero energy home project. He has a BA in Economics from the University of Vermont, where he received the Freeman Saltus Award in Economics.  David was a North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) Photovoltaic Installer.  David started his career as an Institutional Equity Advisor at Merrill Lynch where he sold Japanese equities to large US based investors.

 

David lives in Long Island City with his wife, Cristina Zancani, a sustainable architect and Urban Designer, and their son.

Gregory D. Sachs

| COO
Greg leads and oversees company operations with a focus on company infrastructure, processes, and post-contract endeavors including engineering, construction, service, and company support. Together, Greg and CEO, David are realizing EmPower Solar's vision of a more prosperous, healthy, and civil world powered by renewable energy.   As a licensed Professional Engineer in NYS, Greg also signs and seals electrical and...
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Greg leads and oversees company operations with a focus on company infrastructure, processes, and post-contract endeavors including engineering, construction, service, and company support. Together, Greg and CEO, David are realizing EmPower Solar’s vision of a more prosperous, healthy, and civil world powered by renewable energy.

 

As a licensed Professional Engineer in NYS, Greg also signs and seals electrical and structural schematics. Greg is Chair of the Long Island Interconnection Working Group and is one of the few industry representatives on the NYS Interconnection Technical Working Group.

 

As an ‘astronaut like’ candidate, Greg was accepted into NASA’s Human Exploration Research Analog program. In January 2018 at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Greg was Commander of a two month simulated space mission. Mission results fed into present and future NASA missions such as Mars, the International Space Station, lunar base, etc.

 

Prior to EmPower Solar, Greg taught electrical and mechanical engineering at the US Merchant Marine Academy. There Greg co-founded and managed the Alternative Power Program and the Kings Point Sustainability Association. After graduating from the USMMA in 1999, Greg attended Navy Nuclear Power School and held multiple management and teaching positions as a Nuclear Engineer at Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory.

 

Greg completed a Master of Science in System Engineering & Management at MIT. Greg’s focus was the design and development of ‘impossibly complex’ systems, such as the electricity grid. Greg’s thesis is on building “smart grid” architectures supporting increased penetration of ‘non-dispatchable’ RE resources.

 

Greg is formerly the co-chair of the IEEE Long Island Power & Energy Society, and Secretary/Chair of the Technical Committee for the Long Island Solar Energy Industries Association (LISEIA). Greg is a NABCEP Certified Photovoltaic Installer. Greg moderates and lectures on Solar & RE topics; engagements include the NSPE, IEEE Power & Energy Society (for CEU’s), SUNY Stony Brook, the Nassau Bar Association, and other universities.

Accounting

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John Urquizo

Accounting Manager

Ann Kelly

Accounting Associate

Summer Star

Accounting Associate

Customer Experience

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George Christoforou

Customer Experience Representative

Stephen Megaloudis

Customer Growth Specialist

Engineering

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Garrison Carafa

Solar Engineer

Isaac Villacis

Engineering + Design Residential Team Leader

Field

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Kevin Cavanagh

Director of Field Operations

Kevin King

Senior Foreman

Cody Smith

Commercial Foreman
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Cody Smith

| Commercial Foreman

Cody joined EmPower Solar in 2009 as a service tech, quickly and efficiently troubleshooting photovoltaic systems, including solar arrays, electrical equipment, and monitoring systems. He then moved to serving as foreman for one of EmPower Solar’s residential crews, primarily in New York City, before being promoted to foreman for our commercial solar team.

 

When he’s not managing large scale solar installations, Cody enjoys hunting, fishing, or hiking, and spending time with his son.

Bert Benjamin

Site Foreman

Jared Taylor

Site Foreman

David Ezzo

Site Foreman

Darrell Hawthorne

Assistant Site Foreman

David Glassman

Senior Electrical Technician

Anthony Izzo

Electrical Technician

Theo Brown

Site Surveyor

John Neder

Site Surveyor

Human Resources

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Fred Catapano

Human Resources Asset Manager
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Fred Catapano

| Human Resources Asset Manager

Fred graduated from Stony Brook University with his Master’s in Human Resource Management. He currently holds his SHRM-CP certification and is an active member on the SHRM LI certification committee. Fred volunteers his time to help facilitate learning for HR professionals as they take on the challenge of obtaining their SHRM certification.

 

Prior to working with EmPower Solar, Fred was dedicated to supporting individuals with special needs. He started his HR career as a Professional Development Coordinator in 2009. From there, Fred became part of Human Resources Management team for over five years, as the Talent Manager and later the Director of Talent Acquisition at Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc (FREE). This position allowed him the opportunity to successfully lead a team by applying his Human Resources knowledge to complex staffing and human relations challenges.

 

While at FREE, Fred was introduced to EmPower Solar when he learned of many residential homes having solar installed, as a client. Fred believes renewable energy must become an increasing part of everyone’s everyday life. He is excited to now be part of building a dedicated, motivated and committed workforce to achieving this goal.

Haley Craycraft

Recruiter + HR Generalist

Marketing

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Matt DiIorio

Chief Marketing Officer

Amanda Cronin

Marketing Manager

Operations

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Alexandra Buckley

Senior Project Manager

Sara McCaffrey

Senior Project Manager

Joseph Brennan

Project Manager

Joe Rice

Commercial Operations Engineer

Corey Roberts

Property + Logistics Officer

Jason Caneles

Warehouse Manager

Permitting

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Ellen Bury

Permit Expeditor

Sales

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Zack Lerman

Director of Sales
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Zack Lerman

| Director of Sales

Zack is the Director of Sales at EmPower Solar, bringing a wealth of knowledge from both the clean energy consulting and project finance aspects of the solar energy industry.

After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with degrees in economics and environmental science, Zack began consulting and finance-brokering for large-scale solar and wind energy projects. After spending time in the commercial and utility-scale side of the business, he quickly became interested in bringing the benefits of solar energy to individual homeowners.

Today, Zack oversees the residential and commercial sales departments at EmPower Solar where he has cultivated a team of sales professionals that sets the standard for professionalism, subject-matter expertise, and client focus. Zack also oversees EmPower Solar’s sales operations and enablement, striving to continually deliver and improve upon an amazing experience for EmPower Solar’s employees and customers alike.

Michael Kaffka

Residential Sales Manager
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Michael Kaffka

| Residential Sales Manager

Mike brings a wealth of solar experience from his time working in renewables.

 

In 2015, Mike started his solar career in Kansas City. Two years later, after seeing immense growth and opportunity in the Northeast, Mike moved to New York City to further his career in solar energy. Now Mike oversees the best Residential Sales Team NYC has to offer.

 

In his free time, Mike enjoys the food and culture in NYC and planning trips with his wife and dog.

Jeff Cohen

Sales Professional
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Jeff Cohen

| Sales Professional
Jeff was born and raised in Connecticut. He spent much of his career raising funds for health and human service organizations in the special needs community. It was here that he met EmPower, learned the long term value of residential solar, and completed the largest installation of its kind, at that time. This installation has and will continue to save the organization hundreds of thousands of dollars, and has significantly lowered the organization’s greenhouse emissions.

Jeff is the founder of The Long Island Fight For Charity, one of the largest and most anticipated charity events on Long Island for the last 18 years. To date, they have donated close to $2M dollars to Long Island charities. EmPower is a proud and leading sponsor of the event.

He began working with EmPower in 2008, placing both commercial and residential projects. Now in 2022 due to the high demand for residential solar, Jeff’s only focus is delivering the highest quality residential solar and battery systems to EmPower’s valued clients.

Kyle Solomon

Sales Professional
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Kyle Solomon

| Sales Professional

Kyle was born and raised on the eastern end of Long Island. He has always been motivated by his older brother, who is an environmental lawyer and always stressed the importance of protecting the environment with a particular emphasis on fighting climate change.

 

Kyle played Division One hockey at the University of Maine where he majored in public administration with a focus on environmental policy. After college, he coached hockey in his native East Hampton where he helped organize the area’s first high school ice hockey program. After seeing the program develop past it’s infancy Kyle decided it was time to follow a different passion, renewable energy.

 

He began working with EmPower Solar in March of 2017 as a customer experience representative, and now enjoys working directly with clients as part of the sales team.

Mat Layton

Sales Professional
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Mat Layton

| Sales Professional

Mat began working with solar panels in 2001 during his service with the United States Coast Guard. This powerful experience fueled his passion for renewable energy and mastery of the field.

 

In the summer of 2008, Mat joined EmPower Solar as an Installer. He quickly climbed the ranks to Site Foreman and managed system installations for three years. Mat went on to become a Service Technician, leading to his promotion to Service Manager. Mat now focuses on residential sales, bringing years of solar experience with him to the table.

 

Mat is a resident of Island Park, a proud husband, and father of two. He plays guitar and sings in various local bands throughout the area. Mat stays energized by helping people make the transition to a fossil free world

Scott McDonnell

Sales Professional
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Scott McDonnell

| Sales Professional

Scott McDonnell is a lifelong Long Beach resident who is excited to help expand renewable energy on Long Island and New York City.

 

Prior to joining the EmPower team, Scott worked for over ten years selling electronic components. He has also held marketing positions and has planned numerous special events. Growing up and working in a family-owned construction business, he has extensive knowledge in project management.

 

Scott holds a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Engineering and Management from Clarkson University, and is a former volunteer firefighter and paramedic.

 

When out of the office, Scott enjoys sailing, surfing and snowboarding. He also represents EmPower Solar at the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Beth Austin

Sales Professional
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Beth Austin

| Sales Professional

Bethany transitioned into her role as a Sales Professional for EmPower Solar from the world of 3D printing. She is excited to combine her love of cutting edge technology with her lifelong passion for the natural world around us. By using her expertise to tailor-make solar solutions, she is able to save each individual customer the maximum amount of money while saving the environment as well.

 

Bethany came to New York eight years ago from the Golden State. She attended The University of Santa Cruz for Anthropology and San Jose State University for Integrated Nutrition. She is also NABCEP certified (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) by Ecotech Institute.

 

In her free time you might find her surfing or seeing live music, as well as volunteering at the Brooklyn Animal Collective.

Gen Aleksandrov

Sales Professional
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Gen Aleksandrov

| Sales Professional

Gen has been a successful professional in the Renewable Energy industry since 2012. He was inspired by early adopters of the technology and involved himself in activism with organizations like Greenpeace. He became aware in early 2013 that he can make a greater impact on the environment by utilizing his knowledge and background in finance and help people save considerable amounts of money while saving the environment and contributing to a carbon-free economy. Since then he has made it his passion and mission to help as many people as possible to usher in a cleaner future for new generations and break free from energy dependence.

Andrew Hughes

Sales Professional
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Andrew Hughes

| Sales Professional

Born and raised on the south shore of Suffolk County, Andrew was inspired to join the solar industry after learning how deeply rising energy bills can affect a family’s budget.

Andrew’s background lies in construction and sales, where he first began to connect with homeowners. He is passionate about helping each client find the best solar solution for their needs–all while saving money and the planet.

When Andrew isn’t busy connecting with clients, he enjoys playing ice and roller hockey, snowboarding, and riding his bike.

Alex Zancani

Sales Professional
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Alex Zancani

| Sales Professional

Alejandro Zancani was born in Caracas, Venezuela. He attended high school in Plymouth, New Hampshire, before graduating from Universidad Metropolitana in Caracas, Venezuela, where he majored in Business and Administration. 

 

In 2014, Alex moved to Texas to pursue a career in commercial and residential remodeling, then in the new construction of residential single family homes. 

 

For the past 18 years, Alex has served as an advisor to EmPower Solar CEO David Schieren as his brother-in-law. Alex’s general knowledge of home structure and functionality inspired him to pursue a career in solar energy to help make homes across New York more energy efficient.

Jennifer Lazourack

Sales Administrator

Service

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Tara McDermott

Director of Customer Experience and Stakeholder Relations
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Tara McDermott

| Director of Customer Experience and Stakeholder Relations

Tara represents EmPower Solar as the Chair of the Long Island Solar & Storage Alliance where she is the government liaison for policy issues related to solar and energy storage.

 

Tara earned her BA in Sociology at SUNY Stony Brook and her Master of Public Administration at CUNY Baruch, both with a focus on environmental studies. She is also a “Semester at Sea” alumni, where she completed part of her degree while traveling at sea through several different global ports. In 2011, she was one of four U.S. Climate Change Professional Fellows for the Australia cohort, where she worked with Australian researchers, industries, and advocates dealing with energy and climate issues.

 

Prior to joining the EmPower Solar team, Tara was the Long Island Program Coordinator for Citizens Campaign for the Environment, where she organized educational and advocacy campaigns on various environmental issues on Long Island. She also spent three years as a “Young Island” blogger for the Long Island Business News. She has been active in various professional and environmental organizations, including the C3E Women in Energy group on LI and serves on the Advisory Board for the Renewable Energy and Sustainability Center at Farmingdale State College. Tara also co-founded two nonprofit organizations focused on smart growth and keeping young professionals on Long Island.

 

In 2018, Tara was named one of the Top 50 Women in Business by the Long Island Business News. She was also inducted into the Social Justice Distinguished Scholar Academy for her work in environmental justice issues in collaboration with Farmingdale State College.

 

As a charity boxer for the 2018 Long Island Fight for Charity, Tara raised over $18,000 for non-profits across Long Island. In her spare time, Tara enjoys hiking around Long Island’s parks with her husband and daughter or playing weekly beach volleyball with the EmPower Solar company team. Tara’s family has taken on the “Electrify Your Life” challenge, and recently added solar panels to her home that now cover 100% of her energy needs including a geothermal heating and cooling system, and an electric vehicle.

James Callindes

Service Solar Engineer

Florence Trudel

Service Project Manager

Jesus Zapata

Service Technician

Franklin Monge

Service Technician