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Using Our Energy to Save Yours

Our Team

Energy Management Solutions, Inc. (EMS), has assembled a team of experts, knowledgeable in all aspects of commercial/industrial energy supply, demand, usage and conservation.

MANAGEMENT AND STAFF

  • Gary Swanson, President
  • Matt Haley, Chief Executive Officer
  • Gary Olson, Project Manager
  • Tanuj Gulati, Energy Engineer
  • Doug Robison, Measurement & Verification Specialist
  • Jessica Burdette, Energy Analyst
  • Peter Liska, Energy Analyst
  • Mark Minter, Energy Engineer
  • Vicki Kabat-Szklarz, Accounting Specialist
  • Kelly Rogers, Office Manager
  • Kate Leibfried, Intern

PARTNERS AND CONSULTANTS

  • Kevin Canary, Vice President of Development – Oceans Group International, S.A.
  • Robert Hoerauf, Electrical Infrastructure Consultant
  • Thad Wessels, Senior Project Engineer
  • Tom Vagts, Senior Project Engineer
MANAGEMENT AND STAFF

Gary A. Swanson - President, founded EMS in January 2005 as a spin-off of U. S. Energy Services of Wayzata, Minnesota, where he served as vice president of energy demand management. He has 20 years of professional experience, including more than 15 years in ownership and senior management positions at companies dedicated to energy auditing and consulting. He has conducted or overseen more than 3,000 facility audits, saving clients more than $50,000,000 in energy costs.

  • Served as a principal and president of Energy & Environmental Consulting Engineers of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and principal and vice president of Associated Consultants Engineers of Plymouth, Minnesota
  • Licensed as a professional engineer in Minnesota and Iowa since 1989
  • Member of the Association of Energy Engineers
  • Holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota

Matt Haley - Chief Executive Officer, is a certified energy manager with more than 20 years of experience in the energy field. Before partnering with Gary Swanson to form Energy Management Solutions, Inc, he was the owner and president of Matt Haley & Associates, Inc., an Eden Prairie-based consulting firm that specialized in energy conservation, on-site energy audits, utility rebates and technology reviews. Haley has audited or conducted facility reviews of more than 8,000 commercial and industrial properties.

  • Over 10 years of ownership and upper-management experience in the consulting industry with over 20 years of professional experience
  • Contracts with several regional utilities, municipalities and energy management companies, helping their clients and contractors make energy-efficient choices and access conservation rebates to improve their bottom lines
  • Energy consultant for Resource Solutions and A&C Enercom, helping investor-owned utilities assess industrial needs
  • Designed and specified equipment for a 5 MW electric plant and its associated electrical distribution system on a remote island off Panama

Gary A. Olson- Project Manager, commercial energy auditor with extensive experience working with large industrial, small business and agricultural customers. He has conducted hundreds of energy audits of commercial and industrial facilities, provides energy and demand savings calculations for utility rebate programs, and develops energy management strategies for diverse businesses.

  • Association of Energy Engineers (AEE)-certified as an energy manager, business energy professional, demand-side energy professional and sustainable development professional
  • State of Minnesota-certified for commercial and residential auditing
  • Building Operators’ Certification through Wisconsin Focus on Energy in commercial and residential energy auditing
  • Onsite coordinator since 2004 for Business Operators’ Certification training – Levels 1 and 2
  • Taught courses at Lake Superior College and in several public school systems, including Duluth, Hermantown, Lakeville and Minneapolis
  • Holds a Bachelor of Education degree in Secondary Mathematics Education from the University of Hawaii, Honolulu

Tanuj Gulati - Energy Engineer, works with customers and utilities to reduce energy costs by utilizing new technologies and creating innovative energy saving designs, especially with relation to lighting redesign. He conducts energy audits for industrial and commercial utilities in a variety of industries and is knowledgeable in sales tax exemption regulations.

  • Association of Energy Engineers (AEE)-certified energy manager
  • Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL)
  • Interned with the United States Department of Energy at the Industrial Assessment Center at ULL
  • Installed the fuel cell in the ULL Alumni Center and analyzed performance data to prove the efficiency of fuel cell systems to manufacturers in and around the Gulf Coast
  • Experience as an operations manager and process controller at Sea Shell Chemical Private Limited
  • Holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from R.E.C Bhalki, Gulburga University in India and was a faculty member at SSi Education in Hardwar, India

Doug Robison - Measurement & Verification Specialist, conducts pre- and post- measurements of energy-saving projects for new and retainer clients of EMS. He also verifies calculations and ensures accuracy of completed energy-saving projects.

  • Design draft experience, having worked with Minnesota Power revising electrical drawings/drafting with extensive knowledge of CAD standards
  • Holds an Associate in Applied Science degree in Architectural Technology from Lake Superior College in Duluth

Jessica Burdette - Energy Analyst, works with EMS clients, promoting energy conservation and incentive programs, and assisting with energy audits, sales tax exemption studies and heat loss analyses.

  • Experience in public relations for companies and organizations such as Sauer-Danfoss, the American Institute of Architects, the Iowa Business Council and Iowa Chamber Alliance
  • Assisted in the communication efforts for the administration of Governor Tom Vilsack and Lieutenant Governor Sally Pederson in the State of Iowa
  • Master of Business Administration from Iowa State University
  • Bachelor of Arts degree, with distinction, in Political Science and Communications from Iowa State University

Mark Minter - Energy Engineer, conducts benchmarking and utility bill verification for EMS clients and procures rebates for the installation of high efficiency equipment through utility conservation programs. He also assists in conducting energy audits and the measurement and verification of conservation projects.

  • Experience as an engineering intern for MicroTrak and Rolco, Inc., where he participated in the drafting of engineering projects and conducted quality assurance on parts and production
  • Member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and Society for Professional Engineers
  • Holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota Duluth with ABET accreditation

Peter Liska - Energy Analyst, works with EMS clients, promoting energy conservation and incentive programs as well as conducting benchmarking and utlity bill verification, assisting in energy audits, sales tax exemption studies, and generates rebates for the installation of high efficiency equipment through utility conservation programs.

  • Experience as a graduate student researcher where he studied multi-step synthesis of metal-organic frameworks and analyzed potential hydrogen fuel storage capability
  • Member of the American Chemical Society
  • Holds a Master of Science degree in Chemistry from University of California, Berkely and a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry with an emphasis in Business Communication from University of Wisconsin, La Crosse

Vicki Kabat-Szklarz - Accounting Specialist, has experience in many areas, including marketing, accounting, payroll, purchasing, project management, information technology and systems administration.

  • Joined EMS in 2007 as the Office Manager and transfered to Accounting in 2008
  • Served in a variety of office management and administrative roles with some of the region's largest and most respected companies
  • Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stout

Kelly Rogers - Office Manager, has experience in marketing, purchasing, project management, information technology and systems administration.

  • Served in a variety of office management and administrative roles
  • Graduate of Minnesota College of Business and has completed various technical training courses

Kate Leibfried - Intern, has experience in fund raising, communications, team building and studied abroad in Ecuador attending La Universidad Catolica.

  • Experience as a director for the Fund for the Public Interest, a national non-profit organization
  • Bachelor of Arts Degree, Phi Beta Kappa, in Communication Studies with a minor in Spanish and Latin American Studies from Gustavus Adolphus College

PARTNERS AND CONSULTANTS

Kevin Canary, Vice President of Development – Oceans Group International, S.A., serves on the board of directors and plays a key role in the business development of EMS.

  • Oversees operations, asset management, and legal for Panama Pillar, S.A., spending most of his time in Panama City, where he interfaces with the national government, local developers, promoters, bankers, contractors, vendors and consultants
  • Joined the Pillar Group in September 2006 as a development executive, working across all business functions in a matrix management role, including spearheading the creation of the End Financing Company, Pillar Solutions
  • Promoted to director of strategy and asset management, where he led the creation and oversight of the asset management division, as well as leading the interface and negotiation with all consultant and third party management groups, including marina, spa and hotel
  • Experience with NVR, a Fortune 500 Company and Top-10 homebuilder in the United States as a leader in the company's Land Acquisition Group, covering the Northern Virginia/Washington, D.C., market
  • Active member of the Urban Land Institute and its Young Leaders Group, as well as Panama's American Chamber of Commerce and Industry, including its newly created environmental committee
  • Attended the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio, for Business Management

Robert G. Hoerauf - Electrical Infrastructure Consultant, is president of Hoerauf Consulting Inc., with 25 years of experience in the design, project management and start-up of electrical, energy and generation projects for industrial, municipal and utility customers.

  • Experienced designer of substation, transmission, and renewable energy systems
  • Registered professional engineer in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Iowa
  • Serves on several national standards committees for the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
  • 14 years of experience as a manager of the Power Systems Group for Wunderlich-Malec Engineering, Inc.
  • 13 years as a regional engineering manager for Westinghouse Electric

Thad Wessels - Senior Project Engineer, is an independent consultant working with industrial, agricultural, and institutional customers of EMS and a Minnesota-based electric utility. He performs energy audits; measures, verifies, and qualifies projects for utility rebates; and designs and engineers energy improvement projects.

  • 16 years of engineering and plant operations experience, primarily in the energy-intensive printing and publications industry
  • Experience as an operations manager for RR Donnelley in St.Charles, Illinois; corporate industrial engineer for Banta Corporation in Minneapolis, Minnesota; and plant engineer for Banta Publications in Liberty, Missouri
  • Led a team of engineers and designers cutting the cost and consumption of gas and electric throughout Banta Corporation by more than $1.6 million annually
  • Championed and coordinated the implementation of new, energy-saving technologies and process improvements, such as regenerative thermal oxidizers, chilled water systems, heat recovery systems, and building control systems
  • Holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois

Tom Vagts - Senior Project Engineer, is a key member of the EMS management team, administering customers’ accounts, identifying and managing projects, calculating savings, selling services and delivering clear and compelling presentations to audiences of all sizes and degrees of knowledge.

  • Licensed professional engineer and commercial energy auditor whose professional experience spans 14 years
  • Experience as a sales manager for Cummins Power Generation in Fridley, Minnesota, where he oversaw four regional sales managers and four sales engineers that supported paralleling switchgear and network sales in North and South America
  • Served as district sales manager for DTE Energy Technologies in Chanhassen, Minnesota; sales engineer and project engineer for Energy Alternatives in Farmington, Minnesota; and energy engineer for A & C Enercom in Eden Prairie, Minnesota