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Our Team
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Kevin Schulte
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Kevin Schulte is the Vice President of Business Development and a co-founder of SED. Schulte oversees all consulting services and the design of wind energy systems over 30kW in size. At SED, Schulte has concentrated chiefly on designing economically viable decentralized wind turbine installations through regulatory analyses and advancement, innovative financial modeling, public education and turbine selection. He recently completed the management of the design and installation of a 1.5 MW on-site wind turbine project at Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort in Hancock, MA.
Prior to founding SED, Schulte was employed by Renewable Energy Systems (USA), Inc. (RES), a British wind farm developer, owner and operator. At RES, he gained wide-ranging experience designing and permitting large, utility-scale wind farms across the United States. As Development Manager, Schulte worked on development teams for several utility scale wind farms, where he was heavily involved in the design of turbine layout. He was Lead Developer on the successful development of the Nine Canyon Wind Farm in Washington State, where he coordinated civil and turbine layout design and subcontracts for civil and electrical works, and served as liaison between RES’ technical staff and landowners.
Schulte received his BS in Integrated Science and Technology from James Madison University, where he concentrated in environmental engineering and energy systems design. He currently serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Small Wind Committee for the American Wind Energy Association.
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| George McConochie |
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George McConochie is the Vice President of Operations and a co-founder of SED. McConochie’s responsibilities span the life of the company. His experiences have included site analyses, turbine sales, on-site wind power feasibility studies, grant writing and administration as well as business development and marketing amongst others.
His knowledge in managing projects led to a statewide, direct marketing campaign for on-site wind projects aimed at identification of the top 250 locations in the State of New York for on-site wind turbines as well as a wind power market assessment for Sullivan County, NY. The county-wide assessment identified the best utility-scale and distributed generation sites, measured the economic development that these potential projects could provide and developed a plan for the County to integrate the identified wind development potential into their long-term strategic planning process.
Between August 2003 and August 2007, McConochie successfully acquired Feasibility and Design & Construction grants totaling more than $1.9 million from the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative for eight on-site wind power projects as SED’s lead grant writer. McConochie is also a certified wind turbine installer in the state of New York.
A 2000 graduate from James Madison University with a B.A. in Social and Political History and a minor in Geographical Information Systems, he is one of seven JMU alums on board at SED.
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| Loren Pruskowski |
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Mr. Loren Pruskowski is the Vice President of Finances and a co-founder of SED, where he manages company finances and is the Director of Community Wind Operations.
Pruskowski is currently consulting to the development of utility scale-wind projects, developing distributed wind generation projects, and developing a corporate capital structure to realize SED’s vision. A certifid wind installer in the state of New York, some of his project oriented responsibilities include assessing the viability of decentralized wind projects and communicating to project stakeholders the technical, political, environmental, social and economic issues associated with wind energy projects.
Prior to the formation of SED, Loren worked at AWS Scientific, currently known as AWSTruewind, an Albany based meteorological and wind energy-consulting firm.
One of seven employees to graduate from James Madison University, Pruskowski received his Bachelor of Science in Integrated Science and Technology with a concentration in environmental engineering and energy systems design. During his collegiate career he was part of the design team of a 55MW project at Mount Storm, West Virginia.
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| Ernest Pritchard, III |
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Ernest Pritchard is the Director of Small Wind and a co-founder of SED. As the Director of Small Wind he works to proliferate viable on-site wind turbine installations across the Northeast. He is also currently tasked with the development and implementation of a Comprehensive Wind Turbine Operations and Maintenance Program. Pritchard works with homeowners, farmers, schools and small businesses to develop economically and environmentally beneficial wind projects that fit the specific characteristics of each site.
Pritchard, a certified wind turbine installer in the state of New York, has been involved in or managed over 20 small wind turbine installations with project responsibilities including sales, permitting, public funding, financing, electrical interconnection, construction, installation, and maintenance. In addition to small wind turbine installations, Pritchard made significant contributions to the construction of the 1.5MW wind turbine located at Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort in Hancock, MA.
Prior to the founding of SED, Pritchard worked as an independent contractor designing and installing wind resource assessment systems and meteorological towers across the United States. Pritchard, like seven other SED employees and all five co-founders, attended James Madison University. Pritchard earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Science from the University in 2000.
Pritchard and his wife, Amy, reside in Williamson with their dog Sweetums.
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| Joseph Swaha |
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Joseph Swaha is the Director of Construction and a co-founder of SED. A certified wind turbine installer of New York, his main roll has been to manage wind system installations for residential and commercial projects. His focus includes permitting, funding, construction, electrical and maintenance.
Swaha started his tenure with the company as a field technician in which he managed crews installing meteorological towers in various parts of the continental United States. He acquired this skill from his time with Echelon Environment Energy, where he started his professional career.
A native of Mouth of Wilson, VA, Swaha has successfully completed three wind system installation workshops to become certified by New York to obtain funding for wind energy projects. He has also completed the installation and interconnection of six 10kW wind energy systems. Swaha is also certified with the internationally recognized Tractel Emergency Descent/Tower Rescue Certification, which focuses on safe climbing and rescue practices.
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| David Strong |
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David Strong is a Senior Project Manager and an owner of SED. A certified installer of wind turbines in New York State, Strong has extensive experience permitting, designing, installing, and maintaining wind turbine systems. His wind resource assessment experience includes system installation, data validation and data analysis. His duties currently include project design and construction oversight, as well as the development of an Operations and Maintenance program for distributed wind power projects in the Northeast. Strong is certified with the internationally recognized Tractel Emergency Descent/Tower Rescue Certification, which focuses on safe wind turbine climbing and rescue practices.
A comprehensive education in the industry, Strong also received a diploma through the Registration Accreditation Board as a Lead Auditor for environmental management systems through the International Organization for Standardization. The certification, called ISO 14001 Lead Auditor Training, involves the ability to audit environmental management systems. His education extends to hazardous waste operation and emergency response training (HAZWOPER), which is focused on safe working practices and emergency response training in the workplace.
Strong administered the State Based Anemometer Loan Program in Virginia. The program, funded by the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy and the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, involved the siting, erection, and data analysis of meteorological towers throughout the state of Virginia. In part, the program involved informing the general public about the program, processing numerous applications and selecting viable sites. He worked with local and state officials, various media outlets, and landowners to help spur wind energy development in Virginia.
Strong received his bachelor’s degree from the Integrated Science and Technology department at James Madison University in 2002 where he studied environmental engineering and energy systems.
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| Scott Abbett |
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Scott Abbett has been a part of Sustainable Energy Developments, Inc. since August of 2005. A Senior Project Manager since June, 2006, Abbett, manages site assessment, feasibility studies and wind resource modeling for decentralized wind power projects throughout New England. A certified user of the Wind Atlas Analysis and Application Program (WAsP) Abbett’s specific expertise ranges from permitting, examining geographical information systems, wind resources modeling to shadow-flicker assessment, financial analysis and photo-simulations.
Abbett started his tenure with SED as a Wind Farm Development Consultant. His specific responsibilities included site prospecting, wind resource assessment, fatal flaw analyses, land lease negotiations, local permitting and public educations, skills he has carried with him to his present position.
Before joining the SED team Scott served on the board of directors for Clean Power Now, a non-profit organization to promote renewable energy initiatives in the Cape and Islands region of Massachusetts. During this time Scott helped to determine the focus and scope of the organization and helped to lift its membership over the 1000 mark.
The information technology guru of the company, Abbett’s computer knowledge comes from a position in Information Systems Research and Development at Physicians Homecare (USA), Inc., a position he held throughout the year building up to his move to SED.
Abbett is a 2000 graduate of James Madison University’s School of Integrated Science and Technology with a focus on Energy. He is one of seven JMU alums on the SED staff. While attending James Madison he also minored in small business and entrepreneurship.
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| Jon Foster |
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Jonathan Foster is a Program Facilitator and Wind Resource Technician for SED. His management of wind resource services includes mapping, surveying and identifying sting tower locations. Foster has also been involved in the erection, instrumentation and placement of meteorological systems.
His experience and tenure with SED has led to site location management where he oversees the management and safety of his crews, upholds landowner relationships and purchases equipment and tools in order for project completion.
Prior to joining the SED team in April of 2005, Foster substitute taught at Guilderland Central School for one year while also serving as an Elk Hunting Guide in Carlo, Montana at Cheff Guest Ranch, a position he held since the Fall of 2002. Foster spent the summer before his teaching stint as a professional fisherman for Chatham Fisheries.
Foster and Kerry O’Connor welcomed their daughter, Iris, in July of 2007 and reside in Sodus.
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| John Trout |
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John Trout joined the SED family as an intern in the Summer of 2005. He is
one of the three interns who became a full time employee with the company
as he was hired one year later as a Field Technician. Trout's communication
skills and organizational expertise soon led him from the field where he
learned the nuts and bolts of project operations, contractor oversite,
scheduling and logistics into the office.
Based on his broad understanding of field operations in combination with his
natural leadership qualities, Trout was appointed the Director of Met Tower
Operations. In this new position, Trout worked to reorganize the company's
met tower work and achieved tremendous results, increasing the division's
income by nearly 20% in his first two years on the job. Beyond his duties to
the Met Tower Operations, Trout has worked to develop a training program
for met tower installations and bidding tools for the company's other
operational activities.
Trout is one of the seven SED employees to hold a degree from James
Madison University, graduating with a B.S. from the University's School of
Integrated Science and Technology.
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| Matt Vanderbrook |
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Matthew Vanderbrook joined Sustainable Energy Developments, Inc. in October of 2006. Since joining the company Vanderbrook has focused mainly on the management of wind resource assessment activities for utility-scale wind energy applications. His involvement has included system siting, instrumentation, commissioning, construction scheduling and logistics as well as personnel management.
His leadership in conducting feasibility studies and site analysis has been instrumental in the growth of SED. Working on projects ranging from 100kW to several megawatts Vanderbrook has become an expert in state-level renewable energy policy analysis and market development.
A 2006 graduate of the University of Vermont, Vanderbrook minored in Environmental Studies while earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. Prior to joining the SED team he interned in the Office of Senator Charles E. Schumer (NY) where he gained experience working in state, local and municipal government policy.
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| Derek Sabin |
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Derek Sabin has been with Sustainable Energy Developments, Inc. (SED) since April of 2006. Sabin started his career with SED as a crew leader for the installation of wind measurement systems. In this position, Sabin used his extensive mechanical and organizational skills to help utility-scale wind developers measure the wind resources of potential wind farms throughout the eastern US. Sabin quickly mastered the skills necessary to efficiently install meteorological towers, interact with landowners and to satisfy the exacting demands of wind farm developers.
Based on his success in the wind resource field, Sabin’s role in the company shifted to working on the installation of wind turbines. This shift allowed SED to put his extensive talents and experience to work fulfilling SED’s main goal of installing wind turbines. By March of 2008 his proven leadership, communication and problem solving skills earned Sabin a promotion to the job of Construction Foreman.
In his current role as a Construction Foreman, Sabin is responsible for all aspects of small/residential wind turbine construction including siting, civil, electrical and structural work. His experience with heavy machinery and transportation logistics has also been utilized to aid in the transportation of large wind turbines from ports to project sites throughout the Northeastern US.
Sabin has also been tasked with the management of SED’s vehicle fleet. In this capacity he is responsible for vehicle maintenance, repair and tracking usage to determine the purchase and/or sale of SED’s fleet.
Sabin began his quest to learn about renewable energy in 2001 while attending Finger Lakes Community College. He earned an Associates Degree in Applied Science with a concentration in Natural Resources COnservation. During his two years at Finger Lakes he attended a travel course to a unique eceological community in Costa Rica and also traveled to the Everglades for a Travel Ecology course on his way to earning his degree in 2003.
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| Mikell Herrick |
Mikell Herrick joined the SED family in August of 2006 as the Office
Administrator. A key aspect in making the office run and keeping the masses
organized, Herrick is responsible for reception, correspondence, accounting
and purchasing. In addition to her office admin duties she handles inquiries
from potential small wind clients, providing initial site-specific feasibility
studies.
A native of Canada, Herrick worked as a reporter and freelance writer and
editor during her Canadian professional career. Before moving to the US in
2000 she worked as the Communications Director for the United Chiefs and
Councils of Manitoulin (UCCM) on Manitoulin Island in Northern Ontario.
During her tenure with the UCCM her public relations and communications
responsibilities included, but were not limited to producing press releases
and a monthly newsletter for the members of the tribal council in six First
Nations.
After meeting her husband Alan, a Rochester native, she moved from Northern Ontario to the United States in 2000. The six years prior to coming to SED, Herrick managed the office of a small publishing company in Rochester. The mother of four sons, Herrick is an avid fisher who along with her husband spends the summer weekends trolling Lake Ontario for King Salmon and Brown Trout. |
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Meaghann Schulte joined the SED family in October of 2007 as the Director of Public Relations and Marketing. Schulte brings experience from the college athletic scene where she spent the last ten years promoting conferences, universities, teams, coaches and student-athletes on the national level.
Prior to joining SED, Schulte spent over two years as the Associate Director of the Philadelphia Big 5, a basketball conference made up of La Salle, Penn, Saint Joseph’s, Temple and Villanova. She was brought on by the five member university’s athletic directors to coordinate the 50th Anniversary season in 2005-06. The events of the year included a Gala for nearly 1,000 people, of which many were Naismith and Big 5 Hall of Famers.
Her position also made her both the Philadelphia Big 5's primary sports information director for the 10 basketball teams in the conference office atmosphere as well as the marketing director for the organization. As the sports information director her duties included coordinating players of the week, clinics, press conferences, banquets, scheduling, game management/staff and ticketing among other things. Her marketing responsibilities brought in over $300 thousand to sustain the office and run events throughout the seasons.
Schulte’s first taste of the Philadelphia basketball scene was as the Assistant Director of Athletic Communications at La Salle University. During her two plus years at La Salle she worked primarily with the men's soccer, women's basketball and baseball programs and was the liaison with the Academic Support and Compliance Offices as well as University Alumni Relations. She also dealt with a major crisis during her time at La Salle and in doing so became more acquainted not only with the Philadelphia media, but also National media.
The first stop on Schulte’s professional career path was in the Brown University sports information office. At Brown she was the sports information contact for the national champion women's crew team as well as the volleyball, women's basketball, baseball, wrestling, skiing and equestrian teams.
A 2002 graduate of West Chester University Schulte was chosen as one of the three recipients of the 2001-02 CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) undergraduate scholarship. She finished her four year college career, in which she worked all four years in the sports information office, by being chosen to speak on behalf of her graduating class at the 2002 commencement ceremony. |
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