Team
Bob Hinkle
Founder, CEO, & Board Member, Metrus Energy
Bob established Metrus in 2009 and created the Efficiency Services Agreement (ESA) that the company utilizes to finance large-scale efficiency retrofit projects. He currently also serves as a Board member for the California Energy Efficiency Industry Council. Previously, Bob was vice president of energy efficiency at MMA Renewable Ventures where he directed the company’s overall EE financing business and identified and negotiated investment opportunities with ESCOs and large commercial and industrial energy users. He has more than 17 years of experience in the energy industry and worked for 10 years at Nexant (formerly part of Bechtel Corporation). He has developed and implemented over $200 million of large-scale energy projects and programs in the U.S. and in emerging overseas markets for utilities, energy end-users, government agencies, and international donors. Bob previously served as entrepreneur in residence for the California Clean Energy Fund (CalCEF) focusing on the identification of new business models for EE. Bob has an MA degree in international business from the Fletcher School, Tufts University and a BA degree in international politics and economics from Middlebury College.
Sam Lines
Project Development Director, Metrus Energy
As Director of Project Development, Sam is responsible for implementing, negotiating, and financing energy efficiency retrofit projects with customers and Metrus’ ESCO partners. Previously, Sam worked at Johnson Controls where he focused on the evaluation of new financing models to support performance contracting for energy efficiency projects. While there, Sam co-authored a paper for the Johnson Controls’ Institute for Building Efficiency entitled “Mind the GAAP” that investigated accounting issues surrounding energy efficiency projects. Sam has also evaluated opportunities for developing and financing projects as part of energy conservation block grant programs for states in the Midwest. Sam has both an MBA and an MS in Environmental Science from the University of Michigan through the Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise as well as a BA from Middlebury College.
Frank Visciano
Business Development Director, Metrus Energy
Frank is responsible for leading business development and sales initiatives with customers, ESCO partners, and utilities that generate project investment opportunities for Metrus at private industrial, commercial, and institutional facilities. Previously, Frank was a Recovery Act Fellow for the U.S. Department of Energy and worked at Goldman, Sachs & Co on the Investment Grade Credit Syndicate desk where he negotiated the origination and sale of debt securities. Frank also served as the head of Goldman, Sachs’ Emerging Markets Credit Syndicate where he worked with sovereign entities and corporations in the structuring of customized financing solutions. Frank joins Metrus Energy after graduating with an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business in 2011. He also holds a BA from Swarthmore College.
Erik Birkerts
Business Development Advisor, Metrus Energy
Erik is a Business Development Advisor to Metrus with over 20 years of experience, including project financing and the development of go-to-market strategies for energy efficiency companies. He was a member of the senior management team for two IPOs of venture capital backed companies and has raised and structured numerous private equity financings. Erik most recently served as Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Orion Energy Systems (NASDAQ: OESX), a leading manufacturer of energy efficient, high-performance lighting systems and renewable technologies. He earned his MBA from the University of Chicago and his BA from Tufts University.
Terry Fry
Advisor, Metrus Energy | Senior Vice President of Energy & Carbon Management, Nexant
Terry has over 20 years of experience in the EE field. In his role as senior vice president in Nexant’s Energy & Carbon Management group, Terry directs all EE program and strategic consulting services. He has designed and implemented over $150 million of turn-key EE programs for utilities, regulators, and private sector customers in North America. Terry holds an MA degree in economics from Cambridge University and a BS degree in mechanical engineering from Stanford University.
John Ravis
Advisor, Metrus Energy
John has over 19 years of experience in energy project finance and development as a lender, an investor, and as a developer. Recently, he has been advising companies, financial institutions and governmental agencies on financing and developing projects in the energy efficiency, renewable energy, and conventional power generation sectors. Previously, he was a Vice President of Project Finance at TD Bank. Previously, he worked with ABB Energy Capital, where he managed a group of financing projects in the renewable energy, power generation, and energy infrastructure sectors. John has also worked in project finance at Raytheon Engineers and Constructors, Constellation Energy, and ABB/Combustion Engineering. He has a BS in Engineering and an MBA, both from the University of Michigan.
Benoit Begault
Board Member, Metrus Energy | Director & Chairman, GoGreen Capital
Benoit currently serves as director and chairman of GoGreen Capital where he is responsible for investments and manages participations. Prior to founding GoGreen Capital, Benoit held various positions with The Boston Consulting Group and Electolux, before launching his own consulting activity, advising companies in various sectors including Utilities (a.o. Electrabel-GdF Suez) and Cleantech. Benoit acts as board member of several companies in the Cleantech and Media & IT sectors and holds an MA degree from the Louvain Business School.
Mike Hall
Board Member, Metrus Energy | CEO & Board Member, Borrego Solar Systems, Inc.
Mike currently serves as CEO and board member for Borrego Solar Systems, Inc. Mike has been with Borrego Solar since 2002. During this time, his primary focus has been supporting the sales and marketing of commercial and government grid-tied solar power systems. Prior to joining Borrego Solar, he worked as a Product Development Engineer for Applied Materials in Santa Clara. Mike holds an MS degree in chemical engineering from Stanford University and a BS degree in chemical engineering from the University California Santa Barbara. Joining Borrego Solar Systems as a partner in 2002 has allowed Mike to work in the renewable energy field, for which he has always had a strong commitment.
