The Breakaway Renewables Team

Brendan Malley, along with a talented team of researchers, installers, managers, engineers and a vibrant sales and administrative team, Mr. Malley has contributed to Norwich Solar's steady growth – more than tripling the company’s installed solar in his first year.

Previously, Mr. Malley owned and operated a small business from start-up through maturity. He has broad experience in brand creation and development, workforce building, and operational discipline. Through two earlier positions, he gained experience in regulated markets, public outreach, and issue research and analysis. Mr. Malley holds a BA in English from Georgetown University. He spent two seasons as a mechanic and pit crew member in IndyCar racing.

Email: malley@norwichsolar.com
Phone: 202.550.0565

Diana brings 20+ years of experience in comprehensive brand communications and design. She has an MBA in Marketing and is focused on strategic business growth for the company while making connections with the communities they serve. She is excited to work for this growing company and supporting increased adoption of clean energy solutions.

Geoff Martin joined the company in 2022 as our Development Project Manager. He previously worked as the Intermunicipal Regional Energy Coordinator at the Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission, working with seven towns in the region to lower energy use, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and move to renewable generation of electricity. He also worked for the Town of Hartford as the town’s Energy Coordinator. He holds a Master’s in Environmental Sciences from Emory University and a Bachelor’s in Development Studies from Brown University. In his free time, Geoff likes to mountain bike, run, ski, and hike with his family.

Email: martin@norwichsolar.com

Phone: 802.281.3213 ext. 3034

As Project Manager at Norwich Solar, Gregg Freeman is responsible for managing financial due diligence, drafting agreements, project closeout, and assisting with project permitting and development. Prior to joining Norwich Technologies, Inc., Gregg was the Permitting and Regulatory Compliance Manager at Aegis Renewable Energy, Inc., where he successfully permitted ten commercial-scale solar projects in Vermont, ranging from 100 kW to 500 kW in capacity.

Gregg earned a J.D., with Certificate in Energy Law from Vermont Law School, a M.A. in Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School, and a B.A. in Environmental Studies from S.U.N.Y Potsdam. While in law school, Gregg was a Research Associate at the Institute for Energy and the Environment, a Clinician at the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic, a Law Clerk for the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, a Staff Editor and Articles Editor for the Vermont Journal of Environmental Law, and a Student Ambassador.

Prior to law school, Gregg also worked in the energy efficiency and renewable energy fields at Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, Next Step Living, and Northeast Clean Energy Council.

Outside of work, Gregg is a Contributing Writer for the New York Appellate Digest. In his free time, Gregg enjoys sailing, biking, paddling, camping, backcountry skiing, and woodworking.

After wrapping up a BE at Dartmouth in Energy Engineering, Jack joined the Norwich team to support emerging opportunities in EVs, new solar and storage markets, and R&D activities. Outside of work he can be found enjoying the typical diversions of the Upper Valley or reading Isabel Allende novels on the porch.

Solar industry veteran Jim Merriam is our Chief Executive Officer. In this role, he continues his mission of making it easy for businesses, schools, and municipalities to go solar, save money, and do good.

Jim comes to Norwich Solar from SunCommon where he was Vice President of Operations. Merriam has previously worked in the renewable energy industry as VP of Operations at Northern Power Systems and at groSolar where he served as Chief Operating Officer.

Jim Merriam is familiar to many in Vermont as the longtime Director of Efficiency Vermont, the nation’s first statewide energy efficiency utility.

Jim, who holds an electrical engineering degree and an MS in Engineering Management, was attracted to the technical competence of Norwich Solar and their community-centric approach to building solar.

Email: merriam@norwichsolar.com
Phone: 802.281.3213

With an Associate’s Degree in Paralegal Studies from Western Kentucky University and just over seven (7) years of paralegal, customer service, and executive support experience, Jo is now coordinating Norwich’s sustainable energy projects.

Hailing from many places across the Southern and Midwest United States, Jo is excited to be living in Vermont and handling the day-to-day of Norwich’s projects across New England. When not working with the rest of the amazing Norwich Dev Team, Jo can be found walking her black lab mix, trying her hand at a new hobby, reading a good YA novel, working on home renovation projects, kayaking, or playing video games with her family.

Joel Stettenheim is President of Norwich Solar, Inc. Joel has strong legal, business and technical skills with a PhD in device physics/materials research from Dartmouth College, a JD from Stanford Law School, and corporate and IP practice experience at Testa, Hurwitz, & Thibeault. Dr. Stettenheim’s broad technical skills include materials and device fabrication and characterization, control systems development, design and implementation of mechanical and electrical simulations, data analysis, mechanical design and machining, and extensive measurement work that includes design and fabrication of low-noise electronics and device-control and data-collection software. His research credentials include numerous peer-reviewed publications and public talks including lead authorship in Nature. Joel’s legal and business experience includes counseling clients from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies on a broad range of patent, trademark, regulatory, transactional, and licensing issues. Joel is PI on over $2.4M in grants from the US Department of Energy for the novel parabolic trough concentrating solar power and other technology being developed by NST.

Email: Stettenheim@norwichsolar.com
Phone: 802.281.3213

Kevin is an experienced sales professional with a 20-year history of managing sales teams across the US and Canada. He has a background in high-tech, emerging markets in the AV and IT industries. Kevin moved to the Upper Valley ten years ago to raise a family in a clean and safe community. He is committed to renewable energy and helping small to medium-sized businesses reduce their carbon footprint while increasing their profitability.

Email: davis@norwichsolar.com
Phone: 802.359.7405

Kristin joins the Norwich team in 2024 to oversee the development pipeline in Breakaway. With over 10 years of experience in VT residential solar, she is excited to leverage her expertise to increase New England's renewable energy. Kristin supports teams by identifying improvement opportunities, optimizing workflows, and collaborating with stakeholders for shared success. Outside of work, Kristin enjoys camping, skiing, biking, paddling, reading, or exploring Vermont's many adventures with her family.

Phone: 802.281.3213 ext. 3039

Email: dediana@norwitech.com

Lisa joined Norwich Solar in July of 2016 and has a BS in Mathematics & Business Management from Johnson State College. She has over 25 years of experience in the accounting and business management fields; most of which has been spent in the small business industry.

Luke Cady joined Norwich Technologies in 2021 after spending six years working at SunCommon managing their solar supply chain and working extensively on ERP development.  Luke’s role as VP of Business Operations will continue both of those threads – working to build out business processes and analytics and support Norwich’s solar supply chain demands.

When he’s not buried in spreadsheets, Luke enjoys woodworking, cooking, cycling, campfires, and travel.

Lynn has been involved with retail for the past 20 years working for a local family owned company. Her experience is in Purchasing and Inventory Management as well as Accounting. Supporting local business is important to her and she enjoys gardening and being outdoors.

Martha Staskus, as Chief Development Officer, is responsible for leading site development processes and supporting operations through high-level project and client management.

Martha has considerable project management and development expertise concentrated in renewable energy projects including site identification, land acquisition, feasibly, wind resource and environmental assessments, permitting, outreach and education services, and performance monitoring for wind and solar clients, electric utilities, regulatory agencies and landowners.

In her previous role with VERA Renewables as Vice President, Martha was responsible for the development and permitting of over 5 MW of group net metered solar projects around the state and over 150 MW of utility-scale wind project in New England, including 4 out of Vermont’s 5 permitted wind projects.

Martha is Board Vice-Chair and previously served three years as Board Chair of Renewable Energy Vermont, the state’s non-profit clean energy trades, advocacy, and education organization. She was awarded the 2019 Renewable Energy Champion award which recognizes an individual who tirelessly ‘champions’ the benefits of developing, creating, informing, and striving to improve Vermont with the deployment of renewable energy generation

Email: staskus@norwichsolar.com
Phone: 802.281.3213

Spencer is a seasoned executive with nearly twenty years of experience in helping companies develop and execute growth strategies in new and emerging markets. Spencer has held positions as CEO of Jvillage Network, Chair of the Board of Burlington Electric Commissioners, Director of the TastyGram division at Vermont Teddy Bear, and CEO/ founder of Adventurous Traveler, which was sold to the Away Network in 2000. Spencer is currently President of Green Mountain Insight, a strategic and financial planning firm for high growth tech and energy companies. Spencer received his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Tufts University. Spencer is an avid skier, hiker and cook.

Email: newman@norwichsolar.com
Phone: 802.281.3213

Suzanne was the director at CraftStudies at Hanover League of NH Craftsmen for more than 20 years before joining Norwich. She is delighted to be doing her small part in saving the environment and to be a part of our amazing team.

• PhD, Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth
•  Previously Tenured Physics & Engineering Associate Professor at Elizabethtown College
• Principal Investigator multiple DOE and NSF research grants; 40+ awarded US patents
• Co-Founder and technology originator for SustainX ($40M VC)

Email: McBride@norwichsolar.com
Phone: 802.281.3213