Philip H. Mosenthal, Partner, Co-founder.  Mr. Mosenthal has over 25 years experience in all aspects of energy efficiency, from facility energy management to policy, planning, program design, implementation and evaluation. He specializes in program design and planning for the business, institutional and industrial sectors. Mosenthal has directly implemented programs, and assisted numerous clients throughout the U.S.A. and internationally to develop and analyze portfolios of efficiency programs, design leading edge programs, analyze integrated efficiency and supply-side resources, develop strategic models for large scale efficiency delivery, and developed evaluation plans and overseen evaluation activities. Mosenthal is the lead advisor to the U.S. EPA on efficiency issues for its state partnerships under its State and Local Government Branch to promote Clean Energy Plans. Mosenthal was the chief architect of Efficiency Vermont, the nation's first and only efficiency utility, and currently assists Efficiency Vermont with business energy services planning and implementation support and assessment since its inception in 2000. Mosenthal led the initial development and implementation support for Long Island Power Authority's C&I Clean Energy portfolio from 1998 - 2000. As part of this process, Mosenthal led one of the first efforts in the nation in developing and advancing the concept of program theory logic models. As part of the design process, he focused on discretely articulating exactly how integrated C&I programs would overcome barriers and transform markets by tying individual strategies and services to specific barriers and market actor. Through this work, programs were developed with a clear plan and intent, and a platform from which to evaluate future program activity and market indicators was established to determine program effectiveness. Mosenthal also currently serves as technical consultant on C&I programs of all the electric and gas Massachusetts Program Administrators on behalf of the MA Energy Efficiency Advisory Council, and in a similar role in Rhode Island for its Energy Efficiency Resource Management Council. Mosenthal recently directed several electric and gas efficiency and renewable potential studies, including for NYSERDA, NY PSC, NYPA, O&R, Consolidated Edison, Hydro Quebec, Maine, Michigan, Texas and Vermont. Prior to founding Optimal Energy Mosenthal was the Chief Consultant for XENERGY's (now KEMA's) Mid-Atlantic office. Mosenthal has an M.S. in Energy Management and Policy and a B.A. in Architecture, both from the University of Pennsylvania.

Eric Belliveau, Partner. Mr. Belliveau brings over twenty years of hands-on development, sales, operations and management experience in the energy, agricultural, construction and food industries to his work on efficiency program management, program implementation management and support, business development and planning.  At Optimal, he specializes in commercial and industrial program management support and retail energy service business research, development, and planning.  He has led technical research on barriers and efficiency potential for a number of jurisdictions, most recently including LIPA, Hydro Quebec, Maryland Energy Administration, Maine PUC, Manitoba Hydro, and Efficiency New Brunswick. Eric has a B.A. in International Affairs with emphasis on Economics and German from the University of Maine, 1981.  Mr. Belliveau is LEED accredited.

Steven T. Bower, Managing Consultant. Mr. Bower joined Optimal Energy in 2006 with 16 years of experience in information systems planning, design and development. He has primary responsibility for strategic planning and development of Optimal Energy's efficiency investment and economic modeling tools, as well as leading analyses for various energy efficiency and renewable energy planning and management projects. His work experience in information systems includes all aspects of the software development lifecycle, applied to systems ranging from small custom applications to mission-critical, web-based transaction processing systems for healthcare delivery. Mr. Bower has an M.S. in Natural Resources Planning from the University of Vermont, and B.A.'s in Physics and Computer Science (Magna Cum Laude) from Brandeis University. Mr. Bower is a Certified Energy Manager.

Jeffrey Loiter, Managing Consultant. Mr. Loiter has over 12 years of consulting experience in energy and natural resource issues. His energy experience includes policy, planning, and program design; efficiency potential studies; research on renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies; and energy markets. Recently, Mr. Loiter has assisted with the design and development of statewide and utility-specific efficiency programs in Maryland, New York, and New Jersey. In doing so, he reviewed existing programs in these jurisdictions and best-practice strategies for addressing specific customer segments and markets to develop solutions that fit the needs and circumstances of the clients' customers.  Other recent projects include: developing regulatory filings for utilities; conducting electric and gas efficiency potential analyses; developing M&V plans; representing clients in the ISO-NE Forward Capacity Market; conducting critical reviews of utility integrated resource plans and DSM plans; and testifying on energy policy and IRP issues. He is the co-author of two recently published U.S. EPA National Action Plan Guides:  Guide for Conducting Energy Efficiency Potential Studies and the Clean Energy Fund Manual.  Mr. Loiter has an MS in Technology and Policy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1997) and a BS with distinction in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Cornell University (1991).

Mike Guerard, Managing Consultant.  Mr. Guerard gained over 20 years of experience in the energy efficiency, green building and the renewable energy industry.  He has developed and managed a wide-range of energy efficiency programs throughout New England and the Pacific Northwest; renewable energy and green building initiatives; and building science training and education forums.  In addition to overseeing dozens of internal staff covering the field delivery, technical enhancements, marketing and administration of utility-sponsored programs, he has worked collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders including utility staff, government officials, state building code and energy office staff, and leading building scientists to achieve positive program results and significant energy savings. Since joining Optimal Energy, Inc. in July, 2008, he has provided critical cross-program development and implementation oversight for clients in MA, NY and RI. He has a B.A from the University of Rhode Island.

David Bardaglio, CMA, recently joined Optimal Energy Inc. in the role of Chief Financial Officer and Managing Consultant.  Mr. Bardaglio has over 28 years experience directing the finance, accounting, information technology and administrative operations for both for-profit and non-profit organizations.  For the past twelve years he was the Financial Director at the Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC).  During Mr. Bardaglio's tenure at VEIC he designed and maintained all of the finance, accounting and reporting systems that were instrumental in the creation and ongoing success of Efficiency Vermont, the nation's first energy efficiency utility.  Mr. Bardaglio manages all of Optimal Energy, Inc.'s internal finance, accounting and administrative operations.  In addition to his CFO role, Mr. Bardaglio provides a range of budgeting, accounting, finance and reporting systems support to Optimal Energy clients.   He received his B.S. in Business Administration from Bucknell University (1980) and became a Certified Management Accountant in 1996.

Thomas Lyle, Senior Consultant, has 16 years of professional experience in the utility sector specializing in public policy development, resource planning and economic forecasting.  Mr. Lyle joined Optimal Energy in January, 2008 to provide analytical and public policy support services to clients. Since joining the firm, Mr. Lyle has been instrumental in assisting clients and advisory committees with program planning, implementation, best practice reviews, evaluation and change management. Mr. Lyle has also been a key advisor to renewable energy program managers in the Northeast.  In this capacity, Mr. Lyle helped to redesign programs and implementation strategies that resulted in the program exceeding their goals. Prior to joining Optimal, Mr. Lyle was a Hearing Officer for the Vermont Public Service Board ("VPSB"). As a Hearing Officer, he was responsible for conducting technical hearings, case-load management and writing Board Orders in accordance with State law.  During Mr. Lyle's tenure at the VPSB, he diplomatically resolved disputes over a diverse set of public policy issues related to utility revenue requirements, rate design, transmission siting, alternative resource configurations, Gas and Electric DSM programs and Performance-Based Regulation.  As a Senior Consultant with Optimal, he has advanced the development of leading-edge clean energy program portfolios and evaluation efforts, developed RFPs, implementation plans, and assisted with the development of public policy solutions and economic potential analyses.

Lara Bonn, Consultant.  Ms. Bonn has over nine years consulting experience in energy efficiency and environmental issues. For Optimal Energy, Inc. she focuses on program advisory support in commercial, demand response and education program capacities.  Under this auspice, she has been involved in measure research and analysis, definition of measure algorithms, customer project reviews, project screening tool modification planning, design and production of the LIPA's Commissioning Guide, contractor proposal review and policy design and approach.  Outside of program specific management support, she also performs portfolio reporting and develops marketing plans.  She also conducts research and analysis on DSM plans and market actor attitudes and performed customer surveys and interviews.  Prior to working for OEI, Lara was a senior consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton where she worked on environmental enforcement, research, and public outreach for the U.S. EPA. As a team lead and project manager, she designed enforcement strategy and managed application development for the EPA Region 1 Superfund program.  Lara received a B.A. in Biology with a concentration in environmental science and Environmental Policy in 2000.

Matt Socks, Consultant. Mr. Socks has served a leading role conducting efficiency program engineering, economic analysis, and implementation assessments for clients across North America. With a background in mechanical engineering, Mr. Socks possesses particular expertise in the fields of efficiency measure research methodology and characterization practices. He is currently working on technical analysis, program design, and assessment for the New York Power Authority, the Massachusetts Energy Advisory Council, and Efficiency Vermont. Recently, Mr. Socks served a primary role in the adaptation of the New Buildings Institute's Core Performance commercial new construction program for use in Vermont and led the associated outreach effort to educate regional design professionals. Mr. Socks has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Alek Antczak, Analyst.  Before working at Optimal, Mr. Antczak worked completing his M.S. in Natural Resources at The University of Vermont.  He was involved in several projects, including several studies on economic valuations for ecosystem services, a campus wide energy audit for the President's Climate Commitment Initiative, and several policy papers on food systems and energy consumption.  Since joining Optimal, he has worked on several projects for Efficiency Vermont including analysis of incentive buy-down strategies and commercial and industrial market characterizations for a multitude of projects in the state.  Other commercial and industrial projects include portfolio level forecasting for Efficiency Long Island, compiling program information for Orange & Rockland in southern New York and measure characterizations for the Connecticut Municipal Energy Efficiency Coalition and the Massachusetts Collaborative.  In addition, Alek has been working closely with the State of Massachusetts reviewing efficiency regulatory mechanisms and developing benefit-cost analyses to aid the state in their groundbreaking effort to waive federal efficiency standards in favor of imposing higher state standards for home heating technologies.

Sam Huntington, Analyst. Sam is a recent graduate of Colby College.  While at Colby, Sam studied mathematical science with a concentration in applied mathematics.  His main areas of focus were in mathematical modeling and writing code for computer modeling projects.  During that time, Sam also worked as an installation contractor on LEED certified homes.  Since joining Optimal, he has utilized his mathematics background on forecasting projects for the Massachusetts Energy Efficiency Advisory Council as well as providing support on the compilation of a statewide technical reference manual for the council.

Clifford McDonald, Analyst.  Cliff is a recent graduate from Middlebury College.  At Middlebury, he was involved with planning and implementing several local environmental initiatives. At Optimal Energy, Cliff is applying his analytical and writing skills to a wide range of projects. Past and current efforts at Optimal include developing sales data and measure lists for Efficiency Long Island,  LIPA’s High Performance Design Guide for commercial construction projects, and efficiency potential studies for Long Island and Vermont.

April Clodgo, Office Manager, provides Optimal and its clients with coordination, editing, presentation, bookkeeping and computer support.