TRAJECTORY ENERGY PARTNERS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director of External Affairs
Abby brings nearly two decades of policy, government affairs, and organizing experience to Trajectory Energy Partners in her role as Director of External Affairs.
An Illinois native, Abby grew up seeing the unique benefits and challenges of such a diverse geography, and the role that good public policy can play in every community. Moving east to attend American University for her undergraduate degree, Abby then spent time in New Hampshire, Montana, and Pennsylvania seeing how this plays out in rural and urban areas across the country, but she has always been most passionate about making a difference at home.
Abby has worked in leadership roles at the federal, state, and local level in government and advocacy all with the same mission: to move big ideas from vision to reality. At Trajectory, she will continue that work as she focuses on our community solar portfolio, from the permitting of individual projects, to telling Trajectory's story, to navigating the public policy that guides the impact of community solar programs for Illinois and nationwide.
Abby is excited to transition into renewables and about the promise of community solar as a driver for both a clean energy future and an economic equalizer for those communities facing perennial underinvestment.
An Illinois native, Abby resides in Crystal Lake with her husband, two step-teenagers, and dog Milo.
Job Titles:
- Project Development Analyst
Job Titles:
- Director of Finance
- Director of Finance and Accounting
Based in Chicago, our Director of Finance, Casey, brings a wealth of experience to our team. As a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Casey spent years in the world of public accounting, where he honed his expertise in external CFO and controller roles, driving financial excellence for a range of businesses.
Prior to joining Trajectory, Casey joined the Finance team of a global remittance start-up. At the heart of Casey's passion lies the commitment to shaping the renewable energy future.
Job Titles:
- Project Development Director
Clay was raised on a farm in rural northeast Georgia, where he developed a fascination with the southern Appalachia and Piedmont landscapes. Clay's interest in the natural environment and the interconnection of environmental conservation, human health, and long-term economic resiliency steered him toward an education in environmental engineering and a career in clean energy and energy efficiency. Clay received a B.S. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Georgia and a M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Stanford University.
Before joining Trajectory Energy Partners as a Project Development Director, he worked as a managing consultant in Navigant Consulting's Energy Practice, focusing on federal and state energy efficiency policy analysis and implementation. There, he led Navigant's work supporting the U.S. Department of Energy's Lighting R&D Program and executed complex market and energy analyses promoting emerging clean energy technology development and advancement. Clay also contributed to Navigant's work in implementing DOE's Appliance and Equipment Standards Program, which has saved U.S. consumers over 71 quads of energy and $1 trillion to date.
Clay is proud to be working in solar development, especially with Trajectory's focus on underutilized agricultural land and early-stage community engagement.
Job Titles:
- Solar Project and Research Associate
Dani was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, now residing in a Dolton, IL right on the outskirts of the city. She is a sophomore at Union College in Schenectady, New York currently pursuing a BA in Economics and Africana Studies to examine social disparities of the African diaspora. She found Trajectory by applying to the Empowering Diverse Climate Talent (EDICT) internship program. Over summer '23, she interned at Trajectory as a Solar Analyst Intern where she assisted with neighbor mailing, research on policies and community stakeholders, and tackled additional work as needed. Currently, she works fully remote as a Solar Project and Research Associate while in school.
Dani is particularly interested in Environmental Justice in marginalized communities and how we can make solar more affordable and accessible. She participates in the Black Student Union on her campus as the secretary and is in the process of founding a NAACP collegiate chapter to advocate for climate equity and bring awareness to the disparities certain communities disproportionately face.
You can find her enjoying the Schenectady Green Market every Sunday, facetiming her cat and dog, Bandit & Bruce, and volunteering on campus whenever she can.
David leads Trajectory Energy Partners' project development efforts in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Before co-founding Trajectory, David built a successful track record developing solar in the mid-Atlantic at SolarCity, Tesla, and Enfinity America Corporation.
Earlier in his career, David worked on clean energy at the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). He holds his MBA and B.A. from Yale University.
Job Titles:
- Director of Legal & Corporate Affairs
Born and raised on a fifth-generation farm in rural northeast Georgia, Dustin grew up wandering through the foothills, forests, and streams across southern Appalachia. Prior to joining Trajectory as the Director of Legal & Corporate Affairs, he practiced environmental and energy law at Morrison & Foerster LLP.
Dustin has particular experience advising on the intersections of natural resource, renewable energy, and climate change law and policy. In addition to spearheading regulatory, litigation, land-use, and transactional efforts involving project development, power procurement, and clean energy deployment, Dustin also regularly advised clean energy project developers on compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), Clean Water Act (CWA), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), and other federal and state natural resource statutes. On the energy regulatory front, Dustin has experience tackling compliance and regulatory issues associated with the Federal Power Act (FPA) and the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA). He has also litigated energy efficiency, distributed energy resources, energy storage, and integrated energy resource planning issues before public utility commissions.
Dustin received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he was the managing editor of the Virginia Environmental Law Journal and a recipient of the Thomas Edward Ryals Scholarship. In addition to his background in domestic energy and environmental policy, Mr. Elliott has also studied natural resource and sustainability policy in New Zealand, Fiji, and Madagascar. He is also a 2017 Fellow of the Clean Energy Leadership Institute. Prior to law school, Dustin completed undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Georgia, where he graduated summa cum laude as a First Honor Graduate.
Job Titles:
- Project Development Manager
Elan was born and raised amongst the corn and bean fields of East Central Illinois. He earned his BS degree in Finance from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, and eventually moved to St. Louis, where he currently makes his home with his wife and two daughters.
Elan spent 15 years in the mortgage industry, where he was a member of the Green Building Council of Greater Southwest Illinois and specialized in Renovation Financing and Energy Efficient Mortgages. In 2019 he transitioned to the solar industry, designing and selling residential and small scale commercial solar projects. He joined the Trajectory team in 2022, and is excited to "level up" his solar experience to include Community Solar and Utility Scale projects.
Elana is a born and raised Midwestern powerhouse from St. Charles, Missouri. She made her way to Chicago, IL to pursue a BA degree in Marketing with a minor in Live and Performing Arts Management from Columbia College Chicago. The first 3 years of her career was primarily in the live event space where she curated memorable moments for audiences at concerts, street festivals, and distilleries. Elana's driving force behind each event she planned and executed was the direct impact she would make on those attending, which led her to HR where she focuses on enhancing the employee experience. She will always strive to create a positive working environment in order for the entire team to thrive.
Gary divided his early years between Los Angeles and Hong Kong. As a first generation American, he understands and appreciates the beauty of other perspectives and the diversity of the United States. Traveling east, he earned his B.S. in Environmental Science and B.A. in International Relations at Tufts University. He has lived in Chicago for the past three years and is grateful to call the friendly Midwesterners his neighbors and the Midwest his home.
Gary has spent his career doing financial modeling for multiple sectors including banking, restaurant, retail, and real estate. Looking for professional and personal fulfillment, he wanted to work in the intersection of finance and sustainability to promote clean energy. Gary enjoys working for Trajectory because of the tangible and impactful work they do as well as the values the company stands for.
In his free time, Gary enjoys aquarium keeping, cooking, and traveling to experience other cultures and foods.
Job Titles:
- Community Relations Manager
Hal grew up on the East Coast and worked at the USEPA office in Philadelphia, PA and the law firm of Robinson & Cole in Hartford, CT as an environmental lawyer before moving to Illinois in 1993 to work at Abbott Laboratories. After retiring from Abbott in 2007, he worked at the Center for Neighborhood Technology in Chicago as a policy advocate until 2019. In early 2020, Hal joined the Trajectory team and enjoys his role as Community Engagement Manager, educating residents,>elected officials and other community leaders about community solar in Illinois. He lives in Evanston and is active as a member of Citizens' Greener Evanston, helping the City implement its Climate Action & Resilience Plan.
Hal graduated from Williams College, in Massachusetts, with a B.A. in Biology, from the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor, with a M.S. in Water Resource Management, and from the University of Colorado, in Boulder, with a J.D.
His favorite getaway is a summer cabin in New York on Lake Champlain where he does anything but relax, hiking in the Adirondacks, boating on the lake, swimming, biking, golfing and playing tennis.
Irene hails from the Southern Tier region of New York where she currently resides once more. She graduated from Binghamton University with a dual B.A. in English and Environmental Studies, with a focus on environmental policy & law and renewable energy. A lifetime fan of the outdoors and nature, she discovered her passion for the environment thanks to a short-term study tour during undergrad to Iceland, where she studied renewables & sustainability at Reykjavík University and witnessed hydroelectric and geothermal power in full force across the country.
Prior to joining Trajectory, Irene had worked professionally for a non-profit solar outreach group educating and assisting homeowners on the benefits and process of putting solar on their homes in New York state, and an agricultural technology company where she worked with farmers to understand their land data to better inform farming operation decisions.
Outside of work, Irene enjoys spending time outdoors & nature photography, traveling, reading, and spending time with her cat, Indy (short for Indiana Jones).
Job Titles:
- Project Construction Manager
Isaiah was born and currently lives in Northern Illinois. He grew up spending most of his time outdoors-camping, fishing, riding bikes with friends and playing many sports. Isaiah graduated high school in the top of his class. After graduating, Isaiah accepted an internship at a commercial solar construction company in his hometown where he developed his passion for solar energy and became well versed in various aspects of the industry. Isaiah started as an Assistant Project Manager where he assisted with the day to day operations of the construction process. As Isaiah began to grow within the company, he transitioned to a hybrid Project development role where he oversaw estimating, procurement and was engaged in engineering coordination to ensure that the solar projects were hitting the ground running as soon as they were awarded.
Isaiah has a passion for travel, exploration, and adventure. He welcomes change and someday hopes to combine these passions with solar to leave the world a better place.
A San Diego native, Jacqueline received her bachelor's degree from UC Santa Barbara in Environmental Studies. She earned her JD at Southwestern Law School and attended Georgetown University Law Center for her 3L year to focus on renewable energy project finance, energy trading and market regulations, and public utilities law.
Prior to Trajectory Energy Partners and her legal career, Jacqueline worked in energy conservation and renewable energy operations at AmeriCorps/CALPIRG, SolarCity, and Tesla. Since 2012, Jacqueline has contributed to the deployment of over 60 MW of solar projects and 4MWh of storage projects across the Southern California residential and commercial markets. Her project management background specialized in building commercial project portfolios under California's Multifamily Affordable Solar Housing (MASH) Virtual Net Metering tariff program. Jacqueline is proud to work alongside her fellow colleagues at Trajectory who share the same sentiment in working to achieve a sustainable energy future for our communities.
Jacqueline currently resides in northern Virginia where she enjoys hiking, snowboarding, bald eagle spotting, and exploring the rich history and culture that Virginia has to offer.
James is a Texan turned Chicagoan that has worked in energy development around the world.
Prior to joining Trajectory Energy Partners as the first employee, he worked at ExxonMobil building large-scale energy projects in Houston, Indonesia, Qatar, and throughout Canada. He worked with Innovations for Poverty Action in Ghana in partnership with a World Bank economist, and at Natel Energy in California, evaluating renewable and hydro energy resources. He earned his BS from the University of Texas at Austin and MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
An engineer by training, James is proud to channel his experience into developing clean energy projects across the Midwest.
Jennifer attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she obtained both her bachelor's degree in finance and her Juris Doctor degree, graduating Cum Laude. While at the College of Law, she served as editor-in-chief for the Elder Law Journal.
For most of her career, Jennifer has focused on real estate law, assisting clients with both residential and commercial real estate transactions. Prior to joining Trajectory Energy Partners, she spent many years in private practice at a leading Central Illinois law firm, counseling clients on a wide range of real estate and development issues. She is excited to now be part of the development side of real estate and to be contributing to the increase of renewable energy.
Born and raised in DeKalb, Illinois, Jennifer now lives in the Peoria, Illinois area with her husband and three children.
Jessica lives in her hometown of Metamora, Illinois with her three children. She supports clean energy, environmental protections, and conservation for her home state and beyond. An avid hiker and nature lover, she works to educate her children and others on the importance of preservation and stewardship.
Following her passion for a sustainable future for her and her family, she went to Paonia, CO and attended Solar Energy International to earn her Solar Professional Certification and NABCEP associates. Her mother stayed with her children while she camped in the wilderness of Colorado to be able to attend school and support her family at home. She studied at Illinois Central College and graduated the very first class of the Illinois Solar for All Bootcamp at ICC. Getting her start in solar with Trajectory Energy Partners as an intern working in Environmental Justice and Low Income programs, she worked congruently with a local electrical contractor installing residential solar systems and other commercial and residential electrical jobs.
Now a full time employee with Trajectory she specializes in bringing benefits to the state's public school system while keeping with her own values and helping educate the future generations on the subject.
Jon grew up on a 5th generation dairy farm in Western Wisconsin, where he developed a life-long love of the outdoors. He worked as a land surveyor and at his local rural electric cooperative while earning his civil engineering degree at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
Before founding Trajectory Energy Partners, Jon had a career in renewable energy that ranged from Chief of Staff at the White House Council on Environmental Quality to Senior Director of Solar Ambassadors at SolarCity. He also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Honduras, working to build clean drinking water systems for rural villages.
Josh was born in Illinois, and a family move to Rochester, New York at age seven kicked off a life of outdoor exploration across the country.
Prior to co-founding Trajectory Energy Partners, Josh represented climate technology companies as a lawyer at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati and financed international renewable energy development at the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (now the DFC).
Josh has spent his career focused on climate and clean energy, including at the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, the California Air Resources Board, the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the Beijing office of the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the University of Cape Town. Josh is proud to expand solar access to new communities and remains an avid explorer, now sharing that passion with his children.
Born and raised in Seattle Washington, Kendall went east to attend Brown University for a BA in International Relations before returning to Seattle where he attended the University of Washington School of Law, earning his J.D. with Honors in Law.
He started his legal practice at Heller Ehrman, LLP with commercial real estate transactions before transitioning to solar energy project development and project finance. At Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati, Kendall expanded his practice across renewable energy and clean technology sectors, representing solar, wind, biofuels, fuel cell and energy efficiency project developers, host customers and lenders.
Prior to joining Trajectory Energy Partners, Kendall was in-house at Metrus Energy, where he was the lead attorney for the development, financing, construction and operation of a $100+ million energy efficiency project portfolio. Despite the rainy weather in Seattle, or perhaps because of it, Kendall has had a long term interest in solar energy, being a community solar subscriber himself and serving on the Board of Solar Washington for four years. Kendall enjoys exploring the outdoors with his wife, his daughter, and his dog.
Job Titles:
- Project Development Manager
Kiersten moved to the Peoria, Illinois area in 1998 and worked in the Peoria legal community before moving on to the construction industry in 2012. She specialized in energy efficiency for commercial buildings and then moved into the solar industry in 2016. She has experience in design, site assessment, utility analysis and solar PV array project management. Before becoming a member of the Trajectory team in 2021, Kiersten was responsible for designing, building and managing a fleet of solar PV projects in the Central Illinois area.
Kiersten and her husband enjoy their farm in Peoria County with their 2 Airedale Terriers and 2 horses. Kiersten volunteers her time with the Peoria County Farm Bureau where she serves as a Board member. Her love of camping, Central Illinois and the great outdoors brings a special point of view and passion for renewable energy and the opportunities it brings to the farms of Central Illinois.
Being born and raised in Chicago, Kristina is a city girl at heart. She graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor's of Science in Sociology and started her career in Human Resources in the education-based non-profit space shortly after. There, she developed her passion for helping people feel like their best selves at work, as well as her dedication to servicing companies that are doing meaningful work. She is so excited to be a part of the Trajectory team where the work is having a direct positive impact on climate change and the local communities that Trajectory works with.
Originally from Wisconsin, Leah learned a strong appreciation for the great outdoors at an early age, and enjoys working to protect the environment. She is a recent graduate of The College of Wooster in Ohio, earning a B.A. in Environmental Studies and is passionate about the politics involved in environmental equity and decarbonization.
Her commitment to protect the environment has been solidified by many trips to State and National Parks, as well as working as a Naturalist in college. Coming from a background in non-profit, Leah brings skills such as communication and the knowledge of obtaining and disseminating public dollars. She enjoys using these skills to engage with those subscribing to and interested in community solar.
Job Titles:
- Project Development Manager
Mack grew up in a rural area of Middleton, just outside of Madison, WI and has always had a passion for both technology and sustainability. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Madison School of Business with a double major in Real Estate and Urban Land Economics and Entrepreneurship.
Mack entered the solar industry in 2016, helping businesses, public sector entities, and landowners evaluate the implementation of solar for their operations. He has experience navigating local and state incentives, utility policy, solar system design, payback analysis, and system financing. Before joining Trajectory, Mack served as a national account manager for a Midwest based solar company, specializing in working with multi-site entities to formulate an optimal strategy for solar adoption.
He enjoys weightlifting, spending time outdoors, and consuming pumpkin flavored ice cream anytime it is available.
Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Marie currently resides in New York City, where she received an undergraduate degree from New York University and her JD from Fordham University School of Law.
Prior to joining Trajectory Energy Partners, Marie practiced in the Project Finance Groups of Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP and Milbank LLP. Over the past 5 years, Marie has advised lenders and sponsors on the financing and development of renewable energy projects across the country and in Latin America, including with respect to debt and tax equity financings, acquisitions and project documentation.
Outside of the office Marie enjoys cooking, dancing and spending time with family, friends and her dog, Lola.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder
- Partner
- Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University Law Center
Originally from Honolulu, Hawai`i, Megan headed east to the University of Virginia for her undergraduate and law degrees. In between stints in Charlottesville, Megan worked for U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI) in Washington, DC.
Prior to co-founding Trajectory Energy Partners, Megan practiced law in the Project Finance Group of Chadbourne & Parke LLP (now Norton Rose Fulbright). Over the past 15 years, Megan has worked on the deployment of renewable energy across 34 states, including the financing and/or development of more than 9,000 MW of wind and solar projects in the US.
Outside of the office Megan is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center teaching a seminar on US renewables policy, financing and project development, and enjoys playing tennis and surfing.
Job Titles:
- Project Development Analyst
Growing up in New York, Noah always had a passion for the environment. He viewed the fight for a healthier planet as a unifying cause, and wanted to be on the frontlines of that fight. Noah channeled this passion when he studied for his B.S. at The Ohio State University. Majoring in Environmental Engineering, Noah learned the principles of sustainability, as well as the analytical and problem solving skills needed to implement engineering solutions in the real world. Noah's role at Trajectory is his first full-time job after graduation and he is excited to implement the analytical skills he honed in during college towards a cause he cares about deeply. He is eager to learn the ins and outs of solar development, with the goal that this will pave the way for a long career in the industry.
Noah is a new resident of Chicago, so outside of work he loves to explore new neighborhoods, try new restaurants, and attend local farmers markets. He also enjoys traveling, watching a good movie, and binging a good show.
Job Titles:
- Senior Project Development Analyst
Tyler was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. He discovered his love of sustainability and economics during his sophomore year of high school at a summer camp in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. He graduated with a B.A. in Economics from the University of Chicago and after graduating, spent five years working at an early-stage energy efficiency startup. There he worked with local business owners to understand energy efficiency and install new technologies that reduced energy and costs. He then moved on to a commercial real estate firm where he served as a property manager and took on side projects related to sustainability, such as energy procurement for the entire company. Coming to Trajectory, Tyler has a broad range of experiences in business and with community stakeholders and is well aligned with our mission to build good, clean energy infrastructure.
Outside of work, Tyler is a guitarist of over 15 years, an avid reader, and enjoys theater - he met his wife during their high school play.