The team at Leyline has been there, and done that – both as investors and as renewable energy developers ourselves. With decades of combined industry experience, and close to 200 projects under our belt, we’re uniquely positioned to help hard-working renewable energy developers take advantage of today’s opportunities.
In 2020, the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association named Leyline as the Clean Energy Innovator of the Year for “exemplifying true leadership that has already impacted North Carolina’s clean energy market in a significant way” and “demonstrating exemplary vision to create a new path forward in the clean energy industry.”
Team
Erik Lensch
CEO
About Erik Lensch
- CEO, Entropy Solar, 2014-2016
- Founder & CEO, Argand Energy Solutions (solar development, finance & installation company), 2006-2014; sold to Entropy Investment Management/York Capital, 2014
- Renewable Energy Diploma Series at North Carolina State University, Solar Energy International (SEI) training
- BBA, Marketing, Radford University, 1992; Certified Investment Management (CIMA), Wharton Executive Education Program, University of Pennsylvania, 2005
- Vice President at Bank of America; Vice President in Private Client Group at CS First Boston
- Member, Board of Visitors of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Member, Vistage International
Jay Modi
CFO
About Jay Modi
- Sr. Director of Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) and Treasury, 8minute Solar Energy, 2019-2021
- Director of Finance and Administration, Peninsula Clean Energy, 2017-2019
- Senior FP&A Manager, SunEdison, 2015-2017
- More than 12 years of renewable energy corporate finance experience in large public companies and start-up organizations
- Strong expertise in creating and scaling the finance function from ground up; proven track record of raising capital through equity infusion and corporate facility
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA), California Board of Accountancy
- Master of Business Administration, Missouri University of Science & Technology, 2009; Bachelor of Business Management (Accounting), Bangalore University, 2007
Eric Rubinstein
EVP & Chief Investment Officer
About Eric Rubinstein
- VP Finance & Strategy, Silicon Ranch Corporation, a solar power developer, owner and operator from 2014 to 2018.
- C Level financial executive responsible for building assets in excess of $1 Billion in assets under management.
- Led closings of over $700 Million in complex and varied renewable energy financing structures.
- BA, Classics and Archaeology, Haverford College, 2004
Daniel Copple
Director of Technical Services
About Daniel Copple
- Technical Services Manager, Development Analyst, Clean Line Energy Partners, 2010-2017
- Managed transmission line engineering for 700-mile project connecting Oklahoma wind to eastern markets; oversaw technical inputs for $1 billion engineering, procurement and construction contract
- Responsible for interconnection, t-line engineering & construction planning
- BA, Political Science and Energy Policy, Rice University; post-bachelor’s course of study in Electrical and Power Systems Engineering, University of Idaho; MS, Engineering and Environmental Management, Duke University
Mackenzie Barrett
Director of Strategic Initiatives & Asset Management
About Mackenzie Barrett
- Cypress Creek Renewables (solar developer, EPC, owner & operator), 2015-2019
- Director of Strategic Initiatives responsible for data management & cross-functional process improvements to support 7 GW pipeline
- Technical deal lead on 550 MW+ of project sales and 110 MW of project acquisitions
- Civil engineer, 2011 to 2015; focused on stormwater, erosion control, land development & stream restoration
- BS, Civil Engineering, North Carolina State University, 2011
Sherry Attaway
Corporate Controller
About Sherry Attaway
- Wide array of asset management, construction & fund accounting experience
- Experienced at producing & analyzing reports and business correspondence for C-level leadership & investors
- Mentor and leader with expertise in streamlining workflow to optimize personnel strengths and boost morale
- 20 years of accounting experience in asset management and project-based organizations
- MS, Accounting, University of Connecticut
Clay Hartman
Director of Development & Construction Services
About Clay Hartman
- Founder & CEO, Mabon Energy (renewable energy services company), 2017-Present
- COO, Entropy Solar Integrators, 2014-2017
- COO, Argand Energy Solutions, 2010-2014
- US Naval Officer, 1981-2005, 25+ years managing multimillion-dollar operations & projects in a variety of national security areas
- NC/SC General Contractor involved in $700 MM+ of renewable energy projects
- BS, Civil Engineering, Cornell University, 1987; Construction Management Certification, Southern Polytechnic University, 2002; Master’s Certification in Applied Project Management, Villanova University, 2004
Lester Krone
Managing Director – Origination
About Lester Krone
- Accomplished project financier & advisor to developers of low-carbon projects since 2009
- Successfully raised over $300 million of non-recourse financing for biofuels production, biochemicals production, small hydro/electricity generation & wood pellet manufacturing
- 20+ years of diverse corporate finance & financial advisory experience in the energy industry, for national investment banking firm
- 6 years of experience in design & construction of commercial & institutional real estate
- BS, Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado; MS, Civil Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis; MBA, Harvard Business School
- Registered professional engineer, Missouri (inactive)
Joshua Schaff
Managing Director – Origination
About Joshua Schaff
- Accomplished in capital structuring and advisory across renewable and conventional power, energy, and infrastructure projects with 17+ years of experience in finance
- As Senior Director of Structured Finance, NORD/LB, from 2009 to 2021, led complex, large-scale project finance transactions
- Associate Vice President of Infrastructure Finance, Moody’s Investors Service, from 2003 to 2008, responsible for portfolio of power, transportation, water, and special situations credits
- Master of Public Policy, Johns Hopkins University; Bachelor of Arts, Lawrence University
Scott Starr
Managing Director – Origination
About Scott Starr
- 20+ years of experience in high-tech, entrepreneurial environments, including implantable medical devices, renewable energy & circular economy
- Extensive renewable energy experience as both developer and manufacturer, including leadership roles at GE Renewables (Corporate Strategy, Wind & Solar), Fusion BioFuels, First Solar, Solyndra, SolarBuyer & Dynamic Energy
- BS, Mechanical Engineering/Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 1999; MBA, Fuqua School of Business, 2005; GE Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification
Dylan Angelini
Associate Project Manager
About Dylan Angelini
- BSBA, William Peace University
Sherrie Bridgers
Executive Administrator/Office Manager
About Sherrie Bridgers
- Over 15 years of experience as an executive administrator and administrative assistant
- Bachelor of Business Administration and Management, Elizabeth City State University, 2000; Master of Business Administration, Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University, 2010
Eoin Cahill
Developer Relationship Manager
About Eoin Cahill
- Senior Solar Maintenance Specialist, Ecoplexus Inc., 2018-2020; managed preventative & corrective maintenance operations on 100 MW+ of utility-scale solar
- BS, Sustainable Materials & Technology, NC State University
Grace Carter
ESG and Special Projects Analyst
About Grace Carter
- Bachelor of Science in Engineering, James Madison University, May 2020
Vipul Devluk
Associate Director
About Vipul Devluk
- Decade of experience at EDP Renewables, a wind & solar developer, owner and operator
- Extensive experience across the renewable energy value chain, including asset management, technology analysis, capital equipment procurement, and power marketing and origination
- Bachelor and Master of Systems Science Engineering (Economic Systems and Energy & Transportation Systems), University of Pennsylvania, 2009
Tiara Dorsette
Development Analyst
About Tiara Dorsette
- Sustainability Intern, 2021; gained insight and experience in renewable energy development with a focus on waste-to-energy projects
- Researcher, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, 2019-2020; published a life cycle assessment of large scale governmental solar applications in the Renewable Energy Journal
- Bachelor of Environmental Studies (Sustainability), University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, 2020
Melissa French
Relationship Manager
About Melissa French
- Vice President, Palmetto Power Management, LLC, 2020-2021
- Asset Management, Cypress Creek Renewables, 2018-2020
- Engineering Student Employee, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), 2017; contributed to research and analysis with the Energy Storage and Distributed Generation sector
- Duke University, Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, 2018
Geoff King
Manager of FP&A and Treasury
About Geoff King
- A decade of finance experience with skills in financial modeling, structured finance, and credit
- Expertise in financing and scaling renewable energy companies
- Director, Sunlight Financial, 2016-2021
- Associate, NY Green Bank, 2014-2016
- Analyst, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, 2012-2014
- Bachelor of Finance, North Carolina State University, 2011
Zach Lucy
Technical Services Associate
About Zach Lucy
- Experienced researcher, project developer, and energy analyst with expertise in the design and financing of renewable energy and green building projects.
- Graduate Student Research Assistant, North Carolina State University, 2019-2021; explored how to reduce financial risk in large-scale wind projects through improved hedge design and energy storage.
- Development Intern, Heelstone Renewable Energy, 2020
- Solar Installer/Researcher, Energetica, 2019; worked with a Bolivian NGO to develop solar and wind energy systems throughout the country.
- Project Manager, 7+ years of experience managing green building/energy efficiency projects
- MS, Natural Resources (Renewable Energy), North Carolina State University, 2021; BA, Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, 2007
- Certificate in Renewable Energy Management and in Photovoltaic Design and Installation from the NC Clean Energy Technology Center
Janson Mao
Director of Structured Finance
About Janson Mao
- Experienced commercial transactions and legal professional specializing in project finance, project development and M&A transactions in the renewable energy industry
- Associate General Counsel, 8minute Solar Energy; managed all legal matters across an 18+ GW utility-scale solar and battery storage development pipeline, led closings of project finance and project sale transactions, corporate debt facility and corporate equity capital raise, and supported execution and compliance across the full suite of project development contracts, including PPA, EPC, O&M and equipment procurement contracts
- Corporate Counsel, Cypress Creek Renewables; led closings of debt, tax equity and M&A transactions across a diverse portfolio of utility-scale solar and community solar projects
- Over a decade of finance and M&A experience at major international law firms, including representing developers, lenders and tax equity investors in the Project Finance Group at Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP and Chadbourne & Parke LLP, as well as representing large institutional clients at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
- BA, Yale University; JD, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
Libby McCravy
Accounting Manager
About Libby McCravy
- Licensed CPA with a public accounting background in both tax and assurance practices
- Skilled in accounting, tax accounting, internal controls, financial accounting, financial reporting, and finance technology
- Director of Financial Operations, Investors Title Company and Affiliates, 2018-2021; Manager of Financial Operations, 2016-2018
- Assurance Professional, EY, 2013- 2016
- Master of Taxation, University of Mississippi, 2012; Bachelor of Business/Commerce, Rhodes College, 2011
- Certified Public Accountant since 2013
Allan Oduor
Development Analyst
About Allan Oduor
- Undergraduate Researcher at FREEDM Systems Center; contributed to projects involving small-scale solar + storage, direct current microgrids, energy efficiency for lighting fixtures & transactive energy
- Research assistant at Wake Forest University; worked on investigation into the efficacy & value of sustainable cotton initiatives
- BS, Physics, North Carolina A&T State University; MA, Sustainability, Wake Forest University
Paulette Oxner
Closing Manager – Loan Servicer
About Paulette Oxner
- Director of Shared Services, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company & Assistant Director of Timberland Finance Group
- 25+ years of experience closing large commercial loans across the United States, Canada & Brazil
- BA, Paralegal Studies, Eastern Kentucky University
Erica Reidy
Associate Director of Project Finance
About Erica Reidy
- Business development and renewable project acquisition experience
- Worked at Nautilus Solar Energy, a solar developer, acquirer, and asset manager; led project acquisitions of over 34 MW of solar C&I projects totaling $80M in investment and drove company entry into new MN and MA community solar markets
- Spent time on the renewable energy teams at NYC-based Silverpeak Partners, Sol Systems, and Enel Green Power North America
- BA, Biology and Environmental Studies, Bowdoin College, 2014; MBA, MIT Sloan, 2020
Andrew Slaughter
Financial Analyst
About Andrew Slaughter
- Organizational development and data management experience
- Grant-funded researcher in U.S. energy markets and policy; Worked on developing novel approaches to community solar financing and promoting consumer adoption of sustainable practices
- BA, Environmental Studies, University of Pittsburgh, 2013; MEM, Energy, Duke University, 2020; MBA, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, 2020
Barbara de Vasconcelos
Associate Director
About Barbara de Vasconcelos
- Accomplished Capital Markets and Investment Banking professional
- Extensive knowledge in infrastructure and renewable energy financing. Worked at Marathon Capital, an Investment Bank focused on clean energy and infrastructure markets; led M&A and capital raise transactions and created detailed financial models; conducted due diligence and developed investment marketing materials
- Expertise in Debt Capital Markets from work in both Banco Santander and Banco BTG Pactual; structured bonds for large national and multinational groups in diverse industries
- Prior experience as a summer consultant at McKinsey & Company; worked in Strategy & Growth project and led the initiatives around inorganic growth and targets analysis
- Master of Business Administration (concentration in Finance, International Business, and Entrepreneurship), University of Chicago Booth School of Business, 2018; Bachelor of Economics, with honors, Ibmec, 2008
ley-line
noun
Apparent alignments of human-made sites and natural land forms, these ancient straight paths were believed to have spiritual significance and were sometimes associated with sources of energy. We’ve adopted the term as a symbol of our commitment to finding and supporting more modern efforts to generate renewable energy.
