Stuart Davies
Stuart Davies
CEO

Stuart’s focus at ORPC is on driving growth and profitability through overseeing the commercial rollout of the company’s proven technology in the U.S., Canada and Chile. Prior to leading ORPC, Stuart was an investor in early stage companies with a primary focus on companies with products and services that either reduce carbon emissions or improve the health of the environment. He brings nearly two decades experience to ORPC as chief investment officer and portfolio manager in the financial services industry during which he served on the boards of dozens of companies in the energy, manufacturing, food, consumer product, retail and packaging industries. A graduate of Yale University with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, and the MIT Sloan School of Management with an MBA, he is a member of Sloan’s renewable energy finance round table.

John Ferland
John Ferland
President

John Ferland joined ORPC in 2008 and has served as President since 2017. He helps oversee the company’s growing team, now numbering 35 employees and soon to expand to 45, working in four countries on three continents. He brings specific expertise to company activities in business and project development, worker safety, public communication and government affairs.

With over 35 years in technology commercialization, renewable energy development, port emergency response operations and coastal resources management, John has served as CEO of an oil spill response company, mentored numerous startups as director of a technology entrepreneur assistance program, and was the founding president of the Environmental & Energy Technology Council of Maine (E2Tech), now the leading industry association for clean technology companies in northern New England. John has an undergraduate degree from the University of Maine and a Master of Marine Affairs from the University of Rhode Island.

Alexandre Paris
Alexandre Paris
Senior Vice President & COO, President & CEO, ORPC Canada

As Senior Vice President & COO of ORPC, Alexandre helps oversee the company’s growing team, working in four countries on three continents. In addition, he spearheads global operations, strategic partnerships and commercialization efforts. At ORPC Canada, he oversees a development team pursuing new opportunities in Northern Canada to provide affordable and environmentally sustainable electricity for remote communities in high cost power markets there, along with local economic benefits. Alexandre is a seasoned entrepreneur and executive with more than 25 years’ experience working in the private and public sectors in Canada, the U.S., Europe and Asia. Fluent in French and English, Alexandre brings broad exposure to world-class organizations, as well as small to medium size corporations.

Abbey Manders
Abbey Manders
Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

Abbey leads financial strategy and administrative oversight for ORPC’s growing business structure. She brings twelve years of accounting and administrative experience to the position. With ORPC since 2009, Abbey previously served as Director of Business Management and also Business Manager for the company, and has participated in the full gamut of business development activities, including fundraising and partner relations, implementation of new processes and controls and risk management. In 2005, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from the State University of New York at Cortland, and in 2008, an MBA with a specialty in Accounting from the University of Phoenix.

Jarlath McEntee
Jarlath McEntee
Senior Vice President & Chief Technology Officer

Jarlath is responsible for ORPC’s proprietary technology, specializing in mechanical systems, fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics. He comes to ORPC after spending more than 20 years in engineering and project management. His engineering expertise, understanding of technology development, and people management skills make him an invaluable member of the ORPC team.

Nathan Johnson
Nathan Johnson
Vice President, Development

Nathan leads ORPC’s development activities and the implementation of its innovative power systems in cost effective, environmentally responsible ways. He builds strategic partnerships and projects to accelerate new industries and strengthen communities. A native of Long Island, Maine, Nathan has a diverse background that includes renewable energy, commercial fishing, aquaculture, groundwater exploration and development, construction management and environmental engineering.

Ryan Tyler
Ryan Tyler
Vice President, Products & Services

Ryan has led the development of the RivGen Power System from research and development phases through product commercialization, and provided field engineering and project management for the build and deployment of multiple systems. He earned a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington, and a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and Physics from Colby College, Maine. Prior to his work at ORPC, he was a researcher, project engineer, and project manager, and he has worked in the marine hydrokinetics field for a decade.

Christopher R. Sauer
Christopher R. Sauer
Co-founder and Board Advisor

As Co-founder of ORPC in 2004, and CEO and Board Chairman until his retirement in early 2020, Chris was responsible for securing new investment, developing essential strategic partnerships and overseeing our technology and project development. In addition, he is among the named inventors of ORPC’s patented core technology. Along with an infectious enthusiasm, Chris brings to ORPC over 40 years of experience in engineering, energy project development and management, and startup company formation. He continues as a trusted advisor and mentor to ORPC’s board and staff.

Millard S. Firebaugh, Sc.D.
Millard S. Firebaugh, Sc.D.
Chairman, Technical Advisory Board

Millard is a leader in engineering and production of advanced technology, including R&D, ship design, shipbuilding, power systems and electronics, and executive management. A retired Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy he supervised specifications, standards, and design for ships, systems, and equipment for acquisition and maintenance at the Naval Sea Systems Command. Later he served as Vice President, General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp. where he was responsible for nuclear submarine design, and engineering, and managed a 2,800-person division. More recently he served as President and COO of Satcon Technology Corp. where he led the company’s specialties in advanced power applications for alternative energy, power grid support technology and high-reliability electronics. Millard was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2000 and currently consults in the fields of defense and energy, and brings practical marine engineering and operations experience as well as management insight to the ORPC team as Chairman of the Advisory Board.

Denis Chartrand
Denis Chartrand
Technical Advisory Board Member

Denis specializes in electricity distribution and has spent his career at Hydro-Québec where he served as Chef Executive of the utility’s distribution network strategies. There he oversaw all technology areas, serving on advanced metering, electric transportation and network evolution planning steering committees. Denis developed evolution strategies for distribution networks incorporating technological developments from Hydro-Québec’s transmission and generation divisions, and designed and implemented asset management programs, SmartGrid network initiatives, and a distribution network hardening following the 1998 ice storm in Québec. He created architecture and standards for Hydro-Québec’s Distribution Network, and managed large teams and portfolios in excess of $600 million annually. Denis represented Hydro-Québec to the Canadian Electrical Association as Chair of the Distribution Council, and the Electric Power Research Institute as a voting member of the Power Delivery & Energy Utilization Council. He now consults and is an advisor to multiple utilities, companies, government organizations, and associations.

D. Douglas Johnson
D. Douglas Johnson
Adjunct Advisor

Doug, a fourth-generation Alaskan, has been instrumental in developing and implementing business and political strategies for ORPC in Alaska. He brings to the company more than 30 years of experience as a geological engineer, project manager and management consultant, with an expertise in renewable energy policy and community relations.

Allie Ketch
Allie Ketch
Administrative Assistant

A life-long Mainer, Allie joins ORPC with a strong passion for startups and environmental sustainability. She provides business operations, finance, travel and administrative support to ORPC company-wide. A graduate of the University of Southern Maine with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology, she is pursuing a JD from University of Maine School of Law in Transactional and Environmental Law.

Andrew Krumpe
Andrew Krumpe
Engineering Manager

Andy is involved in transitioning ORPC’s engineering team to agile project management along with overseeing schedule and other team management duties around our TidGen® and RivGen® Power Systems’ development. He comes to ORPC with over 20 years in the subsea and marine engineering field, and earned a Master of Science in Ocean Engineering from the University of New Hampshire and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts. When he’s not at work, you’re likely to find him outdoors enjoying the natural world.

Ben Winn
Ben Winn
Mechanical Engineer

Ben comes to ORPC with a background as a design engineer. A native of Maine, Ben graduated from the University of Maine with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science (2005) and Mechanical Engineering (2013). His work with ORPC focuses on sub-system design of our RivGen® Power System.

Brendan Cahill
Brendan Cahill
Director of Development Europe

Brendan leads ORPC market, business, and project development activities in Europe. He brings 15 years of experience in the marine energy sector with previous roles in academic research institutions, management of R&D funding programs, policy development and consultancy. Brendan was awarded a Ph.D. for his work on ocean energy resource characterization from University College Cork.

Chad Meade
Chad Meade
Staff Accountant
Chad brings a passion for and interest in clean energy and climate change solutions to his role as Staff Accountant for ORPC. With a BSBA and a Master’s degree in Accounting from the University of Arkansas, he supports ORPC in all financial areas, including accounting, reporting, ERP systems and implementation, forecasting, and budgeting.
Clément Courade
Clément Courade
Mechanical Engineer

A native of Pau in southwestern France, Clément earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial product design, and a Master of Engineering from CESI Engineering School. With a background in aircraft design engineering, he is knowledgable about manufacturing technologies. His role at ORPC focuses on the turbine design for ORPC power systems.

Colin Pennock
Colin Pennock
Electrical Engineer

A life-long Mainer, Colin comes to ORPC with research experience in microgrids, load flow analysis, and heat pump demand response controls. A graduate of Union College in New York, Colin is contributing to ORPC’s Modular RivGen, TidGen and SHARKS projects with his electrical engineering expertise.

Conor Dillon
Conor Dillon
Mechanical Engineer

Conor’s main focus at ORPC is the design and optimization of the TidGen® Power System and computational fluid dynamics and finite element analyses for our RivGen® Power System. With a background in the aerospace and marine energy industries, Conor is a graduate of Univ. of Limerick, Ireland, with a BEng in Aeronautical Engineering, and Cranfield Univ. in the UK with an MSc in Computational Engineering. He is based at ORPC Ireland in Dublin.

Emily
Emily
Human Resources Manager

Emily joins ORPC in the role of Human Resources Manager. She brings 14 years of HR experience to the position, along with her enthusiasm for climate change solutions. A certified SHRM-CP with People Analytics credential, Emily graduated from the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Fabienne Joly
Fabienne Joly
Development Director - Canada

Fabienne brings a background in economic development, community engagement and energy transition project development to her role at ORPC Canada. Working for Lac-Megantic, Quebec, in partnership with Hydro-Quebec, she coordinated HQ’s first community-scale microgrid project in the wake of a fuel explosion which destroyed the city center. A graduate of Grenoble-Alps University, Fabienne has a master’s degree in business management from The Grenoble Institute of Political

Jordan Shelburne
Jordan Shelburne
Director of Finance & Accounting

Jordan joins ORPC in the role of Director of Finance & Accounting where she oversees the implementation of financial systems to facilitate ORPC’s global growth. With a M.S. in Accounting from Castleton University, Vermont, and a B.S. in Business Administration from Virginia Intermont College, she enjoys time with her husband, two dogs and two horses when she’s not at work.

Kaelin Chancey
Kaelin Chancey
Mechanical Engineer

A New Hampshire native, Kaelin comes to ORPC with experience in mechanical design, product testing and marine instrumentation. She received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Hampshire. At ORPC Kaelin is primarily working on the design of mechanical systems for ORPC power systems.

Kathryn Sellers Reynolds
Kathryn Sellers Reynolds
Regulatory Affairs Manager

Katie manages Federal Energy Regulatory Commission licensing processes, federal and state permitting needs, and environmental compliance measures for ORPC deployments. She has a background in environmental consulting and environmental non-profit work, and earned a Master of Science in Marine Policy from the Univ. of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science, and a Bachelor of Arts in Marine Policy and International Studies, also from the Univ. of Miami. When not at work, Katie’s likely on a boat, skiing, lost in the woods, or fixing up her home.

Larry Clifford
Larry Clifford
Grants & Communications Manager

Larry comes to ORPC with a diverse background in the fields of social services and health care as a medical illustrator, communications director, and executive. After receiving a B.A. in Art from Northwestern University, he earned a master’s degree in biomedical communications from the University of Texas/Southwestern Medical Center. He has worked with rural and underserved communities throughout Maine and the U.S., most recently as an independent consultant, and he brings a passion for renewable energy to his work at ORPC.

Liam Pillsbury
Liam Pillsbury
Project Manager

Liam’s main focus at ORPC is research and development of new technologies, including the autonomous turbine generator unit. With a background in design, fabrication, assembly, testing and deployment of mechanical systems, he is an experienced project lead and test lead in multiple at-sea test events.

Liam is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Science in Ocean Engineering.

Marie Caspard
Marie Caspard
Development Analyst

Marie brings a background in environmental science to her role as Development Analyst. Involved in ORPC’s market development, regulatory reporting and stakeholder outreach efforts, Marie grew up in Chevy Chase, Maryland, and received a BA in Environmental Studies & Biology from Bowdoin College in 2020.

Matt Wilson
Matt Wilson
Mechanical Engineer

Born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, Matt interned with ORPC in 2015 at our Portland, Maine, headquarters and in the field in Igiugig, Alaska, on our RivGen® Power System Project. His focus areas are mechanical design and analysis of hydrokinetic systems, CFD modeling of marine turbines, and field installation and deployment of ORPC power systems. A 2016 graduate of the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College, Matt holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering.

Matthew Barrington
Matthew Barrington
Mechanical Engineer

Matty is based at our Maine headquarters and focuses on the commercial design of ORPC’s Advanced TidGen® System. A native of Ireland, he has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Carlow Institute of Technology, and a Master of Science in Energy Systems Engineering from University College Dublin.

Melozi Scott
Melozi Scott
Ocean Engineer

A native of Nome, Alaska, Melozi comes to ORPC with a background in naval architecture, offshore structural engineering and onshore pipeline design and installation. A graduate of Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Ocean and Coastal Engineering, her work with ORPC focuses on mooring system designs for the RivGen® and TidGen® Power Systems.

Merrick Jackinsky
Merrick Jackinsky
Director of Development-Alaska

As a lifelong Alaskan, Merrick works with local regulators, communities, and electrical providers to develop tidal and river-based energy projects for ORPC. Having grown up fishing in the Gulf of Alaska, Merrick brings his familiarity with the traditional way of life to the technical and logistical aspects of project development through his background in contract negotiation, construction management and engineering design. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and has worked on a variety of energy-related projects throughout his professional career.

Nate Hayes
Nate Hayes
Lead Engineer, Autonomous Systems

Nate comes to ORPC with extensive experience as a test engineer, and as a designer and drafter for fabrication and automation control systems. At ORPC, he is leading the commercial design effort for our ARPA-E project. A graduate of the University of Maine with a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Nate lives in Topsham.

Nick Harris
Nick Harris
Engineering Lab Technician

A Maine native, Nick comes to his position at ORPC with a love of the outdoors and a background as a US Coast Guard coxswain on search and rescue vessels, and as a boatswains mate supervising deck force operations and equipment maintenance. With his background in marine operations and desire to create renewable energy projects, Nick is charged with managing the operation of our engineering and electronics lab in Brunswick, Maine.

Patrick Cronin
Patrick Cronin
Director of European Operations & Mechanical Engineer

Patrick project manages and is liaison for ORPC Ireland projects in Europe. He also oversees research, development and operations involving ORPC technology in Europe. The Principal Investigator on ORPC’s CRIMSON and OPTIMOR projects, Patrick also handles day-to-day operations of ORPC’s deployed devices. A graduate of the Dublin Institute of Technology, he holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering and joined ORPC in 2017.

Peter Roginski
Peter Roginski
Business Development Manager

Peter comes to ORPC with an expertise in business development and manufacturing. He has a passion for building a sustainable future and is an outdoor enthusiast in his spare time. A graduate of Montana State University with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies, Peter is charged with refining ORPC’s business development process to accelerate sales growth.

Robert A. Lewis
Robert A. Lewis
Director of Operations & Chief Safety Officer

Bob is a native of Eastport, Maine with broad experience in industrial facility management. He provides the upfront planning for all operational aspects of ORPC’s tidal energy projects and is the company’s safety officer. His expertise in industrial facility operations, program development, employee training, and community relations makes him a great asset to ORPC.

Ryan Cardinal
Ryan Cardinal
Project Manager

A Philadelphia native, Ryan received a B.S. in Physics from Boston College. His expertise with various engineering processes and defect management makes him a valuable asset to our team. At ORPC, Ryan will manage projects and establish new pathways to commercial growth. When not in the office, you’ll find him playing and coaching ultimate frisbee.

Sean Anderton
Sean Anderton
Director, IT & Field Services

Sean is in charge of our Maine Tidal Energy Project operations and ORPC’s overall IT infrastructure. He plays a key role in planning and executing project site characterization field work including Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) surveys. A professional video producer and editor, Sean also has extensive experience with web interfaces.

Susy Kist
Susy Kist
Director of Communications

Susy is in charge of media and public relations, community outreach and industry events, and marketing for ORPC, including the development and production of all promotional materials. She has more than 25 years of management and outreach experience in the non-profit sector.

Sybille Cyr
Sybille Cyr
Manager of Grant Accounting

Sybille is responsible for all aspects of day to day accounting, including maintaining grant budgets, and completing quarterly and year-end reports. She maintains and enhances the organization’s human resources by planning, implementing, and evaluating employee relations and human resources policies, programs, and practices. She has more than three years bookkeeping experience related to grant accounting and comes to ORPC with over 10 years of experience in business administration and bookkeeping.

Taylor Martin
Taylor Martin
Field Service Manager

With a background in project management, maritime engineering, and sailing education, Taylor joins ORPC as our Field Service Manager to help manage device deployments. A graduate of Western Washington University, he enjoys hiking, skiing and windsurfing.

Our Founders

 

ORPC was founded by left to right Paul H. Wells, John R. Cooper and Christopher R. Sauer in 2004. The original idea for the Company came from Wells who had a career in cruise ship operations and had, for years, wondered if there was a way to generate electricity from the Florida Current off the Florida coast, the strongest continuously flowing ocean current in the world. Through a mutual friend, Cooper and Sauer, who had spent most of their careers in developing, financing, building, owning and operating cogeneration and independent power projects, were introduced to Wells as people who could help him put together a business plan for building projects that would sell electricity generated from the Florida Current.

 

They had their first meeting, and it was quickly determined that the systems needed to generate electricity from ocean currents did not exist yet, so their independent power producer business model would not work. If there was to be a business the three men would have to develop and commercialize their own marine renewable energy technology, a much bigger challenge than originally envisioned.

 

But on the positive side, two-thirds of the Earth is covered in water that is almost constantly moving, creating an almost boundless reservoir of energy, and most people live near this “reservoir.” If the technology could be developed and projects could be built, it would have the potential to revolutionize how electricity is generated and distributed throughout the world. This became the compelling reason behind the formation of ORPC.