George is the Founding Principal of CES.  In the office, he brings an easy-going sense of humor and genuine concern for both his clients and employees alike. At his core, George is intrinsically an engineer – a thinker and doer – he loves to figure out how things work and make them work better, at home and at the office. As an advocate for renewable energies for over 35 years, he is leading by example, as the designer and owner of the first Net Zero Energy home in Connecticut.

Fun Fact: If this whole engineering thing doesn’t pan out, George’s Plan B Career is Excavator Operator.

Perhaps the most impressive thing about Mike is his ability to connect with people. Coupled with his initial nose to the grindstone dedication to mechanical engineering, that’s what probably led him so quickly up the ladder from Intern to President. He has a gift for making everyone, from a first day intern to the 30 year seasoned professional, feel important. With a clear vision for the future, Mike sincerely recognizes that the lifeblood of our company and the path to the success of our firm lies in each individual comprising CES. With a casual, approachable manner, keen sense of humor, and genuine appreciation for the people that surround him, Mike identifies and promotes a unified vision for our company and inspires positive corporate culture on a daily basis. Looking for Mike at a job site? You can’t miss him – just look for the guy in the middle of the crowd wearing the brightest colors and carrying a coordinating yeti.

Fun Fact: Stay tuned for Mike’s future book: The Man Behind Successful Party Planning.

Del Smith is the (self-proclaimed) fun founding Principal and Vice President of CES with 30 years’ experience in HVAC, plumbing and fire protection design.  Although interested in both architecture and engineering from an early age, a fascination with solar thermal systems motivated him to pursue a career in Mechanical Engineering.  Del’s strengths lie in HVAC and thermal dynamics/ heat transfer systems.  With a driving desire to make things work, when ordinary projects hit a roadblock they usually end up on Del’s desk, where he welcomes the challenge of figuring it all out.  As an avid outdoorsman, he is a seasoned surfer and 5th degree black belt in Karate. Around the office, Del is quite the conversationalist. If you’ve got an ear to listen, he always has an entertaining tale to tell.

Fun Fact: Del always prefers a kilt to trousers, with or without bagpipes.

Doug is a Founding Principal, Vice President and the Chief Operating Officer of CES. Confident, logical, and decisive, he leads the charge for countless projects in our portfolio. Always focused on the big picture, he guides projects in the right direction, providing oversight and ensuring that the detail work of our staff aligns with our client’s overall goals.  With solar panels in use at his own home, Doug is a huge proponent of sustainability and is knowledgeable about best practices in alternative energy. All this aside, he would really rather be traveling the globe or 100 miles offshore fishing for pelagic species.

Fun Fact: No matter where you are, Doug can point you in the direction of the hands-down best Italian fare in the area.

The driving force behind our sustainability pursuits, Scott leads the design of solar photovoltaic projects at CES.  He is also the backbone of our data, technology and communications systems design team. As Principal, Senior Electrical Engineer and an MBA, Scott brings thoughtful composition to his team. With a proven ability to lead large scale projects, he often finds himself at the helm of our most significant K-12 jobs. Outside the office, you’ll find Scott trying to catch up to his children on the ski slopes and bike trails of Connecticut.

Fun Fact: Scott declined an offer to work for the CIA

With CES nearly since its inception, Steven is a Vice President and the Director of Florida Operations. There’s really never been another career path Steve would consider besides one involving the built environment. The construction industry has captivated him since his teenage years, when he began building cabinets and remodeling with a small, local contractor. Dedicated and driven, Steve prides himself on providing practical and accurate plans and specifications for his clients. Always with an eye on success – personally, professionally, and as a firm, Steve keeps a pulse on every project and relationship, continually guiding them in the right direction. When he’s not in the office, he’s most likely at a golf tournament hoping for a birdie or two.

Fun Fact: Professional facade aside, Steve is in fact a “dead-head” at heart. He’s been to 50+ Grateful Dead concerts.

Steve is a true believer in the phrase “if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life”. For Steve, work is fun and he is known for interjecting a little bit of humor into all that he does. Urban legend suggests that he once took an actual vacation away from the office and vowed not to work at all. Apparently, that lasted about two minutes (we still have yet to see actual proof of this elicit extended sabbatical). As Principal & Senior Engineer for our residential portfolio, Steve frequently tours the country offering MEP systems design insight in residences from Maine to Hawaii and everything in between.

Fun Fact: He once melted the knobs off of his stove testing its maximum power draw (don’t worry, lesson learned).

As Vice President and Corporate Treasurer, Jim is still truly a mechanical engineer at heart: constantly taking things apart and putting them back together again in an ongoing effort to figure out how everything works.  He approaches work (and life) in a very hands-on, inquisitive manner. Jim’s days are spent coaching, guiding and mentoring staff who find him knowledgeable and supportive. After hours, you can find Jim completing countless construction projects around the house, his toddlers in tow.

Fun Fact: Jim had a lawnmower repair business at age 10 (can we say child labor laws? And where were his parents anyway?)

As Vice President in charge of our New York City Office, Pete thrives on the energy of NYC and the fast-paced projects it delivers. Combine that with a love for architecture and buildings, and you have the backdrop for Pete’s career in mechanical engineering. Pete especially enjoys the challenge of historic building restorations and renovations in the City. He revels in the thrill of opening up walls and finding 100 year old HVAC systems that are certainly not for the faint of heart. Working usually around the clock, Pete is a perfect match for the city that never sleeps!

Fun Fact: In his (very) spare time, Pete is a wine aficionado and a practiced Yogi

Empathetic, driven and a global thinker – these are just some of the qualities that have amplified Nick’s success at CES, propelling him from Intern to Principal in less than 13 years. Driven by a need to solve complex and unique puzzles and an intrinsic discomfort when he doesn’t know how to do something, Nick absorbs new knowledge like a sponge. As our first Branch Office Manager, Nick leads an expanding team focused on surpassing Home Energy Rating System (HERS) industry standards and pushing the envelope in terms of creative solutions and energy savings.

Fun Fact: Nick has a national title for competitive collegiate cheerleading

As Team Leader, Mike brings an air of peace in an otherwise chaotic workday. Calm and composed, he approaches every challenge with open ears, listening and carefully considering his thoughtful response (which sometimes includes subtle humor – listen close so you don’t miss it). Hard-working, easy-going, and fair, Mike is a mainstay for his team. He is always willing to lend a hand to any task to ensure deadlines are met. Mike always takes the time to consider the most efficient system options, saving energy without going overboard on costly, unnecessary extras. If you hang out with him enough and you’re lucky, you might be able to score a homemade pizza cooked in the traditional wood-fired oven he built himself.

Fun Fact: Mike is an experienced spear fisherman

Meet George Jetson… or as we like to call him, Derek Bride. Maybe it’s from his parents sitting him in front of the animated sitcom too much as a child, we’re not sure, but Derek strives for the same utopian future. An Associate and Team Leader, Derek is always looking to the future. Paired with natural curiosity and optimism, Derek envisions a LEED Platinum future, one that uses zero fossil fuels and blows away every energy code standard. This ideal extends to his home life, where he can control his entire world with merely the touch of a button. His house is filled with every available smart feature on the market, and if something new comes out today, he’ll have it installed tomorrow. His house is so automated, we try to resist the urge to hack in and flicker the lights, turn the place into a sauna, start the laundry and see what’s in the fridge!

Fun Fact: It is rumored that Derek wears his tie sunup to sundown everyday (some say he even wears it with his pajamas).

Best known as the salty, demanding Italian in our New York City office, Vin is truly a Team Leader you can count on. With over a decade of experience in mechanical design, construction, and project management, Vin is always there when you need him- usually running from job to job all about the City, putting out fires as he sprints past. Aiming to provide stellar customer service, we’ve heard he will do just about anything to get a 5 star review on Yelp (ok, anything within reason). Recently, Vin has rounded out his resume by completing Electrical Engineering design classes and NFPA training. Ask him what the proof is that he’s doing a good job and he’ll reply, “because my mom says so”.

Fun Fact: When he’s not solving complex mechanical puzzles, you can find Vin cooking and grooving to 90’s R&B.

Jim is an Associate, Senior Engineer, and our Montana Office Manager.  He is captivated by any and all moving or heat collecting devices and driven by a desire to understand their inner workings.  His fascination with components and their functions constantly leads him to find inspired solutions to complex mechanical dilemmas.  A past Certified Energy Manager and Certified Geoexchange Designer, Jim is conversant in many aspects of sustainable design. Every day, Jim tackles all the days’ conundrums with a light-hearted sense of humor, making it easy to work alongside him.  After hours, you will find him restoring and re-purposing forgotten treasures.

Fun Fact:  Jim’s cricket chirps, tweets, buzzes, whistles, and Christmas tunes give the office an Amazon-rainforest-Christmas-in-July vibe year-round.

In a building chock full of engineers, there’s always a need for a guy who can add it all up, and as they say, that buck stops here, at David’s desk. As our Controller and overseer of all things involving Information Technology, David’s the guy you have to answer to when your fee proposal doesn’t add up or you crashed the server by downloading a virus from your email. David keeps us on the straight and narrow and makes sure all the bits and bytes are in order and all the numbers add up. If you ever want to throw him off your trail, David’s a sucker for a corny joke, or just get him talking about his days as a prankster in IT or the Air National Guard.

Fun Fact: David races sailboats on Wednesday nights on the Long Island Sound.

A fervor for solving puzzles initially led Mitch to engineering. As a Team Leader and Mechanical Engineer, he thrives on the challenge of mechanical problem-solving every day at work. Bringing a huge smile and energy to back it up, Mitch is always successful at making projects fun and encouraging team collaboration. He often goes above and beyond to ensure that both our client and everyone on the team is happy. In his free time, Mitch enjoys spending time with his family and playing soccer.

Fun Fact: Mitch wears a flawless pair of shoes every day. So either he’s a fastidious neat freak or he owns 365 pairs of shoes (maybe more). We’ve seriously never seen a speck of dirt on his shoes – ever!

With a degree in Architectural Engineering Technology, Brad has a broad understanding of the way buildings go together from three angles: architectural, structural and MEP engineering. This foundation gives him a big picture viewpoint and an insider perspective on how the mechanical engineering aspect relates to the whole. Brad loves the challenge of a fast paced project that requires him to think on his feet and learn something new every day. Working with Brad, you’d be hard pressed to find him without a smile on his face or lacking a witty comeback. Outside work, Brad is an advocate of programs to help wildlife and conservation of land and natural resources.

Fun Fact: On weekend mornings, you’ll find Brad watching youtube videos about tractors and discussing their intricacies with his dog, Jaxson.

Allison Puzycki is the Director of Marketing at CES.  Dedicated to big picture marketing goals, she brings an extraordinary ability to orchestrate global company objectives. Allison is a master at uncovering the culture that exists within an established company and bringing those values to light. Combined with an endless ability to generate ideas and an energetic spirit, it’s easy to be drawn into her enthusiasm. Through a genuine interest in the people around her and the ability to easily assess each person’s strengths and abilities, she thoughtfully creates a peaceful atmosphere where all contributions are welcomed and each individual’s talents are celebrated in the true spirit of collaboration.

Fun fact: That 1966 muscle car in the parking lot was an 18th birthday gift.

In addition to playing a Team Leader role at CES, Rob is our go-to plumbing & fire protection guru and resident inventor. When Rob encounters a problem, on the job or off, he envisions the machine he would need to create the necessary part, then he makes the machine. When faced with the quandary of measuring individual water pressures within an apartment building, Rob invented a device for measuring pressure and flow which is now an equipment staple in our office. You name it, he’s built it – a rock tumbler, drone, laser cutter, CNC machine. He’s even pumped up his kid’s Hot Wheels so they can go 20 mph, as opposed to 5. That’s Rob: always thinking, always tinkering, always creating.

Fun Fact: Rob can solve the Rubik’s Cube in under 3 minutes.

Stemming from his love of repairing cars, Eric originally intended his degree in Mechanical Engineering to lead him to the automotive industry, instead, his road led to designing building systems.  Now a decade veteran at CES, he is a Team Leader, specializing in mechanical, plumbing and fire protection design.  Due to his highly detailed nature and organizational skills, Eric serves as Project Manager for numerous fast-tracked projects with tight deadlines.  Eric’s hobbies, besides working on cars, include snowboarding and Nissan Xterra off-roading.

Fun Fact: Eric is one of four officers for the Northeast Xterra Club

Annette’s impressive qualifications and experience in Mechanical Engineering as well as Building Commissioning are a direct result of her conscious nose to the grindstone approach to project management. An intellectual and analytical thinker by nature, Annette is a persistent problem solver.  She knows that the best solutions are the product of every single little decision made along the way, so she tirelessly works with nary a complaint, through every last detail in the most meticulous manner. With integrity and a strong work ethic, Annette strives for perfection both in her work and her life as a whole (and we remain completely perplexed at how she juggles it all so successfully without a personal assistant).

Fun Fact: She’s the fastest talker and smallest writer in all of Broward County. I guess that’s what you get when you import a native New Yorker south of the Mason-Dixon line.

Eric can’t remember a time when he didn’t dream of being an engineer, a job he imagined would be filled with designing, building and tinkering all day long. As a Team Leader, he enjoys the complexity of coordinating MEP systems, ensuring their efficient operation within the building structure. Eric’s good-natured disposition often gains him the role of mediator in group meetings. He approaches every project with an open mind and open ears, always receptive to exploring alternate viewpoints to reach a collaborative solution. On site, our team relies on him for his ability to quickly assess a situation from multiple angles and make decisions, resolve day to day problems and keep projects moving forward. Given the opportunity to create a positive impact on the built environment, Eric continuously strives for reduction in the energy footprint of all buildings.

Fun Fact: Eric used to dabble in composing electronic techno music.

Based on his experiences living, studying and working in two foreign countries as well as multiple states within the US, Vish brings a worldly perspective to all our projects (plus a seriously nerdy joke or two throughout the day).  When he’s not busy getting the Texas branch office off the ground, we count on Vish for Revit updates and technical support . Due to his overwhelmingly friendly nature, we often push him (begrudgingly) on relentless customer service reps, and yet, he perseveres.  With the Interstellar Soundtrack playing in the background, you’ll find him delving into code analysis and improving his drafting ability.

Fun Fact: Vish is making up his accent as he goes, from what we can tell, “Oye, he’s fixin’ to become a wicked Limey Yaar”. Y’all should try to guess where he’s from.

Sam is a residential MEP engineering prodigy. You name the challenge and he’ll tackle it: ultra-low noise level requests, no ceiling space for ductwork, conflicts between the structure and building systems, inadequate heating and cooling, custom “party mode” settings. Sam’s brain is always about five steps ahead of the challenge at hand. He thinks so fast that while he is explaining something (say why you can’t locate a duct underneath a sprinkler head) he’s actually already considering the impact of relocating that very sprinkler head versus code-required coverage patterns and the implications it would have on overall fire safety. On the job, Sam is always thinking on the fly.  When unexpected issues arise, Sam outsmarts them every. single. time.

Fun Fact: Butta la pasta!  This Italian makes his fettuccine from scratch.

Scott was just simply cut out for a career in residential engineering, not the cookie cutter world of commercial MEP applications.  He lives for his days traveling from coast to coast, designing, observing, and testing custom systems in private homes and conjuring ideas to solve each distinctive, unconventional puzzle. Modestly unassuming, Scott approaches each project with an open mind and open ears.  He listens intently to homeowners’ special requests and strategizes for their integration into his designs. After much thoughtful deliberation, Scott explains his precise plan of action in great detail to our clients addressing their every need. Then he gets immersed in the finite details, fine tuning the comfort of each home to exacting specifications.  No matter how outlandish it sounds, you name it, he’s designed it (or if he hasn’t, he’s always up for the challenge at hand): HVAC control systems with custom text alarms and remote access, indoor backup generator rooms, walkway snow melt, wine storage rooms, indoor pool room humidity controls. On rare occasion, Scott is forced to deliver the news that although we can certainly jump through a lot of hoops, we can’t break the laws of physics. In his spare time, Scott picks things up and puts them down (sometimes weights, sometimes a 2012 93 pt. Tuscan Petit Verdot).

Fun Fact: Scott was the US Masters Open Water Long Distance Swimming National Champion in 2008