Directors
Ian Dezen, BSME, MBA, LEED AP
Director of Engineering
Ian brings over fourteen years of experience in the consulting, construction, energy, and real estate industries to RLE. His career has taken a unique path as a mechanical design engineer, commissioning engineer, energy engineer, lighting designer, entrepreneur, and brewer. He uses his diverse background to successfully manage projects and teams while cultivating lasting client relationships. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration from IE Business School in Madrid, Spain. In his spare time, Ian enjoys brewing beer, traveling (he’s been to 45 countries), hiking with his dog, Yeti, and attempting to explain how his hometown Pittsburgh sports teams are superior to New England’s.
Joe D’Alessandro, LC, CLCP
Director of Project Management
Joe brings thirty-three years of electrical experience to RLE. Specializing in lighting, Joe is Lighting Certified (LC) by NCQLP and Lighting Controls Certified (CLCP) by NALMCO. Joe began his career as a manufacturer’s representative for seventeen years serving many roles from project management, sales, operations, and eventually earned an ownership role in the company. Expanding his diversity in the industry, Joe moved into electrical distribution in 2008 and for the next fifteen years served in management roles along the way. In his spare time, Joe enjoys spending time with family, cooking, golf, and Boston sports teams.
Project Managers
Carlin A. Power, CEA
Senior Project Manager
Carlin brings over thirteen years of experience in the Commercial Energy Efficiency Sector. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with an English Degree and worked on building sites in Europe and Australia before beginning his career as a lighting auditor for ConEdison’s SBDI program in NYC. Since 2008 he has sold, managed, and implemented energy efficiency projects in everything from a corner bodega in Harlem to the Beverly Hills Bloomingdale’s. He is an avid theater buff and dual citizen of Ireland & USA. When not spending time with family, he enjoys spear fishing, reading, writing, soccer, hot yoga, Brazilian Ju Jitsu, and, of course, traveling the world.
Harsh Gulati
Project Manager
Harsh has over three years of experience managing energy generation and energy efficiency projects to foster sustainability. He has worked internationally in India and Ghana while testing and developing micro combined heat; power (CHP) projects to thermally treat biogenic human waste. While pursuing his master’s degree, he conducted research that helped reduce food waste on the university campus by pyrolysis which provided data for peer-reviewed publications. Harsh also worked for a utility managing and auditing Energy Efficiency projects which include lighting, transformers, HVAC, and insulation. He received his Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from Mumbai University and his Master of Sustainability from the Rochester Institute of Technology. In his spare time, Harsh enjoys playing bass guitar, road biking, Formula1, and cooking.
Jason Lucca
Project Manager
Jason has over ten years of experience identifying, designing, and managing comprehensive HVAC and lighting energy efficiency projects. His work history spans across the country and has focused on schools, municipal buildings, commercial buildings, data centers, and supermarkets. These projects include transformer upgrades, variable speed drive integration, HVAC system retrofits, building automation system upgrades, data center airflow management, electronically commutated motor applications, LEDs, and advanced wireless controls. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Northeastern University. In his free time, Jason enjoys golfing, volunteering at PGA tournaments as a Hole Marshall, attending Northeastern Hockey games, and traveling around the world.
Alex Zapris
Project Manager
Alex has a strong engineering background with valuable experience in the lighting controls market as well as various industrial production lines. He brings three years of project management experience for Lutron lighting controls system to RLE. His projects include some notable clients: MIT in Cambridge, MA and Hudson Yards in New York, NY. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from
Democritus University of Thrace in Greece and a Master of Science in Offshore Engineering from Newcastle University in the United Kingdom. In his spare time, Alex plays basketball, chess, rows whenever possible, and enjoys traveling around the world.
Derek Gookin
Project Manager
Derek began his career in the lighting industry over three years ago working with investment grade lighting audits and swiftly grew into his current role as a Project Manager. He graduated from Plymouth State University with a business degree in marketing and an option in integrated communications. He has an extensive background in sales and customer service. Aside from the passion for his work, he also enjoys skiing, golfing, playing guitar and watching sports.
Andrew Malenowski
Assistant Project Manager
Andrew is a recent graduate of Elon University where he studied Project Management and Political Science. He is a member of the Project Management Institute and received the Certified Associate in Project Management certification (CAPM). Andrew brings more than three years of project management experience from various fields. He has also studied European business strategies and management practices at Universidad Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Spain. When he is away from the office, Andrew enjoys discovering new places, watching Syracuse basketball, and obsessing over cars.
Administrative Staff
Melissa Dakai
Office & HR Manager
With a degree in Business Management from Nichols College and over ten years in office management, bookkeeping, and customer service experience, Melissa brings a wealth of knowledge to the RLE team. She has worked for several small companies where her ability to adapt was paramount to her success. Melissa brings this knowledge and experience to RLE. At RLE, Melissa wears many “hats” and runs the day-to-day office operations, helps with accounting, bookkeeping, and leads the Human Resources department. When not at work, Melissa enjoys spending time with family, doing yoga, reading, gardening, going for a run, and spending time outdoors.
Sara Bagwell
Marketing & Outreach Manager
