Directors
Ian Dezen, BSME, MBA, LEED AP
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
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
Harsh Gulati
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.
Hiten Chhajed, LEED GA
Hiten brings two years of experience in the energy efficiency industry to RLE. Previously, he has worked in the pharmaceutical, oil; gas, and manufacturing industries. His previous work in manufacturing resulted in the successful ISO 50001 certification of a pharmaceutical plant. His work in the oil; gas sector resulted in annual savings of over 1.5 million kWh. Hiten holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Mumbai University in India, and a Master of Science in Energy Engineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago. In his spare time, Hiten enjoys traveling, writing on his antique, 92-year-old typewriter, playing soccer, and exploring different speakeasies.
Alex Zapris
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.
Jason Lucca
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.
Administrative Staff
Melissa Dakai
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.