Management Team

Dr. Franklin C. Lewis, President and Chief Executive Officer: Dr. Lewis practiced commercial law for ten years before embarking upon a successful career in real estate development. In the mid 1980’s, his fascination with the potential of information technology led him to create the first commercial database of Connecticut real estate transactions.

In 1990, Dr. Lewis became Managing Director of Computer Communications Company. Under his leadership, that company was included in Inc. Magazine’s list of 500 most rapidly growing companies in America. He orchestrated the merger of Computer Communication Company with a public company founded by Leonard J. Fassler, ESPI’s Chairman. He became an officer of the public company which grew rapidly to over $2 billion in annual sales and which was acquired by General Electric. He was responsible for post-closing integration of multiple acquisitions into the parent company. He also was a key management team member in developing and executing the rapid growth strategy of the combined entities.

Dr. Lewis worked with F. Colby Lewis and Mitchell M. Barack to establish ESCO Energy Services Company. That company grew to be the preeminent commercial and industrial lighting retrofit company in the Northeast with an outstanding reputation for quality service.

Dr. Lewis founded Energy Solutions Group to develop and pilot a commodity and demand-side brokerage program in Connecticut and Massachusetts, brokering natural gas and electricity contracts as well as a variety of facility-enhancement and cost-reduction projects. During a few months of piloting, and without significant cash investment, the model produced revenues as well as a significant pipeline of projects from which substantial commissions were derived.

In response to sluggish performance by the Energy suppliers with which Energy Solutions Group dealt, Dr. Lewis formed ESPI and handled all negotiations and documentation for the company to become approved by the New York Public Service Commission, the New York Independent System Operator, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the various New York utilities that support retail access.

Working with industry leaders, Dr. Lewis built business process system excellence into the company. ESPI now has the largest number of accounts of any ESCO in National Grid territory and has expanded into other New York utilities as well as into ERCOT (Texas) and NEPOOL (Massachusetts).

Leonard J. Fassler, Chairman of the Board of Directors: Mr. Fassler is active in guiding the Company and has worked successfully in the past with Dr. Lewis. Mr. Fassler is the founder and Chairman of Convergence Technologies located in White Plains, New York. He served as Co-Chairman of Vytek Corporation, a wireless technology service and product provider, from its inception in 2000 to its merger with California Amplifier (NASDAQ: CAMP) in April 2004.

Mr. Fassler founded several other successful public companies. In 1992, he co-founded and served as Co-Chairman of AmeriData Technologies, Inc., a NYSE-listed reseller and integrator of computer equipment and provider of computer-consulting services that was acquired by General Electric Capital Corporation in 1996. At the time of its acquisition, AmeriData had worldwide revenue in excess of $2 billion.

Prior to AmeriData, Mr. Fassler co-founded and was Co-Chairman of Sage Broadcasting Corporation, a NASDAQ-listed company that owned and operated 22 radio stations across the country.

From the early 1970’s through mid 1980’s, Mr. Fassler was founder and Executive Officer of TIE/communications, an American Stock Exchange-listed telecommunications company.

Mr. Fassler holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from City College of New York and a law degree from Fordham Law School.

Kevin McMinn, Executive Vice President: Mr. McMinn’s career as an energy industry consultant has included such clients as TXU, Entergy, Shell Energy Trading North America and Centrica/British Gas Europe. He has provided guidance, project/program management, and expertise to facilitate various companies’ entry into and operations management in deregulated energy markets in Texas, New York, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, and Maryland.

Prior to focusing on the energy industry, Mr. McMinn managed natural gas and power procurement, financial hedging, and risk management operations for North America for Stepan Company, Inc. where he directed a $30 million annual capital purchasing budget, directed a $25 million purchasing operation for Fire Arms Training Systems, Inc., and overhauled DAK Composite Structures from the ground up, including growing revenues from $3 million to $100 million.

Mr. McMinn holds a Mechanical Engineering Degree from NYU/Stevens Institute of Technology and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University. He is a Certified Energy Professional (CEP) and a Prince 2 Registered Practitioner (P2RP) P2R/010702. He has completed the ISO 9000 Certification Program--Center for International Standards on Quality at Georgia Tech and is a Certified Production Inventory Manager (CPIM) and a Certified Purchasing Manager. He completed the Contracts Program at George Washington University Law School and is a member of the Association of Energy Engineers.

Walter J. Cook II, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer: Prior to ESPI, Mr. Cook co-founded Convergence Technologies, Inc., a business technology infrastructure company, where he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer from 2006 through February 2008 and CFO from 2004 to 2006.

Mr. Cook served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Vytek Corporation from its inception in 2000 until its merger with California Amplifier (NASDAQ: CAMP) in April 2004.

Prior thereto, Mr. Cook was a founder of Cook & Co., a provider of financial software consulting solutions to Fortune 500 companies. Its principal clients were GE Capital, CBS, and Bell Atlantic.

During 1996, Mr. Cook was employed by GE Capital Information Technology Solutions, Inc. as an Accounting Manager and later provided consulting services to the Company. GE was the acquirer of AmeriData Technologies, Inc., a NYSE-listed company, where Mr. Cook was employed as a financial analyst and a member of its Mergers and Acquisitions team.

Mr. Cook holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Marist College and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Ryan Hassett, Vice President of Operations: Mr. Hassett comes to ESPI with extensive leadership experience both in military and corporate sectors.

Mr. Hassett spent ten years in the United States Navy’s Submarine Service. During his time in the military, he was involved in many projects onboard submarines and with tactical training exercises for military personnel. He was handpicked to help organize and facilitate a cutting-edge international exercise. This joint military venture involved multiple branches of the military, both domestic and foreign, as well as a variety of government contractors. Due to his successful orchestration of the complex facets of this endeavor he was presented with his third Navy Achievement medal.

After leaving military service, Mr. Hassett spent 12 years in the newspaper industry where he worked on both the marketing and publishing sides of the business. During his time with the papers, he expanded the market exponentially, increasing revenue by 291% in his first year. Over his tenure, he held various positions including Advertising Director, Director of Special Projects, Publisher, and, finally, Group Publisher for a Massachusetts newspaper group.

Mr. Hassett has developed and orchestrated various large-scale events such as Home and Health Expos and a Haunted House charity fundraiser. He continues to be involved in many community-wide events from inception to execution, and he has held an elected position with the Bennington Downtown Improvement Commission. He currently serves as the Cubmaster for his local Cub Scout Pack.

James Cahill, Vice President of New Business Development: Mr. Cahill has over 20 years experience in the energy services industry developing energy supply and efficiency services within commercial, industrial, and institutional markets.

Mr. Cahill’s background includes positions with some of the industry’s largest energy service companies including Director of Market Development for FPL’s Gexa Energy, Director of Business Development at Johnson Controls, and Regional Sales Manager for PECO Energy’s Exelon Energy Services. Mr. Cahill was President of EnerPro Engineering, Inc., an energy services company, and operated a retail energy supply and service consultancy. He has also served energy councils of the highest level, including the U.S. Department of Energy’s New England Energy Task Force, U. S. Environmental Business Council’s Energy Committee, and the Attorney General’s Environmental Strike Force Advisory Group. Mr. Cahill is a co-founder of the Massachusetts Energy Services Coalition and has served as a director of the Northeast Energy Efficiency Council and as a member of the Efficiency Task Force for Municipal Utilities. He has also partnered with the Department of Energy in the development of renewable energy sources.

Mr. Cahill lives with his family in a Department of Energy-sponsored showcase renewable energy home on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. He studied psychology at Bridgewater State College and engineering at Massachusetts Maritime Academy. He is a licensed construction supervisor, licensed electrician, and certified electrical instructor.

Lisa Lyons-Cassidy, Vice President of Human Resources: Prior to ESPI, Ms. Lyons-Cassidy co-founded Convergence Technologies, Inc., a business technology infrastructure company, where she served as Vice President of Human Resources from 2004 through September 2007.  Ms. Lyons-Cassidy served as Director of Corporate Administration and Human Resource/Finance Manager at Vytek Corporation from October 2000 until November 2003.  Prior to 2000, Ms. Lyons-Cassidy was the Operations Manager at HQ Global Workplaces (currently known as The Private Office), an executive suite organization. 

Ms. Lyons-Cassidy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Paralegal Studies from Mercy College and is a member of the Society of Human Resource Management.

Jeffrey Peeples, Information Technology Manager: Mr. Peeples has worked both nationally and internationally as an Energy Technology Consultant for over 12 years. His clients include Duke, KN Energy, Calpine, Columbia Energy, and PEMEX (in Mexico City). Mr. Peeples worked as a Project Manager for Altra Energy Technologies as well as a Business Development Manager for Triple Point Technology. He was Director of Information Technology for Columbia Energy. Prior to joining ESPI, Mr. Peeples held the position of Manager of Retail Power Systems for Shell Energy North America.

Mr. Peeples holds a Bachelors of Information Systems Management from University of Maryland University College and a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the internationally recognized Project Management Institute (PMI).