Meet the Team that's Funding the Future of Clean Energy
With decades of collective solar industry experience and expertise, Redball Energy’s expanding team is driving the development and financing of solar projects.
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Brian Gottlieb
Brian leverages his ten years of experience in the solar industry to oversee Redball’s daily business functions and provide strategic advice. He has worked in solar development, asset management, and operations and maintenance, helping numerous companies grow.
Before joining Redball, Brian served as Chief Operating Officer of Skyline Innovations (later Nextility), a commercial solar developer that built and financed hundreds of commercial solar systems. Previously, he was Principal at Sunstone, a software development company that built operations management software for solar companies.
In addition to his direct work in solar, Brian is the Executive Chairman of Keller Enterprises LLC, a family office with over $200M of assets under management including over $100M of alternative energy and grid edge investments.
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Greg Schmidt
Greg oversees all finance and accounting for Redball and brings over 10 years of consistent success across a wide variety of complex global energy and infrastructure investments. He has experience in all critical aspects of the investment process, including sourcing, diligence, execution, financing, active portfolio management, and value realization.
In his career, he has underwritten, managed, and sold over $1.8B in common and structured equity investments across six continents; raised over $2B in non-recourse project-level debt; and reached financial close on over $1B in new equity investments. Notable investments include IJ Global’s project finance deal of the year for a 500 MW solar portfolio acquisition (2019), raising the largest dedicated solar energy investment fund at the time in Japan (2017), and the first integrated LiON battery-wind farm in Europe (2016).
Greg received his MBA with Distinction from the Johnson School at Cornell University, his MS in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and his BS in Environmental Engineering, also from Cornell University.
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Jason Klapper
Jason brings to our board unmatched expertise gained over 25 years in renewable energy finance, having structured billions of dollars of energy transactions over his career. He is a principal at Cornerstone Financial Advisors and a co-founder of Redball.
Jason works with institutional investors on the acquisition and disposition of asset-based investments in the energy, transportation, and infrastructure sectors, including investments in renewable energy (solar, wind, fuel cell, biomass, hydro); aircraft and rail (locomotives and rolling stock); energy infrastructure; and oil and gas. He has advised renewable energy investment clients on lease, inverted-lease, and partnership financial modeling, project diligence, negotiation of debt and equity financing documents, and project document review (PPA, IA, O&M, EPC, Performance Guarantees, Warranties, etc.).
Since 1999, Jason has advised Cornerstone clients on primary and secondary market transactions totaling more than $25B in asset value. Since 2010, he has advised clients on debt and tax equity investments in renewable energy, totaling over $6B. He also develops, owns, and manages C&I and residential solar facilities.
Jason graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with a BS in Economics, concentrating in Finance and Real Estate.
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John Marciano
John is a co-founder and board member of Redball, a former co-head of the Allen & Overy global energy practice, and a senior partner in the firm’s U.S. projects and infrastructure team. His reputation illustrates a unique market perspective to deliver real-world, practical solutions for a balanced mix of tax-equity, bank, private capital, and other finance clients, along with sponsors, borrowers, and developers.
John’s creative approach to structuring formed the foundation for many renewable market firsts. These have paved the way for the industry’s current expansion towards all things energy transition while increasing opportunities for electric vehicle financing and their infrastructure, hydrogen and carbon capture, RNG and other advanced fuels, and energy transition manufacturing.
John is ranked Band 1 by Chambers and Partners USA for Nationwide Projects: Renewables and Alternative Energy (2017-2023) and Chambers Global for Projects: Renewables & Alternative Energy (2017-2022). He is recognized as a leading lawyer in Project Finance and Energy: Renewable Power/Alternative Power in US Legal 500 (2023).
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Nick Giannotti
As one of Redball’s founders, Nick develops and maintains our investment strategy and oversees our investment portfolio. For more than a decade in the solar industry, he’s touched on most aspects of the process, from development to engineering to construction, finance, and maintenance, playing an active role in dozens of projects involving the DC government, professional sports organizations, and hospitals.
Nick is a serial entrepreneur and investor in people and projects, who has funded nearly 50 entrepreneurial endeavors in various industries. Before starting Redball, Nick co-founded a solar development and independent power producer dedicated to building small commercial solar (New Columbia Solar). He also serves as a Director on three corporate Boards.
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Zach Axelrod
Zach is one our Redball’s founders and provides expert leadership and direction, bringing both capital and know-how to complex sub-utility-scale energy assets. He has spent his career at the intersection of distributed energy assets and finance.
Zach began his energy career as founder and CEO of Skyline Innovations (later Nextility), a commercial and industrial ESCO that built and financed hundreds of commercial solar systems. He went on to lead the revenue-generating business lines of SmartAC.com from $2M to more than $20M over 2.5 years. Zach next served as Chief Development Officer of SmartAC.com; a residential HVAC monitoring technology company that reduces energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions while improving HVAC contractor profit margins.
Zach is an active investor (50+ companies), advisor (12 companies), and board member (2 companies) across a portfolio of angel and venture-backed businesses. He led more than $150M in corporate and project finance fundraising in the clean energy space.
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Alex Rizk
Alex manages data, recordkeeping, and reports for the company’s assets. He began his career managing customer subscription databases for various community solar projects.
Before joining Redball, Alex spent two years on the asset management team of a residential solar third-party ownership company. He graduated from George Washington University in 2020 with an international business and sustainability degree.
Bruno Marujo
Bruno serves as Director of Tax at Redball, where he leads the company’s tax strategy, compliance, and planning functions with a focus on efficiency, transparency, and long-term value creation.
With eight years of professional experience, Bruno brings a strong foundation in partnership and corporate tax, as well as deep expertise in the renewable energy sector. Before joining Redball, he held tax roles at Summit Ridge Energy and JBG SMITH, supporting complex transactions and overseeing tax compliance and planning initiatives. He began his career at Ernst & Young, advising clients across multiple industries and developing a deep understanding of federal and state tax frameworks.
A Maryland Certified Public Accountant, Bruno holds a Master of Finance degree and bachelor’s degrees in Accounting and Finance from the University of Maryland, College Park.
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Caleb Barber
Caleb manages Redball’s residential and commercial solar portfolios, ensuring all projects are built with the highest quality standards and are generating electricity to their best capabilities.
Before joining Redball as the company’s first official hire, Caleb served as the chair of the student-run Renewable Energy Initiative at Appalachian State University in North Carolina, where he earned a B.S. in Computer Science.
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David Hoedeman
David brings more than a decade of experience in solar and cleantech to cultivate the relationships that help Redball and its partners grow together. David began his career leading growth and business development for DC-based solar developer Nextility, developing rooftop commercial solar projects in DC, MD, CA, and Puerto Rico.
Since then, he has served as VP of Business Development for Washington DC-based energy efficiency finance firm, Sparkfund, and as Chief Growth Officer of Backpack, an energy efficiency software platform.
Erin Thomas
Erin Thomas is the Controller at Redball and a licensed CPA with over 20 years of experience in financial leadership. She directs the company’s daily accounting operations to support Redball’s mission and strategic goals.
Prior to joining Redball, Erin held key finance and accounting roles at Summit Ridge Energy, Enviva, and DCP Midstream — gaining deep experience across the solar, biomass, and natural gas industries. Throughout her career, she has led complex ERP transitions, implemented robust internal controls, and managed efficient month-end close processes. Erin specializes in helping businesses strengthen financial operations, streamline reporting, and maintain audit-ready records that support smart, sustainable growth.
Frank Fuselier
Frank brings over 30 years of legal experience across M&A, capital markets, corporate governance, and high-growth startups. He has held leadership roles in the energy sector since 2007. Prior to joining Redball Energy, Frank served as SVP, Secretary, and General Counsel of Fluence Energy, where he was part of the founding team that launched the energy storage company in 2018, raised private equity in 2020, and completed an IPO in 2021.
Previously, Frank was North American General Counsel for wind turbine manufacturer Gamesa (now Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy) and General Counsel of Gateway Energy Services Corporation, a retail energy company. He has also worked in consumer goods and industrial manufacturing.
Frank received his J.D. from Columbia University and holds both an M.A. and B.A. from Villanova University.
Honglei Gong
Honglei Gong is a Senior Accounting Manager with extensive experience in renewable energy and infrastructure investments. She leads portfolio-level accounting and financial reporting across complex joint venture structures and multi-asset platforms, supporting investor reporting and decision-making.
Previously, Honglei held finance and accounting roles at Summit Ridge Energy, Farmer Mac, Freddie Mac, and Rosetta Stone, gaining experience across investment accounting, structured finance, and operational reporting. She is known for combining strong technical expertise with a practical, solutions-oriented approach in fast-growing environments.
John Gutenkunst
John Gutenkunst is a highly skilled Journeyman Electrician with over eight years of experience in solar Operations & Maintenance. As Lead Journeyman Electrician, he oversees electrical projects and ensures the highest standards of safety, quality, and efficiency across Redball’s operating portfolio.
John’s dedication to excellence, strong leadership, and deep technical expertise make him a critical contributor to Redball’s field operations and long-term asset performance.
Lucas Brown
Lucas brings more than a decade of experience in solar energy and currently oversees commercial project development for Redball. He brings deep expertise in policy analysis, market strategy, site assessment, and stakeholder relations.
Previously, Lucas held roles at Chaberton Energy, Standard Solar, and Direct Energy Solar, where he gained comprehensive experience in contract negotiation and development of residential, commercial, and community solar projects. Across his career, Lucas has originated and/or developed more than 400 MW of solar projects, including brownfield sites and projects integrating energy storage, with a strong focus on regulatory affairs and multi-state market analysis.
Lucas holds a master’s degree in German from The Johns Hopkins University, where he was a Gilman Fellow, and bachelor’s degrees in German and music performance (oboe) from Lawrence University.
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Shea Strippel
Shea helps develop energy models within the Redball Finance team. She is a passionate professional who has worked in both Renewable Energy and Corporate Sustainability.
Shea graduated from the Columbia Sciences PO Dual BA with a BA from Columbia University in Sustainable Development and a BA from Sciences PO in Economics.
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Sydney Marks
Sydney oversees and raises project finance for Redball’s ever-expanding portfolio. Driven by her passion for sustainability and financial acumen, she is committed to advancing renewable energy initiatives and fostering growth within the industry.
Sydney previously spent four years at Cubico Sustainable Investments, a global IPP and the renewable energy investing arm of two of Canada's largest pension funds, where she was an integral member of the Origination and Execution team. After Cubico, she contributed her talents to Enfinity Global, another prominent global IPP and solar developer, focusing on M&A and financing activities.
Throughout her career in renewables, Syndey has developed over 5 GW of greenfield solar projects, facilitated numerous transactions on GWs of solar and wind projects across the United States, and helped secure over $.5B in combined debt and tax equity investments.
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Thomas Cox
Thomas ensures day-to-day operations and maintenance align with Redball’s strategy and commitment to safety. With a career spanning over 16 years in the renewable energy sector, he’s recognized for his expertise and commitment to superior, sustainable solutions. As a testament to his commitment to excellence in the industry, Thomas is NABCEP Certified.
Before assuming the pivotal role at Redball, Thomas served as the Vice President of Construction & Asset Management at SaveSolar Corporation, overseeing the development and construction of Commercial and Industrial (C&I) projects across the Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland (DMV) region. His contributions were integral to the success of many initiatives in the solar development field.
Thomas has held diverse roles at NRG Home Solar, SolarCity (Tesla), Ray Angelini, Inc., and others. His experience equips him with a deep understanding of various aspects of the renewable energy landscape. Throughout his career, he has guided projects through their entire lifecycle – from initial concepts to end-of-life solutions.
Fueled by a genuine passion for environmental sustainability, Thomas embodies a commitment to creating a greener, more sustainable future. With a proven track record and dedication to advancing renewable energy, Thomas guides Redball’s mission to drive positive change in the solar finance sector.
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