[toggle title=”Ben Apple – Vice President”]Ben joined Verdeo in 2008 and works primarily on the project execution team, leading the development of projects that capture and utilize mine methane in the western U.S. In this capacity, he manages project planning, engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and certification of greenhouse gas emission reductions. Ben also leads product design efforts in support of Verdeo’s technology initiatives, and supports the team with his experience in the renewable energy sector.
Prior to joining Verdeo Group, Ben was a principal consultant at ActNeutral, LLC, located in Boulder, CO. His work focused on greenhouse gas markets and the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries, helping clients anticipate and profit from opportunities emerging from climate change and resource constraints. Ben worked on projects in the mining, biogas, solar, wind, and infrastructure sectors, including financial and technical due diligence on one of the first mine methane emission reduction projects in the US. Prior to his consulting career, Ben worked in Germany at an investment bank focused on municipal-scale renewable energy projects and later at a cleantech venture capital firm. Ben worked for six years as a project manager in the US Air Force, where he managed several software and aircraft projects and advised on DARPA contract awards for innovative technologies. Ben’s final assignment in the service was as a United Nations peacekeeper in Iraq and Kuwait. Ben holds an MBA from the Wharton School, certificate degree in Public Finance from the Fels Institute, MS in Industrial Engineering, and is a distinguished graduate of the US Air Force Academy. Ben is also a member of BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt. [/toggle]
[toggle title=”John Savage – Managing Director, Delivery”]John Savage was a co-founder of Verdeo Group prior to its merger with Sindicatum and currently leads Verdeo’s project execution activities. He is responsible for overseeing Verdeo’s portfolio of operating projects, as well as ensuring new projects are constructed and commissioned on-time and on-budget. John has over 12 years experience in the renewable energy and carbon finance markets and has been one of the pioneers of carbon offset projects in the oil & gas industry in North America, including developing the first approved methodology for reducing fugitive methane emissions.
Prior to Verdeo, John worked for Climate Change Capital and its $1 billion carbon fund on a strategy for expanding its business into the US; he also led the execution for CCC of a number of CDM and voluntary market transactions. Previously, as an executive with Green Mountain Energy, John led marketing and business development for the nation’s leading retail supplier of renewable energy. During his tenure at Green Mountain, John established Green Mountain Energy® as the leading brand of clean electricity in its target markets, helped develop wind and solar projects in several states, and led the expansion and growth of three of the nation’s Top 5 utility green power programs. John began his career as an investment banker in the Energy Group at Merrill Lynch Capital Markets.
John has a BA in History, cum laude, from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.[/toggle]