Archives: Leadership Team

Mr. Christopher Gersch brings over 20 years of professional leadership experience and a dynamic understanding of energy markets to the clean energy industry. He began his career as a trader at the Chicago Board of Trade and then utilized his expertise to form eleven businesses, including Verde Solutions, Navigate Power, RxSun, and Fresh Coast Solar.

As a philanthropist and an active member of his community, he is an executive board member for the Charles Tillman Cornerstone Foundation, a member of the Catholic Covenant Energies Advisory Board, and Director at Large for The Energy Professionals Association (TEPA). In addition to his extensive commitment to community engagement and philanthropy, Mr. Gersch is proud to be recognized as a distinguished member of the National Small Business Association (NSBA) Leadership Council. Leveraging his expertise in business and leadership, he actively contributes to shaping policies and initiatives that support the growth and success of small businesses nationwide.

Mr. Gersch is an adjunct professor at the University of Chicago, designing and teaching quantitative trading strategies and algorithmic system modeling. He often appears as an expert guest speaker for CNBC, Bloomberg, CNN, and Fox Business News. In 2023, he was named one of Crain’s Chicago Business’ Notable Leaders in Sustainability. Mr. Gersch graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. in Aerospace from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is a licensed multi-engine commercial pilot.

Ms. Kim Gryzlo was named President of Altimus Capital, LLC in June 2017 and is responsible for the leadership and overall operations of the portfolio companies. She has 30 years of diverse work experience in various leadership positions within sales, finance, and operations. Ms. Gryzlo has worked for small to mid-size businesses, private equity-owned portfolio companies, and large Fortune 100 companies including FMC Corporation, Baxter Healthcare, Allegiance Healthcare, and Cardinal Health. Prior positions held by Ms. Gryzlo include various management roles within finance and executive leadership positions as Vice President of Finance and Vice President of Sales & Operations. Ms. Gryzlo is recognized for her ability to lead teams, improve operational effectiveness and drive profitable results.

Ms. Gryzlo received her B.B.A. degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh and her M.B.A. degree in Operations Management from DePaul University.

Ms. Jonabel Russette serves as Director of Finance & Operations for Altimus Capital group of companies, which includes Verde Solutions. Ms. Russette is responsible for overseeing the financial activities, treasury management, payroll, HR, and risk management for all portfolio companies. She has 30 years of experience in both leadership and financial roles, which includes a multitude of industries and business sectors, including Business Sweden, Obama Foundation, Brennan Investment Group, various Pritzker organizations, among others. Ms. Russette received her Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from DePaul University. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

Ms. Shannon Myers has held various roles and responsibilities within the organization and is a proven leader. She has experienced tremendous success in her 8-year career due to her responsiveness, attention to detail, ability to create proven processes, and develop strong relationships. She takes pride in her work, advocating for clients and continuously pushing the team to the next level with the goal of overdelivering on commitments and executing successful projects. Ms. Myers has been integral in enhancing Verde’s robust project management system to increase efficiency and support the rapid growth of the organization. She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Communication and Media Studies from Northeastern Illinois University.

Mr. AJ Dobson is the Director of Verde Install, a division of Verde Solutions. Under his direction, Mr. Dobson has single-handedly grown the division into a sustainable, profitable business, with 75% growth year-over-year, conducting all aspects of sales, execution and customer retention. Previously, he was the VP of Operations for Verde Solutions, where his team grew the company’s LED business to generate over $8M in gross sales annually.

Prior to Verde Solutions, Mr. Dobson was the Vice President of M&J General Contractors, Inc., a national general contractor specializing in retail construction and remodeling. He spent 6 years as the firm’s VP, helping M&J realize consistent growth and annual profitability. Prior to that, Mr. Dobson spent 5 years as the firm’s senior project manager, managing Kroger and Safeway projects up to $3M in the Midwest and Eastern regions of the US.

Mr. Dobson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communications from Illinois State University. He is a member of the National Association of Realtors. In his free time, AJ enjoys being outdoors and spending time with his wife and 2 young daughters.

Mr. Calvin Preston has made significant contributions to the organization since he joined the organization. His strong technical knowledge in advanced energy solutions, combined with his expertise in engineering helps clients better understand renewable energy technology and the significant value it can provide to their organization. Calvin has a strong passion for sustainability and renewable energy and holds both a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a master’s degree in Systems Engineering and Design from the University of Michigan.