Meet the Team
Mike Sherman
CEO
Mike Sherman is President/CEO and Owner of Vanguard Building Solutions. Mike has over 30 years experience in the energy, performance contracting, project development and asset management industries, developing energy retrofit and infrastructure solutions. Over the course of Mike’s career, he has been involved in healthcare, education, and other commercial projects in excess of $400 Million. Prior to launching Vanguard Building Solutions in 2013, Mike was Vice President of Asset Solutions for ARAMARK Healthcare, a division he led from internal start-up to a $55 million group with 20 employees, over a nine-year period. During his tenure at ARAMARK Mike was awarded with five leadership awards. Previously, Mike held leadership positions with Sodexo, Enron Energy Services and Honeywell. He began his career with AVO Biddle Instruments. Mike has a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Drexel University and his M.B.A. from Rutgers University. Mike maintains active involvement in several community service organizations. He is the Past Board President of Habitat for Humanity – Burlington, Mercer, and Atlantic Counties. In addition, over the years Mike has been involved with Rowan University CARES Institute, multiple YMCA’s and Jewish Federation helping those in need by raising over $2 Million for these organizations.
Mike Sherman
CEO
Greg Santore
Executive Vice President & COO
Greg Santore is a highly accomplished senior executive who has led organizations in the healthcare, technology, education, sports, and consulting industries. He has extensive experience consulting with C-Suite executives, For Profit and Not for Profit Boards and other leaders within some of the nation’s most prestigious higher ed institutions, national healthcare systems and many Fortune 500 Companies in both the public and private sectors. His expertise lies in building and growing organizations while helping build long term relationships with clients and assisting them in meeting their objectives. He is responsible for designing and implementing business operations, project management protocols, and establishing policies that promote company culture and vision. Greg has both his undergraduate and MBA degrees from Rutgers University and is involved with many community organizations.
Greg Santore
Executive Vice President & COO
Gebriela Pelleova
Controller
Gabriela is a Controller for VBS and oversees the financial operations of the company, including directing end-to-end accounting cycles, financial reporting, budgeting & forecasting, ERP implementation, and the development of policies and procedures. Gabriela brings 15 years of experience in the residential and commercial construction sectors, with a strong background in public accounting and auditing. An accomplished accounting professional and Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Gabriela also holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting & Finance from the University of South Florida. She excels in fostering cross-departmental collaboration to enhance productivity and deliver exceptional service to both internal and external customers.
Gabriela Pelleova
Controller
Matt Lima
Director of Energy & Utility Programs
Matheus “Matt” Lima is the Managing Engineer for Vanguard Building Solutions. Matt has a comprehensive understanding of demand-side-management markets from analytical and practical perspectives, providing engineering consulting services to commercial and industrial clients. Throughout his career, Matt led the implementation of energy management projects that generated over $6,100,000 in annual savings for commercial and industrial clients. In addition, Matt is skilled in Retro-Commissioning, Building Science, and Industrial Systems. Matt is a Certified Energy Manager (CEM), LEED Accredited Professional for Building Design and Construction, and a Six Sigma Black Belt. He received his Master of Science in Electrical Engineering with a concentration in Energy Systems from the University of Bridgeport. An advocate for sustainable development, Matt has an extensive history of decarbonizing the economy while increasing client’s profitability and social responsibility. Matt believes that a sustainable and economically viable approach to infrastructure development is essential for humanity's future.
Matt Lima
Senior Director of Energy & Utility Programs
Mike Henrich
Senior Director of Project Management
Mike Henrich is Director of Project Management for Vanguard Building Solutions. Mike is responsible for project management oversight including, management, training and hiring of project management and operations support. In addition, Mike interacts with the engineering and sales teams to develop and deliver project specific solutions to VBS clients. Mike has over thirty years of ESCO and construction management experience. Mike has worked as Project Manager, Installation Manager and Operations Manager for major Mechanical Contractors, Controls Companies and Energy Savings Companies. Prior to working for VBS Mike was Operations Manager for both Johnson Controls and Energy Systems Group working exclusively on commercial and industrial opportunities. Mike was responsible for the successful delivery of approximately $150 million dollars in Performance Contracts, in PA and NJ. He has extensive experience developing and implementing Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) including solar, high efficiency boiler replacement, LED lighting retrofits, building envelope, combined heat and power, building management systems and HVAC retrofits. Mike attended Temple University and Spring Garden College and is LEED GA certified. Mike enjoys fitness and outdoor activities such as hiking. He participates in 5K and Tough Mudder events in support of the Wounded Warrior Project.
Mike Henrich
Senior Director of Project Management
Michel’le Forrest Akman
Regional Director Energy Services
Michel'le Forrest Akman is Director of Program Management for Vanguard Building Solutions. Michel'le is responsible for organizing programs and new initiatives, as well as project management and engineering assessments. She manages and develops project plans and budgets along with long-term goals for our clients and stakeholders. Michel'le brings a decade of project, facilities management and healthcare construction to our firm and supports the strategic vision of the organization. Michel’le has managed several FEMA and National Institute of Health grant backed projects at NYU Langone Health and is certified with the American Society of Healthcare Engineers. Michel'le has a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science at Columbia University and a Master of Urban Planning from NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. She has volunteered with IEEE Women in Engineering and Girl Scouts of America, is a member of the NYC chapter of Professional Women in Construction and is currently pursuing her Professional Engineering (PE) license in the State of New York.
Michel’le Forrest Akman
Senior Director of Project Development
Deena Sherman
Director of Operations
Deena’s has 25 years of experience in the non-profit sector where she was responsible for multiple function such as operations, finance and administration. Her expertise in building management was built overseeing multiple building and facilities spanning as large as 120 acres including varying projects. She has also supervised large staff managed complex budgets and her team approach has made her a successful leader in business. She received her M.S.W. in administration from the University of Pennsylvania and her B.A. from the University of Delaware.
Deena Sherman
Director of Operations
Graydon Braley
Director of Facility Services
As leader of the Facility Services Division at VBS, Graydon oversees the delivery of mechanical services to our clients. From routine preventive maintenance to demand service in emergency situations or special projects involving system upgrades and renovations, Vanguard Building Solutions has the capabilities to keep your building operating smoothly and economically. Graydon’s broad understanding of building mechanical systems comes from over thirty-five years of successful experience in the commercial and industrial construction industry, including project and service management, estimating and design/build engineering. He also has extensive experience in mechanical equipment and service sales. His experience managing large HVAC projects- including safety, training and transportation logistics includes projects in the $400K to $5 mil range. He has a degree in Engineering Physics from University of Maine.
Graydon Braley
Director of Facility Services
Steve Visnic
National Accounts Manager
Steve has over 11 years’ experience in the energy, performance contracting, project development and asset management industries, developing energy retrofit and infrastructure solutions. During Mr. Visnic’s career, he has been the lead for executed projects in healthcare, education, and other commercial projects totaling more than $50 Million. Steve Visnic was the lead in many projects including but not limited to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Equinox Gyms and Carlisle Construction Materials. Vanguard Building Solutions designed and acted as general contractor, facilitating sub-contractor relationships. Steve has also cultivated relationships positioning VBS as the preferred lighting designer and contractor for many other national clients. He also is responsible for maintaining and supporting Grainger’s national network of clients with turn-key energy efficiency solutions. Steve has worked with large ESCO’s including Johnson Controls, Honeywell, Energy Systems Group and Siemens. Mr. Visnic maintains active involvement in several community service organizations. He coaches girls’ softball and soccer teams. Mr. Visnic earned his bachelor’s degree in Sales and Marketing Management from the Pennsylvania State University.
Steve Visnic
National Accounts Manager
Chris Mazurek
National Director of Business Development
Chris Mazurek is a highly motivated result-oriented leader with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Construction Management Technology. He has over 30 years of design / build experience in a wide range of markets. He has a strong background in all phases of the building process. Has held position in preconstruction, project management, operation and business development in the private and public sectors and has been involved in constructing over 300 Million in projects across the US . Over the past 15 years his concentration has been in the sustainability, cardon reduction and energy conservation. Using his experience and creativity, Chris works with owners to develop a clear and achievable sustainability / energy management plan. VBS offers a turnkey approach, to its energy services, from the audit and building assessment process, engineering, development of the proforma, securing financing & rebates, design, implementation and commissioning.
Chris Mazurek
National Director of Business Development
Rubier Leger
Energy Advisor
Rubier is an Energy Advisor at Vanguard Building Solutions with over 10 years of experience in the energy efficiency industry. In this role, Rubier evaluates projects and reviews utility incentive programs on a national scale, ensuring that VBS captures and applies all available incentives for each project.
Rubier began his career 11 years ago as a direct installer for the PECO Smart Ideas program. Since then, he has steadily advanced into multiple roles while working for several energy efficiency program implementers, including Franklin Energy and CMC Energy Services.
Rubier currently holds multiple certifications, such as the BPI certification and EPA universal certification, and plans to obtain his CEM certification in the near future.
Rubier Leger
Energy Advisor
Darrin Scardelli
Director, Energy Services
Darrin Scardelli, LC, is the Director, Energy Services at Vanguard Building Solutions (VBS). Darrin packages together various types of energy reduction methods to provide the customer with the best overall project designed to not only target customer requests but to satisfy customer’s financial goals. Darrin has worked as an energy engineer for his entire career. His roots started with a role in a previous position which was heavily geared toward educational facilities where he engineered over 17 million dollars in that field alone. Since that time, he has moved on to engineer another 50+ million in various other high-profile projects in both the private and public sector. Darrin received a Bachelor of Science degree from Drexel University in Mechanical Engineering as well as a minor in business. He is Lighting Certified and has trained in a plethora of engineering focuses; including but not limited to, AGi32, AutoCad, and Solid Works.
Darrin Scardelli
Director, Energy Services
Gilberto Claudio III Gonzalez
Energy Engineer
Gilberto Claudio González III is an Energy Engineer at Vanguard Building Solutions (VBS). Gilberto works with different energy conservation measures to provide the client with 100% positive achievement on their project and financial goals. Gilberto has over 10 years of experience in the energy efficiency and renewable energy field and has worked as an energy engineer for his entire career. His career started with a project development role in which he helped the clients receive over 30 million dollars in state and federal incentives. Throughout his career, Gilberto has engineered over 60+ million dollars in projects, and over 100 million dollars in savings for different types of clients such as government, educational, institutional, healthcare among others. Gilberto received a Bachelor of Science degree from the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico in Mechanical Engineering. He is a Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Certified Measure and Verification Professional (CMVP). Gilberto is also registered as an EIT in Puerto Rico and New Jersey.
Gilberto Claudio III Gonzalez
Energy Engineer
Jill Salvato
Project Manager
Jill is a Project Manager for Vanguard Building Solutions. She brings over 10 years’ experience in the construction industry and spent a large part of her career overseeing HVAC projects with a large, regional heating and cooling company, overseeing projects as large as $4 million. Throughout her career, she has developed a comprehensive range of skills that helps clients build successful projects, including planning, organizing and overseeing projects from inception to completion.
Jill Salvato
Project Manager
Ryan Mitzel
Project Engineer
Ryan is a Project Engineer for Vanguard Building Solutions. He brings 5 years of experience in the retail building industry overseeing VFD installs, ReCx site visits, unused space energy reduction, and BAS and lighting control projects as large as $2 million. Through these energy savings projects he has engineered savings of over $1.3 million. He also has previous experience in the solar industry as a solar designer. Ryan has his Master of Science from SUNY Cortland in Sustainable Energy Systems and is a Certified Energy Manager (CEM) and LEED AP Operations + Maintenance certified.
Ryan Mitzel
Project Engineer
Rylee Kennedy
Marketing Coordinator
Rylee is the Marketing Coordinator at Vanguard Building Solutions. Skilled in graphic design, environmental education, and social media management, Rylee brings creativity and data-driven strategies to connect with diverse audiences.
Prior to joining Vanguard, Rylee served as the Marketing Program Assistant at the Maryland Clean Energy Center, where she assisted in promoting clean energy solutions to the State of Maryland. At the Chesapeake Bay Trust, she managed grant programs with over $90,000 in funding as a member of the Outreach & Education team.
With a Bachelor's in Geography & Environmental Studies from UMBC, Rylee has also worked with organizations like the Maryland Pesticide Education Network, Maryland Environmental Services, and the Maryland Agricultural Resource Council, where she gained hands on experience in environmental education and sustainable practice.
Rylee Kennedy
Marketing Coodinator
Karen Cosgrove
Office Manager
Karen has been the office manager at Vanguard Building Solutions for over 5 years. Her duties include customer service, human resources while she working across all business divisions with accounts receivable and accounts payable. Prior to joining the Vanguard team, she works in K-12 education in St. Louis.
Karen Cosgrove
Office Manager
Christina Colangelo
Client Coordinator
Christina serves are Vanguard’s Client Service Coordinator and is responsible for supporting our project management staff as well as maintaining direct communication between the company and our clients to ensure a seamless flow of project operations and logistics. Christina has over a decade managing and coordinating sales teams for the HVAC industry and also has previous experience in the food service industry. She has an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science.
Christina Colangelo
Operations Coordinator
Nichole Sauer
Project Accountant
Nichole Sauer is a Project Accountant at Vanguard Building Solutions. She has over 5 years of experience in Accounting and Finance. During this time, she has worked primarily in construction and manufacturing. She received her Associates of Applied Science in Accounting from North Idaho College in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. She is currently pursuing her BA, after taking a brief break to move across the country with her family.
Nichole Sauer
Project Accountant
Kim Jones
Office Manager & Accounting Administrator
Kim Jones
Office Manager & Accounting Administrator
Christie Abrams
Accounting Consultant
Christie joined the Vanguard Finance team as a consultant to focus on the accounting software implementation. She has over 20 years experience in the accounting field, with diverse public and private organizations. Prior to moving to consulting, she held the title of Director of Accounting at a private equity sponsored logistics company in Sarasota, FL. She now specializes in assisting organizations with process improvement and team development.
Christie received her Accounting degree from the University of South Florida and is also an active Florida CPA.
Christie Abrams
Accounting Consultant
Darrell Pray
Project Manager & Office Administrator
Darrell Pray
Project Manager & Office Administrator
At Vanguard Building Solutions, we pride ourselves on providing personalized support to all of our clients. Our team includes staff who speak a variety of languages, so we can connect with you in the way that feels most comfortable.
Our team includes staff who speak the following languages:
- Spanish
- Portuguese
- Hungarian
- Slovak