Team | Energy Circle, LLC

Team

Peter Troast's picture
Founder & CEO
David Puelle's picture
Creative Director
Abby Yolda's picture
Director of Solar and Digital Marketing Strategy [She/Her]
Ranganayaki Somaskandan's picture
Director of Web Development
Emily Ambrose's picture
Director of People Operations [She/Her]
Steve Kelly's picture
Director of Business Development
Cory Allyn's picture
Associate Director of Content & Strategy
Cara Auty's picture
Associate Director of Marketing Services [She/Her]
Cassandra Hutcheson's picture
Paid Search Manager
Jake Van Paepeghem's picture
Senior Media Producer
Shane Verville's picture
Technical Project Manager
Katie Wilson's picture
Digital Marketing Account Manager
Sarah Hammer's picture
Digital Marketing Account Manager
Trevor Williams's picture
Digital Marketing Account Manager
Ross Webber's picture
Digital Marketing Account Manager
Meghan Cook's picture
Digital Marketing Account Coordinator
Rachel Pierce's picture
Digital Marketing Account Coordinator
Byron Winslow's picture
Digital Marketing Account Coordinator
Emily Silverman's picture
Content Strategist
Bethany Violette's picture
Content Writer
Dora Leav's picture
Senior Paid Search Strategist
Adeyinka Haruna's picture
Paid Search Strategist
Laura P.'s picture
Technical Paid Search Strategist
Kristina Zbinden's picture
Associate Web Developer
Ben Lufuta's picture
Web Production Specialist
Carson Cutler's picture
Marketing Production Intern
Peter Troast's picture
Peter Troast
Founder & CEO

EC is led by its founder and CEO, Peter Troast. Peter is recognized as one of the country's foremost authorities on marketing for home performance, HVAC and other efficiency related contracting companies. He authors the widely-read Energy Circle blog and is a passionate advocate for the power of the whole house home performance business model. He and his team work with over 350 companies in 49 states grow their business through services like website design and development, search engine optimization, lead generation and strategic content production. He is a popular and high ranking speaker about marketing for contractors at ACI, RESNET, ACCA, BPI and EGIA conferences and events. For 2015, he received the Tony Woods Award for excellence in advancing the home performance industry.

David Puelle's picture
David Puelle
Creative Director

As a long term partner of Energy Circle, David has deep experience in the residential energy sector. He received his BFA from the Maine College of Art, where he is now an adjunct professor. As the founder of Via, a Portland-based marketing communications firm, David has a wealth of experience in developing brands and marketing strategies. He is passionate about energy efficiency and how he can deploy his love of information design to achieve exceptional adult learning experiences.

Abby Yolda's picture
Abby Yolda
Director of Solar and Digital Marketing Strategy [She/Her]

Abby joined the Energy Circle team in August 2018 and now heads up EC's solar team and is Director of Digital Marketing Strategy. Prior to moving to Maine, Abby was living and working abroad in London, UK. Coming from both an agency and not-for-profit background, she specializes in strategic and creative communications and marketing with experience across the energy, environment, and creative industries sectors (combining her loves of all things 'green' and art). Abby has a master's degree from the London School of Economics in public policy and applies this policy knowledge to help companies be successful in a policy-driven environment, especially when it comes to the Inflation Reduction Act and Net Metering. Although she grew up in Virginia, Abby is a New Englander at heart. She attended the University of Vermont and ultimately made the big move back across the pond to be closer to family in Vermont and New Hampshire as well as to dust off the skis. Outside of the office, you'll find Abby either out on a road trip adventure with her camera and dog Moss, restaurant hopping in Portland for the best cheese, oysters and gin cocktails, building Ikea furniture and picking out paint samples, or getting sucked into the latest true crime/cult/apocalypse podcast or mini-series.

Ranganayaki Somaskandan's picture
Ranganayaki Somaskandan
Director of Web Development

Ranganayaki joined Energy Circle as a Lead Developer working remotely from Stamford, CT. With a Bachelor's degree in Engineering and a passion for coding, she set out to explore open source technologies. She has worked as a freelancer in different roles that cover the entire software development life cycle. Her experience on a wide range of projects across various domains for non-profits, start-ups and e-commerce applications, helps her adapt to new challenges easily. She constantly tries to improve things and doesn't hesitate to break status quo. She is very interested in the latest technologies / features and looks out for ways to leverage those to the benefits of the firm / clients. In her personal time, you can find her experimenting new recipes and relaxing with family and friends.

Emily Ambrose's picture
Emily Ambrose
Director of People Operations [She/Her]

Emily returned to Maine in 2016 after nearly a decade living and working in the Finger Lakes region of New York, where she obtained her Master's degree from Cornell University. Beginning her career in hospitality marketing and events, Emily pivoted to account management in an agency setting, where her love for fostering professional growth and company culture gradually culminated in a human resources role. She is passionate about delivering excellence on behalf of Energy Circle's clients, as well as cultivating a holistic, humanist, and collaborative work environment. When not serving as Energy Circle's "Director of Vibes," Emily loves exploring the restaurant scene in Southern Maine and beyond, traveling to visit friends and family around the world, horseback riding, live music, and gossiping about pop culture minutae. She currently resides in Biddeford under the adorable tyrrany of her cat Maisy. 

Steve Kelly's picture
Steve Kelly
Director of Business Development

Steve joined Energy Circle in early 2022 as the Director of Business Development. Steve's been in sales and sales leadership roles for nearly twenty years, helping small to medium-sized businesses and organizations grow via digital and traditional marketing solutions, strategy, and branding. Most recently he led the business development efforts at a Maine-based digital marketing agency, growing annual revenue and expanding the client base in the dynamic e-commerce market. He brings over a decade of experience in publishing, where he led the growth of an organization from start-up to one of the most successful regional publications in New England, earning recognition on the Inc. 5000 list as one of Maine's fastest growing companies. Steve is recognized by colleagues and clients as possessing a high level of integrity, creativity, efficiency, and adaptability. Steve lives in Freeport with his wife, son, and their beloved greyhound. When he's not helping grow the better building industry, he can be found running a network of area trails, collecting and listening to vinyl records, devouring audiobooks, or tackling a myriad of home projects.

Cory Allyn's picture
Cory Allyn
Associate Director of Content & Strategy

Cory has been with Energy Circle since 2019. Previous jobs include small town newspaper reporter and science fiction book editor. In 2021 he and his wife sold their old Maine farmhouse and moved to Los Angeles, where they now subsist largely on tacos and sunshine.

Cara Auty's picture
Cara Auty
Associate Director of Marketing Services [She/Her]

A native Vermonter, Cara started her tenure at Energy Circle in the summer of 2018 after relocating back East from Colorado. Cara's love for marketing and her well-diversified background in the industry was sparked in the early days of her career through her positions in a publishing company and travel website. She lives outside of Portland, Maine with her husband, daughter, and their silly Vizsla named Tractor. Cara loves enjoying the fresh Maine air, a good hiking trail, and is a certified sound healing practitioner. She can often be found practicing yoga and soaking up the sun on the many Maine beaches and lakes.

Cassandra Hutcheson's picture
Cassandra Hutcheson
Paid Search Manager

Cassandra has joined Energy Circle as a Paid Search Strategist. She has a bachelor's degree in Political Science. She has over 10 years experience in client services including banking, insurance and PPC. She developed her PPC knowledge in Boston while working with a large agency that specialized in PPC optimization. While working in Boston she optimized PPC accounts for a variety of industries from all around the world. When she is not managing PPC, she loves spending time with her partner, her dog Winston and her cat Yeezy. She also enjoys playing fantasy football and rooting for her favorite team, the New England Patriots.

Jake Van Paepeghem's picture
Jake Van Paepeghem
Senior Media Producer

Jake is a recent transplant to Maine, moving all the way from Boise, Idaho. A lifelong musician, Jake studied Guitar Performance at Boise State University before traveling as a professional touring guitarist. Along his travels Jake fell in love with Portland, as well as the many facets of content creation. Jake's introduction into the marketing world was with video production, something he still works on in addition to writing content for Energy Circle. He lives in Portland with his wife (a native Mainer) and collie-lab mix (who frequents the office), and still plays music regularly.

Shane Verville's picture
Shane Verville
Technical Project Manager

Born and raised in Maine, Shane grew up with a love for nature. An avid hiker, he has seen the tops of many mountains in the Northeast with his family and friends. It was this love for the environment that prompted Shane to shift away from a traditional reporting career after graduating from the University of Maine with a journalism degree, and into an environmentally-conscious marketing world. At Energy Circle, Shane is responsible for marketing production, leading our online support center (support circle) and assisting in in-house marketing team projects. When he’s not working, Shane is an avid sports fan (football, baseball, basketball and hockey), writer (creative works) and movie geek.

Jacqueline Goodwin Schlotterbeck's picture
Jacqueline Goodwin Schlotterbeck
Project Manager

After a decade away from New England, Jackie relocated to Portland from Nashville and joined the Energy Circle team as a project manager in 2024. Originally from Connecticut, she has a BA in Environmental Studies and a Certificate in Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship from Dickinson College. Prior to working at EC, Jackie worked on corporate sustainability efforts, advocated for the B Corporation movement through B Tennessee, had a stint as a freelance writer, and worked in the development office of a DC museum. She's also an accredited LEED Green Associate and studied sustainable design in Copenhagen.

Jackie's spare time is spent exploring Maine's outdoors with her husband and pup Piper Mae. You might find her rock climbing, perusing a local bookstore, or checking a new National Park off her list.

Katie Wilson's picture
Katie Wilson
Digital Marketing Account Manager

Katie joined the Energy Circle team as a Marketing Production Associate in 2021. After spending a few years in the non-profit and progressive political organizing realm(s), she was ready to embark on a new journey in digital marketing and found Energy Circle to be a wonderful fit. Katie graduated from St. Lawrence University in 2018 and relocated to Portland two weeks after; she's since fallen in love with the small city, despite her disdain for lobster. When she isn't working, she can most often be found perusing the stacks of local bookstores or atop one of the White Mountains.

Sarah Hammer's picture
Sarah Hammer
Digital Marketing Account Manager

After graduating from The Ohio State University, Sarah began her career in the financial industry as a marketer working for some of the leading data verification companies. Her time in the financial industry gave her a diverse background in marketing and taught her how to find creative solutions as well as develop strong and successful marketing strategies. She joined Energy Circle in 2023 as a Digital Marketing Account Manager working primarily with home performance and solar companies. She is passionate about making sure clients understand their specific marketing strategy and feel they are part of the process and team.

She moved to Maine in 2019 with her husband because of his love for the mountains and her love for the ocean, but mainly because of their shared love for any outdoor activity and seafood. Outside of work, you are most likely to find Sarah with her dog Bella on a paddle board, hiking, skiing, or soaking up the sun at the beach.

Trevor Williams's picture
Trevor Williams
Digital Marketing Account Manager

Trevor joined Energy Circle in July 2023 looking for a way to combine his passion for sustainability with his experience in digital marketing. Born in Connecticut, Trevor spent most of his career as a teacher in Maryland before moving to beautiful Portland, Maine. With a background in music, he began working in PR and digital marketing in the music industry. When he’s not being a digital marketing nerd or a music nerd, he’s spending time by the ocean, playing D&D, or thinking about names for his future dog.

Ross Webber's picture
Ross Webber
Digital Marketing Account Manager

Born and raised in England, Ross came to Maine on a Work America program in 2014 and never looked back: eventually emigrating and moving back to the state that introduced him to the USA in 2020.

Ross joined Energy Circle in 2024 with a passion for employee led workplaces, and creating relationships led by respect and passion. In his free time, Ross is entirely devoted to soccer. You can find him covering Reading FC on podcasts or video, coaching Portland's next generation for PAYSA, or organizing and playing his own matches and tourneys!

Meghan Cook's picture
Meghan Cook
Digital Marketing Account Coordinator

Raised in Berkshire County in Massachusetts, Meg joined the Energy Circle team in early 2022. A Portland transplant, Meg relocated to Portland to begin her digital marketing career. After earning her B.A. in Political Science and Public Policy at MCLA, Meg worked in the banking industry in her hometown and found her niche in marketing when she began working on social media marketing for the bank, deciding to pivot to the digital marketing sector. Outside of the office you can find Meg working her way through Portland's endless restaurants and breweries and enjoying the city's music scene.

Rachel Pierce's picture
Rachel Pierce
Digital Marketing Account Coordinator

Rachel moved to Portland from Texas in July of 2022. Her time in the South was spent receiving a B.A. degree in Mass Communications with a minor in Graphic Design, working for the marketing department at a global manufacturing company, and teaching history to middle school students. Most of her free time is now spent eating her way through Portland's many restaurants, frequenting free events, and searching for the next jaw-dropping view. Although Maine winters will be quite the adjustment, Rachel is excited to bundle up and try her hand at snow activities like cross country skiing!

Byron Winslow's picture
Byron Winslow
Digital Marketing Account Coordinator

A native of "The County", after graduating from the University of Maine with a B.A. in Communication, Byron made the jump in late 2022 joining the Energy Circle team in the big city of Portland. Byron brings his skills of digital marketing, event planning, copywriting and marketing strategy to his role as a Digital Marketing Account Coordinator. You might see Byron in the wild at the local arcade playing classic arcade games or rhythm games where he can be seen dancing with his friends. He also can be spotted pondering where the best pizza and ramen shop can be found in the area. Byron is a bit of an athlete and is always doing something to stay active from tennis and soccer on the weekend to biking on his way to work.

Emily Silverman's picture
Emily Silverman
Content Strategist

Emily has many years of experience as a content writer and strategist in the better building industry. She joined the Energy Circle team in 2020 after spending some time working as a freelance writer while traveling through Southeast Asia. She's now living in Florida and is a remote member of the EC team. She's passionate about clean energy and hopes to live in a fully solar-powered home one day. When she's not writing about energy efficiency and renewable energy, you can find her at the thrift store digging for funky home decor and vintage clothing.

Bethany Violette's picture
Bethany Violette
Content Writer

Bethany Violette has over a decade of experience in entrepreneurship, branding, and marketing. She has been a founding member of two craft breweries, one in Tennessee and the other in Vietnam, where she wore many creative hats as the Brand Manager. Now in Maine, Bethany plans to reconnect with nature and build an energy efficient home with her family. She enjoys a plethora of hobbies and can often be found stuck in a fantasy novel, playing video games, or doing crafts with her daughter.

Dora Leav's picture
Dora Leav
Senior Paid Search Strategist

Dora joined Energy Circle's marketing team in 2018, as a Paid Search Strategist. She has worked in the digital marketing industry for over a decade, and has specifically focused on paid search strategy and creative management of clients large and small since 2011. Dora moved to Maine that same year, having visited Portland in the depths of winter, only to fall in love and make it her home. Since then, she's had the great pleasure of working alongside some of Maine's best and brightest, as well as taking in the restaurant scene, finding the best local bookstores, and adopting a small menagerie of animals.

Adeyinka Haruna's picture
Adeyinka Haruna
Paid Search Strategist

Ade joined the Energy Circle team in March 2021. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, where he gained his Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, it only took one marketing job to realize his true love is digital marketing. He uses his passion for solving complex math equations to make data-driven marketing decisions. At Energy Circle, Ade is a PPC Strategist, helping clients achieve their marketing goals with Google and Bing Ads. He is also a member of the US Air Force Reserves. During his spare time, Ade loves watching and playing soccer, playing Scrabble, or bowling with his friends.

Laura P.'s picture
Laura P.
Technical Paid Search Strategist

Laura joined the Energy Circle team in 2021 as a Paid Search Strategist. Having worked in digital marketing for over 12 years in various roles and in various industries she discovered her true talent lies within the paid search realm. After living in Venice Beach, California for the last 13 years, she recently relocated to Maine to be closer to family. When she's not digging into data, Laura enjoys board games, experimenting with new recipes, discovering new restaurants, and enjoying all the outdoor activities New England has to offer.

Kristina Zbinden's picture
Kristina Zbinden
Associate Web Developer

Kristina joined the team in July 2022, when her love of coding and sustainability led her to Energy Circle. She made the move from West to East coast two years ago, and is happy to now call Portland, Maine, home. With a professional background rooted in the arts, media marketing, and web development, she strives to bring a creative perspective to each technical challenge. When she's not at her computer, Kristina enjoys visiting Portland's beaches, biking its trails, and pinning places on the map to explore next.

Ben Lufuta's picture
Ben Lufuta
Web Production Specialist

Ben moved to Portland, Maine in 2017 from Kinshasa, D.R.Congo and is happy to say that Portland feels like home to him now. Prior to joining EC, he worked in human services helping people who were in crisis or unhoused. Ben joined Energy Circle in 2024 as a Web Production Specialist, bringing his skills and passion for technology to the team. He's currently pursuing a Bachelor's in Computer Science at the University of Southern Maine, driven by his fascination with programming and its endless possibilities.

Beyond his professional pursuits, Ben's heart belongs to football—though he'll humor the locals by referring to it as soccer. When he's not immersed in programming or cheering on his favorite teams, Ben cherishes the peaceful vibes of Portland's scenic East End, enjoying being close to the ocean with his wife and son.

Carson Cutler's picture
Carson Cutler
Marketing Production Intern

Born in Boston, Carson moved to Vermont when he was only seven and grew interested in sustainability and renewable energy throughout his high school career. Carson studies at Fordham University in The Bronx, NY, and is working towards a degree in Communications and Marketing. Outside school and work, you can find Carson playing golf, sitting in nature, or looking for the next best restaurant.

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