Who We are

Driven by passion, honed by experience.

Open Road Renewables boasts one of the most experienced team of developers in the country, directly responsible for development of a total of over 1.9 GWs of renewable energy projects currently under construction or operating and over 5 GWs more under development from Maryland to Texas.

Members of our team have been involved in some of the most challenging and exciting renewable energy projects in the United States, including the largest solar project of its kind in the state of Maryland, the first utility-scale solar project to go through permitting in Ohio, dozens of solar projects from California to Maryland, and enough wind and solar generation capacity to power hundreds of thousands of homes.

Our team was founded by three industry veterans with extensive experience in project development, power marketing, permitting, electrical interconnection, and finance, and has since grown to include a small team of highly motivated industry professionals.

 Our team

Cyrus Tashakkori

President

  • Cyrus Tashakkori is a renewable energy industry veteran with over a decade of experience in all stages of project development across the U.S. At Open Road, Cyrus has overseen the development of a substantial portfolio of solar and battery storage projects totaling over 6 GW under development across the mid-Atlantic. Prior to co-founding Open Road Renewables, Cyrus successfully led the solar development business at Pioneer Green Energy where he managed development of hundreds of MWs of successful solar PV projects from Kern County, CA to Somerset County, MD. Cyrus previously worked as a solar and wind project developer at E.ON Climate & Renewables and Airtricity. Cyrus is a graduate of UNC Asheville and received his MBA from UT Austin’s McCombs Business School and his MPAff from the LBJ School of Public Affairs.

David Savage

Senior Vice President

  • David Savage is an experienced developer with particular experience in permitting and the natural resources aspects of energy generation. Prior to joining Open Road, David co-founded and served on the Board of Managers of Pioneer Green Energy. He worked on some of Pioneer Green’s most complex projects and was one of the lead developers on its 300 MW Green Pastures wind project. David formerly was a partner with an Am Law 100 law firm focusing on project permitting, regulatory compliance and renewable energy and a lawyer with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He is a graduate of UNC Chapel Hill and the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Mike Volpe

Senior Vice President

  • Mike Volpe is a renewable energy industry expert with more than a decade of experience spanning customer origination, project development, and finance. Mike focuses on project and market development initiatives at Open Road. Prior to Open Road, Mike served as the PJM Director at SunEdison focused on ground- mounted solar projects. Mike began his career in the power sector at General Electric selling wind, gas, and steam turbines to renewable energy developers and electric utilities. Mike holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from Vanderbilt University and a Master of Business Administration from Stanford University.

Doug Herling

Vice President

  • Doug Herling is a developer experienced in project origination, land acquisition, community relations, and permitting. At Open Road, Doug manages the development of solar projects in Ohio, including the now operational 200 MW Hillcrest Solar Project and soon-to-be operational 150 MW Willowbrook Solar Project. Prior to joining Open Road, Doug worked for Pioneer Green Energy, leading the development of the 300 MW Prairie Hill Wind Farm and supporting development activities on additional operating wind and solar projects. Doug holds a B.A. in Geology from Colgate University and received his MBA from the University of Texas McCombs School of Business.

Rebecca Maag

Vice President & General Counsel

  • Rebecca is an attorney with more than ten years of experience working for companies in the clean energy sector. With degrees from The University of North Carolina and The University of Texas School of Law, Rebecca serves the company in both a business and legal capacity. She works on every project in Open Road's portfolio, and she manages legal and transactional matters for the company. Prior to joining Open Road, Rebecca served as Vice President and General Counsel of Pioneer Green Energy.

Catherine Cox

Director of Business Operations

  • Catherine Cox is a seasoned professional with many years of experience in the renewable energy and environmental sectors. Catherine directs Open Road’s operations and provides support for project development and transaction efforts. Prior to Open Road, she worked as a paralegal in various fields of law including environmental, corporate, litigation and real estate. Catherine has a degree in International Business from Texas State University.

Patrick Buckley

Vice President, Development

  • Patrick boasts over a decade of experience in the development and permitting of large renewable energy projects across the country. He permitted over 400MW of solar projects in Virginia over the last four years and currently manages the development of several solar projects in OH. Prior to joining Open Road, Patrick led the development of several complex wind and solar PV projects from California to Alabama while at Pioneer Green Energy. Patrick is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and received his MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Craig Adair

Vice President, Development

  • Craig Adair is a developer with significant experience in all stages of utility-scale project development and manages development of numerous Open Road solar projects in Maryland, Virginia, and Texas. Prior to joining Open Road, Craig was a Development Manager at Pioneer Green Energy and played key roles in the successful development of 700 MW of now operating wind projects. Previously Craig was Chief of Staff to a leading member of the Texas House of Representatives where he worked extensively on energy and environmental policy. Craig holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University and Masters of Public Affairs and Latin American Studies from the University of Texas.

Ryan Gilchrist

Vice President, Development

  • Ryan Gilchrist has spent the past decade of his career in the renewable energy industry in roles focused on project development, acquisitions, and policy. Ryan leads development of Open Road’s projects in Virginia. Prior to joining Open Road, Ryan worked for Orsted, leading the development of solar and wind projects throughout the mid-Atlantic and Texas. Ryan holds a B.A. in Physics and a B.A. in Environmental Science from the University of Virginia.

Samantha Sawmiller

Director of Development

  • Samantha Sawmiller grew up on a small farm in Southwest Ohio where her parents still live. She is an OIF Marine Corps Veteran. After being discharged honorably from active service, she studied at the Ohio State University and graduated with a BS in Environmental Policy. She also holds an MPA from the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs at Ohio University. Samantha has been an advocate for Ohio’s military personnel and veterans in her personal and professional life, having worked as a State Military and Veteran Liaison for a United States Senator. Samantha joined the Open Road team in 2019.

Jason Smith

Manager of Public Affairs

  • Jason is a seasoned professional with a background in communications, public policy, and community engagement. Prior to joining Open Road Renewables, Jason has worked on a range of important issues such as utility and consumer protection for Ohio senior citizens and successfully advocated for economic development laws to promote renewable and advanced energy projects. Jason leads the team’s community engagement and communications for the Grange Solar project in Logan County, Ohio.

Dan Cech

Manager of Public Relations

  • Dan Cech is a public affairs specialist with over 10 years of experience working for the Ohio state legislature in roles involving public/private partnerships. Dan has extensive experience in policy and data analysis, and has utilized this experience in local coalition building in areas throughout the state of Ohio. Dan joined Open Road to develop meaningful community relations and to act as a resource for local leaders and concerned citizens.

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