About Sunrise Energy Ventures
Sunrise Energy Ventures is a solar energy development company bringing high-quality solar energy to communities across the United States. We offer vast expertise, industry knowledge, and business acumen to build and deliver solar energy projects that provide communities a sustainable source of clean energy and investors a viable and high-value asset providing a meaningful and stable return on investment.
The success of our many projects is a result of our ability to work effectively with a range of valued stakeholders – from landowners to zoning authorities to utilities. Our trust-based and collaborative relationships ensure the best, highest quality solar projects that deliver clean energy for decades to come.
Our Mission
We develop EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY SOLAR INSTALLATIONS that provide communities with clean, affordable energy and investors with a steady and significant return on their investment.
Values + Ethics
Our relationships are based on TRUST, created and built over our many years in the energy business. EVERYTHING WE DO is guided by values and ethics that are the foundation of our business, our history and our future:
We are honest,
transparent and ethical
We are respectful
of others
We follow all laws
and regulations
We fulfill our
business commitments
Leadership
Dean Leischow
Chief Executive Officer
Dean Leischow, Chief Executive Officer, has served in the energy business for over 30 years. Previous to focusing his work on energy production, Mr. Leischow has worked for Fortune 100 companies in energy efficiency and process management and was a pioneer in the performance contracting business.
Joe Tierney
Vice President, Business Development
Joe Tierney, Vice President, Business Development, has over 8 years of experience in solar development and energy management. With a background in physics and economics, Mr. Tierney brings both practical experience and intellectual command to each project under development at Sunrise Energy Ventures.
Michael Cathcart
VP, Community Solar
Michael Cathcart has over 4 years of solar development experience and manages the development of community solar projects. With a background of 10 years of marketing and business development experience, he brings strategic thinking to the Sunrise Energy Ventures team.
He has supported the development of over 150MW of solar with a strong focus on community solar. He has been responsible for new market development, project management, due diligence, land acquisition, and permitting during his time at Sunrise.
Michael holds an MBA from the University of St. Thomas and a BS in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Joel Cipcic
VP, EPC
Joel Cipcic is an experienced project developer and seasoned EPC veteran having built over 500mw’s of distributed and utility scale solar power generating assets and over 700mw’s of wind assets in his 13 years in the renewable energy industry.
Joel has over 20 years of construction and operations expertise in the Utility Electric Power industry. He is well versed in selling, developing, estimating, and constructing electric utility infrastructure with emphasis in solar power, wind generation, substation, and transmission line facilities.
Joel has built and led EPC teams at MasTec Energy, Quanta Services, and REC Solar/Duke Energy to name a few. Joel Cipcic is a multi-state licensed Unlimited General Contractor, that leads the EPC services of Sunrise.
Dawn Arnold
Director Key Accounts
Dawn Arnold, Director Key Accounts, has a passion for helping others and providing a great customer experience. She has served in the utility industry for over 30 years supporting the Tennessee Valley Authority and the local power companies in the seven state TVA service area.
She is excited to continue her work with the local power companies, partnering with Sunrise to generate clean affordable energy to those living in the valley. She strives to serve others, build and maintain relationships through respect, integrity, and communication.
Dawn has a BS in Computer Science and minors in Aerospace and Mathematics. She also completed the Emerging Leaders program offered by TVA and the Vanderbilt Owen School of Business.
Kshitij Chopra
Design Support Specialist
Kshitij Chopra has over 4 years of experience in business development, techno-economic analysis, and design of renewable energy assets of over 1 GW including solar, storage, and green hydrogen. He also has about 7+ years of experience in research and development of novel technologies in the domains of energy harvesting, smart grids, and energy storage which have resulted in over a dozen publications and patents which are published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at flagship conferences of IEEE Tencon and UKsim, Cambridge University.
Kshitij has interdisciplinary expertise in domains of electrical engineering, statistical modelling, strategic management, and finance. Previously, as a graduate researcher he worked on various energy storage technologies, their applications, and failure mechanisms including Li-ion and NiMH batteries. Kshitij has completed MS in Energy Systems from Northeastern University, MBA (with specialization in Finance) and B. Tech in Electronics and Communication from Amity University. As a Design Support Specialist, Kshitij brings critical thinking, problem solving, and innovation to the Sunrise Energy Ventures team.
Emily Cattoor
Controller
Emily Cattoor graduated from the University of St.Thomas with a bachelor’s degree in business, majoring in accounting. She began her career in public accounting at Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, focusing on small to mid-size private and public companies across various industries. Emily is a certified public accountant in the state of Minnesota. After leaving public accounting, Emily went to work in public and private industries where she specialized in providing positive leadership, gaining operational efficiencies and financial reporting. Emily has over 15 years of experience within accounting and finance while also leading and supporting critical initiatives across human resources, IT and Operations.
In her spare time, Emily enjoys practicing yoga, golfing, and spending time with her husband and four children.
Angie Schreiner
Executive Assistant
Angie Schreiner has been an Executive Assistant/Office Manager for Sunrise Energy since its inception in 2009. She has been working in the field of solar development and energy management for the past 15 years. She provides administrative support to the CEO, COO, VPs, and Controller as well manages the company’s human resources.
Prior to joining Sunrise, Angie was a Legal and Marketing Assistant for Senior Shareholder Attorneys in workers’ compensation insurance defense for 12 years. Given her extensive experience, Angie brings a high level of integrity and discretion in handling confidential information and professionalism in working with senior executives.