Your World Class Renewable Energy Development Partner

Mike Weich is a Co-Founder and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for VIP. Prior to VIP Mike served as Vice President of M&A and Development at Omega Energia, Director of Renewable Development at NextEra Energy Resources, and Assistant Vice President at Bank of America. Additionally, Mike served as an Infantry officer in the United States Army and deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to Afghanistan in 2013.

Mike graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and holds an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. Mike also completed Executive Education in Leadership and Negotiations at Harvard University.

Mike and his family live in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The Weich’s love the outdoors and spend their weekends enjoying the numerous activities that make South Florida a great home.

Daryl Hart is a Co-Founder and the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for VIP. Prior to VIP, Daryl served as Vice President of Utility Scale Development at Borrego Solar, Director of Renewable Development at NextEra Energy Resources, and Director of Development at NextEra Energy Transmission. Prior to entering the private sector, Daryl served as an Intelligence officer in the United States Air Force from 1997-2007.

Daryl graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a BS in Electrical Engineering and holds an MBA from Auburn University (Montgomery) and a Master of Finance from Penn State University. Daryl also completed Executive Education in Leadership and Negotiations at Harvard University.

Daryl and his wife Kathy live in Jupiter, Florida and they enjoy spending time with their grown daughters. When not visiting family, Daryl enjoys hiking, cycling, and attending Miami Dolphins football games.

Ivan Zyla is a Co-Founder and the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) for VIP. Prior to VIP, Ivan served as Vice President of Origination at Omega Energia, Vice President of Commercial Development at Advanced Power, and Director of Origination at Emera Energy and First Wind. Ivan started his energy career on the banking side, having previously worked for Citigroup and Morgan Stanley.

Ivan graduated with a M.S. in Finance from Boston College and a B.S. in Economics from Carnegie Mellon University. Ivan is also a CFA charterholder.

Born and raised in Texas, Ivan now lives in the Boston area with his wife and two kids and enjoys spending his free time outdoors, cooking and traveling.

Goga joined Pelion Green Future in 2022 as a Partner and Head of the Americas. Based in New York, she oversees the Group’s investment and growth activities in the Americas.

Goga is Founder and Managing Partner at Avente Capital Management, a real estate investment firm, and previously was an Investment Professional at Eton Park Capital Management, a multi-billion dollar, multi-strategy hedge fund. She holds an A.B. from Princeton University, J.D. from Harvard Law School and MBA from Harvard Business School.

Jeremias founded Pelion Green Future together with Alexander Samwer. Having led large renewable energy and real estate investments in Europe within his function as founder of several companies in this space, he brings a lot of infrastructure expertise to our team.

Prior to that, he gathered practical experience in the consulting, construction and infrastructure industry. Jeremias graduated from the Technical University of Munich with a master’s degree in Civil Engineering and Business Administration.

Cooper joined Pelion Green Future in April 2023 as a Senior Investment Associate. He is based in New York, where he manages Pelion’s relationships with North American partners, conducts investment diligence for new Americas opportunities, and contributes to Pelion’s global financial analysis and portfolio reporting processes.

Cooper has worked in infrastructure private equity, venture capital, development banking, and energy markets consulting. He holds a BA from Northwestern University with majors in Economics and Environmental Sciences and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he was an Arjay Miller Scholar.

Josh Akers is a Project Director for VIP. He is an experienced land professional with over 14 years of experience in the energy industry, including 10 years focused on renewable energy development. As Project Director at Valor Infrastructure Partners, Josh is responsible for land acquisition strategy and execution for wind, solar, and battery storage projects.

Throughout his career, Josh has been instrumental in developing 2 GW of constructed wind farms and developing a +4 GW greenfield pipeline of renewable energy projects. He specializes in land acquisition, project management, leasing, title, due diligence and building lasting relationships with landowners and community stakeholders throughout MISO and SPP.

Prior to joining Valor, Josh held vital roles at NextEra Energy, where he managed leasing acquisition campaigns throughout the Midwest. Prior to that he operated his own company in the traditional energy sector working side by side with landowners and HESS Corporation.

Josh holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Dakota. His diverse background spanning both traditional and renewable energy sectors gives him unique insight into the evolving landscape of energy infrastructure development.

Born and raised in North Dakota, Josh and his family now live in Northern Minnesota. They enjoy everything outdoors but especially spending time with family fishing for walleyes, hunting waterfowl and big game.

Matthew Aloi is Director of Finance for Valor Infrastructure Partners (VIP) where he is responsible for corporate and project finance workstreams. Matt worked in private equity and investment banking for ten years where he acted as investor, financial advisor, or lender in the North American infrastructure market. He worked on project and corporate transactions that included large projects such as roads, water treatment, telecommunications, and energy infrastructure. He also worked for ten years in engineering and operations in the manufacturing and finance sectors.

Matt has a BS in Mechanical Engineering, MS in Systems Engineering, and an MBA specializing in finance and management.

Katherine Baken serves as the Business Manager at Valor Infrastructure Partners in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. With over two decades of experience in equities and investment banking, she’s now transitioning her expertise to the renewable energy sector, driven by a passion for sustainability and environmental conservation.

Prior to joining Valor, Katherine was the COO of Equities at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, where she led teams and drove strategic initiatives. Her extensive background spans equity research, capital markets, and team management, making her a respected leader in her field.

Outside of work, Katherine enjoys Florida’s lifestyle with her family. She’s an active member of Impact the Palm Beaches, a women’s philanthropic organization supporting local non-profits. When time allows, she volunteers with Team Rubicon, assisting communities in disaster recovery efforts.

Michael Blevins is the Director of Prospecting, bringing 28 years of GIS expertise to the role. With 18 years in state and local government and over a decade in renewable energy, he combines practical experience with advanced education. Michael holds a Bachelor’s in Urban Design from Florida Atlantic University and a Master’s in Sustainable Renewable Energy. He is currently pursuing an EdD in Learning and Organizational Change at Baylor University.

Certified in Climate Mitigation and Adaptation from the University of South Florida, Michael leverages GIS and drone technology to enhance agricultural practices and environmental monitoring. A United States Marine Corps veteran, he actively participates in the Veterans Farmers Coalition, American Legion, and Marine Corps League.

When not advancing his professional pursuits, Michael enjoys mountain biking, road cycling, and Harley rides with his fiancé. He’s an avid traveler and a soon-to-be grandfather.

Ryan Kelly is a seasoned land professional with over 18 years of experience in the energy industry, including 10 years focused on renewable energy development. As Project Director at Valor Infrastructure Partners, Ryan is responsible for land acquisition strategy and execution for wind, solar, and battery storage projects.

Throughout his career, Ryan has been instrumental in developing more than 2 GW of constructed renewable energy projects. He specializes in land acquisition, leasing, due diligence for mergers and acquisitions, and building relationships with landowners and community stakeholder.

Prior to joining Valor, Ryan held key roles at major energy companies including NextEra Energy Resources and Clearway Energy, where he led leasing and acquisition efforts across the West and Midwest. His earlier experience in oil and gas with companies like Chesapeake Energy and Energy Transfer provided a strong foundation in mineral leasing, title work, and site acquisition.

Ryan holds a bachelor’s degree from Texas Christian University. His diverse background spanning both traditional and renewable energy sectors gives him unique insight into the evolving landscape of energy infrastructure development.

Kristie McChord serves as the Director of Development at Valor Infrastructure Partners (VIP). Before joining VIP, she spent nearly a decade at NextEra Energy Resources, where she held various roles across Marketing & Communications, Integrated Supply Chain, Business Management, and Utility Scale Development. Kristie transitioned from NextEra to work with co-founder Daryl Hart at Borrego Solar, focusing on Utility Scale Development.

Kristie earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language and Literature from the State University of New York at Fredonia. Kristie resides in northern Colorado with her husband Sean, and they spend as many weekends in the mountains as possible, hiking, skiing, and exploring.

Thomas Mickel joined Valor Infrastructure Partners as the Director of Land Services shortly after the company’s founding. With over 19 years of experience in the energy sector, Thomas has developed extensive expertise in land acquisition and project management.

Prior to his current position, Thomas spent 7 years at NextEra Energy Resources as a Land Services Supervisor overseeing acquisition efforts for projects in the upper Midwest and Southeastern United States. His energy career also includes experience developing projects in the oil and gas industry for several companies including BP, Continental Resources, and Chesapeake Energy.

Thomas began his career as a carpenter at his stepfather’s shop in Louisiana which instilled a solid work ethic and appreciation for seeing a project through to completion. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Anthony Rotar is a Project Development Manager at Valor Infrastructure Partners (VIP). Prior to joining VIP, Anthony had a distinguished 13-year career in the United States Army, where he served primarily in various roles with the elite 75th Ranger Regiment based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state.

Anthony holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington, and a Master of Public Policy (MPP) from the University of Massachusetts. His educational background, combined with his military experience, has equipped him with valuable skills in leadership, strategic planning, and project management.

Currently residing in Cleveland, Ohio with his wife Christine, Anthony maintains an active lifestyle outside of work. The couple enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, paddling, and cycling. They also frequently travel to the western United States, taking advantage of opportunities to explore the region’s natural beauty.

Aaqib Syed is a dedicated Project Developer for Valor Infrastructure Partners (VIP), overseeing the Western and ERCOT regions. He joined the team in October 2023 after serving five years as an Infantry Officer in the US Army, where he developed strong leadership and problem-solving skills.

Aaqib graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature. This unique background allows him to approach projects with both analytical and creative perspectives.

Living in Colorado Springs, CO, Aaqib is passionate about distance running and trains year-round. In his free time, he enjoys outdoor activities such as rafting, fishing, and skiing, making the most of the beautiful Colorado landscape.