Team Leaders

Prism Engineering's staff provide clients with reliable service, uncompromising standards, and meticulous attention to project details. Our success is based on the technical excellence and commitment of our team - every member is dedicated to providing the highest quality of service and building strong client relationships.

With a focus on providing a positive working environment, we support our employees’ efforts to develop both personally and professionally. For more information about our team, see the brief biographies of some of our senior members below. For information on joining our team, see our Employment section.

Team Leaders

 

Robert GreenwaldROBERT GREENWALD,
P. Eng., MBA -- Principal and President

Robert Greenwald has a passion for energy management. His unbridled enthusiasm for helping organizations save energy and reduce their environmental impact has served Robert and the firm's clients well since he joined Prism Engineering as a recent graduate of the University of Waterloo in 1991. Four years later he became a principal of the firm and has served as its President since 2005.

"One of the most personally satisfying aspects of working in the energy management sector is looking back on a project and seeing the quantifiable impact we have had on our client's profitability and on the environment. I also love to hear from participants in the workshops we deliver, who share their newfound excitement about improving energy efficiency in their own organizations. In those moments, it becomes very clear that we do make a difference; that we are part of the solution."
-- Robert Greenwald

Over the course of his first two decades in the industry, Robert has conducted hundreds of energy audits, assessed countless energy management opportunities, developed dozens of high-level Energy Management Plans, and facilitated the design, specification and implementation of scores of building retrofits. As well, Robert helped generate Prism's Utility Monitoring and Analysis (PUMA) database to allow businesses and government agencies to better track and tame utility costs. He has also taken on the key role of Energy Coach for several clients to support and sustain their organizational energy management programs.

Robert's excitement for this industry is perhaps most apparent when he is developing and delivering energy management training. Since 2000, he has produced and presented over 200 (and counting) energy management workshops to a variety of commercial and industrial sectors. Robert is proud to have conducted training on behalf of leading organizations and utilities including BC Hydro, BCIT, the Building Owners and Managers Association of BC (BOMA BC), Manitoba Hydro, and NRCan's Office of Energy Efficiency. In 2010, he helped launch BOMA's e-Energy training for Building Operations, an on-line training course which raises energy management awareness among building operations personnel across the country.

Robert holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Waterloo and an MBA from the University of British Columbia. He is also the recipient of numerous awards for his work from the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC (APEGBC), The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and BC Hydro.

In his downtime from "Saving You Energy", Robert spends time with his wife and two daughters, carefully monitors the Canucks' and Habs' hockey seasons, and trains for triathlon and cycling events including the Ride To Conquer Cancer.

For more information about Robert, please visit his LinkedIn profile.

To contact him directly, please e-mail him at robert@prismengineering.com

 

Brian O'DonnellBRIAN O'DONNELL,
P.Eng -- Principal, Founder, Mechanical Team Leader

"Embarking on an energy management program is a lot like going on a diet or exercise program -- commitment to change is required for sustained results and it is human nature to resist change. In order to be successful, energy management must fully engage people in the process. In some ways, getting individuals to understand and embrace the changes being proposed is even more critical to the project than the specific technology or equipment being used. I believe that one of the reasons many of Prism's earliest clients are still with us today including Bentall, Vancity, Austeville Properties, and Air Canada, is because we focus on guiding and helping people through the process, and it provides real value to their organizations."
-- Brian O'Donnell

In 1973, Brian witnessed the crippling effect of the OPEC oil embargo on the Canadian and US economies. It was then he decided to pursue work to help North America strive towards energy independence. Rather than pursuing a career in renewable energy, he determined that he would have the greatest and most immediate impact by focusing on energy efficiency in existing buildings. After completing his degree in Mechanical Engineering at UNB in 1979, Brian travelled to Vancouver and joined BC Hydro's Energy Conservation Division, now known as Power Smart.

In 1981, Brian moved to Toronto where he worked as a project engineer for nine years honing his energy management skills. During that time, he developed an expertise in conducting energy audits, analyzing utility data, monitoring and verification, training building operators and designing and implementing retrofit projects. Keeping his eye on the momentum that BC Hydro was generating out West, Brian saw an opportunity to apply his skill set in providing guidance to the rapidly growing number of early adapters of energy management in BC. To that end, Brian moved back to the West Coast in 1990 and founded Prism Engineering.

Over the last two decades, while energy management has waxed and waned in popularity, Brian has maintained an unwavering focus on improving building energy efficiency and comfort while reducing operational costs. Brian now leads a team of mechanical engineers and designers in finding innovative ways of upgrading building mechanical systems to provide improved reliability and long term performance. His "whole building approach" and talent for the preparation and implementation of master plans for mechanical and electrical system upgrades have proven invaluable to many clients including Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Vancity Savings Credit Union, and Public Works and Government Services Canada.

He is a past president of the local chapters of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the Association of Energy Engineers, and has received numerous ASHRAE and BC Hydro awards.

In his downtime, Brian enjoys spending time with his family and recharging at his weekend getaway. He is also an avid outdoorsman who keeps fit with skiing, hiking, biking, and kayaking.

To contact Brian directly, please e-mail him at brian@prismengineering.com

 

Casey H. GaetzCASEY H. GAETZ,
LC -- Associate, Electrical Team Leader

"Clients about to invest in energy efficient technology will ask me: "How should I spend my money?" I take a lot of pride in striving to get them the biggest bang for their buck. I enjoy looking at new technologies and digging into the details: Will this lighting or electrical equipment really do the job in this particular application? Is it cost-effective? If currently available products don't fit the bill, we will approach the manufacturers directly: "Our client needs a product that you don't manufacture yet. Can you make it for us?" We have the relationships and expertise to make it happen."
-- Casey H. Gaetz

Casey heads up Prism's electrical division and has been with the firm since 1993. He offers Prism's clients over 30 years of experience in the design and energy management of electrical systems in large commercial, institutional and recreational facilities. His expertise extends to virtually all aspects of electrical systems, including lighting, electrical distribution, electrical control systems, metering, fire protection, and voice and data cabling systems.

Casey's background in the electrical industry (he spent several years working as the Canadian sales manager for an international lighting systems manufacturer) and strong customer focus allow him to fully understand his clients' product requirements. He prides himself on his no-nonsense approach in looking at new technologies and on being innovative and cost effective in the design aspects of his work.

Casey oversees the bulk of the firm's renovations work for clients such as BMO, Vancity and Aeroplan and works seamlessly with architects and interior designers on such projects. He has also developed and implemented long term electrical upgrades for clients including the Vancouver Mail Processing Plant (VMPP) with a focus on providing efficient, safe, and reliable electrical solutions.

He has met all the requirements of the National Council on Qualifications for the Lighting Professions (NCQLP) to obtain the Lighting Certified Practitioner (LC) designation. He has also been the recipient of numerous BC Hydro and Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) awards for his work in electrical and lighting design and retrofits.

Casey is the proud father of four daughters and a son and, when not leading shopping expeditions to the local outlet mall, likes to get out to the lake to do some camping.

To reach Casey directly, please e-mail him at casey@prismengineering.com

 

Ken HoldrenKEN HOLDREN,
P.Eng -- Associate, Energy Management Team Leader

"It's really satisfying to go into a facility post-implementation and to see building systems properly controlled and working as intended. But when you get right down to it, energy management is about reducing utility costs and saving clients money. At the beginning of each project, we anticipate a certain level of savings. When the job is done, we do the monitoring and verification to confirm that the projected savings were realized. Prism has the experience and quality of service to consistently deliver solid results in this area."
-- Ken Holdren

In late 1970s, Ken developed a keen interest in micro processing which led him to learn Z80 assembler programming. In 1981, the University of Toronto's Direct Digital Control system used the Z-80 microprocessor, which resulted in Ken being hired on at U of T. He was soon promoted to Manager, Controls Services and spent 16 years managing the University's 3.5 million sq. ft. expansion of its building automation system, and gaining invaluable experience in the proper design and maintenance of control systems.

Since 2002, Ken has lent his considerable talents to Prism's clients in designing retrofits, new installations and software for building automation systems, as well as in conducting commercial, institutional and industrial energy audits.

He also mentors Prism's Energy Team and is responsible for the quality assurance of all energy management projects. Ken develops tools and programs to improve analysis and guides the programming of Prism's Utility Management and Analysis (PUMA) database. As well, Ken leads the Prism team in providing optimization services for clients' DDC systems under BC Hydro's Continuous Optimization Program.

Ken received his engineering degree from the University of Windsor and has completed several courses in the commissioning of HVAC systems and in Automated Building Systems.

He is also the owner of a couple of sailboats and can sometimes be found catching the wind and fighting the currents in the waterways between the Southern Gulf Islands.

To reach Ken directly, please e-mail him at ken@prismengineering.com