Merit Controls Expands Project Management, Technology and Engineering Divisions
New Hires and Transitioning Staff Strengthen Merit Controls Offerings, Client Service, Capacities
Houston, Texas and Clinton, NJ — February 8, 2021 — Merit Controls, the leading provider of grid integration products and services for utility-scale applications has expanded its team, hiring a director of operational technology and a senior controls engineer. In addition, a former Merit SI employee has joined Merit Controls as the company’s new associate director of project management. Filling these strategic positions with premier candidates will enable Merit Controls to streamline project integration while increasing efficiency and reducing risk for renewables customers.
“Our growth plan, which has been in motion for some time, remains centered around increasing our project management, engineering and technical staff, while maintaining our focus on technology innovation and energy leadership,” said Tom Kuster, CEO of Merit Controls. “To serve our clientele, and keep pace with our rapidly expanding footprint, we’ve hired talented individuals such as Nick Milam, who comes to us with a deep understanding of and experience in renewables and power plant controls (PPC). In addition to new hires, we’ve emphasized leadership and client service skills in our selection, transitioning Tina Dornbusch from Merit SI to Merit Controls so she may focus on fulfilling the needs of our customers.”
Nick Milam will serve as Merit Controls’ Director of Operational Technology, working out of the company’s Clinton, New Jersey office. Nick has an electrical engineering and control system architecture background, including work in utility-scale renewable energy projects. Most notably, his vast experience with SCADA and control system solutions assists him in directing development, implementation, commissioning, and long-term support in his new position.
“SCADA and control systems have the potential to determine the long-term viability of renewable assets and, therefore, hold great risk to the project if they are not designed and commissioned to the highest standard,” Nick said. “I look forward to helping develop and support these critical systems for our clients while building a team to execute on projects. Our top priority is delivering a SCADA and control system solution that will maximize revenue for our customers while meeting the most stringent grid requirements.”
Tina Dornbusch, who served for three years in engineering and technology roles with Merit SI, now works out of Merit’s Houston, Texas office as Associate Director of Project Management. Tina carries over her insights from working in Merit SI’s development business into her current position for Merit Controls.
“With my transition complete, I am evaluating our solutions and targeting any opportunities that we identify to make them as strong as possible for our clients,” Tina said. “This involves enhancing our communication between our clients and our engineers to ensure that we are developing our products in line with what is most useful to real-life projects and supporting our customer experience.”
Amal Mallavarapu is also working out of the Houston locale as Senior Controls Engineer. Amal has a strong understanding of SCADA and PPC systems, and her previous work at New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) conducting planning studies regarding impacts on transmission system security, reliability and compliance, combined with her recent work at a major solar and energy storage developer, made her an ideal candidate for the position. As an avid volunteer for Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), having held the section leadership role previously, Amal is eager to add her unique skillset to the team.
“Using my skills to contribute to the design and development of robust monitoring and control systems at Merit will help grow its industry-leading SCADA and controls platform,” Amal remarked.
About Merit Controls
Merit Controls provides advanced, proven grid integration products and services for utility power generation, all in one platform. Its expertise and proven intellectual property help streamline integration while increasing efficiency and reducing risk.
Merit Controls is a division of Merit SI Technologies, partially owned by Turner Renewable Energy. The company is headquartered in Houston, Texas with additional offices in Austin, Texas and Clinton, New Jersey. For more information, visit meritsi.com/controls.
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Media Contact:
Ellen Backus for Merit Controls PR
ellen@cleanterrateam.com
612.616.2991