Merit Expands Project Management, Technology and Engineering Divisions
New Hires and Transitioning Staff Strengthen Merit Offerings, Client Service, Capacities
Houston, Texas and Clinton, NJ — Merit, 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 as the company’s new associate director of project management. Filling these strategic positions with premier candidates will enable Merit 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. “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).”
Nick Milam will serve as Merit’s 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.”
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
Merit 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 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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