Our greatest strength is the people behind our brand that make it all possible. We are a diverse and dynamic but strategically balanced team. Big picture thinking is balanced by a strong appreciation for practicality and attention to details. Our product design genius is balanced by detailed execution.
We debate project planning, product design concepts, and strategy as a team. Our high-impact decisions account for every vital nuance. We embrace the fact that together, we are far greater than the sum of our parts. In the office, we say “turumuryango”, meaning “we are family” in the local Kinyarwanda language.
Sam’s decade-long commitment to the business of electrifying healthcare facilities brings a depth of experience on which we draw daily. Rachel’s leadership and instinct for cost control has created an internal culture of astounding financial efficiency. Ivan’s engineering mind ensures that all we do is well thought out and follows precisely the engineering procedures we have in place. Jean Aime’s vast knowledge of installing systems serves as a reality check on project time estimates and new ideas for installation methods. Adam’s creative mind brings a flair of art to the innovative work in which we are constantly engaged.
We are also privileged to have a highly experienced team of electrical technicians working with Ornella and Honore running installations The output of Boaz and Rocky top quality solar power installations. The brothers, Yve and Juvenal diligently manage the day-to-day operational details. Odille, our office chef, keeps all these brains fed with the best lunch in town, every day of the week.
This is the team that makes coming to the Great Lakes Energy office every morning a joy and a privilege. This is the team that will change the way healthcare facilities are electrified across the world.
Sam Dargan
Founder and Board member
Sam’s passion for helping improve healthcare through the supply of reliable electricity began twelve years ago when he first arrived in Rwanda as a volunteer. His passion and perseverance through numerous times of near failure is why Great Lakes Energy is still here today. His is the vision, which together we build.
Rachel Friedman
Board Member
Rachel has over six years of experience working in finance in the private and non-profit sectors. She received her Master’s Degree in Management in the Developing World from the Sorbonne University in Paris. She is impassioned to using her financial and operational skills to make this world a better, more equitable place.
Alp Tilev
Board member
Alp, joined the team after leaving Microsoft, to follow his passion in renewable energy. He brings to the team 8 years in software engineering experience and has led the team to develop the Great Lakes Energy’s SESH platform. When he’s not developing hardware and off-grid PV systems, you’ll find him either flying his paraglider or riding his motorcycle.
Adam Amoroso
Product Developer
Adam is an Industrial Designer with a decade of experience developing inventive and beautiful solutions for a wide variety of users from around the world. Adam brings his deep education, experience and curiosity to the table
Ornella Kabirigi
Installation Specialist
Ornella is our newest addition to the team, she brings experience working in the field for Rwanda’s national grid provider. She is passionate around clean energy and is GLE’s fist female engineer. She graduated from electrical engineering at KIST.
Honore Basazababo
Managing Director
Being one of the founders of Rwanda’s maker club at KIST, Honore is no stranger to microelectronics and circuity. From building sms sending water pumps, to chicken incubaters. Honore brings his curiosity to help solve some of our toughest problems in solar energy.
Juvens “Yve” Ndababonye
Logistics & Administration
Yve started with Great Lakes Energy as a security guard eight years ago. Today he manages the company premises and handles the operational details that are fundamental to business operations. Yve’s eye for detail is a huge asset for Great Lakes Energy.
Juvenal Dusabiyaremye
Logistics & Administration
Juvenal, Yve’s older brother, is in charge of stock and local logistics. The diligence with which he goes about his work ensures that our local logistics flow smoothly, which is not always an easy task in an environment of high variability.
Odille Umuhoza Odilla
Office Chef
Odille ensures that the Great Lakes Energy offices are comfortable and clean. Her delicious daily lunch for our team is a big boost to company productivity.
