Paul Mertes, MBA, P. Eng.

Volunteer Advisor
Cleantech Practice, MaRS
Panelist: The Top Myths That Mislead Entrepreneurs

Paul has a Mechanical Engineering degree majoring in Thermal Fluids from the University of Waterloo. He started his career designing energy systems for buildings in the early 80s, gaining experience in the design and analysis of solar thermal and solar photovoltaic systems.

After completing an MBA from York University, majoring in Finance, he spent five years in project management and business operations of an engineering consulting firm, concentrating on economic analysis of infrastructure investment, including transportation demand forecasting, environmental assessment of high speed rail and urban transit systems.

Paul spent the next 10 years managing the growth or turnaround of a number of engineering and technology firms as President or Vice President, including businesses in Europe, the Middle East, Hong Kong, and the United States. Paul also served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of AGM Program Managers, a joint venture of consulting engineering firms created to manage the 10 year, $1 Billion GO Transit Expansion program.

In 2006 he accepted the role of CEO in a geothermal energy start-up, CleanEnergy Developments. He developed the plans, raised finance, started operations in eastern and western Canada, and ultimately arranged for the company's sale to Alter NRG in the fall of 2009.

Today, Paul runs his own consulting firm, Mertes Management and Technology, and serves as a business advisor to the MaRS CleanTech Practice and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Geoexchange Coalition.