ORPC subsidiary hires president and CEO to guide its Canadian expansion
Courtesy / ORPC Inc.
Alexandre Paris has been appointed president and CEO of EMARQ, a subsidiary formed in 2015 to expand Portland-based ORPC's marine renewable energy business into Canada, providing solutions to lower the cost and increase the availability of electricity in remote communities in northern Quebec's Nunavik region and elsewhere.
ORPC Inc., the Portland-based company that built, operated and delivered power to a utility grid from a tidal project in Cobscook Bay and to a remote community grid from a river project in Alaska, has hired Alexandre Paris to be president and CEO of its Quebec subsidiary.
He brings more than 20 years’ experience as an entrepreneur and executive to ORPC’s Quebec subsidiary known as Énergies Marines Renouvelables Québécoises Inc., or EMARQ.
Formed in 2015, EMARQ expands ORPC’s marine renewable energy business into Canada, providing solutions to lower the cost and increase the availability of electricity in remote communities in northern Quebec’s Nunavik region and elsewhere, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and bringing much-needed local economic benefits.
Paris most recently was senior manager in charge of growth and innovation at Hydro-Quebec’s research institute, called IREQ. His previous jobs at private and public-sector companies in Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia included working in early-stage companies, research and development, business development, engineering management, product development and product release.
“To accomplish our ambitious goals in Canada and tackle new opportunities in 2018 and beyond, we are thrilled to have Alex on board,” ORPC Chairman, Co-founder and CEO Chris Sauer said in a news release.
Paris joins ORPC’s now seven-member executive management team.
Providing power to remote communities
Backed by ORPC technology and know-how, EMARQ’s mission is to become the preferred supplier of sustainable energy solutions involving marine renewable energy power systems in Canada.
Under the guidance of EMARQ’s Vice President and General Manager, Marcel Boridy, ORPC’s Quebec subsidiary has established key business relationships with key Canadian companies, government agencies and research groups to evaluate the potential for marine renewable energy in the Inuit region of Nunavik, Québec.
Currently ORPC is executing projects in Maine, Alaska, Canada, and Ireland totaling over $16 million.
The company is actively pursuing exciting new opportunities to provide affordable and environmentally sustainable electricity for remote communities in high cost power markets, notably in northern Québec, combined with local and regional economic development benefits. Similar market dynamics exist in Alaska and throughout northern Canada.
“Our near-term future growth and, ultimately, our profitability depend on excellence in execution of our business plan in North America,” Sauer said.
Expanding workforce
ORPC and EMARQ’s growth led to the recent hiring of Ben Winn as mechanical engineer at ORPC’s headquarters in Portland. The company anticipates hiring another engineer soon. In addition, EMARQ is actively seeking a project manager to oversee its planned projects in Québec.
When these positions are filled, ORPC will have 28 employees working in three countries on two continents.
In addition to company headquarters in Portland and EMARQ office in Montréal, ORPC has an operations center in Eastport; personnel in Seattle, Wash., and Anchorage, Alaska; and the wholly owned subsidiary ORPC Ireland with a Dublin office.
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