Our Team

Nidal Z. Zayed
Principal

Mr. Zayed, President and Chief Executive Officer, is one of the founders and senior executives of the Pernix Group since its inception in 1996. He received his J.D. from Loyola University School of Law in 1985 and a B.A. from Loyola University of Chicago in 1982. Nidal engaged for several years in private practice specializing in litigation and international business law. He has extensive experience with international transactions worldwide.

Over the years with Pernix, Nidal had direct responsibility for contract administration/legal, banking, treasury, business development, and has raised significant equity and funding for the company. In 2005 Nidal accepted the position of Chief Executive Officer and President of the Pernix Group. Nidal now provides corporate leadership, guiding all present and future corporate activities with an uncompromising commitment to deliver excellence in all we do. He sits on the Board of Pernix Group and that of its subsidiaries, and is personally responsible for setting the strategic direction of the company and its holdings.

Nidal serves as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Pernix Group, Inc.

Gregg Pollack
Principal

Mr. Pollack joined Pernix in late 2011 to manage and coordinate the administrative and financial functions at the corporate level. His responsibilities at Pernix include human resources/employee benefits, technology/telecommunications, financial reporting, budgeting, risk management, investor relations and commercial banking.

Gregg has over 25 years' experience in corporate finance, strategic planning, project management, mergers & acquisitions, and financial management, working with both large, publicly traded companies and smaller, entrepreneurial businesses. Gregg is a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where he earned both a Bachelors of Science in Economics (concentration in Accounting) (1983) and a Masters of Business Administration in Finance (1984). He is also a member of the AICPA and the Illinois CPA Society.

Gregg serves as the Chief Financial Officer and Vice President - Administration of Pernix Group, Inc.

Bob McIlvain
Principal

Bob is responsible for all executive and commercial functions, P&L and overall company management.  Over 20 years experience in business management in the power and industrial services markets, specifically relevant to asset management and plant operations.  Power generation experience includes various configurations, including combined cycle plants, simple cycle/peaking plant operations, combined heat and power systems, diesel plants, and renewable power generation.  Industrial systems include atmosphere control systems, generator set manufacturing, aircraft ground support equipment, DOD shipboard generator and propulsion equipment, and large-bore slow speed diesels.  
 
Bob had previously served in the capacity of Vice President and General Manager of the original Universal Energy, Inc. Military background with US Navy (EM1SS), Nuclear Operator and Submarine Qualifications.

Bob serves as the Chief Executive Officer and President of UEI LLC.

Scott Finch
Principal

Mr. Finch joined Pernix in 2011 to spearhead the company's strategic initiatives and finance Pernix's continued growth. Scott's prior experience includes seven years as a loan syndicator with global banks in New York City, followed by over a decade of corporate treasury responsibility for large, global organizations. This experience includes setting up and overseeing global treasury operations, managing banking relationships, risk management, cash management, investor relations & corporate communication, financial compliance, and structuring and executing both corporate and project financings.

Scott has been involved in over 90 completed financings totaling more than $40 billion over the course of his career, of which 40 transactions worth nearly $29 billion were specific to construction or power. Scott earned his MBA from the University of Michigan, a JD from Vanderbilt University, and a bachelor's degree from the University of Michigan.

Scott serves as Vice President - Finance & Corporate Strategy of Pernix Group, Inc.

James Rice
Senior Project Executive

Mr. Rice is a dynamic construction professional with domestic and international construction experience, including the execution of design-build, fast-track projects. Mr. Rice has successfully completed more than 200 construction projects worldwide with an aggregate contract value of nearly $1 billion dollars.