Southland Industries Appoints Industry Veterans to Expand Energy Business

Southland Industries, one of the nation's largest mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) building systems experts and an AGC of California and AGC of Metropolitan D.C. Washington member, recently expanded its energy services group. As a division of Southland Industries, Southland Energy enters the energy services company (ESCO) marketplace backed by over 60 years of experience in designing, building, operating and servicing high-performance facilities. As such, Southland Energy has the ability to self-perform the vast majority of work required for complex energy projects, ultimately driving down costs for its clients.
Taking an innovative, holistic approach to building performance through in-house building systems expertise and the ability to efficiently self-perform services, the formation of Southland Energy is a strategic extension of Southland Industries’ strengths. 

Natasha Shah, vice president of energy services is leading the effort with support from three newly appointed directors. Art Thompson, director of education and healthcare and Nello Tortora, director of federal programs, will manage sales teams nationally. Seth Pearce, director of project development, will be responsible for leading and managing project development and energy engineering nationally, as well as ensuring the performance and savings on all projects.
 
"As part of the Southland Energy team, our directors are responsible for driving overall strategy and vision at the ground level," stated Shah. "The team brings considerable expertise and is highly respected in the industry. With our leadership in place, Southland Energy will have the flexibility to scale its energy services within core markets, nationally, in order to provide comprehensive energy services solutions," Shah continued.
 
With over 20 years of business development and sales management experience in the telecommunications, industrial distribution, and building automation industries, Thompson’s past work includes assisting in strategic business development and implementing energy savings projects within the education and healthcare markets.
 
As a recently retired, 27-year veteran of the United States Army, Tortora previously led a worldwide staff of more than 850 professional civilians and military officers that supported strategic programs including energy, medical, installation support, environmental and ordinance/explosives remediation. Tortora was instrumental in assisting the federal government in meeting the $2 billion energy savings performance contract presidential initiative.
 
An experienced energy services professional, Pearce has held management roles in contracting, construction, engineering and project development and has successfully delivered creative energy solutions such as the Army’s largest solar photovoltaic system installed to date. 
 
About Southland
Founded in 1949, Southland Industries provides innovative yet practical solutions through a holistic approach to building performance. Advocating a design-build-maintain model, Southland specializes in the design, construction, and service of mechanical, plumbing, fire protection, process piping, automation and controls systems, as well as comprehensive energy services needs. Offering standalone services as well as integrated solutions, Southland’s in-house experts remain connected, sharing knowledge and information in order to produce the results that have earned Southland its unmatched reputation as one of the top design-builders in the nation. As a company that has always prided itself on innovation and collaboration, Southland continues to pave the way as an industry leader in sustainability and energy efficiency so as to improve the way buildings are designed, built, and maintained. For information, please visit www.southlandind.com. 



Associated General Contractors of America