Our Management Team
Rob Rafson, P.E. – Green Guru & President

The President and Founder of Chart House Energy has 27 years of experience in environmental engineering, design, construction and operation of over 150 environmental improvement projects in the United States and abroad. Mr. Rafson has achieved recognition in energy efficiency, patented innovative soil remediation technology, gaseous emission controls, and Brownfields redevelopment. He has also supervised the redevelopment of 17 contaminated properties including four superfund projects in the Chicago area and since 2006 has been developing renewable energy systems under Rafson Engineering, including the largest solar thermal system in Illinois.

Mr. Rafson has authored the authoritative text Brownfields: Redeveloping Environmentally Contaminated Properties, published June 1999 with McGraw-Hill. He has a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is also a licensed Professional Engineer.

Our Chief Operations Officer has over 7 years of experience in solar energy policy research and development. Emily has worked to develop testimony and intervention strategies in Michigan on energy policy issues on behalf of solar industry groups. Her experience lies in community engagement and impact development with a focus on community solar applications. She manages the Chart House Energy production team to install high community impact solar arrays across Michigan.

Emily graduated with a Master of Science and Doctoral Degree from Michigan Technological University in the Environmental and Energy Policy program. She has authored and published several articles on solar energy applications and policy strategies, including a guidebook on how to design and develop a community solar program for rural and low-to-moderate income communities.

Emily Prehoda, PhD – Chief Operations Officer
Zach Burgess – Business Development Manager

Zach is our Community Relations Manager. Zach brings a fresh perspective to Chart House Energy combining over a decade of client-focused leadership in insurance with a passion for sustainability. As Business Development Manager at Chart House Energy, he leverages his strategic mindset and collaborative approach to drive growth, forge key partnerships, and expand the company’s impact in the solar industry.

His expertise lies in identifying opportunities, structuring competitive proposals, and guiding projects from concept to completion, helping businesses and communities balance their immediate needs with their clean energy goals. Zach is committed to helping customers benefit from the economic, social, and environmental impacts of solar energy.

Our Production Manager, Steven Thompson, leads installation teams and manages projects from drawing through commissioning, with a strong focus on quality, safety, and on-time delivery. He holds a BFA from The School of the Art Institute and performed in Chicago and internationally, including Carnival in Venice, The Randolph Street Gallery, and Cankarjev Dom in Slovenia. Before joining Chart House Energy, Steven owned and operated Metro Restoration in Chicago for over 15 years, specializing in the renovation of historic buildings such as the Del Prado Hotel and the former Sutherland Hotel Lounge, both listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A lifelong nature lover, Steven is passionate about protecting forests and waterways, making renewable energy a natural fit both personally and professionally, and he brings that commitment to every project as he helps expand our solar network for a greener future.

Steven Thompson – Production Manager
Abby Keesen – Director of Financial Planning

Abby is our Director of Financial Planning, Analysis, and Strategy 

Abby graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Michigan in 2019 and then received her Master of Business Administration from Western Michigan University.  Abby returned to the West Michigan area and joined the Chart House Energy team as our Director of Financial Planning, Analysis, and Strategy.

In her role, she analyzes the financial data of individual projects and the overall company to guide future decision-making. Abby determines optimal project design by researching and distilling applicable incentives, utility rates, interconnection rules, and site characteristics into a simple understandable format.  She is also responsible for collecting financial data to develop and maintain relationships with financial institutions and project investors to guide the growth of Chart House Energy.