Our People
We believe in creating a diverse and equitable workplace and world for everyone. We strive for team diversity, equitable practices, and an inclusive culture. We intentionally seek out, learn, understand, and appreciate who — and what — surrounds us. We are SkySpecs.
The people who work at SkySpecs share the vision and values of our community
We’re driven by the idea that our best work is born from diligence, craftsmanship, and enjoyment. We dig in, do the research, and craft a great product, all while having fun.
Executive Leadership Team
Danny Ellis
CEO
Danny is the CEO and co-founder at SkySpecs. He has a BSE and MSE in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan. Danny has focused on business development, fundraising, sales, M&A, partnerships, and team building for the last eight years at SkySpecs. He is an Endeavor Entrepreneur, Techstars alum and mentor, Detroit Crain’s “20 in their 20s” and “40 under 40” awardee, and in the 2016 class of Forbes “30 under 30” awardees. Danny has spent the last ten years in the wind industry, building relationships with customers, partners, and investors to help achieve SkySpecs’ vision.
Ray O Neill
COO
Ray joined SkySpecs in 2021 after the company he co-founded, Fincovi, was acquired by SkySpecs. When he isn't running SkySpecs global operations, you can find Ray playing chauffeur for his three girls in his Skoda Enyaq.
Tom Brady
CTO
Prior to SkySpecs, Tom earned two degrees in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Michigan, where he also co-founded the Michigan Autonomous Aerial Vehicles team. A lover of epic fantasy novels and a dad of two, Tom spends what little free time he has golfing, hiking, or enjoying a cup of coffee or draft beer in Downtown Ann Arbor.
Hannah Pianko
CLO
Hannah Pianko is the Chief Legal Officer at SkySpecs. As CLO, Hannah oversees a wide array of legal, compliance, governance, and corporate matters for SkySpecs and its global Subsidiaries.
Hannah graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Economics and earned her law degree from the New York University School of Law. She lives in Ann Arbor, MI, with her husband Matt and their daughters Lola and Andie.
Joe Ciliberti
CPO
Joe met the team in 2017 and hasn't looked back. Coming from a history of building software for supply chains, Joe brings he's extensive product development knowledge to SkySpecs as our Chief Product Officer. A connoisseur of good food, cold light beer, sports, and bonfires, Joe and his wife Amanda get their exercise keeping up with their two kids at their home just south of Ann Arbor.
Josh Goryl
CRO
Josh Goryl is the Chief Revenue Officer at SkySpecs. He is responsible for all revenue generating functions, including sales, account management, and solutions design. With seven years of renewable energy experience, Josh and his team are focused on delivering asset management solutions to the leading renewable energy providers across the globe. He has a passion for ensuring customers have a world-class experience working with SkySpecs.
Akash Mitter
CFO
Akash Mitter is a qualified Chartered Accountant in the UK and holds the position of Chief Financial Officer at SkySpecs. He is responsible for the Finance department, supporting the development of strategy and growth through the delivery of financial commitments for revenue, margin, and cash.
Co-Founders and Strategic Leaders
Jonathan Bendes
CIO, Co-founder
Jonathan Bendes is a co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer at SkySpecs. He has over a decade of experience creating, operationalizing, and scaling bleeding-edge technology to solve humanity-scale problems. He has helped SkySpecs grow from a university research project to a world leader in renewable technologies.
Sam DeBruin
CRO, Co-founder
Sam DeBruin is the Chief Research Officer and a Co-Founder at SkySpecs. Sam is a specialist in robotics systems and electronics, and leads SkySpecs' robotics and research technical teams. Prior to SkySpecs he received his PhD in Computer Science from the University of Michigan. He has a young daughter and two dogs and a cat. He enjoys being in the outdoors hiking, fishing, and snowboarding.
Isaac Olsen
CSA
Isaac Olson is the Chief Software Architect and leads the software development on the Robotics team at SkySpecs. Though he specializes in navigation & controls, he enjoys solving complex problems throughout the robotics system. He has been doing so with the SkySpecs team since it was a university project.
Damian Malone
VP, Corporate Development
Damian Malone is the Head of Corporate Development at SkySpecs. Damian joined SkySpecs following the acquisition of Fincovi. Prior to co-founding Fincovi, Damian worked at AlixPartners, a global consulting firm, where he specialized in M&A. Damian has over 15 years’ of experience working in corporate advisory and strategy.
Building on a Culture of Belonging
We see ourselves as much more than just a tech company. We’re a group of like-minded, kind, and talented people who love to collaborate and create awesome stuff together.
Our team members, a.k.a. “SkyBorgs,” genuinely like each other and enjoy spending time together, whether that means a quick coffee break, grabbing a beer, or attending local events.
While we love what we do, we know that life is about more than work, and we each have one beyond SkySpecs. We value healthy boundaries, and we’ll respect your schedule and try not to bother you on weekends (unless it’s for something fun).
Expecting a delivery and need to work from home? Need to leave early to pick up a sick kid? No problem! We’ve always had a flexible approach to working from home, and we understand if you need to modify your schedule or if something comes up. Life happens.
I never expected that I'd fall in love with a job like I
have with SkySpecs. The culture is collaborative
and supportive. There's a sense that everyone in
the company knows we're striving for the same
goals and recognizes when supporting a colleague is
actually supporting the entire SkySpecs team. In the past
I've known that my work helped my employer succeed, but
my work at SkySpecs benefits the planet by making renewable
energy more affordable. I finally feel good about the work I do
and the lasting impact it has on the world long after I'm gone.
That, to me, is priceless.
AJ PetixSenior IT Manager 
“Working for SkySpecs is more than just another job. We're a group of like-minded individuals doing our best to make as large of an impact on the management of renewable energy assets as possible. After 15 years in the industry, my experience has been that companies often prioritize growth at all costs. Instead, SkySpecs wants to impact our clients' day-to-day lives and show how robotics and software can support their growth. I've never been busier, I've never been happier, and I've never felt as valued as I do at SkySpecs. That speaks volumes for the support network that's grown extraordinarily over the last three years. Getting back on the road after the COVID lockdown and visiting customers and colleagues around the globe has provided us with a new lease on life.”
Michael McQueenieSales Director, Europe 
We keep it real. SkySpecs culture keeps the lines of communication open for our team to share stories from both their personal and professional lives, and we get to learn an immense amount from one another. I also admire our global reach and the opportunity to feel more connected to other cultures and parts of the world.
Lauren RussomannoDirector, Tech Enabled Services (TEI) 
