Our Team
Our team takes pride in our work and in providing the opportunity for our community to reduce, produce, and manage their energy needs. We are here to help our customers in any way we can.
Eric Pals
President & Founder
Eric grew up helping father Mike in Pals Electric wire homes and businesses while in high school and later earned his Journeyman Electrician status with IBEW Local 146. Having worked for several large and mid-size electrical contractors, he quickly rose from field electrician to foreman over million-dollar electrical projects. He moved from the field to the office and was Asst. Business Manager for IBEW Local 146 in Decatur, IL and well-versed in the electrical contracting industry. He founded Tick Tock Energy with brother Craig in 2006 and now oversees Tick Tock’s overall company operations particularly focused on sales and project management.
Craig Pals
Vice President & Founder
Craig is a seasoned energy professional with nearly twenty-eight (28) years of energy-efficiency and renewable energy expertise. He has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from California State University, Long Beach and a licensed Mechanical Engineer. He has managed many complex energy retrofit projects involving large heating and cooling plants, cogeneration, and other solutions in Los Angeles area prior to moving back to Effingham, IL area. He founded Tick Tock Energy with brother Eric in 2006 to focus on solar, wind, energy-efficient lighting and has helped grow an industry that virtually did not exist in Illinois in 2006.
Jason Mulholland
Regional Sales Consultant
Jason entered the solar industry in 2013 after spending many years in sales and service. After several years of success in sales, going Solar just made sense. Solar is all about numbers, an educational experience, and treating others as you would like to be treated. “I love staying in contact with clients from the sales process, through installation, and beyond.”
He achieved his North American Board of Certified Energy Professionals (NABCEP) PV Technical Sales Professional Certification in 2015.
Chuck Siler
Director of Operations
Chuck has an AS in Business Management from Southeastern Illinois University and has 28 years of experience in accounting and business management. Prior to joining Tick Tock he was Director of Business Services for Heartland Human Services. At Tick Tock he is responsible for bookkeeping, customer billing, CRM management, and general administration.
James Mathews
Senior Sales Manager
James has worked in the solar industry for nearly ten years. He is a people person who enjoys using his knowledge in a straight forward manner to help clients find just the right Solar solution. Clients appreciate that he is able to easily explain the ins and outs of going solar. He spent nearly a decade in Arizona, where he consulted with and assisted hundreds of families with the addition of renewable solar energy to their homes and properties.
Troy Acree
Construction Manager
Troy started working for Tick Tock Energy in November of 2020. He received his A.A.S. in Industrial Technology from Olney Central College in 2009. Although new to the renewable energy industry, he has over 9 years of experience in construction project management and a total of 20 years of experience in facilities maintenance. Troy’s hobbies include hunting, Jeeping and working in his shop at home. Troy is excited to bring his experience in project management to TTE and the solar energy sector.
Mark Holthaus
Project Development Specialist
Mark has a diverse electrical and mechanical background having early experience in his youth working for his dad’s HVAC & Appliance company. Mark has been a field electrician as well as service technician troubleshooting electronic circuitry, electro-mechanical systems and more. Through his self-initiative, he obtained solar training and joined Tick Tock in spring 2018 helping with solar estimating, scoping and project development. He assists with field survey, system layout and design using Aurora modeling software, cost estimating and proposal development. Mark is a NABCEP PV Associate (PVA-031718-021184).
Ann Robinson
Sales Support and Office Manager
Ann leads our grant and incentive administration and provides support to sales team and general office. She earned a Business Administration degree from Lake Land College and has extensive background in financial, administrative & customer service roles. Ann and her husband, Matt, run a local farm, have two adult children and new granddaughter. Ann enjoys spending time with her family when she is not at the office!
Trey Braunecker
Office Administrator
Trey started working for Tick Tock Energy in July of 2020. Although he is new to the solar energy business, he is excited to bring his years of office experience to the Tick Tock family. His primary commitments are providing excellent customer service, improving office relations and handling marketing projects that help drive Tick Tock Energy even further.
Trey graduated from Carbondale with a B.S. in 2013. His hobbies include music, reading, exercising, pop culture and spending time with his nutty German short-haired pointer.
Daniel Goatley
Service and Monitoring Technician
Daniel started working for Tick Tock Energy in October of 2020. Although he is new to the Solar Industry, he has a vast knowledge of IT Services gained through school and previous positions that he hopes to utilize in his work with the Monitoring and Service Departments. His main goals are to make Tick Tock Energy’s customer service an unforgettable experience from start to finish, to stay on top of new and innovative technologies, and to become an expert in his field. Daniel received his certification for Electrical Distribution Linework in 2015 through LLCC and is currently working towards getting his NABCEP PV Associates Degree. Daniels hobbies include collecting vinyl records, disc golf, pop culture, and playing drums.
Nick Pals
Sales Associate
Nick graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the spring of 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in Organization Communication. Shortly after graduating Nick decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and pursue a career in the Solar Industry. Nick has completed multiple NABCEP training courses and soon hopes to achieve his PV Technical Sales Professional Certification. Nick believes that solar energy is the future and the industry will remain strong for many years to come.
Nick enjoys hunting, fishing, playing tennis, and spending time with his friends and family.
Wyatt Abbott
Project Design Engineer
Wyatt started as an intern at Tick Tock Energy for 2 years while attending college at SIUE for his Electrical Engineering Degree. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in May of 2021. Wyatt is now officially a part of the team as our Project Design Engineer. Wyatt spends his free time enjoying hobbies such as disc golf, video games, and attending concerts. Wyatt is happy to get to work in the solar industry and cannot wait to see what advancements solar technology will bring.
Clay Kauffman
Solar Project Development Engineer
Clay started working for Tick Tock Energy in May of 2021. After receiving his A.A.S. degree in Renewable energy from Lake Land Community College in 2014, Clay completed his Mechanical Engineering Technology degree from Indiana State University. His role is to take site survey information from the sales team and produce a design for customers that offsets or eliminates their utility bill. Clay enjoys hiking with his dogs and woodworking.
James Crosby
New Business Development Manager
James started working for Tick Tock Energy in early 2022 and is excited to bring the benefits of solar to the public. James is a people person and loves to solve problems. He loves to meet and talk with new people and hear their stories. James is well versed in the telecom industry and has furthered his education by completing SEI’s Solar Electric Design and Installation course. He enjoys spending his free time playing music and with his dog Riley.
Lance Durham
Project Design Engineer
Lance started in the solar industry in 2015 after graduating with a B. Tech in alternative and Renewable Energy Systems from SUNY Canton. His passion for renewable energy projects and electrical projects has allowed him to be a part of various large scale and unique solar projects throughout his 5+ years in the industry. He has Design, Installation and Project Management experience in a dozen states throughout the northeast and the Midwest. Lance joined the team in 2018 and is responsible for Project Design Engineering support with the Sales and the construction team.
Lance achieved his North American Board of Certified Energy Professionals (NABCEP) PV Installation Professional (PV-053119-021136) certification in 2019.
Jordan Amlong
Director of Accounting and Finance
In 2014 Jordan received his bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Missouri Valley College while attending on an athletic scholarship for baseball. He has held different roles throughout his career all in the Accounting & Finance realm. Jordan has worked in several different industries, both in small office settings and large corporate environments, and very is excited to bring his diverse business knowledge to Tick Tock Energy. Jordan began working for Tick Tock Energy early in 2023 and holds the title as Director of Accounting and Finance. He is a people person who enjoys hanging out with his wife & children, being with family & friends, and playing sports (golf, pickleball, frisbee golf, softball, bags, etc. – you name it, he will play). He also enjoys grilling, camping, and seeing live music.