Leadership Team

Alan Kurzer is the founder and CEO of TFS Energy Solutions, LLC, d/b/a Tradition Energy, and co-founder and President of TFS Energy, LLC, and TFS Energy Futures, LLC, the institutional brokerage affiliates of Tradition Energy. He has over 35 years of energy industry experience in the global physical and derivative markets for crude oil, refined products, natural gas, and electricity. Prior to merging the SDI Energy Group with Tradition to form TFS Energy, LLC, in 2000, Alan spent over 12 years running SDI’s predecessor, Gerald Energy, and was CEO of Gerald Commodities, a futures clearing firm. He began his career with Caltex Petroleum (Chevron/Texaco) where he held a variety of supply and trading positions in New York, Singapore, and Dallas. Alan holds a B.A. from Binghamton University and an M.B.A. from Cornell University.

Michael Ayala is Co-Head of Sales and Advisory Services and leads our Sustainability Solutions Group. He is also a member of our Management Committee. Prior to joining Tradition in 2007, Michael managed large commercial and industrial clients at Direct Energy and Reliant Energy. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Texas Tech University and is a Certified Energy Consultant (CEC).

Marco Colangelo is responsible for coordinating all accounting and finance-related activities as part of both the Tradition Group finance organization and the Tradition Energy management team. He brings extensive corporate finance experience spanning multiple industries, including manufacturing, distribution, and financial services. Marco’s background includes financial planning and analysis, controllership, and strategic finance. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Connecticut and an MBA in Management from Sacred Heart University.

Keith Kelly manages the wholesale energy and environmental products business for TFS Energy, and advises Tradition Energy clients on risk management strategies. He has over 25 years of experience in the energy physical and derivatives markets assisting energy companies, utilities, financial institutions, and trading firms. Prior to joining Tradition in 1993, he held various hedging and supply sourcing positions at a regional petroleum distributor. Keith earned a BS from the University of Alabama, majoring in Finance.

Brian McDermott is Head of Operations, responsible for managing our Pricing and Sourcing, Client Services, Account Management, Research, and System Development groups. He is also a member of our Management Committee. Brian has over 25 years of experience in the wholesale and retail electricity and natural gas markets and has spent his entire career at Tradition and its predecessors. He began his career on the floor of the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) for Gerald Energy and then brokered OTC wholesale natural gas for TFS Energy. Brian holds a B.A. from The State University of New York at Albany and is Series 3 licensed.

Scott Merrell is Head of Marketing, responsible for managing our marketing and sales support efforts, and is a member of our Management Committee. He has over 30 years of experience developing and implementing marketing and communications strategies for many of the world’s largest and most successful brands. Prior to joining Tradition in 2006, he spent 14 years with McCann-Erickson and DMB&B, in New York, Prague, Lima, and Mexico City and served as the Marketing Communications Manager for the Oregon State Lottery. Scott received a B.S. in Advertising from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a Certified Energy Professional (CEP).

Dan Montgomery is Co-Head of Sales and Advisory Services and is a member of our Management Committee. Prior to joining Tradition Energy at its inception in 2006, Dan worked for an energy efficiency lighting firm in California, as well as serving as a director of sales for a retail energy brokerage firm in Texas. He holds a B.A. in Communications from Houston Baptist University. Dan is a Certified Energy Professional (CEP).

Larry Rosenshein is the COO of TFS Americas and Chairman of TFS Energy, LLC. He began his career at Tradition Financial Services in 1987 and transferred to Japan in 1989 as Asian Head of FX Options. In 1998, Larry was appointed Director of TFS Asia, and in 2001 appointed COO of TFS-ICAP Volbroker, the leading liquidity provider in Global Foreign exchange options. In 2008, he also assumed the role of Global CTO for electronic trading platforms at Tradition. In August 2009, he was appointed Chairman of TFS Energy, LLC, and Managing Director of TFS Americas. Larry holds a B.S. in Finance and Management Information Systems from University of Delaware and an M.B.A. in Finance from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Bob Wooten leads our National Account business and coordinates Strategic Partnerships throughout the U.S. He is also a member of our Management Committee. Bob has over 25 years of experience managing procurement programs, and prior to joining Tradition Energy in 2007, he coordinated energy and procurement for the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC). Bob also worked for Johnson Controls, delivering energy efficiency solutions to the public housing market. He holds professional certifications from the Association of Energy Engineers and the Institute for Supply Management and a B.A. from Texas A&M University, and a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Houston.

Lauren Bauer Zinman is Tradition Energy’s General Counsel and has over 20 years of experience in commercial and contract law, corporate governance, and general corporate matters. Prior to joining Tradition Energy, she served in several in-house roles, including as General Counsel of EDGAR Online, Inc., a publicly traded financial reporting, data, and services company. Lauren holds a B.A. in English from Columbia College and a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law.