The Power Of The Pack
At PACK Power, we’re the epitome of reliability and excellence in the energy sector. Our highly technical team offers nationwide solutions for high voltage needs, emphasizing safety-driven construction and services. Our comprehensive approach ensures meticulous planning and execution for optimal performance and longevity.
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The Experience of The PACK
The PACK Leadership
Matthew Behr
President
Matt Behr is the President of PACK Power. With over 20 years of experience in the renewable energy sector, Matt has been instrumental in leading initiatives and internal projects to enhance company performance.
Before his role at PACK Power, Matt served as the Director of Operations Services Special Projects at Wanzek Construction. In this position, he played a vital role in improving company results and performance. Matt collaborated closely with senior executives and department leaders to ensure accurate estimates, proactive procurement, and optimized engineering solutions within the organization.
Matt’s career trajectory also includes roles such as Director of Procurement and Director of Engineering where he managed engineering activities for renewable energy projects and provided essential technical support for field construction personnel. His expertise extends to project engineering and management, bid package development, contract review, and subcontractor management.
Throughout his career, Matt has been involved in numerous notable projects across various states, including Lakeswind in Minnesota, Spinning Spur Wind Ranch in Texas, Cimarron Wind II in Kansas, and many others.
Matt holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from North Dakota State University and is certified in 3M Splice and Termination.
Derek Tollefson
Chief Operating Officer
Derek Tollefson is the Chief Operations Officer at PACK Power. During his 17+ years of experience in the renewable energy sector, he has overseen the Execution of numerous high-quality wind and solar projects, totaling over 30 wind projects and 9+ solar projects.
Prior to joining PACK Power, Derek was the Director of Field Operations at Wanzek Construction. In this role, he was responsible for resource management, scheduling, and logistics management across all divisions. He notably grew the electrical self-perform crews across renewables and managed the Master Resource Schedule, ensuring projects were completed on time, within budget, and in compliance with safety policies.
Derek’s journey into the industry began with a college job which turned into full-time work at DMI Industries in West Fargo, ND. The opportunities for travel and construction interested him, driving him further into a career in the field.
Derek Tollefson isn’t just about managing operations; he’s about building success, adaptability, and passion within PACK Power. His background and commitment to the industry make him an indispensable leader in the PACK Power family.
Derek holds a Degree in Business Management from Minnesota State University Moorhead and is certified in numerous industry-related training programs.
Richard Schultz
Vice President of High Voltage
Prior to joining PACK Power, Richard served as the Director of Engineering at Wanzek Construction, where he oversaw engineering activities for renewable energy projects. His responsibilities included coordinating engineering management teams, establishing high levels of safety, quality, communication, and delivery, and serving as the key liaison between internal teams and third-party consultants.
With previous roles as a Senior Engineering Manager and Engineering Manager at Wanzek Construction, Richard gained experience in managing large-scale multi- disciplined projects and providing technical support for field construction personnel. His expertise extends to project management, engineering principles, wind and solar energy, transmission lines, HV substations, protection and controls, SCADA, project estimation, project scheduling, and construction management.
Richard holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from North Dakota State University, where he also obtained FE Certification from the North Dakota State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers.
Jeff Merrell
Vice President of Medium Voltage
Jeff Merrell is the Vice President of Medium Voltage at PACK Power. He brings over 10 years of experience in renewable energy and utility infrastructure, specializing in medium voltage (MV) and underground transmission work for wind, solar, and data center projects.
Jeff has successfully led more than 15 MV collection system installations and 10+ MV termination and splicing scopes across multiple states.
Prior to joining PACK Power, Jeff served as a Senior Project Manager at O’Connell Electric, where he managed utility-scale MV and underground projects, led proposal and estimation efforts, and oversaw scheduling, resource allocation, and field execution across multi-state project teams.
Jeff began his career at PLC Trenching, where he oversaw MV underground cable installation for wind projects and developed operating procedures that improved safety, efficiency, and field team consistency.
Larry Lacher
Director of Estimating
Larry Lacher is the Director of Engineering at PACK Power. During his 20 years of experience in renewable generation and 31 years overall in the construction industry, he has demonstrated expertise in civil, structural, and electrical trades. Larry has been heavily involved in preconstruction engineering and planning.
Before joining PACK Power, Larry was the Senior Estimator II at Wanzek Construction, where he oversaw project estimators involved in the design phase of electrical projects. He also provided technical support for business development team members during the project pursuit phase. Before his tenure at Wanzek Construction, Larry was with WTEC, where he managed preliminary and final engineering for Engineer, Procure, and Construction High Voltage Projects. He also handled pre-construction estimating for medium and high voltage projects and project management of HV substation material packages.
Before that, Larry held various roles, including Electrical Executive at MA Mortenson Construction, where he managed preliminary engineering and estimating for electrical wind energy and transmission projects, and Director of Electrical Engineering and Construction at Wanzek Construction, where he oversaw project managers and engineers involved in the design and construction phase of electrical projects.
Earlier in his career, Larry served as Senior Project Manager at Wanzek Construction, where he managed multiple electrical projects and coordinated cranes and heavy equipment with Wanzek Equipment Facilities. He also served as President/General Manager at Ventus Energy Systems, where he was responsible for the development of an operating company for Ottertail Corporation and managed engineering, procurement, and construction for the electrical portion of renewable energy projects.
Larry has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronic Engineering with an emphasis in Power Systems from North Dakota State University.
John Grimes
Senior Safety Manager
John Grimes is the Senior Safety Manager at PACK Power. He has over 5 years of experience in the renewable energy sector, supporting safety in the execution of successful projects.
John began his career in law enforcement, serving 10 years and ultimately working as a Major Crimes Investigator, where he specialized in homicides and other complex cases. He then transitioned into construction safety with Wanzek Construction, advancing from Site Safety Manager to Senior Manager, where he oversaw safety and security for utility-scale wind and solar projects. During this time, he earned his Safety Trained Supervisor–Construction (STSC) certification.
In January 2025, John joined PACK Power as Senior Safety Manager, where he launched the company’s safety program, implementing policies, procedures, and training initiatives to strengthen a culture of safety across operations. While at PACK Power, he also obtained the Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST) certification, further solidifying his expertise in the field.
John attended Oklahoma Panhandle State University on a baseball scholarship while studying mathematics education.
About the PACK
PACK Power was founded in 2023 to meet a growing demand for specialized High Voltage and Medium Voltage expertise within the Renewable, Power Delivery, Utility, and Data Center markets. The company was built by industry veterans Rob Lee, Matt Behr, and Derek Tollefson. Each of them brings decades of hands-on experience and a shared vision of partnering with clients to deliver exceptional, successful projects.
At its core, PACK Power operates like a family. The team takes pride in fostering a culture where everyone looks out for one another and collaboration comes first. That focus on “us” instead of “me” drives a fun, respectful, and productive environment – one that naturally extends to the relationships built with clients and partners.
What sets PACK Power apart is its unwavering commitment to honesty and responsiveness. The team’s passion for integrity and clear communication defines every project and fuels the trust clients have come to expect.
The company’s name embodies this philosophy. Like a pack of wolves, every member of the team has a role to play, a shared purpose, and the strength that comes from unity. Together, the PACK is a force to be reckoned with – driven by experience, teamwork, and respect – to lead the way in the High Voltage and Medium Voltage industries.
The Pack Process
Every project begins with a partnering session where our team comes together with our client to exchange all relevant information and establish alignment and trust. This early collaboration helps to create mutual understanding and shared goals, identify potential project risks and opportunities, define clear communication channels, and set expectations for safety, quality, and performance. It’s where we lay the groundwork for a cohesive and successful collaboration.
Once the partnership is established and all stakeholders have been identified, we develop a strategic project plan tailored to each client’s needs. We refine the scope, establish solid schedules, develop mitigation plans for known risks, and begin this process of allocating resources to the project. This phase ensures every detail of the project is considered and mapped out. Our engineering and project management teams work together to translate the previously identified goals and objectives into a realistic and actionable path forward.
Our team of internal experts and external consultants leverages decades of experience in high voltage and medium voltage systems to craft robust, efficient, and reliable designs tailored to the client’s specifications and the project needs. We focus on safety, constructability, and long-term performance, balancing industry best practices and innovation to create designs that set the project up for success during both construction and lifecycle operations and maintenance.
Before it’s time to build, our on-site construction managers and their crews are brought into a controlled office setting for a dedicated planning session with the project manager and engineers. Detailed reviews are performed to ensure that all necessary safety and quality processes are in place, all necessary materials, tools, and equipment have been properly accounted for, and that the crew fully understands project-specific construction requirements and schedule milestones. Planning ahead prepares the team to meet project challenges head-on and ensures efficient project execution.
Once we have mobilized our team to the site to begin the active construction phase of the project, our field crews, project managers, and support staff coordinate seamlessly to execute the established plan safely and efficiently. We emphasize communication, adaptability, and on-site collaboration to keep the project on schedule and on budget. The result is quality workmanship that accurately shows our high standards and the trust our clients have placed in us.
Before energization and completion, every physical and virtual component is rigorously tested, verified, and documented to meet performance expectations, project specifications, and regulatory standards to validate that all systems operate safely and reliably. All the relevant test results, quality documentation, inspection forms, material information, and as-built engineering documentation are compiled into a cohesive turnover package to give our clients complete confidence in our results.
A single project completion isn’t the finish line here at PACK Power. It’s the beginning of a lasting partnership. We take pride in delivering not only a successful project but also a trusted relationship built on collaboration, transparency, and mutual respect. After each project, we have a lesson learned meeting with the client and other project stakeholders to identify what went well to ensure continued success and what we may be able to improve on for our next project together. Our goal is to deliver the Gold Standard and to be the team clients call again for their future challenges.