air sealing Archives - DeVere Insulation Home Performance

Noel Hazelwood, Energy Auditor & Estimator

Noel Hazelwood is an Energy Auditor, he brings a background in federal government and home improvement sales, including several years as a Federal Government Account Executive managing accounts throughout the DMV region. He first became interested in energy efficiency while helping retrofit government buildings with LED lighting and seeing the real impact on energy savings. That experience led him to begin performing home energy checks, which ultimately brought him into energy auditing.

Noel enjoys meeting new people, being welcomed into their homes, and helping them identify practical solutions to improve comfort and efficiency. He appreciates the opportunity to do work that makes a tangible difference and values the connections he builds with homeowners along the way. Outside of work, Noel enjoys camping with his wife and daughter, often traveling to different campgrounds for weekend trips and themed getaways.

Todd Williams, Energy Auditor Manager

Todd has been in the building science industry since 2010. He worked as a Maryland Department of Housing Community Development (DHCD) state inspector for 3 years. His professional achievements include being a BPI Energy Auditor, QCI Inspector, Multifamily Building Analyst, Manufacturing Housing Professional, and Healthy Home Evaluator. Todd joined DeVere Home Performance so he could be a part of an industry leading team that keeps growing and to contribute his knowledge and skills to help the install crews learn more about the building science industry. He enjoys his awesome coworkers and collaborating with his industry professional teammates. Todd’s favorite thing to do in his spare time is rebuild classic Jeeps.

Mike Uecker, Operations Manager

2020 was a busy year for Mike Uecker: he sold his successful home performance company, joined the DeVere Insulation team, and became a dad to twins. During his decade as a home specialist, he performed energy audits, installed home improvements, and managed a construction department. Joining the DeVere team was a natural progression to his dedication and enthusiasm for the industry. Mike holds the BPI Analyst and Envelope Certification and is a licensed Air Systems Cleaning Specialist (ASCS) through the North America Duct Cleaning Association.

In his free time, Mike enjoys the occasional home improvement project as his new dad experience allows.

Justin Swafford, Estimator

Justin was drawn to his role as an estimator in 2019 by his passion for helping people and improving their living spaces, where they spend most of their time. He finds fulfillment in educating homeowners about home efficiency and ensuring their houses are comfortable havens. What Justin loves most about his job is the variety it offers—each house presents a unique challenge, keeping his work engaging and dynamic. Outside of work, Justin treasures time with his family and passionately supports the Tennessee Volunteers. He also enjoys driving his Jeep, especially in remote areas where he can disconnect from technology and enjoy nature.

Andrew Schaffer- BPI Certified Energy Auditor & QCI

Andrew brings 25 years of industry expertise to the DeVere Home Performance team. His career is built on a decade of experience in general contracting—serving as an estimator and assistant project manager—followed by 15 years as a dedicated Home Energy Auditor. Andrew is passionate about building science and finds great fulfillment in educating homeowners on how to improve efficiency and comfort in their homes. At DeVere, Andrew thrives in the company’s collaborative, family-oriented culture, where teamwork is at the heart of every project.
Outside of work, Andrew is a family man at heart, celebrating 35 years of marriage with two daughters and two granddaughters. An outdoor enthusiast, you can often find him playing disc golf, gardening, walking his dogs, or floating down the Gunpowder Falls.

Luis Quintanilla, BPI Certified Energy Auditor & QCI

With 15 years of experience in the industry, Luis has a passion for helping people improve their living spaces. As a BPI energy auditor and QC inspector, he thrives on the unique challenges each home and customer bring, constantly learning and growing in his field. Luis treasures the appreciation and feedback he receives from his customers, finding joy in knowing his work makes a difference. He’s equally grateful for his DeVere team, describing them as the best group of supportive and amazing individuals to work alongside. Outside of work, Luis enjoys spending quality time with his family and attending church. His advice to anyone considering a career in insulation or the trades? “It’s a great career to start at, with amazing potential to grow.”

Christina Pollikof- Accounts Receivables

Christina began working with DeVere Insulation in 2016 where she’s been credit managing several of the companies under the DeVere umbrella. Recently, her role shifted to focus on Devere Insulation Home Performance as Accounts Receivable. She brings over 30 years of experience in the accounting field with her and is excited about expanding her knowledge on the customer payment portals and customer rebates She enjoys interacting with customers and stands by her two-fold philosophy that “customers are the foundation of every company and without customers there is no company”, and that “you not only have external customers, but also internal customers.”

Christina loves to spend time with her family, relaxing, and working in the yard. She is most excited about being a grandma and loves cuddling her grand baby.

Mariana Pizarro, Administrative Assistant

Originally from Argentina, Mariana’s education is in English education. The decision to come to the U.S. as part of a cultural exchange program made a huge impact on her life. She enjoys working at DeVere and being part of a team that helps people obtain more energy efficient homes and protect the environment at the same time. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and husband, watching reality shows, traveling, and hanging out at the pool and beach.

Andrea Niemietz, Administrative Assistant/Social Media

Originally from Madrid, Spain, Andrea studied Hotel Management and held hospitality roles across Spain. Driven by a passion for languages, she mastered English, French, and Spanish sign language. Originally venturing to the U.S as an au pair in 2016 to become bilingual, she returned three years later. Transitioning to a new career, DeVere captivated her with its warm, family feeling and growth prospects. In her role at DeVere, Andrea loves crafting social media content and helping people have a better quality of life in their homes. Outside of work, she likes to crochet and macrame, read avidly, and experience different cultures through travel.

John Mello- BPI Certified Energy Auditor & QCI

John brings 20 years of experience delivering high-impact results across commercial construction, residential energy efficiency, historic preservation, and workforce development. Recognized for founding one of Baltimore’s most impactful “green jobs” training programs while driving public-private partnerships that enhance community and environmental outcomes, John is motivated by work that benefits people while preserving the planet. As an energy auditor, John loves helping people save money while reducing reliance on fossil fuels. John is the father to two young boys who love hiking and camping in Maryland’s parks.

Kevin Mejia- BPI Certified Energy Auditor and QCI

Kevin has been working in the insulation field for over 13 years, starting his career as a crew helper at DeVere Insulation back in 2013. After gaining experience, he moved on to continue growing with another company, eventually working his way up to becoming an energy auditor. He later returned to DeVere Home Performance, where he enjoys helping homeowners improve their energy efficiency and seeing the impact firsthand.

Outside of work, Kevin enjoys going to yard sales and estate sales, spending time outdoors, and making the most of his time with his wife and their two dogs, Pistachio & Haru.

Cecilio Limon, Field Supervisor

With an established ten-year history with DeVere Home Performance as an installation crew leader, Cecilio desired a change and growth within the company. Manager, Michelle Griffith felt the same and promoted Cecilio to field supervisor. With his experience as crew leader, the role was a perfect fit for him and his family. His favorite part of the job is helping all of the crews and troubleshooting issues in the field.

In his free time, Cecilio enjoys motocross riding and spending time with his family.

Alex Kimball, Field Supervisor

Alex, with a background primarily in construction and remodeling, brings a wealth of experience in management and sales to his role of Field Supervisor. Introduced to the position by Justin (a DeVere estimator) after doing some side work for him, Alex found the opportunity to return to full-time construction just what he needed. His favorite aspect of the job is the camaraderie within the team—working closely with both office staff and installers to plan and execute projects, troubleshoot issues, and provide training to diversify their skill set. Outside of work, Alex prioritizes family time with his wife and four kids, shuttling them to various sports practices and events. In his leisure moments, he enjoys playing music and video games. Alex cherishes his faith and strives to emulate the love and compassion of Jesus in both his personal and professional life.

Amber Kimball- Administrative Assistant

Amber joined DeVere Home Performance in 2025 and works in the Production Department, coordinating jobs and supporting customers in the state weatherization program. She previously managed a home for adults with disabilities and later spent seven years as a kindergarten teacher.

Amber was excited to join DeVere after hearing great things from her husband, Alex, who also works at the company. She especially enjoys the strong sense of teamwork and camaraderie.

A Montana native, Amber loves spending time outdoors. She enjoys camping, hiking, and taking walks with her dog, Kookie. When she’s not outside, she’s often busy cheering on her kids at their sporting events or relaxing with a good book.

Amir Khajezadeh-Energy Auditor & Estimator

Amir holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from York University in Toronto. He has worked on a wide range of environmental and energy efficiency projects, helping communities and homeowners adopt more sustainable and efficient solutions. Amir is passionate about applying practical engineering approaches to improve building performance and protect the environment.

Outside of work, Amir very much enjoys staying active by playing soccer, exploring the outdoors, and spending quality time with his family.

Elizabeth Farinholt- Administrative Assistant

For Elizabeth (Liz), coming back to DeVere in 2024 felt like coming home. After several years managing multiple restaurant locations across Baltimore and working in special programming at the Kennedy Center, Liz has returned to DeVere to take on expanded responsibilities. Now handling more responsibility than ever, Liz loves the energy of a growing company and the genuine joy of working alongside a great team.

A Maryland native with a passion for music, Liz spends her free time immersed in the local music scene or reading a book. When she isn’t at a concert or tending to her “indoor jungle” of houseplants, you can find Liz at the gym or at home with her dog and three cats.

Danae Darpino, Production Manager

As a restaurant and bar management employee, Danae was ready for a change. She already knew DeVere Insulation was a great company with exceptional service and customers, so she took the opportunity to join DeVere in 2019. Each day she gets to help customers make their homes more energy efficient and working alongside the energetic team at DeVere is a good day!

In her free time, Danae enjoys relaxing with her husband and children, cooking, and reading.

John Cole, BPI Certified Energy Auditor and QCI

John brings over 35 years of experience in construction as a crew supervisor to his new position with DeVere Home Performance. He has known many of the DeVere Home Performance staff for over a decade and loves the culture and work ethic of the team so much he jumped at the chance to become a part of the team. John is excited about the many things he’s learned and says he’s learned more in his first few months with DeVere Home Performance than he’s learned in years. He loves working in a cohesive, fast-paced environment with a lot of potential for growth where he can help customers have a healthy, comfortable home. He and his wife of over 30 years spend their free time dancing and riding bikes and have two grown sons they are extremely proud of.

Atanacio (Tano) Cervantes-Gomez, BPI Certified Energy Auditor and QCI

Tano has been a valued member of the DeVere Home Performance team since 2011, when he started as a crew supervisor. He then began performing energy audits and in 2022 became BPI Energy Auditor certified. A believer of the adage that “success doesn’t come to you, you must work for it,” Tano exceeded his own expectations when he became a BPI certified energy auditor. He is thankful for his managers and teammates and is very happy in his role. His favorite part of his job is working with customers and helping them find ways to make their home more energy efficient.

A family man, Tano loves to spend time with his wife and kids.

Ashley Bowers, Estimator

Ashley Bowers was born in Baltimore but raised in South Carolina. Hard work is in her blood—at the time of her high school graduation she already had four years of work experience under her belt. Her career began in sales where she invested much of her time in training including Dale Carnegie Sales Training. Ashley’s strong work ethic helped her quickly grasp the technical skills needed to help customers.

Her skills were noticed by DeVere Insulation’s management team and she joined the company in September 2014. She is committed to working with each customer to meet their needs.

Alaina Booker, Executive Assistant

With a degree in business management from Coastal Carolina University, Alaina worked in retail with most of her experience in management. In 2016, she moved from the sunny shores of South Carolina to vibrant landscape of Maryland and started working with DeVere Home Performance. Alaina enjoys being surrounded and supported by an exceptional team and the opportunities for personal and professional development that DeVere provides. In her spare time, she unwinds by cultivating her garden, experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, traveling and spending quality time with family and friends. As an avid animal lover, her dog Ollie is a faithful sidekick to Alaina and her husband.

Michelle Griffith, Manager

Michelle has established a strong foothold in the insulation industry with her 20+ year career. In 2009, she launched the residential division of DeVere Insulation where her focus has been on enhancing comfort and energy efficiency in existing homes, aligning with the evolving needs of homeowners and the industry’s path toward energy efficiency.

Michelle enjoys helping people any way she can, which is what drew her to the insulation industry. It allows her to help various customers through DeVere’s retail market, low-income communities through DHCD and other grant programs, while also helping the planet.

A passion for making a positive impact is what drives Michelle. As a result, she’s actively engaged with various industry groups and organizations that share a commitment to excellence, including Efficiency First, MDBPA (Maryland Building Performance Association), HACC (Heating, Air Conditioning Contractors), and Women in Insulation.

In her free time, Michelle spends most of her weekends on the sports field with her three boys and enjoys traveling and going to concerts.

Cindy Bertamini – Administrative Assistant / Payroll

Cindy Bertamini is an Administrative Assistant and Payroll Specialist at DeVere Insulation Home Performance. With a Master of Education, she brings a strong attention to detail and a practical, people-focused approach to her role. Cindy supports Maryland’s Energy Assistance and Weatherization programs, helping families improve home comfort and reduce energy costs. Cindy also manages payroll, where her love of numbers and organization comes into play every day.

Cindy enjoys being part of work that makes a real difference in the community while keeping things running smoothly behind the scenes. Outside of work, she stays busy as a mom of four and enjoys soccer, snowboarding, and spending time outdoors with her family and their three pets, including Ranger the Australian Shepherd and cats Strawberry and Princess Mittens.