Maverick Leadership
At Maverick Energy, leadership isn’t just about titles—it’s about experience, strategy, and a relentless commitment to our clients. With over 75 years of combined energy expertise, our leadership team brings deep knowledge, market insight, and a client-first mindset to every engagement. Meet the professionals guiding Maverick’s mission to help organizations buy energy smarter, manage risk more effectively, and reduce costs with confidence.
Our Team
Russ Paluch
Russ Paluch has been a leader in the deregulated energy industry since 1991, bringing a wealth of experience across natural gas, electricity, and emerging renewable energy markets. His expertise spans battery storage solutions, community solar, and advanced strategies in price risk management and storage optimization.
Russ holds a Bachelor of Arts from Illinois State University and has a deep understanding of utility operations, including utility account balancing, transportation assets, and tariff analysis. He also advises clients on regulatory compliance and utility cost management to ensure operational efficiency and financial savings.
With a forward-thinking approach and a strong track record in both traditional and renewable sectors, Russ provides strategic insight to help clients navigate the evolving energy landscape with confidence.
John Righeimer
John Righeimer brings over three decades of expertise in the deregulated energy industry, having worked in both physical and financial energy markets since 1990. With a strong foundation in market analysis, price risk management, and energy commodity trading, John is committed to helping clients save money and protect their energy budgets through strategic decision-making.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Eastern Illinois University and a Master of Science in Management and Organizational Development from Benedictine University. John’s skillset includes negotiating energy provider agreements and developing customized energy procurement strategies that align with his clients’ financial goals.
With a results-driven approach and a deep understanding of market dynamics, John is a trusted advisor for businesses navigating today’s complex energy landscape.
Jim McCallie
Jim is an NFA-licensed commodities broker and a registered Commodity Trading Advisor (CTA) with a focus on corporate and governmental energy price risk management since 2004. He brings extensive expertise in oil, diesel, gasoline, propane, and natural gas markets. Jim specializes in hedging physical price exposures using commodity futures and options, as well as developing comprehensive fuel strategies. A key part of Jim’s approach is client education—empowering organizations to understand and confidently manage risk through proven concepts and tools.