Our Team

Vince DiFrancesco launched Homestead Sage in 2014 with a mission to make the spaces in which we live, work, and play healthier and more energy efficient. An entrepreneur with decades of experience in sustainability, education, management and finance, Vince is proud to serve the community alongside the talented Homestead Sage team. He holds an MBA from Case Western Reserve University, is a North Carolina General Contractor License #84416 (Building, Unlimited), has a BS in Earth Sciences from Montana State University and is a certified BPI Building Analyst, Envelope Professional, Infiltration and Duct Leakage Professional, DOE Energy Auditor, as well as a Proctor Mentor for all of these certifications. Vince is also a LEED® Accredited Professional. A US Army Veteran and outdoor enthusiast, Vince relocated with his family recently and is happy to call Raleigh, NC home.

Andrew Opperman serves as Homestead Sage Operations Manager. Andrew holds the Australian equivalent of a Commercial Electrical Contractors License, and he has years of experience managing electrical and controls projects in a wide variety of commercial and residential applications. Andrew is also a Certified BPI Building Analyst, Envelope and Infiltration and Duct Leakage Professional, Proctor and Proctor Mentor. He has experience in commercial and industrial construction and maintenance, inspection work, and making financial decisions. He has also served as a contact point to hundreds of concerned customers of large home builders. He has worked with Franklin Energy and Duke Energy as a Contractor and Energy Specialist, Eastmill Products as a Partner and CFO, Essential Property Services as an Insulation Inspector, SDF Electrical as an Electrician, and has worked in Quality Control in Nigeria and South Africa. Andrew Opperman graduated from Kimberly College, and he is currently pursuing his US Electrical Contractor’s License and he is enrolled in NC State/Wake Tech matriculation program for a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering. He is currently based in Raleigh, NC.

Brian Dominisac currently serves the Raleigh, NC region as lead HVAC expert, instructor, energy auditor and energy efficiency technician. Brian is an experienced HVAC technician and is currently pursuing his HVAC license. He is also a Certified BPI Building Analyst, Envelope, and Infiltration and Duct Leakage Professional and Proctor. He has experience in performing energy assessments and providing tips and methods on energy conservation to help customers save power and money. He has worked with Comfort Monster Heating and Air Conditioning as a Service Technician and Kings Mechanical Inc. as a Mechanic. He holds an Associate in Applied Science from Wake Technical Community College and certificates in Air Conditioning, Heating, Commercial Refrigeration, and Refrigeration Technology Design. He is also NATE and EPA certified. Brian Dominisac is based in Wake Forest, NC.

Jamali Ford is a Certified Building Analyst, Envelope, and Infiltration and Duct Leakage Professional and Proctor. Jamali’s background is in energy auditing, blower door and duct leakage testing and he currently serves the Greenville, SC as an energy auditor, energy efficiency technician and instructor. Jamali has experience prioritizing opportunities for energy savings through data analysis, visual inspection, and using various diagnostic tools. He holds a high school diploma in Electrical from Eli Whitney Technical High School and is based in Greenville, SC.

Mickey Essex is a Certified BPI Building Analyst and serves the Florence, SC region as an energy auditor and energy efficiency technician. He has 25 years of experience in commercial refrigeration and HVAC/R on supermarkets, restaurants, schools, and residences. He has worked with MFE Services, CE Holt Refrigeration, and Walmart Stores as an HVAC/R Technician. He graduated from a four-year apprenticeship school for HVAC/R of the Associators General Contractors of America and received Journeymen’s Card and Type II EPA Card. Mickey Essex is based in Darlington, SC.

Javier Santos Vazquez is a Certified BPI Building Analyst and currently serves the Raleigh region as an energy auditor and energy efficiency technician. He is skilled in refrigeration basics and safety protocols, and he is currently pursuing an Associate of Applied Science in Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Technology from Wake Technical Community College