SPEAKER BIOS

Dale Arnold
Director of Energy Services
Ohio Farm Bureau Federation
Columbus, Ohio
Dale has been Director of Energy Services for the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation since 1995.  He  has  been 
responsible  for several self-help electric  and  natural  gas  aggregation  groups  and  has lead projects on electric load  profiling,  energy  efficiency, on-site generation, special metering, interconnection and related issues.  Dale  represents  farm,  small business and residential energy consumers on several  advisory  boards and working groups organized by public utilities, the  Ohio Consumers Counsel, the PUCO  and  the Ohio Department  of Development. He is a member of the Green Energy Ohio Board of Directors and\ the Ohio Transportation Working Group. Dale serves on the a biomass working group,  recently organized under a joint effort between the Ohio Department of Development and Ohio Department of Agriculture. The Ohio Farm Bureau has over 225,000 member families statewide. Dale works through the organization’s extensive policy development process to help its leaders create effective energy policy on local, state and national levels. He has authored Farm Bureau position papers advocating a Diversified Energy Portfolio using domestic oil  and coal resources, nuclear and renewable technologies to help consumers control energy costs. He is a native of Knox County, where his family can trace their involvement in Ohio agriculture starting in the 1820’s.

Kate Bartter

Associate Director

Institute for Energy & the Environment
The Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio

Kate has worked in the Office of Research at Ohio State University since March 2007, serving as both the special assistant to the senior vice president for research and as associate director of the university’s Institute for Energy and the Environment. Kate provides the senior vice president with strategic advice on issues that intersect with the State of Ohio, including funding and economic development opportunities. As associate director for IEE, she is responsible for developing the strategic plan and operational goals to support the institute’s mission of advancing the university’s national role in solving the global energy problem while promoting environmental sustainability. Prior to joining OSU, Kate served as chief policy advisor and director of cabinet affairs for Ohio Gov. Bob Taft. There, she managed the governor’s policy staff, directed cabinet relations, coordinated inter-agency issues including strategic planning, and oversaw the operation of his Washington, D.C., office. Kate also served as the governor’s executive assistant for environment and natural resources throughout the Taft Administration.  Prior to joining the Taft executive office, Kate served as deputy director for policy and legislation at the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. She began her career in public service as a legislative liaison at Ohio EPA and as a legislative aide in the Ohio Senate. Kate received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ohio University. Kate and her husband, Art Arnold, live with their son, Jack, in Upper Arlington.

Alvin D. Compaan

Chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy
University of Toledo
The author of over 200 refereed professional publications, Al has four patents related to thin-film photovoltaics assigned to the University of Toledo.  He and his wife live in a solar-powered, zero-electric-energy home.  The rooftop PV also charges Al’s battery-operated electric commuter pickup.  He helped to stimulate other recent PV installations at the University of Toledo and the Sylvania United Church of Christ.  He has spoken and written widely on issues of energy efficiency and energy security especially as they relate to electricity production.

Martin Culik

Project Manager
Horizon Wind
Bloomington, Illinois
Martin joined Horizon in June 2005 as Project Manager in Bloomington, Illinois.  His responsibilities include many aspects of development of projects, moving them from the project identification phase through financial closing and the start of construction.  Martin worked as a consultant for Horizon from March until May 2005.  From 1993 to 2005, he served as Executive Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension, a community-based educational organization affiliated with Cornell University.  He also served as Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Leader for Cornell Cooperative Extension from 1987 to 1993.  Martin’s work with extension focused on public policy education and community development, as well as farmland protection and agricultural issues.  Martin has a Master of Science degree in agronomy from the University of Nebraska and a Bachelor of Science degree in plant science from the University of Delaware.

Lucas Dixon

Co-Chair, OSU Decathlon Team

Junior Undergraduate
The Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio
Lucas is a junior at The Ohio State University pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. He is a cofounding member of The Ohio State Solar Decathlon Team and a major part in the student-led university response to the need for sustainable housing. For the last two quarters Lucas has also been an intern at Green Energy Ohio and helped put on today’s event.  Lucas would like to thank all the sponsors, vendors, speakers, and attendees that made this event possible.

Seth Dunn
Director of Policy & Market Development for Renewables

GE Energy
Schenectady, New York

In his current role Seth is responsible for identifying growth opportunities in new and existing markets for GE’s renewable energy products.  Seth joined GE in 2005 with the Renewable Energy Leadership Program, where he completed rotations in Commercial Operations, Marketing, and Product Management.  Prior to GE, Seth spent six years with the Worldwatch Institute in Washington, DC, where he wrote and spoke extensively on energy and climate policy.  Seth holds BA, MBA, and MEM degrees from Yale University.

Alan Frasz
Vice President & Owner
Dovetail Solar and Wind
Dovetail is one of Ohio’s oldest and largest renewable energy system installers. Al leads corporate sales, marketing, and planning. He joined the firm in January 2006 after spending 28 years in the information technology industry. Al brings a wealth of business & management experience. Prior to Dovetail, Mr. Frasz was division vice president at two high growth firms: TRION Technologies and Lexi-Comp.  He also has held management, sales and technical positions at BEA Systems, FileNet, and Digital Equipment Corp. Al earned his BS at Case Western Reserve University, where he also performed research in Biomedical Engineering for several years.

Geoff Greenfield
President & Founder
Third Sun Solar and Wind Power, Ltd.
Geoff is the president and founder of Third Sun, a full service renewable energy design and installation firm serving OH and surrounding states.  Since 1997, his team of engineers, electricians and installers have provided power systems for more than 150 residences, businesses, utility companies and institutions.  Geoff’s career includes work in the construction industry, non-profit housing development, and service in the Peace Corps in Africa.  He has a BA from Miami University and a Masters from Ohio University.  Geoff, along with his wife and two children, live in an “off-grid” solar and wind powered home in rural Athens County.  

Kemp Jaycox
Wind Energy Program Manager, Green Energy Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Starting with GEO in July 2007, Kemp is seeking to augment the successful wind energy program that was started by Steve Watts in 2004.  Kemp is currently managing several wind monitoring projects at the NASA Plumbrook facility, the Bowling Green State University Firelands campus, and the Honda of America East Liberty manufacturing facility.  Working with the Ohio Department of Development, he looks forward to expanding the popular Anemometer Loan Program in 2008.  Kemp plays a key role in the Northwest Ohio Coastal Wind Initiative, a congressional earmark project to research windpower development opportunities in the coastal region of Northwest Ohio.  Kemp also seeks to establish additional fee-for-service wind monitoring projects throughout Ohio.  Kemp earned a B.A. in Biological Sciences from DePauw University, and a M.En. in Environmental Sciences from Miami University.  During his undergraduate and graduate studies, he enjoyed several off-campus research and travel opportunities in the rainforests of Australia and Costa Rica and the deserts of the southwestern U.S.  Prior to joining GEO, Kemp worked for nine years as a project manager on environmental due diligence projects for a private sector environmental/engineering consulting firm.

Kevin M. Maynard
Director of Utilities
City of Bowling Green
Bowling Green, Ohio
Born in Hicksville, Ohio, Kevin was raised on a small farm southeast of Bryan, Ohio. He graduated magna cum laude from The Defiance (Ohio) College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1996.  Kevin has more than 28 years of experience in the electric, natural gas, telecommunications, water and wastewater industries, including serving as Director of Utilities for the Bryan (Ohio) Municipal Utilities from 1993 to 1997, as General Manager of the Austin (Minnesota) Utilities from 1997 to 1999, as General Manager of Wyandotte (Michigan) Municipal Services from 2001 to 2005, and as Director of Utilities for the City of Bowling Green, Ohio, since September 2005. In 2000-2001 Kevin served as General Manager of AMPO, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Municipal Power-Ohio, the non-profit wholesale power supply and services provider for more than 120 municipal electric utilities in Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Michigan and Pennsylvania. As General Manager of AMPO, Inc., Kevin was instrumental in developing, implementing and managing natural gas and electricity aggregation programs for numerous communities across Ohio. Kevin has served on the boards of American Municipal Power-Ohio, Inc., (1993 to 1997 and 2005 to present), the Southern Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (1997 to 1999), the Michigan Municipal Electric Association (2003 to 2005), the Michigan Public Power Agency (2005), and was secretary of the Ohio Public Power Educational Institute from 1993 to 1997. He is a past president of the Williams County (Ohio) Historical Society and co-authored two award-winning local history books, including a teacher’s guide for the Williams County elementary schools. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Stryker (Ohio) Area Heritage Council and served as this local historical organization’s president in 2006-2007.

Jim McGregor
State Representative
Chairman, Ohio House Alternative Energy Committee
Gahanna, Ohio
Now in his 4th term as a State Representative from Gahanna, Jim chairs the House Alternative Energy Committee and serves on the Agriculture and Natural Resources Economic Development and Environment, Local and Municipal Government and Urban Revitalization and Lake Erie Fishing Regulatory Reform Task Force; Fuel Production Task Force.  Jim has received the "2005 Legislator of the Year" Award from The League of Ohio Sportsman; Ohio Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission - Community Building Award (2005); Distinguished Community Service & Leadership Award from the Columbus Jewish Federation (2001); OCHLA's Nuestros Familia Award (2007); and Watchdog of the Treasury Award (2006). The Mayor of Gahanna for 18 years; Jim’s public service also includes Deputy Chief and Chief, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Civilian Conservation for 3 years; Administrator of field operations, Division of Natural Areas for 3 years; Park Naturalist for 6 years; Superintendent of Parks for the city of Lebanon, Ohio for 1 year; 6 years in the Ohio Army Reserve National Guard E-5.  Jim has a B.A. from the University of Cincinnati.

Frederick C. Michel Jr.
Associate Professor of Biosystems Engineering
Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center
The Ohio State University

Wooster, Ohio

Fred is an Associate Professor in the department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering at the Ohio State University located at the OARDC in Wooster. He received his PhD in Chemical Engineering from Michigan State University and Bachelor’s degrees in Chemical Engineering and Biochemistry from the University of Colorado. He spent a sabbatical year at the DOE National Renewable Energy Laboratory and is involved in a number of different biomass energy projects at OARDC. These include the pretreatment of Ohio cellulosic feedstocks, wheat bran, the by-products of a rubber producing root crop, as well as corn for ethanol production.

Mark R. Shanahan, Governor’s Energy Advisor
Executive Director

Ohio Air Quality Development Authority
Columbus, Ohio
Mark is the executive director of the Ohio Air Quality Development Authority (OAQDA) and its Clean Air Resource Center.  Appointed in 1989, he oversees the management of more than $1.6 billion in outstanding bond issues as well as the Authority’s research and special project programs. On January 17, 2007. Governor Ted Strickland created the position of Governor’s Energy Advisor through Executive Order 2007-02 and appointed Mark to the position.  In that role, he is responsible for coordinating state agencies’ efforts to develop a comprehensive Ohio energy policy and to implement the Governor’s order to significantly reduce state agency energy consumption.  Mark oversees the work of the Ohio Coal Development Office, one of the nation’s leading clean coal technology research, development and deployment programs. Since 1994, he has served as Ohio’s Clean Air Ombudsman for small business.  An active member of the Air & Waste Management Association, he is group coordinator for the Technical Council’s Environmental Management Group. He is also the Governor’s delegated representative on the Third Frontier Commission. Mark earned his Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University.  He received his M.A. (with honors) from the University of Pennsylvania and graduated from Boston College (magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa).