David Boyce, Chair

David Boyce is an attorney and renewable energy advocate who lives in a PV-powered house. David has been an MRES Board Member since 1999 and the President since 2002. He is a core member of the Sunny Side Project, which placed photovoltaics on a local coffee shop and provided the catalyst for the community solar movement in Minnesota.

E-mail: davidb@mnRenewables.org

Doug Shoemaker, Vice-Chair

Doug Shoemaker is a recent retiree of NSP/Excel. He is an active MRES Board Member, fundraising, publicizing, and helping host the Minnesota Solar Tour and the Solar Boat Regatta. Outside of MRES, Doug's current volunteer projects include a solar thermal application and wind project with area schools, a solar roof initiative partnership, and a feasibility project for a photovoltaic installation.

E-mail: dougs@mnRenewables.org

Mike Gallagher, Treasurer

Mike Gallagher is a Customized Training Manager at Century College, in Continuing Education and Customized Training. He has been working for MnSCU institutions for over 28 years, initially as faculty in the Laboratory Technology Program at Century College, and more recently as a Customized Training Manager, first for Anoka Technical College and now for Century College in White Bear Lake. As a Customized Training Manager, Mike's areas include Trades and Industry programming (including solar energy and HVAC), Distance Learning, and Prison Inmate Education. He is on the Advisory Committee for Century College's Solar Installer Program set to launch in August 2009. Mike has been a life-long environmentalist and taught an Environmental Technology Program at Century College for 23 years, and he has a solar hot water system installed on his home. He holds a bachelor's degree in Adult Education from the University of Minnesota, and he is active on the MRES Executive Committee, the Finance Committee (Chair), and the Curriculum & Training Committee.

E-mail: mikeg@mnRenewables.org

Loren Abraham

Loren Abraham has over 30 years experience in the building and construction industry. Loren's primary focus since 1990 has been ecologically sound, healthier, more energy and resource effective buildings and the creation of sustainable, livable communities. He has passionately supported widespread education about energy and environmental issues as well as the intelligent use of our limited natural resources. A Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP), Loren is a practicing architect and principal of Abraham + Associates in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is also a certified Industrial Designer and an adjunct assistant professor in the Architecture department at the University of Minnesota, College of Design.

E-mail: lorena@mnRenewables.org

Brad Boyd

Brad Boyd is an Attorney and Shareholder with Thomsen & Nybeck, P.A. He has taught seminars and continuing education to real estate agents, brokerages, and attorneys throughout the state and has been published in various journals and trade publications from the NAR's Realtor magazine to the Wall Street Journal's RealEstateJournal.com. As an environmental responsibility advocate, he helped create his firm's wind energy practice group, and has started advocacy websites such as SustainableThinking.org, Green52.org and WindEnergyCommunity.org. To reduce his own energy consumption, he has incorporated new habits such as riding his bike to work as much as possible.

E-mail: bradb@mnRenewables.org

Christopher Childs

Christopher Childs is a writer and longtime energy and environmental activist. He is the former National Speaker for Greenpeace USA, and is the author of The Spirit's Terrain: Creativity, Activism, and Transformation. He has served as Conservation Chair, and as Chair of the Clean Air and Renewable Energy Committee, for the Sierra Club's North Star Chapter. Christopher created Sierra's 2004 and 2006 "Walk for Wind," which promoted wind power across Minnesota. He is currently working on a book about his years with Greenpeace. His 1911 home on St. Paul's West Side — site #2 on the 2007 and 2008 Minnesota Solar Tours — features a 3 kW solar PV system that generates power equivalent to annual household usage.

E-mail: christopherc@mnRenewables.org

Jim Dontje

James Dontje is the Director of the Johnson Center for Environmental Innovation at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter. In addition to working on campus sustainability and environmental education efforts, he is a designer and builder of solar thermal systems and works with a south-central Minnesota task force seeking to develop community wind projects. He received his undergraduate degree in Physics from Luther College and did his Ph.D. work at the University of Minnesota in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering. James has twice done international work in community development and water resources, first in Burkina Faso, West Africa, (1988–1991) and then in eastern Indonesia (1991–2001). Prior to joining Gustavus, he taught in the Sustainability and Environmental Studies program at Berea College in Kentucky and also served as an ecological design consultant for that institution.

E-mail: jimd@mnRenewables.org

Jon Higgins

Jon Higgins is the Managing Director of Lotus Energy Consulting and Management, a firm specializing in custom energy solutions with emphasis on energy efficiency and sustainable technologies. Jon recently moved to Minnesota from Boston, Massachusetts, with training from Solar Energy International, and has more than four years experience in energy auditing, site evaluation, system design, and installation of PV, solar thermal, hydro, and small wind.

E-mail: jonh@mnRenewables.org

Jan Hubbard

Jan Hubbard has over 30 years of experience working in the electronic communications manufacturing industry, where he filled various business development, marketing, sales management, and leadership roles. He has an MBA from St. Cloud State University, a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Business Administration from the University of Minnesota, and an electronics diploma from Anoka Technical College. Jan believes renewable energy is important for environmental sustainability. He has worked as an active volunteer for MRES on projects for the Outreach and Curriculum & Training Committees, the Eco-Experience, the Solar Tour, and he attended MRES/MREA training in solar thermal, solar PV, and wind energy technologies.

E-mail: janh@mnRenewables.org

Ralph Jacobson

Ralph is CEO of Innovative Power Systems. He is a certified solar installer and energy auditor with over 25 years experience as a building contractor. Ralph is North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) certified and has a B.S. in Materials Engineering from the University of Minnesota.

E-mail: ralphj@mnRenewables.org

Stephen Jenkins, Secretary

Stephen Jenkins is just beginning his career in advocating for renewable energy. Since learning about MRES, Steve has spent time volunteering at the Eco-Experience and the Solar Home Tour. Outside of MRES, he was recently elected Hennepin County Soil and Water Supervisor for District 4. He attended the University of Michigan, where he received his B.A. in Economics and Political Science. At Michigan, he served as the Vice-President of Communications for Alpha Phi Omega - Gamma Pi Chapter, a co-ed community service fraternity.

E-mail: stephenj@mnRenewables.org

Rebecca Lundberg

Rebecca Lundberg is president and CEO of Powerfully Green, which focuses on installation of residential solar energy systems. She holds a master's degree in education, and a Minnesota Residential Building Contractor's license. She is passionate about sustainable living, and lectures about conservation at every opportunity. Rebecca collaborated on the design of the mechanical room for the 2008 Eco Experience exhibit at the Minnesota State Fair, and was keynote speaker at the Audubon Center of the North Woods during the National Solar Tour in October 2008. She gives presentations in and around the Twin Cities. Rebecca has experience teaching math, science, and gifted/talented education in the public schools, and works with the University of Minnesota's Institute of Technology and the Girls Excel in Math programs. She has reduced her own energy consumption by one-half, and installed a 1.26 kW photovoltaic array on her home.

E-mail: rebeccal@mnRenewables.org

Mike Stadelman

Mike Stadelman is an advocate for renewable energy and energy efficiency. He is a marketing professional with over 15 years experience in bringing technology and construction products to market. He holds a bachelor's degree in Marketing from the University of Minnesota and has attended MRES/MREA training in solar thermal, solar PV, and wind energy technologies. Mike is active on the MRES Outreach Committee, leveraging his career in Marketing, Communications, and Brand Management to help support the mission of MRES.

E-mail: mikes@mnRenewables.org

Dan Juhl, Special Counsel to the Board

Dan Juhl is Chairman and CEO of Juhl Wind, Inc. He has pioneered conservation and renewable energy technologies — particularly wind power — in the Midwest for over 30 years. During his tenure in the wind industry, Dan's activities have covered every aspect of the technology, including R&D, design, manufacturing, development, installation, and O&M. He has also been instrumental in helping to form public policy by working with legislators and regulators on the workings and benefits of utilizing renewables in the energy mix, and is considered to be one of the nations leading experts on wind technology and community-owned renewable distributive generation. Dan has developed 1,500 MW of wind generation in his 30 years of experience in the field. He has been a consultant to Edison Capital, Johnson Controls, John Deere Capital, Nordex Turbines, Suzlon Turbine Manufacturing, Nebraska Power, and Xcel Energy. He has appeared before numerous state and federal governmental bodies advocating wind power and community-based energy development on behalf of landowners, farmers, and ranchers. Dan also wrote the popular wind energy reference guidebook Harvesting Wind Energy As A Cash Crop.

E-mail: danj@mnRenewables.org

1)  

Prepare for each Board of Directors meeting by reading material distributed prior to the meeting, and gathering whatever information may be required or requested.

2)  

Attend all Board Meetings and participate in the proceedings. If a Board member is absent from three or more consecutive Board Meetings, or one-half of the meetings in a twelve-month period — except in extraordinary cases — then he or she has officially resigned, and the Board may proceed to filling their position.

3)  

Attend Board retreats, planning sessions, and Board development workshops.

4)  

Attend and take an active role in the promotion, funding, planning, and presentation of the Minnesota Solar Tour, the Solar Boat Regatta, and other MRES designed special events.

5)  

Serve on at least one committee and actively participate in meetings of that committee.

6)  

Maintain knowledge of current programs.

7)  

Establish and monitor policies.

8)  

Monitor finances, and bear responsibility for the fiscal condition of the organization.

9)  

Be a current paid member of the organization.

10)  

Assist in fundraising by soliciting the financial support of others and by sharing resources and talents with the organization, including contacts for support.

11)  

Serve as an advocate of the organization to the public and constituent groups.

12)  

Act in loyalty to the organization, its vision and mission.