2010 MRES Board of Directors

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

Tim Bethke, Secretary

Tim Bethke has over 29 years of experience as a global technical management executive with a multi-faceted engineering background.  He is an energetic and collaborative leader with progressive experience leading technical professionals, projects, and processes.  Tim considers himself a clean energy technology advocate / enthusiast with a passion for growing the solar economy here in Minnesota.  He has a solid working knowledge of clean energy technologies obtained through dedicated research, training, and active involvement in MRES.

E-mail: timb@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, operations, 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, an electronics diploma from Anoka Technical College, and a graduate certificate in Public Relations from the University of St. Thomas. Jan is a founding Board member and the Treasurer for the Minnesota Solar Energy Industry Association (MnSEIA). He believes that renewable energy is important for environmental sustainability and that solar energy is important to further develop, because it has the potential to be less expensive than coal, and solar energy is cleaner and one of the most sustainable renewable energy sources. Jan has worked as an active volunteer for MRES on projects for the Curriculum & Training, Advocacy, Finance, Outreach (Chair & Editor of Solar Flare e-newsletter, 2008 & 2009), and 30th Anniversary Committees, the Eco-Experience, the Solar Tour, electric vehicle and renewable energy event, and he completed MRES/MREA training in solar thermal, solar PV, and wind energy technologies and earned NABCEP Certificate of Knowledge (COK) for photovoltaic systems.

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 wind and solar installation 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

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

Eric Jensen

Eric Jensen is the Energy Coordinator for the Izaak Walton League of America.  In this position, he is involved in reviewing and developing utility resource plans and rate designs and is active in the League’s focus on distributed generation, Low Carbon Fuel policy, the Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System, utility revenue decoupling, and wind energy siting and wildlife interaction. Eric is also involved numerous organizations, non-profits, and programs and has been very active with MRES since he attended his first meeting.  He holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from UW-Madison.

Email: ericj@mnRenewables.org

Chris Nelson

Chris’ professional career has been working with technology companies across a number of areas including strategy, planning, marketing, product management, sales, and services.  Chris holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN and earned his Master of Business Administration from the Carlson School at the University of Minnesota.

Chris Nelson has been a fan of the Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES) since learning about the organization during the Solar Tour in 2008.  Since that time, Chris has been active with the organization by attending meetings, classes, and volunteering at a number of events.  Chris has also been serving on the MRES Advocacy Committee for the past year. 

Email: chrisn@mnRenewables.org

 Laura Cina, Managing Director

Laura Cina is the sole employee of MRES. As the Managing Director it is her job to assist the Board Members in instituting the Society's goals of education, outreach, training, and advocacy in the Renewable Energy field. She started volunteering for MRES in the Spring of 2009 and was hired in the Fall of 2009.

Laura received her Bachelor Degree in Political Science and Sustainable Studies from the University of Minnesota. She previously worked for freEner-g Solar Leasing and is a passionate advocate and volunteer for environmental causes of all types.

Email: laurac@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 and a current paid member of ASES.

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.