National Renewable Energy Laboratory Selects 33 Community Leaders for Leadership Program

Tracey de Morsella — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 14:44:05 +0000

The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently selected 33 Colorado community leaders to participate in its 2009 Executive Energy Leadership program (Energy Execs). The leadership program is focused on educating business and government leaders about clean energy solutions that can boost the local economy. The six-month leadership program gives executives from Colorado-based businesses, government entities, universities, and economic development and non-profit organizations an in-depth look at solar and wind power, biofuels and transportation, and energy efficient building technologies. Briefings by technology experts, research laboratory tours and visits to field applications are part of the monthly classroom experience.

“The NREL Executive Energy Leadership Program offers an important opportunity for community leaders to embrace clean energy technologies,” Director Dan Arvizu said. “Moving these technologies to the marketplace at speed and scale requires well-thought out systems and grassroots implementation. Given the increasing interest in our leadership program, I’m confident NREL is on the right path in helping statewide leaders gain access to our important work accelerating clean energy technologies. Energy Execs alumni are emerging as shining stars on the statewide energy scene.”

At the conclusion of the program, participants present a viable project on a renewable energy or energy efficiency application. This is the third year for the Energy Execs program. In 2008, 19 representatives of industry, local government and non-profit organizations completed the class.

The following is a complete list of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory – 2009 Energy Execs Participants

Tom Acre
Deputy City Manager, City of Commerce City

Matthew Appelbaum
Mayor, City of Boulder

Sharon Barrett
Senior Director, Cushman & Wakefield

Karen Benker
Mayor Pro Tem, City of Longmont

Jim Benson
City Council Member, City of Commerce City

Bruce Biggi
Economic Development Manager, City of Greeley

James Bosch
Visitors Program/National Bioenergy Center, NREL

Steve Catanach
Light & Power Manager, City of Fort Collins

Bob Churchwell
City Administrator, City of Burlington

Peter Dawson
County Commissioner/Chair, Baca County

Frances Draper
Executive Director, Boulder Economic Council

Gary Estenson
Deputy Executive Director, Colorado Department of Labor and Employment

Keith Fife
Long Range Planning Division Director, Mesa County

Robert FitzGerald
City Council Member/Mayor Pro Tem, City of Aurora

Preston Gibson
President, Jefferson Economic Council

John Hall
Business Development Officer, Office of Economic Development – City of Westminster

Stephen Hall
Executive Director, Western TechSet

Anne Hayes
Vice President, Westfield Company

Michael Kirk
Director of Facilities Services, Larimer County

Irene Law
Director of Operations, Habitat for Humanity of Colorado

Michael Masciola
Vice President, Northern Colorado Economic Development Corporation

Lisa Nolder
Economic Development Director, Southeast Colorado Business, Retention, Expansion & Attraction (SEBREA)

David November
Environmental Manager, Keystone & Breckenridge Resorts (Vail Resorts)

Susan Osborne
City Council Member, City of Boulder

Frank Phillips
City Council Member, City of Lafayette

Scott Prestidge
Senate Staff, Colorado Senator Mark Udall

Scott Randall
Town Manager, Town of Superior

Kathleen Seelye
Managing Partner, Ricca Newmark Design

Greg Severance
Director of Public Works, Pueblo County

Matthew Singleton
Vice President, Project Management, Prologis

Christopher Smith
Program Manager, Denver Office of Economic Development

Virgil Turner
Administrative Services Director, City of Montrose

Debra Wilcox
Vice President, Biofuels Project Manager, Bye Energy, Inc.