September 25 Montana Teleconference
Links, bios and background information will be available here Friday morning.
Montana Business Leaders for Clean Energy
September 25, 2009
Letter to Senator Baucus (PDF)
Letter to Senator Tester (PDF)
Audio of Teleconference (clicking will start Windows Media Player)
Participant Profiles (in order of speaking)
Denny Gignoux, Owner and Guide
Montana Raft Co. and Glacier Wilderness Guides
(406) 253-5995
info@glacierguides.com; http://www.glacierguides.com/
Denny started guiding in 1993, and has since become one of the owners of Glacier Guides as well as a seasoned naturalist. When not in Glacier, Denny can be found backpacking in South America or Nepal, guiding polar bear viewing trips in Canada, helping his wife, Caeli, with the Climate Ride bicycle challenge, or working as a ski patroller at Whitefish Mountain Resort.
Company Profile: Glacier Guides was founded in 1983 to provide the ecologically sensitive backcountry guiding and interpretation that Glacier National Park deserved. Four years later the company expanded to include rafting on the area's two Wild and Scenic rivers. Today, with more than 70 guides and support people on staff, Glacier Guides provides the area's most comprehensive and professional hiking, backpacking, fishing and rafting services. The company’s other environmental efforts include using biodiesel, electric hybrid vehicles, and purchasing wind power and hydropower to fulfill its electric needs. Glacier is also a sponsor of ClimateRide.org, a bicycle ride promoting responsible energy use and positive action toward climate change.
Beth Schenk, RN, MHI, Sustainability Coordinator
St. Patrick’s Hospital, Missoula: 406-329-2730
bschenk@saintpatrick.org; http://www.saintpatrick.org/
Since becoming a nurse in 1985, Beth has seen the vast amount of resources the health care industry uses, and also understands that the complexity of work done in a hospital makes resource conservation challenging. She is delighted to help St. Pat’s face some of these issues, working toward delivering excellent and compassionate care while conserving resources and encouraging behaviors with lower environmental impacts. Beth is a graduate of Montana State University’s Nursing School and Arizona State University’s College of Nursing, with a Master’s in Healthcare Innovation. Beth also has a long-standing interest in the environment; before nursing, she studied Botany and Philosophy.
Company Profile: St. Patrick Hospital opened in 1873 under the sponsorship of the Sisters of Providence. The hospital has 1400 employees, 250 physicians, and 250 volunteers. The Green 4 Good Environmental Sustainability program is St. Pat's effort be more environmentally sustainable. Healthcare is very complex, and it is challenging to practice medicine in ways that are gentle on the environment. Yet, healthcare makes significant negative impacts on the environment through excessive energy needs, toxin use and waste production. St. Patrick Hospital, in alignment with its core value of Stewardship, "strives to care wisely for our people, our resources, and our earth."
St. Pat’s Sustainability video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXS9V-S9fsI
Recent Projects:
Shut it Off campaign to save energy
Revised commuter club, working with Missoula in Motion
Infectious Waste Reduction effort
Employee engagement and outreach
John Bacon, Operations Manager
Judith Gap Project/Invenergy, Harlowton: (406) 632-4540
jbacon@invenergyllc.com; http://www.invenergyllc.com/wind_projects.html
Mr. Bacon is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Judith Gap Energy Center owned by Invenergy LLC. He has 18 years of experience working on electrical and mechanical systems, from helicopter avionics systems to wind turbine systems. Mr. Bacon started with Invenergy in 2005 during the construction of the Judith Gap Wind Farm. His responsibilities include system analysis, Contract management, high voltage sub-station and collector system operations and maintenance, best operating practice management, daily utility communications and landowner / community relations.
Company Profile: Founded in 2001, Invenergy LLC is a leading clean energy company focused on the development, ownership, operation and management of large-scale electricity generation assets in North America and Europe. Invenergy is the largest independent wind developer in the United States, and has eighteen wind generating facilities representing an aggregate generation capacity of nearly 2,000 MW in North America and Europe. The Judith Gap Energy Center employs 14 full time staff- all local recruits from the surrounding communities of Harlowton, Judith Gap, Denton and Moore. Judith Gap generates approximately $1.2 million annually in property tax revenue for Wheatland County and also disperses approximately $250,000 per year in landowner royalty payments.
Scott Johnson, President and General Manager
Sustainable Oils, Bozeman: (919) 428-1102
scott.johnson@susoils.com; http://www.susoils.com/about/
Scott is an experienced senior executive with extensive experience in management, marketing, sales and business development. He has successfully created and executed business and marketing strategies and led high performance teams in the agricultural chemical, biotechnology, and seed markets for over 30 years. Scott has worked in, managed, or led businesses in all agricultural markets at all levels, including application, retail, wholesale, and manufacturers as well as actively participating in a family farming operation.
Company Profile: Sustainable Oils was formed in November 2007 as a joint venture between agricultural bioscience company Targeted Growth, Inc. and Houston-based biofuel producer Green Earth Fuels, LLC. Through Targeted Growth’s research support, the company developed a select version of the unique oilseed crop, camelina, which is used to produce a high-quality, efficient biodiesel. With the ability to thrive on little water, camelina offers growers the option of producing a profitable crop with minimal inputs. It is not intended for human consumption, so it doesn’t compete with food industry demands. Camelina biodiesel has the potential to become one of the most popular green fuels on the market.
Tim Tolman
Business Development Manager
McKinstry, Missoula: (406) 203-4615
timt@McKinstry.com; http://www.mckinstry.com
With more than 15 years experience in the Energy sector, and a talent for leveraging hard-cost annual operational and utility savings in facility upgrades, Tim is a natural choice to spearhead development efforts in the Montana. He has deep roots in the state; he earned his degree from the University Of Montana College Of Technology, and is a member of the Montana Ambassadors, a volunteer not-for-profit organization dedicated to economic development. Tim’s driving passion to provide residents with innovative energy solutions has led to his involvement with challenging projects throughout the state, including Kalispell Regional Hospital, Carroll College, Frenchtown School District, and the Malta Life Center.
Company Profile: Established in 1960, McKinstry is a full-service Design, Build, Operate and Maintain (DBOM) firm with over 1,600 employees and $400 million in annual revenue. McKinstry’s professional staff and trades people deliver consulting, construction, energy, and facility services. As an early adopter of the DBOM process, the company advocates collaborative and sustainable solutions that are designed to ensure occupant comfort, improve systems efficiency, reduce facility operational costs, and ultimately optimize client profitability for the life of their building.
Dennis Steinhauer, President
Archer Construction and Powerhouse ICS: (406) 585-7770
dennissteinhauer@archerconstruction.info; http://archerconstruction.info/
Mr. Steinhauer has been constructing highly efficient structures in southwest Montana for over ten years. He is widely considered to be on the forefront of sustainable development and has applied his skills to many historic home renovations, award winning residential infill projects, and large format commercial redevelopment. The common thread in Dennis’ diverse body of work is an obvious sense of responsibility to protect the open spaces and natural amenities that make Montana such an exceptional place to live, work and play. Dennis has also applied his building knowledge as a partner in Powerhouse ICS, a design and consulting firm that specializes in an integrated approach to researching and implementing proven conservation strategies for commercial and residential applications.
Company Profile: Understanding the true environmental and future economic impact of bulky hill-top homes and sprawling commercial development has galvanized Archer Construction’s focus on sustainable design and development in the mountain west. From water conservation to renewable energy implementation and weatherization, this LEED based approach helps clients to focus their financial resources for maximum return. Dennis, his eight full time employees, and some very committed developers have most recently embarked on the re-development of a long neglected industrial site in Bozeman. The Northside Project as it is now called, is home to several flourishing businesses and has been celebrated by the City Of Bozeman, Prospera and the Sonoran Institute for it’s exceptional aesthetic and economic benefits to the community. Click here for an Outside Bozeman Magazine article on Archer Construction.
