The speakers for the May 25th event - hosted by National Bank of Arizona and presented by Greater Phoenix SCORE - are some of the top entrepreneurs and business leaders in "green". Here is more information.
Patrick O'Grady - Reporter, Phoenix Business Journal
Patrick O’Grady covers technology, manufacturing and sustainability for the Phoenix Business Journal. He has been in the Valley for 14 years and has covered a range of issues throughout the years including growth and economic development. His latest focus has been on, among other things, the burgeoning solar industry in the Valley and Arizona and its attempts to ramp up to provide another area of growth for the state.
Dr. James Powers - Chairman, President and CEO of iLinc. His vision and leadership have transformed iLinc into a leading provider of innovative software and services that solve customer problems through web & video collaboration. Dr. Powers is a successful entrepreneur having founded several successful high-growth companies prior to iLinc, one of which grew to over 3,000 employees and another that went public in 1998.
He received a Doctorate of Dental Surgery Degree from The University of Tennessee, a B.S. degree from the University of Memphis and an MBA from Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management.
Dr. Powers has a long history of involvement in philanthropy and community service and currently serves as an executive committee member and Vice Chairman of the Arizona Technology Council’s Board of Directors. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Camp Soaring Eagle, a medically-based camp for seriously ill children in northern Arizona.
Robert Shatz - CFO, Innovative Technologies Development CenterBob Shatz has been involved in alternative finance research and sales for the past 25 years. Fluent in Japanese, he became the first foreign analyst to be trained in Tokyo at Nomura Research Institute and sent to sell Japanese debt and equity research to institutional investors in the US. After setting sales records and nurturing a $5 billion joint venture, he was promoted to top management of Nomura and played an instrumental role in facilitating the first mortage-backed securities mutual fund between Japanese investors and Trust Company of the West ($750 million). Bob retired to Tucson to raise his family and to develop interesting investment opportunities in sustainable ventures.
Craig Hughes - Founder and CEO, Total Transit
When Craig Hughes started the Discount Cab division of Total Transit 26 years ago, he dedicated himself to insuring that each customer receives the cleanest, most courteous and timeliest transportation service possible. Hughes developed Discount Cab’s dispatch center into the largest in Arizona and one of the largest in the United States. The Taxicab, Limousine and Paratransit Association (TLPA), a national trade group, named Discount Cab their 2009 Large Operator of the Year – a prestigious honor that demonstrates his commitment to hard work, excellence, and integrity. He was also named one of the Phoenix Business Journal's "2010 25 Most Admired CEOs & Top Level Executives"
Hughes realizes he runs a business that is notorious for its negative impact on the environment. Challenged by his youngest daughter, Hughes decided to clean up his business, which now has the largest Prius cab fleet in the country. Moreover, he recently installed one of the largest solar arrays in Arizona on the Glendale headquarters building. Total Transit is proud to save a million gallons of fuel per year and reduce its carbon footprint.
Glenn Hamer - President and CEO, Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Glenn Hamer has held important posts at several large organizations, including serving as Director of Business Development and Government Relations for First Solar, Executive Director of the Solar Energy Industries Association, Chief of Staff to then-Congressman Matt Salmon and Executive Director of the Arizona Republican Party. He spent six years working on Capitol Hill in both the House and Senate. Glenn worked as a legislative assistant for Senator Jon Kyl and while on Capitol Hill worked on many important issues including identity theft, efforts to fight violent crime and methamphetamine abuse, and intellectual property issues.
When Glenn was the Director of Government Relations for First Solar, he earned a prestigious appointment to the Western Governors Association's 30 GW Clean and Diversified Energy Advisory Committee and chaired the Solar Task Force. Glenn also served on Governor Janet Napolitano's Solar Energy Task Force.
Steve Zylstra - President and CEO, Arizona Technology Council
Steven G. Zylstra is responsible for policy, development, approval and accomplishment of business goals, objectives, and all financial matters related to the Council. He previously served as president and CEO of both Catalyst Connection and the Pittsburgh Technology Council. He concurrently served as president and CEO of the Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center and the Doyle Center for Manufacturing Technology, both tech-based economic development-focused organizations. Additionally, Zylstra was president of the Pittsburgh Biomedical Development Corporation, an affiliated organization of the Pittsburgh Technology Council that invests in start-up biomedical and biotechnology companies.
Zylstra has successfully served in a variety of additional business, technology and economic development roles including as General Manager of General Pneumatics Corporation, Western Research Center (WRC) in Scottsdale when the firm was awarded 19 Small Business Innovative Research programs. He is currently a member of the Council on Competitiveness and is a member of the industrial advisory committee at the University of Arizona College of Engineering and Mines. He serves on the Arizona Aerospace Institute Advisory Committee as well as the Arizona Bioscience Roadmap Steering Committee.
Mike McClure – Energy Services Account Executive, Honeywell International
Mike’s responsibility within Honeywell is promoting energy conservation and energy saving upgrades with Arizona customers. He works with commercial, governmental and educational entities to help them manage and control energy costs. Solutions include both traditional upgrades (New HVAC, lighting, controls, etc) as well as installation of renewal energy technologies (Solar, Wind, etc).
Mike has been active in the renewable energy field for several years. He also has been a strong advocate for these technologies and is a member of American Solar Energy Society and the Southern Arizona Solar Partnership. As a consumer of green technology; Mike has installed a 2.6 kW Solar PV system; a Solar Thermal system and energy computer at his home. This has lead to an (approx) 40% reduction on his energy bills. Mike has been a Valley resident since 1985.
Lynn-Paige - CEO of Perfect Power
Perfect Power is one of only a few certified Women Owned Businesses in the solar energy industry. Lynn-Paige brings an MBA, an accounting degree and thirty years of business experience to her role as CEO. Perfect Power has been awarded multiple awards including Business of the Year (NAWBO) and is the only solar company in Arizona to receive an Ethics Award from the BBB.
Lynn-Paige’s Professional Achievements include:
- “Women Who Move the Valley” Award, AZ Foothills Magazine
- IMPACT Award, Phoenix Chamber of Commerce
- Chief Financial Officer for a commercial mechanical contractor
- Co-Founder of Solutions Forum, LLC, a CEO consulting firm
- Co-Founder, International Academy of Clinical Acupuncture
- Former Owner - Private General Accounting Practice firm
Lynn-Paige is the Board Vice-Chair at ASBA and is involved with many other community non-profits, professional associations and chambers of commerce.
Craig Kennedy – President, Estrella Environmental Design, Inc.
Estrella Environmental Design, Inc. is a landscape design/build firm celebrating 17 years in business serving clients seeking unique commercial and residential landscapes. Craig’s design background spans 25 years and includes eco-friendly projects like the Luke AFB Housing rehab and the Estrella Mountain Ranch Golf Course. Craig emphasizes proper xeriscape techniques and micro-climate adaptation.
The most recent growth area of Estrella Environmental Design is in low and no water dust control and water extenders for increased crop yield and erosion control. This division promotes a biodegradable line of products under the Xerisource name. Craig is working with the United States Department of Agriculture testing both of these areas.
Kirk Busch, CEO of AZ4Solar
Az4Solar is a non-profit trade association whose mission is to help create a solar energy economy in Arizona that will support thousands of high-wage jobs. We are collaborating with economic & workforce development agencies, municipalities, educational institutions, private industry and other business organizations to create a vibrant and sustainable solar energy ecosystem. More information at www.az4solar.org.
Tim Precourt, CEO of Salt River Solar & Wind
Tim Precourt is the CEO of Salt River Solar & Wind, a renewable energy system integration and consulting firm. The company provides a full portfolio of turnkey solar and wind solutions for residential and commercial customers. Their solutions include energy audits, weatherization, energy efficiency, solar thermal water heater and solar photovoltaic (PV) power array installations as well as project management and consulting, site evaluations, outsourced solar design and engineering, installation, and commissioning of distributed generation solar power plants. Tim joined the firm in sales, and now he and his team provide expert guidance on how to transform empty rooftops into energy producing assets with solar power.
Other speakers include Dr. James Powers of iLinc, William Carey of Dixon Golf, Michael McClure of Honeywell Building Solutions, Lori Singleton of SRP and Craig Robb of National Bank of Arizona. Our MC will be John Adam Kowalski of the The John Adam Show.
We hope you'll join us!
All the best, Doug Bruhnke
