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ESC Announces Its Newly Elected Board of Directors and Officers

The 18-member Board of Directors was elected this month to serve a two-year term. Representing the ESCO industry are Bill Davidson, Chuck Hall, Ray Hinson, Bill Skosky, Fred Ventresca and Tom Walther. Representing the state public sector are Joel Asrael (Colorado), Amy Butler (Michigan), David Godfrey (Georgia), and Eileen McHugh (Massachusetts). Representing the finance industry is Karen Keeler Pelzer. The category of equipment suppliers and technical service providers is represented by Rhonda Courtney and Brad Jenkins. And, nonprofit organizations and others are represented by Doug Dahle and Jim Ploger. Jim Arwood represents the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO).

The Board elected its officers to serve the next year: Rhonda Courtney, President; Tom Walther, Vice-President - Private Sector; Joel Asrael, Vice-President - Public Sector; Amy Butler, Secretary; Doug Dahle, Treasurer.

Dale Hahs Became ESC's Executive Director

Dale Hahs, four-term President of ESC's Board of Directors, stepped down from his board position to take the reins as ESC's Executive Director. Hahs has been instrumental in moving the organization onto the national stage, passionately presenting in regional and national forums about how ESPC can not only improve the nation's infrastructure, but advance environmental stewardship, create real jobs now for economic development, and enhance our

ESC's Executives: left to right, Tom Walther, Private Sector Vice-President of the Board of Directors, Rhonda Courtney, President of the Board of Directors, and Dale Hahs, Executive Director.

national security by relieving our dependence on foreign fuel sources. Hahs said: "It has been and will continue to be a joy to work with ESC's Board of Directors and membership. Nowhere else in the nation is there a group of energy experts so dedicated to the uptake of a solution with so much to offer to so many. The Executive Director role allows the opportunity and heightened focus on fulfilling our goals to ensure that ESPC takes its rightful place as a business as usual model for comprehensive energy system modernization and the significant benefits it affords."

Tom Walther, Vice President - Private Sector, remarked, "the addition of an Executive Director with the caliber of Dale Hahs positions the ESC to take the next step in leading the performance contracting industry with a clear mission and focus. Dale's passion for the business, his national and federal relationships and his unending work ethic make him the logical and best choice for this role - a lot like PC is the first and best conservation choice - it just makes sense!"

Rhonda Courtney Elected President of ESC's Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors elected Rhonda Courtney as President to fill the vacancy left by Hahs and re-elected her for the upcoming term. Courtney got involved with the ESC 10 years ago when she approached the State of Tennessee to start an ESC State Chapter. As an early champion of ESC's public-private partnerships, Courtney participated in the Florida, Alabama, Arkansas, North Carolina and Michigan chapters. She was elected to the Board of Directors two years ago, representing the category of equipment suppliers and technical providers. As a new board member, she immediately stepped-up to chair the Education Committee and set a new and invigorating tone by involving a broad spectrum of ESC members in the national committee which launched ESC's successful series of webinars.

ESC is Participating in DOE's ESPC Technical Assistance Focus

ESC was awarded a contract with ICF International as one of the Technical Assistance Providers supporting the U.S. Department of Energy through Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The program provides hands-on assistance to grantees of the State Energy Program (SEP) and Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) in using ESPCs. This programmatic and project support builds on ESC's past work to establish best practice tools and resources - with the potential to grow the ESPC industry to ten billion dollars a year.

ESC Recognized its Founders and Early Leaders

ESC's Co-Founders: Mike Glenn (center), Bret Hunter (right) and Linda Smith (left) presenting the ESC Beginnings webinar.

ESC's three co-founders got together in Salt Lake City to go down "memory lane" along with its first executive director, in the ESC Beginnings webinar. Mike Glenn, former director of the Utah Energy Office, and Bret Hunter, formerly in the ESCO industry, described starting the public-private partnership in Utah. Linda Smith, formerly with the Colorado Governor's Energy Office, shared how Colorado's interest in Utah's partnership spurred a regional public-private partnership in other western states. "It took off like wildfire," said Smith. and before long nearly all western states had participated in gatherings. Formalized as the Western Regional Coalition, with support from the U.S. Department of Energy, Michael Arny got involved through DOE's early ESPC educational programs and led the Western Regional Coalition to become the national Energy Services Coalition. The recent ESC Board of Directors honored its early founders with plaques.