| EJ Arnold Edward J. Arnold (E. J.) is responsible for HVAC sales for Woods Comfort Systems to the builders in the Central Texas area. Edward’s responsibilities are estimating, design and layout of HVAC systems, code compliance and use of equipment and materials to achieve Energy Star ratings. E.J. has been a manufacturer's representative in consumer products and commercial building-related products, as well as a construction manager in the building industry. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Teaching from Sam Houston State University, where he received a four-year scholarship to play baseball.
Perry Been Perry Been is the Deputy Director of Texas’ State Energy Conservation Office (SECO). Been joined SECO in February 2000, shortly after the Texas Legislature transferred management responsibility of the division from the General Services Commission to the Comptroller of Public Accounts. Born in Indiana, Penn., Been has lived in Texas since receiving his B.A. degree in Education from Harding College in Searcy, Ark. Prior to SECO, Been served as the Director of Administration for the Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office (1996-2000) and the Director of Administration for the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (1992-1996).
Darren Classen Darren Classen is the co-owner of Classen Custom Homes in New Braunfels, Texas. Darren attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas where he worked for a local homebuilder as a supervisor and managed several custom home projects. While at Baylor, Darren realized his passion for green building and sustainable thinking. Darren graduated in 2004 with a degree in Marketing and Graphic Design. As co-owner of Classen Custom Homes, Darren began to focus on building sustainable and energy-efficient homes. Using green concepts such as: reclaimed and eco-friendly materials, lot selection and home orientation and incorporating innovative products into the building process, he builds homes that fit the clients needs, while lessoning the environmental impact. Each home built by Classen Custom Homes qualifies for Level One Certification on the San Antonio Green Builders scale and is Energy Star and Energy Wise Certified. Darren is also a member of CPS Energy Smart.
Teri Green As manager of the Texas Gas Service Conservation Program, Teri is dedicated to educating consumers about energy conservation and the environmental benefits of natural gas. An advocate who has worked in the natural gas industry for 18 years, Green is a local champion for natural gas vehicles. In 2008, the Texas Gas Service Conservation program distributed more than $1 million in rebates for the installation of high-efficiency gas equipment to customers in Austin and Sunset Valley. Local residential and commercial consumers alike have benefited from the efforts of Green and the Conservation Program. In addition to her work at Texas Gas Service, Green has served on the Zachary Scott Theatre Board of Directors for the past three years, as well as worked with AISD, the Austin Public Library Foundation and the Texas Council on Family Violence.
Kathy Howard Kathy Howard founded Energy Sense, an energy code and inspection company, acquired by MASCU Corporate Services in 2003. As the Regional Business Science Advisor for Masco’s Environments for Living program. She is responsible for the marketing and account management for the State of Texas. Kathy is both a Master Certified Rater for the Engineered for Life and Environment for Living programs, and a Certified Energy Star Provider.
Doug Kless Doug Kless is the Director of Business Development, Southeastern United States for EnerWorks Inc., a leading North American developer and manufacturer of solar thermal appliances for residential, commercial and industrial applications. In this role, he has been instrumental in securing regional and national distribution of EnerWorks solar water heating products, as well as large-scale commercial adoption of the technology. Among the projects Doug has brought to fruition is the world’s largest solar thermal heating and cooling installation. Prior to joining EnerWorks, Doug was the Sales Manager for Kohler Company, developing the southeastern builder marketplace, and was the Business Development Manager for BuilderMT, Newstar and BuildNet, leading software providers to custom and public builders across the United States. Doug holds a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from Georgetown University.
Steve Landrum Steve Landrum brings over 20 years of industry experience in the development, implementation and communication of conservation and energy efficiency programs for natural gas and electricity. Steve’s presentation, Solving the Climate Change Equation, will shed new light on how the direct use of natural gas improves energy efficiency and lowers air emissions.
Stan McWhirter Stan McWhirter is a partner in Freedom Renewable Energy Enterprises, a distributor of wind, solar electric, solar thermal, and bio-mass furnace products. They are members of the Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association. Stan’s recent background has been in the high-performance custom home business. By incorporating the ideas, techniques and building science that Peter Peiffer and others have championed, high-performance home builders can save their clients 40 to 60 percent of the energy cost associated with running their home, as compared with a house that is strictly built to code. Freedom Renewable Energy Enterprise’s mission is to address the other half of that equation, moving people one step further toward energy independence. Stan’s presentation will cover a systems approach to integrating wind, solar electric and solar thermal resources into the home of the future, today.
Richard Morgan Richard Morgan manages Austin Energy 's Green Building Program. Green Building includes single family, multifamily and commercial green guilding programs and the adoption and implementation of the City of Austin Energy Code. Richard is also responsible for Austin Energy’s Manage it Green consulting program, which provides services to other utilities and municipalities seeking to develop or enhance green building and energy efficiency programs. He is certified by the National Development Council as a Housing Development Finance Professional and is a Project Management Professional. Richard is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Green Building Initiative.
Peter L Pfeiffer, FAIA Peter Pfeiffer is a professional architect and building scientist who has spent the past 30 years developing pragmatic high-performance building design strategies. In 2004 he was named a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects for his life-long commitment to "mainstreaming green building in North America." He is a founding principal of Barley + Pfeiffer Architects, a firm recognized nationally for its pioneering use of environmentally responsive building design and construction techniques. The firm's work has been featured in numerous publications in the United States and abroad, including The Washington Post, The New York Times, Fine Homebuilding, and Better Homes & Gardens. On multiple occasions he has been a guest on National Public Radio as well as theHG-TV network.
Doug Schroeder Doug Schroeder is the Southwest Tankless Resource Manager for Rheem Water Heating. He specializes in providing training and education throughout the industry to ensure proper design, installation and sizing of tankless water heaters for all applications. Doug brings with him over 20 years of construction, design, and water heater experience. As a resident of Austin, TX, Doug is familiar with the local markets; the current environmental conditions and issues affecting the area. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business from St. Mary’s College of California and is CEU certified in many states for his region.
Anita Sparks-Bohn has more than 28 years experience in media sales and marketing. Sparks-Bohn, former senior management executive at the Houston Chronicle, has broad media and marketing experience in retail, national, classified and real estate marketing. She has developed and executed marketing programs for some top national retailers and national business service industries. Sparks-Bohn has also worked extensively with local and national advertising agencies and has sat on numerous boards and committees. Sparks-Bohn is a current member and board associate for a number of multicultural and business industry associations; has extensive training in sales management from the American Press Institute and is a founder of Universal Media Partners, a local media and sales agency. She sits on the board for her local church, is bilingual, a native Houstonian and resides in the Champions Forest area with her husband and four children.
Clifford Taite
Paul Wilson is regional vice president of Texas Gas Service where he is responsible for operations and maintenance, construction, customer service and marketing activities in the East Texas Region. Wilson began his industry career as a budget analyst for Southern Union Gas in 1989. He held numerous positions within the company before becoming manager of operations of Texas Gas Service upon its acquisition from Southern Union Gas. He was director of gas supply before being named to his current position. Active in the community, Wilson is an alumnus of Leadership Galveston, Leadership Mineral Wells and Leadership Austin. He is former president of the Palo Pinto County United Way, a former board member of the Galveston American Heart Association and the Galveston Chamber of Commerce. He is also a former board member of the Austin Park Foundation and currently serves on the Austin Community College Foundation. A Texas native, Wilson earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with emphasis in accounting in 1989 from Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos.
Richard A. (Rick) Zapalac Rick is responsible for managing natural gas distribution operations in Texas, which includes approximately 1.5 million customers in about 350 communities. He began his career with Houston Lighting and Power in 1977 as an office manager trainee and progressed to various supervisory positions. In 1986, Rick was named manager of the Fort Bend service area. In 1992, he assumed additional responsibility for the Wharton service area. In 2000, Rick was promoted to vice president of the South Texas Division in Gas Operations and was named regional vice president over all of Gas Operations in Texas in 2006. Rick holds a BBA in Finance/Economics from Stephen F. Austin State University. He currently serves on the Texas Legislative Advisory Board; is a board member of Texas Gas Association and serves as a member of the Southern Gas Association. He has held many positions in the Rosenberg/Richmond Area Chamber of Commerce, including president.
Other Speakers Matt Stevens Steve Saenz |
| ||||||
|
|||||||
|
|||||||
|
