Revolution

Pickens, founder and chairman, BP Capital Management, is principally responsible for the formulation of the energy futures investment strategy of the BP Capital Commodity Fund and the BP Capital Equity Fund. With more than $4 billion under management, BP Capital manages one of the nation’s most successful energy-oriented investment funds. In July 2008, Pickens launched an ambitious, self-funded grass-roots campaign aimed at reducing this country’s crippling dependence on imported oil. In television ads, on his Pickens Plan website, and in personal appearances, he spelled out how our dependence on foreign is an addiction that threatens our economy, our environment and our national security, and ties our hands as a nation and a people.

Pickens earned a degree in geology from Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University) in 1951. During his long and distinguished career, Pickens has earned many educational honors and he has served on numerous boards and industry associations. Throughout his professional life, he has been a generous philanthropist, giving away more than $600 million. The T. Boone Pickens Foundation is focused on improving lives through grants supporting educational programs, medical research, athletics and corporate wellness, at-risk youths, the entrepreneurial process and conservation and wildlife initiatives.

The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans Inc. selected Pickens as a recipient of the 2006 Horatio Alger Award, which epitomizes those who overcome adversity and humble beginnings to achieve success. During his career, the oft-quoted Pickens has appeared regularly in both national and international publications. He Pickens lives in Dallas and is married to Madeleine Ann Pickens. He has five children and 12 grandchildren.

Mark Tercek is The Nature Conservancy’s president and chief executive officer, a position he assumed in July 2008. He came to the conservancy from Goldman Sachs, where he was a managing director and headed the firm’s Center for Environmental Markets and its Environmental Strategy Group. In his 24-year career at Goldman Sachs, he also headed various global departments for the firm’s investment banking division.

Tercek is an adjunct professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business and he is actively engaged with various environmental organizations. He is presently collaborating with Resources for the Future, the World Resources Institute and the Woods Hole Research Center on projects concerning climate change. In October 2008, he was elected to the board of directors of Resources for the Future. Tercek is also a frequent public speaker on topics connected to business and the environment. He earned a master’s in business administration with distinction from the Harvard Business School in 1984, and a Bachelor of Arts with honors from Williams College in 1979.

A native of Duncan, Okla., Jari Askins was sworn in as Oklahoma’s 15th Lieutenant Governor in 2007, giving her the rare distinction of being involved in public service in all three branches of government. As lieutenant governor, Askins is President of the State Senate. She also serves on numerous boards and commissions and chairs the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Commission and the Oklahoma Film and Music Advisory Commission.

Governor Brad Henry has appointed her “Oklahoma’s Small Business Advocate,” tasked with providing assistance to small business owners throughout the state. She also participates in and promotes various economic development projects and supports legislation and innovative means of providing greater hope and opportunity for Oklahoma’s citizens. Askins received her Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the University of Oklahoma (OU) and earned a juris doctorate from the OU College of Law.

Lisa Barton is vice president of transmission strategy and business development for American Electric Power. She is responsible for developing and executing transmission strategy and business plans as well as business planning and analysis, reliability compliance, business development and oversight of AEP’s interface with its corporate partners.

Barton joined AEP from Northeast Utilities in Berlin, Conn., where she was manager of transmission regulations and compliance. Barton has 20 years of experience in the energy field. She earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 1987 from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Mass., and a juris doctorate in 1993 from Suffolk University Law School in Boston.

Attorney, Andrews Davis, P.C., Oklahoma City, OK

Kennis Bellmard II is an attorney at Andrews Davis, P.C., where his primary areas of practice include Native American law, gaming law and litigation, trail and appellate practice and alternative dispute resolution. Since 1990, his practice has primarily consisted of representing Native American tribes and tribal entities as a tribal attorney in various matters in tribal and federal courts. Bellmard negotiated the first three federally approved Tribal-State of Oklahoma Class III gaming compacts on behalf of the Tonkawa and Miami tribes, and for the Miami-Modoc tribal joint venture, and subsequently negotiated a Class III Compact for the Otoe-Missouria Tribe and was involved in the federal approval of the Comanche-State of Oklahoma Class III Compact. Bellmard is licensed to practice in all Oklahoma Courts, the United States District Courts for the Northern and Western Districts of Oklahoma, various Tribal Courts and the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

He received his associate’s degree from Northern Oklahoma College in 1978, his bachelor’s degree in history/education from Oklahoma State University in 1981 and his juris doctor from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 1989. Bellmard is a member of the Indian Law Section of the Oklahoma Bar Association and served as chairperson of that section in 2002. He has served on the faculty of the Sovereignty Symposium, the Governor's Interstate Council for Indian Affairs and has been a panelist at the Kansas University Law School, Indian Law Symposium. Bellmard is a member of the International Association of Gaming Attorneys and is the author of "Endeavoring to Persevere: Becoming and Being a Tribal Attorney" published in the Kansas Journal of Law and Public Policy. He was presented a service award by the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association for service furthering Tribal gaming opportunities in Oklahoma in 2001.

A co-founder of Bergey Windpower Company and president since 1987, Mike Bergey is a mechanical engineer and an internationally recognized expert in the field of small wind turbines, distributed generation and rural electrification.  He has authored more than 70 technical papers and articles in the field, provided testimony to Congress and serves as a consultant to numerous government and international agencies.  

He has twice served as president of the American Wind Energy Association and has served on the AWEA Board of Directors since 1981.  He is a past chairman of the U.S. Export Council for Renewable Energy and member of the U.S. Department of Commerce "Environmental Technology Trade Advisory Committee."  He chairs the AWEA Small Wind Turbine Committee and edited the recently completed AWEA “U.S. Small Wind Turbine Industry Roadmap: A 20-year Industry Plan for Small Wind Technology.” In 1982, he was recognized by AWEA "For Leadership in the Development of a National Performance Standard for Small Wind Turbines".  In 1994, he was recognized as AWEA's "Wind Industry Man of the Year"

Dr. Phil Berkenbile served as interim state director of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education until 2004 when he was named state director by its State Board. He serves on the Governor’s Taskforce on Aerospace and Information Security, the Governor’s Taskforce on Healthcare, the Oklahoma Manufacturers Alliance Board, the State Insurance Advisory Council and the State Workforce Development Board. He is also a member of the National Association of State Directors of Career and Technology Education, member of the Oklahoma College Savings Taskforce, member of Southwest Region Board of Directors of the American Red Cross and a 2001-2002 graduate of Leadership Oklahoma – Class XIV.

He serves on the CareerTech Administrative Council and is a member of the Oklahoma Association of Career and Technology Education. He received his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in agricultural education from Oklahoma State University. In 2006, he received the OSU Graduate of Distinction Award in agricultural education. A recipient of numerous civic and community awards, Dr. Berkenbile has also been recognized at the state and national levels for his many contributions to Oklahoma’s education system. 

Rep. Gus Blackwell is currently a member of the House of Representatives as well as the Speaker Pro Tempore. He is a voting member of all House committees and he was the Majority Whip from 2004-2006. His honors include: District Attorney Council 2007 Legislator of the Year, Farm Bureau Excellence Award, Marriage and Family Therapists 2008 Legislator of the Year, Who's Who in the Southwest and Outstanding Young Men of America.

He received a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma Baptist University in 1976 and a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma Panhandle State University in 1990. He also received a master’s degree from Southwestern Baptist Theology Seminary and a master’s from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1998. Rep. Blackwell spent 20 years with Oklahoma Baptist General Convention, and he was a Campus Minister with Baptist Collegiate Ministries. He also was an adjunct professor at Sayre Junior College, Oklahoma Baptist University and Oklahoma Panhandle State University

Mike Brown was elected Mayor for the City of Weatherford in January 2004. Prior to becoming mayor, Brown served as city commissioner for three terms beginning in April 1996. He is currently serving on the Oklahoma Council of Mayor’s Board of Directors and the treasurer for the Southwest Oklahoma Development Authority Board of Directors.

He is also the owner of American Insurance Group, an independent life and health insurance company. Brown is a graduate of Southwestern Oklahoma State University with a bachelor’s degree in business education and administration. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, First Baptist Church and Kiwanis Club where he was a distinguished president and lieutenant governor.

As Director of Engineering at Southwest Power Pool (SPP), Jay is responsible for transmission expansion planning, as well as tariff studies for generation interconnections and long term transmission service in SPP. Jay has over 27 years of experience in transmission planning, electric and gas resource planning, regulatory services/pricing, marketing/customer choice and transmission services. Jay joined SPP in 2001 after a 19+ year career at Illinois Power. Jay has been instrumental in the development of effective transmission expansion plans for SPP, as well as collaborative long range planning with neighbors including ERCOT, MISO, TVA and others. Currently, Jay serves as Chair of ISO/RTO Council Planning Committee and is on the Board of the Utility Wind Integration Group. Jay graduated from the University of Illinois - Urbana with a Bachelors of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and has completed the course requirements for a Masters of Engineering Degree with Iowa State University.

Jeff Cloud was elected statewide to a six-year term on the Oklahoma Corporation Commission in November 2002 and assumed the chairmanship of the commission in June 2005. He is a member of a number of organizations including the Electricity Committee for the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Cloud is also a member of the Legal and Regulatory Committee of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission and serves on Oklahoma Employees Retirement System Board of Trustees.

The Aspen Institute recently honored Cloud as one of the top young elected officials by naming him as a fellow for the Aspen Institute-Rodel Fellowship, which brings together “the nation’s emerging leaders” to discuss broad issues of democratic governance and effective public service. Born in Tulsa and raised in Oklahoma City, Cloud earned a bachelor’s degree in petroleum land management from the University of Oklahoma and a juris doctor from the Oklahoma City University School of Law.

Les Dillahunty is the vice president of regulatory policy for Southwest Power Pool (SPP). In this position, Dillahunty is responsible for managing the Regional Transmission Organization’s regulatory, engineering and contract services functions. These rolls involve the communication and coordination of both technical and policy information to internal and external audiences.

Prior to joining SPP, Dillahunty held positions within Southwestern Electric Power Company, SPP’s parent company, Central and South West Corporation and their merger partner American Electric Power Company. Dillahunty later provided independent consulting services before joining SPP in September 2003 as the director of regulatory affairs and transmission policy. He holds mechanical engineering degrees from Louisiana Tech University and is a registered professional engineer in Louisiana and Texas.

Growing up on a farming operation near Leedey, Okla., Dr. Shannon Ferrell went on to receive his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agricultural economics from Oklahoma State University and later received his juris doctorate from the Oklahoma City University.

He spent a number of years in private practice, focusing on environmental, energy and corporate law. He served as president of the Oklahoma Renewable Energy Council in 2006 and helped establish the Hall Estill firm's Renewable Energy Practice Group before joining OSU in the summer of 2007.

Dr. Ferrell is currently an assistant professor in the OSU Department of Agricultural Economics where he specializes in agricultural law and has presented more than 20 wind energy leasing seminars as part of the energy education programming provided by OSU's Cooperative Extension Service.

Jeremy Fielding is an attorney at the firm Lynn Tillotson Pinker & Cox, LLP. He handles a wide range of complex commercial litigation and has a particular passion for the growing wind energy industry. In December 2006, Fielding defended the world's largest wind farm, FPL Energy's Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center, in a ground-breaking nuisance lawsuit and walked away from the closely-watched jury trial with a take-nothing verdict.

As the first nuisance lawsuit against wind energy to reach trial, the lawsuit was viewed by many as an important test case for the industry. Fielding then successfully defended the verdict on appeal, obtaining a precedent-setting appellate decision with important ramifications for the wind industry in Texas. In the summer of 2007, Fielding secured a summary judgment for another Texas wind farm, which led to a favorable settlement and allowed the project to move forward. Additionally, Fielding represents clients in high-stakes litigations.

David Fleischaker is the Secretary of Energy for the state of Oklahoma, appointed by and serving Governor Brad Henry. Fleischaker is also president and chief executive officer of Jolen Operating Company, a domestic oil and gas exploration and production company. Trained as an attorney, Fleischaker spent 10 years in Washington, D.C. where he practiced as a trial attorney with the United States Department of Justice then in private practice representing local governments and environmental groups in environmental litigation.

Fleischaker has written about public affairs, energy and environmental matters. His articles have appeared in USA Today, The Los Angeles Times, The Oklahoman, The Oklahoma Gazette as well as his commentary on National Public Radio, All Things Considered. He has a bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University and a law degree from the University of Texas.

Larry Flowers has held various management positions at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for the past 27 years. Since 1990, he has been a team leader at National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s National Wind Technology Center in Boulder, Colo. Flowers led NREL’s international Village Power program and the NWTC’s hybrid systems technology project. He was also involved with NREL’s business development, buildings sciences, utility systems, solar thermal and industrial applications.

Currently, he is the national technical director of Wind Powering America, a U.S. Department of Energy program launched in 1999 to dramatically increase the deployment of wind in the United States. WPA focuses on states and institutions that have dramatically underutilized their wind resources. He has a bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering and materials sciences from Lehigh University and a master’s degree from the University of Denver.

Trudy Forsyth has worked in the wind technology field since May 1994 as a leader of National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) distributed wind turbine projects. Since 1995, she has coordinated efforts between the NWTC technical staff and U.S. manufacturers for designing new small wind turbines and testing new prototypes.

Forsyth is the NREL liaison with the AWEA Small Wind Turbine Committee, which wrote and published the AWEA Small Wind Turbine Industry Roadmap. Under the Wind Powering America (WPA) program, she leads small wind stakeholders in developing strategies to open the marketplace and has made small wind turbine technical and state policy/market presentations to wind audiences throughout the United States. Forsyth is a member of a number of organizations. She also authored and co-authored technical conference papers on small wind turbines, their design features, economics and commonalities in the U.S. marketplace between PV and small wind. She has given numerous presentations to both international audiences and the general public on distributed wind technology, economics, and applications.

A third generation Oklahoman, Brad Henry was elected Governor of Oklahoma in 2002. Throughout his term, the governor has worked to build a better Oklahoma by strengthening the state public education system and making health care more accessible and affordable to the citizenry. In his inaugural address, he urged citizens to celebrate Oklahoma's many accomplishments, put aside their differences and rally together for the good of their beloved state. As he often likes to say, "We are all Oklahomans first."

Before his election as governor, Brad Henry served ten years in the Oklahoma State Senate, chairing the Senate Judiciary Committee and serving as vice-chair of the Senate Economic Development Committee. The governor attended the University of Oklahoma as a President's Leadership Scholar and earned a bachelor's degree in economics in 1985. In 1988, he was awarded his law degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law, where he served as managing editor of the Law Review.

Russ Horton is a wildlife research supervisor with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. He manages both the private lands and wildlife diversity programs within Wildlife Division. He is also ODWC’s windpower representative and is responsible for assuring that the needs of wildlife are addressed as Oklahoma’s tremendous wind resource is developed.

A native Oklahoman, Horton was raised in Mustang and earned a bachelor’s degree in wildlife ecology from Oklahoma State University. His first 18 years with ODWC, Horton was a regional wildlife biologist, and his responsibilities included monitoring and managing Prairie-chickens. He also serves as vice-chairman of the Oaks and Prairies Joint Venture Management Board.

In August 2005, Delores Jackson joined Oklahoma City Community College as director of corporate learning. Jackson oversees corporate learning’s planning, development and implementation of training programs and educational services for business and industry, government agencies and non-profits in the community.

She served as the marketing services director for Woman’s Missionary Union, a self-supporting non-profit organization in Birmingham, Ala. Jackson is also active in the National Council for Continuing Education and Training, Business Connections, the Oklahoma City Metro Employer Council and the Inter-Agency Training Council. She also serves as OCCC’s representative to the Global Corporate College. Jackson attended the University of Central Oklahoma where she received a bachelor’s degree in English and history. She later received her master’s degree from the University of Alabama.

Jesse Langston is vice president of utility commercial operations for Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company . An employee of OG&E since 1985, he was named director of utility commercial operations at its inception in October 2005. He previously served as director of corporate planning.  Langston leads the utility commercial operations group, which is responsible for prioritizing and implementing commercial initiatives across the electric utility. Areas reporting to Langston include customer service, sales support, energy services, utility resource planning and utility strategic planning. 

Michael Patten is an assistant professor at the Oklahoma Biological Survey at the University of Oklahoma as well as the director of research at OU’s Sutton Avian Research Center. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California–Riverside and completed his postdoctoral training at Dartmouth College. He specializes in evolutionary ecology, biogeography and conservation biology, chiefly of birds.

Jay Pruett was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., and grew up in Oklahoma City. He graduated from Rice University in Houston, with a degree in biology. He initially worked in pollution control for a government agency later beginning a long career in environmental affairs for an electric utility company. Since joining The Nature Conservancy as the director of conservation for the Oklahoma Chapter in 2003, Pruett is responsible for development and implementation of conservation initiatives for the state program and oversees the management of TNC preserves. He also acts as TNC’s representative to federal, state and local conservation agencies and organizations. He is involved with wind energy and electric transmission siting issues with regard to wildlife habitats at state and national levels.

Edward Rahill is senior vice president of finance and chief financial officer at ITC Holdings Corporation. He is responsible for financial operations including: accounting, financial reporting, corporate finance and tax, as well as planning and analysis function for ITC and its subsidiaries. In addition, he is responsible for ITC’s business development function, which incorporates mergers, acquisitions and ITC Grid Development. The mission of Grid Development is to identify and develop new transmission business opportunities.

Prior to his position at ITC, Rahill headed the planning and corporate development functions for DTE Energy. He joined DTE in 1999 as the manager of mergers, acquisitions and alliances. Rahill has over 24 years of professional experience in finance, accounting and business development with leading energy and fortune 500 companies. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Notre Dame, as well as a master’s degree in finance and a master’s certification in economics from State University of New York at Buffalo.

Jim Roth was appointed to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission by Governor Brad Henry in June 2007, after serving in elective local office the previous five years. He was elected Oklahoma County Commissioner for District One in 2002 then he was overwhelmingly re-elected in 2006 with more than 63 percent of the votes. He is a member of the Oklahoma, Kansas and American Bar Associations as well as a Past-President of the National Association of Civil County Attorneys. He is also a Certified Mediator.

Roth graduated from Kansas State University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science/Pre-Law and Oklahoma City University School of Law in 1994 with a juris doctor. He holds graduate certificates from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government for local government executives and The United States Air War College’s National Security Forum at Maxwell Air Force Base. He believes in community volunteerism, and he is involved in several organizations including: Rotary International Club 29, the chambers of commerce for Midwest City, Choctaw and the Oklahoma City Capitol area and the AIDS Support Program. Commissioner Roth is an avid outdoorsman, enjoys boating, water skiing, traveling and spending time with family and friends.

Paul Sadler is a practicing attorney licensed in the states of Texas and Louisiana. He is board certified in Texas Civil Appellate Law and Personal Injury Trail Law. Sadler graduated from Baylor University in 1977 and Baylor Law School in 1979.

He was named and nominated by his peers as a Texas Super Lawyer from 2003-2007. He is admitted and qualified in numerous federal courts, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court as well as all the state counts in Texas and Louisiana.

Sadler also served in the Texas House of Representative from 1991-2003. He served on numerous committees, but his most significant committee work was in the area of education. Sadler served on the House Public Education Committee from 1993-2003 serving as Chairman of the committee from 1995-2003. He was also the Chairman of the Select Committee on State Revenue and Public School Finance in 1997 and Chairman of the Select Committee on Public School Employee Health Insurance in 2001.

Law Clerk & Government Relations Liaison, Andrews Davis, P.C., Oklahoma City, OK

Robert “Bud” Scott joined Andrews Davis, P.C., in the summer of 2008 as a law clerk and government relations liaison. He is also a registered lobbyist in Oklahoma, focusing on energy, environmental and tribal issues. From 2003 to 2005, Scott served as a tribal advocate for Oklahoma Indian Legal Services Inc. Funded by a U.S. Department of Justice grant, he directed a pro se clinic in tribal courts throughout Oklahoma. Additionally, Scott tracked policy and legislative developments impacting tribal communities at the State and Federal level. Scott clerked with the law firm, Aamodt & Wright, P.C., assisting with tribal trust litigation/negotiations and environmental litigation.

Scott is a member of the Oklahoma Academy for State Goals, Oklahoma Sierra Club, the Oklahoma Sustainability Network, the Oklahoma Food Cooperative and the Oklahoma Renewable Energy Council. He is the representative of Andrews Davis, P.C., to the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce and the American Indian Chamber of Commerce. Scott presented Legislative Opportunities for Renewable Energy Development in Indian Country, at the 2008 Sovereignty Symposium in Oklahoma City. He received his bachelor’s degree in letters from the University of Oklahoma in 2003, and his juris doctor from the University of Kansas College of Law in 2008. Scott also successfully completed both the tribal law and energy and natural resources certification programs at the University of Kansas College of Law.

Natalie Shirley was named Secretary of Commerce and Tourism by Governor Brad Henry in February 2007. She also serves as Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and is a member of several boards and commissions in her role as Secretary. Shirley is the former president and chief executive officer of ICI Mutual Insurance Group in Washington, D.C., the captive insurance company of the mutual fund industry.

Shirley is an Oklahoma native, who graduated from Oklahoma State University and earned a law degree from the University of Oklahoma. She is actively involved in the community serving as a board member for the Oklahoma Academy for State Goals and Oklahoma CASA.

Mark Stiles is senior vice president of Trinity Industries, Inc. (TRN), a diversified industrial company focused on growth. He is also the group president of the Construction, Energy, Marine and Components Group. Stiles began as a salesman in 1971 at Transit Mix Concrete, a company later acquired by Trinity Industries. Then in 1993 Stiles was named president of Transit Mix as well as corporate vice president for Trinity Industries. Due to growing demands from his business, Stiles decided not to seek re-election to the Texas House of Representatives where he held numerous leadership positions during his 16-year tenure.

For his commitment to Texas and his constituency Stiles received many honors and awards. In 1992, the State of Texas honored Stiles for his work to strengthen Texas’ criminal justice laws by naming a state prison in Jefferson County after him. Prior to Dallas, Stiles was a business and civic leader in Beaumont and served on numerous boards and committees. He remains interested and active in community affairs and Texas politics by serving as a board member of the Texas Civil Justice League, a state tort reform association. He is a former member of the Joint Select Committee on Public School Finance and the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association. Stiles serves on the boards of the Texas Transportation Institute and is a member of the Chancellor’s Circle of Texas A&M University.

J.D. Strong was named Oklahoma’s fifth Secretary of Environment by Governor Brad Henry in August 2008. In addition to serving as Gov. Henry’s lead advisor on environmental matters, Strong coordinates the activities of the Environmental Cabinet, including: the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, Oklahoma Water Resources Board and Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

A fifth generation Oklahoman, Strong earned a bachelor’s degree in wildlife ecology from Oklahoma State University, along with a minor in agronomy. Strong has served as lead advisor to three different Cabinet Secretaries under two governors. In this capacity, he coordinates both the Governor’s Tar Creek Superfund Task Force and the Governor’s Animal Waster and Water Quality Protection Task Force. Most recently, Strong worked with northern Ottawa County officials on a buyout assistance program to relocate families and businesses from the nation’s most hazardous Superfund Site at Tar Creek.

Jacob Susman is the founder of OwnEnergy and has more than eight years of investing and business development experience in renewable energy. Previously, Susman was a founding member of Goldman Sachs' Alternative Energy Investing group, where he was involved in Goldman's investment in Horizon Wind Energy and co-led a portfolio financing that was named Project Finance's N.A. Renewable Energy Deal of the Year.

He previously worked as a project manager for the AES Corporation on a team that developed one of the largest power plants in Spain, which was named as European IPP of the Year by Euromoney. While with AES, Susman led the company's efforts to develop a Spanish renewable energy business, which included negotiation of more than 1,000 mega watts of wind energy investment opportunities.

He holds amater’s in business administration from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, where he led a team to the finals of the Business Plan Competition with the concept for OwnEnergy.

Mart Tisdal received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Oklahoma and later attended and received a juris doctor from the University of Oklahoma School of Law. He was admitted to practice before U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit, U.S. District Court, Northern and Western Districts of Oklahoma.

Tisdal is currently on the board of directors for the Oklahoma Attorneys Mutual Insurance Company as well as the Board of Visitors for the University of Oklahoma School of Law. He is also the commissioner of the State of Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission. Not only has Tisdal spoken at several seminars but he has also been published in a number of publications. He has received a number of awards and honors including the Oklahoma Fellow of the American Bar Association and Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Wayne Walker is currently the interim executive director of the American Wind Wildlife Institute, a 501c3 that is focused on pro-actively addressing wildlife siting concerns on a landscape scale. He is also Principal at Wayne Walker Conservation Consulting LLC. Prior to his current position, Walker was director of project development for the Southwest Region of the United States at Horizon Wind Energy. He has played a leading role in policy development in the fields of siting and transmission with the American Wind Energy Association, National Wind Coordinating Collaborative, The Wind Coalition, Interwest as well as with several states in the southern plains.

His notable accomplishments include leading Horizon’s efforts in the competitive renewable energy zone process with his team in Texas and co-drafting and getting Senate Bill 440 passed in Oklahoma in 2001. Walker continues to serve as vice-chair of AWEA’s Siting Committee where he is working diligently with industry, agency, wildlife and environmental stakeholders on making the AWWI a reality after recently completing a sabbatical with his family over the balance of 2007.

Jim Wiggin is currently the Superintendent of Yarbrough Public School, a small, rural school district located in the Oklahoma Panhandle. Wiggin is a graduate of Oklahoma Panhandle State University and Northwestern Oklahoma State University. He began his educational career with Yarbrough in 1993 as a 6-12 classroom teacher. Over the years he has served the district as Academic Team Coach, Counselor, Director of Technology, and K-12 Principal.

In the Spring of 2006, Wiggin and the Yarbrough School Board began looking into the possibility of installing a 50KW wind turbine in an effort to help offset rising energy costs. After two years of research, the district made the decision to go forward with the project, and at noon on September 30, 2008, the blades began to turn.

Thomas Wright was appointed to the Kansas Corporation Commission by Governor Kathleen Sebelius in May 2007. He was elected chair of the three-member commission in June 2007. Wright has been a partner in the law firm of Wright, Henson, Clark, Hutton, Mudrick & Gragson, LLP, in Topeka, Kansas. Recently, he served as Chair of the Governor’s Gaming Committee and of the Consolidation Commission of Topeka-Shawnee County in 2005. Throughout his career, he has taught classes at Washburn University Law School and in the NITA Program at Loyola Law School in Chicago. He has recently been named to the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners Committee on International Relations and Committee on Electricity.

Wright was elected president-elect of the Kansas Bar Association beginning June of 2007. He was a member of the Board of Governors for the KBA from 1998 to 2005. He served on the KBA Committee on Prevention of Legal Malpractice and chaired the Legislative Committee. Chairman Wright, originally from Harper, Kansas, earned a degree in mathematics from Wichita State University in 1961. He graduated from Washburn University School of Law in 1964 and earned a bachelor’s degree in German from Washburn University in 1979.