Speaker Profiles
Challenges of Producing Energy from Woody Biomass
October 22, 2010
Anderson, Chuck. Vice President Business Development, GeoDigital International Ph: (919) 435-7057, email: canderson@geodigital.net
Mr. Anderson holds a B.S. in forestry from the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point and an MBA from Duke University. He brings over 20 years of executive leadership and industry experience in carbon sequestration and ecomarkets, green technology, and the forest products industry.
As Vice President of Business Development at GeoDigital International, Mr. Anderson leads the business unit providing vegetation management and inventory services to the Utilities, Forestry and Carbon markets. He served as Vice Present of EcoMarket Development in ImageTree, prior to its acquisition by GeoDigital International. ImageTree is a forest technology company which utilizes remote sensing (LiDAR and CIR Imagery) and field verification to measure and monitor forests.
Mr. Anderson also helped launch ForestExpress, a B2B e-commerce firm backed by such equity partners as Weyerhaeuser Company [NYSE: WY], International Paper [NYSE: IP] and Georgia-Pacific Corporation. As an industrial forester (1987-2000), Mr. Anderson held various positions in timberland management in Florida and North Carolina, and served as a wood procurement analyst covering Maine to South Carolina. He created the first reverse auction e-commerce business model for wood fiber purchases (ewoodorder.com).
Becker, Peter (PhD). Research Coordinator, Eastern Ozarks Forestry Council Ph: 573-689-2121, email: wongbeck@yahoo.com
Dr. Becker has a PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Michigan. He spent his professional life overseas as a tropical forest ecologist and university professor in environmental sciences. Since returning to the States, his focus has been on promoting sustainable forestry in the Missouri Ozarks.
Dr. Becker has conducted comparative harvest studies with both conventional and mechanized equipment, performed forest resource analyses, and developed tools and resources to overcome barriers to family forest participation in carbon markets. He works as both volunteer researcher and paid consultant in these areas.
The Eastern Ozarks Forestry Council (EOFC) is a public Missouri corporation with 501(c)(3) status. It has played a leadership role in promoting management and harvest systems and timber markets that facilitate improvement of forest health and productivity. It has also supported the development of guidelines and incentives for sustainable management and harvest of the forests that provide a critical revenue base for the Missouri Ozarks. With numerous partners, EOFC has conducted forestry demonstration, education, and protection projects.
Brundage, R. Scott. Certified Forester #1443 Ph: (573) 443-3977, email: brundage@socket.net
Mr. Brundage has degrees in Forestry from Purdue University (B.S., 1958; MSc, 1959). For the last 26, years he has been a Consulting Forester while administering the field operations of the family owned reclamation business (MRS, Inc.) and Wildwoods Ranch Christmas Tree Farm, begun in 1968. Also, he intensively manages the family’s eight Tree Farms located in north central Missouri. Prior to that, Mr. Brundage was the Reclamation & Environmental Specialist for Peabody Coal Company mines in six states for 18 years. He has also worked for Missouri University’s School of Forestry and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
Mr. Brundage is a past president of Walnut Council International and the Missouri Chapter of Walnut Council and Other Fine Hardwoods. He has been a member of the Missouri Tree Farm Committee for 45 years. In 1986 Mr. Brundage was cofounder of the Missouri Consulting Foresters Association of which he served as president for 22 years. Presently he is the Chair of MoFRAC.
Coffin, Gregg. Power Plant Superintendent, University of Missouri
Ph: 573-882-0835, email: coffing@missouri.edu
Mr. Coffin is the Superintendent of the University of Missouri Power Plant, a 66 MW combined heat and power plant serving the University of Missouri Columbia campus. Mr. Coffin provides overall management of the plant which supplies the MU campus with steam, electricity, potable water, and compressed air.
Mr. Coffin has over 27 years of experience in the management and engineering of utility generation systems, including 23 years with the University of Missouri. Mr. Coffin holds a Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Missouri (MS&T) and is a Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Missouri.
Mr. Coffin is currently leading an effort to develop the use of biomass as a renewable fuel for the MU Power Plant. The efforts have been mostly focused on wood waste and regional crop based biomass. The plant is currently supplementing its fuel supply with wood waste and has a project underway to replace one of its coal-fired boilers with a 100% biomass-fired boiler operational in 20102.
Mr. Coffin is also involved in supporting energy related research efforts at the University of Missouri. Mr. Coffin contributes to MU’s Center for Sustainable Energy, a multi-disciplined program to enhance the development of renewable energy projects and research. Mr. Coffin has recently served on the International District Energy Association’s (IDEA) Board of Directors.
Dorst, Hank. Coordinator, Mark Twain Forest Watchers Ph: 417-932-4623, email: whiteoak@gotrain.org
Mr. Dorst has lived in the Missouri Ozarks for 30 years. For the last 22 years he has been intensely involved in public and private forest management issues. In addition, Mr. Dorst has logged, planted shortleaf pine, marked timber on Forest Service and private land, and performed forest inventories.
Draper, Tom. Deputy Director, Missouri Dept of Conservation
Ph: 573-751-4115, email: Tom.Draper@mdc.mo.gov
Mr. Draper received a BS in Forest Resource Management from Southern Illinois University in 1975. He began his 35-year career in natural resource management as a Peace Corps Forester working for two years in West Africa with the Liberian Government and timber concessionaires located throughout that county.
Following his Peace Corps service, Mr. Draper worked to implement erosion control structures on grain and livestock farms in western Illinois, managed Army Corps of Engineers lands along the Missouri River’s mainstream reservoirs for the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department, and worked with the South Dakota Department of Agriculture to assist farmers and ranchers with implementation of natural resource management practices on their lands.
For the last 20 years Mr. Draper has served the Missouri Department of Conservation in various capacities in the Forestry Division. In January 2010, Mr. Draper was selected as Deputy Director – Resource Management, responsible for supervision of six resource divisions. In addition, Mr. Draper assumed the role of Chairman of the Department’s Regulations Committee which is responsible for establishing and amending rules pertaining to fish, forest and wildlife management as outlined in the Wildlife Code of Missouri. He has been a Society of American Foresters Certified Forester since 1999 and a member of SAF since 1975.
Garrett, Gene. Professor Emeritus, Department of Forestry, University of Missouri – Columbia
Dr. Garrett holds a BS and MSc in forestry from Southern Illinois University and a PhD in forest ecology from the University of Missouri. He spent 40 years in academia–the last 35 in the School of Natural Resources at the University of Missouri. He is the author or co-author of more than 200 scientific publications and served as Director of the School of Natural Resources and the Center for Agroforestry, which he founded. He is currently professor emeritus and CEO of Forest Resource Innovations, LLC.
Goodrich, Nate. Missouri NRCS State Forester
Mr. Goodrich earned his BS in Forestry from Iowa State University in 1992. He has worked as a field forester for the Bureau of Land Management in WY, the US Forest Service in MI, WI, and ND, the Department of Natural Resources in WI, the Department of Conservation in MO, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in MO. In 2010, Mr. Goodrich became the state forester for Missouri NRCS.
In his current position, Mr. Goodrich serves as the forestry specialist on the Field Technical Services Staff. He has responsibility for the forestry phase of the resource conservation programs within the state and develops and modifies standards, guides, specifications, and similar material that are directed to the particular woodland characteristics and related resource needs of the state. He also provides technical leadership and guidance to lower level offices on policies, practices, and techniques of effective forestland planning, management, and protection.
Grasman, Scott (PhD). Assoc. Prof., Engineering Management and Systems Engineering, Missouri University of Science & Technology Ph: 573-341-7011, email: grasmans@mst.edu
Dr. Grasman holds B.S.E., M.S.E., and Ph.D. degrees in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan. He has been involved in a variety of energy and sustainability research and consulting projects, funded by Department of Defense, Department of Education, Department of Energy, Department of Transportation, Missouri, DOT, and others.
Dr. Grasman has a strong interest in supply chain design for alternative energy infrastructures. Recent and on-going studies have focused on alternative fuels programs, public-private partnerships in transportation, alternative energy infrastructure modeling and simulation, and sustainability in supply chain and facility logistics. Dr. Grasman’s recent work has resulted in much publicity in national media, numerous speaking invitations, and hosting two workshops, as well as a research sabbatical in Europe. His work on sustainable development in public-private partnerships has been recognized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Committee on Economic Cooperation and Integration (through an invited address to the Team of Specialists on Public-Private Partnerships).
Hale, Kendall. Chief, Air Construction Permitting Unit, Missouri Dept of Natural Resources
Mr. Hale is a graduate of Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri with a BA in Chemistry and Math. He continued his education at the University of Missouri – Columbia, where he received a BS in Chemical Engineering. Mr. Hale has been with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Air Program Control Program since 1998, working with both emissions inventory and contraction permitting. He has been the New Source Review Unit Chief since 2004.
Jarvis, Steve. Executive Director, Missouri Forest Products Association
Ph: 573-634-3252, email: steve@moforest.org
Steve Jarvis is currently the Executive Director of the Missouri Forest Products Association in Jefferson City, Missouri. Prior to joining MFPA in 2010, Steve served seventeen years as Director of Forestry Programs for the Forest Resources Association in their national office in Rockville, Maryland. Steve also worked ten years as an industrial forester for Weston Paper in Terre Haute, Indiana and International Paper in Gurdon, Arkansas.
Steve Jarvis earned his BS in Forestry degree form Purdue University in 1980 and an MBA degree from Indiana State University in 1990. His interest in forestry is largely due to his father-in-law Bob Nelson, who also graduated from Purdue University in Forestry.
Steve and Corki have been blissfully married since 1978 with two grown children, Jessica and Bob.
Jones, Shelby. Senior Forester-Midwest Forest Consultants, LLC
Ph: 573-635-4598, email: midwestforestconsultants@embarqmail.com
Mr. Jones received a BS in Forestry from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1966, and was employed by the Forestry Division of the Missouri Dept. of Conservation. In 1978, he became supervisor of Forest Products Utilization and Marketing programs, where his knowledge of the wood products industry and timber resources of the state led to many innovative programs. In 1990, he initiated a quarterly report of timber stumpage prices, known as Missouri Timber Price Trends, which is compiled and distributed by the Dept. of Conservation. Mr. Jones has co-authored many federal and state publications about the measurement of the timber resources of Missouri.
Following retirement from MDC in 1998, Mr. Jones started Midwest Forest Consultants, LLC, offering a comprehensive selection of forest resource management services to private landowners, conservation organizations, public agencies, and private industry. He is a Certified Forester (#989) and a Fellow in the Society of American Foresters.
Mr. Jones is active in the Missouri Society of American Foresters, Missouri Forest Products Association, UMC School of Natural Resources Advisory Council, and as president of the Missouri Consulting Foresters Association. In 1992 he received the Karkhagne Award, MoSAF’s highest award for contributions to the forestry profession, and in 2002 the Conservation Federation of Missouri named him Forest Conservationist of the Year.
Kabrick, John (PhD). Research Forester, USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station
Dr. Kabrick holds degrees in forestry (B.S.F., University of Missouri) and soil science (M.S., Purdue University and Ph.D., University of Wisconsin). Prior to working for the US Forest Service, he was a post-doctoral fellow at the MU Forestry Department and a research forester for the Missouri Department of Conservation. For the past 15 years he has conducted research in areas of silviculture, applied forest ecology, and forest soils.
Dr. Kabrick’s research has been to quantify and model the regeneration and developmental dynamics of forest and woodland ecosystems to develop an array of scientific, ecologically-based silvicultural systems that can be applied to address a broad spectrum of management objectives.. These include management of forest biodiversity, forest health, wildlife habitat, water quality, timber or biomass production, and woodland restoration. An integral part of this work is providing practical guidance to forest owners, managers, planners, ecologists, and wildlife biologists for selecting and applying silvicultural methods that meet their varied management objectives.
McCreery, Lew. Biomass Coordinator (Northeastern Area), USDA Forest Service, Wood Education and Resource Center
Mr. McCreery holds a BS in biology from Marietta College, a BS in forestry from the University of Michigan, and a MSc in population ecology from the Ohio State University. Mr. McCreery is a Forest Service Certified Silviculturalist.
As Biomass Coordinator, Mr. McCreery works closely with State Foresters, Federal land managers, communities, and forest-based businesses to encourage efficient and effective use of woody biomass to generate economic opportunities. The renewable energy market is viewed as one of those economic opportunities.
The Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry unit provides technical and financial assistance to state and local governments, businesses, and private citizens in the Northeast and Midwest twenty states. WERC provides training, technical, and financial assistance to hardwood using industries throughout the 35-state eastern hardwood region.
Mills, Mike. Principal, Spectrum Consulting Group, LLC
Mr. Mills is a 1996 graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, with a degree in Agricultural Economics. While working for the combined office of Senators Bond and Ashcroft, he dealt with agricultural, environmental, Corps of Engineers, and military constituent services.
In 1996, Mr. Mills became the Director of Research for the Missouri Soybean Association and Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council. In 1999, he joined the Professional Staff for the U. S. House Committee on Small Business, Sub-committee on Rural Enterprises, Business Opportunities, and Special Small Business Problems. As Senator Bond’s Deputy State Director beginning in 2001, Mr. Mills was responsible for policy and projects dealing with agriculture, natural resources, transportation, energy, community development, and economic development.
In 2005, Mr. Mills became the Deputy Director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development. He lead the Department’s efforts focusing on research and technology, including working with the University of Missouri to establish a new technology commercialization system, development and final passage of the Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative, and streamlining and modernization of the state’s innovation centers.
In March of 2008, Mr. Mills became a partner in Spectrum Consulting Group, LLC, an integrated economic development consulting firm. He is leading Spectrum’s efforts on technology-based economic development opportunities, ranging from plant based nutraceuticals to broad based biomass and waste to energy projects.
Ross, Heather. Project Manager, Renewable Resource Solutions, LLC
Ph: 906-875-3720, email: rrsllc_hross@sbcglobal.net
Ms Ross has overseen multiple data collection and analysis projects, almost all dealing with the wood industry and woody biomass in the Great Lakes Region. She has also been involved in over 25 comprehensive resource analyses, woody biomass feasibility studies, and/or technical reviews.
Renewable Resource Solutions, LLC (RRS), formed in 2001, is a multi-faceted consulting firm primarily focused on the expansion/retention of the forest industry economic sector through supporting integration of renewable energy systems, sustainable development, and sustainable management of natural resources. RRS has worked with clients nationwide on a wide range of forest industry related projects, including but not limited to: comprehensive resource analyses, concentrated resource analyses, feasibility studies, market expansion plans, business plan development, grant writing and administration, conference/workshop development and implementation, association management, and a wide range of other industry support services.
Shifley, Stephen (PhD). Research Forester, USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Columbia, MO Ph: 573-875-5341 x232, email: sshifley@fs.fed.us
In his 30 years as a scientist with the Forest Service, Dr. Shifley has published research on forest growth and yield, stand dynamics, old-growth forests, oak decline, landscape change, and forest sustainability. He co-authored the recently completed second edition of The Ecology and Silviculture of Oaks.
He is currently working on the Northern Forest Futures Project which examines current and anticipated future forest conditions for the 20-state region of the northeast U.S. His presentation on Missouri biomass resources was developed with Dr. Francisco Aguilar and Dr. Michael Goerndt of the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Stafford, Tony. Executive Director, Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority, Missouri Department of Agriculture
Mr. Stafford was raised on a family farm in Southwest Missouri and graduated from Bradleyville High School. He holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture business from Missouri State University and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
The Authority (MASBDA) administers grants, loans, loan guarantees, and tax credit programs to aid Missouri farmers. Housed within the Missouri Department of Agriculture, the authority is governed by a seven-member bipartisan commission.
Stelzer, Hank. Extension Forester, University of Missouri
A native of St. Louis, Dr. Stelzer holds a BS in forest management (University of Missouri, 1976) and graduate degrees in forest genetics (MSc, University of Missouri, 1978; PhD, Purdue University, 1986). After 15 years in the private forest products sector, he returned to the University of Missouri to serve as the State Forestry Extension Specialist and to direct the School of Natural Resources Extension program. In addition these responsibilities, Dr. Stelzer is involved with several wood energy projects in Missouri and serves on eXtension’s Wood Energy leadership team.
Stout, Robert. Senior Policy Coordinator, Missouri Dept of Natural Resources
Mr. Stout’s duties at the Missouri Department of Natural Resources include coordinating policy issues among the departments divisions and programs, and serving as the department’s liaison to a number of other agencies and organizations important to the department’s mission. He is the NEPA coordinator for the department, and represents the department on the Governor’s Biofuels Coalition, MOFRAC, and a number of Missouri and Mississippi River issues.
Mr. Stout has worked at the Department of Natural Resources since 1997. He served as the planner for the Superfund section in the Hazardous Waste Program until he joined the policy section of the Director’s office in 2005. He worked for the State of Illinois for 23 years prior to working for the Department.
Tuttle, John. Forest Management Chief, Missouri Dept of Conservation
Mr. Tuttle earned his BS in Forest Resource Management at the University of Missouri – Columbia in 1999. His professional career has been with the Missouri Dept. of Conservation (MDC). He currently serves as Forest Management Chief responsible for staff supervision and resource management decisions. He was previously the Forest Products program supervisor, when he worked with the forest products industry, oversaw Best Management Practices (BMPs) on MDC timber sales, worked with MDC staff on the Professional Timber Harvesters program, and trained them on forest products issues.
Mr. Tuttle has worked with the several entities on issues such as woody biomass harvesting BMPs and utilization, the Master Logger Certification program, and wood products markets. Prior to working for MDC, he was a professional logger in Shannon County, MO (1977-1995).
Whittekiend, Dave. Forest Supervisor, Mark Twain National Forest
Mr. Whittekiend received a BS in wildlife biology from Colorado State University and a MSc in Botany from Brigham Young University. His career with the Forest Service started in 1988 as a seasonal range technician on the North Kaibab Ranger District, AZ. His first permanent appointment was a wildlife biologist on the Teasdale Ranger District, Dixie National Forest, UT.
From there, Mr. Whittekiend went to the Lewis and Clark National Forest, MT where he worked on the Rocky Mountain Ranger District as the wildlife, timber and minerals staff. While on the Lewis and Clark he also held positions as a team leader for a mineral withdrawal and acting District Ranger on the Kings Hill Ranger District. Mr. Whittekiend also served as District Ranger on the Soda Springs Ranger District, Caribou-Targhee National Forest, ID. Prior to coming to the Mark Twain National Forest, he worked in the Forest Service Nation Headquarters in Washington D.C. on the forest plan appeals and legislative affairs staffs.
Mr. Whittekiend is a second generation Forest Service employee, and grew up moving from one western town to the next. He now lives in Rolla, MO with his wife and three children. He enjoys being outdoors and doing outdoors things such as fly fishing, mountain biking, camping, and adventure racing.
Wilbers, Brenda. Manager, Energy Policy and Resources, Missouri Dept of Natural Resources, e-mail: Brenda.Wilbers@dnr.mo.gov
Ms. Wilbers has over 18 years experience in energy and environmental policy with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Division of Energy and Director’s Office. Prior to becoming the manager of the Energy Policy & Resources Program in the Division of Energy (previously Energy Center) in 1999, she worked as an environmental policy analyst in the Department of Natural Resources Director’s Office for two years. From 1991 to 1999, she was an energy planner. As director of the Energy Policy and Resources Program, her areas of responsibility include analysis and development of policy recommendations, legislative issues, strategic planning, assessment of Missouri’s wind energy and other resources, energy emergency planning, monitoring energy prices and supplies, and working with the Public Service Commission, energy utilities and other partners to increase investments in energy efficiency and develop effective energy efficiency programs.
Before joining the Department of Natural Resources, Ms. Wilbers worked for the Joint Committee on Legislative Research for 6 years. She has a degree in Business Administration and received a Master of Public Administration from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Missouri Forest Resources Advisory Council 