Sometimes serving on a nonprofit board of directors can be a difficult and thankless task, so I want to recognize and thank our incredible board of directors for their ongoing support of CCSE. This board has been instrumental in helping us carry out our mission of promoting the adoption of clean, efficient, renewable and sustainable energy and plays a key role in shaping our strategic direction. They are invaluable advisors, great partners and enduring friends of CCSE.
First, thanks to Robert Noble, CEO of Envision Solar, who stepped down after leading us through three exciting years of change, expansion and growth. Bob was a great chairman. Also, our appreciation to Cecilia Aquillon of Kyocera, Susan Christopher, formerly of Union Bank, and Karen van Winkle, design manager of TDIC, who left the board after several years of dedicated service.
Our new chairman for 2011-12 is Fred Baranowski, regional president of Sunrise Bank, Escondido. As former chair of the CCSE board finance committee, Fred helped us through the very difficult task of selecting a new enterprise resource planning system that has greatly improved our financial reporting. Retired Rear Adm. Len Hering, Sr., USN, and energy attorney Sophie A. Akins have joined us, bringing the CCSE board to 13 members. Our two new members are knowledgeable and experienced in business, organizational leadership and sustainability, capabilities that will help guide our center as we continue to work in the changing energy landscape.
Len Hering is currently vice president for business services and administration at the University of San Diego (USD). He retired from the Navy in 2009 after more than 32 years of service, including being commander of Navy Region Southwest. He is a recognized leader in sustainability, receiving a number of state, local and federal awards for his efforts in ensuring the Navy’s environmental responsibilities in San Diego. He also has instituted numerous sustainable measures at USD, including solar energy, water conservation and waste reduction.
Sophie Akins is a partner at the law firm Best Best & Krieger LLP, specializing primarily in renewable energy projects and proceedings before the California Public Utilities Commission ( CPUC). A former construction attorney, Akins regularly provides her clients with renewable energy advice, prepares renewable energy contracts and resolves construction and performance issues.
Continuing CCSE board members are Michael Akavan, principal of MA Engineers; Alan Ball, partner Sustainable Energy Group; Wayne Hart, senior faculty, Center for Creative Leadership; Richard Hertzberg, president of ENPEX Corporation; Nick Leibham, of counsel K&L Gates; John Moot, partner Schwartz Semerdjian Ballard & Cauley LLP; Robert Nobel, CEO of Envision Solar; Lisa Shaffer, lecturer, UC San Diego; Daniel Torpey, senior director Qualcomm; and Robert Wilder, CEO of Wildershares.
All of us at CCSE appreciate and respect the efforts our board of directors in keeping our organization moving forward in so many areas of sustainability and clean energy. Please look at our 2010 Annual Report on www.energycenter.org to see CCSE’s 2010 board and the incredible year we had under their direction and guidance.
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