DEVELOPMENT TEAM
NorthWinds has assembled an exceptional team that will lend significantly to its success as a developer and operator.
It is NorthWinds' objective to build a portfolio of strategically located facilities in the Northeast United States that will aggregate over 100 million gallons per year (gpy) in production at full operation. It is anticipated that these facilities will be developed, financed, constructed and operated on a stand-alone basis with certain feedstock, engineering & design and marketing applications being applied across all projects in order to achieve certain economies of scale. NorthWinds will utilize a proven process technology and develop with its engineering team a standardized process system and storage layout that can be applied to all projects. This is expected to reduce technology, operations and maintenance cost risk and will support the project-based financings. NorthWinds has assembled an extremely strong team of experts in order to execute its mission, as described below.
Management
J. Garth Klimchuk, Managing Partner, NorthWinds Biodiesel
Mr. Klimchuk is responsible for the formation and management of NorthWinds Biodiesel and its affiliates. He has over twenty years of financial advisory experience in the renewable energy, power, utility and oil and gas industries in which he has sourced and executed over $3 billion of public and private financing transactions and over $2 billion in M&A transactions. Over the last five years, Mr. Klimchuk has focused on providing M&A and capital raising services exclusively to renewable energy developers with an emphasis on wind and biodiesel projects in which he has sold, on behalf of developer clients, over 2,000 MW of wind energy projects and assisted several clients in securing and structuring both development and project-based capital while overseeing NWB's engineering, permitting, siting, communications and technology design activities. Mr. Klimchuk was founder and Senior Managing Director of CENATAR Advisory Group, LLC, an advisory firm focused exclusively on the utility, renewable and energy technology sectors. Prior to founding CENATAR, Mr. Klimchuk was a partner of BOVARO Partners, LLC a boutique investment bank in which he focused on power, utilities and renewable energy financing and M&A advisory assignments. Prior to BOVARO, Mr. Klimchuk was Managing Director and head of Berenson Minella’s Power and Utility Group as well as a member of the power and utility groups of CIBC World Markets, JP Morgan, Chem Systems and Kidder, Peabody & Co.
Mr. Klimchuk received an M.B.A. in Finance from the Wharton School, an M.S. in Energy Management and Policy from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. in Geology from Brown University.
Susan Purdue, Executive Vice President-Engineering, NorthWinds Biodiesel
Ms. Purdue is responsible for completing all engineering and design of NWB’s process technology and balance of plant and plays a critical role in completing all permitting, designing and implementing NWB’s safety and training programs, overseeing construction and startup of the facilities and implementing each facility’s operational programs. Ms. Purdue has spent the last seven years designing, engineering and constructing three large scale biodiesel facilities in the Gulf Coast region of the US which included the largest facility in the country, Renewable Biofuels 180 mm gpy plant located in Port Neches, TX. Prior to these activities, Ms. Purdue was Senior Process Engineer with Careba Engineers in which, in addition to the above activities, designed several large scale power projects. Prior to Careba, Ms. Purdue was Project Scheduler for Gemma Power Systems in which she prepared, monitored and updated engineering and construction schedules for fast-tracked power projects in CA and FL. Prior to Gemma, Ms. Purdue was Principal Process Engineer for Parsons Main in which she was involved in a multitude of complex pulp and paper engineering projects. Prior to Gemma, Ms. Purdue was Process Engineer for Jaako Poyry, Kimberly-Clark and International Paper.
Ms. Purdue received a B.S. in Pulp and Paper Technology from North Carolina State University.
James R. Weinberg, Executive Vice President, NorthWinds Biodiesel
Mr. Weinberg is Founder and President of Safe Harbour Chartering, Inc. and its associated companies, which will be responsible for NWB’s feedstock supply strategy development and execution. Mr. Weinberg has over twenty five years of experience in logistics management including the international trading of vegetable oils and animal fats. SHC is a tanker logistic company that arranges international freight on behalf of the major vegetable oil, tropical oil and base chemical principals; providing this service between all international markets including North and South America, South East Asia and Europe. Established in 1989 SHC controls over $45 million in freight annually representing well over $1 billion in product value. SHC and Mr. Weinberg maintain a longstanding and close relationship with the major vegetable oil and yellow grease suppliers, which is anticipated to provide a competitive advantage to NWB as a Northeastern biodiesel producer. These relationships include membership in the primary vegetable oil and shipping industry associations. Prior to Safe Harbour, Mr. Weinberg was Vice President of Chartering for Global Tanker Services, where he was responsible for the world-wide marketing of a fleet of parcel tankers in the vegetable oil, chemical and clean petroleum markets.
Mr. Weinberg is a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy with a Degree in Marine Transportation, licensed as a Third Mate, Oceans any Gross Tonnage and is an honorably discharged Lt. USNR-MMR, Special Duty.
P. Wayne Moore, Executive Vice President, CT Biodiesel
Mr. Moore is the Founder of Tychon Energy Systems LLC, a developer of utility-sponsored energy efficiency projects. Mr. Moore, as the CT Biodiesel local partner, is responsible for identifying CTB sites, and through well-established relationships, has been working with Connecticut legislators on initiatives to facilitate the development of the biodiesel industry in Connecticut. Mr. Moore’s business experience includes financial roles with such firms as Shearson Lehman Hutton, Travelers and Aetna. He founded Greystone Capital, a registered investment advisory firm.
Mr. Moore is a graduate of Harvard University and holds an MBA in Finance from The Wharton School.
Lee Harrison, Executive Vice President, Berkshire Biodiesel
Mr. Harrison is Bershire Biodiesel's local partner and is responsible for site identification within MA as well as working closely with MA legislators in developing biofuels-related legislation for the state and in securing potential grant funds for the project. Mr. Harrison offers more than twenty-five years of experience over a cross-section of companies and industries, including firms such as Bechtel Corporation, Business Week Magazine, and the Electric Power Research Institute.
Mr. Harrison holds a bachelor's degree in engineering from Northeastern University and a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University.
Feedstock Supply
Safe Harbour Chartering, INC. (SHC)
Safe Harbour Chartering, Inc. and its associated companies, will be responsible
for NorthWinds’ feedstock supply strategy development and execution.
SHC’s founder and President Mr. Jim Weinberg has over twenty five
years of experience in logistics management including the international
trading of vegetable oils and animal fats. SHC is a tanker logistics company
that arranges international freight on behalf of the major vegetable oil,
tropical oil and base chemical principals; providing this service between
all international markets including North and South America, South East
Asia and Europe. Established in 1989 SHC controls over $45 million in freight
annually representing well over $1 billion in product value. SHC and Mr.
Jim Weinberg, maintain a longstanding and close relationship with the major
vegetable oil and yellow grease suppliers, which is anticipated to provide
a competitive advantage as a Northeastern biodiesel producer. These relationships
include membership in the primary vegetable oil and shipping industry associations.
Prior to Safe Harbour, Mr. Weinberg was Vice President of Chartering for
Global Tanker Services, where he was responsible for the world-wide marketing
of a fleet of parcel tankers in the vegetable oil, chemical and clean petroleum
markets. Mr. Weinberg is a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine
Academy with a Degree in Marine Transportation, licensed as a Third Mate,
Oceans any Gross Tonnage and is an honorably discharged Lt. USNR-MMR, Special
Duty.
Website | www.safeharbourllc.com
Plant Engineering & Design
edm-Services (EDM)
EDM has been responsible for the balance of plant engineering & design (E&D) work
at NorthWinds' facilities. EDM is a fully integrated, multidisciplinary architectural
and engineering firm located in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Incorporated
in 1988, EDM provides comprehensive management and technical services in
the areas of: architectural design, planning and programming, as well as
civil, structural, mechanical, electrical and industrial engineering and
provides a wealth of regional contacts extending beyond the technical sectors.
Through EDM, NorthWinds Biodiesel has been able to quickly establish
relationships with the additional technical team members required to complete
the design and construction of the NorthWinds Biodiesel facilities.
Website | www.edm-serv.com
Grace Davison (Grace)
Grace is a premier global specialty chemicals and materials company. NWB has selected Grace’s TriSyl Silica hydrogel catalyst for the polishing in the front end degumming process which eliminates certain capital costs and effluents and enhances quality. NWB will also have access to Grace’s other product trials and expertise associated with current and new biodiesel catalyst products.
Website | www.grace.com
LANXESS Sybron Chemicals Inc. (Lanxess)
Lanxess, the former Bayer Chemicals division, is a multinational, multi-billion dollar manufacturer of chemicals and intermediates, engineering plastics, and performance rubber. Lanxess will provide the solid catalyst (ion exchange resin) in the esterification process which has been proven in a large facility in Germany. This catalyst will allow NWB to process very high Free Fatty Acid and cheaper feedstocks in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
Website | www.sybronchemicals.com
R. W. Beck (Beck)
Beck was engaged to provide an independent technical assessment of the process engineering and design undertaken by NWB. Beck, founded in 1942, is a leading independent engineering and technical consulting firm with 550 employees in North America and Asia having completed work in 50 countries with a specific focus in the energy, financial, water, wastewater and solid waste industries.
Website | www.rwbeck.com
E3 Consulting
E3 is a strategic business advisory firm that focuses on providing independent
assessments of a wide variety of projects for owners, lending institutions
and equity investors. NWB engaged E3 to undertake a limited
technical review of the SPR reactor technology to be employed by NWB.
Website | www.e3co.com
Permitting
Fuss & O’Neill (F&O)
Fuss & O'Neill lead the initiatives and investigations required
for permits and approvals in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Fuss & O’Neill
is a full service civil and environmental engineering firm with 300 employees
and offices in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, North
Carolina and South Carolina.
Website | www.fando.com
Legal
The Law Offices of Sherwood Guernsey P.C.
NorthWinds Biodiesel has retained the legal services of Sherwood Guernsey P.C. of Pittsfield,
MA to assist in the legal requirements associated with the site lease,
permitting process and other essential project initiatives.
Website | www.sglawoffice.com
© 2010 NorthWinds Renewables LLC