Leadership and Staff

VISIONARY LEADERSHIP

Oregon BEST's leadership includes executives from some of the world's most respected green building and renewable energy companies: SolarWorld, Portland General Electric, Gerding Edlen Development, Collins Companies, CH2M HILL, SkySource Renewable Energy, Pacific Northwest National Laboratories, and Perkins Coie.

These executives join leading researchers from Oregon BEST's member universities (Oregon Institute of Technology, Oregon State University, Portland State University, and the University of Oregon) and the Oregon Legislature to make up a visionary Board of Directors, a Technical Leadership Team, and a Management Team, all committed to fueling Oregon's green economy.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  • Allan Abravanel – Partner, Perkins Coie
  • Gordon Brinser – Vice President of Operations, SolarWorld Industries America
  • Richard Spinrad – Vice President for Research, Oregon State University
  • Sen. Richard Devlin – Oregon State Senate, Ex Officio
  • Roy Koch – Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Portland State University
  • Rich Linton – Vice President for Research, University of Oregon
  • Charlie Jones – Dean, School of Engineering, Technology & Management, Oregon Institute of Technology
  • Wade Mosby – Senior Vice President, Collins Companies
  • Bill Nicholson – Vice President, Distribution, Portland General Electric
  • Rod Quinn – Chief Technical Officer, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
  • Kirsten Sommer – Design Manager, Electronics & Advanced Technology, CH2M HILL
  • Dennis Wilde – Principal, Gerding Edlen Development
  • Jean Wilson – Vice President & General Manager, North America Utility Business Unit, SunPower Corporation

Conflict of Interest Policy
Oregon BEST Board members have completed copies of the Conflict of Interest Form.

Board Member Information 

TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP TEAM


PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY

David Sailor
Professor, Mechanical Engineering
MME, SB2
PO Box 751
Portland State University
Portland, OR 97207
503/725-4265
sailor (at) pdx.edu

Melissa Appleyard
Ames Professor, Management of Innovation & Technology
BA 633
Portland State University
Portland, OR 97207
503/725-9581
melissaa (at) sba.pdx.edu

UNIVERSITY OF OREGON

Thomas Osdoba
Director, Center for Sustainable Business Practices
Lundquist College of Business
299A Gilbert Hall
1208 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403-1208
541/346-3356

Christine Theodoropoulos
Associate Professor and Head, Department of Architecture
210 Lawrence Hall
1206 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403-1206
541/346-3661
ctheodor (at) uoregon.edu

Mark Lonergan
Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry
183B Klamath Hall
1253 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403-1253
541/346-4748
lonergan (at) uoregon.edu

OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY

Greg Rorrer
Professor, School of Chemical, Biological, & Environmental Engineering
Gleeson 103
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331-3319
541/737-3370

Tom McLain
Chair, Wood Science & Engineering
119 Richardson
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331
541/737-4224
thomas.mclain (at) oregonstate.edu

Catherine Mater
Director of Sustainability, School of Civil & Construction Engineering
220 Owen Hall
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331
541/753-7335

OREGON INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Tom Chester
Director, Oregon Renewable Energy Center
PV2, 3201 Campus Dr.
Klamath Falls, OR 97601
541/885-1883
tom.chester (at) oit.edu

Robert Bass
Director, OIT Renewable Energy Engineering Program
7725 SE Harmony Rd.
Portland, OR 97222
503/821-1253
robert.bass (at) oit.edu

Cristina Negoita
Associate Professor, Dept. of Mathematics
3201 Campus Dr.
Klamath Falls, OR 97601
541/885-1474
cristina.negoita (at) oit.edu

MANAGEMENT TEAM

David Kenney
President & Executive Director, Oregon BEST
503/725-9849

Susan Safford
Operations Director, Oregon BEST
503/725-9826
susan.safford (at) oregonbest.org

Scott Marshall
Associate Dean for Graduate Programs & Research
Portland State University
PO Box 751, Mail Code SBA
Portland, OR 97207
503/725-4842
scottm (at) sba.pdx.edu

James Hutchison
Director, Materials Science Institute
University of Oregon
Materials Science Institute
1252 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403
541/346-4228

Ken Williamson
Professor and Head, School of Chemical, Biological, & Environmental Engineering
Oregon State University
102 Gleeson Hall
Corvallis, OR 97331-2702
541/737-6836

Tom Chester
Director, Oregon Renewable Energy Center
PV2, 3201 Campus Dr.
Klamath Falls, OR 97601
541/885-1883
tom.chester (at) oit.edu

STAFF

David Kenney, President & Executive Director
david.kenney (at) oregonbest.org

Susan Safford, Operations Director
susan.safford (at) oregonbest.org

Johanna Brickman, Manager, Sustainable Built Environment Program
jo.brickman (at) oregonbest.org 

Gregg Kleiner, Marketing, Communications, & Media Relations
kleinerg (at) comcast.net