Media Contact: Gregg Kleiner, 541-740-9654
Source: David Kenney, 503-780-8736

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon Built Environment & Sustainable Technologies Center (Oregon BEST) has filled out its Board of Directors with leading executives and research experts from Oregon’s green building and renewable energy fields.

Joining the board recently are executives from SolarWorld, PGE, Collins Companies, CH2M HILL, SkySource Renewable Energy, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the law firm Perkins Coie. These members join leaders from Oregon BEST’s member universities, Gerding Edlen Development and the Oregon Legislature to make up Oregon BEST’s full Board of Directors:

• Allan Abravanel — Partner, Perkins Coie
• Gordon Brinser — Vice President of Operations, SolarWorld Industries America
• John Cassady — 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
• Chris Maples — President, Oregon Institute of Technology
• Wade Mosby — Senior Vice President, Collins Companies
• Bill Nicholson — Vice President, Customers & Economic Development, PGE
• 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 — CEO, SkySource Renewable Energy

“The leadership, visionary thinking and passion of this group is helping us grow Oregon’s green economy by connecting university researchers and lab facilities with Oregon’s green business sector,” said David Kenney, Oregon BEST’s president and executive director. “We’re very fortunate to have such a dynamic group of people committed to growing Oregon BEST into an economic engine for the state.”

About Oregon BEST: The Oregon Built Environment and Sustainable Technologies Center (Oregon BEST) brings together Oregon's significant R&D strengths in the key emerging areas of renewable energy and green building products and services, with the goal of increasing research and accelerating public/private partnerships to transform that research into on-the-ground business opportunities and Oregon jobs. Oregon BEST partners include the Oregon Institute of Technology, Oregon State University, Portland State University, the University of Oregon, as well as numerous private businesses, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations. http://oregonbest.org