Board Members
The Energy Cooperative of Ohio's board of directors is currently made of people, who themselves have accepted ECO's principles and are members either at home or with their businesses.
PRESIDENT
Richard A. Curnutte Sr.
Principal/President
Volunteer Energy Services, Inc.
Board Member since December 2007
Rick formed Volunteer Energy Services, Inc. (VE) in March of
2001. VE began serving customers in May
of 2001. VE’s main focus is arranging
for natural gas supplies for commercial and industrial businesses, Energy
Cooperatives, Municipal Aggregation Programs, Trade Associations and Buyers
Groups.
Before joining VE Rick was Principal / Vice President,
Sales/Marketing for Broad Street Oil & Gas (BSO&G). BSO&G was later sold to Utilicorp/Aquilla
Energy. He has also held management
positions with Unicorp Energy and Yankee Gas Resources/Access Energy.
Prior to entering the natural gas business he was Director
of Energy Management for Wendy’s International.
As Corporate Energy Manager for Wendy’s, He was responsible for energy
management for 1200 corporate owned Wendy’s restaurants throughout the United
States. While at Wendy’s, Rick
transacted the nations first commercial third party natural gas purchase by
buying natural gas for 66 Wendy’s and Sister’s Chicken & Biscuits
restaurants on the Columbia Gas of Ohio system.
Before Wendy’s, Rick was Energy Coordinator for Mid-Ohio
Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) of Columbus, Ohio. Rick was responsible for administration of
the Department of Energy’s/Ohio Department of Development weatherization
programs for MORPC/Franklin County Commissioners.
Rick has over 24 years experience in the natural gas
industry dealing with the aggregation of residential /commercial and Industrial
accounts throughout the United States.
Rick attended Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville,
Tennessee where he earned a B.A. degree in Social Sciences.
SECRATARY/TREASURE
John Zornes
Chief Financial Officer
Energy Cooperative of Ohio
Board Member since October 2001
John graduated with a bachelors degree in accounting from Mount Vernon Nazarene University in 1977.
John has been the acting Chief Financial Officer for Energy Cooperative of Ohio and Secretary/Treasurer of Energy Cooperative of Ohio Board since 2003.
Prior to that was an accountant with Capitol Mfg Co (Div of Harsco Corp) from 1981 - 2002.
BOARD MEMBER
Dave Rinebolt
Executive Director
Ohio Partners for Affordable Energy
Board Member since October 2001
Dave is an attorney,
specializing in energy utility regulation, and serves as executive director and
counsel of Ohio Partners for Affordable Energy (OPAE). OPAE represents low
income utility customers and the agencies that provide them with
assistance. Mr. Rinebolt has particular
expertise in restructured utility markets and was closely involved in the
passage of legislation that regulates the electric and gas utility industry. He has also represented public housing
authorities in energy purchasing activities, and has served on the boards of
two energy cooperatives that have been providing service to residential and
commercial customers in
Ohio
for more than eight years.
Mr. Rinebolt has over 25 years of experience in dealing
with policy issues relating to energy and natural resources. He has worked for federal departments,
several governors, renewable energy trade associations, and on Capitol
Hill. He has been involved major
legislative initiatives including
Ohio’s
electric deregulation legislation, the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, the
Energy Policy Acts of 1992 and 2005, and other energy, environmental and tax
legislation. He has also participated in
the development an implementation of legislation regulating public utilities in
Ohio,
including SB 3 and natural gas alternative regulation. Dave is also the author of several papers on
biomass energy and climate change.
BOARD MEMBER
Don May
Franchise Owner
Buffalo Wild Wings
Board Member since October 2001
Don has been a franchise owner of multiple Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants in the Columbus Metropolitan area for 12 years.
Don has over 35 years of experience in dealing with energy. He has worked as an energy consultant for Cross Country Inn's for 6 years. He also spent 20 years heading up the engineering and energy management department with Red Roof Inns. Prior to that he spent 14 years as a geologist with Consolidated Natural Gas and the State of Ohio
Don graduated from University of Pittsburgh with a degree in Geological Engineering.
BOARD MEMBER
Steve Ewing
Executive Director
Public Housing Authority Aggregation Consortium
Board Member since July 2004
Steven Ewing has over 25 years of
experience in the energy management field.
He has implemented four Energy Performance Contracts (Add-On Method)
under the HUD Guidelines. He has served as Energy Consultant in such areas as
energy conservation, energy rate and tariff analyses, design of mechanical and
electro-mechanical systems, and software development for utility tracking, and
allowances.
Mr. Ewing established the Public
Housing Authority Aggregation Consortium
(PHAACO) in 2001. The primary purpose of this organization was
to allow housing authorities to purchase natural gas via a central, HUD
approved, procurement process. As the Executive Director of PHAACO, he manages
the natural gas portfolio for nine public housing authorities in Ohio, one in Illinois,
and one in NewYork.
Mr. Ewing has extensive experience
and certifications in HVAC inspections, lighting, manufacturing processes, and
cogeneration. He has knowledge of laws
and HUD regulations governing utility conversion and energy conservation for
public housing. He has organized
technical workshops for Public Housing, and served as an instructor and
presenter in these, and other training seminars.
He has managed both small, and
large multi-million dollar performance contracting projects. He has served as a moderator on several
energy panels. He has received national
recognition, and numerous awards, including The National Award for Energy
Efficiency (1999), and two Governor’s Awards for Energy Efficiency (2001 &
2003).
He has provided energy services to
state, municipal and county government entities. He brings to the company his
knowledge of federal, state, and local compliance to HUD rules and regulations.
Mr. Ewing has also developed
comprehensive cost effective technical solutions that increase operational
efficiency. These and other duties were performed in his 23-year career as the
Energy/Compliance Supervisor for the Stark Metropolitan Housing Authority. He
has also demonstrated his ability in the public sector in energy management. He
has collaborated with the following organizations:
Stark Metropolitan Housing
Authority (SMHA)
The Department of Energy/ Office of
Energy Efficiency (DOE/OEE)
National Conference for Appropriate
Technology (NCAT)
The South
Korean Delegation on Housing and Energy
Stark County Community Action
Agency (SCCAA)
Ohio Department of Development
(ODOD)
Energy Cooperative of Ohio (ECO)
The City of Canton
The City of Massillon
The City of Alliance
Dominion
East Ohio East
Columbia Gas
Ohio
Edison Electric
American Electric Power
Energy Star Committee of Ohio
Education:
College Preparatory: Phillips Exeter
Academy, Exeter, NH 03833
Bowdoin
College: B.A., Economics, Sociology,
and Romance Languages: Brunswick,
ME
COAD, Inspection training and
certification
NEAT, Certified
Carrier Auditing, Certified
Certified Energy Manager (CEM)
Public Housing Manager (PHM)
Certified Lead Based Paint Supervisor
University of Georgia,
Atlanta Georgia
BOARD MEMBER
Jim Maholm
Owner
Maholm Business Group
Board Member since January 2005
Jim, 45 is Owner of Maholm Business Group in Worthington Ohio. A graduate the Ohio State University. His company provides contracted services to different industries including natural gas sales. As an independent contractor Jim supports sales, marketing and business development efforts for his clients. Jim has over 12 years working specifically in deregulated markets including telecommunication, natural gas and electricity. As an energy specialist he has over 10 years working specifically in the commercial market providing sales and energy management support for his respective clients. Jim is married with four children and resides in Dublin Ohio. Jim also is a director for SOAR Energy