Founded E2M.org, an organization that is creating a regional economic model to empower communities through the creation of community wealth.
Community Development: 1999-2004
Reestablished the small business development department of his local community development corporation. Established contacts with more than 400 low to moderate income individuals, helped them launch more than 60 businesses, loaned or accessed more the $500,000 in funding for those businesses, and was credited by a major business journal with being one of top three catalysts causing the economic revival of the City of Easthampton.
Helped to establish and administer a worker-owned cooperative landscaping and painting business as a project of the Anti-Displacement Project, a membership based multi-issue community organization representing over 1400 low/moderate income families living in tenant owned apartment complexes. Taught economic empowerment strategies to the boards of directors of A-DP's five tenant-owned apartment complexes.
Entrepreneurship: 1970-1999
Conceived of, developed, and manufactured technologies which earned him nine worldwide patents. Established U.S. and Australian manufacturing plants, employed more than 400 individuals, and distributed his technologies globally to thousands of businesses. Operates effectively, intuitively, and pragmatically within any of the four major business disciplines of administration, finance, sales and marketing, and manufacturing.
Consultancy:
Consultant to numerous small business in all areas relating to finance, sales, marketing, manufacturing, administration, legislative and regulatory agency affairs. Currently consulting in areas relating to indoor farming and innovative wind turbines.
RECENT PROFESSIONAL HISTORY
2006 to present:
CEO: Vegetable Energy Group, LLC, d/b/a Vee-go Energy, www.vee-go.com, an alternative fuel business that produces locally manufactured biomass heating pellets and pet litter in collaboration with local family farmer-owned coops.
Partner: Sunrise Oil, LLC, a West Springfield business able to purify waste restaurant oils to be used as biofuels.
Partner: Quantum Biofuels, an R&D company working with algae-based biofuels.
2001 to 2006: Greasecar Vegetable Fuel Systems, LLC:www.greasecar.com
Greasecar Vegetable Fuel Systems, LLC, is the developer and USA�s premier manufacturer of conversion kits which enable diesel vehicles to use vegetable oil as a fuel. Consulted in all matters ranging from writing of first business plan to product design and establishment of accounting, financial, production, inventory, shipping, sales, marketing, and administrative systems. Acted as liaison to the EPA, Massachusetts legislature, North Carolina legislature,
and several large municipalities.
1999 to 2005: Valley Community Development Corporation;www.valleycdc.com
Director, Small Business Development
Directed all aspects of small business technical assistance and financing. Personally provided TA to over 300 clients in all areas ranging from business startups, business plan development, business acquisition negotiations, creditor workouts, and capital acquisition. Helped launch over 60 businesses and secured more than $450,000 in small business financing.
Expanded economic development department by establishing satellite office in Easthampton, Massachusetts which was credited by local press as one of most significant catalysts for the economic renaissance of that city.
1984 to 1999: Neon Technology Corporation; Chicopee, MA;
Founder, CEO
Conceived, researched, developed, and was granted a process and utility patent for a unique tubeless flat-glass neon sign. Designated as Plateglass Neon, this technology was acclaimed by the leading sign journal as the most significant advance in neon sign fabrication techniques since the invention of neon signs by Georges Claude in 1912. Designed the machinery, established two factories in Massachusetts and South Australia, then mass produced the technology resulting in the creation of employment for 200 individuals in Massachusetts and 50 in Australia.
Completed production/quality/market testing resulting in significant sales to domestic and international customers such as General Motors, Ford Motor Company, Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, Guinness Imports, Anheuser-Busch, and others.
Negotiated a joint venture with Tokyo based ITOCHU International which, in 1992, was the world's largest company. EDUCATION:
University of Massachusetts; Amherst, MA.; BBA in Business Management with strong background in Physics, Mathematics, and the Sciences. COMMUNITY SERVICE:
Hampshire Community United Way:
Corporate Treasurer
Member of the Board of Directors
Chairman- Finance Committee
Member- Vision Council
Member- Governance Committee
Hampshire Community Action Commission (A Federal CAP agency)
Member of the five-person Interim Board of Directors appointed by regional elected officials to attempt a turnaround of this badly managed Federal CAP agency.
Cathedral Hill Housing Corporation:
Member of the Board of Directors
Corporate Treasurer
City of Easthampton:
Chairman, Naming Committee for Municipal Buildings
Economic Development and Industrial Commission
Various Community Committees AWARDS:
1969: Listed in Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities
1980: Inducted into Inventor's Club of America's International Hall of Fame
1983: Listed in Outstanding Young Men of America
1987: Awarded US Patent Number 4,703,574
1992: Awarded two additional US Patents and six International Patents including Japan.
1994: Received a "Declaration of Appreciation� from employees of Neon Technology Corporation for "contributions to science and technology which are rivaled only by his dedication to his employees"
2002: Named an "A-DP Champion of the Year" for his service to this 1400-family, tenant- owned, low/moderate income community
2003: Recipient of Western Mass Enterprise Fund's Friend of the Year 2003 Award
B.S. Physics, University of Illinois, 1956
