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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Martin K. Banks is a member of the environmental law group and the energy practice group at Stoel Rives.  He advises clients in cost-effective regulatory compliance (including Clean Air Act, RCRA and CERCLA), in liability and enforcement issues arising out of hazardous substance contamination, in permitting and disclosure strategies, in allocating environmental risks in real estate and business transactions, and in facilitating the transfer of air emission credits and water rights.  He is also involved in various environmental litigation matters including contamination issues, public land use conflicts, mining issues, toxic torts and OSHA matters.  Mr. Banks holds a B.A. from Brigham Young University and a J.D. from George Washington University.

Libby Ellis is currently employed as the Director of Development at Rowland Hall St. Mark’s School.  Formerly, she was the Director of Trustee Relations and Board Development for The Nature Conservancy, where she advised the world-wide organization, individual chapters and country programs on board leadership issues. Libby also served as the Director of Development and Marketing for the Conservancy’s Utah Chapter, successfully raising funds and awareness for conservation projects both in Utah and around the world.  Prior to The Nature Conservancy, she directed Patagonia, Inc.’s Environmental Program which included the corporation’s grant making and environmental marketing efforts.  She holds a BS in Textile Design and a minor in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin – Stout.

Howard Geller is the Director of the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP), a public interest venture he founded in 2001.  Dr. Geller is the former Executive Director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).  He established ACEEE’s Washington, D.C. office in 1981, stepping down as Executive Director in February 2001.  Dr. Geller has advised and conducted energy efficiency studies for utilities, governmental organizations, and international agencies.  He has testified before the U.S. Congress on energy issues numerous times and has influenced key energy legislation, including the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1987 and the Energy Policy Act of 1992.  Dr. Geller received his PhD in Energy Policy from the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil.  He also holds a Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering from Princeton University.

John Nielsen is Director of the Energy Project at the Western Resource Advocates, a leading clean energy advocacy group serving the Interior West.  His work focuses on developing and implementing polices to promote renewable energy and other clean energy technologies.  He has served as an expert witness in regulatory proceedings around the region involving utility resource planning, electric industry restructuring, renewable energy, energy conservation and green marketing.  He is also a leader in the western environmental community on the relationship between energy policy and air quality.  Mr. Nielsen holds a B.A. (summa cum laude) in mathematics and economics from the University of Colorado at Boulder and M.A. and M.Phil degrees in economics from Yale University.

Robert O'Connor is the managing partner of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati’s Intermountain regional office and a leader in the firm’s energy technology practice.  He serves on the Advisory Board of Westminster College’s Technology Commercialization and Entrepreneurship Program.  Bob also is a member of the Board of Directors of the University Venture Fund, a student-run venture fund affiliated with the University if Utah.  Mr. O'Connor received his law degree from Loyola Law School and his undergraduate degrees from the University of California at Los Angeles.  

Lisa Romney graduated from the Harvard Graduate School of Design with a Masters Degree in Landscape Planning and Ecology. In 2001, she was hired as the Environmental Advisor to the Salt Lake City Mayor where she created the “Salt Lake City Green” program and brought Salt Lake City to the forefront as one of the “greenest” cities in the United States. In 2007, she went to work for Chevron  Energy Solutions developing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects for government agencies. She has been a featured columnist in Cycling Utah and The Catalyst magazine.

Doug Willmore is the Chief Administrative Officer of Salt Lake County, where he oversees 4000 full-time employees and an annual budget of more than $800M.  Prior to being appointed to this position, Doug was the Chief Executive Officer of Reference Pathology Services. Following his work with USAID of the US State Department from 1985 through 1988, Doug consulted for almost 10 years with large organizations, both public and private, on producing long-term organizational culture change.  His long-term clients included Lucent Technologies; Sun Microsystems; General Electric; Bell Atlantic; Pacific Bell; Tulane University; and Proctor & Gamble.  Mr. Willmore holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration from George Mason University and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Utah.