RETAP members
Mike Vennewitz: RETAP Co-coordinator — B.A. in Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics, North Dakota State University. M.S. in Oceanography, Baruch Institute, University of South Carolina. Twenty-five years’ experience in environmental regulation and consulting in the areas of nonpoint source pollution, wastewater management, environmental remediation, vehicle emissions, and industrial compliance with air, wastewater, storm water, solid waste, and hazardous waste regulations.
Rick Person: RETAP Co-coordinator — was Program Administrator of Waste Management and Recycling, and Right-of-Way Management for the St. Paul Department of Public Works for 29 years. He coordinated the city of St. Paul’s Environmental/Economic Partnership Plan, and the city’s Urban CO2 Reduction Project. Rick was a member of the city’s Sustainable Saint Paul Working Group. He is also currently a member of the city of St. Louis Park’s Planning Commission.
Gordon Amundson — B.S. in Education, Valley City State College, Valley City, ND. M.S. in Guidance and Counseling, Northern Illinois University. Before retiring in 2001, Gordon was employed for 32 years by the University of Minnesota as a continuing education specialist, working primarily on continuing education and extension programs for professionals. With his background in education and administration, Gordon serves RETAP in a number of areas, including training, assessment follow-up, and program coordination. Gordon is one of the original RETAPers, having been with the organization since 2001.
Don Bailey — B.S.E.E., University of Minnesota. Forty years in flight control research, system analysis, design, and program management at Honeywell. Don became especially interested in the environment when his daughter was appointed Program Director for the Energy Star Program at the EPA.
Ran Bedekar — M.Sc. in Operations Research, McGill University, Montreal; M.B.A., Northeastern University in Boston. Thirty-eight years’ experience in computer software, architecture, simulation, and business process re-engineering in both technical and management roles. Retired from 3M/Imation and joined RETAP in 2001. Ran’s specialty was Business Process Re-engineering, using computer simulation. This focus on saving money through using more efficient processes is what got him interested in RETAP after retirement.
Dale Bowman — B.A., Math, University of Minnesota. Thirty years in commercial and industrial temperature control, instrumentation, and motor control, including work for Honeywell; six years in mechanical contracting, commercial waste and water treatment, and industrial taconite; plus microwave application development. With the increased awareness of energy conservation in the 1970s, Dale became interested in finding ways to minimize energy requirements for all HVAC processes. Currently, in addition to work for RETAP, Dale consults with various groups/parties on energy saving processes or products, often with start-up organizations. He also volunteers with Andersen Elementary in Minneapolis (mentoring and science projects).
Clarence Chaplin (also a Climate Change Corps member) — worked as account manager, production manager, financial analyst, and product distribution manager for the DuPont Company for 32 years, and has a degree in chemical engineering. Clarence also works with his congregation’s environmental team to reduce energy and waste.
Walter (Bud) Hauser — B.S.M.E. Six years of experience at McQuay, Inc., as a design engineer for commercial heating and air conditioning systems. Twenty-six years at Despatch Industries as sales engineer, account manager, application engineer, application engineering manager, and project manager for industrial heat processing and environmental test equipment for pharmaceutical and electronics markets. One year at Interlaken Technology Corp. as product marketing manager for servo hydraulic test systems. The equipment Bud worked with at Despatch used a considerable amount of energy. The electrically heated equipment had heaters rated from about 1 kW up to several hundred. This was a large driver to design with efficiency in mind. Joined RETAP in 2002.
Guss Krake — B.S.E.E. and M.S.E.E. in Electrical Engineering, University of Minnesota. Thirty-nine years of experience with research, product development, project management, technical program management, and engineering department management at a variety of organizations, including the University of Minnesota Electrical Engineering Department, Data Card Corporation, Seagate Technology, Cricket Engineering, MRM Elgin, and MOCON Inc. Awarded several patents.
Norm Ledeboer — B.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota. Worked for Caterpillar Tractor Co. for one year and then for Northern States Power Co. (now Xcel Energy), for 31 years total, in Plant Engineering and Construction and later in Research Department. Fourteen years’ experience in home inspections and home rehab work. Registered Professional Engineer (Mech), in Minnesota.
Rin Porter — B.S. Speech, Northwestern University; M.A. and Ph.D, Speech and American History, University of Minnesota. Taught communication studies at the college level for 28 years, including 20 years at St Cloud State University. Volunteer for the Minnesota Land Trust for eight years, monitoring conservation easements and receiving training on conservation issues. As one of the founding members of the Central Minnesota Clean Energy Resource Team (CERTs) beginning in 2003, Rin monitored alternative energy efforts in the 10 counties of that region and worked through a grant for CERTs, writing alternative energy case studies for its website.
Tom Segar — B.Ch.E., University of Minnesota. Nineteen years’ service at St.Paul Ammonia Products Co. in Pine Bend, later N-Ren Corporation, performing research on fertilizer manufacturing (two patents issued). His work included cost analysis, chemical plant design and construction, fertilizer plant operations, and environmental improvements. Segar became involved in environmental programs in heavy chemical manufacturing two years before U.S. EPA was formed, an joined Koch Refining Company in 1980 as Environmental Manager of its Pine Bend refinery. He worked for 18 years with management, engineering, neighbors, and regulatory personnel to continue the growth of the refinery to supply transportation fuels to the Upper Midwest, while simultaneously reducing its environmental impact. Assisted other operations of Koch Industries in improving their environmental performance, including reductions in releases as well as establishing reporting programs to document such compliance operation to the regulators.
