BVGEC - Feb 2021 - Founding Board of Directors Formalized
We are also excited to launch our inaugural membership offering! You can sign up as a member today!
Our volunteers and board committee have been hard at work in the following areas:
The Finance and Administration team is working to finalise the microgeneration project economics modelling spreadsheets and using this to calculate project revenue and cost projections for our host sites.
They presented BVGECs 2020 financial statements at the AGM which were approved and are now preparing the BVGEC 2020 tax documents.
As we move towards our first installations, the F&A team is has obtained board approval to procure Directors and Officers insurance and General Liability insurance through The Cooperators.
The Communications and Promotions team is finalising our branding and marketing strategy to prepare for our imminent membership drive.
Our brand story and key messages are now complete and the design phase had begun.
Do you have a great local photo or two that shouts ‘Bow Valley Community’ that you would willing to share with us to use as a BVGEC 'Stock Photo'? All photo credits awarded of course! For more information, email connect@bvgreenenergy.org.
The Governance team is assisting in advancing the suite of agreements required to commence our first installation on Ralph Connor Memorial United Church.
The Membership and Stakeholder Engagement team is excited that the membership application portal is now open for those who want to become members and part owners in the Cooperative.
In collaboration with the communications team, we are finalising our spring membership drive.
We currently have 7 Members and 30 Friends enlisted. If you have skills to offer and would like to volunteer, please fill out our Friends Application.
The Technology and Business Development team, in collaboration with the Governance team, are analysing the energy marketer opportunity.
They are also working to align BVGEC with renewable energy opportunities throughout the greater Bow Valley that go beyond just solar PV.
The Project Development committee has received two RFQ responses to the St Michaels church bid and is working with its new volunteer team to evaluate these responses.
Jeff Roberts
Chairperson, Bow Valley Green Energy Cooperative
March 12, 2021
BVGEC held its first AGM on February 15th 2021.
A vote of the members affirmed and accepted the Board of Directors and officers of the coop as follows:
Jeff Roberts - Chair & President
Jodi Conuel (Biosphere Institute nominee) - Secretary
Karena Thieme - Treasurer
Kamyar Emami - Director
Sue Hayduk - Director
Donald MacDiarmid - Director
Joey O-Brien - Director
Founding Board Member - Jodi Conuel
Jodi leads the Bow Valley Shift Program at the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley. In this role, she uses a variety of community engagement tools to empower Bow Valley residents to take meaningful action on climate change. Jodi is motivated by a long-standing interest in climate change issues, sustainable living and human-wildlife conflict resolution.
Jodi graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Zoology with an emphasis in Marine Zoology from The University of Wales, Bangor. She has also received her Red Seal Cook Qualification and enjoys cooking up a storm when she is not in her garden or exploring the great outdoors with her favourite pets and people.
Founding Board Member - Kamyar Emami
Kamyar, a Canmore resident, has 30+ years of international technology, operations and business experience in energy, transportation, high tech and telecom industries including several years in the United States and Australia. Most recently, Kamyar led the Canadian Energy Practice of a major consulting firm with 200,000+ employees. In this role, he helped clients transform their business by deploying state-of-the art technology solutions.
Kamyar holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science, a Master’s Degree in Mathematics, and a Graduate Certificate in Finance.
Kamyar is a volunteer at Kids Cancer Care Foundation, and a mentor at the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society. He enjoys hiking, snowshoeing and skiing, and is an avid chess player.
Founding Board Member - Sue Hayduk
Sue Hayduk has a 20-year history as an environmental educator, delivering sustainability projects in both Alberta and Manitoba.
Formerly part of The City of Calgary’s Ecological Footprint Team, The Canada Summer Games and Red River College (Winnipeg) she has managed small and large scale community eco-projects, cultivated relationships and educated the public on the “values” of being green. She looks forward to assisting Bow Valley Green Energy Cooperative in engaging citizens in meaningful conversations and fostering successful partnerships to advance green energy in the Bow Valley.
Outside of her environmental work, she is usually on the road travelling to find the sun or a cat sit; taking walks with husband Rob, or spending time painting vivid landscapes as an up-and-coming Canmore artist.
Founding Board Member - Donald MacDiarmid
Don recently retired after more than 35 years in the energy industry, both domestically and internationally. Starting with 5 years working as a petroleum engineer, Don subsequently trained as a lawyer. He spent 18 years in private practice with two large national law firms, followed by more than a decade as in-house counsel. In addition to supporting a broad range of activities in the upstream and midstream sectors of the oil and gas industry, Don has also worked extensively on the development of independent power projects in Alberta.
Don holds a BSc in Chemical Engineering from Queen's University and an LLB from Dalhousie University.
Don lives with his wife, Ruth, in Calgary. They have two grown daughters. Don has been involved in numerous community volunteer roles, including several political campaigns, fundraising for university, cancer and kidney charities, coaching junior soccer, and the Inn from the Cold. He recently rejoined the Board of the Calgary Centre for Newcomers where he formerly served as Chair.
Founding Board Member - Joey O-Brien
Joey has lived in Canmore for 16 years with his wife, 5 children and 2 grandchildren. He was one of the first in town to install solar panels (10 KW- 40 panels) on his home and it is now energy positive annually.
Joey is the president of SustainDriven, an innovative provider of environmental consulting and event operations that executes sustainable water, waste, global greenhouse gas and energy solutions. His professional passion is environmental sustainability, mitigation and education.
In addition, Joey is a hiking guide, a ski instructor, a ski coach, a first-class power engineer, a soccer player and enjoys building things.
Founding Board Member - Jeff Roberts
Jeff is a semi-retired energy executive with 35+ yrs experience in operations, technology, and project development. Jeff is passionate about assisting society in the impending energy transition both through energy efficiency as well as sustainable energy production.
Jeff is a professional engineer registered in Alberta. He has graduate engineering degrees from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, and has completed post graduate studies in Business at both University of Alberta and Ivey School of Business in London, Ontario.
Jeff and Dorelle reside in Canmore, are parents to three grown children, and thoroughly enjoy the lifestyle that the Bow Valley offers. They can be often found on the local golf course in summer and on the slopes in the winter.
Founding Board Member - Karena Thieme
Karena is an Environmental Sustainability Consultant passionate about helping both public and private organizations set and achieve their goals and targets and drive real and meaningful change. True to her belief that communities play an important role in driving change from within, Karena joined Bow Valley Green Energy to help accelerate the shift to renewable energy in the Bow Valley.
In addition to her experience working in the energy industry, Karena brings relevant skills to the table, including those earned through her work for a Big4 Consulting firm as well as a technology incubator.
When not working, Karena enjoys exploring the mountains, by foot, tied to a rope, or on skis.