Technology entrepreneurs everywhere are on the move to capture opportunities in the clean technology sector.  These entrepreneurs are faced with challenges unique to cleantech and the Pacific Northwest. 

Join us on Wednesday, January 20, 2010, at 5:30 p.m., as our expert panel shares their insights on starting, growing, and sustaining cleantech companies, with moderator, Jesse Berst, founding editor of Smart Grid News. 

Panelists include:

·      Patricia M. Irving, PH.D., CEO and Founder, InnovaTek Inc.

·      Rogers Weed, Director, Department of Commerce, Washington State

·      Roger Woodworth, Vice President for Sustainable Energy Solutions, Avista Utilities

·      Bradley Zenger, Managing Director, Pivotal Investments

The panelists will share their experiences and provide you with resources for success as you harness the unique opportunities available to the cleantech companies of tomorrow.

Explored topics include:

·      The financing opportunities for companies in our region

·      Navigating the regulatory and policy framework

·      Understanding the value of partnerships

·      Securing regional resources

Join us for an engaging and thought-provoking discussion as MITEF NW kicks off the New Year!

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Biographies

Moderator
Jesse Berst, Founding Editor, Smart Grid News

Jesse Berst is one of the pioneering thought leaders of the smart grid, and head of GlobalSmartEnergy (GSE), an internationally known consulting firm. GlobalSmartEnergy is a recognized authority on the smart energy revolution and the market opportunities it represents. Clients include BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, the U.S. Department of Energy, Global Environment Fund, the GridWise Alliance, Avista Utilities, Southern California Edison, the State of New Mexico, the Province of British Columbia, and Prize Capital.  

Jesse is the Founding Editor of SmartGridNews.com, the sector’s oldest, largest and highest-ranked site for information about the ongoing $1 trillion remake of North America’s electric power infrastructure. He is the co-author of the forthcoming book ELECTRONOMICS – Creating Wealth and Prosperity from the Transition to the Electricity Economy.

Jesse has keynoted dozens of energy-related events in the U.S. and abroad. Recent speeches have included the National Smart Grid Conference (with WA Senator Cantwell); Keynote, Washington Public Utility District Association; Keynote, Western Power Delivery Automation Conference; Plenary, Powering Forward Conference (with WA Senators Cantwell and Murray); Plenary, GridWeek 2009; and Plenary, Greenbeat 2009.

GSE services include strategic research, white papers, mergers and acquisitions advisory, and management of regional and national projects. Over the past few years, Jesse has led projects such as:

·      Constructing a national communications campaign for the National Energy Technology Laboratory’s Modern Grid Initiative

·      Building an energy & environment strategy for the X PRIZE Foundation. XPF is the world's pre-eminent prize institute whose mission is to bring about radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity

·      Creating a strategic plan for a regional coalition of economic development agencies to find jobs and economic development in the smart energy sector

·      Mapping out a partnering and acquisitions strategy for the entry of a large corporation into a smart energy sector

·      A member of the Advisory Council of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s Energy & Environment Directorate, where more than 1,000 scientists and staffers work to uncover solutions to the nation's energy, environmental and climate issues

Jesse was born in eastern Washington and graduated with highest honors from the University of Puget Sound with a degree in business administration.

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Panelists

Patricia M. Irving, PH.D., CEO and Founder, InnovaTek Inc.

Patricia M. Irving is the founder and owner of InnovaTek, Inc., an advanced technology company in Richland, WA that develops innovative products for sustainable energy and environmental safety.  As President and Chief Executive Officer, she supervises and controls all the assets, business and affairs of the Corporation.  The Company, which employs scientists and engineers, has been in business since 1997.

Previously, Dr. Irving held the positions of Director of Technology Research and Integration, and Manager of the Environmental Sciences Department at the Pacific Northwest Laboratory, operated by Battelle. Prior to joining Battelle, she conducted basic and applied research in energy and environmental systems at Argonne National Laboratory, operated by the University of Chicago.  She was on special assignment from 1986-1992 in Washington DC to the White House Council on Environmental Quality where she advised the President and Congress on the Clean Air Act.  Dr. Irving taught graduate courses in Industrial Ecology as an Adjunct Professor with the Environmental Sciences Department at Washington State University, Tri-Cities, from 1999 to 2007. She has a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of Wisconsin.

Dr. Irving is a member of the Founding Board of Directors of the WA State STEM Education Foundation and chairs the Outreach Committee.  She is a member of the Board of Directors and was elected to the Executive Committee of the U.S. National Hydrogen Association in 2008.  She served on the User Advisory Board for the DOE Environmental and Molecular Sciences Laboratory at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory from 2007-2009. Dr. Irving was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Board of Directors of Washington State’s Economic Development Institute, Sirti, from 1998-2003.

Dr. Irving is the author or co-author of over 75 scientific papers, books, and technical reports, 3 patents, and over 100 invited presentations at scientific and technical meetings.  Her passion for nature and desire for a sustainable future is what drives her career and interests.

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Rogers Weed, Director of the Department of Commerce, Washington State

Rogers Weed was appointed by Gov. Chris Gregoire as Director of the Department of Commerce in March 2009. As director, Rogers will fulfill the governor’s clear mission to retain the jobs and companies that we have in our state today and attract new ones.

Rogers earned a degree in Computer Science from Duke University and an MBA in Marketing from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He started his career as a management consultant focused on strategy and planning for companies in the pharmaceutical, manufacturing and high tech industries. Rogers joined Microsoft in 1990, managing teams in the Windows, Mobile Devices, On-line Content and Consumer Software Divisions and rising to Vice President over his 15 years with the company. Rogers has also been a board member and volunteer for regional organizations focused on climate change and social services. He lives in Seattle with his wife and three sons.

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Roger Woodworth, Vice President for Sustainable Energy Solutions, Avista Utilities

Roger Woodworth is VP for Sustainable Energy Solutions at Avista, the innovative Spokane-based utility founded in 1889 that now serves gas and electricity to customers of communities in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon.  In addition to its energy utility services, Avista has pioneered several clean energy enterprises that today thrive as stand-alone businesses in the fields of automated metering (Itron), modular fuel cells (ReliOn), and utility cost management for multi-site organizations (AdvantageIQ).

Woodworth began his utility career in 1979 as a field biologist conducting environmental assessments on energy projects. Through the years at Avista, he’s served in various leadership roles including: Strategic Counsel; Corporate Development Officer; and VP of Operations. He is also active in various professional and civic organizations, currently including service as:

·      Chair of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance board;

·      Appointee to the Washington Governor’s Clean Energy Leadership Council;

·      Chair of Edison Electric Institute’s customer service executive advisory committee;

·      Chair of the President’s Advisory Council for WSU-Spokane; and

·      Vice chair of the Sirti Foundation board.

Woodworth earned his Bachelor of Science degree in wildlife ecology from Washington State University and is a graduate of Columbia University’s Senior Executive Program.

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Bradley Zenger, Managing Director, Pivotal Investments

Prior to founding Pivotal Investments, Mr. Zenger was a sales, marketing and service executive and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in identifying new markets, building new businesses and driving global growth primarily in the technology markets. In 1997, he co-founded Pixelworks Inc., a fabless semiconductor company targeting the rapidly growing advanced display market. From inception, he led the marketing and sales efforts where he was responsible for identifying the initial market opportunity and entry strategy, developing key customer relationships and distribution channels leading to global revenues that reached $140 million in 2003 mainly in Asia. He hired and oversaw a global sales, marketing and applications support organization that spanned offices in China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and Europe. He was actively involved in several acquisitions including a company largely based in China. The company conducted an IPO in May of 2000 and is listed on the NASDAQ under the symbol PXLW.

Prior to founding Pixelworks, Mr. Zenger led marketing, service and new business development teams for In Focus Systems, the market leader in the digital projection market. He was part of the team that grew In Focus' revenues from $50M, when he joined in 1992 to nearly $250M in 1996 when served as Director of Marketing and left to form Pixelworks. While at In Focus, in addition to driving new market and business initiatives, Mr. Zenger focused on building teams and processes that could scale in the context of rapid revenue growth. Prior to In Focus, Mr. Zenger worked in Customer Support management roles at KLA Instruments, a capital equipment supplier to global semiconductor companies.

Mr. Zenger has been a member of the Board of Councilors for the China-U.S. Center for Sustainable Development, where his most recent focus had been evaluating the opportunity for local biofuels and renewable energy development in China. Mr. Zenger began his career in energy and technology as a naval submarine officer supervising ship's operations including the ship’s nuclear power plant.

Education: BSME University of Notre Dame and M.B.A. from Santa Clara University.