BOARD MEMBERS
Mark Davis
Principal Scientist
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
B.S. Chemistry, University of Cincinnati, M.S. Physical Chemistry, Colorado State University; Ph.D. Wood Science, Colorado State University
Dr Davis is the Group Manager of the Chemical and Catalyst Sciences Group in the National Bioenergy Center at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. He also serves as the Characterization Activity Lead in the Characterization and Modeling Focus Area in the BioEnergy Science Center. Recently, he has been combining multivariate statistical data analysis and spectroscopic methods such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and pyrolysis-molecular beam mass spectrometry (PyMBMS) follow changes in plant cell wall chemistry due to transgenic modification. Mark has developed pyMBMS methods to rapidly analyzed cell wall chemistry and teamed with plant geneticists to use the results of these analyses to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) in poplar and loblolly pine. He has also developed several NMR methods to characterize pyrolysis oil and liquid products from lignin. Before coming to NREL , Mark was a staff spectroscopist at the National NMR facility at Colorado State University developing novel experiments for both liquid and solid-state NMR spectroscopy.
Tom French
Tom French has his BS and MS degrees from NC State Univ. He is a Professional Engineer in North Carolina. He began his career at Carolina Power and Light (Now Progress Energy) doing Nuclear Construction and Fossil Plant maintenance. Tom then moved to the EPRI NDE Center in Charlotte, NC and was the Director of the National Nuclear Maintenance working group. Tom ended up at the Savannah River National Laboratory and has been there for the last 22 years. He has managed the laboratories strategic programs and the laboratory directed research and development program. Tom is currently the program manager for Bio Energy programs for the laboratory. Tom is also currently the Chairman for SC Biomass Council.
Scott Jones
CEO
Forest Landowners Association
Scott is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Forest Landowners Association, a national landowner advocacy organization which strives to support through advocacy, education and information, forest landowner’s responsible management of their private property. Scott has a BSFR from the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia, is a SAF certified forester and GA registered forester. He spent five years in land management and procurement with a paper company in North Florida and has worked on Government Affairs issues dealing with forestry for the Georgia Forestry Association and the Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association.
Erika Myers
Coordinator
South Carolina Biomass Council
Erika Myers works for the South Carolina Energy Office as the Manager of Renewable Energy Programs and is the Coordinator for the Palmetto State Clean Fuels Coalition. In her position Myers promotes alternative transportation fuels and renewable energy including biomass, offshore wind, and solar power.
Myers received a master’s degree from the University of South Carolina in Earth and Environmental Resources Management and an undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences from Clemson University.
Charity Pennock
Project Coordinator
Southeast Agriculture & Forestry Resources Alliance (SAFER)
Charity Pennock joined Southern Growth as a policy analyst in August 2005. Charity currently serves as a program manager with the Southern Technology Council (STC) and as project coordinator for the Southeast Agriculture & Forestry Energy Resources Alliance (SAFER). Charity coordinates initiatives, builds partnerships, and researches issues related to technology, innovation and renewable energy.
Lori Shermemeta
Special Advisor on Nanotechnology
Alberta Innovates Technology Futures
Lori Sheremeta is a lawyer, Research Officer at the National Research Council’s National Institute for Nanotechnology, a Research Associate at the Health Law Institute at the Faculty of Law at the University of Alberta. Currently she is seconded to Alberta Innovates-Technology Futures where she works as a Special Advisor on Nanotechnology.
Lori recently served as a member of the expert panel on nanotechnology established by the Council of Canadian Academies which published its report “Small is Different: A Science Perspective on the Regulatory Challenges of the Nanoscale” in July 2008. This panel was tasked with evaluating the current state of knowledge of nanomaterials, their health and environmental impacts that could underpin regulatory perspectives on the need for research, risk assessment and surveillance. In 2005, Lori participated as a member of the National Science Advisor’s Canadian Expert Panel on nanotechnology. The function of the committee being to provide an overview of the state of nanoscience, nanotechnology and ethical, legal and social research at that time in Canada with a view to the development of a national strategy. Lori’s current research efforts include strategic risk communication and the legal and regulatory challenges raised by nanomaterials, from the environmental, human health (including occupational health and safety) and consumer product perspectives.
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