The Wisconsin Institute for Sustainable Technology at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point has formed a 12-member advisory board comprised of leaders from industry, business development groups and research organizations who will provide guidance to the institute as it shapes priorities and works to transfer new technology from the laboratory to commercial use.
Board members include UW-Stevens Point alumni Ed Buehler, vice president and business manager for NewPage’s Specialty Papers; Tad Campana, paper mill superintendent at Thilmany’s Kaukauna mill; Lori Dehlinger, executive director of the Portage County Business Council; Leon Ostrowski, founder and coordinator of the Central Wisconsin Business Angels, LLC, and a founding partner in Planned Innovation Institute; and Troy Runge, director of the Wisconsin Bioenergy Initiative. Other members include Barb Fleisner, executive director of Centergy, Inc.; H. Tony Hartmann, chief executive officer of Great Lakes Ag Energy; Dave Mead, chief executive officer of C5•6 Technologies; Francis J. Podvin, chairman of the board of Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.; Kelly Rooney, area manager for Veolia Environmental Services in Central Wisconsin; Tom Sweeney, a member of the preconstruction group at J.H. Findorff & Son, Inc.; and Theodore Wegner, acting director of the U.S. Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory.
Executive Director Paul Fowler said the institute is fortunate to be able to draw on the considerable talent and experience represented on the board.
“We are excited to have a cross section of accomplished representatives from various sectors.” Fowler said. “We appreciate their willingness to serve.”
The institute was founded in 2009 and formally launched at UWSP in September 2010. Through its three divisions, WIST offers research, laboratory services and outreach education to help businesses and organizations meet their goals in ways that make more sustainable use of natural resources while improving the bottom line.
WIST is well underway on biofuels research aimed at developing a biorefinery that can be implemented in pulp and paper mills, producing renewable fuels and renewably sourced industrial chemicals from waste sludge. The project could thus generate additional revenue and add jobs in the industry. The institute’s lab services division provides testing, analytical and research and development services to the pulp and paper industry and is developing a suite of chemical analyses services for other businesses. The education division is creating industry-targeted courses including an introduction to life-cycle analysis for businesses.
