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Diverse group represents value chain and includes representatives from academia, algae production, end-users and professional services
MINNEAPOLIS–May 8, 2012 – The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO), the trade association for the U.S. algae industry, today announced the election of eight members to its Board of Directors for the 2012-2014 term. John Pierce, of DLA Piper LLP, will serve as the new Chair of the Board of Directors. The new and re-elected board members join seven others that are already serving terms on the board.
ABO’s Board guides the organization in its mission to educate the general public, policymakers and industry about the benefits of algae to address energy security, food production and sustainability, and to advocate for policies that can accelerate the development of commercial markets for products made from algae.
ABO’s Board is comprised of representatives from all sectors of an industry that is seeing more investment as well the construction of several large-scale demonstration projects across the country. Board members come from industry sectors that include academia, professional services, producers, technology suppliers, project developers and end-users. Newly elected board members are:
- Phil Pienkos – National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- Jim Rekoske – Honeywell UOP
Six board members were re-elected to a new two-year term:
- Mark Allen – Accelergy Corporation
- John Benemann – MicroBio Engineering, Inc.
- Tom Byrne – Byrne & Company, Ltd.
- Bill Glover – Boeing Commercial Airplanes
- Greg Mitchell – Scripps Institution of Oceanography
- Joel Murdock – FedEx Expres
These new and re-elected board members join ABO’s current board members:
- John Pierce – DLA Piper LLP (US)
- Qiang Hu – Laboratory for Algae Research, Arizona State University
- Ira “Ike” Levine – University of Southern Maine
- Margaret McCormick – Targeted Growth, Inc.
- Paul Woods – Algenol Biofuels
- Tim Zenk – Sapphire Energy
- David Hazlebeck – General Atomics
“ABO’s mission to keep the algae industry moving forward relies heavily on the commitment and expertise of our board of directors,” said Mary Rosenthal, Executive Director of the Algae Biomass Organization. “It’s great to see a continuation of our cross-industry representation from start-up algae production companies to global Fortune 500 companies.”
In addition to education and outreach efforts with policymakers, ABO produces and hosts the industry’s premier global conference, the Algae Biomass Summit, which this year will be held in Denver, CO, September 24-27. Earlier this year, ABO launched AllAboutAlgae.com, the first website designed to showcase algae’s potential to audiences ranging from those just learning about algae to seasoned algae enthusiasts, media and entrepreneurs.
About the Algal Biomass Organization
The Algae Biomass Organization (ABO) is a 501 c(6) non-profit whose mission is to promote the development of viable commercial markets for renewable and sustainable commodities derived from algae. Its membership is comprised of people, companies and organizations across the value chain. More information about ABO, including its leadership, membership, costs, benefits and members and their affiliations, is available at the website:www.algaebiomass.org
Media Contact:
Nate Kommers, Scoville Public Relations for ABO
206-625-0075 x2, nate.kommers@scovillepr.com
