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About Us

Energy Matters Community Coalition was founded in 2006, and since that time, the organization has established itself as a group of community members partnering with businesses, schools, and civic groups to educate the public, activate citizens, and improve the community in which we live.

In addition to its large general membership, EMCC consists of a 9 member Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors is responsible for educational opportunities for
community members, advocating sustainable design, and bringing energy issues to
the forefront.  Meet our board below!
 

Board of Directors
 

Sam Geckler, President

Sam Geckler is a mechanical engineer with 14 years of experience researching, designing, and developing low emission/high efficiency internal combustion engines and exhaust systems.  Prior to embarking upon his professional career, he completed his formal education by receiving Bachelor and Masters degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University.  A Solar Energy Engineering course at Purdue sparked his interested in sustainable power, and ever since, he has been fascinated with alternative transportation energy sources and renewable base load electrical generating technology.  Sam believes in taking a long term view of renewable energy growth and that decisions be made by planning for a future that is more than 30 years away. 
 

Kelly Geckler, Vice President

Kelly Geckler has been a resident of Columbus since 2002 and currently works as an International Destination Services Consultant for Dwellworks in Columbus, IN.  She has a Business and Sociology Bachelors degree with a Masters of Social Work degree.  Kelly became involved with Energy Matters as a way to educate herself about sustainable energy and "green" initiatives.  She has focused on reducing her own carbon footprint and that of her family by changing several unsustainable behaviors each year. Kelly is committed to working on environmental issues personally and in the community so as to hopefully improve the world for her children. 

Barry Kastner, Treasurer

 

Barry Kastner has been a Columbus resident since 1988, when he and his wife, Kathleen Leason, moved here from Charlottesville, Virginia.  Until then, Barry had been a life-long Virginian.  He studied City Planning and Environmental Design at the University of Virginia, worked as a VISTA volunteer with a housing rehabilitation program, and later directed that agency, before earing an MBA from THe Carden School of UVa.  Cummins used to recruit at The Darden School regularly but stopped doing so soon after Barry joined Cummins.  Barry and Kathleen have raised two daughters, Becca, a senior at the College of Charleston (SC), and Laura, a freshman at Indiana University.  Cummins has given Barry many opportunities beginning with Finance, Service, International Marketing, Marketing Administration, and most recently Information Technology where Barry runs the artfully named "Business Intelligence Center."  Barry serves on Cummins Climate Change Strategy Team and is a director of the Energy Matters Community Coalition.  In his spare time, Barry obsesses about the pressing global issues of our time.
 

Kathleen Leason, Secretary

An interest in climate change and energy efficiency led Kathleen to help found Energy Matters Community Coalition.  Kathleen served as Executive Director of the Charlottesville Housing Improvement Program and was a consulting director during the formation of Housing Partnerships, Inc.  She earned an undergraduate degree in business management and has extensive volunteer experience.
 

Art Hopkins

Art Hopkins is a Registered Landscape Architect who has lved in the Columbus area since 1979.  He is a graduate of Leadership Bartholomew County and is a member of Fairlawn Presbyterian Church.  Besides EMCC, Art volunteers with the Boy Scouts and other environmental groups.  He is married, with two children. 

 

Michael Greven
 

Liz Nolan-Greven
 

Cathie Caldie

Emilie Pannell

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