Board of Directors
The Board of directors is responsible for establishing policy, ensuring the organization's financial health, and assuring that the mission is carried out in an ethical and prudent manner.
The Board has multiple sub-committees, including nominating, development and Program and Operation Committee, which is the interface between the Board, volunteers (operating committees) and the staff. CTI board members serve 3-year terms. The Executive Committee is made up of the four officers and one at-large member.
Board Members:
To reach any of them send an inquiry to cti@compatibletechnology.org and indicate who you would like to contact. We will forward the email on for you.
Chair: Gary Ballman
Vice Chair: Marschall I. Smith
Vice Chair: Ronald L. Christenson
Secretary: Katherine Blanck Radsan
Treasurer: Gary Ellis
Directors:
- Gary Balas
- Dave Cummings
- Mo Elafandi
- Jorge Fernandez
- Steve Fochler
- Camille George
- Cathie Hartnett
- Paul Healey
- Erv Lentz
- Indra Mehrotra
- Adonis Neblett
- Shirish Pareek
- Ronald Price
-
Adam Rix
- Roger Salway (non-voting)
- Jack Truong
- Katherine Walker- Griffith
Biographies:
Gary Balas
Professor & Department Head, Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, University of Minnesota
Professor Gary Balas has taught in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Minnesota for 20 years. He currently serves as teacher, researcher, and department head.
Dr. Balas has been published in over 50 refereed journals and has received several prestigious awards and fellowships, including the American Automatic Control Council O. Hugo Schuck Best Paper Award in 2006, IEEE Control System Society Control Systems Technology Award in 2005, IEEE Fellow in 2004, IT George Taylor Distinguished Research Award from the University of Minnesota in 2003, ASME Dynamic Systems and Control Outstanding Young Investigator Award in 1999, and a McKnight-Land Grant Professorship, also from the University of Minnesota in 1993.
Gary Ballman - Chair
Sr. Vice President of Marketing and Product Development, DeCare
Mr. Ballman leads the company’s marketing, product development and market research initiatives, and he established and heads the company’s Broker and Small Group Support Services department. In addition to developing employer-group products, he oversees the company’s individual product portfolio: Mr. Ballman spearheaded the development and marketplace introduction of these rapidly growing product lines. Prior to leading the company’s marketing areas, Mr. Ballman headed DeCare’s claims and customer service divisions and currently reports to the CEO. He has 25 years experience in marketing, product development and research, insurance operations, customer service, customer satisfaction measurement and quality management.
Mr. Ballman served on the Board of Examiners of the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award Program for three years and holds a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota.
Ronald L. Christenson - Vice Chair
Retired, Corporate VP and CTO, Cargill
Mr. Christenson retired from Cargill in 2009 after 38 years of service. During his career with Cargill he lived in Argentina and Canada and several locations within the USA while engineering, building and operating food processing plants. Since 1992 he had been responsible corporately for Plant Operations, Food safety and Environment, Heath and Safety and Engineering.
He has an interest in continuing to help people in the developing world through technology and education. He is supporter of Engineers without Borders. Mr. Christenson also chairs the Dean's Advisory Board for the Institute of Technology at the University of Minnesota. He has supported the University through scholarships, fellowships and by endowing a chair in renewable energy. He graduated from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1972. He is a registered professional engineer.
He is member of the Board of Trustees of Science Museum of Minnesota. An avid outdoorsman, he owns a small woodland that he stewards for wildlife.
Dave Cummings
Engineering Manager for Process System Development, General Mills
Mr. Cummings has been an employee for General Mills for the last 27 years working in Engineering, Manufacturing and R&D. He is currently leading the activities of 200+ General Mills employee volunteers working on Science and Technology Transfer. The STT initiative is a philanthropic program focusing on the development of small food processors in Africa in order to alleviate poverty and malnutrition.
Mo Elafandi
Ethanol Sales Manager, CHS Inc. / Renewable Fuels
Mr. Elafandi holds a BS in Marine Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and an MBA in Finance from Duke University. Prior to working in renewable fuels marketing at CHS, Mr. Elafandi managed the New Product Development portfolio at Ecolab in St. Paul and was the Division Controller for Ecolab’s R&D Group. He has served in various commodity structuring, commodity trading, finance, and operational engineering roles throughout his career, focusing on alternative and sustainable energy.
Mr. Elafandi also served in the United States Navy as a submarine officer and nuclear plant engineer.
Gary Ellis - Treasurer
Executive Director, Riverton Community Housing
Mr. Ellis is the Executive Director of Riverton Community Housing, a non profit organization with a mission to provide affordable housing in Southeast Minneapolis. Mr. Ellis has served in this position since 1991 when he helped restructure the organization to position it for development, adding five new properties along with the management of four successful cooperative housing communities.
In addition to serving on the Board of Compatible Technology International, he currently serves on the Board of St. Stephen’s Human Services, an organization working to end homelessness, and the Board of the Center for Exchange and Solidarity located in Sal Salvador, El Salvador, an organization working to promote democracy and economic development in El Salvador.
Mr. Ellis has an MBA degree from the University of Minnesota and a real estate broker’s license in the State of Minnesota. He has two grown daughters and lives with his wife, Diane, in Shoreview.
Jorge A. Fernandez
Retired, President of Global Water Treatment unit, Pentair, Inc.
Mr. Fernandez has had an extensive global business career with leading organizations. He has worked for S. C. Johnson & Son (Johnson’s Wax), Nordic Track, and Whirlpool Corporation, in senior international management positions.
Most recently, for the Water Technologies Group at Minneapolis-based Pentair, Inc., Mr. Fernandez was President of its Global Water Treatment unit, playing key roles in Pentair’s acquisitions, and in the company’s growth of its water-related businesses in China, India and the Middle East.
In 2004, he co-founded the Water Science & Marketing consulting group to assist industry and government address business and technical opportunities in water quality. Mr. Fernandez advises corporations on business development issues and the investor community on the issues, the structure, the trends, and the players in the global water industry (visit www.waterthinktank.com).
Mr. Fernandez is a US citizen, native of Argentina, and he holds an Accounting degree from the University of Buenos Aires as well as a MBA degree from Stanford University. He is a past governor of the U.S. Water Quality Association.
He is married, and has two daughters. His office is located in Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Steve Fochler
Attorney, Levander, Gillen and Miller, P.A.
Mr. Fochler is a 1989 graduate of Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. After college, Mr. Fochler attended Hamline University School of Law where he earned his Law degree cum laude in 1992. While at Hamline, he served on the Hamline Law Review, the moot court team, was a legal intern at a major Twin Cities financial institution, and a law clerk at a growing St. Paul computer company.
After law school, he served as the judicial law clerk to the Honorable H. Richard Hopper, in Hastings, Minnesota before joining LeVander, Gillen & Miller, P. A. in February 1994.
Steve enjoys fresh and saltwater fishing, golf, and spending time with his family.
Camille George
Associate Professor of Engineering, University of St. Thomas
Dr. George is an Associate Professor in mechanical engineering at the University of St. Thomas. She teaches thermodynamics, senior design, and energy and the environment, an engineering course for non-majors to promote general technology literacy. Her research interests revolve primarily in global sustainability and engineering for the developing world. She has led several international service-learning projects in the Caribbean and West Africa which have involved faculty members in six different disciplines as well as many undergraduate students. Her innovative interdisciplinary multi-year projects have addressed post-harvest food preservation, passive cooling of space in hot dry climates, empowering women's cooperatives to make and sell Shea-butter products, and installing solar hot water pasteurizers.
Cathie Hartnett
Consultant
Cathie Hartnett is a non profit and business consultant in strategic planning, marketing, leadership transition, and crisis management. Ms. Hartnett was raised in Minnesota but spent 17 years in Washington working in politics as well as starting an entrepreneurial management company that launched new national non profits and small companies. Most recently she is an investor and Director of First Equity Mortgage Inc. Ms. Hartnett is a weekend radio talk show host for Hubbard Broadcasting on FM 107.1. She is a regular on KSTP television providing political commentary and often does public speaking with her “Polichick” show partner on the need for a civil dialogue with those you most disagree.
Her volunteer work in Board service reflects her passion for entrepreneurial work in the non profit and for profit sector including; Mental Health Resources, Sobriety High Foundation, Minnesota Women’s Economic Roundtable and Theater Latte Da, St. Paul Almanac and EdVisions.
Ms. Hartnett was chosen as an American Council of Young Political Leaders – Mexico Delegation, MS Magazine – "80 Women to Watch in the 80's”, U of M Alumni Magazine – “40 graduates under 40”, President’s Leadership Award – Spina Bifida Association of America and Distinguished CLA Graduate of University of Minnesota.
Ms. Hartnett lives with her husband, John Monto, an artist in St. Paul. She parented two stepsons and has two grandchildren.
Paul Healey
Risk Manager, GE Capital
Paul Healey is a returned Peace Corps volunteer who spent 2 years working as a Small Enterprise Development Volunteer in Mali, West Africa. Mr. Healey ’s first exposure to CTI was through an internship for CTI in the early 1990’s prior to attending the Monterey Institute of International Studies where he studied development. In addition to a MA in International Policy Studies, he holds a BA from Occidental College in Los Angeles and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas.
Mr. Healey He has held a variety of positions in Operations and Risk management since joining GE Capital in 1998. Paul, his wife Becky Dankowski, and their 3 young children live in South Minneapolis.
Erv Lentz
Retired, Engineer
After a five year co-op BSME program at Georgia Tech, Erv Lentz became a Research Assistant at Penn State where he earned his MS ME Degree. After graduate school, Mr. Lentz worked for Ford Motor Company; Sparton Corporation, where he developed a continuous gasoline injection system for Ford; and for Walker Manufacturing where he worked for 14 years in every facet of management. He was also Chairman of the Board of Goodwill Industries. Following this, Mr. Lentz joined Marquette Manufacturing as Vice President of Marketing before taking a management position at Fluidyne Engineering.
Now retired, Mr. Lentz is still actively involved in his church, The House of Hope Presbyterian Church, and is VP of the Board of the Village at Izatys and President of the Board of the Tudor Oaks Townhome Association. He volunteers much of his time to CTI working in the shop, acting as a Board member, and serving as Chair of the Technology committee.
Indra Mehrotra
Director, Science and Communications,
General Mills Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition
Indra Mehrotra is Director of Science and Communications with the Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition at General Mills. In this capacity, she leads nutrition science research strategy and programs for various General Mills businesses and is responsible for health and nutrition communications for consumers and health professionals. Prior to joining the Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition, she led Nutrition Services at the Pillsbury Company. Her responsibilities included: directing nutrition regulatory affairs and issues management, providing technical support for nutrition labeling, strategic support for product development, and nutrition expertise for other corporate nutrition information/educational programs.
Ms. Mehrotra is an active member of several professional food and nutrition organizations such as American Society of Nutrition, Institute of Food Technologists and the American Dietetic Association. She is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian with a MS in Nutrition & Dietetics from the Northern Illinois University and another MS in Nutrition & Food Science from the M.S. University, Baroda, India. She also holds a post graduate diploma in Food Science and Nutrition (with emphasis on food technology and food processing) from the University of Gent, Belgium.
Currently, Ms. Mehrotra is part of General Mills employee volunteer organization that is working on Science and Technology Transfer initiative focusing on alleviating poverty and malnutrition in Africa.
Alicia Mills
Attorney, Associate in Technology and Patent Groups, Dorsey & Whitney LLP
Alicia Mills is an associate in Dorsey & Whitney's Technology and Patent Groups. She practices in the areas of patent preparation and prosecution, patent opinions, and intellectual property licensing and acquisitions. Alicia has experience in domestic and foreign patent prosecution, opinion work, client counseling, portfolio management, and due diligence. Her patent practice relates to a broad range of technical fields but focuses especially on medical device technology.
Adonis Neblett
Attorney, Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.
Adonis Alfonso Neblett is a shareholder of Fredrikson & Byron’s Intellectual Property Group. His practice focuses on U.S. and international patent protection and strategies for major or established companies, start-ups, and individuals in a variety of technologies. Prior to joining Fredrikson & Byron, he practiced environmental law and intellectual property law in both the private and public sector and served in the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office. Mr. Neblett received his B.S. in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his law degree from the University of Washington. His family is originally from Panama where he was born.
Shirish Pareek
President and Chief Executive Officer, MinnPar LLC
Shirish Pareek is President, and Chief Executive Officer of MinnPar LLC, a leading parts and supply-chain business supporting Construction, Mining, Agriculture, Road-Building and Industrial Equipment industry. Mr. Pareek has an MBA with specialization in Operations and Strategy from Carnegie Mellon University and a B.S. with University Honors in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur.
He has served on the board of Carnegie Museum of Art Budget Committee, First Voice International and a Working Board Member of Indian American Council. He is working actively on the issue of Severe Malnutrition (SAM) in India. Shirish believe that the severe issue of malnutrition amongst children in India will require scalable, sustainable and local solutions.
He and his wife Komal live with their two kids in the Greater Washington DC area.
Ron Price
Senior Program Officer, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)
Ron Price currently leads LISC's project-related investments. Before joining LISC, Mr. Pricewas a real estate development project manager with Project for Pride in Living (PPL). Prior to joining PPL, he held positions in commercial banking and real estate development in Chicago. Mr. Price brings a deep commitment to community based development and a strong set of real estate development and finance skills to the Twin Cities Community. He holds a B.A. in architecture from Princeton University and completed all assigned course work for a Masters Degree in Urban Planning from the University of Illinois.
Katherine Blanck Radsan - Secretary
Attorney
Katherin Blanck Radsan Radsan is a retired equity partner from the law firm now known as Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins, a 180-attorney firm based in San Diego, California. In her 13 years of practice at that firm, she specialized in complex class action lawsuits related to securities fraud and she represented individual shareholders and institutional clients. Ms. Radsan continues to serve as a consultant to Coughlin Stoia. Before her work at that firm, she was a business litigation associate at Corbett & Steelman in Irvine, California. Ms. Radsan graduated with a journalism degree, cum laude, from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1987 and a law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1990, where she was the Associate Editor of the San Diego Law Review. She is a current member of the Minnesota Bar and the State Bar of California.
Adam Rix
Founder, Watermark Initiative, LLC
Mr. Rix is the founder of Watermark Initiative, LLC and the author of its proprietary Hydro Perspective assessment process. He graduated from the University of Denver, Graduate School of International Studies with a Masters of International Development. He also holds a J.D. from the University of Denver and B.A. in Political Science from Trinity College, CT.
Roger Salway
Executive Director, Compatible Technology International
Mr. Salway joined CTI as the Executive Director in September 2008 after serving as the Vice Chair on the Board of Directors. Mr. Salway's previous experience includes senior management experience in Europe and North America for Deere & Co. and more than 25 years of global manufacturing and leadership experience. He was formerly COO of Paper Calmenson & Co., a St. Paul-based steel products manufacturer, and was Executive Vice President for Capacity Web, a technology based company that facilitated efficient global industrial manufacturing and sourcing. Mr. Salway also serves on the Board of The Rose Ensemble.
Marschall Smith - Secretary
Senior Vice President of Legal Affairs and General Counsel, 3M Company
Marschall Smith's educational background includes a History Degree from Princeton University, a Law Degree from the University of Virginia, and an MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago.
Before serving in his current position at 3M Company, Mr. Smith was Vice President and General Counsel for Brunswick Corporation, Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Digitas Inc., and Senior Vice President and General Counsel, IMC Global Inc., among other things.
Mr. Smith also served in the United States Marine Corps on Active and Reserve Service, and is active on the Board of Directors for Compatible Technology International.
Jack Truong
Vice President and General Manager, 3M Construction and Home Improvement Division
Before joining 3M in 1989, Jack Truong worked with IBM in New York City and Polaroid in Boston. At 3M he has held positions with increasing responsibilities in new-product development, business development, and international management.
In 2001, Mr Truong became the Managing Director of 3M Thailand. In Thailand, he was elected governor of the American Chamber of Commerce. As governor, he was active in driving fundraising efforts to build libraries and infrastructure for schools in rural Thailand.
From 2003 to 2009, he was the vice president and general manager of 3M Office Supplies Division. Jack served on the Executive Board of the National Office Products Industry Council and was active in leading global fundraising efforts to support cancer research and treatment. He received the Richard Karasik Humanitarian Award in 2006 from the UJA-Federation of New York. In 2009, City of Hope, a national Cancer Research Center based in Los Angeles, California, honored him with the Spirit of Life Award.
Mr. Truong earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York in 1987. He holds 11 U.S. patents and several international patents. Jack currently resides in St. Paul, Minn., with his wife and their three children.
Katherine Walker-Griffith
Philanthropist, Community Volunteer
Katherin Walker-Griffith is a native Minnesotan who returned to the state in 1990 after living in both the East and intermountain West. She is an antiques dealer living in St. Paul and a member of both the MN and WI Antiques Dealer's Associations. As a mother of 3 and grandmother of 4, she knows the importance of clean water and adequate nutrition for children and their families. CTI's emphasis on simple, workable technologies to address these fundamental human needs is important work.