DOE Appoints Nine New Members to Advisory Board

OAK RIDGE, Tenn. -- The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has appointed nine new members to its Oak Ridge Environmental Management advisory board.  Currently, the board has 19 members.  The new members will fill vacancies on the Oak Ridge Site Specific Advisory Board, a volunteer citizens’ panel that provides advice and recommendations to DOE about its environmental cleanup operations on the Oak Ridge Reservation.

The new members are Jimmy Bell, Janet Hart, David Hemelright, Howard Holmes, Fay Martin, Jacob Martin, Scott McKinney, Gregory Paulus, and Thomas Valunas.

“This is the single largest appointment of board members we’ve made at one time since establishing the board in 1995,” said John Eschenberg, DOE-Oak Ridge Assistant Manager for Environmental Management.  “Fortunately, through a successful recruiting campaign, we had a large pool of applicants to choose from.  We’ve obtained nine well-qualified people to serve on the board.”

Jimmy Bell currently provides consulting services to Egan, Fitzpatrick, Malsch & Lawrence, PLLC, a legal firm involved in environmental issues.  Previously, he worked as a chemist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) from 1963 to 1995.  Bell received his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in chemistry from Berry College and his doctorate in physical chemistry from the University of Mississippi.  Bell lives in Kingston.

Janet Hart is an environmental engineer with the Knox County Department of Air Quality Management, where she has worked since 2004.  She received Bachelor of Science degrees in civil engineering and education and a Master of Science (M.S.) in environmental engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.  She is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and an Engineer-in-Training for the State of Tennessee.  Hart resides in Andersonville.

David Hemelright is the marketing director for Alliance Corporation, which provides construction services, primarily to school systems.  Hemelright has 20 years of construction management experience in commercial, retail, and food service construction, and 10 years in maintenance management for retail and K–12 public schools.  He received his Bachelor of Arts in American history from Hobart College.  He has attended numerous conferences and seminars in Occupational Safety and Health Administration safety certification and in general construction.

In addition, Hemelright serves on the board of directors for the National School Plant Management Association and is the president of the board of directors for the Tennessee School Plant Management Association.  He is a member of the Council of Educational Facilities Planners–International; vice president of the board of directors for the American Truck Historical Society; and has served on the Loudon County Planning Commission.  Hemelright lives in Lenoir City.

Howard Holmes is a physician with Mercy Primary Care of Lenoir City.  Previously, he was the owner/operator of Physician’s Clinic P.C. in Lenoir City from 1993 to 2010.  He has worked in the medical field since completing his internship/residency in 1986.  Holmes received his B.S. in microbiology and his M.S. in natural sciences from the University of Arkansas.  He received medical training in general medicine from St. George’s University and internal medicine from East Tennessee State University.  Holmes is a founding member and current board member of the Boys & Girls Club of Lenoir City, and a member of the Heritage Foundation, the U.S. Naval Institute, and Mercy West Hospital.  Holmes resides in Lenoir City.

Fay Martin retired in 1996 from ORNL, where she worked as an environmental toxicologist.  She received her B.S. in chemistry/botany/zoology from the University College of the West Indies, an M.S. in biology from MacMaster University, and her doctorate in environmental toxicology from the University of Tennessee.  Martin serves as the co-president of Churchwomen United, vice chair of the Health and Education Facilities Board of Oak Ridge, and is a member of the American Association of University Women’s Planning Committee, the League of Women Voters, and the Citizens Advisory Panel of the Local Oversight Committee.  Martin resides in Oak Ridge.

Jacob Martin is an electrical inspector with the City of Oak Ridge.  He received his Electric Apprentice Certificate from American General Contractors, his Master Electrician License from the State of Tennessee, and his Electrical Inspector Certification from the International Code Council.  He is the treasurer of JakeBreak4Kids and a staff representative to the Oak Ridge Electric Board.  Martin is an Oak Ridge resident.

Scott McKinney is the vice president of Petroleum Services with Groundwater & Environmental Services, Inc., which provides environmental assessment and remediation services.  McKinney has 20 years of experience performing all phases of project management, from site characterization through remediation and closure.  He received his Associate of Engineering Technology degree from the State Technical Institute in Knoxville and his B.S. in civil engineering from the University of Tennessee.  McKinney is a member of the Knoxville Business Association, the Bentley Park Homeowners Association, and the Gettysvue Country Club Advisory Board.  McKinney is a resident of Knoxville.

Gregory Paulus retired as the president/owner of Metalite Industries, Inc., which produces and modifies products for persons with mobility disabilities.  He is retired from the U.S. Air Force, where he was a lieutenant colonel.  He received his B.S. in mechanical engineering from the Marquette University and his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Central Michigan University.  Paulus is a resident of Rockwood. 

Thomas Valunas retired in 2009 from Mid-America Renewable Fuels, Inc., where he served as chief financial officer.  He previously served in a similar capacity for several companies.  He received his B.S. in economics and his M.B.A. from Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.  Valunas serves as a volunteer on the Supervisory Committee and as treasurer on the Y-12 Federal Credit Union board of directors since 1995.  He lives in Oak Ridge.

The ORSSAB meets the second Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m., at the DOE Information Center in Oak Ridge.  Meetings of the board and its committees are open to the public, and notices are posted on the board’s website:  www.oakridge.doe.gov/em/ssab.

-DOE-

R-11-43