Center for Energy Policy & Management Announces New Officers

Created: April 10, 2014  |  Last Updated: December 16, 2019  |  Category:   |  Tagged:

WASHINGTON, Pa. (Jan. 7, 2014)—Jeffrey Norton, attorney and member at Eckert Seamans, a national full-service law firm based in Pittsburgh, has been elected chairman of the advisory board for Washington & Jefferson College’s (W&J) Center for Energy Policy & Management (CEPM).

Norton, a 1980 W&J graduate, succeeds Jack Ubinger, former senior vice president of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council and former partner at Jones Day law firm, who served as chair of the advisory board for its first two years and now resumes his position as a board member. The new vice chairman is Robert Dolence, vice president of Leonardo Technologies, Inc., a provider of engineering and management solutions. Dolence will succeed Norton as chairman next year.

“The advisory board has provided the CEPM with invaluable support over the first two years of its existence. The members, under the leadership of Jack Ubinger, have played key roles in facilitating the CEPM’s initial projects and initiatives, including the W&J Energy Index, the annual Energy Summit, the annual Energy Lecture Series, research on the economic impacts of Marcellus Shale development in Washington County and on the sustainability of communities hosting natural gas development, and various student internships,” said Diana Stares, director of the CEPM. “In addition, they have supported the CEPM’s foray into a larger, national discussion of energy issues.”

Other CEPM advisory board members are James Benze, Ph.D., professor of political science at W&J; Leslie Dunn, Ph.D., assistant professor of business and economics at W&J; Robert East, Ph.D., associate professor of environmental studies and director of the environmental studies program at W&J; Alexander Mirtchev, Ph.D., president of Krull Corporation and executive chairman of the Royal United Services Institute for Defense and Security Studies (RUSI) International; Pat McCune, chairman and CEO of Community Bank; and Jocelyn Sheppard, Ph.D., principal of Red House Consulting.

The CEPM is dedicated to fostering the development of a national energy policy that minimizes environmental impact and promotes economic growth. It supports this mission through three core activities: programming that brings together scientists, industry leaders, elected officials, advocates and citizens to engage with policy related to the country’s full array of energy sources; development and publication of the W&J Energy Index, which analyzes the nation’s progress towards energy independence and security; and providing W&J students with opportunities for research, internships, and hands-on experience with energy issues.

“On behalf of W&J, I thank all of the board members for their leadership, their advice, their introductions to critical partners, and, overall, for their dedication to W&J and to advancing its educational mission.  I look forward to another productive year with Mr. Norton at the helm,” Stares added.

The next meeting of the CEPM advisory board is Feb. 25.

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