Introducing the Energy West Directors
Richard M. Osborne
Chief Executive Officer
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Mr. Osborne, age 58, has been the Chief Executive Officer for the Company since November 2007 and a director of the Company since 2003. He is the President and CEO of OsAir, Inc., a company which operates as a property developer and manufacturer of industrial gases for pipeline delivery. From 1994 to October 2003, he served in various capacities, including, director, Vice Chairman of the Board and Chairman of the Board of GLB Bancorp, Inc., a publicly-held bank holding company headquartered in Mentor, Ohio. Since September 1998, Mr. Osborne is a director of John D. Oil and Gas Company, a publicly held oil and gas exploration company in Mentor, Ohio. Mr Osborne is the sole Manager of Turkey Vulture Fund XIII, Ltd., which began operating in January 1995 to acquire, hold, sell or otherwise invest in all types of securities and other investments. Turkey Vulture Fund is located in, Mentor Ohio.
Thomas J. Smith
Corporate Vice President
Chief Financial Officer
Director
Mr. Smith, age 59, has been the Chief Financial Officer for the Company since November 2007 and a director of the Company since 2003. Mr. Smith is a director of John D. Oil and Gas Company, a publicly held oil and gas exploration company in Mentor, Ohio. Mr. Smith served as a director of GLB Bancorp, Inc. from 1994 to October 2003.
W.E. 'Gene' Argo
Director
W. E. 'Gene' Argo, (61), has been a Director of the Company since 2002. He is the President and General Manager of Midwest Energy, Inc., a gas and electric cooperative in Hays, Kansas, in which capacity he has served since 1992. Mr. Argo serves as the Chairman of the Compensation Committee.
Steven A. Calabrese
Director
Steven A. Calabrese has served as a director since 2006. He is the managing partner of Calabrese, Racek and Markos, Inc., which operates a number of commercial real estate companies in Cleveland, Ohio and Tampa, Florida. The firms specialize in evaluation, market research and reporting, management, construction and development services for commercial and industrial real estate. He is also a director of John D. Oil and Gas Company, a publicly held oil and gas exploration company in Mentor, Ohio.
Mark D. Grossi
Director
Mark D. Grossi has served as a director since March 2005. He was employed as executive vice president of Charter One Financial, Inc. a publicly-traded bank holding company, and executive vice president and chief retail banking officer of its subsidiary, Charter One Bank, N.A., from 1992 through September 2004. Mr. Grossi is a director of John D. Oil and Gas Company, a publicly-held oil and gas exploration company in Mentor, Ohio.
James R. Smail
Director
James R. Smail was appointed a director in August 2007. For the past thirty years, he has served as chairman of the board of J.R. Smail, Inc., an oil and gas production company he founded. He is also the chairman of the board and owner of The Monitor Bank of Big Prairie, Ohio, an Ohio state-chartered commercial bank. Mr. Smail is a director of John D. Oil and Gas Company, a publicly-held oil and gas exploration company in Mentor, Ohio.
James E. Sprague
Director
James E. Sprague has served as a director since 2006. He is a certified public accountant and has been employed by Walthall, Drake & Wallace LLP, an accounting firm, since 1987 and is currently a partner and part owner of the firm.
Ian J. Abrams
Director
Ian J. Abrams has been in the industrial real estate business in Cleveland, Ohio and south Florida for over 17 years. He developed and later sold an inland container business that parked, inspected, repaired and trucked overseas containers. At an early age Mr. Abrams worked with his father in the scrap Iron and metal business. At age 24 He took over ownership of the Lake City Scrap Iron and Metal business and for the next 17 years, doubled the sales from the year before until selling the business 17 years ago.
Michael German
Director
Michael German is President and CEO of Corning Natural Gas Corporation. As Senior Vice President of Utility Operations at Southern Union Company from August 2005 through December 2006, He was responsible for three Utilities with approximately one-million customers. He has served as President of Southern Connecticut Gas, Connecticut Natural Gas, and Main Natural Gas; Senior Vice President, Energy East and President & CEO of The Energy Network. At New York State Electric & Gas Mr. German Served as President and Chief Operating Officer from 1997-2000; from 1994-1997, He was Senior Vice President, NYSEG. His involvement in the Americal Gas Association from 1978-1994 was highlighed with service as Senior Vice President from 1988-1994. Mr. German was a Financial Analyst for the U.S. Energy Research & Development Administration from 1996-1978. Mr. German holds a BA, Trinity College, 1972; MBA, Columbia University, 1974; and JD, Boston University, 1979.