BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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H. Stephen Burdette

H. Stephen Burdette

Mr. Burdette has 18 years of wireless telecommunications industry experience. Recently retired, he had served as Senior VP for Western Wireless since 1999, first as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing and for the past three years, SVP of Customer Operations which include IT, Customer Care, and Customer Program Management. Prior to joining Western, Mr. Burdette served as SVP Operations and SVP Corporate Development for MobileMedia and MobileComm, a Bell South Company. Mr. Burdette’s wireless experience began in 1985 with Bell Atlantic Corporation and culminated with his appointment in 1989 as President, Bell Atlantic Paging, a subsidiary of Bell Atlantic Mobile Systems, now Verizon. Prior to joining Bell Atlantic, Mr. Burdette worked in several senior sales/marketing and customer focused positions with such notable companies as American Sign, Carter Machinery (a Caterpillar Dealer) and Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. Mr. Burdette is a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, WV with a Bachelors degree in Business Administration. He currently resides with his wife in Daytona Beach, Florida.  back to top

Michael Heenan

Mr. Heenan has extensive business experience and a career dedicated to customer service in the high technology, medical imaging sector. His career spans over 28 years in medical field service with various employers. Currently employed by General Electric Medical Systems, Michael is responsible for Ultrasound service throughout the America’s. In his role as Operations Manager, Michael has broad-based responsibilities for delivering on financial commitments to the business while developing a customer-centric workforce and back-room operations which ensure service delivery excellence. Michael is accountable for managing a diverse work force of over 180 direct employees in the US and Canada as well as dealer networks in Central and South America. He is directly accountable for producing $78M in sales as well as achieving base and variable cost targets, ultimately delivering on cost productivity and operating margin commitments. Michael is Six Sigma Green Belt Certified and has an Associated Degree in Electrical Engineering from the Ohio Institute of Technology and a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. Michael is married with two daughters and resides in the Boston area.  back to top

Donald R. Hubler, Chair

Mr. Hubler recently retired as the Director of St. Clair Shores, Michigan Public Works and Water Department after 30 years of service. In his role as a city department director, he gained valuable experience in managing people, resources and budgets to maintain an entire city infrastructure. He has been involved in various volunteer activities including Habitat for Humanity and the Elementary Parent-Teachers club, where he served as President. He also is a founding member and co-chair of the St. Clair Shores Earth Patrol environmental organization. “It has been my pleasure and a privilege to provide the residents of St. Clair Shores as Director of Public Works and Water Department and to represent the City as a steward of community resources…..I have found that people of varied backgrounds working together towards a common goal will exceed expectations and create new goals.” Don is married with two children and currently resides in Clinton Township, Michigan.  back to top

Jerry A. Piontkowski

Mr. Piontkowski retired from Ford Motor Company in 2002 and subsequently co-founded H2Systems, where he is currently Vice President and Chief Engineer. Since receiving his engineering degree, he has established over 20 years of engine design and development experience. In 2001 he became a resident engineer in San Diego to develop Ford’s fuel cell engine program through their recently formed fuel cell alliance with Daimler-Chrysler and Ballard. As a Corporate Officer and member of the Board for H2Systems, he has played an integral role in the development of corporate policy and the business plan that provides direction for the company. Jerry is married and currently resides in Escondido, California.  back to top

J. Patrick Sterchi, Ph.D.

Dr. Sterchi is a co-founder of H2Systems, Inc. and has served as President since the company’s inception in 2002. He has extensive experience in fuel cell system integration, design, and analysis through his work at XCELLSiS Fuel Cell Engines in San Diego and the University of Florida Fuel Cell Research and Training Laboratory. He has worked on the development of hydrogen delivery systems for the Ford Focus Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV) and Daimler-Chrysler A-class FCV. His areas of expertise include fluid processes, heat transfer, and thermodynamics, with a special interest in compressible flow. Dr. Sterchi holds Ph.D. and MS degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida and a BSME degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Patrick currently resides with his wife in Ramona, California.  back to top