ABOUT US
Columbia Biogas will provide the Portland metropolitan region with sustainable solutions which produce renewable energy and fertilizer products through the ecological reuse of the community’s food waste. Our mission is to enable the community to thrive through self-reliance and resourcefulness.
John McKinney, President and Founder
John has over 15 years of experience financing and managing energy related investments. Prior to founding Columbia Biogas, John founded and operated Verde Power, a green-field development firm focused on utility scale wind power projects. John also co-founded Greenrock Capital, which originated, structured, and negotiated numerous partnership and project finance transactions involving renewable power developers and projects.
Mike Schiller, Vice President Operations
Mike is an energy industry and project management professional with over 20 years of experience in the design, development, and deployment of energy generation and distribution facilities. Since 1989, he has participated in or led the development of natural gas, wind, fuel cell, and cogeneration power plants and has led efforts in energy trading, power marketing, and the design and evaluation of demand-side management and energy efficiency programs. Mike’s most recent success was the development of the 60MW Flat Water Wind Farm located in Richardson Country, NE. Mike directs the operations of Columbia Biogas. Mike has a BS in Political Science, has completed Graduate Studies in Communication (Social-Psychology) and holds an MBA from Western International University.
Dale Richwine P.E., Environmental Engineering
Dale Richwine is an environmental engineer with over 38 years’ experience in the planning, design, start-up, operation and management of water and wastewater treatment facilities. Dale has a broad background in the operation and management of treatment plants, including biosolids and recycled wastewater utilization programs. Dale brings this management experience to his projects by applying an appropriate decision process utilizing members of the public, key decision makers and operations and maintenance staff. Dale has an MBA, a M.S. Engineering Management, and a B.S. Civil-Structural Engineering, from Portland State University, and an A.A.S. Wastewater Technology from Linn-Benton Community College and Rocky Mountain Program.
Holly Stirnkorb, Organics Diversion and Public Policy
Holly Stirnkorb has 20 years of experience in the field for environmental planning with an emphasis in the areas of waste reduction, recycling, and solid waste management planning. Her experience includes working with both the public and private sectors in all phases of project management, program planning, implementation and evaluation. As a consultant and former senior staff for Washington County, Holly has worked extensively with government agencies, the commercial sector, and industry groups. She is an active member and has served on the board for the Association of Oregon Recyclers. Holly holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Oregon State University.
Marv Shelby, Industrial Feedstock Procurement
For 44 years, Marv Shelby has been involved in all aspects of the food processing industry. His experiences range from engineering, operations and sales and include positions such as Northwest Contract Manager and Vice-President of Operations for General Mills; V.P., Business Development, V.P., Engineering and Technical Services, Operations Manager and Engineering Manager for Agripac, Inc.; and Plant Engineering Manager for General Foods Corporation. Currently he consults to companies working in and with the food processing industry to provide project management, contract/outsourcing arrangements, and strategic planning for continuous improvement and profitability. Marv holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Oregon State University.
Malek Hall, By-Products Marketing
Malek Hall is an entrepreneur working to build the North American Biogas industry. At CBG, he is developing markets for the co-products of anaerobic digestion-based biorefineries. Prior to joining CBG, he co-founded a start-up in which he worked across the biogas value chain. His graduate training is as an applied social and behavioral scientist. His research includes energy behavior analysis and program evaluations of the effectiveness of climate and energy policies. He has an undergraduate degree in philosophy and biology from Lewis & Clark College.
BACK TO TOPDid you know?
The process of converting waste materials or discarded products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value. The goal of upcycling is to prevent wasting potentially useful materials by making use of existing ones. This reduces the consumption of new raw materials when creating new products. Reducing the use of new raw materials can result in a reduction of energy usage, air pollution, water pollution and even greenhouse gas emissions.