Officers / Board Of Directors

OFFICERS

Mark Metzner, President, CaliforniaGeo

Based in: Surrey, BC, Canada Affiliation: Endurant Engineering

One of two directors operating from Canada, Mark joined the CaliforniaGeo Board in 2022. His leadership in the development and updating of the ANSI/CSA/IGSHPA C448 Standard is something that will serve the geo industry better across all of North America and CaliforniaGeo has plans to anchor much of its future technical training around 448. Mark’s current term will end on 12/31/27.

Kevin Smidt, Vice President, CaliforniaGeo Based in: Sanger, Texas Affiliation: LoopTech Geothermal

Kevin is the Director of Drilling Operations for LoopTech Geothermal Inc. and former Field Supervisor for Bertram Drilling Inc. Kevin holds several drilling/operator licenses and certifications throughout the US and is an IGSHPA accredited installer. He has over 22 years of experience working with state/county, local municipalities, and co-ops in all aspects of drilling. This includes installing geothermal bore fields, from large scale industrial to small residential homes. His current term will end on 12/31/26.

Kent Penning, Secretary, CaliforniaGeo Based in: San Juan Bautista, California Affiliation: Anzar Consulting & Design, LLC

Kent has served the HVACR industry since 1981, owning and operating a contracting business for 29+ years around water source heat pumps. He has fixed, designed, installed and project managed many residential and commercial geo projects, and for 15 years was an adjunct instructor in the HVACR program at San Jose City College. Kent wants to serve the growth of our industry through utility and regulatory reforms. His current term will end on 12/31/25.

Lisa Meline, Treasurer, CaliforniaGeo Based in: Sacramento, California Affiliation: Meline Engineering Corporation

Lisa Meline is the principal engineer/owner of Meline Engineering Corp., providing consulting, construction support and technical training services. Current assignments include chairing three task forces for the ANSI/CSA/IGSHPA C448 revision: surface water, wastewater energy transfer, and district geothermal systems. She’s also on the technical advisory committee for the State of California DWR revision to Bulletin 74, and is a founding and returning board member who became CG’s first Lifetime Member in 2017. Her current term will end on 12/31/25.

DIRECTORS =======================================

Chris Coley, Director, CaliforniaGeo Based in: Preston, Washington Affiliation: Geotility

Chris Coley has been actively installing geothermal heating and cooling systems for over 13 years. His experience is broad, ranging from field services, estimating, and project management, to handling these for both Geotility Corp and Orca Energy. He is responsible for all staff in the Pacific Northwest region and leverages his management experience to maintain the highest quality levels for the companies he serves. Geotility’s website features one of their premier projects, certain to advance our geo industry in California—The George Lucas Museum for the Arts in downtown Los Angeles. His current term will end on 12/31/25.

Sandra Law, Director, CaliforniaGeo Based in: Solana Beach, California Affiliation: San Diego Gas and Electric

Sandra is a member of WRISE (Women in Renewable Industry & Sustainable Energy). She is a professional engineer with wide geographic experience inside and outside the U.S. Sandra’s field experience has included geo steam electric generation and micro-grids but she joins us as our first Director with major ties to an Investor-owned Utility. Her current term will end on 12/31/26

Steve Weitzel, Director, CaliforniaGeo Based in: Prosperity, SC Affiliation: Enertechusa.com

Steve is a veteran employee of two geo heat pump manufacturers, helped establish financial incentives through a South Carolina rural electrical cooperative and has experience with the establishment of a South Carolina income tax credit for those who completed residential geo installations. His current term will end on 12/31/26

Jeff Quibell, Director, CaliforniaGeo Based in: Kellowna, BC, Canada. Affiliation: Falcon Engineering

Jeff’s technical training was as a geological engineer with the Montana School of Mines in Butte and holds three college degrees. The first 10 years of his experience were gained in groundwater engineering practice, including 4 years based in Bay Area, California, and nearly 2 years experience in Honolulu for groundwater related projects for experience and familiarity with a variety of drilling and subsurface techniques, which were adapted for GSHP design and installation. For over 20 years he has served in various volunteer service roles to help develop GSHP industry capacity.

Aran Winn, Director, CaliforniaGeo Based in: Sacramento, CA. Affiliation: ClimateMaster

Aran was part of the initial group of sales reps and manufacturers introducing variable refrigerant flow systems to the Northern California market and supported the rapid growth of this technology. Duties included customer education, advocacy and promotion of local utility rebate programs, meetings with California Energy Commission for adoption of VRF energy modeling in its Title 24 Compliance Software, and meetings with California Air Resources Board regarding refrigerant GWP regulations.

More recently, he has supported the decarbonization and beneficial electrification of hot water central plants. This includes customer education and project evaluation in the use of heat-pump and heat recovery chillers to replace gas and electric boilers.

[As per our Bylaws, CaliforniaGeo’s Board consists of nine (9) Directors]

PAST DIRECTORS =======================================

Bill Martin, Past President, Quincy, California