Leadership Team
Robert Noble AIA, LEED-AP
Founder & Chairman
Noble Environmental Technologies Corporation
Robert Noble is an architect, environmental designer, industrial designer and environmental technology entrepreneur (“ecopreneur”), and has been the recipient of numerous regional and national awards for his industrial and architectural designs, and green technology innovations. Over his 29 year career, he and/or his work has been awarded Entrepreneur Magazine’s Environmental Innovator of the Year, the Edison Award for Environmental Achievement and “Best of What’s New” – Popular Science 100 Best of 1993, and awards from the American Institute of Architects, the Urban Land Institute and many others. He is Founder and CEO of Envision Solar, which is positioned as the leading firm worldwide at the convergence of the solar photovoltaic, building/real estate and transportation industries. Envision Solar designs, engineers and installs photovoltaic solar parking arrays and other commercial and residential Solar Integrated Building Systems worldwide. He attended UC San Diego, UC Berkeley, Harvard Graduate School of Design and Harvard Business School, and Cambridge University Graduate Department of Architecture. He is well known in the San Diego area as the past CEO of Tucker Sadler Architects, having led the turn-around and rebuilding of the 50-year-old firm into the leading sustainable design firm in the region.
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Jay Potter
CEO – GreenCore Capital, LLC
Mr. Potter has been active in the financial industry for over 20 years and has successfully participated, directed or placed over two hundred million dollars of capital in start-up and early stage companies. He is CEO of GreenCore Capital which identifies, finances, and supports renewable energy and green technology companies. He has served as Chairman, President and CEO of Nexcore Capital, Inc. and its financial service affiliates since co-founding the company in 1996. Mr. Potter serves as Founder and Chairman of Sterling Energy Resources, Inc., a public oil and gas company (Symbol: SGER) involved in the acquisition, exploration and development of oil and natural gas from its numerous leases. He serves as a director of EAU Technologies, Envision Solar International, Envirepel Energy and WoodFuels, among others.
Tim Newburn
Director of Manufacturing Design and Construction Operations
For over 30 years, Tim has served as Construction Manager for a range of high-end projects spanning all aspects of project pre-construction coordination; project permitting; project site coordination and administration; and project start-up and commissioning. He is Co-Founder of and Principal in charge of all construction operations for Newell FastTrack Inc.; and manages all key aspects of construction of a $14 million addition to the County of Solano Co-Generation plant in Fairfield, CA for Chevron Energy Solutions. Tim was Co-Founder and Vice President of manufacturing and process development for Gridcore Systems International. He coordinated all planning, design engineering, and permitting for installation and startup of 27,000 sq. ft. Gridcore® recycled fiber panel production and post-production facilities.
Gregory Barton
Senior Financial Advisor
Greg has over 25 years of executive accounting and financial services experience. He is the Founder and Owner of Gregory D Barton CPA and Associates, Inc., which is a professional, full service accounting practice with two offices in California; Palm Springs and Palmdale. The firm specializes in business consulting, developing business growth strategies, raising capital, as well as providing multi-state tax work. Clients range from individuals to non-profit organizations, and to international clients with revenues in excess of $70 million per year. Greg served as CFO and IPO specialist, with extensive success in raising capital, for an environmental technology manufacturing company in Long Beach. He owned and built another accounting firm, Barton and Associates from 1985 through 1992.
Roger Cook
Manufacturing Design and Production Advisor
Roger holds both a BSEE and an MSEE and has spent the last 30 years in the semiconductor industry working for Intel Corporation in all phases of semiconductor manufacturing. He has a broad background in engineering, manufacturing and maintenance, and extensive experience in process optimization and cost reduction. Roger also has many years of expertise in competitive analysis and has travelled extensively to various factories around the world. Additionally, he is experienced in project management and strategic planning. He now runs his own company, Southwest Sage Consulting, providing technical and business support to various early stage companies.
Coleen Lassegard
Project Director
Coleen manages all key aspects of ECOR project development including production, business development, marketing & PR, and product development. She brings over 20 years of project management, marketing, art direction, public relations, and sales experience in domestic and international settings in the private sector, academic, and non-profit arenas. Coleen has worked in the environmental technologies field as Co-Founder and Operator of both solar power and water desalinization companies. She served as market research coordinator and governmental relations director for a $500 million recycled n ewsprint mill development project in Mexico. She has extensive experience in high-level event and tradeshow planning. Coleen holds a graduate degree in International Management from the University of California, San Diego.
David Lasher
Senior Sales Representative
David Lasher has more than 20 years of sales, management and marketing experience in the contract furnishings industry. He was solely responsible for the creation and expansion of the west coast market for two start-up companies, building up sales from $0 to over $3 million for the Western Divisions. His clients have included Disney, Hilton, Universal Studios, Westfield, Macerich, CommArts, Jerde Partnership, Callison and many other top architects, developers and design firms. David is excited to be taking his experience and introducing new concepts on how green materials can be used as affordable and inventive alternatives to traditional site furniture and building products. David proven talent in establishing long-term relationships with clients and is known industry wide for honesty and attention to detail. He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, the US Green Building Council, AIGA (the Professional Association for Design), and the American Society of Landscape Architects.
Hongmei Gu, PhD
Production, Research & Development Manager
Hongmei manages all production and research and development activities for Noble Environmental Technologies and ECOR at the Forest Products Laboratory/USDA in Madison, Wisconsin. For nearly two decades, she has been working in the forest products field with both the Chinese Academy of Forestry and the USDA’s Forest Products Lab. Her special areas of focus include wood physics and processing, recycled fiber processing, lightweight fiberboard development, and the development of environmentally friendly products. Hongmei holds a PhD in Wood Science and Forest Products from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Jim Mahoney
Post-Production and Prototype Development Director
Jim brings over 30 years of Journeyman-level experience as a carpenter and fabricator in both the construction and renovation industries; specializing in projects which are environmentally sound. He has served in the capacity of project manager throughout his illustrious career and is currently manages all post-production and prototype development for ECOR at our San Diego-North County post-production facility. Jim was also head of post-production and custom prototyping for Gridcore Systems International, where he designed and fabricated tradeshow booths, displays, office furniture, kiosks, etc., using Gridcore® recycled fiber panels.
Shawn Lechien
CEO - GreenCore Business Services, LLC
Mr. Lechien is a seasoned business executive with over 15-years of experience in building, managing and growing both public and private businesses. Currently, Mr. Lechien is CEO of GreenCore Business Services, LLC. From 2004 to 2006, Mr. Lechien served in a number of roles at Kratos Defense, including Director of Mergers and Acquisitions. From 2000 to 2003, Mr. Lechien served as Treasurer of the Titan Corporation, where he was responsible for managing Titan’s $425 million credit facility. Throughout his career, Mr. Lechien has worked directly with commercial and investment banks on corporate mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, equity placements, and commercial bank transactions, which in aggregate have totaled in excess of US $2 billion.
Bob Skoldberg
Sales
As a former World Champion Skateboarder, Bob brings a unique dynamic to his professional approach in Sales for the Action Sports Industry over the past 30 years. Bob is Co-Founder and National Sales Manager of Rusty Clothing Company. He also has significant Sales experience with Alliance Clothing Company and other top lines in the industry. He has decades-long experience in tradeshows with a keen sense of design and marketing for all aspects of the skateboard and action sport sectors. Bob brings many years of dedication to achieving customer satisfaction with a high-level of integrity and commitment to an open communication style and focus on the client first.
Cameron Noble
Artistic and Digital Animation Director
Cameron has over twenty years professional experience in Film, Television, and Digital Design. He has worked in Visual FX as a video producer, special effects artist, and photographer for major film studios and production companies including: George Lucas, Disney, Warner Bros., and Industrial Light & Magic. His film work includes: Star Trek and James and the Giant Peach. He has designed everything from airplanes to bed frames. Cameron’s work has been nominated for a VMA in Music videos. He has also won both Telly and Addy Awards for his commercial direction.
Greg Rogers
Media and Manufacturing Consultant
Greg assists with numerous aspects of ECOR media, marketing, and manufacturing activities. A graduate of Boston College in Communications, Greg has worked for 12 years in the film and television industry. His career has been highlighted by 3 Emmy Awards for educational documentary films produced for PBS. Greg is a skilled and avid surfer and also dedicated to working on environmental issues. He was chair of the Newport Beach chapter of the Surfrider Foundation for 5 years. Greg manages small surf resorts in developing countries and pushes for sustainable business/living practices in all aspects of their management and development.
