Board of Directors

Philip St. John, MD - President
Kalgin Island, AK 907-398-0154

Philip is a physician specializing in Anti-Aging Medicine. He operates a Wilderness Eco-Lodge, situated on a remote wilderness island near from Kenai.  Powered by Solar Panels and Wind Turbines his sustainable lodge exemplifies the freedom of living in space.  Phil is a founding member of The Real Alaska, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and promoting renewable energy.  He is a founder of Alaska Sunergy a company that assists homeowners with solar and wind renewable energy technologies.  He is also a member of the American Solar Energy Society, the Alaska Center for the Environment, and the Cook Inlet Keeper.

Margaret Subers – Vice President
Palmer, AK 907-746-0041

Margie and her husband Brad live in Butte, Alaska. They are building a 5+ star energy efficient home, shop, and barn with zero waste and zero net-energy plans.  In 2001 she received the "Manufacturing Firm of The Year Award" by the Arizona Small Business Development Counsel for her experimental aircraft propeller company.  In 1999, Margie co-founded a licensed, bonded C-37R plumbing company where she installed septic, water, electric, and gas lines and performed general excavating while working closely with inspectors from five different counties and their health departments in the State of Arizona.  In 1988, she built a solar powered home in Patagonia, Arizona, implementing the latest technology for that time

Harvey Bowers - Secretary/Treasurer
Wasilla, AK 907-373-2290

William Harvey Bowers is a founding member of the Alaska Center For Appropriate Technology (ACAT).  He served as President of the organization for 9 of its first 15 years of existence. 

Harvey and his wife Sandy own the Agate Inn.  The Agate Inn’s new 1800 sq ft conference center, designed and built by Harvey was completed 2002. The conference center is a real life example of sustainable design combined with professional craftsmanship using recycled materials and high efficiency techniques, passive solar lighting, low energy fixtures, R50 insulation, and triple pane argon filled windows.  The meeting room serves as inspiration and site for many of ACAT’s meetings and workshops.  From 1992 to present Harvey served as a Managing Member of Alaska Recycled Paper Woods, LLC.   Harvey was the Executive Director for the Alaska Craftsman Home Program from 1989 to 1991. He worked as a Chief Field Hydrologist and Engineering Geologist from 1972 until the 1985. Harvey has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geology from Alaska Methodist University, and has co-authored numerous manuals and books on energy efficient building techniques.

Roger Rowell, Ph.D. - Member
Madison, WI 608-231-1821

Roger is a Research Chemist and Project Leader at the USDA Forest Products Lab, and also a Professor in Ecology and Forest Management at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. He has held these positions for over 30 years. His interests include research into composites made from sustainable agro-resources, fiber/plastic combinations, and use of natural fibers to remove contaminants from water polluted by heavy metal and coal mining activities. Roger has over 300 publications, including 9 books, and holds 22 patents.

Amy Lou Hettinger – Projects Director
Anchorage, AK

Amy Hettinger is in director of ACAT projects. During 2010 these projects include: Bioneers, Alaska Solar Tour, Educational workshops, and Permaculture education. Amy is also the Project leader for Bioneers in Alaska.

Born and raised in a log cabin her parents built in the knobs of Kentucky, singer-songwriter Amy Lou grew up singin' with an amazing family of musicians. In 2006, she began to write her own songs and migrated north, where she promptly fell in love with the Alaskan mountains and people. Just back from completing a Masters degree at Harvard, she's glad to be home in Alaska.

Brian Yanity – Member
Anchorage, AK

Brian Yanity is an electrical engineer in Anchorage and an affiliate research professor at the UAA School of Engineering. Brian has worked on hydropower, wind, biomass and geothermal energy resource assessment projects for rural Alaska communities, and has been involved in regional and statewide energy planning studies.  In 2007 he completed a master's thesis on small-scale hydropower at the University of Alaska Anchorage. He also holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Columbia University.

Andy Baker – Education Director
Anchorage, AK

Andy Baker is in charge of ACAT's workshops and educational services. In his free time he works with businesses, municipalities and homeowners to reduce their fossil fuel use and to make cost effective investments in clean energy production. He has lived and worked in Alaska since 1999, he began consulting here as a Project Engineer with HDR Alaska. In 2005 he joined the emerging clean energy economy in Alaska by establishing YourCleanEnergy LLC. He is a graduate in environmental engineering from Penn State, a veteran of many renewable energy and green building workshops with Realgoods, and an active member of the American Solar Energy Society.

Board Responsibilities