EnergyBoom's Robert Gluck Features Charles Eggert, CCIA Vice Chair

"In this first part of my three part interview with OPX Biotechnology’s President and CEO Charles Eggert, he discusses his background, this history and mission of OPX and the company’s efficiency directed genome engineering (EDGE) technology.

ROBERT GLUCK: Please tell our readers a little bit about your background.

CHARLES EGGERT: I joined OPX Biotechnology Inc. (OPXBIO) as President and CEO in September 2008. Before that, I logged more than 30 years of experience in the global specialty-chemical industry, serving as president of the Specialty Polymers Group (a $500 million revenue division of Akzo Nobel) and holding top management responsibilities at ICI.

I began my career at Monsanto Company, including an assignment as vice president of Monsanto Venture Capital. I’ve remained very involved in the industry throughout my career, as a past board director of the American Chemistry Council and currently as board director of the Biotechnology Industry Organization.

I’m also a founding director and vice chairman of the Colorado Cleantech Industry Association. I earned an MBA in marketing and finance from Washington University in St. Louis and an M.S. in biochemical engineering from the University of Minnesota. I also have a B.S. in chemical engineering from Washington University."

Link to EnergyBoom to read more

"Colorado harvests a green economy: About $1.1 billion in federal and venture-capital funds help boost eco-jobs from 1995 to 2007, a study says."

The Colorado Cleantech Industry Association's Executive Director Chris Shapard was quoted in this morning's feature in the Denver Post on "Colorado harvests a green economy."

"Colorado ranked 15th among states in capturing the energy-related federal stimulus funds in the past 18 months, the report said.

'Fifteenth, we ought to be able to do better than that,' said Christine Shapard, executive director of the Colorado Cleantech Industry Association...

Shapard said the report points out that 'we've had great leadership on these issues for the last four years. We have to pray that continues.'

Gov. Bill Ritter, who made promoting a 'New Energy Economy' a hallmark of his administration, is not running for re-election.

'This report very clearly and accurately documents the successes of Colorado's New Energy Economy,' Ritter said in a statement. 'Colorado is now a national leader for clean-energy policies, jobs and innovation.'"

Link to the Denver Post article by Energy Reporter Mark Jaffe

Business For Breakfast: Interview with Christine Shapard

CCIA Executive Director Christine Shapard was interviewed on the Colorado Radio Network's Business For Breakfast show this morning. She was interviewed by Woody Vincent about the Association's recent $80,000 grant from the US EDA for Colorado's Cleantech Roadmap.

Link to listen to the interview:

Christine Shapard, CCIA Executive Director on the US EDA grant for the Colorado Cleantech Roadmap

Link to learn more about the Cleantech Roadmap announcement

CCIA Partners with the ColoradoBiz Magazine Planet-Profit Report as it Expands to Western U.S.

The Colorado Cleantech Industry Association is now a sponsor of the ColoradoBiz Planet-Profit Report (PPR), which is expanding into the Western U.S.

Energy and economic sustainability will be the focus of the new regional PPR media platform from the publishers of ColoradoBiz magazine. Published as a quarterly section in the magazine since early 2007, PPR will now be circulated weekly to stakeholders in the discussion about energy and economic sustainability from Texas north to the Dakotas and all points west.

Bart Taylor, publisher of ColoradoBiz and Planet-Profit Report, says, “We think PPR is unique in two important ways: Economic development is the lens through which we’ll report on sustainability. And second, while coverage of ‘green’ business and sustainability is most often national in scope, or hyper-local, we think a regional discussion is needed to frame the competition for money, resources and talent in renewables and clean-tech, as well as the dialogue about sustainable growth – water being a great example. It’s also in California, Arizona and Colorado’s interest for the West to build a brand as a global center for sustainable energy development."

The CCIA is excited to now be part of the PPR partnership team.

Link to the Planet-Profit Report

Subscribe to the Planet-Profit Report e-mail updates

"Grant to Colorado Cleantech Industry Association to Spur New Green Jobs"

Quoting from the US EDA's news release:

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) today announced an $80,000 grant to the Colorado Cleantech Industry Association of Denver, Colo., to create an action plan to guide the development and growth of the cleantech industry in Colorado.

“Expanding the clean technology sector enhances our nation’s economic competiveness in the global economy, creates higher-skill, living-wage jobs and lessens our dependence on foreign oil,” said U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development John R. Fernandez. “This EDA grant will develop an action plan that will accelerate and drive the development of Colorado’s cleantech industry.”

“The Colorado Cleantech Industry Association was founded on the premise that clean technologies that enable the use of renewable resources and that allow traditional energy sources be used more efficiently can be an important driver of Colorado’s future economy. Funding of the Colorado Cleantech Action Plan will give Colorado and Colorado’s cleantech companies the data, analysis and action steps necessary to compete in the large and growing international clean technology marketplace,” said Christine Shapard, Executive Director of the Colorado Cleantech Industry Association.

Link to the U.S. Economic Development Administration website

"Cleantech Roadmap" gets grant.

"The Colorado Cleantech Industry Association received an $80,000 grant from the Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration to develop a Cleantech Roadmap for Colorado. With receipt of the grant, the association now has the $200,000 required for the state clean-tech analysis and road map. "

Link to The Denver Post Business Brief

CCIA Gets $80K in Funding to Develop Cleantech Roadmap for Colorado

"DENVER - The Colorado Cleantech Industry Association (CCIA) has received an $80,000 US Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration Grant to develop a Cleantech Roadmap for the State of Colorado. The announcement is made by Christine Shapard, CCIA Executive Director, who says with receipt of the US EDA grant, the CCIA now has full funding of the $200,000 required for the state cleantech analysis and comprehensive roadmap.

Other funding entities of the plan include the Colorado Economic Development Commission, the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office, the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, the University of Colorado and Colorado State University. A state plan will provide stakeholders with a detailed view into the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to Colorado’s internationally recognized cleantech cluster, while offering a 3-5 year actionable road map to continue expansion of the cleantech cluster."

Link to Colorado Energy News

Clean-tech association receives grant

"DENVER - The Colorado Cleantech Industry Association has received an $80,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration to develop a clean-tech road map for Colorado.

Christine Shapard, the association's executive director, said the grant rounds out the $200,000 needed for the state clean-tech analysis and comprehensive road map.

Other funding entities of the plan include the Colorado Economic Development Commission, the Colorado Governor's Energy Office, the Metro Denver Economic Development Corp., the University of Colorado and Colorado State University. "

Link to the Boulder County Business Report Local News Briefs

$80,000 grant completes funding for Colorado cleantech roadmap

"An $80,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce completes the funding for a $200,000 analysis of Colorado’s cleantech industry that will provide an “an actionable, defensible and sustainable roadmap for cleantech growth” in the state, says the Colorado Cleantech Industry Association (CCIA).

'We can now formally engage a nationally recognized consulting firm to begin the tasks of identifying Colorado’s cleantech core competencies, as well as our gaps that will help us create a roadmap to maintain Colorado’s position at the forefront of cleantech development in the world,' said Christine Shapard, CCIA’s executive director."

Link to Brown on Green

CCIA awarded $80,000 to develop Cleantech Roadmap

"The Colorado Cleantech Industry Association (CCIA) has received an $80,000 US Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration Grant to develop a Cleantech Roadmap for the State of Colorado. The announcement is made by Christine Shapard, CCIA Executive Director, who says with receipt of the US EDA grant, the CCIA now has full funding of the $200,000 required for the state cleantech analysis and comprehensive roadmap.

Other funding entities of the plan include the Colorado Economic Development Commission, the Colorado Governor's Energy Office, the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, the University of Colorado and Colorado State University. A state plan will provide stakeholders with a detailed view into the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to Colorado's internationally recognized cleantech cluster, while offering a 3-5 year actionable road map to continue expansion of the cleantech cluster."

Link to the Metro Denver News Center

Clean-tech association receives grant

"DENVER - The Colorado Cleantech Industry Association received an $80,000 grant to develop a Cleantech Roadmap for the state.

The grant, from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration, provides the final funds for the $200,000 project, according to CCIA Executive Director Christine Shapard.

Other entities providing financial support for the roadmap include the Colorado Economic Development Commission, the Colorado Governor's Energy Office, the Metro Denver Economic Development Corp., the University of Colorado and Colorado State University."

Link to the Northern Colorado Business Report

CCIA Awarded $80,000 U.S. Department of Commerce Grant to Develop Colorado's Cleantech Roadmap

Denver, CO - June 1, 2010 - The Colorado Cleantech Industry Association (CCIA) has received an $80,000 US Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration Grant to develop a Cleantech Roadmap for the State of Colorado. The announcement is made by Christine Shapard, CCIA Executive Director, who says with receipt of the US EDA grant, the CCIA now has full funding of the $200,000 required for the state cleantech analysis and comprehensive roadmap.

Other funding entities of the plan include the Colorado Economic Development Commission, the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office, the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, the University of Colorado and Colorado State University. A state plan will provide stakeholders with a detailed view into the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to Colorado’s internationally recognized cleantech cluster, while offering a 3-5 year actionable road map to continue expansion of the cleantech cluster.

"Over the past few years we have worked hard to establish Colorado as a national and international leader in clean energy," Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Jr., said regarding the State’s participation in the project. "While we are well on our way, this new grant and roadmap will allow us to highlight our competitive advantages and continue to build an innovative and cutting-edge future for Colorado's New Energy Economy."

Link to the NewsReleaseWire

Ritter’s New Executive Orders Encourage Venture Capital Investment

"Gov.Ritter signed a pair of executive orders late last week designed to encourage venture capital investment in the state’s clean energy, bioscience, aerospace and information communication technology startups. He made the EO’s official at a Colorado BioScience Association gathering at the state Capitol.

'Over the past four years, Colorado has made huge strides in building a pro-business environment, especially in the areas of clean tech and bioscience,' Gov. Ritter said. 'Our economic development strategy is focused on the industries that are leading in innovation – industries like new energy, bioscience, aerospace and technology. For Colorado to build on these strengths and continue our success, we have to find new and creative ways to increase access to capital for our businesses. That’s what these executive orders are all about.'"

Link to Colorado Energy News