KIM CARTER, TRAINING SPECIALIST

Kim Carter has been involved in the wind industry for over 12 years, with an additional 12 years experience specific to the electrical field. He has specialized in creating and providing wind turbine technical training for the last 8 years. Kim's knowledge, along with his ability to write curriculum and teach it well, make him a valuable part of our training program. Kim's experience includes:

• Training Supervisor/Specialist for GE Wind Energy
  • Developed, implemented and instructed the first 1.5 MW Wind Turbine Generator GE Training Class and Materials, including practical training
  • Managed the Skill Based Matrix Program for GE employees
  • Administrator for MyLearning (GE digital-based training)
  • Developed Aptitude Exams for entry-level employees
  • SEG, Xantex, GEIS Converter Training
  • SCADA Level 1 & 2 Training
• Facilitator for the Americas Skill Based Matrix Support/Co-facilitator for the Americas Wind Training Support
• Spin Test Lead Man/Service Team Commissioner for Zond Energy Systems/Enron Wind Corp
• Created testing documents for final testing of 550/750 Wind Turbines
  • Maintained and operated manufacturing crews of 30 employees in assembly and testing
  • Turbine commissioner and field technician for over 1000 turbines

MIKE CERVANTES, TRAINING SPECIALIST

Mike Cervantes has over 24 years experience in the wind industry, successfully promoting through technician, lead, and supervisor-level positions. His skill in training wind technicians on manufacturing and electrical assembly is unmatched. His experience includes:

• Supervisor of Down Tower Assembly Acceptance Test Team and Final/In-Process Inspection Team for GE Wind Energy
• Process manager and trainer of GE 1.5 Manufacturing Documentation
  • Assembly procedures
  • Checklists/Inspection Forms
  • Acceptance Test Procedures
  • Employee Training Procedures
  • Certifications
• Manufacturing Quality Process Leader for GE Wind Energy
  
  • Quality Instructor for Manufacturing Assembly
• Supervisor for GE 1.5 Machine Head Electrical Assembly and Acceptance Test Procedure Team
  
  • Created GE 1.5 MW Assembly, in-process inspection & point-point wiring chart documentation
• Foreman for Assembly/Testing of Zond Energy Systems 750 KW Control Cabinets/550KW Wind Turbines
• Wind Turbine Technician/Crew Leader for Zond Wind Energy
• Site Manager/Lead Technician for Calwind Natural Resources
  
  • Operation/Maintenance/Repair of 134 Nordtank 65/13 KW WTG's

DENNIS SMITH, SAFETY TRAINING SPECIALIST

Dennis Smith is considered an expert in safety by many in the industry. His wide range of experience has centered around providing quality safety instruction for those working in the field. He has over 24 years experience in safety training and the wind industry, which includes the following:

• Environment, Health and Safety Manager for the Americas for GE Wind Energy
  
  • Established and supervised all safety policies and procedures for all GE wind facilities in the United States, including OSHA and Worker's Compensation
  • Provided/supervised all safety training (including CPR/First Aid)
• Senior Manager Occupational Health and Safety for Enron Wind Corp
  
  • Established and supervised all safety policies and procedures for all Enron wind facilities in the United States, including OSHA and Worker's Compensation
  • Provided/supervised all safety training (including CPR/First Aid)
• Safety Supervisor for Zond Energy Systems
  • Established and supervised all safety policies and procedures for all Zond wind facilities in the United States, including OSHA and Worker's Compensation
  • Provided/supervised all safety training (including CPR/First Aid)
• OSHA-Authorized Trainer
• Construction Health and Safety Technician Certificate (National Certification)
• Safety Consultant
  • OSHA General Industry and Construction Standards
  • OSHA Forklift Standards
  • CPR/First Aid
  • Tower Rescue Training
• Field Safety Specialist for Occidental Petroleum

MARK FISHER, SENIOR DATA ANALYSIS/TRAINING SPECIALIST

Mark Fisher has a Ph. D. in Mathematics Education and has been an instructor at several universities and colleges, including Pepperdine University and University of Oklahoma. Mark has worked within the wind energy industry for over seven years, specializing in data analysis. He has authored and co-authored numerous publications and given academic and industry-specific presentations at a multitude of professional conferences. Mark's experience includes:

• Statistician/Analyst for GE Wind Energy
• Data Analyst for GE Wind Energy/Enron Wind Corporation
• Systems and Instructional Technologist for Pepperdine University
• Mathematics Instructor for the following colleges/universities:
  • Pepperdine University
  • University of Oklahoma
  • Phillips University
  • Bakersfield College
  • Taft College
  • Santa Monica College
  • West Los Angeles College

DAVID TEPAS, TRAINING SPECIALIST

David Tepas joins Airstreams with over five years of experience in the wind industry. David's field expertise allows him to relate technical concepts well with field personnel and has trained wind turbine technicians out in the field extensively. David's experience includes:

• Wind Turbine Technician Trainer for Granite Service Inc.
  • Trained new staff on maintenance, repair and troubleshooting of GE 1.5 MW WTG
• Resource Technician for Vestas
  • Consulted with contractors on new construction of Vestas WTGs. Oversight of maintenance, repair, troubleshooting and commissioning of wind turbines
• Support Engineer for GE Wind Energy
  
  • Provided remote monitoring and troubleshooting for GE 1.5 MW WTGs
  • Provided technical support for field engineers
  • Shift leader for RM & D center

MERRIT MAYS, TRAINING SPECIALIST

Merritt Mays joins Airstreams with over 8 years of experience in the renewable energy industry, specializing in wind energy. Merritt experience in both the wind turbine and solar fields has enabled him to provide in-depth training to field technicians in a variety of situations. Merritt's experience includes:

• Technical Supervisor , Air Streams LLC., Tehachapi, CA 2008-present
• Project Management, Sun Power Systems, Southern California
  • Oversaw operations of new home solar installs in Central Valley California and Southern California
  • Created and controlled safety program for solar installers
• Lead Technician, Enxco, Tehachapi, CA
  • Maintain, repair, and trouble shoot v-15/17 Vestas and Z750 Zond type wind turbines
  • Create a technical manual for v15/17 retrofits
• Sergeant of Avionics shop, United States Marine Corp, Edwards AFB, CA
  • Managed 20+ Marines in Afghanistan and Edwards AFB, to repair electrical components on the CH-53E helicopters
• Wind Turbine Technician, Enron Wind Corp., Tehachapi, CA
  • Maintain, repair, and trouble shoot v-15/17 Vestas and Z750 Zond and EW 1.5MW type wind turbines
  • Managed Victory Gardens phase IV project
  • Constructed GE 1.5 wind turbine in Wisconsin

REUBEN ALLEN, TRAINING SPECIALIST

Reuben Allen brings 10 years of wind industry experience to Airstreams. His wind experience, along with his strong mechanical background, combines to make him a valuable part of our instructional team. Reuben's experience includes:

• Manufacturing Shift Lead for GE Wind Energy
  • Trained employees on high voltage procedures, wire rope, rigging, etc.
  • Supervisor of retrofit groups throughout the United States
  • Conducted safety meetings, accident investigation, production line troubleshooting
• Corporal, United States Marine Corp, Tustin, CA & Okinawa, Japan
  • Jet Engine Mechanic
    • Worked on T-64, 413, 415, 416, 6B GE engines for CH53 helicopters
    • Supervised and managed teams of up to 10 Marines for flight line support, GE engines tear-down and rebuild
    • Received Good Conduct Medal
• Miner for Rio Tinto Mining
  • Trained operator of 250 ton unit rig 4400 haul truck, CAT truck, and other heavy equipment
  • MSHA trained
• Certifications and training include:
  • OSHA-500 trained
  • ISO 90001 certified
  • Hazmat certified
  • CPR/First Aid/AED certified
  • Confined Space certified
  • GE Supervising and Leadership Training
  • Power Plant License through FFA, certifying ability to work on all aviation engines

MARVIN BLANCO, TRAINING SPECIALIST

Marvin Blanco has been working in the wind energy industry for 20 years. He has extensive experience as a commissioning lead technician, traveling all over the world to direct the commissioning of wind projects. As a lead technician, he has trained and mentored a large number of wind turbine technicians in the skills necessary in the field. In addition, Marvin is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, with strong comprehension of the Mandarin language. His experience includes:

• Global Lead Commissioning Technician and America's Commissioning Lead Technician for GE Wind Energy
  • Commissioned wind projects in the U.S., Japan and China
  • Trained technicians on construction, commissioning and maintenance of wind turbines
  • Directed employees and contractors during construction and commissioning of projects
  • Expert troubleshooter, resolving complicated mechanical and electrical problems
• Project Foreman, Lead Commissioning Technician and Manufacturing Test lead Technician for Enron Wind
  • Constructed and commissioned wind projects in the U.S., Spain, Portugal, and Greek Island of Crete
  • Employee training
  • Project management
  • Maintenance and troubleshooting of hundreds of turbines
• Service & Repair and O&M Technician for Zond Wind Systems
  • Maintainenance, operations and troubleshooting of wind turbines
  • Worked on projects in the U.S., South Korea, and China
• Certifications and Training includes:
  • Certified Fiber Optic Splice and Test Technician
  • Certified Hydraulic Test Technician
  • Certified on variable Speed Power Converters, including Alstom, Xantrax, SEG and GE Converters
  • Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training (including HUET & EBS)
  • OPITO approved-RGIT Montrose Certification
  • Los Angeles Trade Technical College-Electronics and Circuitry