MEC Members' Bios

January 2013

James Womack, Chairman of the Mining and Energy Commission

Professional Experience

• 2010 - present, Lee County Board of Commissioners, with board-level oversight responsibilities for the county’s budget and staff. 
• 2006 – present, Vice President for Public Health Business Unit and later Executive Consultant for Netsmart Technologies, a provider of enterprise class health information systems for public sector clients
• From 2001-2006, Senior Manager, Regional Sales Executive, and later National Director for Enterprise Health Information Systems for private sector software and services company, where Jim was the chief architect for the $25M public health information system now deployed statewide across North Carolina. 
• 1999-2001, Senior Manager for North Carolina’s Public Health Information Systems, serving all of the county health departments in the state’s Department of Health & Human Services.
• 1997- 1999, Senior Manager for state of Washington’s Department of Social & Health Services (Children’s Administration) information systems
• 1991-1997, a career Army veteran, Jim served his country as an Armored Cavalry Commander and Senior Staff Officer.  Following a distinguished 20-year military career, Jim retired at Ft Hood, Texas in the grade of Lieutenant Colonel, and a recipient of the Army’s prestigious Legion of Merit Award. 
• From 1990-1991, Jim successfully led the 1st Cavalry Division’s Headquarters Command in Operation Desert Storm, for which he received the Bronze Star Medal. 
• From 1986-1989, Jim served as an Army senior intelligence officer at the Pentagon and was called repeatedly before the U.S. Congress for expert testimony about international threats. 
• From 1977- 1986, Jim served as a junior combat arms commander and staff officer in the U.S. and Europe.

Education

• 1990, Master of Military Arts & Science Degree in Operations, Plans & Training, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
• 1985, Master of Science in Business Management, American Technological University
• 1977, Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a concentration in National Security and Public Affairs, U.S. Military Academy at West Point

Civic Activities

• Jim participates in several local non-profits that support homeless and disadvantaged families, plus he serves on several public-private boards including the Lee County Economic Development Corporation, the Fort Bragg Regional Alliance, the Triangle South Workforce Development Board, and the Sanford area Chamber of Commerce
• Jim is a member of the (national) NACO Steering Committee for Environment, Energy & Land Use; and a member of the (state) NCACC Steering Committee for the Environment.

George Howard, Vice Chairman of the Mining and Energy Commission

Professional Experience

• 1998 – the present, Co-Founder and President of Restoration Systems, a leading environmental restoration and mitigation banking company with more than 40 bonded, turn-key mitigation sites and banks in Louisiana, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina North-Central Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and Texas.
• 1996 – 1998, Vice President of Ecobank
• 1993 – 1996, Legislative Assistant for U.S. Senator Lauch Faircloth
• 1990 – 1993, Special Assistant for U.S. Senator Jesse Helms

Education

• 1989, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Civic Activities

• 2011 – the present, Trustee for the North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund
• Board Member, North Carolina Museum of History Associates
• Board Member, First Flight Foundation

Dr. Robert Mensah-Biney

Professional Experience

• 1994 – present, Director of the N.C. State University Minerals Research Laboratory.
• 1991 -1993, Assistant Metallurgical Engineer, Argonne National Laboratory.
• 1986 -1991, Research Associate, University of Minnesota Minerals Resources Research Center.
• 1976 -1986, Project Engineer, Hazen Research Inc.

Education

• 1991, Ph.D. in Mineral Engineering, University of Minnesota at Minneapolis.
• 1976, Master of Science in Mineral Engineering, Columbia University, New York, N.Y.
• 1972, A.C.S.M. (Mining Engineering) C.Eng. Camborne School of Mines, Camborne, England.

Professional Registrations and Memberships

• Member, American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers (AIME)

Civic Activities

• Member, North Carolina Mining Commission

Dr. Kenneth B. Taylor, PG

Professional Experience

• 2012 – present, State Geologist of North Carolina and Chief of the N.C. Geological Survey
• 2005 – present, N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Disaster Response and Recovery Coordinator
• 2007 – 2012, Assistant State Geologist and Chief of the N.C. Geological Survey
• 2005 – 2007, Western Area Hurricane Recovery Coordinator, Office of the Secretary of the N.C. DENR
• 2002 – 2005, Director of the N.C. Division of Emergency Management in the N.C. Department of Crime Control and Public Safety
• 2001 – 2002, Assistant State Geologist and Chief of the N.C. Geological Survey, N.C. DENR Division of Land Resources
• 1994 – 2001, Branch Manager for Risk Assessment and Training (1999 - 2001); State Hazard Mitigation Office (1998 – 2001); State Earthquake Program Manager (1996 – 2001); and State Earthquake Planner (1994 – 1998), N.C. Division of Emergency Management
• 1992 – 1994, Consultant, Eagle Systems
• 1991 – 1992, Congressional Science Fellow and Senate Staff Member, Office of U.S. Senator Harry Reid (Nev.)
• 1980 – 1983, Research Geophysicist, Teledyne Geotech

Education

• 1991, Ph.D. in Geophysics, Saint Louis University at St. Louis, Mo.
• 1981, Master of Science in Geology, University of South Carolina at Columbia
• 1979, Bachelor of Science in Geology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Professional Registrations and Memberships

• North Carolina Licensed Geologist

Civic Activities

• 2012 – present, Member, N.C. Board for Licensing of Geologists
• 2012 – present, Member, N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences Advisory Commission
• 2005 – present, Commissioner, State Emergency Response Commission; Chair of SARA Title III Committee
• 2002 – 2005, Vice-Chairman of the State Emergency Response Commission and Chair of SARA Title III Committee

Dr. Ray Covington

Professional Experience

• 2010 – Present, Partner with North Carolina Oil and Gas, LLC, a company established to protect the environment and rights of landowners in North Carolina’s terrestrial Triassic Basins.
• 1992 to the present, Managing Partner with Covington Family Investments
• 2000-2006, Assistant Vice Chancellor for University Advancement at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• 1997-2000, Director of Planned Giving at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• 1997-2007, Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• 1994-1997, Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of Greensboro College Foundation for Greensboro College
• 1986-1994, Various positions at Elon University, including Associate Director, Assistant Director and Admissions Counselor

Education

• 1996, Ph.D. in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Higher Education Administration, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• 1990, Master of Education in Higher Education Administration, University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• 1986, Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry, Elon College
• Professional Registrations and Memberships
• Licensed Broker, North Carolina Real Estate Commission

Civic Activities

• District representative to the Lee County Agricultural Advisory Board on farmland preservation
• Historic Endor Iron Furnace Historic Site and Park
• Member of the Triangle Land Conservancy
• Served on the Board of Directors of the Cape Lookout Environmental Education Center

Charles Taylor

Professional Experience

• Global Market Manager, 3M Corporation
• Ward Two City Councilman, City of Sanford, North Carolina

Civic Activities

• Historic Preservation Commission
• Triangle J Council of Governments
• Lee County Parks & Recreation Board
• Lee County 2020 Land Use Committee
• Lee County Pre-Trial Early Release Program
• Hope Community Church
• Lee County United Way Board of Directors
• Graphics Producer Atlantic Coast Conference – Television Production (Raycom Sports)
• Eagle Scout

Charles E. Holbrook

Professional Experience

• President and COO ofThe Voice of North Carolina website (www.voiceofnc.com), devoted to publishing original articles on a wide range of subjects by numerous authors as well as advertising and e-book publishing.
• 1998-2002, taught physical and environmental geology through Campbell University’s extended campus program on Pope Air Force Base and Fort Bragg.
• 1992-1996, Vice President for Exploration New Ventures for Caltex Pacific Indonesia in Jakarta
• 1964-1992, numerous assignments at Chevron Corporation in oil and natural gas exploration progressing in technical and managerial complexity both onshore Gulf Coast and offshore Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic basins. Positions ranged from Geologist to Chief Geologist and Division Manager

Education

• 1964, Master of Science in Geology, University of Kentucky
• 1962, Bachelor of Science in Geology, University of Kentucky 

Civic Activities

• Member of the Pinehurst Village Water Committee
• Former member of the Pinehurst Village Wellhead Protection Committee
• Former member of the Family Selection Committee for Habitat for Humanity

Ivan K. “Tex” Gilmore, PG, CPG

Professional Experience

• 2012 - Present, Senior Mining Geologist for Groundwater Management Associates in Greenville, N.C.
• 2008-2012, Superintendent and Chief/Senior Geologist, Mine Services, PCS Phosphate.
• 1998-2008, Superintendent and Chief Geologist, Mine Planning, PCS Phosphate.
• 1991-1998, Chief Geologist for Texasgulf, Inc. and PCS Phosphate.
• 1988-1991, Acting Superintendent and Mine Geologist, Mine Planning, Texasgulf, Inc.
• 1982-1988, Mine Geologist, Long Range Planning, Texasgulf, Inc.
• 1978-1982, Coal Geologist and Exploration Manager for Cravat Coal Co.
• 1977-1978, Geologist for US Chemical & Plastics.

Education

• 1976, Bachelor of Arts in Geology, Kent State University

Professional Registrations and Memberships

• American Institute of Professional Geologists - Certified Professional Geologist
• Society for Mining Metallurgy & Exploration – Founding Registered Member
• North Carolina Licensed Geologist
• North Carolina Certified Water Well Contractor
• Registered Professional Geologist in South Carolina, Florida, Kentucky and Texas

Civic Activities

• 1999, Appointed by Governor Jim Hunt to the North Carolina Board of Licensing of Geologists; re-appointed in 2003 by Governor Mike Easley.  Served as Chairman final year on Board.
• 2011, Appointed by Governor Bev Perdue to the State Mining Commission
• 2012, Appointed by President Pro Tem of the Senate to the State Mining and Energy Commission

Vikram Rao

Professional Experience

• 2008 - Present, Executive Director, Research Triangle Energy Consortium, a nonprofit energy organization founded by Duke University, North Carolina State University, RTI International and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Its mission is to illuminate national energy priorities, and those of the world by extension, and to catalyze research to address these priorities.
• Present, Board Member, Intelligent Well Controls Ltd.
• 1974 – 2008, various positions including Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Halliburton Company.

Education

• Ph.D. in Engineering, Stanford University
• Master’s in Engineering, Stanford University
• Bachelor of Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology in Madras, India

Jane Lewis-Raymond

Professional Experience

• Present, Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance and Community Affairs Office, Piedmont Natural Gas Company
• 1995-2006, Vice President for Regulatory Affairs, American Gas Association

Professional Registrations and Memberships

• Member of the District of Columbia Bar, the Maryland State Bar and the Energy Bar Association

Civic Activities

• Member of the Teach for America Charlotte Advisory Board
• Member of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce Board of Advisors
• Member of the Board of the Charlotte Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel
• Member of the Keystone Energy Board
• Co-chair of the natural gas regulatory committee of the Energy Bar Association
• 2009-2010, served an appointment on the Legislative Research Commission Advisory Subcommittee on Offshore Energy Exploration
• Tutor at Sharon Elementary School

Charlotte Mitchell

Professional Experience

• 2009 - Present, Partner at Sterys Kemerait & Mitchell PLLC, focusing on utilities regulation, land use, energy and environmental matters.
• 2005 – 2009, Associate Attorney, K&L Gates LLP, focusing on environmental and land use matters.
• Education
• 2000, Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Romance Languages
• 2005, Master of Environmental Management, Duke University, Nicholas School of the Environment
• 2005, Juris Doctor, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law

Professional Registrations and Memberships

• Licensed Attorney, North Carolina State Bar
• 2012, Graduate, Women in Office Institute, N.C. Center for Women in Public Service
• 2011, North Carolina Bar Association Leadership Academy
• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (“LEED”) Accredited Professional
• Civic Activities
• 2010 – the present, Commissioner and Vice-Chair, Raleigh Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Commission
• 2012 – the present, Member, Conservation Strategies Committee, Triangle Land Conservancy
• 2011 – 2012, Chair, Board of Directors, Women’s Center of Wake County
• Wake County Guardian Ad Litem

Amy Pickle

Professional Experience

• 2008 – Present, Senior Attorney for State Policy, Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions at Duke University
• 2003-2008, Senior Attorney, Southern Environmental Law Center
• 2001-2003, Assistant Attorney General, North Carolina Department of Justice

Education

• 2000, Juris Doctor with Honors, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• 1999-2000, North Carolina Law Review, Executive Articles Editor
• 1994, Bachelor of Arts in English and Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, University of Florida

Professional Registrations and Memberships

• Licensed Attorney, North Carolina State Bar
• Member of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina

Civic Activities

• 2012-present, Member of the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission
• 2010-2011, Chair of the North Carolina Bar Association Environment, Natural Resource and Energy Section
• 2008-2010, Vice Chair of the North Carolina Bar Association Environment, Natural Resource and Energy Section

Dr. Marva Mizell Price

Professional Experience

• 2009 – present, Associate Professor, Duke University and Affiliate Member of the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Prevention, Detection & Control Research Program
• 2001 – 2009, Assistant Professor, Duke University
• 1996 – 2001, Assistant Clinical Professor, Duke University
• 1996, Family Nurse Practitioner, Randolph County Health Department, Asheboro, N.C.
• 1994, Family Nurse Practitioner, Kaiser Permanente Medical Office, Durham-Chapel Hill, N.C.
• 1991-1994, Family Nurse Practitioner and Program Coordinator of the Women’s Cancer Screening Program and Cervical Dysplasia Private Clinic, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C.
• 1992, Health Director and Chief Executive Officer, Chatham County Health Department, Pittsboro, N.C.
• 1982-1991, Family Nurse Practitioner and Nursing Consultant, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Winston-Salem and Raleigh, N.C.
• 1973-1982, Family Nurse Practitioner, Various appointments within the University of North Carolina

Education

• 1995-1997, Pre-doctoral Fellow in Cancer Prevention and Detection at the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
• 1997, Doctor of Public Health in Maternal and Child Health with a concentration in Public Health Leadership, Department of Maternal and Child Health in the School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• 1979, Post Master’s Certificate in Developmental Pediatrics, School of Nursing at the University of Washington at Seattle, Washington’s Center on Human Development and Disability
• 1974, Post Master’s Certificate as a Family Nurse Practitioner, School of Nursing at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• 1974, Master of Public Health in Maternal Child Health, Department of Maternal and Child Health in the School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• 1972, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, School of Nursing at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University

Professional Registrations and Memberships

• Nationally Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
• Delta Omega Honor Society in Public Health
• Sigma Theta Tau, Alpha Alpha Chapter, University of North Carolina, International Honor Society in Nursing
• North Carolina Nurses Association
• The Albert Schweitzer Foundation, North Carolina Board of Advisors
• Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing
• Fellow of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners

Civic Activities

• 1994-present, Member of the North Carolina Commission for Public Health
• 2000-present, Member of the North Carolina Board of Advisors and Fellowship selection subcommittee for the Albert Schweitzer Foundation
• 2001-2004, Orange-Chatham-Person Counties, member of the Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health Authority
• 1995-1997, Member of the North Carolina Health and Human Services, Department of Health, Breast and Cervical Cancer Assurance Committee