JIM BLANKEMEYER

Entrepreneur

Jim Blankemeyer is a successful entrepreneur and the founder of MetoKote Corporation in 1969. MetoKote, an innovator in the application of high quality industrial coatings and paints, became one of the largest companies of its kind, and has over 40 facilities in ten countries (North America, South America and Europe). Mr. Blankemeyer sold the majority interest in his company in 1998 and now engages his time in various philanthropic activities; as well as, maintaining an interest in several innovative industrial and medical startup technologies.

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ECKHARD A. GROLL, Dr. Eng.

Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Purdue University

Dr. Eckhard A. Groll is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and the Director of the Office of Professional Practice at Purdue University. He joined Purdue University as an Assistant Professor in 1994 and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2000 and to Full Professor in 2005. He received his Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from the University of the Ruhr in Bochum, Germany, in 1989 and a Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Hannover, Germany, in 1994. Professor Groll teaches Thermodynamics and his research focuses on the fundamental thermal sciences as applied to advanced HVAC&R systems, components, and their working fluids. Since joining Purdue, he has been the principal investigator (PI) or Co-PI on 81 research grants and 42 educational grants with a total budget of more than $9 million. Dr. Groll has authored or co-authored 75 83 archival journal articles and 129 130 conference papers. He has been the co-author of two three handbook chapters and the editor or co-editor of seven conference proceedings. He has given 45 invited lectures or seminars and four keynote lectures. He serves as the Regional Editor for the Americas for the International Journal of Refrigeration and is a Fellow of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Dr. Groll has been recognized for his academic leadership in higher education. He is a 2010-2011 Fellow of the American Council on Education (ACE) and participated in the Academic Leadership Program of the Committee on Institutional Collaboration (CIC-ALP) during 2009-2010. He has received numerous awards for his research and teaching excellence including the 2010 E. K. Campbell Award from ASHRAE, his induction into the Book of Great Teachers at Purdue University in 2008, and the 2007 Purdue University Faculty Scholar Award.

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DAVID E. HOMRICH

EVP Finance and Investments
AMB Group, LLC

David Homrich is Executive Vice President – Finance and Investments of AMB Group, LLC, the management and support services arm for Arthur M. Blank’s diverse businesses. He is President of Exodus Capital, LLC (Mr. Blank’s private investment company), Treasurer of The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, and a senior officer of several other companies that comprise the Blank Family of Businesses. David has been working with the Blank family for over twenty years. His current responsibilities include financial and strategic planning, and investment strategy and management as well as new business analysis and development. David is a CPA, a Certified Financial Planner, and has earned the Personal Financial Specialist designation from the American Institute of CPAs. He has authored a book and several articles on financial and investment matters and has been quoted in numerous business publications. He has been repeatedly recognized as one of the best financial advisors in the United States. In 2001 David joined AMB Group, LLC. Formerly, he was Chairman and CEO of Homrich Berg, an Atlanta-based wealth management company he co-founded in 1989. While at Homrich Berg, David served as personal financial and investment advisor to Arthur Blank and his family for 12 years. Previously, David was a principal in an investment advisory company and a manager in the tax department of the Atlanta office of Price Waterhouse. David is on the Board of Advisors of the Atlanta Falcons Football Club. He serves, or has served, on the boards of several private companies. David serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council at the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business. He is a former member of the Governing Board of the State Properties Commission and the Georgia Building Authority. David is past chairman of the Board of Directors of the Metro Atlanta YMCA and presently serves on its Executive and Board Development committees. In 2008 he was honored to receive the Bransby Christian Leadership Award from the Metro Atlanta YMCA. In 2007, the Georgia Society of CPAs presented its Public Service Award to David in recognition of his public service to the community and the State of Georgia. A magna cum laude graduate of The University of Georgia with a degree in accounting, David also earned his Master of Accountancy degree with a tax concentration from UGA.

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GARY M. PARSONS

CEO, NextNav Holdings, LLC
Venture Partner, Columbia Capital

With an academic background in engineering and business administration, Gary Parsons has spent over 40 years in the communications-media-technology (CMT) industry. His primary achievements include the founding or early stage development of a number of companies (XM Satellite Radio, SkyTerra, TerreStar, MCImetro, and Telecom*USA), each of which attained multi-billion dollar enterprise values. He currently serves on the Boards of NextNav Holdings, LLC, Devas Multimedia Pvt. Ltd., the National Alliance to End Homelessness, and the advisory board of GreenSpring Associates.

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CHRISTINA E. TRONDSEN

HVAC/R Executive

Christina Trondsen has been the owner of NTS, LLC since 2011. NTS is dedicated to providing strategic solutions and support for innovative companies seeking to introduce and grow their new technologies and products into the North American and global markets. Customers include global and domestic manufacturers of: ductless heating and cooling systems including variable refrigerant flow (VRF) and inverter split systems; refrigerant compressors; HVAC controls and home automation; fittings and valves; heat pump hot water heaters; energy-saving lighting technology; air compressor technology.

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