Rod Johnson - President

Rod Johnson is a leader in resource conservation and environmental awareness. He is a lecturer at the University of Saskatchewan in the Department of Geography and Planning where he has developed courses on Physical Geography and Environmental Studies. His experience lecturing, as well as consulting as a principal in an environmental consulting partnership with the firm Johnson and Weichel Resource Management, led to work in ecological research and environmental management analysis. Rod has been a longtime member of the Saskatchewan Environmental Society, and serves on the board of the Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council. With his experience, he naturally became involved in alternative energy source production. Rod and his partner Barbara have their own solar array, a solar fence that promotes renewable energy in an urban setting. Rod welcomes the opportunity to be involved in providing an extension role in a community-based initiative, like the SES Solar Co-operative Ltd., that allows the potential for leadership in advocating efficiency and sustainability of our society’s energy consumption.

Michael Nemeth - Vice President

Michael Nemeth is a mechanical engineer and Passive House consultant. For the SES Solar Co-operative, he supervised the solar panel installations at Radiance Cohousing and Wolf Willow Cohousing. He has promoted improving building energy efficiency standards and renewable energy development. He co-developed and now lives at Radiance Cohousing with his partner Shannon.

 Jeff Montgomery - Secretary

Jeff Montgomery was born in 1954 in Saskatoon, SK. After graduating from the University of Saskatchewan with a B.Ed. in Industrial Arts/Vocational Education, Jeff pursued a life in contracting. In 1983 Jeff joined Blue Insurance Ltd., a family business, where he spent 25 years making a career in underwriting and claims management. He operated the business until his retirement in 2008. Jeff married his wife Judy in 1982. They have four children, Scott, Maja, Adrian, and Natasha, as well as four grandchildren, Freyja, Brennan, Tikken, and Isaac. Jeff and Judy live on an acreage near Beaver Creek in a passive solar home that they built in 2003. They have their own wind turbine and photovoltaic panels for electricity production. Jeff has always had an interest in energy efficiency and waste reduction in building and transportation. He has become involved with the Saskatchewan Environmental Society, volunteering on various projects with his wife Judy. Since 'retirement', Jeff has returned to building, constructing infill homes in Saskatoon.  

Hayley Carlson - Co-Chair of Communications & Promotions Committee

Hayley has a B.Sc. in Environmental and Conservation Science and a Master’s of Public Policy. She has a range of work experience with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment, and the Saskatchewan Environmental Society. In 2017, she was recognized as a Top 30 Under 30 Sustainability Leader across Canada. Hayley currently manages an interdisciplinary water research program at the University of Saskatchewan, is on the Board of Directors for the Saskatchewan Environmental Society, and volunteers with Climate Justice Saskatoon (CJS). In 2018, Hayley co-authored the results of a CJS research project interviewing Estevan and Coronach workers affected by the federal coal phase-out announcement, attempting to reconcile these perspectives with the need to reduce fossil fuel-based energy sources. She has an interest in environmental policy, effective communication, and working productively with diverse stakeholders.

Kira Judge - Co-Chair of Communications & Promotions Committee

Kira Judge lives in Saskatoon with her husband and son. She earned her BA and MA from the U of S. Her MA project was focused on the Porter hypothesis – the effectiveness of strict vs slack environmental regulations. She has a mechanical engineering diploma and MA in Finance from Kyrgyzstan where she was born. Currently she enjoys solving business problems as a Senior Business Analyst in IT at FCL.  Lately Kira has been focusing on science of happiness. She researches why people’s emotions are more important than reasoning and logic. She has enjoyed a car-free life style in Saskatoon for 12 years and earned her Happy for No Reason trainer certification. Kira is excited to apply the Happiness teachings and principles for serving her be-loved community of Saskatoon. She joined Saskatoon Cycles advocacy board in November 2020 and represents public in Saskatoon Environmental Advisory Committee (SEAC) since 2018. Kira has volunteered for the Sustainable Speakers Series and for various programs of SES since 2017.  She served as a national director of the Canadian Association for Business Economics (CABE) and as a treasurer for Saskatchewan Economics Association (SEA) from 2016 to 2019.  She speaks fluent Russian and Kyrgyz languages and is inspired to speak French.

Kelly Winder - Chair of the Projects Committee

Kelly Winder graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a dual degree in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering. He worked for SED Systems for 10 years as an embedded systems designer before completing his International Master’s degree in Sustainable Energy Engineering from the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. His more recent expertise lies in the areas of building energy efficiency, energy modelling and monitoring, and renewable energy for buildings. He was a member of the Building Performance group at the Saskatchewan Research Council where he administered Saskatchewan’s Net Metering Rebate Program, designed a research project to study the performance of small wind turbines in Saskatchewan, and monitored Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s EQuilibrium Net Zero Energy Healthy Housing projects across the country. He is one of the founders of Saskatchewan’s premiere sustainable buildings conference, Building Saskatchewan Green. Kelly joined Integrated Designs Inc. in 2014 as a Senior Project Manager.

Jason Praski - Member of Projects Committee

Jason Praski graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He has 28 years of engineering and business experience in Saskatchewan. He spent 15 years with SaskEnergy in planning, project engineering, and business development roles. Jason works at Titan Clean Energy, a bio-recycling company that he has been devoted to for 10 years. Jason has a lifelong interest in renewable energy and energy efficiency, owning his own hybrid and electric vehicles. He provides  renewable energy services through Exa Energy Consulting. He has his own solar photovoltaic installation at his home where he resides just outside Saskatoon.  

Gail Stevens - Chair of Governance Committee, SES Appointee

Gail grew up in Saskatoon and completed a M.Sc. degree through the College of  Commerce,  University of Saskatchewan.  She taught at University of New Brunswick and Mount Allison  University, and then returned to teach at University of Saskatchewan for several years.  Gail also held senior management positions over nine years in the financial-, retail/wholesale-, and health sectors.  Retirement in 2010 enabled Gail to spend more time with her five grandchildren, and to serve as an active volunteer for several organizations, including the Saskatchewan Environmental Society, Council of Canadians, The Stand Community Organizing Centre, and Climate Justice Saskatoon. Believing strongly in the cooperative business model, she was actively involved in the formation of three new cooperatives, and served on the Saskatoon Credit Union Board.  Serving on the SES Solar Coop Board merges her interests in renewable energy and cooperative ownership and governance.

Cameron Jensen - Member at Large

Cameron Jensen graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in 2018 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Since graduation he has married his wife Brin who he met playing badminton at 12 years of age and have since welcomed a baby girl, Ivy to their family. He has been a long-time believer and enthusiast in renewable energy and energy efficiency with a goal of someday living in a net-zero passive house with an electric vehicle. He currently works in the sustainable buildings industry with Bright Buildings as a consultant preparing energy modeling, energy efficiency optimization and mechanical system design. With his background in financial advising and experience with renewable energy simulation tools, Cameron has advised on several solar installation feasibility studies for commercial and industrial clients. Cam helps with share offering administration and is a member of the projects committee.

Bert Weichel - SES Appointee

Bert Weichel is a lecturer in environmental studies and physical geography at the University of Saskatchewan and also a principal in the environmental consulting partnership, Johnson and Weichel. A long time board member of SES, he is also currently on the board of the Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council and secretary of the Saskatchewan Association for Resource Recovery Corp.