about us
Who are we?
Steve Owen, Ph.D. Executive Director
Steve Owen co-founded AIRE and serves as its Executive Director. He is also president of AIRE’s parent non-profit, the Appalachian Coalition for Just and Sustainable Communities.
Matt Cooper
Matt Cooper directs the Leola Street Community Garden in Boone, NC and does community outreach in Western North Carolina.
Paul Capua, Esq.
Paul Capua advises AIRE on landowner relations, contracts, and other legal and policy issues.
Caroline Poteat
Caroline Poteat is completing a double masters degree from Appalachian State University, with concentrations in Sustainable Development and Geography & Planning. Her academic research and community involvement focus on issues of land ownership, affordable housing, and farmland preservation in Southern Appalachia. She works for Frontline Conservation Real Estate.
Jeffrey Scott
Jeffrey Scott directed the National Committee for the New River prior to founding Frontline Conservation. He works with AIRE to help bridge communication gaps between conservation agencies and renewable energy concerns.
Jeff Deal
Jeff Deal is an information technology specialist at Appalachian Voices and does AIRE's Google wind maps. He is primarily focused on wind power.
Ged Moody
Ged Moody is a renewable energy policy and business consultant. He teaches in the Center for Entrepreneurship at Appalachian State University and helps AIRE translate state and federal policy for local renewable energy projects.
Sam Welsh
Sam Welsh is a retired engineer focused on micro-hydro power.
Joe Smith
Joe Smith is an Appalachian State University graduate with a Masters in Appropriate Technology. While at Appalachian State, his studies focused on renewable energy technology. He has a degree in Aerospace Engineering, has worked for Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation, and has been a Peace Corps volunteer. (Joe has taken up residence at the National Renewable Lab near Boulder, CO but remains available to AIRE for consultation.)
Carolyn Frazier
Carolyn will graduate from Appalachian State University in May 2009 with a BS in public relations and a minor in political science. She assists AIRE in its strategic communication efforts.
Advisory Board
Jeff Boyer, Ph.D.
Brent Summerville, P.E.
Frank Adams, Ph.D.
Andrea Capua, Esq.