Harness Nature Team RosterSteve BartelsSteve is old enough to remember a time when we threw our aluminum beverage cans in the trash. (Of course, gasoline was $.36 a gallon and the dinosaurs were still roaming the earth, but...) Now, thanks in great part to his children, he has become a conservationist. Although he can still be caught daydreaming about the chain and necklace art he made out of pull-tabs in his youth....In 2007, Steve saw a need for a renewable energy company serving the Heartland. He wanted a company whose staff knew the products, laws, incentives, the utility companies, and the systems better than anyone else. He wanted a company who treated customers like customers should be treated. He wanted a company that partnered with, and was a dealer for, the best of the best. In July 2008, Harness Nature was spun off from Steve's construction company, becoming it's own entity. Since then Harness Nature has earned a reputation for their expertise, customer service and the quality of their products and installations. Steve and Pam have 2 high school age kids at home, 2 grown children, and became grandparents just before Harness Nature was born. "Renewable energy has always interested me, but now it is my passion," says Steve "It is extremely gratifying to go to work every day, knowing that, what we are doing makes a difference." Randy SkeieWith his alternative minded views, Randy is affectionately (yeah right) known around the office as "Free Range Randy". He has spent most of his adult life marketing high tech products. From Apple Computers in the early 1980's to more recently HD Radio. Randy now brings his talents to the Harness Nature team, and the cutting edge of renewable energy. His passion for living a healthy lifestyle spills over into his passion for sustainable living. Responsible for all aspects of sales and marketing, Randy stays busy, but he always makes time to respond to any inquiries and to educate folks about renewable energy. His belief in providing high quality customer service meshes perfectly with Harness Nature's vision. Randy is a dedicated cyclist, and if he does two rides, one right after the other, claims to be a "recyclist". Randy is a wind, solar, and geothermal specialist."Being a sailor and a cyclist, I know about the power of the wind and the sun," Randy opines, "Save our coal, buy a turbine." Dan TriggDan Trigg has been with Harness Nature from the beginning. He has over 15 years of experience in all phases of construction and is on every job site guaranteeing quality. Dan has extensive training in renewable energy, including geothermal certification and training at the Windsmith Academy. Being OSHA Certified and also a Certified Rescue Climber, he takes job site safety very seriously.An avid outdoorsman, Dan and his wife are kept busy raising their 3 boys. "Being able to help mankind is mind boggling. I have always been proud of the work I do, but to apply my skills to renewable energy systems is incredible!" Wayne AppletonWayne Appleton lives on 170 acre farm, West of Blakesburg Iowa. He is a family man with one child (and another on the way). Wayne has some of his ground in prairie grass to help the wildlife in the area. This gives many of the native birds a place to nest and hide from predators. Coming from a farming community, Wayne knows how important it is to take care of the environment. An outdoorsman, Wayne enjoys fishing and hunting around his local area.Wayne says, "I believe in renewable energy. It helps out, not only our environment, but I believe it is good for our economy. Anything we can produce here in America and not get from other countries makes it better for us all." Bob VokounBob Vokoun, a member of the Harness Nature sales team, also works for United Laboratories (Green since 1992) and is a part-time police officer for the Jewell/Ellsworth/Stanhope, Iowa Police Department. He also does construction work in his spare time. (Yep, I didn't believe it either...Bob has 3 jobs and he "relaxes" doing construction work?) Bob and his wife, Julie reside in LeGrand, Iowa with their two daughters.Bob's grandpa used a wind generator to provide power for their residence in the early 1900's. (This charged batteries during the day, and operated the lights at night.) This unit was rebuilt and is still on display at his parents farm. Bob has had a life long interest in wind and solar power. Their new home was built green and is also equipped with a geothermal heating and cooling system. Bob Says, "We continue to look for energy efficient and green ways to improve our home. I also enjoy visiting and meeting new people." Dan BroderickDan Broderick is a Harness Nature renewable energy expert. Dan graduated from Loras College in 2001 with a liberal arts degree and began his career in commercial real estate in Des Moines. Applying the term "renewable" in a different manner, Dan enjoys buying old, dilapidated homes and transforming them from the worst house on the block into the best one. In his spare time Dan enjoys watching college football or playing a game of pickup basketball.Dan is thrilled to be involved in the renewable energy business stating, “I am right on the forefront of technological innovation, and that’s always exciting”. V.J. RozanekV.J. Rozanek's first experience with green energy was in the 3rd grade when he completed a solar and wind project. Ever since, V.J has found renewable energy to be inspiring. From that very first experience he realized that we have the power to make things better for future generations, and that is now even more important to him being a family man. V.J. comes to Harness Nature having previously been involved in the renewable energy industry for over a year, and he says he’s thrilled to be a part of our growing team. As he sees it, Harness Nature’s mission to inspire and educate others, while providing outstanding products and service, setting the benchmark to which other renewable companies will be compared. When he isn’t working, V.J. loves spending time with his daughter. He also enjoys fixing things. That’s what V.J does to unwind. He is unwinding so often that his family now calls him “Bob the Builder”.As V.J. likes to say, "I am living the dream."
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