MANAGEMENT

The Board of Directors

Jih-Sheng  “Jason” Lai, Ph.D. was the Head of Electrical Engineering Department of Ming-Chi Institute of Technology, Taiwan and now is a full professor of Electrical Engineering at Virginia Tech, where he founded and chairs the Future Energy Electronics Center, and is fellow of the IEEE.   He has directed research and development of projects for the DOE, the US Army and others in the field of Power Electronics.  Prof. Lai has served as the Chair of various committees for the Applied Power Electronics Conference, Chaired the 2000-2001 IEEE/DOE Fuel Energy Challenge and the IEEE Power Electronics Society Standards Committee.  He was awarded he honor of “best paper” at the 2005 International Power Electronics Conference. Dr. Lai was elected to Fellow of the IEEE, effective January 1, 2007, for contributions to high performance high power inverters. He is considered a world leader in power electronics.

David I. Grab is Secretary/Treasurer and Comptroller of EMPS . He has extensive experience in accounting and finance including governmental fund accounting, both light and heavy manufacturing accounting, and engineering service accounting. He recently served as CFO for Advanced Labelworx of Oak Ridge, andVP of Finance, Planning & Budgeting for Environmental Systems Corporation of Knoxville.

Fredrick E. Congdon is Executive Director of the Tennessee Association of County Mayors and has served this post for more than 16 years and is on the board of the National County Executives Association in Washington, D.C.  Mr. Congdon is a consultant in management and marketing.  After serving two consecutive 4 year terms as County Clerk, he was elected County Judge (Executive Mayor).  He is a former chairman of the Unicoi County and Town of Erwin Economic Development Board; the Northeast Tennessee Regional Industrial Development Board and the Alliance for Business and Training of Northeast Tennessee. He is an expert in developing marketing strategies, conducting marketing seminars and providing in-house motivational training.

Dr. David L. Mefford, of Morristown, TN, has 36 years experience in a division of value theory know in philosophy as 'formal axiology', created by Professor Robert S. Hartman. He studied under Dr. Hartman, the first research professor or Chair of Excellence in the Humanities at the University of Tennessee. In addition he studied at the University of Paris, Nanterre, France and earned his Magister Artium (M.A.) degree in psychology, philosophy and law at the University of Heidelberg, Germany in 1976. While completing his Ph.D. degree at the University of Tennessee, Dr. Mefford evaluated and counseled psychiatric patients under the supervision of Dr. John Wolaver, M.D., for a three year period. His dissertation, Phenomenology of Man as a Valuing Subject, achieved a comprehensive typology of personality, based on value judgment patterns. This axiological personality model of 26 cognitive types and 40 emotional temperaments is currently in use by professional psychologists, counselors and business leaders for individual and group assessments and counseling. Dr. Mefford has extensive experience on Wall Street and has been featured several times in the Commodity Trader's Consumer Report (CTCR) and as a regular writer for www.Marketdigestonline.com. He holds a series 3 Commodity Trading Advisor's license and recently held a highly acclaimed seminar on the value dynamics of the US financial markets for European Banks and private investors at Bad Homburg, Germany. Dr. Mefford co-developed a "core values" model for excellence in officership for the USAF. In collaboration with Dr. Clayton Lafferty, former president and owner of Human Synergistics in Detroit, Michigan, Dr. Mefford created a new series of values-based personality instruments known as VUE's (Values Usage Exercises). He is co-founder and Board member of the Hartman Institute and chairman of Proethics, both non-profit organizations. A prolific writer, he has authored numerous publications on the applications of axiological value science, and several articles have been published about his work.

Charles R. Burchett, who received his BS degree from Austin Peay State University and MA from George Peabody College is currently the President of  EMPS  Mr. Burchett held the position as Dean of Student Conduct, University of Tennessee, for 46 years where he established a successful record of experience and achievements in operations management, program development, staff training/motivation, event/project planning, and community relations. He is a former president of the West Knoxville Republican Club and has served as a chairman of the Knoxville school board and a member of the Knoxville library board.  As a dedicated professional who maintains a strong commitment to improving operations and developing programs and services which will help establish the Company’s future direction and ensure its continued organizational growth,he offers additional strengths in the areas of business administration, human resources and budgeting.

William G. Haynes currently is the Vice President for Business Development for  EMPS.   He received his BA degree from the University on Tennessee and has completed graduate work at East Tennessee State University.  Mr. Haynes has vast experience working with developing companies and aiding them to become successful operations.  He has been a consultant, officer, or director for Pine Mountain Land Company, Tennessee; Lane Environmental Systems, Virginia; Hamm Companies, Kansas; TenKan Marketing, Tennessee; and Remote Landfill Services, Inc., Tennessee.  He has been instrumental in causing investors to realize $55 Million in increased value from three start-up projects during the last 15 years.   

Officers

The following individuals comprise the officers for EMPS:

Interim President:    Charles R. Burchett

Vice President for Business Development:  William G. Haynes

Chief Technical Officer:   Jih-Sheng (Jason) Lai.

Vice President for Power Electronics:   Robert W. Young, Sr.

Secretary/Treasurer:   David I. Grab

Special Consultants:

Stephen Levy is consultant in technical affairs.  He was Chief of the Army Pulse Power Center and one of the founders of the Electrical Power program for the Strategic Defense Initiative “Star Wars” program. His expertise is Megawatt Electronics. He is also the inventor of the “All-Electric Tank” concept for the U.S. Army.   He has consulted on all aspects of advanced technologies from idea creations to product acceptance; created teams to collaborate on joint projects; managed large programs that go beyond the limits of conventional technology; and submitted winning competitive bids. He is able to “see the big picture,” to know the direction in which technology needs to move.

Victor E. Gatto, Jr. Ed.D. is a consultant in business development.  Dr. Gatto, Vice President of Business Development for Barletta Engineering, Inc. of Canton, MA, has 30 years experience as a leader of teams in companies.  His career success has been based on a management style that stresses the importance of team building and accountability, beginning at the top of the management structure. 

The resumes of all Directors, Officers and Consultants are available on request.