John McPherson Executive Director John McPherson has been an educator and active member in the environmental community for over 9 years. After graduating from Boston College in 1998 he began teaching sustainability and marine science principles on Catalina Island, CA. He continued working in environmental education in other locations, including the San Juan Islands and San Diego before joining the science faculty at Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences in Santa Monica in 2001. While there, John blended a hard-science curriculum with environmental ethics, and created several groups and programs centered on sustainability, including Students for Environmental Action (S.E.A.). Through this student group, he has helped lead the Crossroads community toward greater environmental awareness through public events and various green initiatives. He has been working with Green Depot since 2006 to help plan the educational vision of the organization. John is dedicated to moving the public dialogue toward a primary focus on the issues facing our planet and our quality of life, and to building a consensus among key stakeholders toward a sustainable future. Jon Faiz Kayyem Board Member Jon Faiz Kayyem is a managing partner of the Efficacy Capital family of biotechnology funds. In 1995 he founded Clinical Micro Sensors, which applies electronics and biochemistry to the engineering of electronic detectors for specific DNA sequences, including a carrier screen for cystic fibrosis that has recently received FDA clearance. Kayyem has published research in the Journal of Organic Chemistry, the Journal of the American Chemical Society, the Journal of Cell Biology, the European Journal of Biochemistry, and Chemistry & Biology, mostly regarding electron flow in organic molecules. He has been awarded 31 U.S. patents covering the bioelectronic detection and analysis of nucleic acids. Pursuing an interest in the emerging field of genomics, Kayyem received both his bachelor's and master's degrees in molecular biophysics from Yale University, and his PhD in molecular biology from Caltech. Kayyem serves on the boards of three privately held startup businesses and sits on the boards of trustees of The California institute of Technology, Polytechnic School and the Art Center College of Design, all located in Pasadena. Zan Dubin Scott Board Member Zan Dubin Scott is principal of ZDS Communications, a public relations, marketing and writing agency specializing in sustainable issues, healthcare, arts and entertainment. Dubin Scott developed her media and public relations expertise largely as a staff writer for The Los Angeles Times. She founded her company after 15 years with The Times, for whom she continues to write. She developed an expertise in healthcare public relations and marketing by working with large metropolitan hospitals and physician groups. As an environmentalist, Dubin Scott has used her media and marketing expertise to help promote clean transportation and alternative energy use, most notably in the documentary film, “Who Killed the Electric Car.” She is one of many grassroots activists in the film and helped to organize and execute some of its key media events and other activities. Dubin Scott is a member of Women in Healthcare Administration and sits on the executive committee of Plug In America (PIA), the nonprofit clean-car advocacy organization. She also sits on the board of Green Depot, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising public awareness and use of all renewable energy sources including biodiesel, solar and wind power. Dubin Scott is the recipient of a Vesta Award, which honors women who have made significant contributions to the arts in Southern California. Dubin Scott lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Paul Scott, a proud five-year-plus cancer warrior . Their home is equipped with a solar thermal system for hot water and a 3.0 kW solar photovoltaic array, which supplies electricity for their home, their fully electric car, their two cats, and assorted rescue animals when fosters are needed. Joe Gershen Board Member Joe Gershen started in the biodiesel business in 2002 and has been a pioneer in the Southern California market, working with municipal, corporate, governmental, small business and retail customers and clients. By establishing strong industry relationships he has been able to develop projects and ventures in biodiesel production, distribution, market development, emissions testing, education and community outreach throughout the region. Mr. Gershen was instrumental in helping City of Santa Monica convert its existing diesel fleet to biodiesel in February 2005, and has been working with other cities, agencies and companies throughout California as they make this transition to sustainable fuel. He is involved in projects with the US DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, California Energy Commission, South Coast Air Quality Management District, and California Air Resources Board, and has assembled science and engineering teams to provide project support for Fortune 100 clients. Prior to his career in biodiesel Mr. Gershen worked in the entertainment and communications industries for over 25 years. With an early background in music technology, he has been a successful composer and producer with credits in film, broadcast television and advertising. After being an early provider of music for the interactive software industry he transitioned to application development in the early 1990s, obtaining international patents for his innovative technology solutions and managing technology development projects for varied clients in the technology, entertainment, medical, retail, and electronics sectors. Mr. Gershen regularly consults and speaks to industry groups, environmental and community organizations, as well as K-12 and college educational institutions. He has met with regulatory agencies and state and local policy makers concerning transportation fuels emissions reductions issues, and is often featured in print, broadcast radio and television publications for his experience in the biodiesel field. Eric R. Steinwald, CPA Certified Public Accountant www.erscpa.com