PETER MULLEN, President
Peter Mullen has a 14-year investment track record in both public and private markets. Peter founded and managed two global investment funds and ran the investment team of an international family office. While at the family office, he built and led the financial team of an operating asset which executed a multi-billion-dollar investment in wind energy and is now one of the largest renewable entities in LATAM. Peter earned his B.A. from Harvard College.
KEVIN DWYER, CHAIRMAN AND CEO
Mr. Dwyer has 30+ years of experience as Entrepreneur and Businessman. Prior to founding GFES, Mr. Dwyer spent nearly 25 years working as a Partner in a Utility Development Company and as a Co-Founder and Principal of UMI, a Commercial Real Estate Development and Finance Company, that he sold in 2005. Mr. Dwyer attended Harvard and focused his studies on Sustainability. He holds multiple licenses, certifications, and earned multiple degrees, is a Published Author, and he has received a Congressional Businessman of the Year Award.
David L. Wheeler, COO, CSO and Director
Mr. Wheeler has 30+ years of experience in corporate management and analysis, capital formation, and securing of key management personnel. He has acted as an Independent Consultant to both private and public Boards of Directors in Texas, Utah, and Nevada, providing various Management and Financial analysis (1998—present). Mr. Wheeler graduated as a Bachelor of Science in Business Finance at the University of Utah in 1985, and earned a master’s degree from Idaho State University in 2014.
Kerry Hawkley, Director
Serves as a Director and as Audit Committee Chairman of the Company. Prior to his retirement in 2018, he served as the Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary of U.S. Geothermal Inc (USG), playing a significant role in the listing of USG on four different stock exchanges in the U.S. and Canada. He had served as USG’s controller since July 2003 and became CFO as of January 1, 2005. From July 2003 to December 2004, he also provided consulting services to Triumph Gold Corp. From 1998 to June 2003, Mr. Hawkley served as controller, director and treasurer of LB Industries. Mr. Hawkley has over 40 years of experience in all areas of accounting, finance, and administration. He holds Bachelor of Business Administration degrees in Accounting and Finance. He started his career as an internal auditor with Union Pacific Corporation and has held various accounting management positions in the oil and gas, truck leasing, mining and energy industries.
Robert K. Bench, CFO
Mr. Bench is an experienced professional with over 40 years of international experience in various senior management and executive positions in start-up enterprises and public companies following four years as a certified public account (CPA) with KPMG. As the co-founder and managing member of BayHill Group, focused on assisting public companies in their early stages, he has served as CFO of NP Energy (NPEE), CerProbe (CRPB), The SCO Group (SCOX), Sento Corporation (SNTO) and Innuity (INNU) and assisted them in raising over $300 million for start-up and growth capital through private, public, and venture offerings. Mr. Bench has many years of serving as an officer or director of companies located in Africa, Australia, China, Europe, Japan, Korea, and Saudi Arabia. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Utah State University, as well as graduate work on his MBA at the University of Utah.
Mr. Dwight Williams, Corporate Secretary and Compliance Officer
Mr. Williams has a background in international business and corporate finance. After earning his Juris Doctor degree at Columbia Law School, he practiced law at Chadbourne & Parke in New York City. He has resided in Germany and Italy and speaks both languages. He served as a director of TerraTek, Inc. until its acquisition by Schlumberger. From 2003 to 2010, he was a Member of the Executive Committee of First Law International, Sprl., Brussels, Belgium, where he represented U.S., European and Asian enterprises in trans-border transactions, U.S. securities law, mergers, acquisitions and foreign compliance issues. Mr. Williams has served as general counsel for a multinational agrigenetics corporation, a specialty steel company with offices in Texas, Germany, and Japan, and an investment management firm based in Hong Kong. He was listed in Who’s Who in the World (7th edition, 1984-85). While practicing law, he earned an “AV” rating in Martindale-Hubbell (beginning in 1985) and an AVVO rating of 10. He has been an Adjunct Professor at the J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University, where he taught a course on International Business Transactions, and he also taught Business Law in the Management Department, College of Business at his alma mater (B.A., magna cum laude, 1967), the University of Utah. Mr. Williams was Board Chair from 1993-95 of the National Council for International Visitors (now Global Ties U.S.).
Stephen Hellenschmidt, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO)
Mr. Hellenschmidt is a seasoned executive in the global food and beverage processing and packaging space. Following an extensive career as a commercial and technical executive at Tetra Pak, he has held C-suite positions with global leaders in the packaging and food production industries. He has extensive management and technical experience in the design, construction, commissioning and operation of large-scale, high-volume aseptic food and beverage production facilities. His company, Packaging Technologies Inc., advises industry clients in the aseptic food and beverage space, from initial product concept to full FDA-compliant production. Mr. Hellenschmidt holds an undergraduate degree in business management and communications, and a master’s degree in packaging science.
Gigi Butler, VP Marketing
Gigi is a successful entrepreneur who founded Gigi’s Cupcake in 2008. The business has grown to become the largest cupcake franchise in the country with over 100 locations in 24 states. Gigi was featured on the hit CBS television show, Undercover Boss. Gigi was also one of the featured inspirational stories in Shark Tank’s Daymond John’s book, “The Power of Broke”. She has been featured as a TEDx speaker, launched her own kitchen textiles line, and became the spokesperson and face of American made cabinet company, Serenade Cabinetry. She has also appeared on The Today Show and the Hallmark Channel. Gigi’s book, The Secret Ingredient, was released in 2018.
