ABSN Instructors

 
 
 
 

ABSN's home town Alaska Instructors have over 200 years of combined Cold Climate Home Building and Energy Efficiency experience, making ABSN one of the most qualified organizations in Alaska to provide the time tested building science knowledge.  ABSN's instructors stay extremely current in their fields continually updating their knowledge on new building technologies proven to work in Alaska's extreme cold, wet, or cold and dry climates, from soggy Southeast to temperate Southcentral, to the extreme hot and cold dry Interior, far out the wet and windy Alutian chain, to the extreme environments of the far reaches of the state.  When our trainers want to sit in the audience and learn, ABSN often brings up national and international experts in various fields to provide additional trainings in Alaska throughout the year.

Paul Cotter 

Dr. Paul Cotter has a PhD in Biological Sciences from Idaho State University. He has experieince training Alaska builders in indoor air quality, building sciences, and biological/toxicological aspects of homes and buildings. Paul also has extensive experieince designing energy retrofit projects for residential buildings and has published an instructional DVD for ABSN titled, "Outside Insulation Technique." Currently, Paul is also an Adjunct Professor at University of Alaska Anchorage.

Ginny Moore

Ginny has been a Program Manager for ABSN projects since its inception in 1995. These projects have included rural training as well as research and IAQ monitoring. Ginny was ABSN’s Project Director for the successful completion of 2004-2005 EPA Region 10 funded project, Projects to Provide Tribal Indoor Air Training and Technical Assistance. She has been actively involved in building science training, curriculum development, and field research since 1985.

Dan Lung 

Dan Lung owner of DL Consulting Services, Inc. provides consulting and training services to ABSN for energy efficient lighting and other energy efficiency measures in rural Alaska in support of the Village End Use Energy Efficiency Program.  Other past projects include:  VISTA volunteer and employment with Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc., including coordination of the Electrical Savings Initiative (ESI) Program designed to assist 2,000 Energy Assistance recipients in rural Alaska to reduce their electrical utility costs through energy efficient lighting upgrades, appliance kiowatt-hour testing and energy savings education.  Currently Dan is a program assistant for the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service supporting rural solid waste management planning efforts and outreach for the communities along the Kuskokwim River. 

Mike Musick

Michael Musick is a charter member of CCHRC and has served in an advisory role for CCHRC since its inception. His educational background includes BA degrees in English and Sociology, and a Master of Arts in Teaching. Mr. Musick has over 40 years experience in the construction industry in Interior Alaska. Since the mid 70's Mr. Musick has been a general contractor specializing in constructing energy efficient custom homes. Mike is the author of several manuals on building and has developed training courses for the Alaska Craftsman Home Program, the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, the Cooperative Extension Service, and the Alaska Building Science Network.   He was the construction superintendent for the University of Alaska President's Residence and currently specializes in energy efficient log homes. Mike recently received certification as a LEED Accredited Professional through the US Green Building Council. Mr. Musick is the Chair of the Interior Alaska CCHRC Research Advisory Committee, Past President of the Board of Directors of the Alaska Boreal Forest Council, and Past President of the Board of Directors of the Interior Alaska Building Association (IABA). Mr. Musick received the prestigious 2004 Builder of the Year Award from the IABA. He is currently the Chair of the Interior Alaska Green Building Initiative (IAGBI).   Mike was elected to The Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly in the fall of 2006. 

William Harry Bruu

Bill joined the United States Air Force in August 1962 beginning a 22 year career during which he performed meritoriously in three career areas: Ground Radio Repairman, Aircraft Loadmaster(C-130’s), and Public Affairs Supervisor. He was able to attain supervisor/Instructor status in all three of the areas. He retired as a Master Sergeant (E-7) on October 1st, 1984. During the next 10 years he filled many different positions in the field of real estate from sales person to property manager to foreclosure specialist. He then transitioned into inspecting new and existing homes and becoming a Certified Energy Rater. He has inspected more than 3000 homes across the State of Alaska. He has committed himself to his community at every opportunity by serving as member of various boards and commissions, leading some of them as President, Vice Chairman. He is particularly proud of his service on the Matanuska Susitna Borough Platting Board, where he served during a period of unprecedented growth. Bill married Lillian Kay Robbins in October 1962. They had three girls, Stacy, Sheri, Trisha. They have six Grandchildren.

Charlie Deer

Charlie has over 30 years of building and building science experience. He is one of the most experienced rural Alaska trainers having conducted (many) dozens of workshops, especially on boiler maintenance, windows, insulation and sealants.

Richard Musick

Richard Musick has worked with his dad in the family business, Ester Construction, for the last 10 years building custom energy efficient log and frame homes. Richard is a 2002 graduate of the University of Alaska Fairbanks with a BBA in Business management and a BA in Technology. Richard received specialized training in energy efficient log building during a six-week course in New Zeeland a few years ago. Richard and his dad have taught more than 20 log home building classes around Alaska. Richard has decided to specialize in healthy indoor air quality. This has led to forming a new IAQ business called Solutions to Healthy Breathing with partner, Bill Reynolds.

Phil Kaluza

Phil has over 20 years experience in building sciences including workshops delivery, curriculum development, and technical assistance. Experienced in IAQ monitoring and testing homes, previous Construction Manager for Bering Straits Regional Housing Authority.  Phil is currently providing his technical expertise to ABSN's Community Energy Efficiency Program.

Rich Seifert 

Rich is a past ABSN Board President. Rich has vast experience in building science curriculum development and workshop delivery and is Alaska’s leading expert in Radon and Radon Mitigation techniques. He publishes the ABSN/CES quarterly newsletter.  Rich Seifert, Energy and Housing Specialist has been with the Cooperative Extension Service since 1982. Rich graduated with a B.S. in physics from West Chester state college in Pennsylvania, and attended UAF for a Masters in Engineering Physics. Prior to his academic career, Rich spent his time garnering a taste for Pennsylvania Dutch pretzels in Bucks County, PA.

Geoff Butler

Geoff, owner of Energy Conservation Alaska provides research, consulting, training, technical assistance, and project management for energy efficiency projects throughout Alaska.  Geoff's consulting consists of training and education on energy efficiency opportunities for individuals, organizations and governments.  Past projects include implementing the Statewide Electrical Savings Initiative for the Rural Alaska Community Action Program Inc., 2002-2004.  More than 2,000 electrical savings residential visits were accomplished in more than 50 rural Alaska communities.  Geoff co-authored the orginal grants in 2004 and currently manages ABSN's Alaska Energy Auhtority funded projects that provide energy efficiency upgrades in community buildings in 51 communities in rural Alaska. 

Sasha Zemanek

Sasha recently left her post in Fairbanks as Executive Officer of the Interior Alaska Building Association in order to relocate to Anchorage. Her dedication to the building industry has been beneficial not only to the contractors in Fairbanks but also to Alaska State Home Builders Association.  Sasha has coordinated well over 100 building science trainings for the Interior and State Home Builders Associations.

Harry Morgan, Sr

Harry Morgan is owner of HM Home Repair in Bethel, Alaska.  Harry currently serves as Field Manager and trainer for ABSN's Village End Use Energy Efficiency Program in Western Alaska.  Harry has over 8,000 hours of qualified electrican work and over 15 years of experience with gas and oli fired boilers and heaters.  Harry continues to consult with the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation as an electrician and he has worked for Donlin Creek Mines on a variety of building fronts including construction of cabins.

Michael Barber

BSN Contract LED Project Manager: Michael Barber, owner of Continuum Industries LLC. Michael is known in Alaska as the street lighting guru. Michael has been working with LED street lighting projects since 2007 when he managed the LED Street Lighting program for the Municipality of Anchorage. As an extension of his work with the Municipality he conducted work the Rise Alaska before becoming the LED Program Manager for Sea Lion International Corporation. Currently Michael is conducting LED Lighting Work through his business Continuum Industries. 
 
 
 
Matt Oster

Matt is owner of Red Edge Design in Anchorage Alaska. Matt is an Energy Rater and is certified by BPI as a Building Analyst. Matt has over 14 years of experience as a carpenter and remains on the cutting edge of green building design. Matt is a member of ABSN, Cascadia Green Building Council, the Anchorage Permaculture Guild, the Building Performance Institute, the International Living Building Institute and Alaska Center for the Environment. 

Mark Houston
 
As an Owner and/or Manager of 4 different businesses over a 25-year career, Mark has developed exceptional field manager skills. These include effective communication, scheduling, organizing and the ability to work with many different types of people. His responsibilities have included training employees in tool and jobsite safety. Mark is an Energy Rater and is certified by BPI as a Building Analyst. Mark is a remodeling contractor and an Adjunct Instructor of Construction Management at UAA.  
 
Lee Boling
 
Lee is a project engineer for Your Clean Energy LLC. He is a registered Engineer-In-Training by the State of Alaska and is a member of the American Solar Energy Society. Lee conducts energy efficiency audits and renewable energy resource assessments both in Anchorage and in Rural Alaska. 
 
Chris Dugay 
 
Chris is the owner of One Island Energy in Sitka, Alaska. He is an Energy Rater and certified by BPI as a Building Analyst. He has been a general contractor for 18 years, working on all phases of residential and commercial building construction. Several of his projects have involved evaluation and implementation of energy-efficient design options. Chris has been a construction manager on renovations at San Francisco General Hospital. He was a Peace Corps volunteer in Southern Africa where he trained associates of the Lesotho Ministry of Agriculture on resource development projects to aid schools and villages. He earned a B.S. in civil engineering from the University of Massachusetts – Amherst. Chris also studied at Solar Energy International in Colorado and works with renewable energy, designing and installing small-scale residential solar, wind, and water power systems.
 
John Freeman
 
1994-Present Sole proprietor, Sunrise Energy Works: energy rating, building performance diagnostics, ventilation standards compliance, indoor air pollutant transfer research, energy efficiency consulting.
  

Garrison Collette

Garrison Collette is owner of Happy Energy Services in Fairbanks Alaska. Garrison has provided field management, consulting and training services to ABSN for energy efficient lighting and other energy efficiency measures in rural Alaska in support of the Village End Use Energy Efficiency Program. Garrison has previously been employed through the UAF Cooperative Extension Service (UAF CES) as a liaison and communications specialist between UAF CES and the Cold Climate Housing Research Center. Garrison is an Energy Rater and is certified by BPI as a Building Analyst.