Management
Harol (Hal) Koyama, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), brings to H2 PowerTech 12 years of diversified international sales & marketing experience and general strategic business development for worldwide onsite generation applications within the Combined Heat and Power, Oil and Gas and Waste Fuel power generation markets.
Throughout his career, Mr. Koyama has been responsible for identifying promising markets, increasing sales and implementing communications and advertising campaigns. Most recently, Mr. Koyama was Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Capstone Turbine Corporation (Capstone), a leading microturbine producer where he streamlined sales and marketing and accelerated market development efforts worldwide. Prior to his work at Capstone, Mr. Koyama was Vice President of Business Development for fuel cell company International Fuel Cells (a United Technologies Corporation business). In this position he increased market opportunities through the development of joint ventures. Mr. Koyama also has over five years experience as a management consultant with the international consulting firm, McKinsey & Company, focusing on energy and operations issues.
Mr. Koyama holds a degree in Physics/Mathematics from the University of Oregon, a Masters Equivalent in Nuclear Engineering from the Naval Nuclear Power Training, and a Masters in Business Administration from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
Throughout his career, Mr. Koyama has been responsible for identifying promising markets, increasing sales and implementing communications and advertising campaigns. Most recently, Mr. Koyama was Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Capstone Turbine Corporation (Capstone), a leading microturbine producer where he streamlined sales and marketing and accelerated market development efforts worldwide. Prior to his work at Capstone, Mr. Koyama was Vice President of Business Development for fuel cell company International Fuel Cells (a United Technologies Corporation business). In this position he increased market opportunities through the development of joint ventures. Mr. Koyama also has over five years experience as a management consultant with the international consulting firm, McKinsey & Company, focusing on energy and operations issues.
Mr. Koyama holds a degree in Physics/Mathematics from the University of Oregon, a Masters Equivalent in Nuclear Engineering from the Naval Nuclear Power Training, and a Masters in Business Administration from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
William Pledger, Chief Engineer, co-founded H2 PowerTech in 1996 and has remained with the company as Chief Engineer. Mr. Pledger has more than 20 years' experience in the design, construction and testing of membrane-based modules, transformer gas analyzers, fuel processors and fuel cell systems. Prior to joining H2 PowerTech, Mr. Pledger worked at Bend Research, Inc. from 1985 until 1994 where he was responsible for designing and constructing prototype membrane-based systems and pilot plants for use in food and pharmaceutical processing. Mr. Pledger holds a Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from Oregon State University, is a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, as well as a registered Professional Engineer in Oregon.
Michael T. Hicks, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer (CTO), holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Dayton, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical Engineering from North Carolina State University. In 1998, Dr. Hicks joined 3M’s Specialty Materials Manufacturing Division and worked on fluoropolymer R&D. In 2000, he joined 3M’s Fuel Cell Components Program where he worked on electrode development for PEM fuel cells and lead the development of 3M’s next generation MEAs. From 2003 to 2007, Dr. Hicks was the Principal Investigator on a US Department of Energy Project entitled “MEA and Stack Durability for PEM Fuel Cells.” Under this project, Dr. Hicks lead a multi-facet team consisting of 3M, Case Western Reserve University, University of Miami, and Plug Power. In April of 2007, Dr. Hicks joined IdaTech, (now H2 PowerTech) as a Fuel Cell Engineer responsible for durability of fuel cell stacks and systems, development of new stack technology, and sourcing stack BOP. He was previously the Engineering Manager, and Director of Technology Development & Integration at H2 PowerTech.
Dr. Hicks has authored three fuel cell related papers and one fuel cell book chapter. He has also given numerous invited and plenary talks at the annual DOE Hydrogen Program Review, Gordon Conference on Fuel Cells, NRC-CNRC Annual Fuel Cell Testing Workshop, Fuel Cell Durability Conference, Advances in Materials for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Conference, and The Electrochemical Society Conferences. In addition to his work at H2 PowerTech, Dr. Hicks is the past Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association, and is currently Treasurer for the Board of Directors for the Fuel Cell Seminar and Exposition.
Dr. Hicks has authored three fuel cell related papers and one fuel cell book chapter. He has also given numerous invited and plenary talks at the annual DOE Hydrogen Program Review, Gordon Conference on Fuel Cells, NRC-CNRC Annual Fuel Cell Testing Workshop, Fuel Cell Durability Conference, Advances in Materials for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Conference, and The Electrochemical Society Conferences. In addition to his work at H2 PowerTech, Dr. Hicks is the past Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association, and is currently Treasurer for the Board of Directors for the Fuel Cell Seminar and Exposition.
