GAOI Information
GAOI History
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GAOI Board of Directors
Gary Hurley
President
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Gary Hurley is a founding member of GAOI and has been a member of the GAOI board of directors since 2008. He heads the Member Services Department of Corn Belt Energy, a central Illinois electric cooperative. Prior to joining Corn Belt in 2021, he headed the Energy Services Office with City Water, Light & Power in Springfield, where he had been employed since 2002. Gary is responsible for overall energy efficiency programs for the Corn Belt Energy, including its successful geothermal programs like GeoCents. He holds several certifications in HVACR from RSES, NATE and SEDAC.
Gary Hurley, Corn Belt Energy, Bloomington, IL
William "Bill" Sprague
Director & Past President
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Bill is a principle of Area Mechanical in Rockford. He started with Area Mechanical in 1996 as a serviceman, progressed to manger in 2000 and became an owner in 2020 with his partner Todd Dorn. He has served on the GAOI board since 2009. Area Mechanical’s main focus is on commercial and industrial projects, with a light mix of residential work. The company specializes in design/build projects, working closely with customers from concept to completion. He is a member of the American Society for Healthcare Engineering and has been an IGSHPA accredited installer since 2008. Bill is an Illinois EPA Cross Connection Inspector and an Illinois journeyman plumber for more than 25 years. Area Mechanical has been a GAOI member since 2009. Bill also instructs new technicians in geothermal installation basics.
William Sprague, Area Mechanical Rockford, IL
Brent Braker
Vice President
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Brent Braker is a founding member of the GAOI and has served on the board since its inception in 2008. He is the owner and president of Garber Heating and Air Conditionng in Morton. He is a mechanical engineer, with a degree from Bradley University. He joined Garber in 1997 as a service technician and installer and later moved to project management and sales. He has been the president of the company since 2004.
Brent Braker, Garber Heating and Air Conditioning, Morton
Dan Couillard
Director & Past President
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Dan Couillard, Element Energy Consulting, Park Ridge, IL
Brian Houchin
Director & Past President
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Brian Houchin, Bratcher Heating and A/C, Inc. Normal, IL
Mark Nussbaum
Secretary/Treasurer
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Mark Nussbaum, Architectural Consulting Engineers, Oak Park
Kathy Ridley
GAOI Executive Director
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Kathy Ridley joined GAOI in 2021 and serves as executive director. She is a certified association executive and has been serving associations for over 25 years.
Kathy Ridley, GAOI, Springfield
John Freitag
GAOI Founder & Emeritus Executive Director
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John Freitag is a founding member of GAOI and serves as executive director. He was a director for the first two years of the organization’s existence, serving as secretary-treasurer. He worked for the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives, Springfield, the statewide trade association for the Illinois electric cooperatives, for 32 years, retiring in February of 2017. He has been a strong supporter of geothermal heating and cooling and other renewable energy technologies for many years and has written numerous grants for geothermal funding from government agencies and private foundations. He's had geothermal in his own Springfield home since 1999, and solar PV since 2014. His vintage 1960's home is all electric and net zero energy. He is a Certified Association Executive (CAE) and graduate of the University of Wisconsin.
John Freitag, GAOI, Springfield
