TTU invites industry to industrial efficiency teleconference on March 9

Cookeville, Tenn. (March 6, 2006) — On Thursday Tennessee Tech University will host a live broadcast of the satellite teleconference "Industrial Efficiency Initiative: Save Energy, Maximize Profits."

The teleconference is being produced by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Northwest Food Processors Association, and the Food-processing Industry Resource Efficiency Team. The program has application to all manufacturing sectors, including the nation’s third largest sector, food processing. Anyone responsible for managing or controlling energy costs and who is interested in improving productivity and profitability is encouraged to attend.

The teleconference will focus on sound, proven management strategies as well as innovative technologies and techniques used to reduce energy costs, increase productivity, and maximize profits. The following experts will share how they have saved energy and reduced costs at their facilities: Al Halverson, Group Manager Energy/Utilities, Frito Lay; Glen Lewis, Director, Energy & Indirect Procurement, Del Monte Foods; Patrick Healy, Environmental Manager, Fetzer Vineyards; Pat Avery, VP AgriBusiness, J.R. Simplot Co.; and Garrett Smith, COGENTECH, Inc. Also, Jeff Bush, VP, Sempra Energy Solutions, will give an overview of the U.S. energy picture. A question and answer session will allow participants to ask questions of the experts and hear their replies on the air.
Chris Russell, Industrial Director, Alliance to Save Energy will be the teleconference moderator. There will also be special appearances by U.S. Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon (member of the Senate Energy Committee and a food processor); Jacques Beaudry-Losique, Manager, Industrial Technologies Program, U.S. Department of Energy, and Tom Kuhn, President, Edison Electric Institute.

The teleconference program will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at TTU's Volpe Library Media Center, Room 110. The cost is $60. To register online go to www.nwfpa.org or contact NWFPA at 503-327-2200 or contact Glenn Cunningham at gcunningham@tntech.edu or 931-372-3826. TTU faculty and students wanting to attend should contact Cunningham directly.

--Karen Lykins
This information posted 6 MARCH 2006