ABOUT IEM ENERGY

Jeff Fassett has over 35 years of broad based experience in the power and process industries. He founded IEM in 1998, which provides consulting services in all aspects of power plant operations, maintenance, and management to clients worldwide. Mr. Fassett has been involved in the negotiations of long-term service agreements representing almost 30 GW of gas turbine generating capacity worldwide and has testified as an expert witness regarding proper operations and maintenance practices and procedures.

Prior to forming IEM, Mr. Fassett held roles of increasing responsibility with various utilities, both regulated and IPP’s, as well as petrochemical process facilities. These roles included Plant Engineer, Maintenance Engineer, Start Up Manager, Maintenance Manager and Plant Superintendent. His experience includes coal, combined cycle and coal gasification. Mr. Fassett sits on the Board of Directors of the Plant Managers Institute, the Advisory Board of the Electric Power Conference, is a member of the ASME Power Committee, and International Gas Turbine Institute, Education Subcommittee. He has taught college classes in Energy & the Environment, Ethics in the Energy Industry, Electronics and Power Plant Operations. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from North Dakota State University with an emphasis in Power Plant System Design.

Rob Shepard has over 30 years of experience in the energy industry including coal, gas, oil and renewable fueled power generation facilities. He has extensive knowledge and experience in operations, maintenance and asset management of power generation and process facilities gained from first-hand experiences and leadership roles throughout his career. He is recognized as an industry expert in power asset maintenance management, outage management, operations, troubleshooting, plant startup and commissioning as well as root cause analysis (RCA). He has also implemented maintenance management systems, performed reliability studies, and provided training in all the above areas. His knowledge and experience have proven invaluable in supporting due diligence for power plant acquisitions. Rob provides expert witness testimony in his areas of expertise in support of our clients.

Mr. Shepard is a leader with strong character and exceptional work ethic. Mr. Shepard holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Mississippi State University. He is a registered Professional Engineer (Kansas #17743 and Mississippi #20887) and is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMI ID: 2355353). Rob is a board member for the ASME Mississippi Section.

Michael Hartsig is an experienced power generation manager with over 40 years of technical and management experience handling large, complex issues and projects. Michael’s accomplishments include; restart of a large nuclear power plant, management assessment and project management of multi-unit coal-fired plants and major outage and retrofit responsibility of large frame gas turbines. His unique skills include outage planning, outage management and project management. These skills have proven invaluable in performing scheduling reviews and overall projects as well as specific tasks and milestones, budget control and material management. Michael has held leadership roles as plant manager, general manager and as a consultant for Independent Power Producers (IPP’s), regulated utilities and in independent consulting service.

Michael has served as co-chair of the CTOF large frame committee, presented papers to multiple industry groups and has published technical papers in the Combined Cycle Journal. Michael’s formal education includes completion of a degree in the Graduate School of Business Administration at the University of Michigan, (Ann Arbor, Michigan), Public Utility Executive Management Program. He also holds a BS in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix (Phoenix, Arizona) and he has completed the Management Studies Program in the Center for Executive Development at Arizona State University, (Tempe, Arizona) His technical background includes power plant instrumentation, electrical transmission and process water treatment.

Mr. Hulse has more than 35 years “hands on” gas turbine-based power plant experience, beginning as a US Navy (USN) Gas Systems Technician (electrical) and progressing through supervisory and management positions.  Mr. Hulse’s experience includes multiple-plant O&M management (including P+L accountability), management of centralized plant support activities, gas turbine component repair and reverse engineering, engineering management of a mobile power plant packager.  He has also served in engineering and program management functions at an independent aero derivative gas turbine MRO shop and experience as a mobile gas turbine power plant fleet manager. Over the course of these assignments he has been responsible for well over half a billion dollars in assets, over $20MM in operating budgets, over $35MM in capital budgets and a workforce of 180+.  He has experience dealing with collective bargaining agreements, developing alliance and strategic partnership agreements and instituting “best practices” techniques.

​

Brian has led teams that negotiated fuel and power supply contracts, major equipment purchases, and he successfully represented his employer during regulatory and other legal hearings.  He has accomplished all of this in a manner that recognized the value of a proactive emphasis on safety. 

​

Mr. Hulse completed coursework in Computer Sciences at West Shore Community College (Scottville, MI).  This was followed by over 60 weeks of progressive USN training achieving Electricians Mate certification including work on Marine Gas Turbines, boiler feedwater testing/treatment, static inverters, fuel oil testing, oil purification and Shipboard firefighting and damage control.  Following his service Brian has completed more than 500 hours of continuing education including both technical and management skills training.  I

Brian has served on the board of directors for the Western Turbine Users Incorporated (WTUI) and of the Association for Facilities Engineering.  He is a patent holder for Trailer Mounted Mobile Power System and is the author of multiple technical and management articles published in the Combined Cycle Journal and others. 

Tom is a Project Manager and Mechanical Engineer with almost 30 years of experience performing technical and management functions associated with maintenance, installation, and upgrade projects of industrial gas and steam turbine generators around the world. In the last several years he has achieved a Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification and has been managing capital improvement projects. Tom’s early career focused on work as a Field Engineer for GE including nine years performing various assignments included mechanical, controls, warranty, and technical leadership roles & responsibilities to install, maintain, and commission gas turbine generators primarily outside of the USA. Tom also served as an LTSA Support Manager which included coordination of GE business units (field services, new parts, and component repairs) to plan and execute equipment major maintenance (planned & unplanned) for LTSA Customers.

Tom then held several key positions in third-party service companies including a startup firm where he had comprehensive responsibility from sales through project execution. Tom served as the Field Service Director and successfully developed and managed global field service group that provided turnkey solutions for a broad range of services on power plant equipment in the USA and South America.

More recently Tom has worked with several Consulting Companies with technical and project management responsibilities to perform projects in South America and in the USA. Projects included extensive work in South America including overhaul and upgrade of steam turbines, maintenance and upgrades to a large compressor and expander for a gas liquefaction facility. Tom has installation, maintenance, and capital improvement project experience with HRSG’s, air cooled condensers and various sizes of steam turbines, oil storage facilities and numerous other Energy plant improvement projects. Tom holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, Six Sigma Green Belt Certification, and a Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification from Project Management Institute.

Phillip L. Webster is a Senior Consultant, Engineer and Project Manager with over 30 years of power generation industry experience. His career includes over 20 years in private consulting as well more than 10 years with an operating utility. He had P&L responsibility for the Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Consulting Services business line for a multinational consulting engineering & EPC firm. In that role he led efforts to aid clients in Operations and Maintenance Programs for a variety of fossil generating technologies. Projects included: life assessments, operations improvements, staffing/training assessments, reliability improvement, technology implementation, and outage management. He also has experience in support of performance testing, asset evaluation (due diligence), operator training, and development / review of operating as well as maintenance procedures. His utility experience included roles as performance testing engineer, fuels analyst, and corporate planning engineer in support of long-range plans and rate cases.

In addition to his project experience, Mr. Webster has authored and presented numerous papers at conferences and in industry publications and has also prepared and presented rate case testimony. Mr. Webster holds a bachelor’s degree in Engineering Management (minor in Mechanical Engineering) and an MBA from the University of Missouri system.

Joe Ell is a Senior Consultant with more than 40 years of engineering and leadership experience in the power industry. His experience encompasses roles in the engineering, operations, maintenance, contract development, contract management, and planning. His experience reaches across coal, gas, wind, transmission, and distribution systems and includes negotiating long-term service agreements for combined cycle units and wind generation facilities.  In addition, he managed service agreements and provided direction, oversite, and training to operations to ensure successful outcomes of the agreements.

His experience also includes leading due diligence efforts for the acquisition or divestiture of combined cycle and wind facilities.

Joe holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of North Dakota, Six Sigma Green Belt Certification, and is a Licensed Professional Engineer in the state of Wisconsin.

ASME Fellow, USN Veteran, GSM1(SW)

​

Senior Consultant, Turbine Technical Specialist, leader delivering more than 35 years of power generation projects. His experience encompasses roles in the operations, engineering, manufacturing, maintenance quality control excellence of all power generation assets, in the field and shop inspections.

• Boilers 100,000-pph to 10,000,000 pph

• Steam turbines 2MW- 600MW

• Gas Turbines-2 MW- 210 MW,TM/LM2500, LM6000, Frame 5,6,7, 501F, STG-300. 2022/23 completed 6 F class major outages 24 hour support

• Generator 2MW-210MW

• Compressors- 100hp-20,000 hp IGC, screw, reciprocating, 2 bearing machines

• CHP- led 640 mw combined cycle power/ water plant as Senior egr

Lorin holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Wright State University, Six Sigma Green Belt Certification, is a graduate of the US Naval Technical School, and holds Certifications in QS-9001 and Quality Systems AS9100. During his service in the US Navy he earned a Navy Achievement Medal as well as being designated USN Sailor of the Year.

​

Buddy is a generator/electrical specialist with 47 plus years’ experience in power generation. This career has given him opportunities to manage, plan, and implement projects such as low load conversions, SCR installations and switchgear replacements. His experience also includes surveillance and quality control for large motor repairs/rewinds including witness/acceptance testing.

With oversight/supervision of more than 100 generator stator and field inspections/repairs/rewinds, Buddy’s expertise has provided great cost savings to customers by screening vendor recommended repairs and offering alternative solutions and/or omitting unnecessary tasks; he routinely manages multiple contractors for the successful completion of both planned and unplanned outages.

Buddy has served on numerous committees including efficiency, reliability, and Fleet Electrical Apparatus Group (FEAG) for large nationwide utilities. His skills also include expedition of vendor repairs, quality control, safety compliance, and cost management functions.

Peter Monzon is a Mechanical Engineer with more than 8 years of power generation industry experience. His experience encompasses roles in the operations, maintenance and outage quality excellence of gas fired simple/combined cycle power generation facilities, including parts repair and service. Peter’s career has focused on work as a field engineer, mechanical site lead, project management, and customer service engineer.  Peter has held various roles within GE as a high-value projects manager and transactional service manager for the Midwest region, covering Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. Upon leaving GE, Pete earned a law degree from Loyola University, which compliments his technical knowledge and experience.

During his tenure at GE, Peter provided technical expertise to frame gas turbines, such as the frame 5, 6F,7E, 7F, and 7H class machines, including controls support for Mark-V, Mark-VI, and Mark VIe control systems. Peter also designed and engineered unique component repair strategies for GE steam turbines, generators, and non-OE equipment, while providing emergent work support at GE repair facilities across the Midwest.

Tom Ruiz retired from the US Navy in 2009 after a 20-year career working on gas turbine propulsion systems. After retirement, Tom worked with Harco Labs on turbine business development, and later joined GE/Granite Power Services, and completed the Field Engineering Program. During that time, he performed Field Engineer duties on gas and steam turbines as well as hydrogen and air-cooled generators.  His tenure at General Electric also included serving as an instructor in the field engineering program.

After a years-long stint as a Contract Coordinator, Tom ventured into the field of freelance engineering. Tom became part of the IEM family in 2021 as a consultant with solid powerplant experience.