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Rich Vander Veen is President of Mackinaw Power. Vander Veen led the Bay Windpower team which successfully initiated, financed and constructed the Great Lakes' first privately developed commercial wind power project. The Mackinaw City Wind Power Plant is generating new, zero-emissions power today, serving "Green Power" customers across Michigan.Vander Veen earned a J.D. from Thomas M. Cooley Law School and B.A., International Relations from James Madison College, MSU. Vander Veen built his business skills by solving problems for aerospace and automotive manufacturing operations of Lear Siegler, Inc.Elected as a Capital Member of Miller, Johnson, Snell & Cummiskey, PLC, he has helped grow West Michigan businesses, addressing financial, tax, environmental and energy matters. Vander Veen has twenty-five years of experience with innovative environmental and energy projects.Vander Veen founded and serves as President of the John D. Voelker Foundation. He also served on the EARTH University Foundation and Small Business Assn. of MI Boards. He was appointed by the Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives to Chair of the Michigan Small Business Clean Air Panel where he took part in drafting Michigan's Part 12, Emissions Trading Rules. In 2003 he was appointed to the MPSC Renewable Energy Collaborative Steering Committee and helped found the MI Wind Working Group. | 