SLT man named director of energy center

Sat, Nov 21, 2009    to del.icio.us

MUSKEGON — A Spring Lake Township man was recently named executive director of Grand Valley State University's Michigan Alternative and Renewable Energy Center in Muskegon.

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T. Arnold "Arn" Boezaart has been working as the interim executive director of MAREC since April. He officially assumed his position Monday.

Boezaart was previously vice president for grant programs for the Community Foundation for Muskegon County. In that role, he handled the project that put the wind energy turbine atop the Frauenthal Center in downtown Muskegon.

"Arn has a unique understanding of the needs of the Muskegon leadership and has demonstrated an ability to lead MAREC over the past six months as its interim director," said James Bachmeier, GVSU's vice president for finance and administration.

Boezaart said he wants to focus MAREC's attention on job creation in the emerging "green" economy.

"We are in the midst of the most difficult economic times most of us have ever known," he said. "With an emphasis on promoting renewable energy and advancing new and emerging technologies, a priority for MAREC will be to work with others to achieve economic development and job creation opportunities in the Muskegon area, Lakeshore and West Michigan region."