About Us
The Viability Team
Chris Byrnes
President
Byrnes has been an economic development professional since 1986.
He had served as the CEO of several economic development agencies and chambers of commerce. In 2003, he founded Viability, LLC to pursue private economic development initiatives on behalf of business.
Dave Armstrong, PhD
Partner
Dave combines over 50 years of experience in academics, large and small businesses and private ventures –focusing on sales and marketing, strategic planning, financial turnarounds and entrepreneurial activities. Viability Ventures, LLC and related companies offer an opportunity to use these skills and experience in an exciting business frontier in the energy technology movement.
Bob Johnston
Market Development
Bob is a writer and consultant whose career blends core experience in sales, marketing, and communications with consulting work in planning, research, organizational analysis, and management. He has produced dramatic sales gains, launched new products, initiated public interest groups, negotiated an international treaty, and generated national publicity that resulted in a White House environmental award. Bob’s skills and tools in writing, analysis, planning, and communications help clients solve problems, plan strategies, gather data, launch new initiatives, and communicate effectively.
Greg Lam
Lead Grant Writer
Greg has been with Viability for the past three grant terms, his expertise includes more than 15 years experience in the manufacturing and human services industries. He has written and/or administered over twenty grants in the past six years, and has helped companies acquire over 2 million dollars in grant funding.
Dan Kuipers
Senior Carbon Specialist
Dan oversees all carbon assessment and carbon asset development. With an educational background in Natural Resource Management, his focuses on renewable energy crops, biomass sourcing, and incentive programs relating to each. Dan uses real world experience to voice his expertise on quantifying GHG emissions, developing assets in the carbon markets, and how biomass should be treated in the world of carbon accounting.
David Bell, P.E.
Lead Engineer, LEED AP, CGD
David brings to Viability a wide variety of technical and professional skills, from sustainable green building to renewable energy systems design. David manages the myriad of resources at his fingertips to ensure the best project team for Viability’s efforts.
Kyle Denning
Carbon Asset Development
Kyle has studied International Business, Finance, and Spanish and now concentrates on developing Viability’s international strategy. He works at identifying project opportunities, managing carbon asset development, and providing a strong understanding of both domestic and international carbon markets. Kyle’s past experience includes Europe, east Africa and South America, and he has spent most of his life living and working on a dairy farm
Amanda Burmeister
Carbon and Incentives Support
After graduating from Lake Superior State University in 2007 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, Amanda gained two years of experience working in grant administration and environmental policy in the private and public sectors. She joined Viability to provide project and administrative support to both its grant writing and carbon assessment teams.
Ryan Summers
Project Analyst
Ryan’s educational experience includes applied economics in business management and financial modeling. Functioning as a support analyst in feasibility studies, financial assessments, environmental reviews and incentive research, Ryan brings an analytical angle to a variety of project contexts.
Darshan Lotliker
Ohio Representative
Darshan operates in Ohio and the surrounding areas to generate, engage, and followup with clients. He holds a Masters in Engineering Management and has experience in the automotive sector and project research and analysis. For those interested in project development in the Midwest, Darshan provides a valuable resource.
Jonathan Cooper
Project Engineer
Jonathan comes to Viability with a complex understanding of rural development, sustainability, and relevant engineering practices. Over the past two years, Jonathan has not only assisted communities with water development projects in Cambodia, but also presented at an international climate conference in Seoul, South Korea, and served with the U.S. Green Building Council. He will be working with Incentives to help evaluate renewable and energy efficiency system projects.
Alicia Crawford
Carbon Analyst Intern
Alicia brings an international perspective in sustainability from her studies at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia. She is assisting with carbon credit projects and carbon consulting while also completing her senior year at Grand Valley State University.
Luis Otavio Colaferro
Carbon Credit Development Intern
Luis is a senior at Grand Valley, pursuing a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance. He became involved with the Grand Valley Sustainability Initiative in 2008 as a carbon manager, which fostered his interests in the carbon markets. Luis joined Viability as an intern in order to help develop carbon credit projects domestically and internationally.
Meghan Scholl
Research Analyst Intern
Meghan is currently an International Studies major at Hope College with a focus on foreign energy policy. When she’s not reading up on the Nabucco pipeline, she’s assisting the Research coordinator in identifying grant programs and researching potential international markets.
David Byrnes
IT Specialist
David started with Viability as an intern in the summer of 2006 and currently provides IT and marketing support. He is finishing his senior year at Grand Valley State University where he is majoring in Sports Management with a minor in Entrepreneurship.
Pictures by Carl Morrison
