Paul Ramsey, Founder

Mr. Ramsey is the co-founder of the Ramsey-Shilling family of real estate and business development companies. This includes Ramsey-Shilling Commercial Real Estate Services and Ramsey-Shilling Associates, based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, California. He was a founding director of the Bank of Hollywood and is currently chairman of the Newport Beach Yacht Club and the Toluca Lake Tennis Club of Hollywood.

Mr. Ramsey is also a board member of the Iowa Barn Foundation and has restored his family farm in Lesanville, Iowa into a working vacation farm for veterans, school children and others.  Proceeds from The Ramsey Farm are donated to the Mount Ayr School System.

Patrick Ramsey, Strategic Planning and Alliances

Patrick Ramsey is a partner in the international law firm of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky and Walker, LLP.  For over 25 years, he has specialized in the fields of investment, financing and development of international and domestic large-scale real estate projects, including trophy-class high-rise office projects, high-rise residential and hotel projects, industrial developments, large scale Brownfield developments, and environmentally sensitive projects. Ramsey has just published an article on the evolving legal environment for green building, and was featured in the summer 2007 issue of the Pension Real Estate Association Quarterly.

M. Paul Ramsey, Market Research

M. Paul Ramsey is currently chairman of the Hollywood Hills West Neighborhood Development and Planning Council. He is past chairman of the Hollywood Knolls Development and Planning Council. He has a Master’s Degree in Urban Design and a Bachelor’s in Architectural Studies from the University of Southern California. He has spent 27 years in architectural and business development in the Los Angeles area.

Charles Sharp, CEO/President

Charlie Sharp is a Bloomsburg University graduate with a degree in Accounting and Finance.  During the past 30 years, Sharp has held various management positions with responsibility for Sales, Marketing and Distribution.  He is recognized for bringing leading-edge products to market while with Fujifilm USA Inc., Agfa Gavert, and Polaroid Graphic Imaging. He has also concepted and created several new products and processes for the graphic arts industry which are still in use today.

Todd Blanton, Vice President Research and Development

Mr. Blanton is a native of North Carolina, grew up in upstate South Carolina, and is a propulsion engineer. A graduate of the US Naval Nuclear Engineering Program, he was assigned to the Newport News Shipyard and Dry Dock Company where he was involved with the design and construction of the Los Angeles class fast attack submarines.  He attended training in Bristol, England with Garrad Hassan, an industry recognized leader in wind turbine design and analysis and is currently working towards a degree in physics.

Blanton started a renewable energy system design, installation, and service company in 2002 and has developed small and medium sized residential and commercial wind, solar, and hybrid electrical generating and thermal systems. He was directly involved with the development and construction of the photovoltaic stationary and tracking comparison project systems at the Iowa Energy Center. Blanton is currently spearheading the design and development of the Heartland’s new blade manufacturing facility and has been tasked with the design and construction of the blade production machinery and fixtures. He is concurrently working on the mechanical designs of the Freedom™ series turbines.

Larry Preston, Vice President of Engineering

Larry Preston earned a Master’s degree in Entrepreneurship from the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship at NOVA Southeastern University. His Bachelor’s degree is in Electrical Engineering from University of South Florida and he is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Nuclear Engineering Program where he operated and performed repairs on Nuclear Powered Cruisers. Mr. Preston has held various management and lead engineering positions at Rockwell Collins, Raytheon Corporation and Texas Instruments.  Several of his designs are still in production.

Preston is involved in all design aspects of the Freedom Wind Turbine from the blade to the final electrical output. His knowledge and experience in wind turbine design and manufacturing expands each day.  He completed training with Garrad Hassan for the design and simulation of wind turbines in Bristol, England.

Mr. Preston is presently serving on the Southwestern Iowa Community College Education Foundation Board of Directors. He also led Horizon’s Project Phase I for the community of Mount Ayr, Iowa with assistance from the local Iowa State University Extension Office.

Gary Hartsook, Vice President of Operations

Gary Hartsook is an Iowa native who studied Business Administration at Southwestern Community College. Founder of Hartsook Construction, he was a working partner in Energy Engineering Solutions installing turbines, solar and hybrid renewable energy systems.  Previously, Hartsook managed various types of residential and commercial construction operations, and was a general contractor for Farm Service.  Mr. Hartsook also has 35 years experience in operating his own crop and livestock business.