Transportation Champion Nominees
Entrepreneurs for Sustainability
November 2003

• Ray Holan *winner*
• Mark Schmidt
• Debbie Petsche
• Ron Gillespie

*winner* Champion: Ray Holan – Biodiesel Cleveland *winner*
(Nominated by: Pat Conway – Great Lakes Brewing)
Ray’s story is inspirational for entrepreneurs and activists alike. He successfully took an exciting concept and turned it into a sustainable product that is being used by numerous individuals and organizations in Northeast Ohio.
Ray’s project with the Great Lakes Brewing Company can easily be duplicated by other restaurants, universities, schools and small and large businesses. Ray does not hold trade secrets and is completely willing to share what he has learned in developing Biodiesel Cleveland with other organizations.
Biodiesel Cleveland and the Great Lakes Brewing Company’s use of biodiesel showcases the practical application of successfully using a renewable fuel locally. It was Ray’s initial drive to produce the fuel from restaurant waste oil that convinced the Great Lakes Brewing Company to also adopt the cause. The use of biodiesel reduces our nation’s reliance on foreign petroleum and reduces local mobile source air pollution. But Ray is more than just a user and small business owner he is a biodiesel advocate who selflessly promotes increased use of this renewable diesel substitute. He has encouraged and mentored several local fleets by walking them through biodiesel pilots that have led to fuel fledged biodiesel fleet conversions such as the Cleveland Metroparks and NASA.
Ray is the chair of the Earth Day Coalition’s Clean Fuels Infrastructure / Biodiesel Committee. He keeps an open door for students, tours and workshop of his biodiesel production site at Great Lakes Brewing Co. He is also a regular exhibitor and attendee at E4S events. It could be said that Ray is entrenched and a lifetime member in the sustainability community.

Champion: Mark Schmidt – Ohio Technical College
(Nominated by: Phil Lane – Analog Motors)

Champion: Debbie Petsche – Ohio Savings Bank
(Nominated by: Stephanie Strong – Earthday Coalition, Clean Fuels Program)

Champion: Ron Gillespie - MetroParks
(Nominated by: Stephanie Strong – Earthday Coalition, Clean Fuels Program)