TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 13, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Directors of Internal Hydro International, Inc. (OTCBB:IHDR) announced today the appointment of Ken Brown as President and Chief Executive Officer and R. Edward Hart as Chief Operating Officer. Both have considerable renewable energy and executive experience to lead the Company's commercialization of its Energy Commander technology and to expand the Company into new renewable energy markets.
Mr. Brown, a 15-year veteran in the energy and environmental sectors, brings a wealth of experience in executive leadership and energy industry knowledge to his new role. Mr. Brown has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Acqua America, Inc., a subsidiary of the Australia wastewater and environmental management company Acqua International Pty Ltd. At Acqua, Mr. Brown developed and implemented the company's business plan for recovery of liquid and solid products from wastewater streams and developing biodiesel projects. Prior to joining IHDR, he served as the Executive Vice President of EarthFirst Americas, Inc., a biodiesel developer and subsidiary of EarthFirst Technologies, Inc. Mr. Brown began working in the renewable energy field with KENETECH Corporation in 1992. While at KENETECH, he was involved in the development, construction and operation of KENETECH's wood waste to energy power plants. After leaving KENETECH, Mr. Brown continued to work on various renewable energy projects in Florida, California and Michigan. In 1998 he joined Morbark, Inc., a $150 million manufacturer of forestry and woodwaste equipment to help the company reorganize after the death of its founder. Mr. Brown has served as the President of the National BioEnergy Industries Association, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization based in Washington, D.C. and is Chair Elect of the New Uses Council (www.newuses.org). Mr. Brown received his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida College of Law in 1987 and his BBA from Mercer University in 1980.
Mr. Hart comes to Internal Hydro after serving as the President of Encore Energy Solutions, LLC. Encore consults for large commercial and industrial end users and manages their natural gas and electric purchases. Mr. Hart is also a partner in Niagara Biomass Power, LLC, a special purpose entity created to purchase a 54 MW power plant in Niagara Falls, NY. From 2001 to October 31, 2003, Mr. Hart was the Manager for National Industrial Development for TECO Partners, Inc. a subsidiary of TECO Energy. Mr. Hart started his career with one of the nation's largest independent oil refining and marketing companies. Mr. Hart has over 25 years of experience in the energy (petroleum, natural gas, and electricity) business in marketing, management, and consulting. Mr. Hart has a B.A. in business administration from the University of Kentucky.
The hiring of Mr. Brown and Mr. Hart marks the culmination of Internal Hydro's leadership transition. Mr. Brown takes over from Craig A. Huffman, who served as Internal Hydro's President and Chief Executive Officer from January 2004, and was also President of IHDR's private predecessor for three years. Mr. Huffman will continue to serve the Company as its Executive Vice President and General Counsel. Mr. Huffman will concentrate his energies on assisting with the execution of the Company's near-term financing strategies and business relations.
Tony Pecoraro, Former Chairman of Internal Hydro, stated, "I would like to first thank Craig Huffman for his six years of leadership of Internal Hydro and its predecessor. During that time, Craig achieved great success in furthering the operational goals of the company, obtaining the capital needed to grow the business and develop the Energy Commander. Because of his deep commitment to the success of Internal Hydro and its shareholders, he recognized the need for strong, fresh executive leadership to capitalize on the tremendous growth opportunity we have before us. As a result, Craig and I, along with several other directors conducted an extensive search for the right executives to take our company forward. The Board of Directors was extremely impressed with the credentials of Ken and Edward, their track record, their energy and their enthusiasm for our business."
Mr. Huffman remarked, "Given the ever increasing interest in developing renewable energy sources in this country, our strong market position and the significant market potential, we believe that Internal Hydro is well positioned for a period of rapid growth." Mr. Huffman continued: "The importance and the magnitude of the opportunity before us calls for experienced executive leadership: I have gotten to know Ken and Edward, and they both demonstrate the ability to provide the leadership that we need to be a renewable energy leader. Through focus, strategic thinking and perseverance, both have achieved a highly regarded track record."
Mr. Brown said, "Edward and I are honored to join Internal Hydro at this exciting time in the Company's growth. We look forward to the challenge of leading the Company in this exciting time for renewable energy. I would like to thank the Board for its strong support during this transition."
About Internal Hydro:
Internal Hydro International, Inc. is an alternative energy company that developed a clean energy power system, the Energy Commander Systems, that utilizes a patented technology, using waste water, fluid or gas flow from any source where flow pressure is present, and yet wasted, to create electricity. With an expanded portfolio of alternative energy products, IHDR uses both its core renewable energy technology in the low impact hydro market, the Energy Commander, and new outlets of renewable energy to build a large scale renewable energy company. IHDR is international in scope, with European production and marketing for its core technologies, and is preparing to enter the market with its core Energy Commander systems. Internal Hydro is well positioned to gain major market share in the hydro and renewable energy/alternative energy marketplace. For more information, please visit the Company's Web site at www.InternalHydro.com.
Forward-Looking Statements: This release contains forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Expressions of future goals and similar expressions reflecting something other than historical fact are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the timely development and market acceptance of products and technologies, successful integration of acquisitions, the ability to secure additional sources of financing, the ability to reduce operating expenses and other factors. The actual results that the company achieves may differ materially from any forward-looking statements due to such risks and uncertainties. The company undertakes no obligations to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.