Integrated Solutions.
Lasting Relationships.

Business Executive, Entrepreneur, and Scholar

Professional and academic overview: An engaged professional cultivating opportunities to draw upon my business and academic background to play key roles in shaping and contributing to dynamic teams focused on converting ideas into formats of use in the marketplace.

Expertise: Academic/Business Nexus, New Markets, Executive Management, Contracts, Compliance, Environmental, Quality, Sales, Leadership, Business Strategy, Software Development, Research, R&D Team Leadership.

Key Accomplishments:

Business—

• Founder of dynamic and growing consulting firm, Co-Founder of business software company
• Due diligence lead, on behalf of seller, for $250M business sale to Fortune 100 entity
• Lead negotiator on complex sales transaction for the sale of privately held software company that helped both parties avoid litigation
• Responsible for achieving, maintaining, and growing annual sales revenue nearing $1M over 18 year period (Freer and ESA)
• Developed original concept for business software application in use today
• Multiple implementations of management systems for certification in several sectors
• Design and installation of waste treatment systems.

Academia—

• Book contract with West Virginia University Press for book forthcoming in 2020
• Lead author of chemical processing engineering history for US Department of Energy
• Keynote Speaker at International Conferences and Invited Guest Lecturer and Panelist at Universities

Board—

• Key participant in Transition Committee responsible for hiring new Director to succeed founder after 25 year tenure

Hal Calbom provides strategic communications assistance to organizations and companies in both the public and private sectors, specializing in marketing communications and corporate education. For the last ten years he has focused on environmental sustainability, innovation, workforce development and media relations, and assists client-partners in sharing their stories with employees, colleagues, stakeholders and general audiences. Hal's work with Freer Consulting Company focuses on internal and external communications and education in multiple media. He is a graduate of Harvard College with a degree in government, and holds an MA in English from the University of Exeter, England.

Notable Calbom client-partners include Avista Utilities, The Boeing Company, Washington State Department of Commerce, the CleanTech Alliance of Washington, and the Kitsap Economic Development Alliance. Hal is an adjunct professor at Seattle Pacific University teaching MBA students in Business Sustainability and Stewardship based on his own instructional curriculum, "Sustainable Solutions: The Business of Green."

Brian Carmichael earned his Juris Doctor from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2008 and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Michigan State University in 2001. With experience ranging from supply chain management to business and the law, Brian helps Freer clients navigate legal and regulatory compliance at the state and federal level.

In addition to his work with Freer Consulting, Brian also maintains an active law practice advising clients in business law and estate planning.

Jim Katsandres has been in the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud and device space for over 25 years working across different vertical markets and technologies including industrial, smart building and cities, energy and smart grid (EMS/DMS/Turbine), entertainment and theme parks and mathematical optimization/modeling and AI.  He has also had the opportunity to work across platform technology, software as a service, embedded original equipment manufacturer, system integrator, independent software vendor and consulting organizations.

He has served in senior technology and business positions at Microsoft, ARM, Buddy Platform, BSQUARE, Honeywell, GE Grid and AMTEC (mathematical modelling and optimization consultancy).

Katsandres holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics degree from the University of Washington.  Born in Fairbanks Alaska, he now lives in the Seattle area and enjoys boating and the outdoors with his family.

Jenny Ma received her Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Olin College of Engineering (2013). She joined Freer as an intern in 2018 eager to take on any challenge thrown at her from creating site diagrams for stormwater management plans to conducting research in wastewater treatment options in various industries.

Aside from working at Freer, Jenny enjoys baking delicious treats, playing on an Ultimate Frisbee club team, and solving escape rooms.

John Rundall is both a civil engineer with 35 years of experience on private and municipal projects and a Co-Founder of WR Consulting, a civil and environmental engineering firm operating in Washington and Oregon. He has experience with storm drainage facilities, sanitary sewers, water systems, roadways, signalization, parking areas and site work, and specializes in the restoration of infrastructure in sensitive and natural areas. His firm focuses on civil design, remedial investigations, feasibility studies, risk assessments, and an extensive list of other services. 

Carrie Salters received her Masters of Public Administration in Environmental Policy & Management from the University of Washington in 2001, and her Bachelor of Science degree in Science, Technology, Environment & Public Policy from Michigan State University in 1997. She holds certifications as an ISO14001 Lead Auditor and as an internal auditor for ISO9001, including an ISO9001:2015 transition certification. She joined Freer Consulting in 2005 and brought seven years of prior project management experience with her. She enjoys solving difficult client problems, including everything from stormwater litigation response to making international standards implementation, training and internal auditing fun for our clients. She has experience managing projects varying in nature and degree throughout the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii.

In her spare time, Carrie enjoys spending time with her daughter, Dorathy Jane, visiting her family in Michigan, quality time with friends, and road trips camping in her VW Vanagon.

International standards implemented include:

ISO9001 Quality Management

ISO14001 Environmental Management

ISO31000 Risk Management

BRC Global Standards for Food Safety

ISO TS29001 Petroleum, Petrochemical & Natural Gas

American Petroleum Institute Spec Q1, 6A and 16C

American Welding Society D1.1/D1.1M:2015 STRUCTURAL WELDING CODE-STEEL

American Institute for Steel Construction (AISC)

Brian Schefke received his Master of Arts degree in History of Science from Oregon State University in 2000 and his Bachelor of Science degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of Michigan in 1994. Since 2011, he has worked with Freer Consulting Co. in environmental management, specializing in turnkey solutions for stormwater and wastewater regulatory compliance. Prior to coming to Freer Consulting, Brian worked as a research assistant in a microbiology laboratory at the University of Michigan and as a history instructor at the University of Washington.

In his spare time, Brian enjoys reading, bird watching, competitive trivia, and otherwise expanding his store of random knowledge.

Erik Test received his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Utah in 1996. He has 16 years of corporate accounting/finance experience in the supply chain management, eCommerce, and telecommunications industries. As a business analyst and consultant, he has worked with leaders in manufacturing, energy, transportation, and health care.

His work often involves handling and interpreting large volumes of data. He enjoys leveraging appropriate technologies with a focus on excellence in design, testing, and implementation.