Jerry Hutton
About this Executive:
Name:
Jerry Hutton
Company:
Hocking College
Interview Topics:
Advanced Energy and Environmental Technologies
Region:
Region 11 - Southeast Ohio
There is a sign on historic Route 33 near Nelsonville, Ohio that reads "This Road Leads to The Future." Jerry Hutton believes the message is even more relevant today than it was when the road first opened. Jerry is the dean of energy and transportation technologies at Hocking College. He also is a man with a clear vision of how Ohio will lead the United States in the creation of an advanced energy industry. I wanted to learn more about how to answer the question "Why Ohio?" when talking about this emerging industry. Our conversation was fascinating, and I found Jerry's perspective compelling and inspiring. Ohio appears to have everything: from the right skilled labor pool, natural assets, a collaborative public and private leadership and a broadly shared view of what needs to happen in order to build a sustainable, world-class advanced energy industry. How fitting is it that Route 33 runs by the new Hocking College Energy Institute? Once again, for Ohio "This Road Leads to The Future," and all of America will benefit.
Q: Jerry, the Hocking College Energy Institute is an amazing concept. It is a great example of collaboration between academia and both the private and public sectors. If I am an executive in the advanced energy industry, do I see the creation of the Energy Institute as the kind of practical approach to problem solving I can expect in Ohio?
A: We envisioned the Energy Institute as a holistic center for learning about advanced energy technologies. There will be a driving focus on fuel cell technology, but all areas of advanced energy will be explored.
The new Energy Institute was created to address the need for the skilled labor pool critical to successfully commercializing advanced energy technologies. We provide extensive training programs and decided to locate the Institute directly across from the Logan-Hocking Industrial Park. We expect this 7.5-acre property to be home to a number of advanced energy companies who can tap into our students through internship programs. These internships will ideally lead to full-time employment opportunities for our graduates and provide businesses with the skilled employees they need.
The Energy Institute also will house an applied research center for business and affordable incubator space for new advanced energy businesses.
So, while the Hocking College Energy Institute is exceptional, the practical approach that led to its creation is not unusual. Ohio is a state of very practical people. In fact, if you were an executive looking to start or move your advanced energy company, I think you'd find Ohio as a place strong in practical innovation.
The recent tax reform is a great example of a challenge that was approached methodically in a broad collaboration between public and private sector leaders. These leaders stayed focused on successfully finding a practical solution to better enable Ohio based companies to compete in the global market. Take a look at tort reform before that. Consider the collaboration it took to create the strength of the automotive industry in Ohio, or capabilities in the logistics industry. This is a state that tends to approach economic challenges in a bipartisan manner with all stakeholders at the table.
Q: But "Why Ohio?" and "Why Now?"
A: Ohio is building on a foundation of success in the advanced energy industry. First, the universities and colleges in Ohio have outstanding programs for students in technical fields as well as science, technology, engineering and mathematics. These graduates are one reason why Ohio has a strong presence of advanced engineering, advanced materials and advanced design companies. Second, there is a world-class computational and telecommunications capability in Ohio requiring skilled workers. Third, there is a strong technology and transportation infrastructure, created over time to support other industries that simply needs to be leveraged. And fourth, Ohio has the abundant natural resources like coal, water and wind that are important to a robust advanced energy industry.
Why now? Because Ohio's public and private sector leadership agrees on the importance of developing an advanced energy industry as a driver of Ohio's future economic well being. For example, Governor Strickland has made building a strong advanced energy industry in Ohio a high priority for his administration. This strategy is supported financially as well. The Energy Institute received a $1.6M U.S. EDA grant to help in this mission. The Third Frontier Program has funding available to support qualified and promising new technology with commercial potential. Large corporations like AEP are investing in ways to make advanced energy applications cost effective and feasible for broad scale application. There has never been a better time to invest capital in Ohio if you are an executive in the advanced energy industry. Of course, we'd like businesses to consider investing in and around our new Energy Institute to take advantage of our training programs and college graduates.
Q: Ultimately, do you see Ohio leading the nation in creating a viable advanced energy industry?
A: I think the potential is definitely there. In Ohio there are already a number of successful initiatives and ongoing research programs that explore advanced energy applications. For example, the Air Force is interested in the possibility of using liquefied coal as a replacement for jet fuel. If it can be successfully accomplished in an economically feasible manner, imagine the possibilities. As another example, Technology Management Inc. in Cleveland and the Ohio Soybean Council recently collaborated on the first public demonstration of a kilowatt-scale solid oxide fuel cell system that runs on vegetable oil from soybeans. Even more exciting advances in fuel cell technology research and development are summarized on the Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition Web site. We have the potential to make Ohio the "Energy Valley" of the United States. Everything required to be successful is already here in Ohio. The key is to harness the capabilities in this state and direct them toward aggressively pursuing creation of a nation-leading advanced energy industry.
Q: Clearly, to be successful in building an advanced energy industry, it will take an entrepreneurial spirit. How entrepreneur friendly is Ohio?
A: Everything an entrepreneur needs to succeed is available in Ohio. In fact, I would encourage entrepreneurs to seriously consider locating their start-up businesses in Hocking County and the surrounding area. What their due diligence will find is that they can enjoy low overhead and have easy access to a major metropolitan center within an hours drive. We have a number of support resources for entrepreneurs (like the Voinovich Center for Leadership and Public Affairs located in Athens), incubator centers, access to venture capital and a vibrant community of successful entrepreneurs available to provide wisdom along the way.
Q: Our Ohio promise is that you can pursue your professional aspirations and your personal aspirations without having to sacrifice one for the other. We call Ohio the "State of Perfect Balance." In your opinion, is the promise authentic?
A: Absolutely! I think reducing stress in your life helps you be more creative and productive. Hocking College and the Energy Institute are located in an area that is beautiful, offering many recreation opportunities and abundant natural resources. There are cultural opportunities too. There are colleges, museums, theater and city amenities just a short drive away. We have entrepreneurs who have started their business in our area with the intent of moving to a big city once their cash flow would allow it, only to find that there really isn't a compelling reason to burden their P&L with additional overhead cost after they have experienced how easy it is to do business and enjoy life in our area. I like the phrase "State of Perfect Balance." I think it captures what Ohio offers quite well.