Milan Kluko

Senior Project Manager/Environmental Compliance Manager

P.O. Box 25 New Buffalo, Michigan 49117

Phone: 312-***-****

E-mail: ad00ln@r.postjobfree.com

Results-driven (former) General Manager, Senior Project Manager/Remediation Manager and Compliance Manager with over 30 years of experience in consulting engineering, regulatory compliance, site investigations and remediation. Significant site remediation experience associated with brownfields and solid waste disposal sites as well as ISO 14001 environmental management system development, ESG and Materiality Assessments. I apply forward-thinking approaches centering on addressing time critical project or permitting timelines from project feasibility, pre-procurement planning to completion. Significant experience performing Phase I ESA, Phase II Site Characterizations and subsequent site remediation addressing soil and/or groundwater impacts. Extensive experience in regulatory compliance and permitting including federal, state, and local programs with all types of “media” (i.e., Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, RCRA,) as well as NEPA field surveys/assessments. Decades of experience with developing and executing project scopes for siting and/or construction of disposal sites (solid waste, coal ash, foundry sands, paper mill wastes, etc.) and cleanup of industrial operations. Assignments have included developing workscope’s and acquiring approvals for remediation of unregulated landfills or onsite disposal sites at former foundry and steel mill operations as well as decommissioning of coal fired power plants, industrial boiler systems, coal ash pond remediation, paper mills, as well as other high intensity manufacturing operations. Decades of risk based corrective action (remedial) experience and associated regulatory management supporting brownfield redevelopment.

Past assignments included siting and permitting of WTE facilities, air permit amendments for coal fired power plants to combust alternative fuels (Title V), small scale (5 MW) biomass-to-electricity energy facilities (including transmission line and substation permitting). Representative site investigations and remedial projects have included a 12-acre former locomotive repair and reconditioning facility in Dixmoor, Illinois (+40 year operating history), a 20-acre former railroad “roundhouse” maintenance and refueling facility in SW Michigan (+70-year operating history), former 25-acre drop forge plant in Blue Island, Illinois, (100-year operating history), former 50-acre EAF and annealing operation in Chicago Heights, Illinois (+80-year operating history), 30-acre former state superfund super phosphate processing plant Navassa, North Carolina (+80-year operating history), former abandoned spent foundry sand landfills in Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and North Carolina. Recent projects have included developing scope and securing approvals for pilot scale projects (in the Midwest) for a unique carbon capture-weathering model using basalt mining baghouse fines collaborating with mining and agricultural operations (and other stakeholders) in Wisconsin and Michigan (ESG), developing workplan (and monitoring) biochar applications for agricultural lands in the Midwest. Fuel switching to renewable biomass fuels (decarbonization) in circulating fluidized bed or stoker grate coal fired boilers. Conducted Initial groundwater investigations at suspected unregulated landfills in Midwest, and subsequent development of initial interim corrective action, and remedial action at a 30-acre abandoned paper mill sludge landfill in Northern Wisconsin. Multi-international patent holder of biomass renewable energy production technology for use in industrial CFB or stoker grate technology either in co-fired situations or as a stand-alone renewable boiler fuel. ISO 14001 Lead Auditor, founding Board Member of the Delta Institute.

Skills

Regulatory Compliance, Remediation and Construction Management

Environmental Investigations, Facility Permitting, Brownfields

Waste Management Permitting and Solid Waste Landfill Development

Indoor Agriculture-CEA

ESG Consulting, ISO 14001 Auditing

Technology Transfer Evaluations with Go-to-Market Strategies

Work History

2021-10 - Current

Principal

MK Associates II LLC, New Buffalo, MI

Senior Project Manager for investor groups funding (sustainable) startup ups and alternative energy technologies.

Permitting and Project Manager for new business locations, development of proposals coordinating with senior staff supporting strategic business objectives.

Recent projects in 2021-2023 have included:

Developed proposal for environmental and performance assessments of co-firing of alternative biomass fuels in existing industrial (coal) boilers at pulp and paper mill locations in the United States (Decarbonization).

Project Manager for site investigations and development of stormwater management plan at (former) coal tipple-fines washing operation in Kansas.

Developed proposal for mitigation of mined basalt residuals (fines) and development of regulatory strategies to implement as a carbon offset (weathering catalysts) to be land applied (and tilled) into larger agricultural settings across multi-site locations supporting company sustainability objective (ESG Materiality Assessments).

Remediation Manager for soil remediation at 42-acre (former) Union Tank Car manufacturing site.

Regulatory and construction manager methane gas extraction system.

Developed site selection criteria, land assembly and associated environmental due diligence for development team of proposed wind farms (and solar fields) for investor groups.

Permitting and regulatory manager of paper mill residuals for beneficial use for alternative manufacturing processes (ESG Materiality Assessments).

Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Food Safety Programs for new indoor hydroponic vertical farms and a hydroponic greenhouse.

Senior Project and Construction Manager former C&D landfill - final cap and stormwater management plan (post closure).

All projects included initial proposal development, client management as well as direct oversight regulatory and project management. When necessary developed Public Information Strategies supporting public hearings, acting as SME. Cultivated forward-thinking initiatives among project team members to achieve best-in-class performance consistent with project scope, schedule and budgets.

2020-01 - 2021-09

CEO

Artesian Farm LLC, New Buffalo, MI

Designed, constructed and managed day-to-day operations of a 40,000 ft2 vertical farming operation as well as strategy development for new product development and marketing during initial rebranding period.

Led development of sustainability programs in order to formulate strategic alliances to maximize utilization of production of existing vertical farm and development of functional foods for customers.

Assessed talent, hired new employees, developed training programs for New Buffalo and Detroit vertical farm locations, shaped solutions and business approaches by leveraging trends in customer marketplaces and related industries.

Developed sustainable sales and marketing strategies to facilitate business expansion into new markets and geographic areas, developed supporting data to “prove-up” sustainability of produce for customer purchasing managers (ESG).

Maintained P&L and shouldered corporate fiscal responsibility.

Facilitated over $2,000,000 in new business revenue for this rebranded vertical farming operation.

2017-12 - 2019-12

Principal

MK Associates LLC, New Buffalo, MI

Provided Technical Consulting Services (TCS) and interim COO services to investor groups in niche technology settings primarily in renewable energy-hydrogen production collaborations.

Develop ISO 14001 programs including initial Environmental Management Systems (“EMS”) incorporating sustainability initiatives into existing EMS protocols consistent with company ESG objectives, create quarterly reports for senior management regarding implementation, tracking of project implementation budgets.

Vertical farm, hydroponic greenhouse development and operational assessments.

Design and permitting of cannabis cultivation & extraction facilities.

Assessed site investigations, developed corrective action workplans, managed select site remediation projects at company operating units in North America.

Assessed regulatory compliance status and “baseline” sustainability performance based on company existing operations focused on Materiality Assessments.

2011-11 - 2017-11

Founder and CEO

Green Spirit Farms, New Buffalo, Michigan

Was the founder and system designer as well as CEO of one of first commercial vertical farm in North America founded 11-11-11.

Cultivated forward-thinking, inclusive and performance-oriented business culture to accelerate a fledgling indoor vertical farming industry - leading in innovation and retail marketing of indoor, locally grown vegetables.

Co-founded a second vertical farm (under a license agreement) called Artesian Farms in Detroit in 2015 and a third vertical farm (under license agreement) in Ohio.

With sponsorship by Coca Cola Company, developed innovative "demonstration vertical farm" in downtown London that operated for 2012 Summer Olympic Games as part of a Sustainable Agriculture & Retail Summit.

Created marketing and branding for produce grown by Green Spirit Farms.

Created promotional approaches to increase sales with partner vertical farms.

Spearheaded matrix organizational plan with clear roles and responsibilities to enhance processes, maintain quality and enforce company policies and industry compliance requirements. Supervised (and motivated) 17 staff and supervisors.

1997-03 - 2017-01

President/CEO

Fountainhead Engineering Ltd, Chicago, Illinois

Firm was based in Chicago with offices in Madison, WI., and Ann Arbor, and New Buffalo, MI, and managed day-to-day operations of firm as well as business development and client satisfaction programs to achieve on-time project management of projects to adhere to project objectives for clients.

Conducted research on emerging trends within environmental industry and capitalized on new approaches such as the use of on-site mobile laboratory services for our field services and remediation group providing accurate and timely assessments supporting regulatory compliance services and strategies.

Principal-in-Charge for Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments.

Transaction Manager for client company acquisitions (private sector clients) buying or selling businesses (or properties) in highly regulated environments.

Provided facility permitting, regulatory compliance and remediation (corrective action) oversight, addressing issues on numerous projects associated with Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and solid waste management (RCRA) as well as negotiated corrective action or remediation (cleanup) projects with regulators based on Site Characterizations and/or compliance investigations.

Business and regulatory team member for 120 Million Florida Recycling and Waste Services sale-acquisition by WSI; Post-closing Manager for permitting of transfer station/MRF.

Business and regulatory consultant on landfill acquisitions and environmental investigations (for former Allied Waste) acquired by Republic Waste Services.

In February and March of 2003, the firm was selected to be Project Manager which led 18-nation technical team on mission to Antarctica, managed environmental and sustainable energy aspects of this Expedition, in cooperation with Russian Antarctic Expedition (REA) and with sponsorship (funding) provided by Coca Cola Company.

Initiated operational improvements using lean methodologies to drive efficiency and reduce project costs supervising project teams while maintaining scope, schedules and budgets for projects of Vivendi Environment and Veolia Environment (North America), Onyx Environment and Vivendi Water (in Europe).

Technical Project Manager for siting and waste-to-energy feasibility analysis for United States Conference of Mayors. Technical Staff to City of Chicago Mayor's Task Force on Solid Waste Management. Co-author of City of Chicago's first comprehensive solid waste management plan (consulted on subsequent updates)..

For private clients in United States, managed environmental permits for hazardous waste disposal facilities (RCRA Part B permits), solid waste landfills (RCRA Part C permits), Title V air permits, mining permits, NPDES permits, air permitting for mobile sources, and designed several recycling processing facilities for municipal and industrial waste streams.

Developed extensive technical and regulatory experience in several sectors of agriculture, environmental, mining, renewable energy, and solid waste industry and has provided professional legislative lobbying at federal and state levels. This experience in these business sectors was developed though participation in design, permitting, and construction on assignments as a consultant, vendor or Project Manager in 41 states as well as Canada, Mexico, Southeast Asia, South America, Bulgaria, Croatia, Serbia, Poland, United Kingdom, and Antarctica.

1993-11 - 1996-12

Founder and CEO

Highland Environmental Corporation - HEC, Madison, WI

Developed key operational and business proposals to drive and maintain substantial business growth for this new startup with its primary office located in Madison, WI.

Highland EnviroCorp (HEC) was an environmental services company providing site investigations, environmental permitting, and regulatory compliance consulting services. HEC maintained offices in the Chicago area (LaGrange, Illinois), Wausau, Green Bay, and Hayward, Wisconsin. The firm provided services throughout the Midwest and southern California.

Siting of landfills, development of active gas extraction systems (with energy recovery), development of multi material recycling facilities as well as C&D reprocessing facilities.

Developed pollution prevention-energy efficiency programs for pulp & paper mills.

HEC was acquired by Growth Environmental Services (GES), a publicly traded company, in June 1996. Highland EnviroCorp merged its operations with GES; Post-merger coordinated the firm's laboratory services with field operations for national accounts and served as company General Manager for the (newly) created publicly traded entity.

1990-01 - 1993-10

Vice President Manger of Business Development

Browning Ferris Industries, Schaumburg, IL

Created vision, provided senior leadership and hired professional staff for expansion (M&A) for this national waste services company in the Midwest.

The Mid-Central Region of BFI was one of eight geographic regions, which comprised Browning-Ferris Industries, at the time was second largest waste service company in the world (revenues exceeding $3.0 billion dollars annually).

Responsibilities included acquisitions of landfills, transfer stations, and hauling companies, permitting of new solid waste disposal facilities and transfer stations.

Conducted public education programs for new recycling and yard waste collection programs (in Illinois and Wisconsin) as well as direct marketing for companies at trade shows and conferences.

Supported over 20 operating districts in Wisconsin and Illinois with technical assistance as needed on regulatory/permitting issues served as Vice President of state companies, reported to Regional Corporate Vice President of Mid Central Region.

Developed and implemented value-added strategies to increase profitability, expand market share and cement customer relationships.

1988-06 - 1990-01

Corporate Manager of Business Development

American Ref Fuel, Houston, TX

Capitalized on industry and national trends to develop strategies for siting of new waste-to-energy facilities for joint venture partners.

American Ref-Fuel (at the time) was a joint venture between BFI and Air Products and Chemicals of Allentown, Pennsylvania and this JV was formed to market waste-to-energy (WTE) systems in North America. The company financed construction of over 10,000 tons per day (TPD) of installed disposal capacity valued at $1 billion dollars and was a full-service turnkey (EPC) independent power producer developing large scale WTE systems in North America.

Responsibilities included coordinating facility development opportunities; managing local siting and regulatory permitting activities on specific WTE projects; developing marketing strategies for WTE development in North America and identifying new plant opportunities for company.

Represented company and promoted services (with BFI marketing staff) at conferences and trade association meetings.

1987-10 - 1988-05

Senior Environmental Scientist & Department Head

Envirodyne Engineers Inc., Chicago, IL

Envirodyne Engineers, Inc. (EEI) major consulting engineering firm in Chicago with offices in New York, and St. Louis, MO. Primary responsibilities - coordinating business development activities for Geotechnical and Solid Waste Practice for firm.

Assisted clients with facility permitting as well as developing Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments; Project Manager for solid waste assignments.

For clients across the United States and working with Field Services-Geotechnical Practice collected environmental data regarding potential environmental impacts to water, air and soil media and prepared detailed scientific reports and made presentations to clients based on findings of investigations.

Served as subject matter expert (SME) on environmental regulations and policies.

The firm was subsequently acquired by AECOM.

1985-08 - 1987-09

Project Manager & Senior Consultant

Gershman Brickner And Bratton, Washington, DC

Gershman, Brickner and Bratton, Inc. (GBB) was a national management and consulting engineering firm specializing in waste-to- energy and solid waste management. GBB, headquartered in Washington, D.C., had offices in Inner Grove Heights, Minnesota, Ann Arbor, Michigan and Seattle, Washington.

Researched subject matter, complied and developed technical data bases applied to project objectives to improve efficiency or determine project feasibility for clients.

As Project Manager supervised project activities from feasibility to implementation.

Provided management for internal personnel, subcontractors and vendors.

Senior Consultant for $100 million 800 TPD waste-to-energy (WTE) facility procurement, Pierce County, WA.

Regulatory and Task Manager for $140 million 1,000 TPD WTE procurement - Request for Proposal(s) Snohomish County, WA WTE project.

Regulatory Manager and Interim Project Manager for a $38 million 420 TPD WTE project in Shelton, CT.

Area Manager for nine WTE and resource recovery feasibility analysis (comprising 14 counties) in Michigan sponsored by Michigan Department for Natural Resources.

Task Manager for Consulting Engineers Report for tax-exempt bond issue for a $15 million 300 TPD WTE facility in Harford County, MD. (For Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority).

Task Manager for Consulting Engineers Report for tax-exempt bond issue for $19 Million 350 TPD WTE facility in Springfield, MA.

1982-06 - 1985-08

Startup Founder - Principal

Geo-Tech of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Developed client proposals and key operational initiatives for this newly founded environmental services consulting company to accelerate growth of business and secure market share.

The firm specialized in natural resource management, solid waste management & planning and associated regulatory compliance consulting and firm was initially retained by City of Chicago and worked on variety of assignments for Department of Planning, Department of Streets and Sanitation, Department of Public Works and Mayor's Office – Task Force on Solid Waste Management.

Projects for City of Chicago included development of initial solid waste management data base for public and privately generated solid waste; privatization and pre-procurement analysis for (former) 1,000 TPD Northwest Waste-to- Energy Facility and solid waste legislative analysis of pending state legislation leading to development of City of Chicago's first comprehensive solid waste management plan.

For Lake County, Illinois Department of Planning, Zoning and Environmental Quality – developed initial countywide (drainage basin) stormwater management strategy and developed first computerized drainage basin map and was technical staff for evaluations of newly formed stormwater utility.

For Avon- Fremont Drainage District, Grayslake, Illinois developed comprehensive drainage basin data base analysis for District in cooperation with United States Soil Conservation Service (SCS) Lake County, Illinois.

For Lake County SCS conducted wetland evaluations and provided field services for land use change analyses and was member of Task Force on Urban Storm Water Management Guidelines.

1981-05 - 1982-05

Field Representative

Maurey Manufacturing, Chicago, IL

Strengthened merchandising and promotional strategies to drive customer engagement and boost sales.

Submitted reports to senior management to aid in business decision-making and planning.

This industrial manufacturer of components for OEM (industrial) systems was founded in Chicago in 1937 and company provided a variety of industrial components including Hi-Q Light Duty Sheaves; HQ Ful-Grip Sheaves and Bushings; Positive Drive Pulleys and High Torque Drive Sprockets; Hi-Q and Hi-Flex Couplings; Manual and Spring-Loaded Sheaves and accessories.

The company was also an exclusive provider of GOODYEAR belting products.

Started as inside industrial sales for rock crushing and industrial drive systems, promoted to production expeditor and then to Technical Sales Field Services Representative supporting larger OEM accounts.

Provided customer service support to Sales Manager and regional sales representatives (At the time over $15,000,000 in sales for Midwest Region) and to expand existing geographic footprint to East Coast.

Education

1978-03 - 1982-05

Bachelor of Science: Geology

University of Illinois - Chicago

Accomplishments

• Kluko, Milan. “Densified Fuel Pellets” US 8,377,153 (U.S. Patent Issued) 23 February

2013.

• Kluko, Milan. “Densified Fuel Pellets” EP2090641 (European Patent Issued) 21

September 2012.

• Kluko, Milan. “Densified Fuel Pellets” US 8,137,420 (U.S. Patent Issued) 20 March

2012.

• Kluko, Milan. “Densified Fuel Pellets” US 7,960,325 (U.S. Patent Issued) 14 October

2011.

• Kluko, Milan. “Densified Fuel Pellets” CA 2,653,577. (Canadian Patent Issued) 15 October 2010

ISO 14001 Lead Auditor - ISO 14000 Lead Assessor Training - (A10153) Governing Board of the International Register of Certified Auditors (IRCA) Great Britain (Perry Johnson, Inc. Auditing of Environmental Management Systems Course #144711967).

Food Safety Modernization Act Supervisor Training (AFDO) Grower ID 57156;

Facility Compliance-Program Leader for Development of GAP and GHP for Artesian Farms Audit ID: 31534

The Delta Institute (Chicago, IL) Founding Board Member (1998), Board Member and Director October 1998 to October 2012

PUBLICATIONS

• Workshop Presentations - Growing and Processing Hemp for CBD Production presented at MSU Horticultural Extension Western Michigan Winter Meeting February 5, 2020

• Developing Commercial Indoor Vertical Farms, presented at 3rd Annual Indoor Agriculture Conference Las Vegas Nevada March 31, 2015

• Can Vertical Farming Become a Meaningful Component of the Agricultural Economy & Why? TedX, presentation in Muskegon, Michigan November 26, 2014.

• The Status of Vertical Farming in North America & Potential for Vertical Farming in United Kingdom, presented at International Conference on Vertical Farming and Urban Agriculture, Nottingham England September 6, 2014.

• Presentation of Case Study - Connecting Low Impact Sustainable Stormwater Technologies to Improve Water Quality and Groundwater Resources, presented at American Water Resources Association Annual Water Resources Conference Albuquerque, New Mexico November 7-10, 2011

• Presentation of Case Study – Densified Pulp & Paper Mill Residuals as a Sustainable Biomass Boiler Fuel, presented to SFI Working Group, Iron Mountain, Michigan February 11, 2010

• Field Demonstration Project and Technical Assessments of Pave Drain - Articulated Concrete Block Infiltration System to Address Onsite Stormwater Management in Salvage/Recycling Facilities, State of Indiana Department of Environmental Management, August 2010.

• Presentation of Findings: Results of Field Trials and Assessments and Subsequent Improvements to SuperDrive - Hydrostatic Continuously Variable Transmission CVT for Use in Medium and Heavy-Duty Trucks, presented to TAC Board Caltech Pasadena,

California, December 1, 2004.

• Technical Memorandum: Submission for Environmental Assessments in Antarctica, Antarctic Treaty Association Approvals, 2003 Inspire Antarctic Expedition (as NGO) February 2003.

• Technical Memorandum: Multi-Base Waste Stream Characterizations to Assess the Feasibility of Implementing Sustainable Recycling Programs for Select Antarctic Bases, 2003 Inspire Antarctic Expedition (as NGO) February- March 2003.

• Results from Field Testing of Air Emissions from Refractory Lined Mobile Air Curtain Destructor's, United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 3, August 2000.

Technical Memorandum: Estimating Air Emissions from Unconfined Stationary Sources, Government of Malaysia, March 2000.

• Performing Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments,

Clean Sites - Environmental and Brownfield Workshops, Eagan Center, DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois (Fall 1998 Workshop and Winter 1999 Workshop).

• Developing Environmental Management Systems for Your Business, ISO 14000 Conference co-sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Western Michigan University presented in Milwaukee, Wisconsin October 1997.

• Public Information Strategies for Waste-to- Energy Projects, United States Conference of Mayors, National Resource Recovery Leadership Institute, Hartford, Connecticut, October 1988.

• Local Public Information Strategies for Waste-to-Energy, United

States Conference of Mayors, National Resource Recovery Leadership Institute, Alexandria, Virginia, June 1988.

• Technical Assessment Report Volume I: Implementation of Solid

Waste Management Systems (Co-Author) Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources, Office of Solid Waste and Renewable Resources, 1988.

• Technical Assessment Report Volume IV: Development of Waste-to-Energy (Co-Author) Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources, Office of Solid Waste and Renewable Resources,1988.

• Overview of Solid Waste Analyses for Planning Professionals, Planning for Solid Waste Management in the Midwest, American Planning Association, Chicago, Illinois, February 1988

• Conducting Waste-to-Energy Feasibility Analyses, Bi-State Workshop on Waste-to-Energy, Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Illinois Department of Energy and Natural Resources, Davenport, Iowa, October 1987.

• Opportunities for the Environmental Professional, Co-sponsored

by the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and the CEIP Fund Boston, Massachusetts, Ann Arbor, Michigan, September 1987.

• The Waste-to-Energy Analysis as Part of the Solid Waste Management Plan, Michigan Department of Natural Resources - Energy Planning Conference, Ann Arbor, Michigan, April 1987.

• A New Direction for Solid Waste Management in Chicago, Mayor's Task Force on Solid Waste Management - Final Report, co-authored, April 1986.

• Hazardous Characteristics and Regulations Affecting Residue Ash from Resource Recovery Facilities, Mayor's Task Force on Solid Waste Management, City of Chicago, October 1985.

• Estimating Landfill Capacity with Maximum Resource Recovery Implementation, Mayor's Task Force on Solid Waste Management, City of Chicago, September 1985.

• Waste Management Options for Chicago, Department of Planning, City of Chicago, February 1985.

• Overview of Non-Criteria Pollutants and Regulatory Trends, Department of Planning, City of Chicago, November 1984.

• Case Study: Effects of Land Use Change on Local Hydrologic Conditions and Impacts to Water Quality, Lake County, Illinois Department of Planning, Zoning and Environmental Quality, Avon-Fremont Drainage and USDA Soil Conservation Service, September 1984.

• Technical Memorandum: Stormwater Management Drainage Basin Flows for Lake County, Illinois, Lake County Illinois Department of Planning, Zoning and Environmental Quality October 1983.

Contact this candidate