growth & people
DAN HOYER, GEOTHERMAL EXPERT
We’re happy to welcome back Dan Hoyer, an accomplished geothermal executive with a distinguished career spanning 44 years. He rejoins RESPEC to accelerate the growth of our geothermal practice, which focuses on mitigating climate change and advancing renewable energy solutions.
Dan’s connection to RESPEC began in 2003 when he founded our Water & Natural Resources group. His leadership saw the recruitment of key talents, including his second hire in the group, Jason Love—RESPEC’s current President.
Dan’s extensive international experience includes living in 3 countries and working in 13, where he provided solutions across more than 21 geothermal fields. His portfolio encompasses exploring, designing, constructing, starting up, and operating production and injection wells, power generation systems, resource-gathering facilities, and direct-use projects.
Dan played a big role in developing and commissioning six power plants and resource production facilities, contributing to a significant fourfold revenue increase as the general geothermal manager at Might River Power in New Zealand, going from $35 million to $135 million per year. His accomplishments also extend to successful negotiations, including securing $500 million in long-term financial agreements with insurance and tax credit investors while serving as Energy Source’s general manager. Dan managed a $54 million drilling exploration project in Djibouti, Africa, including geologic prognosis, drilling program, civil works, and testing of wells that resulted in a “bankable” feasibility report. He has supported capacity building by working with client staff, leading U.S. and international workshops, and publishing more than 21 professional papers and 5 patents. Among his accolades, the Geothermal Resources Council honored Dan with the Ben Holt Award, recognizing his outstanding achievements in geothermal power plant design and construction.
Now, Dan returns to RESPEC with a mission to grow our geothermal practice and lead the next generation of geothermal experts and leadership.
We are thrilled to have Dan back with us, providing expertise and management to geothermal operators, investors, and governments worldwide!
dan imer, Ccus LEAD
Meet Dan Imer, a seasoned reservoir engineer from Calgary, Alberta, with more than 25 years in the oil and gas industry. He is injecting fresh expertise into RESPEC’s Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) program.
Unconventional. Serendipitous. Those two words describe Dan’s journey from Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company, an international upstream company, through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and eventually to RESPEC. During that time, a job description caught his eye, with words like “teamwork,” “professional development,” and “growing your career.” He applied and joined our CCUS team, transitioning from oil and gas to carbon storage.
The transition from oil and gas to CCUS presents challenges and excitement for Dan. As a senior reservoir engineer, he brings a problem-solving mindset that aligns with the challenges CCUS initiatives pose. Dan’s technical skills find a new application in CCUS, reversing his approach from extracting resources to finding the most economically efficient ways to inject and store them back into the ground. His experience with carbon dioxide and miscible floods informs his work, emphasizing the need for the same equipment, attention to well integrity, and understanding of rock and reservoir dynamics as one would in the oil and gas industry.
While many of his skills and expertise are transferable, he acknowledges the learning curve inherent in this new chapter of his professional journey. “I love learning new things,” says Dan. “I have a saying: ‘Tomorrow, I’ll be an expert in a topic I’d never heard of yesterday.’”
At RESPEC, Dan’s multi-faceted role encompasses technical engineering and business development for CCUS, building relationships with clients and understanding their problems. Dan is currently working on an acid gas injection study in Texas for one of our repeat clients.
“Looking ahead, I envision significant contributions to the growth of RESPEC’s CCUS division in our energy market,” says Dan. “My goal is to lead the charge in growing and supporting RESPEC’s position as a respected player in CCUS.”
As RESPEC continues to make strides in the CCUS industry, the addition of professionals like Dan Imer underscores our commitment to shaping industries for a better tomorrow. Welcome to the team, Dan!
tim alch, SR. MINING & ENERGY STRATEGIST
RESPEC proudly announced the addition of Tim Alch to its Mining and Energy business unit. Tim joins the company from TAA Advisory LLC, where he excelled as the Managing Partner for 9 years.
Tim’s illustrious career spans 35 years in equity analysis, management consulting, and investment advisory. During this time, he has worked in various key roles, including Managing Director at Behre Dolbear; Senior Vice President at Anderson & Schwab, Inc.; and as a Mining, Metals, and Steel Equity Analyst at leading institutions such as Paine Webber Inc., Prudential Securities Inc., and Dean Witter Reynolds. He has also served as a Senior Consultant and Industry Analyst at CRU International, World Steel Dynamics, and Resource Strategies. In 2020, Tim was selected as the recipient of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME) President’s Citation for Local Section Service Award. He will continue to serve as Executive Director of the New York SME.
In these roles, Tim has demonstrated exceptional leadership and industry expertise. His proficiency in project management, team building, business development, and analytical skills is complemented by a lengthy track record of analyzing natural resources, financial and capital markets, and related challenges facing owners, management, and governments.
“Bringing Tim on board enhances our strategic capabilities in advisory services, specifically in the natural resource sector,” says Tabetha Stirrett, Vice President of Mining and Energy. “We’re excited to have him here contributing his experience and insights.”
At RESPEC, Tim will play a significant role in driving RESPEC’s advisory services forward. “I’m thrilled to be working with RESPEC and have enjoyed getting to know many of its professionals active in mining, energy, base, precious, and industrial minerals and construction materials servicing the industry in many capacities,” says Tim. “This is an exciting time!” Tim plans to be in Vancouver in January, at SME’s annual meeting in Phoenix in February, and at PDAC in Toronto in March. He extends an invitation to all interested parties to discuss RESPEC’s services and initiatives. If you have any questions, please reach out to Tim Alch (tim.alch@respec.com).