Lyle D. Wachtel is a founder and President of HWS Energy Partners, LLC.  Founded in 1997, HWS provides energy related services ranging from feasibility studies for energy projects, utility rate analysis, electric and natural gas procurement services, and facility energy audits, to complete turnkey cogeneration system developments. 

Lyle Wachtel has spent the past 19 years affiliated with the management of utility systems at the University of Illinois.  He has been responsible for utility budget management of the University’s Urbana-Champaign, Chicago, and Springfield campuses.  As part of his responsibilities, he developed capital projects to provide functional, low cost utility services for the campuses; intervened in pertinent utility cases at the state and federal levels; reviewed and analyzed for economic impacts, pertinent state and federal utility bills and legislation; developed and implemented multi-year fuel purchase strategies; and coordinated utility master planning issues for the several University campuses. 

Mr. Wachtel is a registered professional engineer in the State of Illinois and is a member of both the Illinois Society and National Society of Professional Engineers.  He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1978 with a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, and in 1980 he received a Master’s degree in Business Administration. 

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Joseph B. Summers
Vice President

Joseph B. Summers is founder and Vice President of HWS Energy Partners, LLC.  Mr. Summers is also an owner and president of Henneman Engineering, Inc., which provides engineering and construction services.  HEI has provided owner engineering services for the following:

     • Medina Valley Cogeneration Plant – 47MWe, 400 Klbph steam, 7,200 tons chilled water
     • CIE Ethanol Cogeneration Plant – 175 Klbph steam, 10 MWe 

Mr. Summers received his Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University in 1969.  He is a registered professional engineer in Illinois, Indiana, and Florida.  In 1995, Mr. Summers received the National Certificate of Merit Award from Energy User News for energy efficient designs in commercial buildings. 

Mr. Summers has served as president of the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers of Champaign County, President of the Illuminating Engineering Society, Illini Section, and on the Board of Trustees of Faith United Methodist Church.  Mr. Summers is a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers, the National Fire Protection Association, and the American Consulting Engineering Council. 

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Michael J. Henneman
Vice President 

Michael J. Henneman is founder and Vice President of HWS Energy Partners, LLC.  Mr. Henneman is also founder and owner of Royal Apartments, USA, Inc., a real estate development company which has developed and operates residential apartment projects in Illinois, Florida, and Kentucky.  Mr. Henneman is an owner and CEO of Henneman Engineering, Inc.  HEI provides engineering, architecture, planning and construction services.  

Mr. Henneman received a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois in 1975 and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Illinois in 1983.  Mr. Henneman is a register Professional Engineer in the states of Illinois, Arizona, Texas, Missouri, Wisconsin and Indiana.

Mr. Henneman is past chairman of the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce, past director of Bank Champaign, served as a director of the Urbana-Champaign Economic Development Corporation, past-chairman of St. Matthew School Education Commission, member of the Carle Foundation, a seventeen year Rotary member, and a member of the University of Illinois President’s Council.  Mr. Henneman has served on the City of Champaign Zoning and Building Code committees, State of Illinois Professional Engineering Energy Committee, and the University of Illinois Professional Practice Group of the Department of Agriculture.  Mr. Henneman is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, American Consulting Engineering Council, National Society of Professional Engineers and an affiliate of the American Institute of Architects.  In 1986, Mr. Henneman presented a Design Award of Excellence by the United States Secretary of Energy, John S. Harrington. 

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Theodore R. Vehige
General Manager 

Theodore R. Vehige has spent the past 10 years in management and development roles for providing operations and maintenance services for the energy and water industries. He has been responsible for management of engineering, construction, start-up, operations and maintenance, and the total operating budget for numerous plants. As part of his responsibilities, he has developed capital projects and alternate methods for funding these capital projects. 

Mr. Vehige also spent 19 years as a consulting and design engineer where he provided consultation on Purchase Power Agreements, was member of committee to develop NOx emissions regulations, design of numerous industrial sized power plants that included engine generators, gas turbines, steam turbines, coal fired boilers, wood fired boilers, gas/oil boilers, biogas boilers and utility distribution systems.

Mr. Vehige is a registered professional engineer in Illinois and Missouri. He received his Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Missouri in 1971. Mr. Vehige has served as chairmant of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers of St. Louis and on the Board of Trustees of Visitation Academy.