Leadership

Byron Wear, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

As a Councilmember and San Diego Deputy Mayor, Byron Wear was the visionary driving force behind major efforts to promote economic development, revitalize downtown San Diego and provide a regional emphasis of land use planning and transportation.

He has a proven track record working successfully numerous government agencies and managing complex public policy projects. Byron Wear led the effort to eliminate the blighted East Village and build PETCO Park, home of the San Diego Padres, totaling 27 blocks and $1 Billion redevelopment. He has interfaced with government agencies at a federal, state and regional level in San Diego and Imperial County, Los Angeles, Sacramento and Washington, D.C. Wear was a strong advocate to expand the Convention Center, fund the $25 million renovation of the historic Balboa Theatre, build the new Children’s Museum, and provide public improvements to the Gaslamp District and Little Italy. He secured parking meter revenue to construct new expanded parking facilities, developed a low flow storm water diversion system to clean up our beaches, created the North Bay Redevelopment Project Area and secured the funding to build the Point Loma Library largest branch in the City of San Diego.

As a California Coastal Commissioner, Wear worked with Sempra Energy and Southern California Edison on successful mitigation plans for the San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant. Wear collaborated with SDG&E in the acquisition of Station A in downtown San Diego for redevelopment and was a leader in undergrounding of San Diego’s power lines. He has extensive experience with numerous government regulatory agencies and utilities including the United States Bureau of Land management, California Public Utilities Commission, San Diego Gas & Electric and Sempra Energy.

Byron Wear has extensive experience in regional land use and transportation in both the public and private sectors. As a public servant, he chaired both the Land Use and Housing Committee of the San Diego City Council and the REGIS State Commission that led to the reorganization of SANDAG and MTDB/MTS. In the private sector, Byron Wear worked to reopen the 144 mile San Diego & Arizona Eastern Railway built by John D. Spreckles and provided technical land use assistance for numerous residential and commercial projects in San Diego and Southern California. Byron Wear has a demonstrated ability to bring together diverse interests to address complex public policy issues and provide innovative solutions.

Previous to his Council experience, Wear was a partner in Schuman Hoy & Wear, a successful grassroots lobbying and government relations firm based in La Jolla. Earlier he served as a San Diego Lifeguard Lieutenant and Sergeant on the Mission Bay Harbor Patrol.

On a community level, Byron Wear grew up in Pt. Loma and co chairs a $7.9 million campaign to build the new 30,000 sq foot Ryan Family YMCA, where he serves as Vice Chairman. He is an Eagle Scout and has been active in youth sports including coaching Little League and raising funds for the Point Loma High baseball boosters. Byron Wear served as the chair of the Peninsula Community Planning Board Plan Update Committee and as a member of the Coastal Area Committee of the Park and Recreation Board. Byron Wear is an ordained elder in the Pt. Loma Community Presbyterian Church. He has been married for twenty two years to Bridget Cantu Wear, and has two sons ages 17 and 20.

Daul began his career with Combustion Engineering Inc., Windsor Connecticut where he served sequentially throughout the U.S. as a Field Engineer, Construction Superintendent, Construction Manager and eventually District Manager of Construction. He provided overall management of new construction and maintenance projects for coal, nuclear, gas and biomass-fired utility/ industrial power generation equipment. In addition, Daul managed District proposal development, cost & scheduling, estimating, quality control, labor relations, safety administration, strategic planning, and operational procedures & policies.

Subsequent to Combustion Engineering, Daul was employed for 6 years by Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation where he was responsible for managing project and construction responsibilities for utility and industrial power generation facilities in the U.S. Pacific Northwest and Midwest Regions, including coal, gas, nuclear, and biomass technology.

From 1985 to 1991, Daul was VP of North American Energy Services, responsible for the P&L of construction and maintenance activities throughout the USA for North American Energy Services Company, Issaquah, Washington. He provided project and construction management and maintenance services to the four northwest utility owners of this company, as well as other utility and industrial power generation facilities throughout the U.S. (coal, gas, nuclear, and pulp & paper).

Daul was President of Ahlstrom PyroPower Corporation, a Finland-based circulating & bubbling fluidized bed combustion technology company where he managed the company to profitability for the first time in its ten-year history from 1991-1994. He successfully developed, implemented and achieved the North American business goals for the company’s technologies.
From 1994 to 1996 Daul was SVP of UTILX Corporation in Kent Washington where he was responsible for managing utility distribution operations within the continental United States. Daul planned, directed, and controlled utility distribution operations (electricity, gas, water) to achieve the company’s business and financial objectives. He also negotiated annual multimillion-dollar utility distribution contracts with major USA companies that markedly increased sales and significantly reduced risks. He restructured work processes in a new business venture that radically increased quality and productivity, which in turn resulted in exponential sales growth and profitability.

From 1996 to 2002, Daul was VP Asset Management of InterGen, managing the development, construction, commissioning and steady-state operation of power generation facilities in the Philippines and California. Daul achieved financial/operational objectives for the construction, commissioning and steady-state operational phases of the “Wildflower Energy LP” and “Quezon Power (Philippines), Limited Co.” generation facilities. Wildflower Energy was a special-purpose $300-million limited partnership managing five GE LM6000 gas-fired combustion turbine generators delivering 232 MW of peaking power to SDG&E and SCE at locations in San Diego and Riverside counties in southern California. Quezon Power was a special-purpose $900-million limited partnership managing a 440 MW pulverized coal-fired power plant and 31-kilometer transmission line and associated substations in the Philippines. Daul successfully navigated each asset’s performance through the economic, political, regulatory and security issues that impacted each phase of the project, and implemented strategy and plans, along with associated budgets, that were necessary to meet project goals. He also organized and chaired status meetings for the BOD, project-company senior management, project lenders, financial institutions, banks’ engineers and international rating agencies; including preparation of comprehensive financial and operational reports documenting performance.

Subsequent to 2002, Daul was President of GD & Associates Energy Services where he provided consulting services to domestic and international energy sector companies for electricalgeneration technologies, including renewable energy. During the period of 2002-2005, , Daul performed site manager responsibilities for a major outage at PGE’s 585 MW coal-fired plant in Oregon, and assisted Meralco Energy with Energy Regulatory Commission efforts in connection with their 440 MW coal-fired power plant in the Philippines. From 2005 to 2009 was retained exclusively by Willow Bend Capital Management LLC, a financial company that represented several private NY equity firms in providing comprehensive advisory and financial services for two 550 MW greenfield gas-fired combined cycle power plants in Texas, the world’s largest mega-shredder in Texas, and a 1,500 MW brownfield gas-fired project in the Los Angeles, CA basin.

Mr. Daul holds a Master of Science degree in Structural Engineering and a Civil Engineering Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin. Additionally, Daul has attended post-university management training in Strategic Finance for Executives, Monash Business School, Melbourne, Australia; Strategic Planning, Washington State University, Seattle, WA; AMA Executive Effectiveness Course, Monterey, CA; and the AMA Management course, New York, NY. Mr. Daul is married, resides in Encinitas, CA, and has four children.

Paul McNeil, Chief Operating Officer

Paul has over 20 years of experience in the fields of municipal planning, redevelopment project management, entitlement and community relations.

While working as a Project Manager at Centre City Development Corporation, Paul successfully implemented the Corporation’s affordable housing program and was responsible for 3 loft conversions. In this capacity, he convened working groups to prepare policy documents that are still in use today.

As an Associate Planner for the City of San Diego, he was intimately involved with the regulated side of the planning and land use entitlement process for projects that included mixed-use residential, commercial, industrial and sand and gravel extraction facilities. Paul’s experience draws upon the entire planning process; from conceptual drawings, through permitting. He successfully navigated all the entitlements for the historic Maryland Hotel, now known as The Ivy.

More recently, Paul served as Policy Director for District 2 Councilman, Kevin Faulconer. He was responsible for all land use, transportation, housing and redevelopment issues affecting the district. His primary focus was on downtown and continues to maintain good relations with City Hall. Past positions with the City of San Diego include Committee Consultant for the Land Use and Housing Committee and Assistant to the Mayor for Land Use and Transportation under Mayor Susan Golding. Paul also served as Director of Development for the Olson Company, where he was responsible for design and development of over 600 multi-family, infill condominiums.

In 2001 Paul McNeil served as a Principal Planner for the Keith Companies where he provided turnkey planning services for telecommunications providers throughout the San Diego and Imperial County regions. Paul represented the wireless industry in hearings before the City Council and Board of Supervisors to argue for easing proposed restrictions on wireless communications facilities preventing future litigation over rights guaranteed in the 1996 Federal Telecommunications Act. Additionally he directed cell site selection, preparation of all entitlement materials, management of consultants and budget tracking.

Paul has been an active member and has held leadership positions in numerous civic and charitable organizations. He served as Vice Chair of the Centre City Advisory Committee as a delegate of the Downtown San Diego Partnership, Past President of People for Trees, a not-for-profit, all-volunteer tree planting group, Board member of the local ULI Chapter, Board member of the Point Loma Association and past president of UCSD Alumni Association, San Diego Chapter.

Paul holds two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Economics and Urban Studies and Planning from the University of California at San Diego and is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in City Planning from San Diego State University.

Paul grew up the youngest of 12 children in Anaheim Hills, CA. He attended Canyon High School where he played Varsity Basketball and club volleyball. In his youth he also enjoyed playing baseball and horseback riding. Paul McNeil lives in Solana Beach with his wife, Eileen who is a Child Psychologist for the San Diego Unified School District. They both share a passion for world travel and have visited over 70 countries. They are proud parents of a baby boy.

Stan Dotts, Vice President, Real Estate Acquisitions

Stan Dotts is the founder of TelStar Energies, LLC. Stan was born in Brawley, California from an Imperial Valley pioneer family.

Stan has been instrumental in developing the vision for the acquisition and planning of renewable energy sites including interface with government agencies, utilities and property owners. He has worked to developing a unique land acquisition process and evaluation program to provide the framework for large utility scale renewable energy projects.

Stan has been active in real estate, in San Diego, Imperial Valley and Riverside over 35 years He was a broker at Merrill Lynch commercial real estate downtown San Diego for two years. He established his own company and served as President of Pinnacle Real Estate Services for 11 years developing 15 projects in San Diego and Imperial County. He has been a managing partner and general partner to many real estate development partnerships including condominiums, single family residential, multi-family and office. Stan has held a Real Estate broker License and served on the San Diego Board of Realtors PAC in the 80’s.

During his career, Stan Dotts has been able to gain approval of construction projects based upon comprehensive planning and interface with the community. Stan was the developer of unique condominiums in La Jolla adjacent to Bishops School in the California Coastal Zone which included two levels of underground parking which received unanimous approval and garnered positive comments based upon design and character from the San Diego City Council.

Mr. Dotts has formed numerous business entities and partnerships, processed nine different subdivisions, rezones, and an 82 acre habitat and conservation easement over the last twenty five years. As such he has extensive insight into the permitting and environmental review.

Stan Dotts has a long record of volunteer community service. He served as President of the Alpine Optimist Club, 2002 to 2004. He also served as Charter President of the Alpine Education Foundation for Learning to support educational programs in the Alpine School District. Stan and his wife, Laurie were founders of “Quiz Nite”, an annual Alpine School District fundraiser.

Stan was director Sea of Cortez International Preservation Foundation which raised project funds for eco environmental projects in affiliation with Scripps Institute of Oceanography, Hubbs Sea World Research and the Birch Aquarium. Stan has traveled on business extensively in Mexico, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China and Vietnam.

Stan was raised on his family dairy in Leigh, Arizona. Growing up in a rural environment, Stan learned hard work at a young age. He rode horses, camped out in the desert and gained an appreciation for the outdoors. Stan also delivered newspapers, The Tucson Star. At Casa Grande High School Stan was a member of Key Club International, a service club. Two high school projects (1964) were a solar oven and a solar transistor radio. Summers were spent in San Diego where Stan gained an appreciation for the ocean including surfing, body surfing scuba diving and fishing.

Stan is a graduate, Arizona State University, Bachelor of Arts Degree, 1972 and earned a teachers credential. Stan’s wife, Laurie, a teacher for the Alpine School District for 30 years, is a two time Teacher of the Year. They have three grown children Aimee, Mike and Kimberley.

Ian MacKenzie, Vice President, Project Development

Ian Mackenzie, an early advocate of our expanding global economy, is one of the founding members of TelStar Energies, LLC.

He is a true industrialist with accomplishments on a national and international scale in banking and finance, medical facilities, real estate development and construction. With over 30 years of experience, he is known internationally for promoting wind and solar energy development in Southern California.

Ian was involved in developing the initial submittals for the Flowing Wells Solar Project that resulted in a unanimous approval of the Imperial County Planning Commission.

Ian has been involved in over 30 syndications. His successful projects include high-rise apartment projects, office complexes, business and research parks and industrial parks, retail centers, hotel and marina complexes, motor speedway, water theme parks, auto auction center, penitentiaries and hospitals, female correctional facilities in U.K., Sweden, Poland, Canada, U.S., Mexico and Brazil, among others. He spent four years as a developer in Toronto, Canada working on high rise residential and commercial projects.

Ian Mackenzie founded EcoWest, Inc., a San Diego based real estate development company, which focused on commercial and residential projects from Carlsbad to Del Mar in San Diego County; Pizza Stop, a San Diego fast food restaurant chain; Top West Architecture and Planning; New Century Real Estate and Mortgage Services; Gavin and Co., a construction and project management company; Global Enterprises, international trading, introducing new building materials, technology and entire large pre-engineered industrial buildings, containerized and shipped from U.S. to Eastern Europe.

Mr. Mackenzie served as Executive Director of Interhope, Inc., based in San Diego, California, with offices in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, developed and introduced Vacational Training Centers (Votracon) with Bechtel Corporation, the largest engineering company in the United States. Votracon was equivalent in size to four University campuses.

Additionally, Mr. Mackenzie was part of the team that developed the San Diego National Bank Building and the San Diego Intercontinental Hotel (now the Marriott) adjacent to the San Diego’s world class Convention Center.

He has served as a member of various architectural, construction and real estate associations and international development corporations. He is well versed in Banking and Finance and is a licensed General Contractor (Gavin and Co.) from the State of California and is a licensed Real Estate Broker and member of the A.I.A.

Ian grew up in Great Britain and earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. He enjoys camping, hiking and the outdoors and is a licensed pilot. Ian Mackenzie has a grown son and a granddaughter.