Francis Koster Ed. D.

Author of newspaper columns carried in newspapers and websites, and distributed to over 4,500 leaders in social change. Member of Society of Environmental Journalists, and the Association of Healthcare Journalists. Frequent lecturer to civic groups offering a wide range of talks about challenges facing society and introducing successful solutions already in place somewhere in America. Author of three books about successful social change. Founded a 501-c-3 called The Pollution Detectives Inc., which lends easy-to-use electronic equipment that "makes invisible pollution visible". You can see more at www.thepollutiondetectives.org My second website is found at www.TheOptimisticFuturist.org and contains reviews of talks, and access to library of solutions to America's social problems.

Recruited to Nemours Children's Clinics in the 1990's, held a number of senior positions supervising non-clinical support systems, including Human Resources, Development, the Legal Department, Risk Management, Training, and Information Systems. Last title was Vice President for Innovation. A pioneer in the use of electronic environments to improve healthcare, including electronic medical records, clinical data mining, and telehealth. During my tenure, the organization grew from several dozen M.D.'s to 450 pediatric sub-specialists seeing over a million patient visits a year in facilities located in four states.

Developed a successful plan to turn around of a financially troubled audio visual production house.

Consulting company specialized in advising electric utilities, industry, and vendors regarding energy conservation and renewable energy incentives, program design, and technical issues. Created, obtained funding for, and delivered what was at that time a ground breaking series of television appearances on residential energy conservation. During same time frame worked for SouthEast Energy Management (SEMCO) conceptualizing sales opportunities for energy conservation in commercial properties.

Recruited to create the largest renewable energy program in the country. Started with staff of 3, by FY 1980 hired 180 people, had program in place with budget of 16 million dollars; structured inventory of renewable energy assets for TVA’s 7 state area; started “Memphis 1000” and “Nashville 10,000” residential solar hot water initiatives using innovative financial, quality assurance and load management strategies; created solar home demonstration project with 44 model homes; initiated program to create 20 different modular home designs for manufactured housing targeted at lower income home buyers; set up programs in low temperature large volume solar pond projects.

Created a program using CETA funding to hire unemployed workers, train them in energy conservation techniques, and weatherized 2000 rural poor homes. Worked closely with the UMass School of Engineering in developing projects in solar, wind, and biomass energy production. Principle Investigator for the Franklin County Study, an analysis funded by Department of Energy which created a path forward for one rural county to become independent of imported oil. This project was featured in newspaper columns authored then President Ronald Reagan as a model for others, and many local regions of the country imitated it.

Started the Toward Tomorrow Fair series, featuring hundreds of speakers and exhibits focused on desirable future states. Initiated short courses in construction of windmills, electric cars, solar homes, recycling and sustainable agriculture

During a time of great turmoil in American Higher Education, I was hired to ease tensions between faculty, staff, and administration. Negotiated end to dangerous sit in, put in place enhanced communication channels, worked on drug and safety issues. Left to pursue doctorate.

During the Nigeria Biafra civil war, and while still in college, I led an effort to use returned Peace Corps Volunteers to assist in food distribution to the enormous number of orphans created by the war. This effort was coordinated with UNICEF, and housed in their space.

Focused studies on why people do not listen to warnings, with increasing realization that unless solutions are offered along with the warning, psychological stress caused by fear causes warning to be repressed. Studies were refined to focus on the future of basic life support systems, and identification of known solutions to likely problems. This field has come to be referred to as Sustainability.