
Donald Gillispie, CEO
Mr. Gillispie has over 45 years experience in construction, operations and maintenance of nuclear power plants. He is widely considered one of the more experienced senior executives still working full time to help the United States reemerge as the world’s leader in nuclear power.
Gillispie received his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering at Clemson University, where he graduated cum laude. He later completed the senior executive program at the MIT Sloan School of Management.
His real interest in nuclear power began in the military. He completed the Navy Nuclear Power School, became a nuclear operator, and served aboard the SSBN, Francis Scott Key.
Since that time, Gillispie has served in a number of positions in the nuclear industry. He worked on the startup of Beaver Valley Unit 1 in Shippingport, Pennsylvania. He worked on the construction and startup of Duke Energy’s first three nuclear units at Oconee Nuclear Station in South Carolina. While working for Tennessee Valley Authority, Gillispie was involved in the construction, startup and operations of three nuclear facilities. And while working with the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations he was a manager of engineering and director of restart respectfully for the turnaround of the Rancho Seco and Pilgrim nuclear power plants.
Gillispie helped found a cornerstone program for the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO), which is the safety watchdog to all U.S. nuclear utilities. He also helped startup the Nuclear Management Corporation (NMC), a nuclear operating company in Wisconsin, which operated up to eight nuclear power plants with 5,000 employees. Incidentally, NMC was awarded best in class by Forbes.com in 2001. And as owner of Grace Glens, a private nuclear-technical management consulting company, Gillispie consulted with some of the largest nuclear utilities in the United States, advising senior executives on commercial nuclear power operations.
As part of a three-man executive team, Gillispie assisted in overseeing the 2007 reopening of Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant unit three in Alabama before moving to Idaho to be near AEHI's first nuclear project. Its reopening was attended by President George W. Bush.
Rick Bucci, CFO
A Certified Public Accountant and former CFO, has served as Chief Financial Officer of AEHI since September 2007. Mr. Bucci has practiced accounting and tax for 20 years; his diverse background includes hotels, construction, real estate development and banking. Additionally, he has served previously as CFO of two corporations. His experience includes tax planning and preparation, audit services, financial statement preparation and presentation, bank financing and various consulting engagements. Also, Mr. Bucci is a Certified Public Accountant licensed to practice public accounting in New York State.
Mike Sellman, Board Member
Mike Sellman, Director, a past CEO and founder of the Nuclear Management Company that operated 8 nuclear reactors in the Midwest. He also served as a nuclear site vp and plant manager during his career. He has served on the board of Nuclear Energy Institute, Institute of Nuclear Power Operations and American Nuclear Society. Mr. Sellman is an international nuclear consultant and advises Idaho National Laboratories. He began his career in the Navy Nuclear Program working on Admiral Rickover's staff.
John Franz, Board Member
John Franz, a past Vice President of a nuclear utility, hasserved on the Board of AEHI since February 2007. Since leaving the nuclear utility, he has been a consultant for 12 nuclear power plants and 2 consulting firms, including practice INPO Accreditation Boards and membership on Nuclear Safety Review Boards. Mr. Franz has 36 years of diverse experience in the licensing, start-up, operation, and management of nuclear power plants. Most notably, he led a troubled plant to top NRC and INPO ratings, as well as directed a plant restart effort following a mandated NRC shutdown.
Ken Strahm, Sr., Board Member
A past President of the nuclear industry watchdog organization INPO, has served on the Board of AEHI since inception. Prior to his retirement, Mr. Strahm was employed by the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO) in Atlanta, Georgia, where he served as the Director of the National Academy for Nuclear Training and later as President of the Institute.
Ralph Beedle, Board Member
A past Senior Vice President of the Nuclear Energy Institute, has served on the Board of AEHI since inception. Mr. Beedle retired after serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer of the Nuclear Energy Institute – where, in addition to his operational management duties, he interacted regularly with the U. S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and other federal agencies, as well as members of Congress.
Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover, Board Member
Dr. Glover serves as the Dean of the College of Business at Jackson State University in Jackson. Mississippi. She holds a Ph.D. in business and economics and is one of few African American women to hold the economics Ph.D. - CPA - JD combination in the nation.
Her notable employment history includes the Chair of the Department of Accounting at Howard University, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of an engineering firm, Tax Manager at Potomac Electric Power Company, and accountant with Arthur Andersen & Company. Glover is licensed to practice law, known as an economic development specialist, regarded as one of the nation's experts on corporate governance, empowerment zones, and is highly sought political strategist. She has provided economic insight to key educational, political, and community issues for major national organizations.
Dr. Glover has served on numerous corporate and national boards such as The Student Loan Corporation - a subsidiary of Citigroup, The Lenox Group, Regions Bank of Mississippi, the Harvard Business School Management Alliance, Board of Examiners for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the MetroJackson Chamber of Commerce, and Chairperson of the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority Board of Commissioners. Other affiliations include the National Bar Association, NAACP, The Links, Inc., and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.