Jeffery C. Thomas serves as Director of Agent Relations for the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM). Jeff began with SBAM in April of 2008. In this role Jeff assists agents and brokers in West and Northern Michigan with the many value added services of SBAM including a sponsored BCBSM/BCN health insurance program, COBRA, Section 125, HSA and HRA administration. Jeff holds several designations from the American College including Chartered Life Underwriter, Registered Health Underwriter and Registered Employee Benefits Consultant.

 

 Northern Michigan University, University Center 

*Former President Shell Oil Company

John Hofmeister is a leader with a unique perspective on not only the oil industry, but on the nation's energy situation as a whole. He is a highly sought after presenter, pundit, writer, energy and leadership expert. His greatest gift is that in his speaking and writing he connects with every man and woman in this country with straightforward talk and understandable writing.

 

In addition to John's book, "Why We Hate the Oil Companies: Straight Talk from an Energy Insider," he has written many op-eds (some are included in this packet) and scores of articles. A superb interviewee, he has appeared on Charlie Rose, Glenn Beck, Neil Cavuto, Meet the Press, Fox Business Network and more. He is also a regular contributor on CNBC's SquawkBox. He has spoken at the Universities of Harvard, Stanford, MIT, UC Berkeley, UCLA and Arizona to name a few.

 

As president of Shell Oil, John Hofmeister was known for being a straight shooter, willing to challenge his peers throughout the industry. Now, he's a man on a mission, the founder of Citizens for Affordable Energy, a non-profit association, crisscrossing the country in a grassroots campaign to change the way we look at energy in this country. His purpose is "To educate citizens and government officials about pragmatic, non-partisan affordable energy solutions, environmental protection, energy alternatives, efficiency, infrastructure, public policy, competitiveness, social cohesion, and quality of life." While pundits proffer false new promises of green energy independence, or flatly deny the existence of a problem, Hofmeister offers an insider's view of what's behind the energy companies' posturing, and how.

 

Hofmeister serves as the Chairman of the National Urban League and is a member of the U.S. Department of Energy's Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technical Advisory Committee. He serves as non-executive Director of the Hunting PLC, London, UK, Lufkin Industries Inc., CAMAC Energy, Inc., and the Sodexo North America Business Advisory Board. He is Senior Advisor to two energy start-ups: Liberty Power of Fort Lauderdale, Fl and NewEarth Technologies of Seattle, WA. Hofmeister also serves on the boards of the Foreign Policy Association, Strategic Partners, LLC, the Gas Technology Institute and the Center for Houston's Future. Hofmeister is a Fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources. He also is a past Chairman and serves as a Director of the Greater Houston Partnership. Hofmeister is active in education serving Advisory Boards at the University of Houston and the University of North Texas. He is also a Director of the Texas Education Reform Committee.