Bringing Sustainability to The Corridor since 1992
Our mission is to make renewable and sustainable energy the primary source of energy in Iowa. I-Renew is located on the grounds of Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center in Hiawatha, IA. The Iowa Renewable Energy Association (I-Renew) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Meet the Board of Directors.
Carrie Lane
carrie@irenew.org
President
Carrie Lane has been on the I-Renew board since January 2019. She grew up on a farm near Cascade, Iowa, then received her Bachelor’s degree at The University of Iowa. She is a teacher in Cedar Rapids and mom to two kids. Carrie loves the idea of making it easier for busy people and companies to make good environmental choices, which will benefit future generations. She believes renewable energy is one of the most effective solutions for a sustainable future.
Carrie represents I-Renew as a board member for Iowa Shares.
Donna Suchy
Board Member
Donna Suchy has been on the I-Renew board since January of 2022. She is from Tama County, an Iowa farm girl who comes from a family of farmers who have farmed in Iowa for over 150 years in a sustainable manner, windmill and all! With degrees in science, alternative and environmental engineering, including a master’s project centered around alternative energy for a village in Egypt and another on bioremediation and the environment, Donna has seen alternative energy projects succeed for over 30 years. She was part of a team that remediated the soil under an old refinery that is now part of the River Walk in Oklahoma City. Donna most recently worked for Kodak and Collins. Donna was one of the founding members of the Blooming Prairie in Iowa City. She helped organize the first solar energy day in Iowa City modeled after Earth Day, where a mock solar cooker was constructed on the mall. Donna believes that sustainable and renewable energy is critical to our future. She believes that we can do anything together and that today is the day to start. I-Renew is here to help you with any questions, or just to talk, and we would love to have you join us as a volunteer and member.
Sonita Van Der Leeuw
Secretary
Sonita van der Leeuw has been on the I-Renew board since January of 2021. She is from Saint Paul Minnesota and recently graduated from Drake University with a degree in Environmental Sustainability and Resilience. Sonita believes in renewable energy being one of the solutions to our ongoing question on how to handle the future impacts of climate change. She also believes that renewable energy is a source that everyone deserves, she is a firm believer in fighting for the planet and all people that inhabit it, no habitat, plant, creature, or person should be left out.
Michael Stelzenmuller
michaels@irenew.org
Treasury
Michael joined the Board in June of 2023, and has been with I-Renew since the beginning of the year. Originally from Texas he moved to Iowa in 2014 to work at John Deere in Waterloo before eventually moving to the Cedar Rapids area. He has a B.S. from Texas A&M University – Commerce in Industrial Engineering, a discipline that emphasizes the improvement of the status quo. He also has a M.S. in Systems Engineering from George Washington University.
Michael hopes to support his local community in adopting renewable energy technologies where feasible, in an effort to reduce the impacts of climate change for all.
Greg Barnett
Board Member
Greg Barnett joined the board in December of 2023. He is a retired software engineer and spent most of his career developing software for flight simulators (for new aircraft development) or training simulators (for training pilots on existing aircraft) or avionics for real aircraft. After retirement he worked for a solar company helping people reduce their carbon footprint and monthly utility bill by making their own electricity.
He lives with his wife Teresa and two active and lovable cats. He has two adult children and a grandson. Part time he works at Northtowne Cycling and Fitness, helping people reduce their carbon footprint, get some exercise and have fun on a new bike.
Greg has always been concerned with what humans are doing to the planet. When he was young, it was pollution but now he is focused on climate change. To that end, he helped design his all electric, net-zero house. His solar panels produce enough electricity to power his house, lawn equipment and two electric vehicles.
Greg has a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering from Purdue; a Masters of Engineering in Systems Engineering from ISU and an MBA from Iowa.
Desi Beckmann
Board Member
Desi, a graphic designer and marketer, is passionate about creating content that inspires sustainable choices. She focuses on promoting renewable energy—especially solar power—as the key to a brighter future for Iowa.
Believing that everyone can make a difference, Desi encourages investment in renewable energy, support for local projects, and small eco-friendly lifestyle changes. She’s eager to connect with communities and empower Iowans to take action for a sustainable tomorrow.
When she’s not crafting marketing campaigns, Desi enjoys the outdoors, soaking up the sun, and caring for animals as a full-time pet sitter.