David Walters
President
David Walters is president of Walters Power International. WPI supplies, develops, services and manages electrical generation power plants around the world. Formed in 1995, WPI and its affiliated companies have combined the expertise of independent power professionals with the resources of individual and institutional investment funds to develop and supply more than $200 million in power projects in more than 20 countries.
Walters, who served as the Governor of Oklahoma (1990-94), is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School. He entered politics after a successful business career and brought his private sector expertise to the governor’s office. Walters cut the number of state employees, aggressively promoted economic development and achieved a 15-year record in job growth. He passed the state’s first bond issue in 25 years, which invested more than $350 million in the state’s infrastructure, and advanced the first workers’ compensation insurance reform in 15 years.
Walters led trade delegations to eight nations during his term and completely reorganized international trade for the state, resulting in Oklahoma's international trade growing at twice the national average.
Elizabeth Walters
Director of Corporate Operations
Elizabeth Walters is Director of Corporate Operations for Walters Power International. An Industrial Engineering graduate from the University of Oklahoma, she has international experience on site in Pakistan and the UK. She has a background in commercial real estate acquisition, financing, budgeting, management and leasing as a lead manager of a 500,000 s.f. office portfolio. Her project organization and management skills, together with proforma development and analytic expertise provides support to senior management for the wide variety of projects under development by WPI. She is the co-manager of a series of standby power generation projects in the UK. Her work has ranged from renewable, small-scale standby to large-scale gas turbine base load plants.
Carter Steph
General Counsel
Carter Steph is General Counsel for Walters Power International and its affiliate companies. Prior to joining WPI, Steph was in private practice, focusing on business entity formation, consultation related to financing and developing startup companies and general business representation. He has started several businesses involved in real estate and real estate-related technology. He earned a Juris Doctorate from Oklahoma City University, graduating with Honors in 2000 and a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Oklahoma State University.
Tim Emrich
Vice President, Business Development
Email: tim@walterspower.com
Emrich is the lead project developer and manager for WPI's UK affilitate, Walters Power UK Limited. He has a variety of projects either under construction or in the development phase as a provider in the National Grid's Short Term Operating Reserve (STOR) program. He is also developing renewable energy plants and providing turnkey power plants for other independent power producers. Emrich previously served as Director of Business Development for WPI from 2002-2006 and was involved in more than $50 million in transactions. He is a graduate of The University of Oklahoma, and previously served in development, public relations, and management roles for then President Bill Clinton (1998-2001) and then US Senator Joe Biden (2007).
Deena Smith
Project Manager
Email: deena@walterspower.com
Deena Smith is a Project Manager for Walters Power International where she coordinates and oversees all aspects of domestic and international projects. Smith has extensive experience in the energy industry as well as Greenfield power plant development. Smith is the US lead project manager for the various projects currently under development in Pakistan ranging from 50MW to 230 MW. Smith has been with WPI since its inception in 1996 and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Safety and Health.
Karen DePue
Director of Marketing/IT
Email: karen@walterspower.com
Karen DePue is the Director of Marketing for Walters Power International and provides IT support to the company and its affiliates. DePue has a degree in Computer Science and Business Management with a professional background in government and private business spanning over 27 years of experience with significant management and budget responsibilities in the areas of utilities and energy. DePue works on the sales and acqisitions of power generation equipment, development of renewable power projects and turnkey power plant projects. She prepares proforma's for equipment acquisition and written proposals for investors. Depue has been with the company since 2005 and has completed approximately $18 million in sales transactions.
Jay Lakin
Director of Industrial Sales
Email: jay@walterspower.com
Jay Lakin is the Director of Industrial Sales for Walters Power International. Prior to joining WPI, Lakin was Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Express Sports, which is responsible for the Oklahoma City Blazers and Professional Bull Riders competition being located in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Lakin comes from an extensive sales background and has over 14 years experience. He graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a degree in Industrial Safety and currently resides in Edmond with his wife and children.
Jana Sanders
Director of Accounting
Sanders arrives at WPI after serving as corporate accounting coordinator for Chesapeake Energy, where she coordinated the company's accounting staff and was responsible for hedge accounting for natural gas and oil and other accounting-related management, audits and analysis. She was the finance accounting manager for Advanced Financial Solutions from 2005-07. Prior to that, Sanders was the accounting manager for Loves Travel Stops and Country Stores from 1977 to 2005. She is a graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma.
Dannita Duehning
Project Accountant, CPA
Dannita Duehning is the Project Accountant for Walters Power International and has over 9 years of professional accounting and banking experience. Mrs. Duehning has a degree in Accounting and completed her CPA certification. She is responsible for all corporate financials and accounting for Walters Power International and all affiliated companies as they relate to projects. She manages annual corporate financial audits and tax preperation.