IGSHPA has been a leading force in the ground source heat pump industry since its inception. With a new era of policy, innovative applications, and new technology comes new leadership. Each year, the IGSHPA board of directors has one or more director seats that are up for election based upon the member sector. This fall’s election includes three sectors, the Architect/Engineer sector, the Manufacturer sector and the Utility sector.
According to the IGSHPA bylaws, the board of directors shall be elected annually by the members. Members may vote either in person or by proxy to elect new board members each year. In the interest of having an election before the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday, December 3, 2026, 10:00 am Central Time (virtual meeting via Microsoft Teams), a vote by proxy (electronic voting form) will allow candidates to be announced at the AGM.
GO TO VOTING FORM < This link is active from October 21st to November 6th, 2026, the voting period for candidates.
Below is a photo and bio for each of the candidates for the IGSHPA board of directors. Directors serve for a term of three (3) years with the ability to serve three (3) consecutive terms if re-elected. Board members serve without compensation from the organization.
NOTE: Scroll down to the bottom of the page for current “Ask the Candidate” questions and answers.
Mr. Urlaub is the Director of Geothermal Operations for Salas O’Brien where he is engaged and oversees all geothermal projects. He is involved with all aspects of the projects from procurement to design, project management, and commissioning.
He graduated in 1993 with an associate degree in HVAC Technology and Design from Chippewa Valley Technical College in Eau Claire, WI.
Mr. Urlaub started out his career in the field, installing and servicing all different types of HVAC systems. In 1996 he moved to inside sales and design and was introduced to his first IGSHPA geothermal course. He has been dedicated solely to the geothermal industry since 1999. He has been involved in multiple state and national geothermal organizations for the past two decades such as IGSHPA, MNGHPA, and WGA.
His current job as Director of Geothermal Operations includes such duties as collaborating with mechanical engineers on energy efficient designs, mechanical contractors on installations, drilling contractors on geothermal heat exchanger installations, and Architects/Developers on better understanding of geothermal technology and implementation of innovative geothermal systems.
Member: IGSHPA since 1997, past president of the Wisconsin Geothermal Association, past Board of Directors of the Minnesota Geothermal Heat Pump Association, and past Advisory Council member of IGSHPA, and current board member of IGSHPA.
Geothermal Certifications: IGSHPA Accredited Installer, IGSHPA Certified Geothermal Designer (CGD), IGSHPA Certified Trainer, and IGSHPA CDG PLUS Trainer.
Ryan Carda
Ryan Carda, Principal at Carda Geothermal Engineering and co-founder of Verdant Labworks, is a multi-state licensed Professional Engineer whose entire career has been dedicated to the geothermal heating and cooling industry. He has worked in the industry since 2004 and is a recognized leader in GSHP ground-loop engineering, standards development, training programs, and software creation. His project history spans residential properties and planned developments to large multifamily buildings, municipal facilities, and K-12 schools.
Ryan has made many contributions to IGSHPA over the years. He co-authored “Design and Installation of Residential and Light Commercial GSHP Systems”, helped develop the Accredited Installer and Certified Designer courses, and has trained thousands of industry professionals on proper design, installation and troubleshooting practices. He served as Chair of the Standards Committee from 2017-2022 and currently serves on the NY Geo Board of Directors.
Ryan holds IGSHPA Certified GeoExchange Designer (CGD), Accredited Installer (AI), and CSA GSHP Commercial System Designer certifications. He earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and an M.S. in Engineering, both from South Dakota State University.
Architect/Engineer | Manufacturer | Utility
Manufacturer Sector Candidates:
Tunca Alikaya
Tunca Alikaya is the Founder and CEO of BoreLogger, a Cambridge, MA startup building compact, affordable downhole survey instruments that capture the true 3D path of geothermal boreholes. He brings more than 15 years of drilling and measurement experience (sonic, nuclear, magnetic etc), starting as an LWD field engineer in Gabon and Europe and later serving as Drilling & Measurements operations manager for ExxonMobil in Canada and Guyana. At Celsius Energy, SLB’s geothermal heating and cooling venture, he built the US drilling operation from a blank page. He drilled the company’s first US bore in Kansas, trained contractor drillers to drill the angled bores Celsius’s design required, and led delivery of the Eversource networked geothermal pilot in Framingham, MA, as well as test bores on the NLR campus in Golden, CO.
Tunca is a licensed well driller in Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut and holds an MBA from MIT Sloan. He served on the NGWA Data Center Task Force and is a stakeholder in Colorado’s shallow geothermal rulemaking. On the IGSHPA board, he would focus on accelerating the adoption of new technology that lowers the capital and operating costs of ground source heat pump systems.
Justin Jobe
Justin Jobe is Vice President of Operations at Enertech Global, a leading manufacturer of geothermal and heat pump systems. With a strong background in operations, process improvement, and project management, Justin is responsible for warranty, supply chain, technical services, and cross-functional collaboration with engineering. He is known for his strategic thinking, collaborative leadership style, and commitment to operational excellence. Throughout his career, Justin has been an advocate for geothermal technology, electrification, and the development of simple, efficient systems that benefit both the industry and its customers.
Architect/Engineer | Manufacturer | Utility
Utility Sector Candidates:
Morgan Hood
I’ve spent close to 20 years working in the energy industry, with much of that time focused on energy efficiency, decarbonization, and finding practical ways to bring new energy solutions to customers. In my current role as Director of Product Management at Vermont Gas Systems, I’m helping to build a new geothermal utility service, exploring how utilities can make geothermal more accessible and affordable through new ownership and business models. I also co-founded and co-lead the Utility Networked Geothermal Collaborative (UNGC), which brings together utilities from across North America to learn from one another, work through shared challenges, and help move the industry forward. Through this work, I’ve had the opportunity to build relationships with utilities, policymakers, technology providers, and others who share a commitment to growing geothermal. I’d be excited to serve on the IGSHPA Board because I believe we’re at an important point in the industry’s growth, with real opportunities to reach new customers and markets. I would welcome the chance to bring my unique perspective to the Board, strengthen connections across the industry, and help turn the growing interest in geothermal into as many projects on the ground as possible.
Architect/Engineer | Manufacturer | Utility
“Ask the Candidate”
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