Jill R. Haizlip – President

Principal Geoscientist – Geochemistry/Project Development

Ms. Haizlip has over 30 years of professional experience in the fields of geothermal resource evaluation, geology and hydrogeochemistry applied to a variety of geothermal exploration; resource assessment, testing and characterization; and development projects. After 15 years as a successful Principal Partner of Geologica, Inc, Ms. Haizlip founded Geologica Geothermal Group in late 2014 in order to continue and expand on the success and capabilities of the Geologica Geothermal Team. Her expertise in chemistry of geothermal fluids is applied to geothermal resource development in: reservoir characterization and temperatures, non-condensable gases, scaling and corrosion, hydrogen sulfide abatement, steam treatment and other geochemical considerations. She has worked extensively with multi-disciplinary teams to develop conceptual and numerical models of geothermal systems as a basis for geothermal development planning and decision making and has managed comprehensive geothermal resource development projects. Ms. Haizlip has extensive experience working on development of geothermal systems worldwide including Djibouti, Indonesia, Kenya, Zambia, Turkey, Caribbean; as well as The Geysers, the Salton Sea, Nevada and other geothermal resources in the Western US.

Leland Davis – Chief Operations Officer

Senior Geoscientist – Well Testing/Exploration

Mr. Davis is the Chief Operations Officer and a Senior Project Manager and Geoscientist with more than 13 years’ experience in the geothermal and environmental remediation industries. Mr. Davis first joined Geologica, Inc as a Staff Geoscientist in early 2008 after receiving his Bachelor’s Degree from Middlebury College in Environmental Studies and a minor in Geology. In late 2014, Mr. Davis joined Ms. Haizlip in forming Geologica Geothermal Group, first as Operations Manager and then Vice President of Operations. Since joining the Geologica team he has focused his professional time working on the exploration and development of geothermal resources, and occasionally, environmental remediation activities. His primary expertise is in well test planning, implementation, and evaluation. He specializes in reservoir data collection and resource analysis including computer-based GIS mapping and conceptual modelling. He is experienced in both ArcGIS and Rockworks software packages. He has provided key technical support on geothermal resource assessments, feasibility studies, and wellfield management, as well as planning and execution related to well testing, resource data collection, and environmental compliance. His broad work experience across multiple disciplines in 10+ years with Geologica provides a practical understanding of all facets of geothermal development including geology, geophysics, geochemistry, conceptual modeling, well targeting and design, reservoir engineering, and power plant design. Mr. Davis recently completed his Master’s degree in Business Administration in early 2020.

Nicholas Hinz – Chief Technical Officer

Principal Geoscientist – Geology/Conceptual Modeling

Mr. Hinz is the Chief Technical Officer and a Principal Geoscientist with more than 20 years of field-based experience with structural geology and geothermal projects located throughout North America, East Africa, Turkey, Asia, and the Caribbean. Mr. Hinz joined the Geologica Team in 2018 after more than 10 years as a Research Associate at University of Nevada, Reno and the Great Basin Center for Geothermal Energy. His past industry experiences have included broad regional assessments and evaluations of individual resources, including both volcano-hosted and fault-hosted resources. He specializes in detailed geologic mapping and stress calculations for the purpose of characterizing fracture permeability, refining conceptual models, and well targeting. Mr. Hinz has completed projects in a variety of environments and geologic settings including volcanic arcs, rifts, and along continental strike-slip fault zones. He has published extensively on geologic and geothermal topics, frequently leads field trips for professional organizations and assists with geothermal training workshops.

Peter Drakos

Principal Geoscientist 

Peter Drakos is a Principal Geoscientist and Geothermal Energy professional with over 17 years of experience working in technical and project management roles for a major global geothermal energy developer in the renewable energy sector. Responsible for the interpretation and integration of both surface and subsurface geologic, geophysical and geochemical data to develop hydrothermal resource models and to execute exploration and development drilling strategies for both low and high enthalpy geothermal resources. Experienced with planning and managing surface exploration, drill operations, well testing, well-site geology and bore-hole logging. Strong team player with extensive hands-on experience working and communicating with multi-disciplinary teams and stakeholders both nationally and internationally. Oversaw the development, training and managing of high-caliber technical resource teams in the US and Indonesia. Successfully identified and deployed geoscientific techniques and drilling technologies from outside industries which positively enhanced workflow, data quality, confidence in resource models and improved the ability to de-risk and drive projects forward cost effectively. Directly involved in the drilling of over 50 geothermal wells and the development of over 400 MW of clean, renewable and based load geothermal electricity.

Seth Dee – Vice President, Geology

Senior Geologist

Mr. Dee is a geologist with more than 20 years of professional experience. His professional career has focused on field-based investigations to understand crustal deformation, geologic hazards, landscape evolution, and natural resource management. Experienced in all facets of geologic investigations and site characterization including: geologic mapping, digital field data collection, GIS, geochronologic and geochemical sampling and analysis, utilizing lidar and aerial imagery, interpretation of geophysical datasets, subsurface investigations, and project management. Mr. Dee has a background in consulting geology focused on geologic site and hazard assessments for large infrastructure projects. He currently serves as the program manager of the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology geologic mapping program in addition to overseeing Geologica’s California-based geology projects. Mr. Dee is a licensed Professional Geologist (CA #9112, UT #7527458-2250).

Janice Lopeman – Geoscience Team Lead

Senior Project Geoscientist – Geology/Drilling

Ms. Lopeman is a Senior Project Geoscientist with more than 10 years of geothermal experience. Her interest in geothermal energy began as a student at the University of Nevada, Reno working at the Great Basin Center for Geothermal Energy collecting spring and well samples throughout Northern Nevada. After graduating with her Bachelor’s Degree in Geology, Ms. Lopeman began her professional career assessing and developing geothermal reservoirs filling multiple roles from project geologist, to public liaison, to drilling engineer. She also has experience in performing well tests, project management, and contract management. Throughout her career she has encouraged accurate data collection and retention, implementing a well site information system (RIMBase) for both active and historic drilling records. Even though she has worn multiple hats, her primary focus is in geologic assessment and drilling engineering, combining the two areas of expertise to safely design and target observation, slim, and full-size wells.

Technical Staff

Drew Siler, Ph.D.

Senior Geoscientist – Geology/3D Geological Modeling

Dr. Drew Siler is a Senior Geoscientist specializing in 3D structural and geologic characterization of geothermal areas. He joined Geologica in 2023. Drew earned a Ph.D. in Geology from Syracuse University with a focus on structural geology and tectonics in 2011. He has 10+ years of experience conducting and managing geothermal projects as a Post-Doctoral Fellow at University of Nevada, Reno/Great Basin Center for Geothermal Energy and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, and as a Research Scientist at the U.S. Geological Survey. His experience ranges from regional geothermal assessments to evaluations of individual geothermal systems in a variety of tectonic settings. Drew’s expertise is integration of geological (geologic map, downhole geologic data) and geophysical (gravity, magnetics, MT, seismic reflection) data and construction of 3D geologic maps and models, as well as static and dynamic stress modeling. Drew has authored or co-authored 60+ peer-reviewed publications and conference papers on geothermal, structural geology, and tectonics that have been cited 1000+ times.

Matt Folsom

Senior Project Geoscientist – Geophysics

Mr. Folsom joined Geologica in 2023 after working for a geothermal developer for six years. Mr. Folsom holds a Master’s Degree in Hydrology from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Geophysics at the University of Nevada, Reno. His primary interests are working with magnetotelluric (MT) and potential field data to characterize geothermal systems. He has spent a lot of time as a geophysical crew chief and personally collected > 400 MT soundings across the Basin and Range at over a dozen geothermal systems. Mr. Folsom has also designed surveys for numerous high-density gravity surveys and UAV-based magnetic surveys. Outside of geophysics, Mr. Folsom has been involved in conceptual model building, 3D geologic model construction, well planning and design, acted as a drill site geoscientist, worked with downhole electric and image logs, and designed perforation programs for well completion. Mr. Folsom has written several conference papers on the geophysical characterization of Basin and Range geothermal systems.

Amanda Fishbin

Project Geoscientist – GIS/Geology

Ms. Fishbin joined Geologica Geothermal Group in 2016 after receiving a Bachelor’s Degree from Middlebury College in Geology and a minor in Environmental Studies.  She has provided resource analysis on a wide variety of geothermal systems, primarily through computer-based GIS mapping, the analysis of geothermal geochemistry, and geologic interpretation.  She has also provided assistance with reservoir data collection and well testing.

Jesse Turk

Project Geoscientist – Geology/3D Modeling

Mr. Turk has over eight years of experience as a geoscientist working in the geothermal and energy industries throughout the country. Mr. Turk holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Geology from the University of Pittsburgh and joins the Geologica Team after receiving a Post Graduate Certificate from the University of Auckland in Geothermal Energy Technology. During his post graduate studies, he received a First in Course Award for his Geothermal Project paper. He has experience in well targeting, field mapping, conceptual modeling, resource capacity estimation, wellsite geology, site management, well testing, geophysical surveying, GIS mapping, fluid sampling, and geochemical evaluations. He has published in geothermal conferences and taught wellsite personnel geothermal topics.

Kunhwi Kim, Ph.D.

Numerical Modeling

Dr. Kunhwi Kim joined Geologica Geothermal Group in November 2019. Prior to that, he was a
Postdoctoral Fellow and Project Scientist in Energy Geosciences Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He was involved in R&D projects with emphasis on development and application of computational tools and software for modeling multiphase fluid flow and heat transfer coupled with mechanical behavior in geological media and subsurface environments. He also has extensive experience in simulating fracture formations and flow enhancement within
rocks. Demonstrated and potential capabilities of his modeling works are towards a variety of energy-related geological problems.

Alex Milton

Project Geoscientist- Geology/Mapping

Alex Milton joined Geologica in mid-2020 after four years of experience in the mineral exploration field. During this time, he worked on several epithermal systems throughout the U.S. He received a B.S. in Geology from Montana State University in Bozeman, MT. He utilizes his experience to progress geothermal exploration via conceptual models, surface mapping, logging of cuttings, geochemical sampling, and well testing.

Zach Brown

Project Geoscientist – Geochemsitry/Well Testing

Zach Brown joined Geologica in May of 2020 as a Staff Geoscientist. He received a B.A. in Geology from the University of Colorado at Boulder where he focused on natural hazards and geomorphology. Before coming to Geologica Mr. Brown worked in the oil and gas sector as a well-site geologist and geo-steering consultant. He has experience in geochemical sampling, cuttings and core analysis, drill site operations and geologic field mapping.

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Carmen Winn, Ph.D.

Staff Geoscientist – Geology

Dr. Carmen Winn joined the Geologica Team in July, 2022 as a Staff Geoscientist after spending two years as a Postdoctoral Appointee in the Geothermal Research Program at Sandia National Laboratories. She holds a Ph.D. in Geoscience from the University of New Mexico, where her multidisciplinary research focused on large-scale landscape evolution models of the southwestern US and on geochemical analyses of thermal springs on the Tibetan Plateau. She also holds a B.S. in Geology from Northern Arizona University and has published on her doctoral research and geothermal research conducted at Sandia National Laboratories. Dr. Winn has a broad range of experience in the geosciences, including geothermal research, conceptual and inverse modeling, GIS and field mapping, geochemical sampling and analysis, and geophysical data collection and interpretation.

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Paul Fechko – Office Manager

Geoscience Technician

Paul Fechko joined Geologica in mid-2020 as an Assistant Office Manager and Geoscience Technician. With a B.S. in Geophysics and a minor in Physics from the University of Washington, he focused on igneous petrology, continuum mechanics, volcanism, and mapping fold-and-thrust belts. Previous experience across engineering, management, and operational roles sees him supporting day-to-day operations and helping with projects in varying capacities.

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Associate Advisors

Dr. Sabodh Garg – Reservoir Engineer Emeritus

Principal Reservoir Engineer

Dr. Sabodh Garg joined the Geologica Team in 2019 as Vice President ofReservoir Engineering and Principal Reservoir Engineer at Geologica. He has collaborated with Geologica on numerous projects over the last 10 years through his previous position as program manager of resource technology for Leidos and Science Applications International Corporation – SAIC. He has been an active participant in geothermal R&D since the mid-1970’s and specializes in geothermal reservoir engineering, geophysical survey interpretation, resource assessment, and development planning. He has carried out technical studies in geothermal reservoir mechanics, pressure transient analysis, multi-phase non-isothermal flow, rock mechanics, and the behavior of geopressured reservoirs. Dr. Garg has served on numerous geothermal and energy-related boards and panels, including Geothermics, Energy Sources, U.S. Academy of Sciences, and DOE review panels, and is recipient of the GRC Special Achievement Award (2001), the GRC 2003 Joseph W. Aidlin Award, and the GRC 2017 Hank Ramey Reservoir Engineering Award.

William “Bill” Cumming

Principal Consultant – Geophysics and Geothermal Resource Assessment

William Cumming is an independent consultant doing business as Cumming Geoscience, a sole proprietorship specializing in geothermal exploration and development. He is a California Board certified Professional Geophysicist (License GP1039) with more than 40 years of experience in the geothermal industry including 20 years with Unocal Corporation in positions from Geophysicist to Chief Geoscientist. Among his principal responsibilities in worldwide geothermal operations at Unocal were conducting and interpreting geophysical surveys, integrating geoscience data sets, developing representative ranges of resource conceptual models, designing and coordinating well target and resource capacity risk analyses, and managing geoscience quality assurance. As an independent consultant from 2000 to present, Bill provides technical and management consulting services for geophysical surveys, geothermal resource assessment and well targeting, geothermal investment due diligence analyses, professional training and geophysical research. In support of geothermal exploration and development, he has experience with a wide variety of geophysical methods and his 70+ publications include analyses of MT, TEM, CSAMT, galvanic resistivity (VES), helicopter EM, reflection and refraction seismic, earthquake, gravity, repeat microgravity, leveling, dGPS, aeromagnetic and borehole formation log surveys.

David Sussman

Principal Geoscientist – Geothermal Resource Development

David Sussman is an experienced geothermal geoscientist and adviser with over 35 years of experience working in the geothermal sector.  He brings extensive experience working in both the private and public sectors in East Africa, USA, Latin America and Southeast Asia. He has led numerous assignments advising private and public development organizations on technical issues, strategy, policy, regulation and financing as well as managing scientific and geothermal energy exploration and development projects.  Prior to becoming an Independent Consultant, he worked as Chief Geoscientist and Resource Manager for several private geothermal developers and public geothermal companies in over 20 countries.  Through his work David has developed an in-depth understanding of the technical requirements for successful geothermal exploration and development projects and assessing the technical and commercial risks of successful long-term geothermal operations.

Irene Wallis

Consulting Geoscientist/Wellbore Analyst

Ms. Wallis specializes in computational geoscience, petrophysics and image analysis, reservoir engineering data interpretation, and integrated resource analysis. She provides these services from her base of operations in New Zealand. She complements and expands Geologica’s expertise in conceptual model development, resource capacity evaluation, well targeting and resource decision processes at the exploration, development and operation phases. Since transitioning from mining to geothermal, Ms. Wallis has accumulated more than 10 years’ experience in the exploration, development and operation of high enthalpy resources in New Zealand, Chile, and Indonesia. She specializes in geoscience elements of resource analysis, with particular interest in image log interpretation and interdisciplinary data analysis. Ms. Wallis comes with a mix of research, teaching and commercial experience and is particularly interested in technology transfer. She maintains an open-source Python library for structural geology and borehole image analysis and recently collaborated with reservoir engineer Dr. Katie McLean to develop an open-source tutorial on geothermal well completion test analysis with Python. Ms. Wallis is undertaking part-time doctoral research on the geologic controls on geothermal fluid flux from the meter to 10s-of-kilometer-scale at The University of Auckland.