[email protected]
121 S Orange Ave, Suite 1583
Orlando, Florida 32801
Phone: 917-370-3305

Lian Niu has been actively involved in multiple facets of commercial and utility scale solar project deployment since 2009. With a background in Electrical Engineering, Lian has developed, built and financed over 200 MW of projects before co-founding Eitri Foundry in 2017. Eitri Foundry’s mission is to help groups improve their energy supply plans by augmenting it with solar energy in a way that strengthens the community. As of 2023, Eitri Foundry has deployed over $45M of private capital to strengthen Ohio communities by using solar. As Co-founder and Managing Member, Lian is responsible for project evaluation, procurement, strategic planning and marketing. 

[email protected]
100 S Third St.
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Phone: 740-704-9977

Mike Jacoby is a seasoned economic development professional with over 25 years of experience in the field. He has worked at the state, local, and regional levels. His understanding of both private business and public sector economics, and his sensitivity to the interests of entrepreneurs and emerging growth companies, places him in a position to manage resources necessary to retain and help grow existing businesses, attract new businesses to the area, and coordinate private and public economic development programs of mutual benefit.

At Mike's previous role he led the Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE) team in supporting companies in a 25-county region of over 1 million in population. Under Mike's leadership, the team successfully undertook expansion and attraction projects that created over 5,800 jobs. Additionally, he worked closely with JobsOhio, the state's private economic development corporation, as the JobsOhio Network Partner for southern and eastern Ohio. He actively engaged with business, government, and economic development leaders across the region and the state, representing southeastern Ohio and leading site development, workforce, and planning initiatives.

Mike specializes in creative problem-solving to get deals done, grant writing, communications, marketing, real estate development, incentives, and team building. His ability to build consensus while balancing the interests of multiple constituencies has proven his prowess as a first-class leader in his field.

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100 S Third St.
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Phone: 614-227-2353

With a background in business and taxation law, John Flis is a public finance and energy tax attorney who partners with public and private entities to accomplish their project goals. Specifically, John spearheads our Inflation Reduction Act practice and manages bond and economic development matters.

Ensuring that financial transactions occur both smoothly and with all legal considerations addressed, John is familiar with each stage of funding for all types of projects and has been involved in large, complex transactions. He helps both experienced and inexperienced clients fully understand and make informed decisions regarding the details of their matters, from inception to close.

In August 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act became law and overhauled the domestic clean energy industry. Since that time, John has become highly experienced on many of the incentives and tax credits that are available to both public and private entities. He is helping to lead clients through all stages of their clean energy projects, from a project’s inception all the way through claiming the appropriate tax credits after a project is placed into service.

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100 S Third St.
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Phone: 614-227-2353

Art Schoulties is a political subdivisions attorney and brings diverse experience to his practice. An experienced litigator, he has advised and represented a range of clients in the areas of medical and legal malpractice defense, nursing home and long term care defense, commercial and business disputes, product liability, premises liability, collections/profit recovery, and e-discovery.

Additionally, Art has advised corporate clients with respect to HIPAA, Stark Law, Anti-Kickback and Medicare/Medicaid. He has provided counsel to risk management programs, advised directors, boards and senior executives on corporate governance matters, drafted and negotiated a multitude of varied types of complex contracts and agreements, developed departmental compliance policies and procedures, and advised with respect to internal insurance programs. Additionally, Art has advised corporate clients with respect to construction surety bond underwriting and has helped to facilitate resolutions to large construction contractor defaults.

[email protected]
175 South Third Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 221-4349

After graduating from The Ohio State University, Kent Scarrett began his career at the Ohio Statehouse in 1990 as a page in the Ohio Senate, later becoming Constituent Aide and then Legislative Aide first for state Senator Steven O. Williams, then for Majority Whip Senator Nancy Chiles-Dix.  Kent left the Ohio Senate in 1996 to serve as a Legislative Liaison for Governor Voinovich before joining the OML in 1997. Before being appointed Executive Director in March 2016, Kent served as the League’s Director of Communication for six years. In addition to serving on PEP’s board, Kent focuses on advocating on behalf of the League’s nearly 740 members on issues related to state and local tax policy, local control and economic development strategies.

[email protected]
10 West Broad Street
Suite 2300
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: (614) 559-7287

As a member with the firm, Catherine divides her time between a traditional labor practice and employment work.  Her labor practice includes working with clients to improve labor relations and resolve labor disputes; creating and assisting with corporate campaigns and representation elections; helping companies stay union-free; handling unfair labor practice charges; representing companies through the labor arbitration process; and negotiating collective bargaining agreements.

Catherine's employment practice includes employment litigation; wage and hour litigation; discrimination, harassment, and retaliation investigations and litigation; drafting and litigating employment contracts; creating and implementing corporate training programs; advising and assisting companies in negotiating the WARN Act; drafting and enforcing workplace policies; and serving as counsel on all aspects of employer-employee relations.

Catherine has represented companies in federal and state courts and before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Ohio Civil Rights Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, and the Pennsylvania Human Rights Commission.

While in law and business schools at the College of William and Mary, Catherine served on the William & Mary Law Review, was a founding member of both the Student Intellectual Property Society and the Child Law Advocacy Society, served as a Civil Procedure teaching assistant, and worked as a consultant for a Fortune 500 global defense and technology company. Catherine joined FBT in 2007 as an associate in the labor and employment department.