Who We Are

Retired Attorney

Richard Kavaney has served on the SRC Board since 2008, and served as Vice Chair for over 3 years. Mr. Kavaney has held memberships in the Construction Specifications Institute, the Professional Engineers in Construction Division of the Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers, the American Bar Association, the Minnesota Bar Association, and the Ramsey County Bar Association. He was also an affiliate of the Associated General Contractors of America and of Minnesota.

Mr. Kavaney has a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Notre Dame (1959), and a JD from the William Mitchell College of Law (1971). With an extensive background in construction and construction litigation, he served as an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota teaching Legal Issues for construction professionals and construction contracts documents.

Former Director of Real Estate Development, Project for Pride in Living (PPL)

Chris Wilson joined the SRC Board of Directors in 2012 and has recently retired from his duties as the Senior Director of Real Estate Development with Project for Pride in Living (PPL). During his 25 year tenure, Mr. Wilson was responsible for all commercial and housing development activity from project inception through completion. PPL currently has under construction or recently completed projects totaling in excess of $30 million with additional projects totaling about $50 million in the pipeline. Using his extensive knowledge, he continues to consult on affordable housing projects on a part-time basis. Mr. Wilson holds an Architecture degree from the University of Minnesota and a B.A. in English from the University of Chicago.

Director, Strategy, Marketing & Business Development, Safety and Graphics Business Group, 3M

Dan Chen has served on the SRC Board of Directors since 2008 and currently works as a director in 3M's Safety & Graphics Business Group. Previously, Mr. Chen led the 3M Solar Light Managment Business, which included light concentration and light collection technologies for concentrating solar and photovoltaic applications.

Mr. Chen received his Bachelors and PhD in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, respectively, and holds an Executive MBA from INSEAD in Fountainebleau, France. He is also a certified Professional Engineer in the State of Minnesota, a Nation Science Foundation Fellow, a Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation Fellow, and a two-time participant in the National Academy of Engineering Frontiers of Engineering Program. Mr. Chen is both the primary as well as co-inventor on 14 patents and patent applications, and has authored over 20 publications.

Patent Attorney, Merchant & Gould P.C.

Mark Gleason has served on the SRC Board of Directors since 2011 and currently practices law with Merchant & Gould P.C. with a focus on preparation and prosecution of U.S. PCT and foreign patent applications, trademark applications, infringement and patentability opinions, IP agreements and general IP strategy counseling.

Mr. Gleason has obtained degrees from William Mitchell College of Law (J.D. cum laude), University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management for Graduate study in business, St Cloud State University for a B.S. magna cum laude in Engineering Technology, with a minor in Music, and Ft. Gordon, GA. Communications-Electronics Engineer Track Advance Course as a U.S. Army Signal Officer. Mr. Gleason has Bar Admissions with Minnesota (1996), Texas (1997), and registered to practice before the USPTO (1996). He has served in the U.S. Army, Active Duty 1984-88, as an Inactive Reserve from 1992-97 with a rank as CAPTAIN with SECRET Security Clearance.

Professor Emeritus, College of Design, University of Minnesota

Becky Yust joined the SRC Board of Directors in 2012. She is Professor Emeritus of Housing Studies at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Yust taught courses that focused on household level housing norms, decisions and constraints in finding adequate and affordable housing, multifamily housing development, finance, and management in the private and public sectors. Her research included investigating a number of issues related to housing and households: housing adequacy and affordability, healthy housing activity and economic vitality in rural communities.

Dr. Yust holds a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University in Family Resource Management (Household Technology) and a minor in Marketing, as well as a M.H.Ecc. from Colorado State University, majoring in Housing and Design with supporting studies in Textiles and Clothing. Dr. Yust also received a B.S. from Colorado State University with a major in Housing and Design.

Global Sustainability Platform Manager, 3M