Tom Carnahan
Founder, Wind Capital Group

Tom Carnahan is the founder and president of Wind Capital Group. In 2005 he drew upon his background in law, politics, development, and farm management when he partnered with Missouri farmers and rural electric cooperatives to develop the state's first wind farm.

Since then, Wind Capital Group has become one of the fastest growing wind developers in the country.

Mr. Carnahan is actively involved in growing not just his own company, but the wind industry as a whole. He serves on the American Wind Energy Association Legislative and Policy Committee and as a regular and enthusiastic spokesman for wind energy. He is also a frequent presenter on wind energy around the country and has been featured as an expert on the wind industry on numerous media outlets, including National Public Radio and ABC World News Tonight.

Before entering the wind farming industry, Mr. Carnahan was a partner in the law firm of Carnahan & Garvin LLC, where he specialized in real estate, project development and governmental affairs. He is involved in efforts to revitalize downtown St. Louis and also shares management responsibility for the family cattle farm outside of Rolla, Missouri. In 2008, Carnahan was recognized as one of St. Louis' "Forty under Forty" business leaders by the St. Louis Business Journal.

Mr. Carnahan has a B.A. degree from William Jewell College and a juris doctorate from the University of Missouri School of Law. He resides in St. Louis with his wife, Lisa, and daughters, Sydney and Harper.

Dean Baumgardner, AICP
Senior Vice President,
Development and Operations

Dean is responsible for the development and operation of wind energy facilities that support the rural economy. He has more than 20 years of experience in planning and development of renewable energy resources, as well as utility operations in the Midwest. Dean is accredited by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) and holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin and Penn State University.

Prior to joining Wind Capital Group, Dean was in charge of business development for WindConnect, an engineering and general contracting subsidiary of Alliant Energy serving the wind industry. WindConnect has been involved with more than 1,800 MW of wind energy across the US. Dean served as project manager for the construction of the 50 MW Mendota Hills Wind Farm located in Lee County Illinois, the first utility-scale wind energy facility in the state. The wind farm features 63 Gamesa 800kW turbines interconnected to Commonwealth Edison utility through more than 60 miles of underground 35 kV cable, a 138 kV substation and 138 kV switchyard.

He has also provided operation and maintenance services to wind farms in Iowa, Kansas and Wisconsin. His experience includes affordable housing, economic development and construction management of electrical substations, transmission and underground electrical distributions systems in high growth and environmentally sensitive areas.

You may contact Dean Baumgardner at dean@windcapitalgroup.com.