Contact Us

RREAL is made possible by the generous support of Individuals, Foundations, and Organizations who are driven by RREAL’s Mission.

Meet the Hard Working RREAL Staff!
Learn about RREAL's VISTA volunteers!

Send correspondence or financial support to:

RREAL
2330 Dancing Wind Road S.W., Suite #2
Pine River, MN 56474

Driving Directions
From Brainerd: Drive 30 miles north on Highway 371 to the north end of Pine River. Go Left(west) on County Road 2. Go 1/4 mile. The HUG campus is on the North side of the road. RREAL is located in the Large Building in the Northeast corner of the Property. RREAL is at the East entrance to the building.


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Please direct any questions, comments or correspondence to info@rreal.org



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For RREAL Staff

Meet the Hard Working RREAL Staff!

Jason Edens

Jason Edens - Founding Director

Jason holds his Masters of Science Degree in Environmental Studies from Bemidji State University. Jason, with the help of a small group of dedicated volunteers, started RREAL in his basement and garage back in 2001. Under his leadership, RREAL has grown out of the basement and into a fully functioning organization with four full time employees, over two dozen families served, and over fifty Solar PV, Solar Air Heat, and Solar Hot Water installations completed.
Jason@rreal.org

BJ Allen

BJ Allen - Operations Manager

BJ holds a dual BS/BA degree from the University of San Diego in Electrical/ Electronics Engineering, with minors in Mathematics and Philosophy. Her fundraising efforts have brought over $200,000 to RREAL.
bj@rreal.org

Sarah Hayden

Sarah Hayden - Director of Research and Outreach

Sarah holds a Masters of Science degree in Environmental Science from Bemidji State University. Sarah Has Been with RREAL since 2005, initially as a board of directors member, and then as an employee. Sarah’s research projects include a thorough Cost Benefit Analysis of the Solar Assistance program, an energy audit, school energy use audit, and infrastructure recommendations for a local school district, and our own collector research and development project.
Sarah@rreal.org

Tim Ollhoff

Tim Olhoff

Tim holds an MSW from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. Tim served on the RREAL Board of Directors from 2005 to 2007. Tim worked as a Program Manager for Lutheran Social Services for ten years before bringing his talents to RREAL.
tim@rreal.org

Graham Wright

Graham Wright - Chief Engineer

Graham holds a PHD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois. He worked at Kodak as a senior scientist for ten years before bringing his talents to RREAL. Graham has been instrumental in the research and development of the industry standard air heat collector, the RREAL SPF.
Graham@rreal.org

Bob Jones

Bob Jones is a RREAL manufacturing wizard by day, and a helicopter firefighter, husband, and father of four by night. Really!

Heather Butcher

Heather's background is in cabinet making and hanging, and when not working with RREAL, Heather is busy with a family of six.

Laura Zauner

Laura has had an accomplished career in human resources and business management including a director of human resources at Old Country Buffet, and a small business owner, The Blue Moon Bakery and Cafe in Colorado. Laura Joined the RREAL team in March of 2008.

Joel Lindstrom

Joel Lindstrom is the person behind JoelT Electric, with whom RREAL contracts its electrical work. Joel is a North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) Certified Master Electrician, and a swell guy!

RREAL Board of Directors are:

Steve Benson, Two Harbors (not shown), Secretary and Treasurer
Danielle Butenhoff, St. Paul, Member
Ben Butcher, Pine River, Member
Charles Krysel, Bemidji, Chair
Dr. Steven Spigarelli, Aitkin, Member
Wendell King, Brainerd, Member
Board Vacancy (your name here)
Jason Edens, Backus, Director (not Board Member)