GTI Instructors

Our commitment to the industry is reflected in a practical learning experience that joins real world results with the foundation science.

GTI is pleased to present courses taught by experienced professionals that combine real industry experience with the theory.  Repeatable, predictable success in the field is important to geothermal professionals, their customers and to our industry. 

To see a summary bio of the GTI Instructors, please select his or her name below.

Dan Bernstein Daniel Bernstein has been working in the international geothermal HVAC industry since the 1990s. He has trained designers throughout Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America and has presented his C02 emissions reductions research results in a number of regional and national forums.   As part of a software marketing and development team, Dan is co-owner of GAIA Geothermal, the industry leader in geothermal system simulation software tools. Mr. Bernstein has a master's degree in international environmental policy from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and received his undergraduate degree from Pomona College while studying physics, chemistry and biology.

Jim Cusack Jim Cusack has been the manager of UMR Geothermal Inc, a leading Midwestern geothermal firm, for the past 11 years. Besides managing the business, he has also designed and installed hundreds of residential and commercial geothermal projects. Jim is an International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA) accredited trainer and installer and is also a member of the NGWA, ASHRAE, and the Radiant Panel Association. Jim regularly teaches IGSHPA accredited installer courses as well as geothermal workshops for the AIA, builders associations and realtors. Jim is also a Waterfurnace certified installer.

Alan Eades Alan Eades is a second-generation driller who began drilling with his father in 1976 as part of the family farming operation. He currently is a partner and lead driller with Eades Drilling & Pump Service. Eades drills water wells, environmental, geothermal, and cathodic protection/grounding holes. Alan is an IGSHPA accredited trainer, installer and loop installer and a Certified Well Driller/Pump Installer through the NGWA. He is a licensed driller in New Mexico and Texas. In addition, Alan holds numerous OSHA compliance certifications; including H2S/CO2, confined space, and excavation. Alan has a very strong safety background, having worked for the Hobbs Fire Department as a firefighter, EMT I/D, and was certified for aircraft rescue fire fighting and oilfield firefighting. Additionally, he served as an instructor at the New Mexico State Fire School. Eades is a member of IGSHPA, NMGWA, TGWA, and NGWA. Alan was president of the NGWA in 2009.

David Henrich David is a mechanical designer and professional driller by training.  David Henrich has been involved in the geothermal drilling industry for 17 years and is an NGWA Certified Driller; IGSHPA Accredited Installer, and IGSHPA accredited trainer.  His areas of specialty include closed loop geothermal design & construction, geothermal monitoring and data acquisition.  David is the lead mechanical designer for the GeoCube™ by Precision Geothermal, an industry leading thermal loop testing system.  David is a member of ASHRAE, NGWA and the Canadian Geo-Exchange Coalition.

Jack Henrich A mechanical engineer and professional driller by training, Jack Henrich has been involved in the geothermal drilling industry for decades. Jack is a Certified Geoexchange Designer, an IGSHPA accredited trainer, installer and loop installer and a Master Ground Water Contractor through the NGWA. Recognized internationally for his drilling expertise, Jack leads the Geothermal Training Institute's drilling education division.

Ed Lohrenz Ed Lohrenz has worked in the geothermal industry since the early 1980’s as a residential system designer, installer, and GSHP equipment distributor in Western Canada. In 1984, Ed began exploring integrated geothermal ice rink and ice storage systems and is now recognized as one of the most experienced low-temperature heat pump experts in the industry. Between residential and commercial projects, Mr. Lohrenz has well over ten thousand tons of heat pump capacity operating throughout North America and Asia that he has directly designed or consulted on. He is an accredited installer and trainer for the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA), a Certified GeoExchange Designer (CGD), ASHRAE member, and has also led Canadian GeoExchange Coalition (CGC) classes. Ed has trained hundreds of contractors and engineers through IGSHPA, CGC and field training classes. He is founder and president of Geo-Xergy Systems Inc., and provides consulting services to end-user clients, mechanical engineers, architects and others in the GeoExchange industry.

Terry Proffer Terry Proffer has been involved in the GSHP Industry since 1993. Mr. Proffer is accredited as an installer and installation trainer by the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association, and spent over 15 years previously as a geologist in the petroleum industry prior to a second career in the mechanical trades. His residential and commercial experience includes heat load analysis, loop design, thermal conductivity testing, and field installations; his system designs drive forced air, radiant, snowmelt, domestic hot water and industrial process water applications and his expertise is often used for independent peer review of other system designs, design validation and commissioning. Mr. Proffer has designed, consulted or installed on thousands of tons of heat pump capacity throughout the continental U.S, Canada and Asia, and trained over 500 contractors and engineers through IGSHPA and field training classes. Terry is one of the few practicing Certified GeoExchange Designers in Colorado, is a factory certified ClimateMaster trainer, and is a member of Rocky Mountain ASHRAE.