Lyle Howard Estill
4479 Pittsboro-Moncure Rd. Moncure NC 27559
Fax: (919) 321-6769 | lyle@biofuels.coop
Biography
Lyle Estill has been active in the business community for the past twenty years. As an entrepreneur he has founded a variety of companies and has been involved in a wide range of startup ventures.
Mr. Estill immigrated to the United States in 1990 and founded EMJ America in Cary, North Carolina. With operations in his native Canada, the United States, Brazil, and Hungary, Mr. Estill brushed with globalization and the international economy.
Since then his vision of enterprise has become increasingly local, as he has been on a continual journey toward ever increasing sustainability. His first recognition in North Carolina’s environmental community came from his participation in an indoor/outdoor-constructed wetland in his facility on the edge of Jordan Lake. The system allowed the building to treat its own waste, and has been heralded as model since completion.
Mr. Estill has been involved in making biodiesel since July 2002.
He currently publishes the widely read Energy Blog, which has been adapted into a book by New Society Press. His first book, Biodiesel Power, the Passion, People, and Politics of the Next Renewable Fuel is in its second printing. His second book, Small Is Possible; Life in a Local Economy, appeared in 2008, and his third book, Industrial Evolution; Passage to a Low Carbon Future will appear in bookstores in the spring of 2011.
Experience
Piedmont Biofuels Pittsboro, NC
January 2005 Present
Co-Founder. Manage finance, recruitment, real estate, facilities, construction, and sales for Piedmont Biofuels Industrial. Also active in policy discussions, lobbying efforts, education and outreach. Spokesman for Piedmont Biofuels at many events across the state.
Blast Internet Services Pittsboro, NC
September 2002-September 2004
CEO. Managed a “turn around” for an Internet company involved in design, hosting, network management, access and content delivery. Oversaw the acquisition of OpenNMS and the merger of Blast Software and EMJ Internet Inc. Spun out Blast Wireless.
Moncure Chessworks–Moncure, NC
1998-2002
Sole Proprietor of a sculpture studio and metal working shop. Also an artist’s incubator that launched a number of studio artists in and around Chatham County.
EMJ America Inc. Apex NC
1990-1998
President. Presided over the growth of this enterprise from one employee to 50. Oversaw the acquisition of Interadnet, and the establishment of EMJ do Brasil and EMJ Hungary KFT.
EMJ Data Systems Ltd. Guelph, Ontario
1985-1990
Technical writer, and salesman. Responsible for the creation of four branch offices across Canada, including EMJ D’Informatique in Quebec, a Computer Aided Design division, and a training group, EMJ Tech. Intimately involved in EMJ Data’s public offering on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
Education
University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario
B.A. in History
Iowa State University
Biodiesel Production Technology
Biodiesel Analytics
Central Carolina Community College
Biofuels I, Biofuels II
Honors
Sustainability Award, from Sustainable North Carolina for green building design including day lighting, geothermal heating and cooling, various energy conservation features. 2004
Environmental Educator of the Year, from North Carolina Environmental Educator’s Association for outreach on biodiesel. 2004
Family Friendly Workplace Award, from Carolina Parent Magazine for being one of the best businesses in the state for family-friendly business practices. 2003
Best Workplace Culture, from Triangle Business Journal, for flexibility, family-friendly practices etc. 2002
Citizen of the Year, from Southeast Chatham Citizens Advisory Committee for community development and leadership in Chatham County. 2001
Forty Under Forty, from Triangle Business Journal, a selection of forty “up and coming professionals” in our region for entrepreneurial leadership. 2001
Governor’s Award for Excellence in Waste Reduction, from North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, for the first waste water recycling system of its kind in the state. 1999
Governor’s Business Council Award for Arts and Humanities for sponsorship of “Closing, the Life and Death of an American Factory.” Photographs by Bill Baumberger. 1998.