About Ground Source Systems
Founded in 1989, Ground Source Systems specializes in the design and installation of closed-loop geothermal climate control systems. We are a privately held company based in Buffalo, Missouri, with national and international reach. We work with large commercial installations such as schools, military bases, and large businesses. Due to the efficient nature of geothermal climate control, these customers often report a payback period of well under five years.
Ground Source Systems is a well-established company with over 40 OSHA-certified employees, 30 trucks, and 5 drilling rigs. We are IGSHPA certified and have skilled project designers on hand, including an industry veteran who is certified by OSU in geothermal well field design. Our installed base includes customers in Missouri, Kansas, Nevada, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Virginia, and South Korea.
Principal Officers
Phillip C. "Doc" Hawkins
President and Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Hawkins came from a diverse professional background, starting with 12 years at O'Bannon Bank, where he served as assistant vice president and secretary to the board of directors. For a number of years he owned and operated Intercontinental Drilling Co., specializing in blast hole, mineral exploration, and construction related drilling. After selling this business, Mr. Hawkins become one-third stakeholder in Venture Drilling, LLC, where he took an active business role in the area of bid estimating and technical advice. He owned and operated R.E. Woody & Sons Iron and Steel Preservation Co. Inc., a painting and sandblasting outfit contracted almost exclusively to AT&T for work on microwave towers. In 1989 Mr. Hawkins co-founded Ground Source Systems, where he has remained full time ever since, overseeing all operations as Chief Executive Officer.
Michael W. "Mike" Owens
Chief Operating Officer
As Chief Operating Officer, Mike Owens is responsible for financial operations, contract management, project controls, job costing, and information technology.
A Buffalo native, Mike came to Ground Source Systems in 2004, with a strong background in organizational management. He holds a B.S. in computer science from AICS in Bimingham, AL, an A.S in interdisciplinary studies from Cameron University of Lawton, OK.
Mike spent eight years working with U.S. Army command, control, and intelligence systems, where he gained vast experience in operations and management. He owned and operated an Internet service provider, Sirius Systems Group, which served a community of 80,000 people in the early days of the Web. After selling that business, he was employed with Sprint for five years, providing project management and business operations consulting services to multiple industry types.
Martin O. "Marty" Hawkins
Senior Vice President, Field Operations
Marty Hawkins is responsible for all personnel, equipment, and quality control related to the drilling and installation of the ground source loop fields. He is a graduate of various industry schools related to ground coupled climate control equipment. He holds an IGSHPA certification and a Missouri Dept. of Natural Resources Permit. Marty has been with Ground Source Systems since 1990. Before that, he worked for seven years with O'Bannon Banking Company.
Lawrence E. "Larry" Sorenson
Vice President, Business Development
Larry often serves as the point man on projects, handling both sales, design, and project management on larger installations.
He started his professional career by serving as an electrician with the US Air Force from 1964 until 1968. Thereafter he owned Sorenson Electric, an independent electrical contracting firm with an HVAC wing known as Osage Heating and Cooling. Jobs handled by the firm included numerous Wal-Mart stores, schools, hospitals, and other large projects.
Larry has several years of heating and cooling training, including RSES refrigeration, and holds mechanical licenses for multiple locations. He has been with Ground Source systems almost since the beginning, joining the company in April of 1990.
Sam Barclay
Vice President, Maintenance and Procurement
Sam Barclay is responsible for purchasing, inventory control, facilities management, and matters concerning safety or OSHA. He also helps with estimating, attends progress meetings, and serves part time as project superintendent.
For the first ten years of his career, Sam worked as a welder, insulator, foreman and project superintenent for Preston Refrigeration. Thereafter he owned and operated a trucking business for three years, then owned and operated a company that installed underground cables for telephone utilities. He joined Ground Source Systems in March, 1992.