Kurt U. Schaefer was named Director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in January 2025.

Kurt’s legal career has spanned three decades, including serving as a former state senator and assistant attorney general. He has worked with governmental entities at every level, including all branches of government, state agencies, numerous boards and citizen commissions and political organizations. Kurt served as general counsel and deputy director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources from 2005–2007. He oversaw the emergency response, environmental remediation and cleanup from the Taum Sauk Reservoir failure, and served as lead counsel in negotiating settlement for the damages and restoration, valued in excess of $170 million. Kurt also served as lead counsel in negotiating state and federally required sewer infrastructure capital improvements with the City of Kansas City and the St. Louis Metropolitan Sewer District, valued in excess of $3 billion and $4.2 billion, respectively.

Kurt earned a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from the University of Missouri, and a Juris Doctor and a Master Studies of Environmental Law from the Vermont Law School.

Art Goodin is the Director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Environmental Quality .

Art began his career with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in 2002, working as a stormwater inspector and permit writer at the department’s Southeast Regional Office in Poplar Bluff. Since that time, he has held multiple roles with the department including On-Scene Coordinator for Hazardous Materials Emergencies, Clean Water Unit Chief, and Regional Director, all at the department’s Southeast Regional Office. Art moved to Jefferson City in 2022 to serve as Deputy Director of the Division of Environmental Quality and held that role until his promotion to Division Director in March of 2025.

Art holds a bachelor’s degree in General Studies and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Southeast Missouri State University. In his free time, he and his family enjoy exploring the outdoors.

Executive Summary

Robin was born and raised in small town rural Kansas where business was done with a handshake, your reputation was critical, and effort equaled results. He had to overcome incredible odds on his road to success. Robin began at the bottom of his industry as a diesel mechanic and rose to COO of a multinational corporation before making the move in 2015 to purchase Central Power Systems and Services based in Kansas City. Since 2015, Central has more than 10X revenue while achieving 60X EBITDA with 21 locations across the U.S. All by instilling a family-oriented culture, building great people, and breaking down silos.

Dynamic Life Stories to Draw From!

Robin has supported the data center industry for 30 years. Long before anyone knew what a data center was, he was learning how they functioned while working alongside their teams through the waves this industry has created. He has publicly spoken for Rolls-Royce at their Executive Leadership Conference in Berlin, Germany; Detroit Diesel Corporation's Distributor Summit in Miami; and frequently speaks at infrastructure industry trade shows and on podcasts. Robin draws from many interesting real-world events in his life which resonate with leaders and sales teams by speaking from personal experience about overcoming life obstacles, succeeding with tenacity, establishing personal goals that matter, learning to win and lose with grace, and enjoying the moments.

Robin was a race car driver and cast member on Discovery Channel's popular TV show Street Outlaws for six years, where he won often and always made an impact. Robin's wife Melody was a professional singer for 30 years, performing at Barack Obama's First Inaugural Ball, Donald Trump's 65th birthday celebration at Mar-a-Lago, Bill Clinton fundraisers, and many other events. Together they have seven daughters, nine grandchildren, and lead their community church.

Career Summary

Owner, Chairman & CEO
Central Power Systems | 2015 – Present

Purchased Central Power and rebuilt the company culture, establishing a strategic growth path that scaled the business toward $2 billion in revenue.

Chief Operating Officer
W.W. Williams Company | 1994 – 2015

Responsible for all operational aspects of a $290 million business, overseeing more than 1,000 employees across 33 locations.

Board & Leadership Responsibilities

Global Leadership Council Member to Rolls-Royce Power Systems (MTU) (www.rolls-royce.com)

Advisory Board Member to Liebherr Group, a privately held global enterprise with more than 50,000 employees (www.liebherr.com)

Education & Academic

Texas A&M: B.S. Distribution Management

Jordan Meyer is a policy coordinator with the Missouri Department of Conservation, where he has been for the past 7 years also serving as the state bat ecologist and environmental review coordinator. Previously, Jordan has worked in the state with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Wildlife Refuge System. He has a Master's of Science Degree in Natural Resources from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point and a Bachelor's of Science Degree from Missouri Western State University in Wildlife Conservation and Management. In his current position, Jordan serves in MDC's neutral technical advising role regarding large-scale developments including data centers, energy infrastructure, and transportation projects.

Dr. Joel Gerard Burken received his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa in 1996, where he conducted some of the initial research on phytoremediation. He has been at Missouri University of Science and Technology (formerly University of Missouri--Rolla) since 1997. He currently serves as Chair and Curators' Distinguished Professor of the Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Department, and is a member of the US EPA Science Advisory Board. Dr. Burken has also held temporary positions at: EAWAG in Zurich Switzerland (research intern), at the National Environment Research Institute (NERI) in Denmark (visiting researcher and OECD Fellow) and at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand as an Erskine Fellow.

Dr. Burken's research has focused upon low impact and natural treatment systems since 1991. In that time, terms of sustainable-remediation, green infrastructure, and green-remediation have evolved and now promote the same fundamental aspects surrounding water quality and water resource management. His research in phytoremediation of organic contaminants and pioneering work in Phytoforensics have led to over 84 publications, a patented environmental assessment method, and international recognition with multiple research, teaching and service awards. This recognition includes twice winning the ASCE Rudolf Hering Medal, an NSF Career award, and being appointed a Fellow of the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP).

Dr. Burken has received the highest Missouri S&T awards for teaching, service, advising and has received the Faculty Excellence award 7 times. Dr. Burken was appointed as a Distinguished Curator's professor at Missouri S&T in 2015. His publications include 6 articles cited over 100 times each, and one article that was highlighted in the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) journal, Science.