Ken (yellow shirt) with crew at Red Dog Mine, Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska. Red Dog Mine is the largest zinc mine in the world. This project was to build a pilot facility to remove heavy metals from zinc processing.

Ken (yellow shirt) with crew at Red Dog Mine, Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska. Red Dog Mine is the largest zinc mine in the world. This project was to build a pilot facility to remove heavy metals from zinc processing.

ABOUT

Ken is a native Oregonian, born in Portland.  He attended Benson Polytechnic High School.  Following high school he attended Portland State University where he received his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. Ken continued graduate work at Portland State University in Chemistry and Biochemistry.

 

Ken spent ten years working with Georgia Pacific Corporation in Albany as a Senior Development Chemist and Project Manager.  During this time, he was responsible for implementation of all new air and water pollution control technology for eleven formaldehyde plants in the United States and for issuing and monitoring air and water pollution control permits. In addition, he developed an heterogeneous catalyst for production of formaldehyde from methanol.

In 1983, Ken opened his own small business firm, Hydrokinetic Systems, Inc. in Salem. For the next twenty years, his company specialized in wastewater treatment systems, including resource recovery, waste treatment, chemical feed and recycle systems, serving businesses from Alaska to Mexico. Example of projects included:
Agricultural:  OR Cherry Growers, Salem; St. Michelle Winery, Woodinville, WA; Jackson Family Wine, McMinnville; Smuckers, Oroville, CA
Electronics:  Electro Scientific Industries, Beaverton; Fujitsu, Gresham; ChemTrace Electronics, Gresham; Integrated Circuits, Everett, WA; TTM, Redmond, WA
Industrial:  Deacero, Saltillo, MX; Red Dog Mine, Kotzebue, Alaska; Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA; Van Waters & Rogers, Portland; Cascade Chemical, Seattle; NASA Ames Research Facility, Sunnyvale, CA; Mt. Hood Chemical, Portland, Precision Castparts, Portland; Titanium Industries, Albany; Rogue Circuits, Medford; Preagitzer Industries, Dallas

Ken received continued professional development complementing his goals to provide improved waste water treatments for his customers. Professional development has included:

  • CLE Course on Storm Water Discharges - NPDES Regulations and NPDES Permit Requirements.

  •  Institute for Professional Advancement - EPA Stack Gas Emissions Sampling Methodology.

  •  Institute for Professional Advancement - Surface Characterization using SEM and Raman Laser Spectroscopy.

Ken maintained active involvement in Professional Associations which included:

  • American Institute of Chemical Engineers.

  • American Chemical Society.

Ken and Kathy were married in 1994 and he merged new farm responsibilities with his professional activities about cleaning water.  Ken built the aquaculture holding area, containing ten tanks with automatic discharge and cleaning systems (biofilter, ozone and ultraviolet).  He also installed a ¼ mile long water-delivery and drainage system for the 19 ponds, all of which was buried 6’ underground with a 1/8” slope from beginning to end.  Ken also helped with design and installation of energy systems (wind turbine and four photovoltaic systems).

As retirement neared in 2013, Ken has taken a more active role in farm life, including helping with lambing, enjoying more fun time with the dogs, chickens and horse, and is more involved with the wetland restoration project and crops grown on the farm. 

In 2017, Ken established Clearwater Design, LLC. Clients include TCI America (neutralization system startup), North Marion School District (arsenic removal) and Siskiyou Corp, Metal Finishers Division (design of anodizing system expansion).

Ken raised three sons, Marne, Nils and Erik Dunder.