Marquis Who’s Who Honors John A. “Skip” Laitner for Expertise in Economics
“Mr. Laitner’s work is widely recognized for its impact on local prosperity and job creation through economic modeling.”
TUCSON, AZ, February 04, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ — John A. “Skip” Laitner has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
A distinguished international energy and resources expert, Mr. Laitner has been the principal at Economic and Human Dimensions Research Associates in Tucson, Arizona, since 2012. In this role, he has been instrumental in helping the Environmental and Energy Study Institute develop policy initiatives focused on energy productivity and environmental efforts. Mr. Laitner’s work is widely recognized for its impact on local prosperity and job creation through economic modeling.
Prior to his current position, Mr. Laitner was the director of economic and social analysis at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy from 2006 to 2012. During this time, he co-authored several influential publications, including “The Long-Term Energy Efficiency Potential: What the Evidence Suggests” and “People-Centered Initiatives for Increasing Energy Savings.” His earlier career includes a decade-long tenure as a senior economist for technology policy at the Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Atmospheric Programs from 1996 to 2006, where he earned accolades such as the US Combined Heat and Power Association’s CHP Champion Award in 2003 and the EPA Gold Medal in 1998.
Mr. Laitner’s career began with roles that laid the foundation for his energy and environmental issues expertise. He was the principal and founder of Economic Research Associates in Eugene, Oregon, from 1985 to 2006, where he also served as a consultant for OSPIRG in Portland, Oregon. His leadership extended to academia as an adjunct faculty member for a graduate-level course on Economic Development at the University of Oregon in 1988. Earlier, he was chief of the research division at the Nebraska Energy Office from 1984 to 1985 and director and co-founder of the Community Action Research Group in Ames, Iowa, from 1975 to 1984.
Throughout his career, Mr. Laitner has been actively involved with various professional organizations, including the Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences, where he was president in 2015 and 2016. He was also invited to teach graduate economic courses in 2000 at Virginia Tech and most recently in 2022 for the School of Government and Public Policy at the University of Arizona. His memberships included advisory roles with the National Energy Extension Service, and he is currently an advisor to the Department of Energy and National Renewable Energy Laboratory for their Industrial Multiple Non-Energy Benefits Project.
Mr. Laitner’s academic background includes a Master of Arts in resource economics from Antioch University in 1988. Additionally, he completed coursework at Simpson College in 1968. He attributes his success to meaningful interactions and connections with individuals throughout his career, which have significantly contributed to his achievements.
In addition to his professional endeavors, Mr. Laitner has been involved with civic-minded organizations such as the Nebraska Energy Office in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he was conference chair in 1984, and the National Sun Day Committee in Washington, D.C., where he was vice chair in 1978. He has written or co-authored more than 340 book chapters, journal articles, reports and conference papers. His contributions to literature include co-authoring “ICT-Enabled Intelligent Efficiency: Shifting from Device-Specific Approaches to System Optima” and authoring “Linking Energy Efficiency to Economic Productivity: Recommendations for Improving the Robustness of the U.S. Economy.”
Born in San Diego, California, Mr. Laitner enjoys walking, writing, reading, backpacking and hiking. He is dedicated to understanding energy to enliven the economy and plans to continue focusing on energy productivity and biological scaling. As a father to one daughter, he balances his professional commitments with personal interests that reflect his passion for nature and sustainability.
About Marquis Who’s Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who’s Who in America®, Marquis Who’s Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who’s Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who’s Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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